Literature (Version 8.4)

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Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4

Understand how Literature works

Rationale/Aims

Literature focuses on the study of literary texts, developing students as independent, innovative and creative learners and thinkers who appreciate the aesthetic use of language, evaluate perspectives and evidence, and challenge ideas and interpretations.

Structure of Literature

Texts

Texts can be written, spoken or multimodal, and in print or digital/online forms. Texts provide important opportunities for learning about aspects of human experience and about aesthetic appeal. Teachers may select whole texts and/or parts of texts depending on units of study, cohorts and level of difficulty.

Representation of General capabilities

General capabilities covered in Literature include: Literacy, Numeracy, Information and communication technology (ICT) capability, Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability, Ethical understanding and Intercultural understanding.

Achievement standards

Unit 1

Unit 1 Description

Unit 1 develops students’ knowledge and understanding of different ways of reading and creating literary texts drawn from a widening range of historical, social, cultural and personal contexts. Students analyse the relationships between language, text, contexts, individual points of view and response. This unit develops knowledge and understanding of different literary conventions and storytelling traditions and their relationships with audiences. A range of literary forms is considered in fiction and non-fiction texts; for example, oral, written, multimodal, verse, prose and film. The significance of ideas and the distinctive qualities of texts are analysed through detailed textual study. Through the creation of analytical responses, students frame consistent arguments that are substantiated by relevant evidence. In the creation of imaginative texts, students explore and experiment with aspects of style and form.

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students:

understand how language, structure and stylistic choices are used in different literary forms
examine the ways in which contexts shape how a text is received and responded to by audiences
create oral, written and multimodal responses that explore and draw on the structure and style of literary texts.

Unit 1 Content Descriptions

Investigate and reflect on different ways of reading literary texts including:

the degree to which individual points of view, experiences and contexts shape responses to texts (ACELR001)

how mode, medium and form shape responses to texts (ACELR002)

the differences between initial personal responses and more studied and complex responses (ACELR003)

how responses of readers and viewers can range from empathetic to critical. (ACELR004)

Analyse distinctive features in literary texts including:

how text structures, language features and stylistic elements shape meaning and create particular effects and nuances, for example, through allusions, paradoxes and ambiguities (ACELR005)

different points of view represented in texts, for example, those of characters, narrators and the implied author (ACELR006)

approaches to characterisation, for example, the inclusion of archetypal figures, authorial intrusion, the dramatisation of a character’s inner life, and the use of interior monologue (ACELR007)

different narrative approaches, for example, eye-witness accounts, multiple narrators, the unreliable narrator and the omniscient narrator (ACELR008)

the use of figurative language and rhetorical devices to represent concepts and shape arguments, for example, symbolism, metonymy, types of irony, patterns of imagery (ACELR009)

the use of sound and visual devices in literary texts to create particular effects, for example, assonance, prosody, rhyme , animation and voice-over narration. (ACELR010)

Create analytical texts:

structuring arguments and points of view using relevant textual evidence (ACELR011)

using appropriate linguistic, stylistic and critical terminology to respond to texts (ACELR012)

using stylistic features to craft and articulate points of view (ACELR013)

experimenting with different modes, mediums and forms. (ACELR014)

Create imaginative texts:

developing connections between real and imagined experiences (ACELR015)

drawing on knowledge and understanding of storytelling, style and the structure of texts (ACELR016)

experimenting with aspects of style and form to achieve deliberate effects (ACELR017)

reflecting on familiar and emerging literary forms for particular audiences and purposes. (ACELR018)