Can I study Literature only at A-Level?

Qn: I never studied Literature at O-Level. Now after Senior Four, I want to study Literature in A-Level because I was told that it will be good for the course I want to do university. Is it possible for one to do a subject they have not been studying in O- Level? How can I go about this?
Joan Namutebi - Senior Four leaver
Dear Joan, I am very sure many other students could be asking the same. There is need for you to understand what literature is and Literature in English.
Literature is the communication of thoughts, ideas, and feelings through the written word. Two main types of literature are known: written and oral. Written literature includes novels and poetry. It also has subsections of prose, fiction, myths, novels and short stories. Oral literature includes folklore, poems, myths and fables. Literature can be in any language (Kiswahili, Luganda and French, among other languages).
By studying English Literature, you will learn how to analyse a multitude of texts and write clearly using several different styles. However, literature is a disputed term, as new means for communication provide different types of contemporary literature. For example, other types of text such as screenplays, nonfiction, song lyrics, and online communication through blogs and other means are also considered literature, since they are all forms of writing with artistic merit.

Therefore, given the above description of what literature is and more so Literature in English, it is very clear that you can study English Literature at A-Level so long as you studied English language. The most important thing is that you should have the interest in the subject and know which career it will lead you to. You can discuss this further with your careers master or director of studies. Clearly, show them with confidence that you know what it takes to study literature, why you want to and where it will take you.
Perhaps, you need to know the several different paths for careers in literature before you make a decision and take a course as a graduate. You can become a teacher, lecturer, or journalist, with common crossovers for graduating English students including business, law, and education.

You can also use your analytical skills to move into unexpected careers such as marketing, advertising, or pretty much anything you are willing you adapt to. There are also obvious positions available in the publishing industry, from editor, to proofreader, to literary agent. Many creative writers, including novelists, poets, and screenwriters, among others, start their careers by gaining an in-depth understanding of written English before developing their individual abilities for expression through writing.

Accordingly, if you want to gain a strong-hold on the English language, develop your critical analysis of the world around you, and study in a degree that will provide you with numerous different career opportunities, English Literature could be the right pursuit for you.