UPSC Civil Services Main 2016 English Paper II Question Paper PDF

Central Government Jobs Administrative / Civil Services 2016

  • Year 2016
  • Conducted By UPSC
  • Questions 8
  • Maximum Marks 250
  • Duration Three Hours
  • Languages English

Exam Details

Detail Information
Examination Civil Services (Main) Examination
Year 2016
Conducting Body UPSC
Paper English Paper II (Literature)
Subject English Literature
Duration Three Hours
Maximum Marks 250
Number of Questions 8
Question Type Mixed

This document contains the question paper for the English Paper II (Literature) of the Civil Services (Main) Examination held in 2016 by UPSC. The paper is worth a maximum of 250 marks and candidates are allowed three hours to complete it. It consists of eight questions divided into two sections, with specific instructions on compulsory questions and section choices. This paper is crucial for aspirants aiming to assess their understanding of English Literature within the context of the Civil Services Mains exam. It helps in understanding the depth and breadth of topics covered, marking scheme, and the expected response format.

Major Topics Covered

  • English Literature
  • Poetry Analysis
  • Literary Criticism
  • Modern Poetry
  • Stream of Consciousness Novel

Why This Paper is Important

  • Useful for Civil Services (Main) Examination preparation
  • Helps understand the latest exam pattern
  • Useful for practice and self-assessment
  • Covers frequently asked General Studies topics
  • Helpful for analysing question trends

Related Resources

  • Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015 English Paper II (Literature)
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017 English Paper II (Literature)
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016 General Studies Paper I
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016 Essay Paper
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016 English Paper II Answer Key
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination English Literature Syllabus
  • UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination Pattern

Instructions

  • There are EIGHT questions divided in Two Sections.
  • Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
  • Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each Section.
  • The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
  • Word limit in questions, if specified, should be adhered to.
  • Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order.
  • Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly.
  • Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Questions (page 2)

Q1.

(b) I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
(Eliot)

(c) Let the Irish vessel lie
Emptied of its poetry.
(W.H. Auden)

(d) Only one ship is seeking us, a black
Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her back
A huge and birdless silence.
(Larkin)

(e) Nothing stays out : daughters
get married to short-lived idiots;
sons who run away come back
(A.K. Ramanujan)

Q2. Answer all of the following :

(a) Discuss how Yeats asserts the transcendence of art over the fleeting and
carnal nature of mortal existence in his Byzantium poems.

(b) How does Eliot convey modern man's chaotic existence through the
complex shifts of the past and present moments in his "The Love Song of
J. Alfred Prufrock" ?

(c) "It is nothing joined; it flows. A 'river' or a 'stream' is the metaphor by
which it is most naturally described." Elaborate this statement about
the Stream of Consciousness Novel.

Question paper preview

Scanned pages 1–2 for reference. Download the official PDF for the full paper.

Page 1
UPSC Civil Services Main 2016 English Paper II (Literature) question paper page 1 scan, showing exam header and instructions. PDF download available.
Page 2
UPSC Civil Services Main 2016 English Paper II (Literature) question paper page 1 scan, showing exam header and instructions. PDF download available.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the name of the exam?

The exam is the Civil Services (Main) Examination.

What year is this question paper from?

This question paper is from the year 2016.

Who conducts the Civil Services (Main) Examination?

The examination is conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission).

What is the subject of this specific paper?

This paper is English Paper II, focusing on Literature.

What is the maximum marks for this paper?

The maximum marks for English Paper II (Literature) is 250.

What is the time allowed to complete the paper?

Candidates are allowed three hours to complete the paper.

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