UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus for IAS Exam 2025

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Choosing English Literature as an optional subject for the UPSC Mains exam opens up a fascinating world of novels, plays, and poetry. The UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus for IAS Exam 2025 carries a total of 500 marks (250 marks for each of the two papers). In Paper I, you’ll explore topics like Shakespeare, the Renaissance, Romantic and Victorian poetry, and more. Paper II delves into contemporary literature, literary theory, and Indian writing in English. If you have a passion for literature and a strong command of the English language, this optional subject is perfect for you. Now, let’s take a closer look at the syllabus:

UPSC English Literature Syllabus Overview

English Literature has a rich history spanning centuries. Here’s a simplified overview:

  1. Old English Period (450–1066): This era gave us “Beowulf,” an epic poem in Old English.
  2. Middle English Period (1066–1500): Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” emerged during this time.
  3. Renaissance (1500–1660): Shakespeare’s plays and John Donne’s poetry defined this period.
  4. 18th Century: Novels gained prominence, with works like Daniel Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe.”
  5. Romantic Era (1798–1837): Wordsworth and Keats wrote introspective poetry.
  6. Victorian Era: Charles Dickens used fiction to comment on society.
  7. Modernism and Postmodernism: These movements brought diverse literary styles.

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UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus For Paper I

Paper I of the English Literature Optional for UPSC Mains covers a wide range of literary works, including poetry, drama, and prose fiction. Candidates will explore themes, characters, and narrative techniques. Here’s a concise version of the syllabus:

UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus (Paper I):

  1. The Renaissance: Study Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama, Metaphysical Poetry, and Neoclassicism.
  2. Satire and Mock-Epic: Dive into satirical works and explore the epic genre.
  3. The Romantic Movement: Understand the Romantic era’s poetry and prose.
  4. The Rise of the Novel: Explore novels from different periods.
  5. The Victorian Age: Analyze literature from this influential era.

Paper I Syllabus »

Section A
  1. William Shakespeare : King Lear and The Tempest.
  2. John Donne. The following poems :
    • Canonization;
    • Death be not proud;
    • The Good Morrow;
    • On his Mistress going to bed;
    • The Relic;
  3. John Milton : Paradise Lost, I, II, IV, IX.
  4. Alexander Pope. The Rape of the Lock.
  5. William Wordsworth. The following poems :
    • Ode on Intimations of Immortality.
    • Tintern Abbey.
    • Three years later she grew.
    • She dwelt among untrodden ways.
    • Michael.
    • Resolution and Independence.
    • The World is too much with us.
    • Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour.
    • Upon Westminster Bridge.
  6. Alfred Tennyson : In Memoriam.
  7. Henrik Ibsen : A Doll’s House.
Section B
  1. Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels.
  2. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
  3. Henry Fielding. Tom Jones.
  4. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
  5. George Eliot. The Mill on the Floss.
  6. Thomas Hardy. Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
  7. Mark Twain. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Download English Literature Optional Syllabus PDF

UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus For Paper II

Paper II of the UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus explores modern and contemporary literature, post-colonial works, and Indian writing in English. Here’s a simplified overview:

  1. Modernism: Dive into innovative literary styles.
  2. Poets of the Thirties: Explore poetry from this period.
  3. Stream of Consciousness Novel: Understand this unique narrative technique.
  4. Absurd Drama: Study unconventional plays.
  5. Colonialism and Post-Colonialism: Analyze literature in historical contexts.
  6. Indian Writing in English: Discover Indian authors’ contributions.
  7. Approaches to Literature: Explore Marxist, psychoanalytical, and feminist perspectives.
  8. Post Modernism: Engage with contemporary literary trends.

Paper II Syllabus »

Section A
  1. William Butler Yeats. The following poems :
    • Easter 1916.
    • The Second Coming.
    • A Prayer for my daughter.
    • Sailing to Byzantium.
    • The Tower.
    • Among School Children.
    • Leda and the Swan.
    • Meru.
    • Lapis Lazuli.
    • The Second Coming.
    • Byzantium.
  2. T.S. Eliot. The following poems :
    • The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.
    • Journey of the Magi.
    • Burnt Norton.
  3. W.H. Auden. The following poems :
    • Partition
    • Musee des Beaux Arts
    • In Memory of W.B. Yeats
    • Lay your sleeping head, my love
    • The Unknown Citizen
    • Consider
    • Mundus Et Infans
    • The Shield of Achilles
    • September 1, 1939
    • Petition
  4. John Osborne : Look Back in Anger.
  5. Samuel Beckett. Waiting for Godot.
  6. Philip Larkin. The following poems :
    • Deceptions
    • Afternoons
    • Days
    • Mr. Bleaney
  7. A.K. Ramanujan. The following poems :
    • Looking for a Cousin on a Swing
    • A River
    • Of Mothers, among other Things
    • Love Poem for a Wife 1
    • Small-Scale Reflections on a Great House
    • Obituary
  • All these poems are available in the anthology Ten Twentieth Century Indian Poets, edited by R. Parthasarthy, published by Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Section B
  1. Joseph Conrad. Lord Jim.
  2. James Joyce. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
  3. D.H. Lawrence. Sons and Lovers.
  4. E.M. Forster. A Passage to India.
  5. Virginia Woolf. Mrs. Dalloway.
  6. Raja Rao. Kanthapura.
  7. V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr. Biswas.
Download English Literature Optional Syllabus PDF

How to Prepare For UPSC English Literature Optional?

Effective UPSC English Literature Preparation: A Simplified Approach

  • Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly review the UPSC syllabus for English Literature. Familiarize yourself with covered topics and sub-topics to structure your study plan.
  • Read Classics: Begin with foundational texts from British and American literature. Explore novels, dramas, poetry, and essays.
  • Literary Criticism and Theory: Get acquainted with various theories (e.g., structuralism, post-colonialism, feminism). Apply these insights when analyzing texts.
  • Study Authors in Depth: Focus on major authors, their writing styles, themes, and historical contexts.
  • Practice Answer Writing: Solve previous years’ question papers. Structure answers logically with relevant examples.
  • Supplementary Reading: Beyond prescribed texts, read literary magazines and critical essays.
  • Stay Updated: Connect current affairs with literary texts. Be aware of developments in the literary world.
  • Revision and Mock Tests: Regularly revise and assess progress through mock tests.

UPSC English Literature Syllabus FAQs

If you enjoy reading novels, poetry, and understanding literary works, English literature can be a great optional subject for UPSC mains. It helps develop analytical skills and offers different viewpoints. Just remember that it involves a lot of reading and critical thinking.

In the UPSC Exam 2022, Arya VM performed exceptionally well in the English Literature optional section. She secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 36 by choosing English literature as her optional subject. Arya scored 299 marks in this optional subject.

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