Introduction
In Sargodha University, a typical paper of MA English Literature is divided into 2 main sections. One contains ten short questions to be answered (carries 20 marks) while the second portion requires four long questions to be selected out of 6 questions (80 marks). But in the paper of the essay, you are given 8 topics whilst you can only select 1 to proceed (100 marks). Let's unpack the attemptation:
Make sure the chair you are sitting on has a writing head. (The chair displayed in the image is the most suitable and comfortable to work with a landscape paper sheet). Grab your blue marker and blue ballpoint. At the beginning of the sheet, use your blue marker to write the main heading with central alignment. The main heading should go like this:
Q1: Answers to the Short Questions
Short Questions - AKA Objective Part
Short Questions play a crucial role in establishing your ability to the examiner who is checking your paper. Don't overlook the importance of short questions as the examiner do not have enough time to look into every page of the long questions you have worked on zealously. Therefore, make the most of the opportunity provided through short questions. Answer as many short questions as you can. You should attempt at least 8 short questions to create a good impression. Attempting 3 to 5 short questions shall kill the hard-work you poured into writing sheets am sheets of long questions. While answering a short question:
> Answer in the same tense as used in the question. For example, if a question is asked in the past tense, answer it in the past tense.
> Only answer what is asked. Do not give the details that are out of context. For instance, if you are asked to enlist themes present in Sons and Lovers, your answer should focus only on the themes, not on the statement that it was written by D. H. Lawrence.
> If you are asked to define a term or an age and you cannot recall the exact wording, you can define it in your own words but you should have a clear concept of what you are writing. For instance, if you are asked to define Romanticism, you can use your own knowledge to define it like this: Romanticism is a literary period that was popularized by poets like Wordsworth, Shelley, Coleridge Keats and many more whose poetry focused on the love of nature and an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. Although it is not a correct definition but it will serve its purpose.
> If you know a quote that is relevant to the short question, go ahead and use it or even a part of it. For example, if you are asked to write a brief note on the villainy of Iago, you can use the following quote in your answer to make it more appealing:
I'll set down the pegs that make the music
As honest as I am
> Your answer should not exceed the length of half the page.
> Use Roman Numbers i), ii), iii) etc to number the short questions followed by a short heading (use marker) with the left alignment. For example:
Define Simile
Heading: i) Definition of Simile or Simile
Enlist two themes in The Waste Land
Heading: ii) Themes in The Waste Land
Who is the murderer of King Laius?
Heading: iii) Murderer of King Laius
Note: Start your answer below the heading, NOT ON THE LINE OF THE HEADING.
> Leave an empty line before starting a question and after the ending of a question.
Preparation of short questions varies from subject to subject. Use past papers to get a better idea of the nature of short questions of each subject. But here is a general estimate:
Classical and Modern Drama: Tier - Difficult
Terms associated with plays, background of plays, a thorough reading and understanding of the text, themes, symbols, motifs. History of drama, difference between Modern Drama and Classical Drama
Reliance on Past Papers: Not Recommended
Classical Poetry: Tier - Moderate
Literary Devices, understanding of the text and a general knowledge of poetry, its components and kinds
Reliance on Past Papers: Partially Recommended
Classical Novel: Tier - Easy
Characters and places, a general knowledge of the components and kinds of novel
Reliance on Past Papers: Recommended
American Literature: Tier - Difficult
Literary Devices, core understanding of everything from poetry to novels to plays. Different movements like Surrealism and Dadaism etc. World War 1 (For A Farewell to Arms). For novels, chapter wise summary with analysis is a must, for plays, reading of text is necessary. Symbols, themes, context and information about writer can prove helpful.
Reliance on Past Papers: Not Recommended
Prose: Tier - Difficult
A general knowledge of Prose and its kinds, writer's introduction, in case of Gulliver's Travels, follow the same route as studying a novel, Read summary with analysis of the essays written by Bacon, Russell, Said and Stretchy. Biography, and its kinds, difference between the essays of Russell and Bacon.
Reliance on Past Papers: Not Recommended
Modern Poetry: Tier - Moderate
Explanation of poetic text, literary devices, Romanticism, its terminology and characteristics, themes and central ideas of the included poems.
Reliance on Past Papers: Partially Recommended
Modern Novel: Tier - Very Difficult
A thorough study of the chapter wise summary with analysis, knowledge about writers, including their birth year and death year along with their notable works. Context, themes, symbols and motives. Modern techniques used in the novels like Stream of Consciousness
Reliance on Past Papers: Definitely Not Recommended
Literary Criticism: Tier - Moderate
A basic knowledge about literary criticism and how it differs from the other forms of literature, read every long question included in Current Notes because short questions are derived from the long questions.
Reliance on Past Papers: Partially Recommended
Our folks at MA/BS English Literature have compiled two separate files for the Short Questions for the each Part. Your phone should have these files.
