English Literature

The Edexcel A Level is made up of three examined components and one coursework component (NEA):

Component 1: Drama
You will explore the dramatic genre through two powerful plays, William Shakespeare’s Othello and Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Both texts are rooted in tragedy and provide rich opportunities to investigate how playwrights explore power, gender, identity, and downfall. In Othello, you’ll examine how Shakespeare crafts a compelling tale of jealousy, manipulation, and racial tension, while A Streetcar Named Desire offers a modern American perspective on fractured identity, desire, and the tension between illusion and reality. You'll analyse not only the text on the page but how meaning is shaped in performance, building your confidence in both close reading and theatrical interpretation.

Component 2: Prose
The prose element focuses on the theme of Science and Society, inviting you to compare two deeply thought-provoking novels: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Both texts interrogate the ethical boundaries of scientific progress, the role of creators and creations and the cost of knowledge and control in their respective societies. You will explore how Shelley’s early 19th-century Gothic masterpiece continues to resonate in a modern world shaped by biotechnology and artificial intelligence and how Ishiguro’s haunting dystopia presents a chilling vision of human value and loss. This unit builds your skills in comparing narrative methods, characterisation and contextual influence.

Component 3: Poetry
For this exam, you will study two contrasting collections of poetry. The first is a vibrant, thought-provoking anthology of contemporary poetry written after 2000, designed to reflect the issues, voices, and concerns of the 21st century. These poems tackle topics such as identity, politics, conflict, and culture and you will be comparing these to unseen poetry. Alongside this, you will delve into the richly symbolic and emotionally layered work of Christina Rossetti, a 19th-century poet whose devotional and feminist themes continue to inspire debate today. This unit allows you to explore poetic form, voice and meaning across time and style, while developing a personal, creative response to literature.

NEA: Coursework
The Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) is a brilliant opportunity for independent research and critical exploration. You will write a 2,500–3,000 word comparative essay on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and a second literary text of your choice. This project gives you the freedom to select a theme or critical focus that interests you, such as love, power, conflict or hope, and to develop your own academic voice through research and analysis. It’s an excellent preparation for university-style essays and a chance to explore texts that reflect your individual interests and passions.

All students will need a folder, highlighters, and copies of set texts, which may need to be annotated

A Level English Literature is highly respected by universities and employers and lots of our students go on to study at top universities including Oxford and Cambridge. It supports applications to a wide range of degrees including English, Journalism, Drama, Creative Writing, Law and Education. It also develops analytical, communication and research skills valuable for careers in publishing, marketing, teaching, the civil service, and media. Some of our alumni are even published writers!

Edexcel

How will I be assessed?

Over the two years of study, students will sit 5 Common Assessment Points (CAPs) to monitor their progress as well as completing practice essays in class and for homework. The overall qualification will be made up of three final exams at the end of Year 13 (Drama, Prose and Poetry) which equates to 80% of the grade, and then a piece of NEA (coursework) which is worth 20% of the grade. 

At least five 5s at GCSE, including at least a 6 in English Language and English Literature.

Have you considered studying a Mixed Programme (A-Levels and BTECs)? Whether you’re on target to achieve five 5s in your GCSEs or not, there may still be an option to study A-Levels alongside a BTEC qualification at Newman.

There are a wide range of enrichment opportunities including:

Theatre trips to see Shakespeare and modern drama performed live

University taster days and lectures

The Newman Tab

Creative writing group

Book Club

Opportunities to enter national competitions for writing

Support with preparing for university-level study, including Oxbridge and English-related degree applications

English Literature complements lots of subjects including:

English Language

History

Politics

Philosophy/ EPR

Drama and Theatre Studies

Modern Foreign Languages