2024/2025 JAMB Literature in English Syllabus & Recommended Textbooks

As the 2024/2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations draw near, students gearing up for the Literature in English section can now access the complete syllabus and recommended textbooks. This comprehensive guide aims to assist candidates in preparing thoroughly for the upcoming JAMB CBT Examination.

JAMB 2024/2025 Literature in English Syllabus:

The Literature in English examination is structured to evaluate candidates’ understanding of various aspects of literature, including drama, prose, poetry, general literary principles, and literary appreciation. Here is a breakdown of the syllabus:

1. Drama:
   • Types: Tragedy, Comedy, Tragicomedy, Melodrama, Farce, Opera, etc.
   • Dramatic Techniques: Characterization, Dialogue, Flashback, Mime, Costume, Music/Dance, Decor/Scenery, Acts/Scenes, Soliloquy/Aside, Lighting, etc.
   • Interpretation of Prescribed Texts: Theme, Plot, Socio-political context, Setting.

   Objectives:

   • Identify and analyze various types of drama.
   • Demonstrate knowledge of dramatic techniques.
   • Interpret prescribed texts effectively.
2. Prose:
   • Types: Fiction (Novel, Novella/Novelette, Short Story), Non-fiction (Biography, Autobiography, Memoir), Faction.
   • Narrative Techniques/Devices: Point of View, Characterization, Language.
   • Textual Analysis: Theme, Plot, Setting (Temporal/Spatial), Socio-political context.

   Objectives:

   • Differentiate between types of prose.
   • Analyze components of each type of prose.
   • Identify narrative techniques and styles.
3. Poetry:
   • Types: Sonnet, Ode, Lyrics, Elegy, Ballad, Panegyric, Epic, Blank Verse, etc.
   • Poetic Devices: Structure, Imagery, Sound (Rhyme/Rhythm, Repetition, Pun, Onomatopoeia, etc.), Diction.
   • Appreciation: Thematic preoccupation, Socio-political relevance, Style.

   Objectives:

   • Identify different types of poetry.
   • Determine devices used by various poets.
   • Apply lessons from poetry to real-life situations.
4. General Literary Principles:
   • Literary Terms: Foreshadowing, Suspense, Monologue, Dialogue, Symbolism, Figures of Speech, etc.
   • Literary Principles: Direct imitation in play, Versification in drama and poetry, Narration of people’s experiences, Achievement of aesthetic value.

   Objectives:

   • Identify literary terms and principles.
   • Differentiate between terms and principles.
5. Literary Appreciation:
   • Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose, and Poetry.

   Objectives:

   • Determine literary devices in given passages.
   • Provide meaningful interpretations.
   • Relate extracts to real-life experiences.

JAMB Literature Novels 2024:

Drama:

• African: “Harvest of Corruption” by Frank Ogodo Ogbeche.
• Non-African: “Othello” by William Shakespeare.

Prose:

• African: “Faceless” by Amma Darko, “Lonely Days” by Bayo Adebowale.
• Non-African: “Native Son” by Richard Wright.

Poetry:

• African: Various poems by Birago Diop, Gbemisola Adeoti, Gabriel Okara, Gbanabam Hallowell, Lenrie Peter, Kofi Awoonor.
• Non-African: Various poems by Alfred Tennyson, George Herbert, William Blake, William Morris.

Dramatic Texts:

• African: “The Lion and the Jewel” by Wole Soyinka.
• Non-African: “Look Back in Anger” by John Osborne.

Prose Texts:

• African: “Unexpected Joy at Dawn” by Alex Agyei-Agyir, “Second Class Citizen” by Buchi Emecheta.
• Non-African: “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte.

Poetry Texts:

• African and Non-African poems by various authors.

JAMB Literature in English Syllabus Recommended Textbooks:

Anthologies:

• “Of Shadows and Rainbows – Musings in Times of Covid” (An Anthology of Poems, Plays, and Short Stories) PEN Nigeria, Online.
• “The Penguin Book of English Verse” edited by J. Hayward.
• “New Poetry from Africa” edited by R. Johnson et al.
• “Oxford Anthology of English Literature” Vol. II edited by F. Kermode et al.
• “Camouflage: Best of Contemporary Writing from Nigeria” edited by Nduke Ofiono and Odoh Diego Okenyodo.

Critical Texts:

• “A Glossary of Literary Terms” by M. H. Abrams.
• “A Dictionary of Literature” by O. E. Emeaba.
• “Understanding Unseen” by M. J. Murphy.

Conclusion:

This comprehensive guide provides JAMB Literature in English candidates with a roadmap for effective preparation. Utilizing the recommended textbooks and understanding the syllabus will undoubtedly enhance performance in the upcoming examination. Best of luck!