how to write an as level english literature poetry essay

How to Write a Good English Literature Essay

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

How do you write a good English Literature essay? Although to an extent this depends on the particular subject you’re writing about, and on the nature of the question your essay is attempting to answer, there are a few general guidelines for how to write a convincing essay – just as there are a few guidelines for writing well in any field.

We at Interesting Literature  call them ‘guidelines’ because we hesitate to use the word ‘rules’, which seems too programmatic. And as the writing habits of successful authors demonstrate, there is no  one way to become a good writer – of essays, novels, poems, or whatever it is you’re setting out to write. The French writer Colette liked to begin her writing day by picking the fleas off her cat.

Edith Sitwell, by all accounts, liked to lie in an open coffin before she began her day’s writing. Friedrich von Schiller kept rotten apples in his desk, claiming he needed the scent of their decay to help him write. (For most student essay-writers, such an aroma is probably allowed to arise in the writing-room more organically, over time.)

We will address our suggestions for successful essay-writing to the average student of English Literature, whether at university or school level. There are many ways to approach the task of essay-writing, and these are just a few pointers for how to write a better English essay – and some of these pointers may also work for other disciplines and subjects, too.

Of course, these guidelines are designed to be of interest to the non-essay-writer too – people who have an interest in the craft of writing in general. If this describes you, we hope you enjoy the list as well. Remember, though, everyone can find writing difficult: as Thomas Mann memorably put it, ‘A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.’ Nora Ephron was briefer: ‘I think the hardest thing about writing is writing.’ So, the guidelines for successful essay-writing:

1. Planning is important, but don’t spend too long perfecting a structure that might end up changing.

This may seem like odd advice to kick off with, but the truth is that different approaches work for different students and essayists. You need to find out which method works best for you.

It’s not a bad idea, regardless of whether you’re a big planner or not, to sketch out perhaps a few points on a sheet of paper before you start, but don’t be surprised if you end up moving away from it slightly – or considerably – when you start to write.

Often the most extensively planned essays are the most mechanistic and dull in execution, precisely because the writer has drawn up a plan and refused to deviate from it. What  is a more valuable skill is to be able to sense when your argument may be starting to go off-topic, or your point is getting out of hand,  as you write . (For help on this, see point 5 below.)

We might even say that when it comes to knowing how to write a good English Literature essay,  practising  is more important than planning.

2. Make room for close analysis of the text, or texts.

Whilst it’s true that some first-class or A-grade essays will be impressive without containing any close reading as such, most of the highest-scoring and most sophisticated essays tend to zoom in on the text and examine its language and imagery closely in the course of the argument. (Close reading of literary texts arises from theology and the analysis of holy scripture, but really became a ‘thing’ in literary criticism in the early twentieth century, when T. S. Eliot, F. R. Leavis, William Empson, and other influential essayists started to subject the poem or novel to close scrutiny.)

Close reading has two distinct advantages: it increases the specificity of your argument (so you can’t be so easily accused of generalising a point), and it improves your chances of pointing up something about the text which none of the other essays your marker is reading will have said. For instance, take In Memoriam  (1850), which is a long Victorian poem by the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson about his grief following the death of his close friend, Arthur Hallam, in the early 1830s.

When answering a question about the representation of religious faith in Tennyson’s poem  In Memoriam  (1850), how might you write a particularly brilliant essay about this theme? Anyone can make a general point about the poet’s crisis of faith; but to look closely at the language used gives you the chance to show  how the poet portrays this.

For instance, consider this stanza, which conveys the poet’s doubt:

A solid and perfectly competent essay might cite this stanza in support of the claim that Tennyson is finding it increasingly difficult to have faith in God (following the untimely and senseless death of his friend, Arthur Hallam). But there are several ways of then doing something more with it. For instance, you might get close to the poem’s imagery, and show how Tennyson conveys this idea, through the image of the ‘altar-stairs’ associated with religious worship and the idea of the stairs leading ‘thro’ darkness’ towards God.

In other words, Tennyson sees faith as a matter of groping through the darkness, trusting in God without having evidence that he is there. If you like, it’s a matter of ‘blind faith’. That would be a good reading. Now, here’s how to make a good English essay on this subject even better: one might look at how the word ‘falter’ – which encapsulates Tennyson’s stumbling faith – disperses into ‘falling’ and ‘altar’ in the succeeding lines. The word ‘falter’, we might say, itself falters or falls apart.

That is doing more than just interpreting the words: it’s being a highly careful reader of the poetry and showing how attentive to the language of the poetry you can be – all the while answering the question, about how the poem portrays the idea of faith. So, read and then reread the text you’re writing about – and be sensitive to such nuances of language and style.

The best way to  become attuned to such nuances is revealed in point 5. We might summarise this point as follows: when it comes to knowing how to write a persuasive English Literature essay, it’s one thing to have a broad and overarching argument, but don’t be afraid to use the  microscope as well as the telescope.

3. Provide several pieces of evidence where possible.

Many essays have a point to make and make it, tacking on a single piece of evidence from the text (or from beyond the text, e.g. a critical, historical, or biographical source) in the hope that this will be enough to make the point convincing.

‘State, quote, explain’ is the Holy Trinity of the Paragraph for many. What’s wrong with it? For one thing, this approach is too formulaic and basic for many arguments. Is one quotation enough to support a point? It’s often a matter of degree, and although one piece of evidence is better than none, two or three pieces will be even more persuasive.

After all, in a court of law a single eyewitness account won’t be enough to convict the accused of the crime, and even a confession from the accused would carry more weight if it comes supported by other, objective evidence (e.g. DNA, fingerprints, and so on).

Let’s go back to the example about Tennyson’s faith in his poem  In Memoriam  mentioned above. Perhaps you don’t find the end of the poem convincing – when the poet claims to have rediscovered his Christian faith and to have overcome his grief at the loss of his friend.

You can find examples from the end of the poem to suggest your reading of the poet’s insincerity may have validity, but looking at sources beyond the poem – e.g. a good edition of the text, which will contain biographical and critical information – may help you to find a clinching piece of evidence to support your reading.

And, sure enough, Tennyson is reported to have said of  In Memoriam : ‘It’s too hopeful, this poem, more than I am myself.’ And there we have it: much more convincing than simply positing your reading of the poem with a few ambiguous quotations from the poem itself.

Of course, this rule also works in reverse: if you want to argue, for instance, that T. S. Eliot’s  The Waste Land is overwhelmingly inspired by the poet’s unhappy marriage to his first wife, then using a decent biographical source makes sense – but if you didn’t show evidence for this idea from the poem itself (see point 2), all you’ve got is a vague, general link between the poet’s life and his work.

Show  how the poet’s marriage is reflected in the work, e.g. through men and women’s relationships throughout the poem being shown as empty, soulless, and unhappy. In other words, when setting out to write a good English essay about any text, don’t be afraid to  pile on  the evidence – though be sensible, a handful of quotations or examples should be more than enough to make your point convincing.

4. Avoid tentative or speculative phrasing.

Many essays tend to suffer from the above problem of a lack of evidence, so the point fails to convince. This has a knock-on effect: often the student making the point doesn’t sound especially convinced by it either. This leaks out in the telling use of, and reliance on, certain uncertain  phrases: ‘Tennyson might have’ or ‘perhaps Harper Lee wrote this to portray’ or ‘it can be argued that’.

An English university professor used to write in the margins of an essay which used this last phrase, ‘What  can’t be argued?’

This is a fair criticism: anything can be argued (badly), but it depends on what evidence you can bring to bear on it (point 3) as to whether it will be a persuasive argument. (Arguing that the plays of Shakespeare were written by a Martian who came down to Earth and ingratiated himself with the world of Elizabethan theatre is a theory that can be argued, though few would take it seriously. We wish we could say ‘none’, but that’s a story for another day.)

Many essay-writers, because they’re aware that texts are often open-ended and invite multiple interpretations (as almost all great works of literature invariably do), think that writing ‘it can be argued’ acknowledges the text’s rich layering of meaning and is therefore valid.

