Why Study English Literature?
Have you ever wondered, “Why am I even studying English Literature?” Whether it is for GCSE or A-Level, this is a question many students and parents ask. The answer is not just about passing exams; literature helps us understand people, society and ourselves. It teaches critical thinking, empathy and communication skills that last a lifetime.
English Literature allows you to explore timeless questions: Why do people make the choices they do? How do emotions shape actions? These are lessons you will find in Shakespeare’s plays, poetry by Tennyson, and powerful war poems like Wilfred Owen’s Exposure and John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields.
What Can Shakespeare Teach Us About Life?
Shakespeare did not just write stories; his plays are mirrors for human behaviour. Take Macbeth, for example. Ambition, guilt and moral conflict are not just historical; they are universal. By analysing characters like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, students learn to think critically and reflect on their own decisions.
Other plays explore love, power and identity, showing that even centuries later, Shakespeare’s themes are still relevant in school, work and life.
Why Read Poetry? Lessons from Tennyson, Owen and McCrae
Poetry can make history and emotion come alive. Wilfred Owen’s Exposure plunges readers into the harsh realities of World War I, showing the fear, suffering and psychological strain soldiers faced. Similarly, John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields captures remembrance and the responsibility to honour those who sacrificed their lives.
Then there is Tennyson, whose poems like Ulysses explore heroism, duty and the human spirit. Reading poetry like this teaches empathy, connects you to history and shows that human emotions and struggles remain the same across time.
How English Literature Builds Skills for Life
Studying literature is not just memorising quotes. It develops skills you will use forever:
- Critical thinking: Interpreting texts, analysing characters and understanding themes.
- Communication: Writing essays, presenting ideas and debating viewpoints.
- Empathy: Understanding perspectives far removed from your own.
- Cultural awareness: Seeing the world through history, society and human experience.
By exploring texts like Exposure and In Flanders Fields, students learn to interpret subtle emotions, context and symbolism; skills that apply beyond the classroom.
“English Literature is not just about exams or memorising quotes. For me, it has always been about understanding people, history and the world around us. From Shakespeare’s complex characters to Owen’s vivid portrayal of war and McCrae’s moving words in In Flanders Fields, literature shows us ideas and emotions that remain relevant today. At Apollo Scholars, I want every student to see how these texts connect to life, helping them think critically, empathise deeply and gain skills that last far beyond the classroom.”
Matt
Founder, Apollo Scholars
Is English Literature Useful Today?
Yes! Literature connects the past to the present. The questions Shakespeare, Owen, McCrae and Tennyson asked, about morality, courage, love and identity, are the same questions we face today. It helps students understand society, human nature and themselves in a way no other subject can.
Even if you never pursue English professionally, the skills and insights gained from studying literature are invaluable life tools.
How Apollo Scholars Can Help You Excel in English Literature
At Apollo Scholars, our online 1:1 and group sessions make English Literature engaging and relevant. We guide GCSE and A-Level students through a range of texts, including Shakespeare, Tennyson, Owen and McCrae, showing how these texts connect to life today.
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