The course involves reading a variety of literary texts including plays and poetry.  You will have 2 set texts for examination and you will use literature texts for coursework.  The course is an enjoyable balance of pre and post 19th century literature and an excellent precursor to AS Literature.   Class sizes are usually between 14 and 18 pupils.  You will find yourself discussing a wide variety of texts, issues and themes.  Sharing your opinions and responding to those of others is an enjoyable part of the course.   An understanding of the historical and social contexts in which a text is written is important at GCSE.  Researching and presenting contextual information is a rewarding aspect of your studies and can provide you with a fuller understanding of your texts.  You can also fulfil Speaking and Listening criteria this way!   Consolidating your language analysis skills is a vital part of the Literature programme of study.  You will look at character, theme and context as well as explore literary techniques and different genres in writing.   The Literature GCSE examination consists of one paper and one written coursework folder containing 4 essays.  You will be studying a mixture of pre and post 20th century texts, including poetry.  The full specification can be found : here