A Level English Literature
Examination Board: AQA
Tragedy. Protest. Power. Voice.
Step into a world of powerful stories and radical ideas. The AQA English Literature A Level isn’t just about reading books, it’s about learning to think independently, challenge assumptions, and communicate with clarity and confidence.
Through the lenses of Tragedy and Political and Social Protest Writing, students explore literature that has shaped—and continues to challenge—the world we live in.
What Will I Learn?
Aspects of Tragedy:
- Othello (Shakespeare) – A brutal and beautiful tragedy of love, jealousy, manipulation, and race.
- Death of a Salesman (Arthur Miller) – A moving critique of the American Dream, masculinity, and failure.
- Selected Poetry by John Keats – Romanticism at its most lyrical and tragic, exploring beauty, death, and the imagination
Political and Social Protest Writing:
- The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) – A chilling dystopia exploring authoritarianism, gender, and resistance.
- The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) – A deeply personal novel exploring guilt, loyalty, and political violence.
- Poetry by William Blake – Revolutionary and visionary, Blake’s poetry challenges injustice, poverty, and oppression.
Unseen Text Study:
Students will also explore unseen extracts of political and social protest writing, developing their ability to analyse unfamiliar material critically, drawing on context, literary technique, and genre awareness. This nurtures adaptability, confidence, and transferable analytical skills.
Coursework: Independent Critical Study
The Non-Exam Assessment (coursework) is a personal, self-directed project; a chance for students to choose their own essay questions in consultation with their teacher.
How Will I Be Assessed?
Where Can English Literature Take You?
This course is highly regarded by universities and works beautifully alongside subjects like:
- History
- Politics
- Sociology
- Philosophy
- Law
- Psychology
- Media
- Modern Languages
- Drama and Theatre
Wherever language matters, English Literature gives students an edge.
Why Study Literature Now?
Whether it’s Othello’s downfall, Offred’s resistance, or Amir’s search for redemption, these stories help us ask and answer the biggest questions of our time. Who holds power? Who resists? What does it mean to be human?
In a noisy world, literature helps us slow down, look deeper, and speak more clearly.
A Course for Independent Thinkers and Brave Readers
If you enjoy storytelling, exploring ideas, debating meaning, and writing with purpose then AQA English Literature A Level is for you.
What Career Options Do I Have?
- Law
- Journalism
- Publishing
- PR
- Politics
- Civil Service
- Arts, culture and creative industries
- Teaching and academia