Whilst this is certainly a fact – texts are open-ended and can be read in wildly different ways – the phrase ‘it can be argued’ is best used sparingly if at all. It should be taken as true that your interpretation is, at bottom, probably unprovable. What would it mean to ‘prove’ a reading as correct, anyway? Because you found evidence that the author intended the same thing as you’ve argued of their text? Tennyson wrote in a letter, ‘I wrote In Memoriam  because…’?

But the author might have lied about it (e.g. in an attempt to dissuade people from looking too much into their private life), or they might have changed their mind (to go back to the example of  The Waste Land : T. S. Eliot championed the idea of poetic impersonality in an essay of 1919, but years later he described  The Waste Land as ‘only the relief of a personal and wholly insignificant grouse against life’ – hardly impersonal, then).

Texts – and their writers – can often be contradictory, or cagey about their meaning. But we as critics have to act responsibly when writing about literary texts in any good English essay or exam answer. We need to argue honestly, and sincerely – and not use what Wikipedia calls ‘weasel words’ or hedging expressions.

So, if nothing is utterly provable, all that remains is to make the strongest possible case you can with the evidence available. You do this, not only through marshalling the evidence in an effective way, but by writing in a confident voice when making your case. Fundamentally, ‘There is evidence to suggest that’ says more or less the same thing as ‘It can be argued’, but it foregrounds the  evidence rather than the argument, so is preferable as a phrase.

This point might be summarised by saying: the best way to write a good English Literature essay is to be honest about the reading you’re putting forward, so you can be confident in your interpretation and use clear, bold language. (‘Bold’ is good, but don’t get too cocky, of course…)

5. Read the work of other critics.

This might be viewed as the Holy Grail of good essay-writing tips, since it is perhaps the single most effective way to improve your own writing. Even if you’re writing an essay as part of school coursework rather than a university degree, and don’t need to research other critics for your essay, it’s worth finding a good writer of literary criticism and reading their work. Why is this worth doing?

Published criticism has at least one thing in its favour, at least if it’s published by an academic press or has appeared in an academic journal, and that is that it’s most probably been peer-reviewed, meaning that other academics have read it, closely studied its argument, checked it for errors or inaccuracies, and helped to ensure that it is expressed in a fluent, clear, and effective way.

If you’re serious about finding out how to write a better English essay, then you need to study how successful writers in the genre do it. And essay-writing is a genre, the same as novel-writing or poetry. But why will reading criticism help you? Because the critics you read can show you how to do all of the above: how to present a close reading of a poem, how to advance an argument that is not speculative or tentative yet not over-confident, how to use evidence from the text to make your argument more persuasive.

And, the more you read of other critics – a page a night, say, over a few months – the better you’ll get. It’s like textual osmosis: a little bit of their style will rub off on you, and every writer learns by the examples of other writers.

As T. S. Eliot himself said, ‘The poem which is absolutely original is absolutely bad.’ Don’t get precious about your own distinctive writing style and become afraid you’ll lose it. You can’t  gain a truly original style before you’ve looked at other people’s and worked out what you like and what you can ‘steal’ for your own ends.

We say ‘steal’, but this is not the same as saying that plagiarism is okay, of course. But consider this example. You read an accessible book on Shakespeare’s language and the author makes a point about rhymes in Shakespeare. When you’re working on your essay on the poetry of Christina Rossetti, you notice a similar use of rhyme, and remember the point made by the Shakespeare critic.

This is not plagiarising a point but applying it independently to another writer. It shows independent interpretive skills and an ability to understand and apply what you have read. This is another of the advantages of reading critics, so this would be our final piece of advice for learning how to write a good English essay: find a critic whose style you like, and study their craft.

If you’re looking for suggestions, we can recommend a few favourites: Christopher Ricks, whose  The Force of Poetry is a tour de force; Jonathan Bate, whose  The Genius of Shakespeare , although written for a general rather than academic audience, is written by a leading Shakespeare scholar and academic; and Helen Gardner, whose  The Art of T. S. Eliot , whilst dated (it came out in 1949), is a wonderfully lucid and articulate analysis of Eliot’s poetry.

James Wood’s How Fiction Works  is also a fine example of lucid prose and how to close-read literary texts. Doubtless readers of  Interesting Literature will have their own favourites to suggest in the comments, so do check those out, as these are just three personal favourites. What’s your favourite work of literary scholarship/criticism? Suggestions please.

Much of all this may strike you as common sense, but even the most commonsensical advice can go out of your mind when you have a piece of coursework to write, or an exam to revise for. We hope these suggestions help to remind you of some of the key tenets of good essay-writing practice – though remember, these aren’t so much commandments as recommendations. No one can ‘tell’ you how to write a good English Literature essay as such.

But it can be learned. And remember, be interesting – find the things in the poems or plays or novels which really ignite your enthusiasm. As John Mortimer said, ‘The only rule I have found to have any validity in writing is not to bore yourself.’

Finally, good luck – and happy writing!

And if you enjoyed these tips for how to write a persuasive English essay, check out our advice for how to remember things for exams  and our tips for becoming a better close reader of poetry .

30 thoughts on “How to Write a Good English Literature Essay”

You must have taken AP Literature. I’m always saying these same points to my students.

I also think a crucial part of excellent essay writing that too many students do not realize is that not every point or interpretation needs to be addressed. When offered the chance to write your interpretation of a work of literature, it is important to note that there of course are many but your essay should choose one and focus evidence on this one view rather than attempting to include all views and evidence to back up each view.

Reblogged this on SocioTech'nowledge .

Not a bad effort…not at all! (Did you intend “subject” instead of “object” in numbered paragraph two, line seven?”

Oops! I did indeed – many thanks for spotting. Duly corrected ;)

That’s what comes of writing about philosophy and the subject/object for another post at the same time!

Reblogged this on Scribing English .

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Great post on essay writing! I’ve shared a post about this and about the blog site in general which you can look at here: http://writeoutloudblog.com/2015/01/13/recommended-resource-interesting-literature-com-how-to-write-an-essay/

All of these are very good points – especially I like 2 and 5. I’d like to read the essay on the Martian who wrote Shakespeare’s plays).

Reblogged this on Uniqely Mustered and commented: Dedicate this to all upcoming writers and lovers of Writing!

I shall take this as my New Year boost in Writing Essays. Please try to visit often for corrections,advise and criticisms.

Reblogged this on Blue Banana Bread .

Reblogged this on worldsinthenet .

All very good points, but numbers 2 and 4 are especially interesting.

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Reblogged this on rainniewu .

Reblogged this on pixcdrinks .

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Great post. Interesting infographic how to write an argumentative essay http://www.essay-profy.com/blog/how-to-write-an-essay-writing-an-argumentative-essay/

Reblogged this on DISTINCT CHARACTER and commented: Good Tips

Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented: This could be applied to novel or short story writing as well.

Reblogged this on rosetech67 and commented: Useful, albeit maybe a bit late for me :-)

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Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge international as & a level english - literature (9695).

• Syllabus overview

Learners following the Cambridge International AS and A Level English syllabus will study a range of texts in the three main forms: prose, poetry and drama. Set texts are offered from a wide range of different periods and cultures.

Learners will develop skills of reading and analysis of texts, and are encouraged to undertake wider reading to aid understanding of the texts studied. They will learn skills of effective and appropriate communication including the ability to discuss the critical context of texts.

Changes have been made to this syllabus for examination from 2021 onwards. Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus for detailed information.

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

• -->2021 - 2023 Syllabus update (PDF, 179KB)
• -->2024 - 2026 Syllabus (PDF, 523KB)

Syllabus support

• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description A Level (PDF, 156KB)
• -->2023 - 2026 Grade Description AS Level (PDF, 149KB)
• -->Support for Literature in English (PDF, 3MB)

Syllabus updates

We worked with teachers, subject expert panels and universities around the world to update our Cambridge International AS & A Level English subject group as part of our on-going review process. Following the review, we have made some changes to Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Many teachers told us that they offer more than one English subject from this group, so we have made some changes so that the syllabuses work together regardless of whether a student is studying one or more subject from this group. To make it clearer for teachers, we have separated this syllabus (Cambridge International AS and A Level English – Literature 9695) from our other Cambridge International AS & A Level English syllabuses.

