English Literature A Level

Applications Open - 1st November 2025

Applications Close - 15th December 2025

Entry Requirements - Candidates are required to obtain a minimum of 35 points from their best six GCSE subjects or equivalent (in the view of the School).

• Points will be on a 1-9 point scale, where Grade 1=1 and 2=2 etc.

• Candidates must also obtain at least a Grade 5 in English and Maths at GCSE or equivalent (in the view of the School).

Candidates must meet the specific requirements for each A Level course they wish to study as published in the 2025 Sixth Form Prospectus, which will be available on the website.

How to Apply - Do not apply through Kent Choices. Please apply via Cranbrook School Website using the following link: https://www.cranbrookschool.co.uk/admissions/sixth-form-admissions/

Component 1: Drama

Students study:

• One Shakespeare play and one other drama from either comedy or tragedy from the texts below.
• Tragedy; William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello pre-1900: Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe; The Duchess of Malfi, John Webster The Home Place, Brian Friel; A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams
• Comedy: William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night pre-1900: The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde; The Rover, Aphra Behn The Pitmen Painters, Lee Hall; Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett.

Component 2: Prose

Students study:

• Two prose texts from a chosen theme Science and Society Pre-1900: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley; Post-1900: The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood.

Component 3: Poetry

Students study: poetic form, meaning and language

• A selection of post 2000 specified poetry and
• A specified range of poetry from
• Medieval Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale, editor James Winny (Cambridge, 1994) John Donne Selected Poems (Penguin Classics, 2006) or or Romantic Period
• Romantic Poet: John Keats Selected Poems: John Keats, editor John Barnard (Penguin Classics, 2007) The Victorian Period
• Component 4 : Coursework Students have a free choice of two texts to study from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction.

Minimum Grade 6 in GCSE English Literature & Language but Grade 7 in Literature is recommended.

Gaining an A level in English Literature will enhance not only your knowledge of the literary heritage but also provide you with excellent communication skills-both written and oral. You will be able to express your own ideas and opinions and to analyse and construct a persuasive argument. The study of English Literature will complement any future studies in the arts, humanities, social sciences and law faculties at University. Those who study English at university can go on to careers in media and film, the arts, teaching, journalism, publishing, information technology and business.