ENGLISH LITERATURE

Unit 1: Approaches to Literature

Students focus on the ways in which the interaction between text and reader creates meaning. Students respond critically, creatively and reflectively to the ideas and concerns of texts and gain insights into how texts function as representations of human experience. They develop an awareness of how the views and values that readers hold may influence their reading of a text. They develop familiarity with key terms, concepts and practices that equip them for further studies in literature.

Outcome 1: Respond to a range of texts and reflect on influences shaping these responses and be able to analyse the ways texts reflect on the ideas and concerns in society.

Unit 2: Context and Connections

Students explore the ways literary texts connect with each other and with the world. They deepen their examination of the ways cultures can influence their interpretations and shape different meanings. Ideas, language and structures of different texts from past and present eras and/or cultures are compared and contrasted. Students analyse the similarities and differences across texts and establish connections between them. They engage in close reading of texts and create analytical responses that are evidence-based.

Outcome 1: Analyse and respond critically and creatively to the ways a text from a past era or a different culture comments on its context. Students should be able to compare texts considering the dialogic nature of texts.

Unit 3: Form and Transformation

Students consider how the form of a text affects meaning, and how writers construct their texts. They investigate ways writers adapt and transform texts and how meaning is affected as texts are adapted and transformed. They consider how the perspectives of those adapting texts may inform or influence the adaptations. Students draw on their study of adaptations and transformations to develop creative responses to texts.

Outcome 1: Analyze the extent to which meaning changes when a text is adapted to a different form and response creatively to texts.

Unit 4: Interpreting Texts

Students develop critical and analytic responses to texts. They consider the context of their responses to texts as well as the ideas explored in the texts, the style of the language and points of view. They investigate literary criticism informing both the reading and writing of texts, using it to develop an informed and sustained interpretation supported by close textual analysis.

Outcome 1: Produce an interpretation of a text using different literary perspectives to inform their view while also analysing features of texts to develop and justify interpretations.