UPSC Civil Services Main 2024 English Literature Paper I PDF

Central Government Jobs Other Jobs 2024

  • Year 2024
  • Conducted By UPSC
  • Questions 8
  • Maximum Marks 250
  • Duration Three Hours
  • Languages English

Exam Details

Detail Information
Examination Civil Services (Main) Examination
Year 2024
Conducting Body UPSC
Paper English Literature Paper - I
Subject English Literature
Duration Three Hours
Maximum Marks 250
Number of Questions 8
Question Type Mixed

This is the English Literature Paper I from the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination held in 2024. The paper consists of 8 questions divided into two sections, requiring candidates to attempt five questions in total, with compulsory questions and a requirement to choose at least one from each section. The paper assesses in-depth knowledge of English literary history, movements, and specific works, with questions ranging from Renaissance humanism and Elizabethan drama to Metaphysical poetry and 18th-century novels. It is a crucial resource for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Mains examination, offering insights into the expected depth and breadth of knowledge required.

Major Topics Covered

  • Renaissance humanism
  • Elizabethan drama
  • Jacobean drama
  • Augustan satire
  • 18th-century English novel
  • Metaphysical poetry
  • Shakespeare
  • King Lear
  • John Donne
  • Milton
  • Paradise Lost
  • Wordsworth
  • Romantic imagination
  • Alexander Pope
  • The Rape of the Lock
  • Henrik Ibsen
  • A Doll's House
  • Tennyson
  • In Memoriam
  • Epic norms

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

  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2024 English Literature Paper II
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2023 English Literature Paper I
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2023 English Literature Paper II
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2022 English Literature Paper I
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2024 English Literature Paper I Answer Key
  • UPSC Mains 2024 English Literature Paper I Solutions
  • UPSC Civil Services Main English Literature Syllabus
  • UPSC Mains Literature Optional Subject Details

Instructions

  • There are EIGHT questions divided in two Sections.
  • Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
  • Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE from each Section.
  • The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
  • Word limit in questions, wherever 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 (QCA) Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Questions (page 2)

Section A

Q1. Answer all of the following in about 150 words each :

(a) Explain with literary examples how Renaissance humanism of 16th century Europe sought to fuse scholarship with ethics.

(b) Attempt a review of the theatrical properties of Elizabethan and Jacobean drama.

(c) Comment on Augustan verse satire as humorous depiction of the follies of people and the contemporary society.

(d) Trace the distinctive literary qualities of the 18th century English novel.

(e) Comment on the use of wit and conceit in Metaphysical poetry.

Section A

Q2. Answer all of the following:

(a) How does Shakespeare complicate the sense of justice in King Lear? Explain.

(b) Comment on John Donne's treatment of metaphysical love in his poetry.

(c) Attempt a critical analysis of Eve's character as portrayed by Milton in Paradise Lost, Book IX.

Section A

Q3. Answer all of the following :

(a) In The Tempest, Prospero is a humanist scholar engaged in stemming the degeneration of European society. Discuss.

(b) Discuss with reference to the poems of Wordsworth the role of childhood memory in shaping romantic imagination.

(c) Bring out the mock-heroic elements in Pope's The Rape of the Lock.

Section A

Q4. Answer all of the following :

(a) Do you think the ending of A Doll's House is too radical to suit the taste of any sober society? Discuss.

(b) Tennyson's poem In Memoriam is an elegy with philosophical reflections on the 19th century issues of science and religion. Discuss.

(c) How does Milton Christianize the pagan epic norms in the first 26 lines of Paradise Lost, Book I? Explain.

Question paper preview

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Frequently asked questions

What is the name of the exam?

The exam is the Civil Services (Main) Examination.

Which paper is this?

This is English Literature Paper - I.

What is the conducting body?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts this examination.

What is the year of this paper?

This question paper is from the year 2024.

How many questions are there in total?

There are EIGHT questions in total, divided into two sections.

How many questions must a candidate attempt?

A candidate must attempt FIVE questions in all.

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