Course Title: AQA A-Level English Literature B – Aspects of Tragedy & Elements of Crime Writing
Examining Body:AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
Course Duration: Two years (A-Level)
Overview of the Course
- This course explores how writers create meaning through genre, focusing on two major literary traditions: Tragedy and Crime Writing.
- Students study canonical and contemporary texts, examining how writers use characterisation, narrative structure, themes, and contexts to shape genre conventions.
- The course encourages critical debate and the development of independent interpretations, supported by close analysis and engagement with secondary critical theory.
- Focus areas include:
- The moral, social, and philosophical dimensions of tragedy
- How crime writing explores power, control, justice, and transgression
- How genre conventions are established, challenged, and reshaped over time
- How readers respond to ‘typical’ and ‘atypical’ features of tragedy and crime
How the Course Is Examined
Paper 1: Literary Genres – Aspects of Tragedy
- Written exam, 2 hours 30 minutes
- Closed-book
- 40% of A-Level
- Assesses Shakespeare, a prose text, and a modern play
Paper 2: Texts and Genres – Elements of Crime Writing
- Written exam, 3 hours
- Open-book
- 40% of A-Level
- Assesses three texts (including one unseen extract)
Non-Exam Assessment (NEA)
- Two pieces of comparative coursework (2,500–3,000 words each)
- Students choose their own texts and areas of exploration
- 20% of A-Level
Further Information / Unit Titles
Aspects of Tragedy (Paper 1)
- Typical texts include: Othello, Death of a Salesman.
- Explorations of tragic protagonists, fatal flaws, authority, suffering, and catharsis
Elements of Crime Writing (Paper 2)
- Typical texts include: When Will There Be Good News?
- Focus on criminality, victimhood, detectives, justice, deception, and genre subversion
NEA: Theory and Independence
- Students apply literary theory (e.g., feminist and narrative theory)
- High level of independent research and personalised learning
Where the Qualification Can Lead
University progression, including degrees in:
- English Literature
- Law
- Journalism
- Creative Writing
- History
- Media and Communications
- Humanities and Social Sciences
Career paths may include:
- Teaching and education
- Publishing and editing
- Journalism and media
- Law and legal professions
- Advertising and marketing
- Civil service, public relations, and cultural sectors
The course builds essential skills in critical thinking, argumentation, analysis, communication, and independent research, all highly valued by universities and employers.