Course Information
The English Literature A level course comprises nine modules in total: five at AS level and four at A level. You will learn the principles of literary analysis and apply them to a selection of texts, from the ancient to the modern.
At AS level, you will study love poetry (and prose) through the ages, as well as examining the theme of love in Shakespeare’s Othello and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. If you plan to sit the AS level, you will also study Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
At A level you will continue to analyse literature in different formats, focusing on a selection of more contemporary texts including Owen Sheers’ poetry collection, Skirrid Hill, Michael Frayn’s psychological novel, Spies, and Tennessee Williams’ classic play, A Streetcar Named Desire. You will also carry out coursework (NEA) that will contribute to your final grade.
By studying poetry, drama and novels from several eras, you will develop a strong foundation of literary study and criticism in a variety of genres, as well as an understanding of how these formats have evolved over time and why they remain important today.
With the support and feedback of your tutor, you will take regular self-assessment tests to ensure you have understood all the concepts introduced in each module.
The course includes 51 lessons, 17 Tutor-marked assignments and 2 mock exams.
Module One: Literary Analysis
- Imagery
- The Sounds of Language
- Characters
- Descriptive Writing
- Point of View
- Tone of Voice
- Feelings
Module Two: Anthology of Love Poetry through the Ages: Pre-1900
- Three Poems Dependent on Images
- Problematic Partners
- Hearts’ Desires
- Brief Encounters
- The Garden of Love
Module Three: Love through the Ages
- The Middle Ages and the Invention of Love
- Chaucer on Love
- Shakespeare on Love
- The Sonnet
- John Donne and the Metaphysicals
- Wordsworth’s Natural Love
- John Keats: a Romantic on Love
- The Rise of the Novel
- From Jane Austen to Mills & Boon
- Twentieth-Century Poetry and Song
Module Four: Shakespeare: Othello
- Shakespeare: Historical and Social Background
- Introduction to Othello
- Character, Language and Style in Othello
- Form and Structure in Othello
Module Five: Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre
- Jane Eyre in Context
- Jane and Rochester
- Jane Eyre and Romances
- Comparisons with Jane Eyre
Module Six: Owen Sheers: Skirrid Hill
- Sheers’ Life and Work in Context
- ‘Last Act’ to ‘Intermission’
- ‘Y Gaer’ to ‘The Wake’
- ‘Skirrid Fawr’ and Themes and Techniques
Module Seven: Michael Frayn: Spies
- Spies: Overview
- Spies: Chapters 1-2
- Spies: Chapters 3-6
- Spies: Chapters 7-11
- Spies: Themes and Characters
Module Eight: Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire
- Williams and American Drama; Scenes 1-3
- Scenes 4-7
- Scenes 8-11
- Themes and Comparisons
- English Literature A-level General Introduction
Module Nine: Jane Austen: Mansfield Park and Coursework
- The Themes of Mansfield Park
- Narrative Technique and the Minor Characters
- The Major Characters
- Comparing Mansfield Park to a Second Text
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Examining board and exams
The English Literature A level is designed to prepare you for two AQA specifications:
- AS level English Literature – 7711
- A level English Literature – 7712
The AS level course is assessed by two 90-minute written examinations.
The A level is assessed by one three-hour exam, one 2.5-hour exam and one piece of NEA (coursework). The coursework must be completed independently, although you will still get support from your tutor.
In order to complete the coursework, you will need to be able to follow the rules for authentication. They can be found in our exams hub.
Please note that the AS level is a stand-alone qualification, meaning marks are no longer carried over toward an A level.
What can I do with an English Literature A level?
English literature has for many years been a critical component of the humanities, examining how writers throughout the ages have documented, celebrated and criticised the world through their work.
As well as developing important skills in analysing text and subtext in literature, you will gain an enhanced understanding of how literature fits into culture as a whole, and how it influences and is influenced by other media.
These skills are important for any creative job – whether you want to be an author, a journalist, a film director or a web designer, a deep appreciation for the power of the written word will help you in a number of ways. It’s also important in public relations, advertising and marketing roles – you’ll use these skills in any job that requires strong and nuanced communication.
An English Literature A level will also be a vital foundation for many Higher Education courses in the arts and humanities. You may wish to pursue English Literature further at university, specialising in a particular era, genre or form. Alternatively, you may decide to use it to broaden the scope of a degree in History, Law, Philosophy or Politics.
If you’re planning to study or learn other languages, an English Literature A level will also help you when it comes to reading and appreciating classic works in their original language. And as a core subject throughout the curriculum, it’s a particularly good qualification for aspiring teachers.
