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The Literature-in-English syllabus covers all you are expected to see in your examinations, including physical and human geography, the environment, economic activities, settlement, and more.
Having the syllabus will equally inform you of what you’re expected to know from each of the topics.
Geography is a must if you are hoping to study courses like Geography, Metallurgical Science, Aeronautics and other environmental science-related courses
The recommended texts for the exam are also outlined below
Objective
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) 2024 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.
Detailed JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus
| JAMB LITERATURE IN ENGLISH | ||
|---|---|---|
| SN | TOPICS | OBJECTIVES |
| 1 | DRAMA | |
| Types: i. Tragedy ii. Comedy iii. Tragicomedy iv. Melodrama v. Farce vi. Opera etc. Dramatic Techniques i. Characterization ii. Dialogue iii. Flashback iv. Mime v. Costume vi. Music/Dance vii. Décor/scenery viii. Acts/Scenes ix. Soliloquy/aside x. Figures of Speech etc Interpretation of the Prescribed Texts i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Socio-political context iv. Setting | Candidates should be able to: i. identify the various types of drama; ii. analyze the contents of the various types of drama; iii. compare and contrast the features of different dramatic types; iv. demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques used in each prescribed text; v. differentiate between styles of selected playwrights; vi. determine the theme of any prescribed text; vii. identify the plot of the play; viii. apply the lessons of the play to everyday living ix. identify the spatial and temporal setting of the play. |
|
| 2 | PROSE | |
| Types: i. Fiction – Novel – Novella/Novelette – Short story ii. Non-fiction – Biography – Autobiography – Memoir iii. Faction: a combination of fact and fiction Narrative Techniques/Devices: i. Point of view – Omniscient/Third Person – First Person ii. Characterisation – Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero, etc iii. Language Textual Analysis i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Setting (Temporal/Spatial) iv. Socio-political context | Candidates should be able to: i. differentiate between types of prose; ii. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to; iii. analyze the components of each type of prose; iv. identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts; v. determine an author’s narrative style; vi. distinguish between one type of character from another; vii. determine the thematic preoccupation of the author of the prescribed text; viii. indicate the plot of the novel; identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel. ix. identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel x. relate the prescribed text to real-life situations. |
|
| 3 | POETRY | |
| Types: i. Sonnet ii. Ode iii. Lyrics iv. Elegy v. Ballad vi. Panegyric vii. Epic viii. Blank Verse, etc. Poetic devices i. Structure ii. Imagery iii. Sound(Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.) iv. Diction v. Persona Appreciation i. Thematic preoccupation ii. Socio-political relevance iii. Style. | Candidates should be able to: i. identify different types of poetry; ii. compare and contrast the features of different poetic types: iii. determine the devices used by various poets; iv. show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem; v. deduce the poet’s preoccupation from the poem; vi. appraise poetry as an art with moral values; vii. apply the lessons from the poem to real-life situations |
|
| 4 | GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES | |
| Literary terms: foreshadowing, suspense, theater, monologue, dialogue, soliloquy, symbolism, protagonist, antagonist, figures of speech, satire, stream of consciousness, etc., in addition to those listed above under the different genres. Literary principles i. Direct imitation in play; ii. Versification in drama and poetry; iii. Narration of people’s experiences; iv. Achievement of aesthetic value, etc. Relationship between literary terms and principles. | Candidates should be able to: i. identify literary terms in drama, prose, and poetry; ii. identify the general principles of Literature; iii. differentiate between literary terms and principles; iv. use literary terms appropriately. |
|
| 5 | LITERARY APPRECIATION | |
| Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose, and Poetry. | Candidates should be able to: i. determine literary devices used in a given passage/extract; ii. provide a meaningful interpretation of the given passage/extract; iii. relate the extract to true life experiences |
Recommended Literature-in-English Textbook for JAMB
Drama:
African:
- Wole Soyinka: Lion and the Jewel
Non-African:
- John Osborne: Look Back in Anger
Prose
African:
- Buchi Emecheta: Second Class Citizen
- Alex Agyei Agyiri: Unexpected Joy at Dawn
Non-African:
- Emile Bronte: Wuthering Heights
Poetry:
African:
- Leopold Sedar Senghor: Black Woman
- Niyi Osundare: The Leader and the Led
- Agostinho Neto: The Grieved Lands
- Oumar Farouk Sesay: The Song of the Women of the lands
- Lade Wosornu: Raider of the Treasure Trove
- Onu Chibuike: A Government Driver on his Retirement
Non-African:
- John Donne: The Good Morrow
- Maya Angelou: Caged Birds
- T. S. Eliot: The Journey of the Magi
- D. H. Lawrence: Bats
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
- 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
- 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.
