NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Department of English

Second Year Syllabus - Four-Year B.A. (Honours) Course

Course Overview

The second year of the Four-Year B.A. (Honours) in English program builds on foundational knowledge with deeper exploration of literary genres, critical analysis, and writing skills. The curriculum balances classical and modern texts while developing advanced academic competencies.

Key Features:
  • Genre-focused papers (Drama, Poetry)
  • Historical survey of English literature
  • Advanced academic writing training
  • Interdisciplinary social science components
Course Structure:
  • 6 Papers (4 Core + 2 Elective)
  • 600 Total Marks
  • 24 Credits
  • 60 Class Hours per Paper
Literature study

Introduction to Drama

Paper Code: 221101 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4

This paper surveys dramatic literature from ancient Greek tragedy to modern African drama, examining evolution of theatrical forms and conventions.

Introduction to Drama

Paper Code: 221101 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4
Sophocles - Oedipus Rex
Full Text (Gutenberg) SparkNotes Analysis LitCharts Guide Video Summary
Key Themes:
  • Fate vs. Free Will: Academic Analysis (JSTOR)
  • Tragic Hero: Aristotle's definition in Poetics
  • Dramatic Irony: Audience knows more than Oedipus
Shakespeare - As You Like It
Folger Digital Text SparkNotes RSC Production Notes
Study Focus:
  • Pastoral Comedy: British Library Article
  • Gender Roles: Rosalind's cross-dressing
  • "All the world's a stage" monologue analysis
G.B. Shaw - Arms and the Man
Full Text (Gutenberg) CliffsNotes NT Production
Themes:
  • Anti-Romanticism: Satire of war and love
  • Social Class: Shaw's critique (JSTOR)
  • "Chocolate Cream Soldier" symbolism
J.M. Synge - Riders to the Sea
Full Text (Gutenberg) Irish Times Analysis Abbey Theatre Archive
Key Elements:
Wole Soyinka - The Lion and the Jewel
PDF Text Postcolonial Analysis Scene Performance
Study Points:
  • Tradition vs. Modernity: Academic Paper
  • African Theater: Use of dance/music
  • Gender dynamics in Yoruba culture
Key Concepts:
  • Tragic hero concept in Oedipus Rex
  • Pastoral comedy in Shakespeare
  • Shaw's anti-romantic satire
  • Symbolism in Synge's work
  • Post-colonial themes in Soyinka

Romantic Poetry

Paper Code: 221103 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4
William Blake - Songs of Innocence and Experience
Songs of Innocence
Songs of Experience
William Blake Study Guide
Key Concepts:
  • Contrary States: Innocence vs Experience as complementary perspectives
  • Symbolism: Lamb (innocence), Tyger (experience), Chimney Sweeper (social criticism)
  • Form: Simple ballad meter with complex themes
Comparative Analysis:
Innocence Version Experience Version
Naive perspective Worldly perspective
Trust in divine protection Exposure to social injustice
William Wordsworth
  • "Tintern Abbey"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Three stages of Wordsworth's relationship with nature
    • Concept of "spots of time"
    • Blank verse structure
    • Memory and imagination
  • "Immortality Ode"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Concept of pre-existence
    • "Shades of the prison-house" metaphor
    • Stanza structure variations
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  • "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Symbolism of the albatross
    • Supernatural elements
    • Ballad form with Romantic modifications
    • Theme of transgression and redemption
  • "Kubla Khan"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Fragmentary nature of the poem
    • Imagination vs creation
    • Orientalism in Romantic poetry
George Gordon Byron
  • "Don Juan" (Canto I)
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Byronic hero characteristics
    • Ottava rima verse form
    • Satirical elements
    • Autobiographical aspects
Percy Bysshe Shelley
  • "To a Skylark"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Bird as symbol of poetic inspiration
    • Stanza structure and rhyme scheme
    • Platonic idealism
  • "Adonais"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Pastoral elegy tradition
    • Keats as Adonais
    • Transformation of grief into art
John Keats
  • "Ode on Melancholy"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Paradox of pleasure/pain
    • Classical allusions
    • Structure of the ode
  • "Ode on a Grecian Urn"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"
    • Static art vs living experience
    • Negative capability
  • "Ode to a Nightingale"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Escapism theme
    • Mortality vs immortality
    • Sensory imagery
  • "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer"
    Full Text Analysis
    Study Focus:
    • Petrarchan sonnet form
    • Discovery metaphor
    • Literary influence
Romantic Poetry Analysis
Common Themes:
  • Nature as source of inspiration and moral guidance
  • Imagination as creative and spiritual faculty
  • Individualism and subjective experience
  • Interest in the supernatural and exotic
Poetic Forms:
  • Lyric poetry emphasizing personal emotion
  • Revival of ode form with personal themes
  • Experimental narrative forms
  • Conversational blank verse
Further Reading on Romanticism
Romantic Poetry Study Guide
Reading Strategies:
  1. Note natural imagery and its symbolic meaning
  2. Identify the speaker's emotional state
  3. Track shifts in tone or perspective
Memorization Tips:
  • Focus on opening/closing lines of key poems
  • Create visual associations for imagery
  • Record yourself reading poems aloud
Essay Approaches:
  • Compare two poets' treatment of nature
  • Analyze a single poem in depth
  • Trace a theme across multiple poets

