A Level English Literature Topics by Exam Board: Full List

You’ve aced GCSE English Literature, and you’re ready to tackle A Level English Literature and embark on literary analysis of some of the greatest texts ever written in the English language. It’s an exciting time, but there’s a lot to read and learn.

In this article, we’re going to outline the A Level English Literature topics covered by OCR and Edexcel, two of the most popular English Literature courses. You can check exactly what you’ll be studying, and you’ll know precisely what will be expected in each of your exams. 

OCR A Level English Literature topics

Studying the OCR A Level English Literature course will enable you to develop your skills of literary analysis, critical thinking, and your essay-writing ability. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with a variety of literary texts, which will enrich your understanding of literature and culture.

The OCR A Level English Literature course consists of three main components:

1. Drama and Poetry Pre-1900

2. Comparative and Contextual Study

3. Literature Post-1900

1.Drama and Poetry Pre-1900

The first unit focuses on the analysis of a Shakespeare play and pre-1900 drama and poetry.

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

• Shakespeare: You will undertake a detailed study of a set play, analysing key themes, characters, language, and different interpretations of the work over time.

  
  If you started this course before 2025, you will study one text from the following:

  • Coriolanus

  • Hamlet

  • Measure for Measure

  • Richard III

  • The Tempest

  • Twelfth Night

  If you begin studying the course from September 2025 onwards, the range of texts are:

  • Hamlet

  • King Lear

  • Othello

  • Richard III

  • The Taming of the Shrew

  • The Tempest

• Pre-1900 Drama and Poetry: You will study one drama and one poetry text, considering literary traditions and historical context. You will explore contrasts, connections and comparisons between your chosen texts.

The drama texts you will choose from are:

The poetry texts you will choose from are:

2.Comparative and Contextual Study

In this unit, you are required to study two texts within a specific literary topic.

There is a choice of five topics:

• American Literature 1180-1940

• The Gothic

• Dystopia

• Women in Literature

• The Immigrant Experience

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

• Close reading: You will read widely within your chosen topic of study, developing your skills of analysis and ability to identify and consider how attitudes and values are expressed in literary texts.

• Comparative study: You will prepare to write a comparative essay exploring the themes and literary techniques used across two texts from your selected topic area.

One of the texts you study must be from the list below, while the other may be selected from a wide range of suitable texts. Your teacher will help you with this process.

3.Literature Post - 1900

In this internally assessed component, you’ll have the chance to explore modern literary texts through independent study. 

You must cover three literary texts: one prose, one poetry, and one drama text. All the texts must have been first published in 1900 or later, and at least one must have been first published in 2000 or later.

With a wide range of approved works available to select from, you’ll consult with your teacher to determine which texts you should study and what tasks you will undertake.

Key areas covered:

• Close reading or re-creative writing: Analysis of a passage from a post-1900 literary text or a creative response with commentary.

• Comparative essay: A comparative study of two post-1900 literary texts.

What is covered in OCR A Level English Literature Paper 1?

OCR A Level English Literature Paper 1 is called Drama and Poetry pre-1900.

This written paper tests the knowledge and skills from the Drama and Poetry pre-1900 part of the course.

The paper is divided into two sections: 

Section A — Shakespeare:

• One essay question on a chosen play, including close analysis of an extract.

Section B — Pre-1900 Drama and Poetry:

• Comparative essay analysing a pre-1900 drama and poetry text.

• You will have 2 hours 30 minutes to complete Paper 1.

• This paper is worth 60 marks in total.

• Paper 1 is worth 40% of your total A Level marks.

What is covered in OCR A Level English Literature Paper 2?

OCR A Level English Literature Paper 2 is called Comparative and Contextual Study.

This written paper is based on the content of your Comparative and Contextual Study.

The paper is divided into two sections: 

Section A — Close Reading:

• Analysis of an unseen prose extract within your chosen topic area.

Section B — Comparative Essay:

• Comparative analysis of two studied texts within the chosen topic area.
  

• You will have 2 hours 30 minutes to complete Paper 2.

• This paper is worth 60 marks in total.

• Paper 2 is worth 40% of your total marks.

Revision resources for OCR A Level English Literature

You will need to undertake plenty of wider reading and study in preparation for your A Level English Literature exams. Make the revision process easier with the help of the experts at Save My Exams. There are detailed revision notes and past papers to help you get ready for the examined elements of this course:

OCR A Level English Literature: Revision Notes

OCR A Level English Literature: Past Papers

Edexcel A Level English Literature topics

Like the OCR A Level, the Edexcel A Level English Literature course is a challenging course which will help you to develop your literary analysis, critical thinking and comparative skills.