How has the syllabus changed?

Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English is available for examination in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

• We have updated the aims in the syllabus, but the emphasis remains the same - to encourage learners to enjoy reading a wide range of international texts and to develop their skills in Literature.
• Interpretation.
• We have updated the list of set texts in the 'Subject content' section of the syllabus.
• A list of command words has been added to the syllabus to help teaching and learning and exam preparation.

How has the assessment changed?

• We have removed optional routes through the syllabus. There are now compulsory examination components: Paper 1 and Paper 2 at AS Level, with the addition of Paper 3 and Paper 4 at A Level.
• Paper 2: The assessment of an Unseen text has been introduced to the AS level and this provides good progression from Cambridge IGCSE.
• Coursework has been removed from the syllabus. All components are now externally assessed.
• All learners will study all three forms: poetry, prose and drama at both AS and A Level. This allows students to gain a good knowledge and understanding of Literature in all forms.
• The question paper structure has changed, as have the paper titles due to the changes made to the assessment model. However, the style of questions and presentation of the questions remains consistent with the current syllabus.
• The rubrics in all of the question papers have changed. Please see the specimen papers for further information.
• The levels-based marking criteria have been updated to maintain validity and reliability of assessment.

When do these changes take place?

The updated syllabus is for examination in June and November 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is also available in March 2021, 2022 and 2023 (India only). Please see the 2021-2023 syllabus above for full details.

Coming soon

We are developing a wide range of support to help you plan and teach the 2021-2023 syllabus.

Look out for a comprehensive range of materials to help you teach the updated syllabus including a scheme of work, Example candidate responses, Learner and Teacher Guides as well as specimen paper answers. These resources will be available from April 2019 onwards (before first teaching) through our School Support Hub .

Endorsed resources

Introduce key concepts and skills for advanced level literary study and focus on developing effective writing from the start. Give students a toolkit for responding to unseen texts and exploring the set texts in depth.

Read more on the Collins website

Through exploring wide ranging texts, students will find they are building essential skills – such as the ability to write clearly and effectively, construct an argument, manage information and analyse complex pieces.

Read more on the Cambridge University Press website

Important notices

We are withdrawing Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English (9695) from the March exam series. The last March series for this syllabus will be March 2026. 

From 2027, we will only offer this syllabus in the June and November exam series.

We communicated this change to schools in September 2022.

Find out more about our range of English syllabuses to suit every level and ambition.

For some subjects, we publish grade descriptions to help understand the level of performance candidates’ grades represent.

We paused the publication of grade descriptions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary changes to the awarding standard in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

As the awarding standard has now returned to the pre-pandemic standard, we are working to produce up-to-date grade descriptions for most of our general qualifications. These will be based on the awarding standards in place from June 2023 onwards.

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Teachers at registered Cambridge schools can unlock over 30 000 teaching and learning resources to help plan and deliver Cambridge programmes and qualifications, including Schemes of work, Example candidate responses, Past papers, Specimen paper answers, as well as digital and multimedia resources.

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A-Level English Literature Guide

In A-Level by Think Student Editor October 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

A-Level English Literature can be a niche or popular subject – sometimes classes have less than 10 people, sometimes classes are full. Whether you’ve picked it for A-Level or are sitting on the fence, it can be one of the hardest subjects to get right. Think you need some help? This guide is here to help answer all your questions.

In this guide I’ll be discussing whether you should take A-Level English Literature, what the course involves and what the benefits are to taking it. Keep reading to find out more!

Table of Contents

Should you take A-Level English Literature?

Personally, I feel that A-Level English Literature is one of the most creative A-Level subjects. If you enjoyed English Literature GCSE, the chances are you’ll also enjoy English Literature A-Level.

I’d only recommended taking English Literature A-Level if you are strongly passionate about it. The workload can be intense, so if you don’t enjoy the subject, you probably won’t enjoy the A-Level course.

Most schools will hold events for future sixth form students to learn more about each subject. From these you find out more about the course the school offers, or you can ask your teachers.

Alternatively, exam board websites usually post their specifications. For example, you can find the OCR specification here .

If you know what you want to pursue beyond A-Levels, you should also consider whether English Literature A-Level is necessary for future careers. This Think Student article has information on the most respected A-Level subjects.

Alternatively, read this Think Student article if you want to read more about A-Level combinations favoured by universities.

However, if you really want to take English Literature, you should choose what you’re interested in — it will make A-Levels in general more enjoyable.

Ultimately, whether you take English Literature A-Level or not is up to you. If you have a passion for the subject or think it could help you in the future, you should definitely consider choosing it.

How hard is A-Level English Literature?

Any A-Level English Literature student will tell you that it’s not an easy A-Level . In fact, this Think Student article has a list of the top 10 hardest A-Levels to take.

However, you shouldn’t let difficulty put you off. If you achieved the GCSE grades required to take the A-Level, you’re good enough to take the subject.

I would say that A-Level English Literature is moderately difficult. What many students, including myself, like about English is that there is technically no “wrong” answer. However, this also means your knowledge has to be on-point .

Still, don’t let difficulty get you down. Your school wouldn’t let you take A-Level English Literature if they thought you couldn’t handle it. Difficulty is also subjective; what other students find hard, you may find easy.

However , if you are a few weeks into the course and you decide it isn’t for you, there will still be time to switch subjects . If you have any concerns, this Think Student article offers advice on how to know if a course is right for you.

Now that we’ve established whether A-Level English Literature is right for you, let’s look at what the A-Level actually involves.

What do you do in A-Level English Literature?

The A-Level English Literature course is different depending on which exam board your sixth form uses. Even so, most of the courses have similar structures or modules.

As I mentioned earlier, if you enjoyed your GCSE English course, you’ll probably like the A-Level course too. Keep reading to find out more about the general structure of A-Level English Literature.

Exam boards provide a list of “set texts”. This means that your school has to choose a text to study from that specific list.

Exactly which texts are chosen is entirely up to your school. Meaning that you might study a different text to someone doing the same course.

What kind of work does A-Level English Literature involve?

The literature you study will cover poetry, prose and drama, and each exam board requires an NEA (non-exam assessment) project as part of the A-Level . Across the course, you’ll be analysing texts in response to questions on specific themes, ideas, characters or events.

The kinds of questions you get can vary . Sometimes, they’ll be a statement which you’ll be asked to agree or disagree with.

As well as this, you’ll be asked open-ended questions like discussing the presentation of a particular feature. This is one of the best things about A-Level English Literature: your opinion matters!

You’ll also have a lot of new and more complex terminology to learn, to help you analyse texts. This can definitely seem daunting when you first start. Although, if English is your favourite subject, then like me, you’ll learn to love it pretty quickly!

Does A-Level English Literature involve a lot of work?

I don’t think I need to tell you that A-Level English Literature is a very essay-based subject. However, this also means that you will have lots of writing to do and you will probably get set essays regularly . Your teachers may even set you an essay every week or two.

Due to this, for English literature, the jump from GCSE to A-Level is pretty noticeable. Especially as you will generally have quite a lot of work to do. If you’re worried that you aren’t prepared enough for it, this Think Student article has tips you’ll find useful.

Like I said earlier, exactly what you do, including how much work, depends on which exam board your school has chosen. Read further to find out more about the different exam boards, and what they offer as part of A-Level English Literature.

What are the exam boards for A-Level English Literature?

All 4 English exam boards – AQA, OCR, Edexcel and Eduqas – offer A-Level English Literature as a subject. Earlier in the guide , I mentioned that each exam board offers different texts and modules.

While your specific texts will depend on your sixth form, the modules are the same for everyone under the exam board. Continue reading for more information.

What is AQA A-Level English Literature like?

AQA, unlike the other exam boards, actually offers 2 different specifications: A and B .

In specification A, there are 3 compulsory modules. These are “Love through the ages”, “Texts in shared contexts”, and “Independent critical study: Texts across time”.

