FA English Literature (Elective) Syllabus

English Literature (Elective) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for English Literature (Elective) in FA, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Drama

   3 topics

   • Study of a prescribed play
   • Characterization and theme
   • Dramatic techniques
2. 2

   Poetry

   3 topics

   • Selected poems
   • Figures of speech and imagery
   • Critical appreciation
3. 3

   Prose and Short Stories

   3 topics

   • Prescribed essays
   • Short story analysis
   • Narrative techniques
4. 4

   Novel

   2 topics

   • Plot and structure
   • Themes and characters
5. 5

   Literary History and Criticism

   2 topics

   • Major literary periods
   • Elements of literary criticism

English Literature (Elective) flashcards for FA

25 of 51 cards from the English Literature (Elective) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In drama, what is the difference between a tragedy and a comedy?

   A tragedy depicts the downfall or suffering of a protagonist, usually ending in death or ruin; a comedy involves lighter situations, humour, and typically ends happily, often with reconciliation or marriage.

2. What are the three classical unities of drama defined by Aristotle's followers?

   Unity of action (a single main plot), unity of time (events within roughly 24 hours), and unity of place (a single location).

3. What is a soliloquy in a play?

   A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings directly to the audience.

4. How does a soliloquy differ from an aside?

   A soliloquy is a long speech given when a character is alone on stage; an aside is a brief remark spoken to the audience (or one character) that other characters on stage are assumed not to hear.

5. What is dramatic irony?

   A situation in which the audience knows something important that one or more characters on stage do not, creating tension or anticipation.

6. What is a tragic hero according to Aristotle?

   A noble protagonist of high standing whose downfall is brought about by a tragic flaw (hamartia), evoking pity and fear in the audience.

7. What is hamartia in tragedy?

   The tragic flaw or error of judgement in the protagonist that leads to their downfall.

8. What is catharsis in Aristotelian tragedy?

   The purging or release of the emotions of pity and fear experienced by the audience at the climax of a tragedy.

9. Define 'theme' in a literary work.

   The central idea, message, or insight about life that a work explores, such as love, ambition, justice, or revenge.

10. What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?

    The protagonist is the main character around whom the story centres; the antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist.

11. What is characterization in literature?

    The methods a writer uses to create and reveal the personalities of characters, through their actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and others' reactions.

12. What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?

    Direct characterization is when the writer states a character's traits explicitly; indirect characterization reveals traits through the character's speech, actions, thoughts, and effect on others.

13. What distinguishes a 'round' character from a 'flat' character?

    A round character is complex and multi-dimensional, often changing through the story; a flat character is simple, one-dimensional, and stays the same.

14. What is a foil character?

    A character who contrasts with another (usually the protagonist) to highlight particular qualities of that character.

15. Define 'simile' and give its key feature.

    A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', e.g. 'as brave as a lion'.

16. Define 'metaphor'.

    A figure of speech that directly states one thing is another, implying a comparison without 'like' or 'as', e.g. 'Time is a thief'.

17. What is personification?

    A figure of speech in which human qualities or actions are given to non-human things or abstract ideas, e.g. 'The wind whispered'.

18. What is hyperbole?

    A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect, e.g. 'I've told you a million times'.

19. What is alliteration?

    The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely placed words, e.g. 'wild and windy'.

20. What is onomatopoeia?

    The use of words that imitate the natural sound they describe, e.g. 'buzz', 'hiss', 'clang'.

21. What is imagery in poetry?

    Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to create vivid mental pictures.

22. What is the difference between a metaphor and a symbol?

    A metaphor is a direct comparison stated in the text; a symbol is an object, person, or image that stands for a larger idea or meaning throughout the work.

23. What is apostrophe as a figure of speech?

    A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object as if it could respond, e.g. 'O Death, where is thy sting?'

24. What is an oxymoron?

    A figure of speech combining two contradictory terms, e.g. 'deafening silence' or 'bittersweet'.

25. What is a paradox in literature?

    A statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth, e.g. 'The child is father of the man'.

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