Everything that has ever been written in poetry, prose or drama is a record of the thoughts and ideas which people have had through the ages.

By taking English Literature, you will be studying the history of what people have thought and felt. This subject considers how and why writers make the choices they do, so that readers respond to the messages in their texts; this involves analysing the structure and language but also involves thinking about the contexts surrounding the production of the texts. 

During the two years you will study a range of poetry, prose, and drama texts, from Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire to William Blake’s Selected Poems. Preparation for the ‘unseen’ component allows us the freedom to explore poetry and prose beyond the set texts whilst the coursework component allows you to pursue your own interests, studying a novel of your choice alongside a second text.