Some examples of the industries and careers you might join with an English Literature qualification include:
- Publishing
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Performing arts
- Public relations
- Journalism
- Filmmaking
- Education
How much does it cost?
Our English Literature A level course fee is £525 with a £105 deposit, payable in eight instalments of £52.50.
You will receive support from a fully-qualified tutor holding either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education. This support includes:
- Marking all assignments for the course
- Written answers to specific study problems
- Tutor contact via telephone or email
- Marking and moderation of your NEA project
When you begin this course, you will agree an examination date or dates with your Student Adviser. Your support period lasts up to this examination date.
Meet Our Tutors
I have taught English in five different secondary schools for over twenty years. Now, however, I am a freelance writer and tutor which is an exciting change for me. I love working with young people and sharing my passion for English – and working with Oxford Open Learning is allowing me to continue with this but in a different way. I am also a senior examiner with a leading examination board and I really enjoy playing a part in making sure that students get awarded the grades they deserve.
Matthew Tett
Prerequisites
You are expected to have at least four good GCSEs to study the English Literature A level, which must include a level 5 or above (formerly, a grade C) in English or English Literature.
If you have other relevant qualifications or experience which you feel would allow you to start an A level English Literature course, please contact one of our student advisers on 0800 975 75 75.
Due to the stringent NEA requirements, the last application date for this course’s summer 2025 exams is the 15th September 2024.
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FAQs
Why should I choose Oxford Home Schooling?
- Oxford Home Schooling is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
- treating every student as an individual
- customer service
- course quality.
- We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
- We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
- We make it easy for you to home-educate your children with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
- Every year we help hundreds of children who have left mainstream education obtain the qualifications they need to progress and achieve their goals.
- Oxford Home Schooling is part of a not-for-profit trust so you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your child’s tuition or on improving our courses.
When can I enrol?
You can enrol any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to consider is when you wish to sit your exam and give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment on English Literature A level are slightly earlier than for most A levels. This is due to the Non-examination assessment (NEA) or what would once have been coursework. This work needs to be completed by mid-March and is situated in the second half of the course.
Once you have enrolled, you will get access to your English Literature A level course online immediately and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.
Can I complete the English Literature A level exam in one year?
Our cut-off for enrolling on an A level English Literature course for the following summer examination series is mid-September each year. So, yes, you can.
However, remember that you will still need to
- fit 700 hours of study time into your schedule before the examination in May.
- complete the Non-examination assessment (NEA) by mid march
- have completed enough other work by this point for our tutors to authenticate and mark your NEA.
The earlier you enrol, the less study you must do each week and the better chance you give yourself of achieving a top grade.
Can I just enrol on the AS level English Literature course?
Yes, you can. The fee to enrol on the English Literature AS course is just £300. If you decide to upgrade to a full A Level later on, then you may do so for an additional fee of £350.
The results from your AS Level exam cannot be carried forward to your A level and you will need to take the full A level exams which test the full spectrum of topics from the AS and A level specification
The AS does not require you to carry out a non-examination assessment (NEA, i.e. coursework).
When will I sit my exam?
The English Literature A level papers may be sat in the Summer examination series. The Summer series typically runs from mid-May to late June.
There is no autumn examination sitting for this subject.
How and when do I book an exam?
The final date for booking summer exams with the exam board without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February. You should book your place at an exam centre well in advance of this date. Start looking once the autumn term begins.
In the case of English Literature A level, you will make your examination entry with Oxford Home Schooling and find a host centre locally. This is because Oxford Home Schooling is responsible for marking your coursework.
All the information you need to book an exam centre can be found in our Exams Hub. Here you will find
- detailed instructions
- entry codes needed to book exams
- our map of examination centres where our students have sat in recent years.
Tutors & Exams offers discounts to Oxford Home Schooling students and has nine current exam venues across the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.
Pearson Edexcel also publishes a list of exam centres that accept private candidates. This won’t list every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.
How much does an English Literature A Level examination cost?
Your exam fees aren’t included in the course cost as they’re paid directly to the exam centre. They will vary depending on which centre you choose.
Oxford Home Schooling will
- make your exam entry for a cost in the region of £100
- mark your NEA which is included in the course fee
- Transfer your exam papers to your host centre for a cost in the region of £50
You will need to find your host centre and they will make a charge for you to sit the exam.
Generally speaking, dedicated examination services will be more expensive than a local school or college. Further details on the costs can be found on our Non-examination assessment pages
May I study both English Literature and English Language A levels at the same time?
It is certainly possible, although not many do! Some of the skills required are similar but there is no specific overlap of topics or texts.
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