Sri Lanka G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Appreciation of English Literary Texts
This course invites you to explore the richness of human experience through the critical study of Poetry, Drama, and Prose. You will engage with a prescribed selection of poems and short stories alongside a specific novel and a play to understand how writers use language to create meaning. The curriculum focuses on literary analysis where you will learn to identify key themes, character development, and the use of techniques such as imagery and symbolism. You will also examine the social and cultural contexts of the texts to gain a deeper appreciation of the perspectives they present. By developing the ability to articulate your personal responses in structured essays, you will be equipped to interpret literature with insight and express your critical opinions effectively.
Subject Content: Key Literary Genres
The syllabus covers prescribed texts from local, foreign, classical, and modern sources across various genres and themes.
Poetry
Includes poems exploring themes of **Nature** (“The Eagle”), **Conflict** (“War is Kind”), **Society** (“Once Upon a Time”), **Life** (“The Clown’s Wife”), and **Humour** (“The Camel’s Hump”).
Prose and Fiction
Covers short stories (e.g., **”The Nightingale and the Rose”**), non-fiction (e.g., **Lahore Attack speech** by Kumar Sangakkara), and prescribed novels like **”The Prince and the Pauper”** or **”The Vendor of Sweets”**.
Drama
Selected plays, such as **”Twilight of a Crane”** by Kinoshita and **”The Bear”** by Anton Chekhov.
Skill Development Focus
The course aims to develop critical thinking, sensitive reading, and clear written communication of literary ideas.
Critical Reading and Inference
Analyzing how **literary techniques** create meaning and inferring meaning from context and structure.
Sensitive Response
Responding to texts with **empathy** and relating literary experiences to **real-life** contexts.
Communication
Writing **critical essays** and organizing complex ideas clearly and logically.
Assessment Structure (Total Mark: 100)
The examination consists of two compulsory written papers based entirely on the prescribed texts.
- **Duration:** 1 hour
- **Weighting:** 40 marks
- **Section A (30 marks):** Based on Poetry, Prose, and Drama (6 interpretation questions).
- **Section B (10 marks):** Based on the **prescribed novel** (1 question from a choice of 3 on selected paragraphs).
- **Duration:** 2 hours
- **Weighting:** 60 marks
- **Format:** Consists of questions requiring **critical essays** and longer responses on the prescribed texts (answers written in a separate booklet).