War Literature
This is a synoptic module, therefore the emphasis is firmly
placed upon personal reading and research. It is expected
that the skills of literary analysis that you have acquired
throughout your two year A Level programme can now be independently
utilised in a comprehensive study of literary texts concerning
the subject of war. The mode of assessment for this module
is by examination. Course Outline
In order to achieve success within this module it is important
that you begin reading and researching War Literature as
soon as possible. It is a vast area with what can seem an
intimidating array of texts. If you fail to address your
personal reading prior to the course beginning, you are simply
storing up problems for yourself. A reading list and links
to other web sites are provided.
In the examination you will be expected to show detailed
knowledge of World War One literature as well as pre -1914
texts, although the emphasis is placed firmly on the former.
The following is a list of suggested reading. This is by
no means exhaustive and therefore should be used as an introduction
to your study of this subject.
Prose
Barbusse, Henri Under fire
Faulks, Sebastian Birdsong
Sassoon, Siegfried Memoirs of an Infantry Officer
Barker, Pat Regeneration
Barker, Pat The Eye in the Door
Barker, Pat The Ghost Road
Manning, Frederic Her Privates We
Hill, Susan Strange Meeting
Remarque, Erich All Quiet on the Western Front
Brittain, Vera Testament of Youth
Drama
Sherriff,
R.C. Journey’s End
O What a Lovely War
Curtis, R Blackadder Goes Forth
Shakespeare, W. Henry V (Act 4, Scene 3)
Henry IV, Part 1 (Act 4, Scene ii)
Henry VI, Part III (Act 5, Scene iv)
Othello (Act 1, Scene iii)
Macbeth (Act 1, Scene ii)
Sonnet 25
Poetry
Explore the works of the following poets
World
War One |
Pre – 1914 |
| Wilfred
Owen |
Andrew
Marvell |
| Siegfried
Sassoon |
Homer |
| Rupert
Brooke |
William
Shakespeare |
| Robert
Graves |
Michael
Drayton |
| Vernon
Scannell |
William
Collins |
| Ivor
Gurney |
Thomas
Campbell |
| Alan
Seeger |
Thomas
Moore |
| Edmund
Blunden |
Ebenezer
Elliot |
| Rudyard
Kipling |
Thomas
Babington MaCaulay |
| Lawrence
Binyon |
Alfred
Lord Tennyson |
| A.E.
Houseman |
Philip
Sidney |
| W.B.
Yeats |
Richard
Lovelace |
| |
Thomas
Hardy |
You
should also look at the following:
Edward Thomas
Philip Larkin
Charles Sorley
W.N. Hodgson
Herbert Read
Henry Reed
Alan Seeger
Philip Johnstone
Wilfrid Gibson
Isaac Rosenberg
Ivor Gurney
Stephen Spender
Charlotte Mew
Jessie Pope
Although you are not expected to show a comprehensive contextual
knowledge of World War One, it would nevertheless be beneficial
to have a secure grasp on the key events from 1914-18 as
this will inform your writing when you are considering the
constantly shifting attitudes of writers from this period.
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