In specification B, there are also 3 compulsory modules. These are “Literary genres”, “Texts and genres”, and “Theory and independence”.

The texts that are part of specification A include one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 poetry anthology and one pre-1900 prose text in one module. As well as 3 texts (one prose, one poetry and one drama) with at least one text written post-2000 in another module.

The texts that are part of specification B include one Shakespeare play and two pre-1900 texts in one module. As well as one post-2000 prose, one poetry, and one pre-1900 text in another module. As you can see, both specifications feature similar content but divide them differently .

However, this guide can only offer you a brief overview of the A-Level course. You can find the specifications for AQA A-Level English Literature here (specification A) and here (specification B).

What is OCR A-Level English Literature like?

The OCR A-Level English Literature specification is divided into 3 sections. These are “Drama and poetry pre-1900”, “Comparative and contextual study”, and “Literature post-1900”.

The latter section is a coursework module. Some exam boards require coursework as part of A-Level English Literature, but some don’t.

In the first section, you’ll study one Shakespeare play, one pre-1900 drama and one pre-1900 poetry text. In the second section, you’ll choose one theme (from a list provided by the exam board) and two texts, with at least one text from the list provided by OCR.

The third section is a coursework module, which means you don’t sit an exam for it. Instead , you produce an essay over the course which determines a percentage of your final grade . You can find the full OCR A-Level English Literature specification here .

What is Edexcel A-Level English Literature like?

Pearson Edexcel offers 4 components as part of A-Level English Literature. These are “Drama”, “Prose”, “Poetry”, and a coursework module.

As with the components and modules of other exam boards, each module has its own exam (except for coursework). For Edexcel, the “Drama” and “Poetry” exams are 2 hours 15 minutes, and the “Prose” exam is 1 hour 15 minutes .

In “Drama”, students study one Shakespeare play and critical essays related to the play, and one other drama. In “Prose”, students study two prose texts with one text written pre-1900.

In “Poetry”, students study an anthology and a range of poetry from either a specific poet or specific period. The Pearson Edexcel specification is linked here .

What is Eduqas A-Level English Literature like?

The Eduqas English Literature A-Level specification also has 4 components. These are “Poetry”, “Drama”, “Unseen Texts”, and “Prose Study”.

The “Prose Study” component is a coursework module. All 3 Eduqas A-Level English Literature exams are 2 hours long.

In total, you’ll study two selections of poetry (pre-1900 and post-1900), a Shakespeare play, two non-Shakespeare plays (pre-1900 and post-1900), and two prose texts.

Unlike the other exam boards, Eduqas dedicates a whole module to unseen texts , so you can’t directly revise for that. If you want to read the complete specification, you can do so here .

How to do well in A-Level English Literature

Every student knows there’s no set way to do well. There are way too many changing factors to offer you a fool-proof guide to success!

However , there are definitely techniques and processes to help you secure those top grades . Continue reading for my personal advice on how to succeed in A-Level English Literature.

The best advice I received while studying A-Level English Literature is to include your work in your everyday life. This could be as simple as telling your friend about a character you liked. Alternatively, you could use a key quote in a conversation.

These things both count as revision, because it helps you remember important information. For more revision techniques, see this Think Student article.

in A-Level English Literature is to take advantage of peer review . You’ll definitely make mistakes in your work, no one is perfect!

Asking a partner, friend, or family member to read your essay is a great way to pick up on things you miss. This Think Student article has some useful advice for English literature essay writing!

How to write an English literature essay for A-Level?

Sometimes, the exam system can make it feel like you don’t have much self-expression. I know I’ve certainly felt that way.

One of the great things about essays, and English literature, is that you get to voice your own opinion in your own way . I’ll take you through some general tips on what makes a good essay.

The most important thing is to perfect your spelling and grammar as much as possible. One thing I was always told in school was that if your essay is coherent, you’re halfway to a good essay. Obviously, this is harder if English isn’t your first language, but practice makes perfect!

On top of spelling and grammar, you should make your argument as clear as possible. Teachers will often refer to this as “signposting”.

It lets examiners know exactly what you’re going to talk about. It’s also useful if you run out of time, as examiners can see what you were planning to talk about; it shows you had good ideas, you were just limited by time. For tips on how to structure an English essay, check out this Think Student article.

A third, more obvious tip is to keep your assessment objects in mind as much as possible . In your essays, it’s good to mentally check off what criteria you’ve followed. This way you can keep track of the marks you’ve achieved, and the ones you still need.

What can you do with an English literature A-Level?

Being a student who took A-Level English Literature myself, one of my biggest concerns was the pathways available to me afterwards .

English is often talked about as a subject with limited options – but don’t worry! A-Level English Literature is useful for degrees in fields like English, History, Law, Politics, Philosophy and more.

It might surprise you, but English is a subject that a lot of universities and employers like . You don’t have to want to be a writer to find English A-Level useful.

The writing skills you gain are desirable to universities and employers in a range of fields . However, if you’re still uncertain, I’d recommend researching what A-Levels you need to pursue your future degree/job.

For example, if you want to be a vet , midwife , counsellor , nurse , social worker , police officer , pilot or account , you can click on their respective links to see what A-Levels you will need.

Don’t let how useful A-Level English Literature is stop you from taking it if you really want to! The most important thing about A-Levels is that you choose the subjects you like.

From personal experience, I can tell you that if you don’t care about the subject, you won’t enjoy the A-Level. If you think A-Level English Literature is right for you, choose it!

Poetry & Poets

Explore the beauty of poetry – discover the poet within

A Level English Literature Poetry Anthology

English Literature has been around for hundreds of years and is a vast but exciting field of literature. As part of this, a poetry anthology is a great way to explore the works of different authors. The A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology is a collection of points and topics that are to be studied and discussed when exploring the works of early and modern poets. The anthology covers aspects such as the Renaissance period, symbolism, pastoral poetry and romanticism, romantic irony, and the more contemporary poetry dating from 1945 up to the present day. It also talks about language, rhythm, and structure, as well as the use of various forms and other aspects of the English language.

The structure of the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology can be divided into four different sections. These sections are: background, analysed poetry, questions and essay guidance. The background section gives you a brief historical and cultural context to the poems that have been studied. The analysed poetry section provides a detailed analysis of the text, examining different devices and techniques that the poet may have used. This section also looks at how the text relates to current society and culture. The questions section asks several questions that help to stimulate discussion and highlight the importance of context and interpretation. The essay guidance section provides a structure for writing a good essay, as well as guidance on how you should go about doing this.

Main Authors

The main authors that are featured in the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology are: Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, John Donne, Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Robert Browning, Alfred Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, T. S. Eliot, Phillip Larkin, Alice Oswald,and Carol Ann Duffy. These poets have all contributed to the field of English Literature at different times, and so you can explore their different works and styles.

The A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology is an excellent resource for those wishing to explore the works of different authors. The text provides detailed analysis on the subject, allowing you to explore both the form and content of the literature. As well as this, it encourages discussion and provides structure for writing a good essay on the given topic. Through exploring the works of these authors, you can gain a better understanding of the English language and culture, and can become an informed and engaging reader.

One of the great things about studying the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology is the variety of texts that it provides. The anthology covers a wide range of styles, from the words of William Shakespeare, to the more modern works of Carol Ann Duffy. This allows you to gain a full understanding of different aspects of English Literature, from the early Renaissance period, to the contemporary works of today’s poets.

Learning Outcomes

By studying the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology, students can gain a better understanding of how literature works, how to analyse different texts, and how these texts can reflect on society and culture. Students can develop their analytical, writing, and research skills, as well as enhance their critical thinking. As well as this, students learn how to write coherent and insightful essays by using the essay guidance section of the anthology.

Application

The A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology can be applied to various contexts, for example, when studying for exams, when writing essays, or when exploring the works of a particular author. By studying this anthology, you can develop your writing, research, and analytical skills, thereby becoming a more confident and informed reader and writer.

