Welcome to A-Level English Literature. Today s objectives: To understand the demands of taking A-Level Literature Applying the assessment objectives

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1 Welcome to A-Level English Literature Today s objectives: To understand the demands of taking A-Level Literature Applying the assessment objectives

2 A-Level English Literature Taking English Literature at A-Level is a highly academic path We will be taking a historicist approach to the study of literature. This rests upon reading texts within a shared context. We expect our A-Level Literature students to be dedicated and to be able to work independently as well as working collaboratively as a group.

3 A-Level English Literature Specification: AQA A-Level English Literature A

4 AS Level: Love through the ages Paper 1: Shakespeare and Poetry 1hr 30min exam Paper 2: Prose 1hr 30min exam Section A: Shakespeare: Othello (Oxford Schools edition) Section B: Poetry: Pre and Post-1900 anthology Section A: Unseen prose Section B: Comparing prose texts: The Great Gatsby and Wuthering Heights (Penguin editions)

5 Assessment Objectives AO1: articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts AO2: Analyse the ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts AO3: context AO4: connections and comparisons across texts AO5: explore literary texts informed by different interpretations

6 Critical Theory Post-modernism The idea that the play is separate from reality. The characters and plot are merely entertainment for the audience. The characters may often be aware of this feature.this may often be term meta-theatre or metatheatricality. Marxism A character s behaviour is determined by their social status (eg. Edmund as a bastard in King Lear ) and they may be exploited by those of a higher status). Feminism Focuses on the female view and often links with historicism where the female is oppressed by the society they are in or portrayed negatively for their active role. Historicist Sees the behaviour of characters grounded in the context in which they live. Psycho-analytical An individual s action guided by their subconscious impulses.

7 Paper 2: The Great Gatsby The novel is set in the mid-20s which came to be known as the Roaring 20s What do you know about the 20s? Why were people in this time period constantly spending money, partying, celebrating, etc? What effect would prohibition have on society? Pros and cons? What happened in the decade before that may have changed people s attitudes to life?

8 Paper 2: Wuthering Heights The novel is set in the C19th century What do you know about this time? How were the roles of men and women defined? What effect did the industrial revolution have on society? Pros and cons?

9 Give it a go! Each group has a key moment for love from The Great Gatsby and Wuthering Heights Analyse the aspects of love that have been presented in each extract Try to include a response for each AO: AO1: articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts AO2: Analyse the ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts AO3: context AO4: connections and comparisons across texts AO5: explore literary texts informed by different interpretations Post-modernism The idea that the play is separate from reality. The characters and plot are merely entertainment for the audience. The characters may often be aware of this feature.this may often be term meta-theatre or meta-theatricality. Marxism A character s behaviour is determined by their social status (eg. Edmund as a bastard in King Lear ) and they may be exploited by those of a higher status). Feminism Focuses on the female view and often links with historicism where the female is oppressed by the society they are in or portrayed negatively for their active role. Historicist Sees the behaviour of characters grounded in the context in which they live. Psycho-analytical An individual s action guided by their subconscious impulses.

10 Preparation over summer Read The Great Gatsby Read Wuthering Heights Prepare your ring binder for Literature Research the following critical theories to identify the main beliefs: - Feminist - Marxist - Psychoanalytic You should have dividers in your binder: Paper 1: Shakespeare Poetry Paper 2: Modern Prose The Great Gatsby Wuthering Heights Exam/Assessment