You will read widely, covering drama, prose and poetry texts. Along the way, you’re sure to gain a greater appreciation of literature and culture.

The Edexcel A Level English Literature course consists of four main components:

1. Drama 

2. Prose

3. Poetry

4. Non-examination assessment

1.Drama

In the Drama unit, you’ll study aspects of the form of drama via a study of two plays, one by Shakespeare and a second text from the list below.

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

Shakespeare: Study of a Shakespeare play from these options:

• Tragedy:

  • Antony and Cleopatra

  • Hamlet

  • King Lear

  • Othello

• Comedy:

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  • Measure for Measure

  • The Taming of the Shrew

  • Twelfth Night
    

As part of your Shakespeare study, you’ll be looking at different interpretations of your selected play using a critical anthology of essays based on the theme you have selected.

Other drama: You’ll also undertake a study of another piece of drama, exploring dramatic form and literary criticism in one text from the following list:

*Note that in at least one of the three course elements, Drama, Prose and Poetry, you must study a pre-1900 text. Your teacher will make sure you will cover the correct materials before you start your course.

2.Prose

This unit focuses on comparative analysis of two prose texts linked by a common theme, including at least one pre-1900 text.

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

• Comparative study: Examining themes, narrative techniques, and context across two texts from the list below.

• Contextual exploration: Considering historical and social influences on the texts.

3.Poetry

This unit focuses on poetic analysis and comparison across different time periods. You’ll be reading widely and studying a range of poetry from pre- or post-1900, along with modern poetry.

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

• Post-2000 Poetry: Study of a modern poetry collection from a specified anthology.

• Pre- or Post-1900 Poetry: Analysis of poetry from a single poet or literary period.

• Unseen Poetry: As part of the exam, you will need to respond to an unfamiliar poem, comparing it with a studied text. You will be reading additional poems to those in your set texts in order to prepare you for this task.

The texts you will choose from to study include:

• Pre-1900:

  • Either Medieval Poetic Drama or poet Geoffrey Chaucer

  • Either Metaphysical Poetry or poet John Donne

  • Either The Victorian Period or poet Christina Rossetti

• Post-1900:

  • Either Modernism or poet T S Eliot

  • Either the Movement or poet Philip Larkin

4.Non-examination assessment

This component involves an independent study of two texts chosen by you, culminating in a comparative essay. The texts chosen may be drawn from poetry, drama, prose or literary non-fiction. You must not select any texts you have studied from other parts of the course.

The texts you select may be linked by author, time period, movement, or theme.

The key areas of study for this part of the course are:

• Critical analysis: Writing an extended essay comparing two literary works.

• Independent study: Selecting texts that align with personal interests and critical approaches.

Although there is no final exam paper for this element of the course, your extended assignment will comprise 20% of your overall A Level English Literature mark.

What is covered in Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 1?

Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 1 is called Drama. This written paper tests the knowledge and skills from the Drama part of the course.

The paper is divided into two sections: 

Section A — Shakespeare:

• One essay question on a set play, including critical interpretations.

Section B — Other Drama:

• One essay question on a second drama text.
  

• You will have 2 hours 15 minutes to complete Paper 1.

• This paper is worth 60 marks in total.

• Paper 1 is worth 30% of your total A Level marks.

What is covered in Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 2?

Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 2 is called Prose. This written paper is based on the content of the Prose element of the course.

The paper consists of one comparative essay comparing two prose texts from the chosen theme.

• You will have 1 hour 15 minutes to complete Paper 2.

• This paper is worth 40 marks in total.

• Paper 2 is worth 20% of your total marks.

What is covered in Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 3?

Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 3 is called Poetry. This written paper tests what you have learned on the Poetry part of your course.

The paper is divided into two sections: 

Section A — Post-2000 Poetry:

• One essay question comparing a modern poem to an unseen text.

Section B — Pre/Post-1900 Poetry:

• One essay question on a selected poet or period.
  

• You will have 2 hours 15 minutes to complete Paper 3.

• This paper is worth 60 marks in total.

• Paper 3 is worth 30% of your total A Level marks.

Revision resources for Edexcel A Level English Literature

Get ready for your A Level English Literature exams with the help of the resources provided by the A Level teachers and examiners at Save My Exams:

Edexcel A Level English Literature: Past Papers

Improve your grades with Save My Exams

There’s a great deal of reading and detailed analysis involved in achieving success at A Level English Literature. Make your preparations easier and less stressful with the help of the resources designed by the expert English team at Save My Exams, who have guided thousands of students to success in their exams:

• Revision notes

• Past papers and mark schemes

• Exam questions with sample answers

• Examiner tips

A Level English Literature Resources

References

DFE GCE AS and A level subject content for English literature 

OCR A Level English Literature

Edexcel A Level English Literature