Culture and Society

As well as providing a great tool for exploring literature, the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology can also inform you about culture and society. Through studying various texts, you can understand how the written word can act as a reflection of the world at that time. By looking at the different devices used by the poets and analyzing their work, you can gain an understanding of the broader socio-political context of the poetry.

Analyzing Style

The A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology is also important when it comes to analyzing the style of a particular poet. By studying their works and looking at how they use language, structure, and rhythm, you can better understand how they are creating meaning in their work. This can be useful not only when studying for exams, but also when exploring the works of certain authors in detail.

Accessibility

Another great thing about the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology is its accessibility. As it is available online, it can be accessed from any device, at any time. This makes it an ideal resource for anyone wishing to study English Literature in depth, as you can view the texts wherever and whenever you please.

Creative Writing

Finally, studying the A-level English Literature Poetry Anthology can have a positive effect on creative writing. By examining the techniques used by early and modern poets, you can gain an understanding of how to craft your own works. Through engaging with the materials in the anthology, you can gain an appreciation of the different aspects of literature, and this can inspire your own creativity.

Minnie Walters

Minnie Walters is a passionate writer and lover of poetry. She has a deep knowledge and appreciation for the work of famous poets such as William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more. She hopes you will also fall in love with poetry!

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• Revision notes >
• A-Level English Literature >

How do I structure an English literature essay at A-Level?

Structuring an English literature essay at A-Level can be broken down into the following steps:

• Understand the question and develop a thesis statement: Begin by reading the question carefully and identifying what it is asking you to do. Develop a thesis statement that clearly answers the question and sets out the main argument you will be making in your essay.
• Plan your essay: Create an outline for your essay that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Decide on the main points you want to make in each paragraph and the evidence you will use to support them.
• Write the introduction: Start with a strong opening sentence that grabs the reader’s attention and introduces the topic. Provide background information and context for the text you will be analyzing, and end with your thesis statement.
• Write the body paragraphs: Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that relates to your thesis statement and introduces the main point you will be making. Use evidence from the text to support your argument, and explain how the evidence supports your point. Make sure to analyze the evidence and explain how it relates to your argument rather than just summarizing it.
• Write the conclusion: Summarize the main points you made in your essay and restate your thesis statement. End with a final thought that ties your argument together and leaves the reader with something to think about.
• Edit and proofread: Read through your essay carefully and make sure that it flows well, that your arguments are clear and supported by evidence, and that there are no grammatical or spelling errors.

Remember to also use relevant literary terms and techniques to support your analysis, and to provide quotations from the text to back up your arguments.

The key elements of a well-structured English literature essay at A-Level include a clear thesis statement, well-planned body paragraphs with topic sentences and evidence to support your arguments, and a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis.

To develop a thesis statement for your English literature essay, begin by carefully reading and analyzing the text. Identify the key themes and literary techniques used by the author and develop a statement that clearly answers the question and sets out the main argument you will be making in your essay.

The best way to plan your English literature essay at A-Level is to create an outline that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Decide on the main points you want to make in each paragraph and the evidence you will use to support them.

To write clear body paragraphs for your English literature essay, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that relates to your thesis statement and introduces the main point you will be making. Use evidence from the text to support your argument, and explain how the evidence supports your point.

To analyze literary texts effectively in your English literature essay at A-Level, look for literary techniques used by the author, such as imagery, symbolism, and metaphor. Use quotes from the text to support your analysis and explain how these techniques contribute to the meaning of the text.

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AQA A Level English Literature A Unseen Poetry Exemplar Essays

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

3 January 2022

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This resource includes answers to exam-styled questions for AQA A Level English Literature.

One of the best ways to use these exemplar essays is:

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• To reread the essay
• To assign five different colours to each assessment objective
• To highlight where you see each assessment objective being addressed
• To review the essay and see if there are any assessment objectives that need to be addressed in detail
• To give overall feedback e.g. what went well? what could be done to improve?

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Home › Study Tips › How To Revise English Literature A Level? Tips By A* Students

How To Revise English Literature A Level? Tips By A* Students

• Published December 6, 2022

Table of Contents

Do you know that only 16.5% of English Lit students achieved an A*, and just 20.2% got an A in England in 2022?

Do you want to be a part of the A* team? But you’re struggling to understand and effectively revise for your English Literature A-Level exams? The vast amount of material you have to cover does make studying a daunting task. 

However, with the right approach and strategies, you too can grab that A*/A!

That’s why we ensure our english literature summer school students have 1:1 access to expert tutors. To help them maximise learning and develop bulletproof study skills in preparation for university-level English Literature. 

We’ve also gathered game-changing study tips and strategies to help you ace your A-Level English Literature. Read to discover more!

How can you revise for A-Level English Literature?

Identify your exam board.

Knowing which exam board you’re sitting on when revising for your English Literature A-Level is essential. Why? Because your exam board determines the content and layout of your exams.

Are you studying AQA, OCR or Edexcel?

Make sure you’ve checked the exam materials thoroughly, whichever board you’ve chosen, so you’ll know what to expect. Or you could end up in a real pickle!

In addition, you’ll also need to take note of the Assessment Objectives.

What are the A-Level English Literature Assessment Objectives?

Do you know that the Assessment Objectives (AOs) are the same across all exam boards? 

Here are the 5 AOs you need to know about.

• How well you express your own thoughts, feelings, and ideas about literary texts. Do you use appropriate language and terms and write clearly and accurately?
• Are you proficient in examining the techniques and elements used to create meaning in a literary text?
• Do you illustrate an understanding of how contexts influence how authors write literary texts and how readers receive them?
• How efficient are you in investigating connections across literary texts?
• Explore literary texts through different perspectives and understandings.

Why is it essential to know specifications unique to a particular exam board and the general AOs? Because doing so will give you a clear direction. Allowing you to streamline your revision strategy according to your exam board’s criteria. 

It’ll also help ensure you meet your degree’s English literature a-level requirements .

Pro Tip: Keep track of any changes or updates that might affect your course by watching out for the school website for announcements. And stay on top of any news from your exam board. You don’t want to be caught off-guard on your exam day!

Organise Your Notes According To What Information Matters Most

Once you know your exam board, it’s time to organise your notes. How can you best organise them so that they’re easy to understand and remember? According to what matters most, such as:

• Story’s Theme/Context
• Character Description
• Quotes relating to Theme and Characters
• Literary Techniques

By doing so, you’ll go through each piece of literature with organised notes of textual analysis. This will help you remember the core information during your revision, as well as aid you in constructing better essays on exam day.

Don’t forget to write down any wider reading or background knowledge you may have acquired on a particular text. This is an integral part of analysing literature and can often be included in exam questions. So, it pays to be prepared!

Use Your Notes To Support Your Interpretations and Learnings

You now have sets of organised notes to scan and familiarise regularly. Now it’s time to write down and incorporate your interpretations and learnings.

Knowing the story’s theme or memorising quotes won’t matter if you don’t know how to incorporate them into your learning. That’s why it’s important to understand the underlying message of each text.

• How do you analyse and interpret the text/character?
• How do you use quotes and literary techniques to support your point of view?
• What’s your conclusion, and how does it relate to your life?

Remember, at the end of the day, it’s about what you learned from reading a particular piece of literature. The goal is to enhance your ability to understand what you’ve read and form well-supported opinions about it.

So, write down your interpretations and leanings as you go through the notes. This will help you build a clearer understanding of each text and support your ideas on exam day.

Use Flashcards To Help You Remember

Flashcards are a great tool to help you remember essential information and quotes quickly. How do they work? They contain key points of a particular text, author or theme on one side of the card and its explanation on the other.

For English Literature A-Level exams, this could be anything from character descriptions to quotes that support a particular theme. And by writing and memorising the key points on both sides, you can practise quickly recalling information.

Why use cards when you’ve already written these on your notes? Because you can make a game out of it. For instance, when you see a character quote on one side of the card, can you recall the explanation or context written on the other side?

Try reciting to yourself what you recall. Then turn the card around. Do you remember correctly? 

