UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 English Literature Paper I PDF

Central Government Jobs Other Jobs 2021

  • Year 2021
  • Conducted By UPSC
  • Questions 8
  • Maximum Marks 250
  • Duration Three Hours
  • Languages English

Exam Details

Detail Information
Examination UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam
Year 2021
Conducting Body UPSC
Paper English Paper-I (Literature)
Subject English Literature
Duration Three Hours
Maximum Marks 250
Number of Questions 8
Question Type Mixed

This is the question paper for the English Paper-I (Literature) of the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination held in 2021. The paper, conducted by the UPSC, is designed to assess candidates' understanding of English Literature. It allows a time duration of Three Hours and carries a maximum of 250 marks. The paper consists of eight questions divided into two sections, with candidates required to attempt five questions in total, including compulsory questions 1 and 5, and at least one from each section. This paper is crucial for aspirants aiming to qualify for the Civil Services through the Mains examination.

Major Topics Covered

  • Elizabethan theatre
  • Metaphysical Poets
  • Epic poetry
  • Mock epic
  • Romanticism
  • Industrial Revolution's effect on literature
  • The Tempest
  • John Donne's poetry
  • Paradise Lost
  • Milton's views on marriage and gender
  • The Rape of the Lock
  • Wordsworth's poetry
  • Mankind and nature correlation
  • Tennyson's In Memoriam
  • King Lear
  • Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House
  • Feminist literature
  • Wordsworth as a sonneteer

Why This Paper is Important

  • Useful for UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 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) Exam 2021 English Paper-II (General Studies-I)
  • UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2021 English Paper-III (General Studies-II)
  • UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2021 English Paper-IV (General Studies-III)
  • UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2021 English Paper-V (General Studies-IV)
  • UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2021 Optional Subject Papers
  • UPSC Civil Services Main 2021 English Paper I Answer Key
  • UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Syllabus
  • UPSC English Literature Optional Syllabus

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 Booklet must be clearly struck off.

Questions (page 2)

Q1. Write short answers of the following. Each question should be answered in about 150 words: 10× 5 = 50 Explain how the theatre in the Elizabethan period was the focal point of the (a) age. What is the historical and critical value of referring to a disparate group as the (b) Metaphysical Poets?

Q2. Answer all of the following : Nature and society are frequently contrasted in The Tempest.

  • (a) Trace this theme
  • (b) throughout the course of the play. 15 John Donne's poetical works are noted for their metaphorical and sensual
  • (c) style. Explain this with reference to the poems prescribed in the syllabus. 15 Examine Milton's treatment of Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost, particularly his

Q3. Answer all of the following : 15 Comment on the role of epic machinery in The Rape of the Lock. (a) Explain how through his poetry Wordsworth is overtly exploring an intimate (b) 15 correlation between mankind and nature. Does the speaker in Tennyson's In Memoriam accept the fact that memory is a (c) selective, filtering experience?

  • (a) filtering
  • (b) in
  • (c) the
  • (d) poem?
  • (e) 20

Q4. Answer all of the following: By considering the dramatic effects of King Lear, evaluate the view that despite (a) the appalling suffering, the world of the play is not without hope. 20 Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House is generally considered a feminist work. Do you (b) agree with this view?

  • (a) in
  • (b) the
  • (c) syllabus.
  • (d) 2
  • (e) HXS-U-ENG/15

Question paper preview

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UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2021 English Paper-I (Literature) question paper page 1 instructions scan PDF download
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Frequently asked questions

What is the name of the exam?

The exam is the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam.

What year is this question paper from?

This question paper is from the year 2021.

Who conducts the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam?

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

What is the subject of this paper?

This paper is for English Paper-I (Literature).

What is the maximum marks for this paper?

The maximum marks for this paper are 250.

What is the time allowed to complete the paper?

The time allowed to complete the paper is Three Hours.

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