UPSC English Literature Syllabus: Paper 1 & 2, Strategy
Gajendra Singh Godara
Nov 5, 2025
12
mins read
The English Literature optional in UPSC Mains covers diverse English literature subjects from early modern times to the late 20th century. UPSC English Literature syllabus has two papers. Paper 1 focuses on literary history, genres and criticism. Shakespeare, the 18th century, the Renaissance, Romantic and Victorian poetry, and other subjects are covered in Paper 1. Literary theory, Indian writing in English, and contemporary literature are some of the subjects covered in Paper 2. It is based on detailed study of prescribed texts.
Studying this optional deepens candidates’ understanding of Western and Indian literary traditions, sharpens language skills, and develops critical writing – all of which can aid performance in essays and culture sections of the exam.
English Literature Optional in UPSC
Candidates choosing this paper engage deeply with English literature subjects like poetry, drama, and fiction across major literary periods:
Exam Pattern & Structure of the English Literature Optional
Papers, marks & duration
Paper 1: 250 marks, 3 hours. It covers literary history, major genres and movements (roughly 1600–1900).
Paper 2: 250 marks, 3 hours. It focuses on detailed study of prescribed texts (roughly 1900-1990).
In both papers, there are two sections (A and B). A total of 8 questions (with sub-parts) are given.
Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory in each paper (Short notes and Unseen passage analysis), and aspirants answer any 3 of the remaining 6 (at least one from each section).
Sections A & B
Section A (in both papers) typically deals with poetry and drama from the prescribed period.
Section B deals with prose (novels/fiction) and/or literary criticism/history.
For example:
Paper 1 Section A, candidates study works like Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Wordsworth, Tennyson, Ibsen (as listed in the official syllabus).
Paper 1 Section B includes novels like Gulliver’s Travels, Pride and Prejudice, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, etc.
Types of questions
Each paper contains:
Compulsory questions: A short-notes question (answerable in brief) and an unseen passage analysis (one prose, one verse). These test quick analytical skills.
Answer questions on prescribed texts: The rest are essay-type questions requiring critical discussion of the texts or topics in the syllabus.
Periods/timeframes covered
According to the official syllabus, Paper 1 spans roughly the early modern period through the Victorian era (16th–19th centuries). Paper 2 covers modern and post-modern works (up to the late 20th century).
UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Paper 1
There are total of 250-mark questions on the optional paper 1 of the Mains exam. View the UPSC Mains Optional Paper 1 English Literature Syllabus below:
Below is a list of texts for in-depth study. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the following subjects and movements:
The Renaissance;
Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama;
Metaphysical Poetry;
The Epic and the Mock-epic;
Neo-classicism;
Satire;
The Romantic Movement;
The Rise of the Novel;
The Victorian Age.
Section A
William Shakespeare: King Lear and The Tempest.
John Donne. The following poems:
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. The following poems:
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.
UPSC English Literature Syllabus for Paper 2
Below is a list of texts for in-depth study. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the following subjects 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.
Section A
William Butler Yeats
Easter 1916.
A Prayer for my daughter.
Sailing to Byzantium.
The Tower.
Among School Children.
Leda and the Swan.
Meru
Lapis Lazuli
The Second Coming
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
(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
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
What are the Pros and Cons of choosing UPSC English Literature Optional
Pros:
Background & Interest: Candidates with a literature background or genuine passion for reading will find preparation enjoyable. Familiarity with texts and theories reduces the “new information” load.
Lower Competition: Fewer students choose English Literature (often fewer than 50), so scoring above peers is feasible.
Rich Resources: There is ample study material – books, guides, online lectures – for literature aspirants.
Cons:
Subjectivity: Grading can be subjective. Unlike objective subjects, answers may be evaluated differently by examiners, making scoring less predictable.
Heavy Reading Load: The syllabus is vast (dozens of plays, poems, novels). Extensive reading and note-taking is required, which is time-consuming.
Analysis Difficulty: Literary texts often involve complex themes and symbols. Candidates without prior exposure to literary criticism may find analysis challenging.
Limited Guidance: Coaching for English literature optional is relatively scarce. Aspirants may need to rely on self-study and online resources.
Who should opt for this subject?
This optional is best suited for those with strong language skills and a love for reading. According to UPSC experts, ideal candidates include: English graduates; non-English graduates with a strong command of English and passion for literature; avid readers and writers; or anyone interested in literary history and criticism. Even without an honors degree, someone with excellent comprehension and writing ability in English can succeed in this subject. However, if you dislike reading fiction or analyzing texts, consider another optional.
Strategy to Cover the UPSC English Syllabus
Step-by-step timeline
A systematic plan can help cover the vast syllabus. For example:
Reading Texts Thoroughly:
Spend the first 1-2 months reading all prescribed novels, plays and poems. Take detailed notes on themes, characters, historical context and literary devices.
Pay attention to the time period, social values and belief systems depicted in each work. Compare characters across texts when possible (e.g. their worldviews, motivations).
Study Literary History/Theory:
Once you’ve read the texts, study literary movements and criticism. Focus on overview of each period (Renaissance, Romanticism, Modernism, etc.) and major critical approaches (feminist, Marxist, post-colonial).
Using books like W.E. Stephen’s History of English Thought in the Eighteenth Century or Abrams’s glossary helps here. This phase can overlap with text reading as reinforcement.
Revision & Answer Practice:
Reserve the last 1–2 months for revision and answer-writing. Practice previous years’ questions under time limits. Focus on structuring answers: start by situating the work in its era and author’s background, then address the question with evidence from the text.
Include relevant critical viewpoints or theories where appropriate. For poetry questions or unseen passages, learn to quote lines and explain their effect.
Recommended Resources & Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Book-list for texts & theory
Prescribed texts: Always read the original novels, plays and poetry. For example, use good editions of Shakespeare’s plays, Austen’s novels, etc.
Literary History/Theory: A History of English Literature by W.E. Stephen; The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism; A Glossary of Literary Terms by Abrams.
Poetry & Drama: Collected works/anthologies (e.g. Oxford or Penguin editions of Yeats, Eliot; Cambridge editions of plays).
Novels: Norton or Penguin classics (often have helpful introductions).
Previous Years’ Question Papers
Past UPSC Mains question papers are invaluable for understanding the exam pattern. They can be downloaded from the UPSC website or coaching portals. For example, the official site provides PDFs of English Literature Optional papers for 2018–2024. Regularly solve these to gauge question trends and refine answer strategy.
English Literature as an optional can be highly rewarding for the right candidate. It offers a unique window into history and culture through novels, plays and poems, while honing analytical writing. The syllabus is vast but well-defined, and with a clear strategy (read texts first, then theory, followed by revision and answer practice), aspirants can master it systematically.
Success stories (like top scorers in English Literature) show that disciplined preparation pays off. Aspiring candidates should choose this optional only if it genuinely interests them, plan their study wisely, and stay consistent. With thorough understanding of the UPSC English Literature syllabus and diligent preparation, one can confidently tackle this subject and potentially score high marks.
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