If you enjoy reading and discussing literature but also have an interest in linguistic approaches to language, you will enjoy this course. English Language and Literature is a two year linear course that allows you to engage with all three literary genres (poetry, prose and drama) but also allows you to be creative and investigative.
The first year of the course will provide a varied introduction to English Language and Literature studies, focusing on how and why we tell stories. There will be exploration of different literary and non-literary texts in order to learn how these stories are told about people, societies and places in different genre, from various points of view and in a variety of modes (speech, writing and blended modes such as blogs and internet forums). You will study two Anthologies (the AQA Paris Anthology and Poetic Voices) and a “fantasy” prose text (The Handmaid’s Tale).
The second year will provide you with the opportunity to explore the topic of conflict in different genre and for different types of writing tasks. Firstly, you’ll study The Kite Runner to learn how the writer presents conflict in and across different cultures and peoples. You will be able to write creatively, expressing new points of view based on your understanding of the novel, in addition to analysing your creative process. You will also examine how playwrights present conflict dramatically through your study of Othello. Finally, you will produce an independent comparative investigation of non-literary material and a literary text based around a theme (for example, war) or a linguistic device (for example, metaphor).