And now, we are coming to big boys, I mean Long Questions
Long Questions - AKA Subjective Part
(Applicable in Any University)
Long Questions are relatively easy to tackle with if you have good command over English writing and convincing power. A selective range of topics coupled with the questions appearing in the past papers can get you cleared. But keep in mind that in recent years, long questions are coming unexpectedly. For example, in the recent paper of Classical Poetry, no one was expecting the Critical Appreciation of a Shakespearean Sonnet. Therefore, read every writer if possible. Now we are coming to the algorithm of attemptation.
Before attempting a question, make sure to select the ones you know the answers to. Try to understand the statement of the question. Sometimes, they pull a line from Select Literary Criticism of a work and link it to a question. You can find the very thing in the study guides of KM/NKM and Famous.
When you are ready to answer, grab your marker and write down an appropriate heading accompanied by the number of the question with central alignment:
Q2: Paradise Lost as an Epic
Then write an introductory paragraph according to the statement of the question. If you are asked to prove a work according to its genre, define the genre and give ample information regarding the particular work and the elements of the particular genre present in the particular work. If you are asked to draw a character sketch, give general details about the character, NOT the work concerned, along with its traits. If you are asked to critically appraise a poem, let the examiner know when, why and how it was written and what the poem is all about. If the question is based upon comparison (Like the difference between Shakespearean Hero and Greek Tragic Hero), define the core concept, (what is a tragic hero) and then briefly introduce the varying topics while retaining the difference among them. Pour your heart out in this one because the examiner is going to only read the introductory paragraph.
Then construct body paragraphs according to the Thesis statement* you developed in the introductory paragraph. For example, while drawing a character sketch, highlight different positive as well as negative aspects of a character; while critically appraising a poem, highlight different aspects of it through its development of thoughts, themes, figurative devices, setting and Images, tone and structural analysis (shall write a detailed post on how to critically evaluate a poem soon because it's already 1:41 am) and while explaining a work through its genre, explain it through different elements like in the case of Paradise Lost being an epic, we shall prove it through elevated themes, grand diction and style, extended or Homeric similes and beginning from the middle of a story (yes, Paradise Lost begins from the defeat of Satan after his war with God, not from his conspiracy) and while tackling with comparison or juxtaposition, you can, at first, explain the first topic, i.e the traits of a Greek Tragic Hero, for example, he is from a noble class, is essentially good and his downfall is sudden. After this, you can elaborate on the second point, i. e traits of Shakespearean Tragic Hero. For example, he belongs to the noble class but he is not supposed to be essentially good (in the case of Macbeth). Support this portion of your answer with facts from the events of the text, references and quotes.
Each paragraph should be started on a new line.
Writing a concluding paragraph or line is easy. Just explain briefly what you debated in the body paragraphs and mention what is the outcome of it. You can share your own views as well in the concluding paragraph but don't try to give your commentary in the opening paragraph of your answer.
FAQs
Q1: Should I use headings while solving long questions?
It is your own choice. If you want to attempt a long question with headings, you can. Use black pointer to make a heading. However, if you don't like to, you can use simple paragraphs. I am in favour of paragraphs because it doesn't disrupt the flow of my answer during writing.
Q2: Are quotes absolutely necessary?
No! What matters is the supporting details and quotes are only a part of it. Emphasizing and focusing solely on quotes can render your answer rather out of context if you are in the habit of stuffing random quotes. However, if you cannot recall the exact quote, you can add it indirectly without dedicating a separate line, like this:
For instance, Iago claims that he will "set down the pegs that make the music".
Do not forget to use quotation marks when saying something that is taken out from the text.
Q3: How much can I make a long question, long? Does length matter?
You are not given enough time to devote your literary skills to paper. Your answer can contain as little as 5 pages but do not exceed it to 8 pages unless you are speedy at writing. No, the length of your answer does not matter. What matters is the credibility of the content inside it.
Q4: How much time should I allocate to each question?
25 minutes to 35 minutes.
Q5: What if time is short and only one long question is left to answer. What should I do?
Wrap it up in points as fast as you can. This way, your attempt can be full and the chances of getting failed can be minimized.
Q6: Is the question of Practical Criticism necessary in Literary Criticism?
According to the instructions of the paper, it is optional.
Conclusion
It is not a difficult task to deal with the paper of MA English Literature. Be confident, have faith in yourself and write what makes sense. Your attempt is measured through the quality of your answer, not by its quantity. If a person like me with a ridiculous handwriting can clear MA English Literature Part 1 in a go, why not you? Just remain in the limit of what is asked to elaborate with the best of your way.
All the best!
• A thesis statement is the crux of your answer. It contains basic but a constrictive detail of the question you will explain later jn the form of paragraphs. (Credits: Sir Atta Ur Rehmaan Jadoon)