Plus, you can shuffle cards around and get one at random. Ensuring your brain associates according to logic and understanding. And not just through spatial recall as it usually goes when solely studying via notes. 

Strategically Revisit The Texts

This tip applies if you’ve already read the text in full prior. Allowing you to revisit the text a second time, but now with an intentional eye. In this round, you’d find it beneficial to focus on two particular parts:

• the chapters or sections you didn’t give much attention to before
• and those that your professor highlighted during the discussion

Why is it essential to revisit chapters or sections you may not have given much attention to before? Because you’re sure to find character quotes or pivotal themes you may not have noticed. The details you’ll gather here will reinforce your answers during your exams.

Now, focus on the themes and topics your professor discussed.

• How did they explain it?
• How did they interpret it?
• How does this fit into what you already know about the text?

Use the knowledge you’ve gathered to create a bridge between your interpretations and those of your professor. This will help you gain an even deeper understanding of the work.

Revising English literature for A-Levels means writing down notes and intentionally revisiting your texts. This allows you to take insights from your and your professor’s interpretations. And use them to enrich your knowledge and recollection during exams.

Take Full Advantage of Past Papers

Past papers are a great way to prepare for your English Literature A-Level exams for a few reasons. 

To start, they give you a sense of what the exam will be like. For instance,  

• What are the usual questions? 
• In what format? 
• How long do the papers often go? 

Practising with past papers helps increase your confidence. Helping to minimise stress on exam day. 

Another advantage of using past papers is that you can measure your progress. How? By noting which topics or texts you struggled with and then revisiting those specific areas.

You can then test yourself on these topics by trying some practice questions. If you can answer them with quickness and assertion, you know you’re ready for the real thing.

Finally, past papers are an excellent resource for reference. If you have a question in your revision that you need help with, you can look at the corresponding past paper to see how others have answered it. 

This can provide you with some valuable insights and help boost your confidence.

All in all, they: 

• give you a sense of what to expect
• help you measure your progress
• and act as a reference tool

On top of that, you can also double-check your answers via mark schemes. 

Use Mind Maps To Help You Make Connections

Mind maps are excellent in helping you visualise the concepts and themes you’ve learned. How? By drawing lines between characters, symbols, and events. Making it easier for you to create meaningful connections between all the information that makes up a text.

So you can quickly scan your mind map and recall everything you’ve learned. 

Mind maps also make it easier for you to understand the story’s overall structure and flow to remember essential details in a snap. 

You can start by drawing a circle in the centre of your paper to create a useful mind map. This is where you’ll write down the text that you’re studying. Then draw branches out from this central circle and write down the characters, symbols, or events associated with the text.

Let’s say you’re reading Pride and Prejudice and want to study the theme “Marriage.” You can put it in a circle and connect all the quotes, chapters, and scenes where it is discussed or demonstrated. Allowing you to review important details at a glance.

Mind maps are a fantastic way to make significant connections to help you interpret texts when revising for English Literature A-Levels. Hence, you can visualise concepts and remember essential details more easily.

Maximise Revision Guides

Another great way to revise is to use revision guides. These provide a comprehensive overview of the texts and themes studied in your course and are an invaluable resource for exams.

Most revision guides contain:

• and analysis of each text

Plus, they usually include practice essay questions and their answers to help you prepare for the exam.

The best part? Revision guides are widely available. Most come with topics broken down into manageable chunks and lists. Making it easy to track your progress as you go through each section.

Remember that for all the good revision guides can do for you, it’s there only to aid you . And not to replace actual reading and rereading of the original text! Why? Because as we have mentioned before, what matters most is how you interpret the text.

What revision guides can do is supplement your notes. To fill in the gaps you may have missed. Therefore, giving you a more complete study.

So if you want a comprehensive resource to revise English Literature A-Level, then using a revision guide is beneficial. They’ll help make studying easier for you!

Engage in Study Groups

One of the best ways to revise for English Literature A-Level is to participate in a study group.

By getting together with other students, you can

• Share ideas
• Compare notes
• and discuss themes and characters in the texts

Plus, if there’s something you need help understanding, another may be able to explain it better.

Having a group of like-minded peers to discuss texts can also be motivating and mentally stimulating. It’s always more enjoyable studying with other people because groups often devise creative ways to approach complex topics.

Study groups are also beneficial for practice exams. You can 

• Quiz each other on various questions
• Exchange essay plans
• Compare answers

Providing a more profound learning experience and giving everyone a better understanding of the texts.

Watch Videos For Inspiration

Need inspiration to understand your texts on a whole different level? Consider watching videos for inspiration. This is especially helpful when you’re reading an old text. The unfamiliarity of the

• Cultural norms of the time
• The language used (e.g. Old English)

can become huge stumbling blocks to your learning. And you may find yourself stuck in the mire. This is where a full-on visual presentation can throw you the ropes. 

Watching a movie adaptation or an educational video analysis of the text can help you grasp its true depth. Or they can stir your interest and curiosity and make you think, “this story isn’t as dull as I thought it was!”

Many educational videos, such as how to use oxford dictionary APA citations , provide helpful lessons on the texts studied in your course. These are often presented by knowledgeable teachers or professors who can explain complex concepts. 

However, remember this golden rule: read and re-read the original text for the following reasons:

• Movie adaptations often change or omit details
• Interpretations won’t make much sense until you read the actual text
• When answering essay questions, you must cite quotes and scenes from the original texts.

Videos allow you to gain a more vivid understanding of the text and can even help you develop different interpretations. So if you need a lift, take some time to explore videos related to your course and see what great insights they have in store for you!

How To Ace Your A-Level English Literature Exams

You now have a plan of attack for revising English Literature A-Level. So how do you ensure that you ace your exams? The following tips will help you ace your A-Level English Literature exams.

Develop a Consistent Study Routine

A consistent study routine is the best way to ensure you are ready for your exams. How often and for how long should you revise? It all depends on the amount of material that needs to be covered. The important thing is that you find a routine that works for you.

It could be an hour each day or two hours every other day. Figure out which pattern works best for you and stick with it. It can be a flexible schedule as long as it helps you review your texts thoroughly before the exams.

Prioritise Revision Strategies

You should prioritise specific strategies over others to ensure you cover all the critical topics and texts in time. If you feel like you understand the text but don’t know how to apply it to essays, then focus more on developing essay plans.

If you find specific themes or characters particularly difficult, spend more time reviewing them. This strategy will enable you to answer any questions on the exam with confidence.

Evaluate Your Practice Essay According to the Assessment Objectives

When practising essays, evaluate them according to the assessment objectives. This will help you understand what areas you need to focus on to score well on exam day.

You should also practise answering questions under time pressure. So you can develop effective strategies for managing your time and tackling challenging questions.

Lastly, remember to get feedback on your practice essays. Otherwise, how will you find out that you’ve improved? Getting feedback helps you gauge where you’re at in your progress. 

Consult with Teachers/Tutors

When in doubt, it’s always best to consult with your professors or tutors. They can provide you with clarity and help you hone in on the topics that need more work. 

For instance,

• How else can you interpret a text? 
• What are some other approaches to look at when answering essay questions? 
• Are there literary theories you haven’t applied yet? 

Your professors or tutors can answer all these questions. So make sure to consult them if you’re feeling stuck. And if you’re looking for top-ranked UK universities for English Literature.

There you have it! If you’re wondering, “how do you get an A * in A-Level literature?” Simply look towards the study tips above. 

Remember, revising for an A-Level English Literature exam is no easy feat. Still, with these game-changing tips and techniques, you’ll be well on your way to acing it!

How to Revise for English Literature A-level Poetry?

Revising poetry for A-Level English Literature can seem intimidating at first, especially when you’re not used to reading it. It can even be more difficult when a poem contains unfamiliar words or uses a style you’re not familiar with. 

So here are some strategic tips you need to know for poetry English literature revision.

