This JAMB Syllabus for Literature In English aims to prepare the candidates
for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB Syllabus for Literature In English
General Objectives | JAMB Syllabus for Literature in English
The
aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus
in Literature in English is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s
examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course
objectives, which are to:
stimulate and sustain their interest in Literature in English;
create an awareness of the general principles of Literature and functions of language;
appreciate literary works of all genres and across all cultures;
apply the knowledge of Literature in English to the analysis of social, political and economic events in the society.
Topic 1: Drama
a. Types:
Tragedy
Comedy
Tragicomedy
Melodrama
Farce
Opera etc.
b. Dramatic Techniques:
Characterisation
Dialogue
Flashback
Mime
Costume
Music/Dance
Decor/scenery
Acts/Scenes
Soliloquy/aside
Lighting etc.
c. Interpretation of the Prescribed Texts:
Theme
Plot
Socio-political context
Setting
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
identify the various types of drama;
analyse the contents of the various types of drama;
compare and contrast the features of different dramatic types;
demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques used in each prescribed text;
differentiate between styles of selected playwrights;
determine the theme of any prescribed text;
identify the plot of the play;
apply the lessons of the play to everyday living
identify the spatial and temporal setting of the play.
Topic 2: Prose
a. Types:
Fiction
– Novel
– Novella/Novelette
– Short story
Non-fiction
– Biography
– Autobiography
– Memoir
Faction: combination of fact and fiction
b. Narrative Techniques/Devices:
Point of view
– Omniscent/Third Person
– First Person
Characterisation
– Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero, etc
Language
c. Textual Analysis:
Theme
Plot
Setting (Temporal/Spatial)
Socio-political context
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
differentiate between types of prose;
identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to;
analyse the components of each type of prose;
identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts;
determine an author’s narrative style;
distinguish between one type of character from another;
determine the thematic pre-occupation of the author of the prescribed text;
indicate the plot of the novel; identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel.
identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel
relate the prescribed text to real life situations.
Topic 3: Poetry
a. Types:
Sonnet
Ode
Lyrics
Elegy
Ballad
Panegyric
Epic
Blank Verse, etc.
b. Poetic Devices:
Structure
Imagery
Sound(Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.)
Diction
Persona
c. Appreciation:
Thematic preoccupation
Socio-political relevance
Style.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
identify different types of poetry;
compare and contrast the features of different poetic types:
determine the devices used by various poets;
show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem;
deduce the poet’s preoccupation from the poem;
appraise poetry as an art with moral values;
apply the lessons from the poem to real life situations.
Topic 4: General Literary Principles
a. Literary Terms:
Foreshadowing,
suspense, theatre, monologue, dialogue, soliloquy, symbolism,
protagonist, antagonist, figures of speech, satire, stream of
consciousness, synecdoche, metonymy, etc.
In addition to those listed above under the different genres.
b. Literary Principles:
Direct imitation in play;
Versification in drama and poetry;
Narration of people’s experiences;
Achievement of aesthetic value, etc.
c. Relationship Between Literary Terms and Principles:
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
identify literary terms in drama, prose and poetry;
identify the general principles of Literature;
differentiate between literary terms and principles;
use literary terms appropriately.
Topic 5: Literary Appreciation
Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose and Poetry.
Objectives
Candidates should be able to:
determine literary devices used in a given passage/extract;
provide a meaningful interpretation of the given passage/extract;
relate the extract to true life experiences.
UTME Harmonized Prescribed Text Books (Literature in English) 2016 – 2019
Drama:
African:
Frank Ogodo Ogbeche : Harvest of Corruption
Non African:
William Shakespeare : Othello
Prose:
African:
Amma Darko : Faceless
Bayo Adebowale : Lonely Days
Non-African:
Richard Wright : Native Son
Poetry:
African:
Birago Diop : Vanity
Gbemisola Adeoti : Ambush
Gabriel Okara : Piano and Drums
Gbanabam Hallowell : The Dining Table
Lenrie Peter : The Panic of Growing Older
Kofi Awoonor : The Anvil and the Hammer
Non African:
Alfred Tennyson : Crossing the Bar
George Herbert : The Pulley
William Blake : The School Boy
William Morris : The Proud King
Topics By Popularity
Given
below is an average percentage of the number of questions set on
different topics. This computer analysis was done from 17 years of past questions
to come up with these rare statistics. This information should guide
you on some of the topics you should give more attention to:
Rank Topic % Number of Questions
1 PROSE AND POETRY. 42.12
2 DRAMA 19.78
3 GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES: LITERARY TERMS 14.53
4 LITERARY APPRECIATION: UNSEEN PASSAGES/EXTRACTS FROM DRAMA 13.97
5 POETRY: POETIC DEVICES 2.57
6 DRAMA: DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES 2.57
7 GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES: LITERARY PRINCIPLES 2.01
8 DRAMA: TYPES 1.23
9 GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LITERARY TERMS AND PRINCIPLES 0.56
10 POETRY: TYPES 0.45
11 NON AFRICAN: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE : OTHELLO 0.22
Recommended Texts
1. Anthologies
Gbemisola, A. (2005)Naked Soles, Ibadan: Kraft
Hayward, J. (ed.) (1968) The Penguin Book of English Verse, London: Penguin
Johnson, R. et al (eds.) (1996) New Poetry from Africa, Ibadan: UP Plc
Kermode, F. et al (1964) Oxford Anthology of English Literature, Vol. II, London: OUP
Nwoga D. (ed.) (1967) West African Verse, London: Longman
Senanu, K. E. and Vincent, T. (eds.) (1993) A Selection of African Poetry, Lagos: Longman
Soyinka, W. (ed.) (1987) Poems of Black Africa, Ibadan: Heinemann
2. Critical Texts
Abrams, M. H. (1981) A Glossary of Literary Terms, (4th Edition) New York, Holt Rinehalt and Winston
Emeaba, O. E. (1982) A Dictionary of Literature, Aba: Inteks Press
Murphy,
M. J. (1972) Understanding Unseen, An Introduction to English Poetry
and English Novel for Overseas Students, George Allen and Unwin Ltd.