Jamb Literature in English Syllabus and Recommended Textbooks to Read

Candidates should be able to:i. Identify the various types of drama.

ii. Analyse 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.

(B) Dramatic Techniques

i. Characterisation

ii. Dialogue

iii. Flashback

iv. Mime

v. Costume

vi. Music/Dance

vii. Décor/scenery

viii. Acts/Scenes

ix. Soliloquy/aside

x. Lighting etc.

(C). Interpretation of the Prescribed Texts

i. Theme

ii. Plot

iii. Socio-political context

iv. Setting.

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.

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

i. Direct imitation in play.

ii.Versification in drama and poetry.

iii. Narration of peopleÂ’s experiences.

iv. Achievement of aesthetic value, etc.

(c).Relationship between literary terms and principles.

Candidates should be able to:i. determine literary devices used in a given passage/extract.

ii. provide a meaningful inter-pretation of the given passage/extract.

iii. Relate the extract to true life experiences.

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 poetÂ’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.

i. Structure

ii. Imagery

iii. Sound(Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.

iv. Diction

v. Persona

(c). Appreciation

i. Thematic preoccupation

ii. Socio-political relevance

iii. Style.

ii. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to.

iii. analyse 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 pre-occupation 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.

ii. Characterisation

• Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero, etc

iii. Language

c. Textual Analysis

i.Theme

ii. Plot

iii. Setting (Temporal/Spatial)

iv. Socio-political context

A LIST OF SELECTED AFRICAN AND NON-AFRICAN PLAYS, NOVELS AND POEMS

Drama:

i. Frank Ogodo Ogbeche      :      Harvest of Corruption

Non African:

i. William Shakespeare          :      Othello

Prose:

African:

i. Amma Darko                     :      Faceless

Non-African:

i. Richard Wright                   :      Native Son

Poetry:

African:

i. Birago Diop                       :      Vanity
ii. Gbemisola Adeoti              :      Ambush
iii. Gabriel Okara                   :      Piano and Drums
iv. Gbanabam Hallowell         :      The Dining Table
v. Lenrie Peter                       :      The Panic of Growing Older
vi. Kofi Awoonor                   :      The Anvil and the Hammer

Non African:

i. Alfred Tennyson                 :      Crossing the Bar
ii. George Herbert                 :      The Pulley
iii. William Blake                   :      The School Boy
iv. William Morris                  :      The Proud King

1. ANTHOLOGIESGbemisola, 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 TEXT

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.