• Read the whole poem, each time with one specific intention in mind, including the following:
• Personal Reaction
• Context according to the author, date, literary context, etc.
• The Technique used, such as form, structure, and language and how it contributes to meaning.
• As you go through each read, annotate the poem with your notes. Remember to highlight the key themes, symbols, and literary devices.
• Check out what other English students and teachers have said about the poem.
• Once you have your notes, refresh your memory by rereading them regularly.
• Use flashcards to familiarise yourself with key quotes and lines from the poems.
• Practice answering essay questions under timed conditions.
• Make sure to answer different types of questions, including close reading questions, context questions, and comparison questions.
• Get feedback on your essays and practice papers from your teacher or a tutor.
• Need more motivation? Revise with a group! You’ll learn valuable insights from like-minded people.
• Make sure to balance studying and relaxing well so you don’t burn out before the exam.
• Finally, stay focused and organised. Make a study schedule and stick to it!

How Many Texts Do You Study in A-Level English Literature?

Your exam board determines how many texts you study in A-Level English Literature. For instance, AQA requires students to study three texts. What are these texts? One poetry, one prose, and one drama.

Edexcel also requires the study of three general texts (poetry, prose, and drama.) With a total of eight texts under these three categories.

Hence, the number of texts you need to study depends on your exam board. That’s why it’s best to check your specifications so you can adjust your revision sessions accordingly.

Is English Literature Hard in A-Levels?

Yes, English Literature is hard in A-Levels. At least when you compare it to Mathematics based on the percentage of students who gained an A*. But English Literature is a bit easier compared to Biology, and about similar difficulty levels to Chemistry.

What percentage of A-Level students achieved A*s and As in English Literature? The table below reveals that around 16.5% got an A*, and 20.2% obtained an A.

When comparing A-Level English outcomes to Maths, we have

The table above shows that there are less English Literature students who achieved A* (16.5%) than Maths (22.8%.) How about for A? English’s 20.2% is to Maths’ 24.3%. Hence, English Lit is more difficult than Maths. 

Let’s now compare English Literature vs Biology. 

You’ll see above that more English students received an A* (16.5%) than Biology (12.8%.) The same trend goes for the number of students who got an A, but only by a 1% difference. So English Literature is a bit easier than Biology.

Last but not least, let’s examine whether English Lit is harder or easier than Chemistry by looking at the table below. 

The table shows that more English students achieved an A* (16.5%) than Chemistry students (24.4%.) But when it comes to A, the reverse is true. Less English Literature students got an A (20.2%) than Chemistry students (24.4%.)

So students find English Literature and Chemistry at similar difficulty levels.

Looking back across the tables, you’ll see that based on the percentage of students who achieved A*s and As

• English literature is hard when compared to Mathematics
• But a bit easier compared to Biology
• And similar in difficulty level to Chemistry

Is it Hard to Get an A in A-Level English Literature?

Yes, getting an A in A-Level English Literature can be hard. Ofqual Analytics states that only about 16.5% of English Literature students in England achieved an A*, and about 20.2% got an A. 

Do you want to get an A grade in your A-Level Engli Lit? Then, incorporate the revision tips listed above into your study routine. 

Acing your A-Level English Literature exams requires a combination of consistent study habits and effective revision strategies. Having the willingness to seek feedback and guidance is also essential. 

You’ll ace English Literature in no time when you follow these tips to develop a deep understanding of the texts and hone the ability to analyse and interpret. So remember to stay focused and motivated, and you will do great!

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How to Write the AP Lit Poetry Essay

What’s covered:.

• How to Write the AP Literature Poetry Essay
• Tips for Writing The AP Lit Poetry Essay

To strengthen your AP Literature Poetry Essay essay, make sure you prepare ahead of time by knowing how the test is structured, and how to prepare. In this post, we’ll cover the structure of the test and show you how you can write a great AP Literature Poetry Essay.

What is the AP Lit Poetry Essay? 

The AP Literature exam has two sections. Section I contains 55 multiple choice questions, with 1 hour time allotted. This includes at least two prose fiction passages and two poetry passages. 

Section II, on the other hand, is a free response section. Here, students write essays to 3 prompts. These prompts include a literary analysis of a poem, prose fiction, or in a work selected by the student. Because the AP Literature Exam is structured in a specific, predictable manner, it’s helpful to prepare yourself for the types of questions you’ll encounter on test day. 

The Poetry Essay counts for one-third of the total essay section score, so it’s important to know how to approach this section. You’ll want to plan for about 40 minutes on this question, which is plenty of time to read and dissect the prompt, read and markup the poem, write a brief outline, and write a concise, well-thought out essay with a compelling analysis. 

Tips for Writing the AP Lit Poetry Essay

1. focus on the process.

Writing is a process, and so is literary analysis. Think less about finding the right answer, or uncovering the correct meaning of the poem (there isn’t one, most of the time). Read the prompt over at least twice, asking yourself carefully what you need to look for as you read. Then, read the poem three times. Once, to get an overall sense of the poem. Second, start to get at nuance; circle anything that’s recurring, underline important language and diction , and note important images or metaphors. In your annotations, you want to think about figurative language , and poetic structure and form . Third, pay attention to subtle shifts in the poem: does the form break, is there an interruption of some sort? When analyzing poetry, it’s important to get a sense of the big picture first, and then zoom in on the details. 

2. Craft a Compelling Thesis

No matter the prompt, you will always need to respond with a substantive thesis. A meaty thesis contains complexity rather than broad generalizations , and points to specifics in the poem.

By examining the colloquial language in Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem, “We Real Cool”, we can see the tension of choosing to be “cool”. This raises important ideas about education, structure, and routine, and the consequences of living to be “real cool”.

Notice how the thesis provides a roadmap of what is to follow in the essay , and identifies key ideas that the essay will explore. It is specific, and not vague. The thesis provides a bigger picture of the text, while zooming in the colloquial language the speaker uses. 

A good thesis points out the why as much as the what . Notice how in the above example, the thesis discusses language in the poem as it connects to a bigger message about the poem. For example, it’s not enough to discuss Emily Dickinson’s enjambment and hyphens. A good thesis will make a compelling argument about why those infamous Dickinson hyphens are so widely questioned and examined. Perhaps a good thesis might suggest that this unique literary device is more about self-examination and the lapse in our own judgement. 

3. Use Textual Evidence 

To support your thesis, always use textual evidence . When you are creating an outline, choose a handful of lines in the poem that will help illuminate your argument. Make sure each claim in your essay is followed by textual evidence, either in the form of a paraphrase, or direct quote . Then, explain exactly how the textual evidence supports your argument . Using this structure will help keep you on track as you write, so that your argument follows a clear narrative that a reader will be able to follow. 

Your essay will need to contain both description of the poem, and analysis . Remember that your job isn’t to describe or paraphrase every aspect of the poem. You also need lots of rich analysis, so be sure to balance your writing by moving from explicit description to deeper analysis. 

4. Strong Organization and Grammar

A great essay for the AP Literature Exam will contain an introduction with a thesis (not necessarily always the last sentence of the paragraph), body paragraphs that contain clear topic sentences, and a conclusion . Be sure to spend time thinking about your organization before you write the paper. Once you start writing, you only want to think about content. It’s helpful to write a quick outline before writing your essay. 

There’s nothing worse than a strong argument with awkward sentences, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Make sure to proofread your work before submitting it. Carefully edit your work, paying attention to any run-on sentences, subject-verb agreement, commas, and spelling. You’d be surprised how many mistakes you’ll catch just by rereading your work. 

Common Mistakes on the AP Literature Poetry Essay 

It can be helpful to know what not to do when it comes time to prepare for the AP Literature Poetry Essay. Here are some common mistakes students make on the AP Literature Poetry Essay:

1. Thesis is not arguable and is too general 

Your thesis should be arguable, and indicate the central ideas you will discuss in your essay. Read the prompt carefully and craft your thesis in light of what the prompt asks you to do. If the prompt mentions specific literary devices, find a way to tie those into your thesis. In your thesis, you want to connect to the meaning of the poem itself and what you feel the poet intended when using those particular literary devices.

2. Using vague, general statements rather than focusing on analysis of the poem

Always stay close to the text when writing the AP Literature Poetry Essay. Remember that your job is not to paraphrase but to analyze. Keep explicit descriptions of the poem concise, and spend the majority of your time writing strong analysis backed up by textual evidence.

