OCR A Level English Literature
English Lit A Level
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”— Measure for Measure, Shakespeare
The A Level
Four components combining examined and coursework assessment, covering poetry, drama, unseen texts, and independent prose study.
Component 1
Poetry
Open-book exam2 hours
Rossetti, Heaney, and comparative poetry analysis across the pre- and post-1900 traditions.
Section A: Rossetti Poems
Section B: Post-1900 Comparison
Component 2
Drama
Closed-book exam2 hours
Shakespeare's Hamlet and comparative drama: Webster's Duchess of Malfi meets Williams' Streetcar.
Section A: Hamlet
Section B: Webster & Williams
Component 3
Unseen Texts
Skills-based exam2 hours
Close reading of unseen prose and poetry extracts from 1880–1910 or 1918–1939 with contextual analysis.
Section A: Unseen Prose
Section B: Unseen Poetry
Component 4
Prose Study
NEA Coursework2500–3000 words
Independent comparative essay on The Bell Jar and We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Pre-2000 text
Post-2000 text
Quick Links
Jump straight to any study material
Component 1: Poetry
Component 2: Drama
Component 3: Unseen Texts
Component 4: Prose Study
Assessment Breakdown
Examined (80%)Components 1-3
Poetry 30%Drama 30%Unseen 20%
Coursework (20%)Component 4 (NEA)
Total exam time: 6 hours across 3 papers
What This Site Covers
- Complete Hamlet study guide with illustrated text
- Webster & Williams comparative analysis across 8 themes
- Detailed character comparisons with A* essay guidance
- Jacobean and 1940s American contextual analysis
- 60+ key quotations with analytical commentary
- Exam technique guides and practice questions
Ready to start revising?
Dive into any component to begin your revision.