UPSC English Literature Syllabus 2026

The UPSC English Literature syllabus contains several components. The English Literature optional paper consists of two papers: Paper I and Paper II. Each paper carries 250 marks.

In Paper I, candidates study topics such as Shakespeare, the Renaissance, and the 18th century. Furthermore, it covers Romantic and Victorian poetry, among other subjects. Meanwhile, Paper II focuses on contemporary literature, literary theory, and Indian writing in English.

Overall, the UPSC English Optional syllabus allows candidates to engage deeply in literary analysis and critical thinking. Moreover, it fosters a robust understanding of cultural, historical, and societal contexts. This paper holds immense appeal for those who have a passion for literature and a strong command of the English language.

In this article, we will look into the UPSC English Literature Syllabus.

UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus

The UPSC Mains Exam consists of a total of 1750 marks, and the optional subject score significantly impacts your chances of reaching the interview stage. Among the various optional subjects, English Literature is often perceived as simple and easy to grasp. Furthermore, there is a vast array of reading material available for this subject. 

The UPSC English Literature Optional syllabus comprises two papers, which are designed to assess both first-hand and critical readings of texts prescribed from different periods in English Literature.

There will be two compulsory questions in each paper:

• A short-notes question related to the topics for general study.
• A critical analysis of UNSEEN passages both in prose and verse.

UPSC Syllabus for English Literature

The UPSC syllabus for English Literature consists of two papers. The optional Paper 1 in the Mains exam consists of questions that carry 250 marks. Additionally, candidates will also be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge of specific topics and movements. Therefore, it is essential for them to prepare thoroughly. 

• The Renaissance
• Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama
• Metaphysical Poetry
• The Epic and the Mock-Epic
• Neoclassicism
• Satire
• The Romantic Movement
• The Rise of the Novel
• The Victorian Age

For paper 2, candidates will also be required to show adequate knowledge of the following topics and movements:

• Modernism
• Poets of the Thirties
• The Stream of Consciousness Novel
• Absurd Drama
• Colonialism and Post-Colonialism
• Indian Writing in English
• Marxist, Psychoanalytical and Feminist Approaches to Literature
• Post Modernism

1. UPSC English Literature Syllabus: Paper 1

The UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Optional Paper 1 focuses mainly on the topics like:

• The Renaissance
• Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama
• Metaphysical Poetry
• The Epic and the Mock-epic
• Neoclassicism
• Satire
• The Romantic Movement
• The Rise of the Novel
• The Victorian Age

Candidates are expected to be thorough with the above-mentioned topics and movements. Below is the UPSC English Syllabus for Paper 1:

UPSC English Syllabus for Optional Paper 1
Topic	Details
Section-A
William Butler Yeats	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.
T.S. Eliot	The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.
	Journey of the Magi.
	Burnt Norton.
W.H. Auden	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
John Osborne	Look Back in Anger.
Samuel Beckett	Waiting for Godot.
Philip Larkin	Next
	Please
	Deceptions
	Afternoons
	Days
	Mr. Bleaney
A.K. Ramanujan	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
Section-B
Joseph Conrad	Lord Jim.
James Joyce	Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
D.H. Lawrence	Sons and Lovers.
E.M. Forster	A Passage to India.
Virginia Woolf	Mrs. Dalloway.
Raja Rao	Kanthapura.
V.S. Naipaul	A House for Mr. Biswas.

2. UPSC English Literature Syllabus: Paper 2

The UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Optional Paper 2 focuses mainly on topics like:

• Modernism
• Poets of the Thirties
• The stream-of-consciousness Novel
• Absurd Drama
• Colonialism and Postcolonialism
• Indian Writing in English
• Marxist, Psychoanalytical and Feminist approaches to literature
• Post-Modernism. 

Candidates are expected to be thorough with the UPSC English Litearture Syllabus. Below is the UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Paper 2:

UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Optional Paper 2
Topics	Details
Section A
William Shakespeare	King Lear and The Tempest
John Donne	Canonization
	Death be not proud
	The Good Morrow
	On his Mistress going to bed
	The Relic
John Milton	Paradise Lost, I, II, IV, IX
Alexander Pope	The Rape of the Lock
William Wordsworth	Ode on Intimations of Immortality
	Tintern Abbey
	Three years 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
Alfred Tennyson	In Memoriam
Henrik Ibsen	A Doll’s House
Section B
Jonathan Swift	Gulliver’s Travels
Jane Austen	Pride and Prejudice
Henry Fielding	Tom Jones
Charles Dickens	Hard Times
George Eliot	The Mill on the Floss
Thomas Hardy	Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Mark Twain	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

How to Prepare UPSC English Optional Syllabus?

The UPSC English Optional syllabus is simple and easy to understand. Additionally, it requires good writing skills. Although prior knowledge of English Literature is beneficial, it is not mandatory for beginners. Furthermore, having a deep understanding of texts can enhance the learning experience. An interest in reading and writing is also important. Moreover, a passion for poems, dramas, and novels can enrich one’s appreciation of the subject and improve overall performance in writing.

1. Thoroughly review the syllabus to develop a strategy that meets syllabus needs and knowledge competence. The UPSC English Literature syllabus requires reading classical and original texts within their original context.

2. Going through the UPSC previous year question papers on English Literature will give you an idea of the importance of topics. It will also help you understand how to write Mains answers.

3. Comparing characters from different texts set in different time periods allows you to compare the belief systems of people from different time periods. 

4. It is important to have a deep understanding of the socio-political setup of the time period in which the work is set.

5. Be consistent with answer-writing practice. It will help to develop speed as well as cross-conceptual understanding.

For aspirants choosing English Literature optional, expert guidance from UPSC Coaching in Guwahati can significantly improve preparation outcomes.

UPSC English Literature Syllabus: Important Topics

Although each topic in the UPSC English Literature syllabus is important, there are a few that stand out. These specific topics are regularly asked in the exam. Therefore, it is important to focus on them during your preparation. By doing so, you can enhance your chances of success.

• William Shakespeare: King Lear and The Tempest
• John Donne
• William Wordsworth
• Charles Dickens
• William Butler Yeats
• W.H. Auden
• Philip Larkin
• A.K. Ramanujan
• V.S. Naipaul. A House for Mr Biswas

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UPSC English Literature syllabus for 2026 offers an extensive study of English literature. It covers various movements and key figures within the field. Furthermore, the syllabus encourages critical analysis and promotes an understanding of cultural contexts. As a result, it becomes a rewarding option for passionate candidates. Therefore, familiarity with the syllabus is crucial for effective exam preparation.

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