3. Not using transitions to connect between paragraphs

Make sure it’s not jarring to the reader when you switch to a new idea in a new paragraph. Use transitions and strong topic sentences to seamlessly blend your ideas together into a cohesive essay that flows well and is easy to follow. 

4. Textual evidence is lacking or not fully explained 

Always include quotes from the text and reference specifics whenever you can. Introduce your quote briefly, and then explain how the quote connects back to the topic sentence after. Think about why the quotes connect back to the poet’s central ideas. 

5. Not writing an outline

Of course, to write a fully developed essay you’ll need to spend a few minutes planning out your essay. Write a quick outline with a thesis, paragraph topics and a list of quotes that support your central ideas before getting started.

To improve your writing, take a look at these essay samples from the College Board, with scoring guidelines and commentary. 

How Will AP Scores Affect My College Chances?

While you can self-report AP scores, they don’t really affect your admissions chances . Schools are more interested in how you performed in the actual class, as your grades impact your GPA. To understand how your GPA impacts your college chances, use our free chancing engine . We’ll let you know your personal chance of acceptance at over 1500 schools, plus give you tips for improving your profile.

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Lyn Hejinian, 82, Dies; Leading Light of the Language Poetry Movement

A poet, publisher and professor, she channeled the revolutionary spirit and deconstructionist currents of the 1960s to challenge the conventions of poetry.

By Alex Williams

Lyn Hejinian, a central figure in the Language poetry movement of the 1970s and ’80s who channeled the seismic social changes and avant-garde artistic climate of the 1960s into work that was both richly lyrical and groundbreaking in its experimentalism, died on Feb. 24 at her home in Berkeley, Calif. She was 82.

The cause was cancer of the bile duct, her husband, the jazz saxophonist Larry Ochs , said.

As a poet, essayist, publisher and professor, Ms. Hejinian was a central figure in a subversive literary movement that aimed to explode the first-person confessional strain of mainstream poetry — as epitomized by the likes of Robert Lowell and John Berryman — through artful deconstructions of language and form.

Language poetry, also known as Language writing, was largely centered in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. Ms. Hejinian, who lived on 80 rural acres in Mendocino County, Calif., about 140 miles north of San Francisco, helped to seed the movement in 1976, when she acquired a manual letterpress and started Tuumba Press, a showcase for similarly inclined poets, including Rae Armantrout, Carla Harryman, Ron Silliman and Charles Bernstein.

Such writers were influenced by early-20th-century Modernists like Gertrude Stein , as well as by contemporary European post-structuralists like Roland Barthes , who shook the long-held assumption that a literary work necessarily comes from a single, stable authorial point of view, with a coherent, generally recognizable meaning.

“These poems are as much about how they make meaning as what they mean,” Mr. Bernstein, a professor emeritus of English at the University of Pennsylvania who co-edited the newsletter L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E during the movement’s early years, said in a phone interview. “Often the poems evaded any direct message in favor of an attention to the language of the poem and its sonic rhythms.”

Influenced by the revolutionary spirit of the antiwar, civil rights and feminist movements of the 1960s, Ms. Hejinian and other aligned poets sought to overturn the social order at the literary level by exploring the open text — a literary work that allows for a multiplicity of points of view and meanings.

In doing so, “the writer relinquishes total control and challenges authority as a principle and control as a motive,” Ms. Hejinian said in “ The Rejection of Closure ,” an essay she delivered at a 1983 panel discussion of poetry. Therefore, she explained, the Language poem “resists the cultural tendencies that seek to identify and fix material and turn it into a product; that is, it resists reduction and commodification.”

Ms. Hejinian savored her place among the literary mavericks. “We attended and participated in poetry readings that took place two or three or sometimes four times a week, talked until late at night at bars, launched literary journals, hosted radio shows, curated readings and lecture series,” she said in a 2020 interview published by the University of California, Berkeley, where she served on the English department faculty for two decades starting in 2001.

“We had very little respect for official academia,” she added, “which, in turn, had very little respect for us.”

In 1980, she published her best-known work, “ My Life ,” a book-length prose poem written when she was 37; it included 37 sections, each composed of 37 sentences. (When she turned 45, she expanded its structure to 45.)

With its use of ambiguous language and disjunctive sentences, the book forsook the traditional language of autobiography, beginning with a haunting evocation of Ms. Hejinian’s earliest memory, her father returning from World War II:

A moment yellow, just as four years later, when my father returned home from the war, the moment of greeting him, as he stood at the bottom of the stairs, younger, thinner than when he had left, was purple — though moments are no longer so colored.

Seemingly incongruous, “ a moment yellow ” was an impressionistic, if nonspecific, characterization of the moment, she later said in an interview published by Wesleyan University. “Purple” conjured images of a purple blanket or similar object that she hazily recalled.

“Lyn was experimental not in the sense that her work is austere or especially hard to appreciate, but because her work plays with form and pushes against the borders of genre,” Ms. Armantrout wrote in an email. “It contains snippets of narrative, philosophical meditations, and Whitman-like catalogs in a unique and engaging combination that points to a world without limits.”

Carolyn Frances Hall was born on May 17, 1941, in Alameda, Calif., the eldest of three children of Chaffee Hall Jr., an administrator at Berkeley, and Carolyn (Erskine) Hall, a book editor.

When she was 13, her father accepted a job as the administrative director of Harvard’s Master of Business Administration program, and the family settled in Wayland, Mass.

When she was in the third or fourth grade, Lyn spent countless hours huddling over a typewriter her father had given her, churning out her own stories and plays.

“Pounding the keys and seeing sentences emerge on the page, I felt important and powerful,” she said in the Berkeley interview. “I was, in effect, escaping the limitations of gender. I could imagine myself as anyone and make it ‘real.’”

After graduating from Concord Academy in Massachusetts in 1959, she enrolled in Radcliffe College. Two years later she married John Hejinian, a medical student. She graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.

The couple had two children, Paull and Anna, and divorced in 1972, and within a year she had met and moved in with Mr. Ochs on a vast tract in Willits, Calif. — “real back-to-the-land, Whole Earth Catalog country,” as he described it. They married in 1977, around the time that he was helping to form the eclectic Rova Saxophone Quartet.

In addition to her husband and children, Ms. Hejinian is survived by her brother, Douglas Hall; her sister, Marie Katrak; and four grandchildren.

In 1982, Ms. Hejinian, with the poet Barrett Watten, started Poetics Journal, which for 16 years published book-length volumes featuring the work of Language writers like Bruce Andrews, Kit Robinson and Leslie Scalapino.

In 1980s, she made several trips to the Soviet Union and learned Russian, eventually translating Arkadii Dragomoshchenko, a prominent Russian Language poet, who became a close friend.

Her own work continued to evolve, with her later output becoming “looser and wilder,” Ms. Armantrout said, including her syntactically challenging book-length poem “ The Fatalist ” (2003), which probed the mysteries of fate and chance.

I adventure and consider fate as occurrence and happenstance as destiny, I recite an epigraph It seems as applicable to the remark I want to make as disorder is to order.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Ashbery called “The Fatalist” “breathtaking,” citing the line “That’s what fate is: whatever’s happened.”

“In this sense, we are all fatalists,” Mr. Ashbery wrote, “since ‘whatever’ has happened to us all, and we all recognize it when we see it. Yet it has seldom been more sumptuously tallied, tabulated and illuminated.”

In 2003, Ms. Hejinian returned to familiar ground, publishing the 10-part work “My Life in the Nineties,” in which she wrote that “everyone is out of place in a comedy.”

“We are all clowns ,” she said in an interview with the Poetry Foundation. “And we feel that. There’s some pathos lurking in the disjunct between who one feels oneself to be and who one feels others think one is, or between just treatment and unjust treatment, or within different social and economic contexts.”

“The gap between laughter and weeping,” she added, “is often a tiny one.”

Alex Williams is a reporter in the Obituaries department. More about Alex Williams