Advanced Reading and Writing

Paper Code: 221105 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4

Develops critical reading skills and advanced academic writing techniques essential for literary studies.

Reading Components:
  • Understanding rhetorical devices
  • Textual analysis (explicit/implicit)
  • Distinguishing facts vs opinions
  • Identifying author's tone/position
  • Critical interpretation of ideas
  • Stylistic analysis
Writing Components:
  • Writing for specific audiences
  • Thesis development
  • Academic voice/style
  • Argumentative positioning
  • MLA/APA documentation
  • Research paper writing
Recommended Texts:
  • M.J. Murphy - Understanding Unseen
  • Roger Gower & M Pearson - Reading Literature
  • Simon Greenall & Michael Swan - Effective Reading
  • Josep Gibaldi - MLA Handbook

History of English Literature

Paper Code: 221107 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4
Literary Periods Timeline
Period Key Features Major Authors Resources
Early & Middle English
(450-1500)
  • Anglo-Saxon poetry
  • Religious themes
  • Oral tradition
 Beowulf Poet, Chaucer British Library Middle English Texts
Age of Chaucer
(1343-1400)
  • Courtly love
  • Frame narratives
  • Vernacular English
 Geoffrey Chaucer Harvard Chaucer Canterbury Tales
Renaissance
(1500-1660)
  • Humanism
  • Sonnet form
  • Elizabethan theater
 Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spenser Folger Library British Library
Restoration
(1660-1700)
  • Comedy of manners
  • Satire
  • Scientific writing
 Dryden, Congreve, Pepys Luminarium JSTOR Papers
Romantic Age
(1785-1832)
  • Nature worship
  • Individualism
  • Gothic elements
 Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats Romantic Circles BL Collection
Victorian Age
(1832-1901)
  • Industrialization
  • Novel dominance
  • Social criticism
 Dickens, Eliot, Tennyson Victorian Web BL Resources
Modern Age
(1901-Present)
  • Stream of consciousness
  • Experimental forms
  • Postcolonial voices
 Woolf, Joyce, Soyinka Modernist Studies BL 20th Century
Essential Reference Materials
Textbooks:
Digital Resources:
Period Comparison Guide
Form Evolution
  • Medieval: Epic poetry, morality plays
  • Renaissance: Sonnets, blank verse
  • Victorian: Novel dominates
Thematic Shifts
  • Restoration: Satire of aristocracy
  • Romantic: Nature as spiritual force
  • Modern: Alienation and identity
Author Focus
  • Chaucer: Father of English poetry
  • Shakespeare: Universal genius
  • Woolf: Modernist innovator

History of English Literature

Paper Code: 221107 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4

Chronological survey of English literary periods from Anglo-Saxon to Modern era.

Early Periods:
  • Early & Middle English
  • Age of Chaucer
  • Reformation Period
Renaissance:
  • Elizabethan Age
  • Jacobean Age
  • Puritan Age
17th-18th Century:
  • Restoration Period
  • Neoclassical Age
Modern Era:
  • Romantic Age
  • Victorian Age
  • Modern Age
References:
  • George Sampson - Cambridge History of English Literature
  • Robert Barnard - A Short History of English Literature
  • William J. Long - A Short History of English Literature

Sociology of Bangladesh

Paper Code: 222009 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4

OR

Bangladesh Society and Culture

Paper Code: 222115 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4

  • Village society dynamics
  • Marriage and family systems
  • Social stratification
  • Ethnic communities

  • Agrarian transformation
  • Industrial growth challenges
  • Urban informal economy
  • Migration patterns

  • State and governance
  • Language Movement
  • Cultural identity
  • Education system
Recommended Texts:
  • Nazmul Karim - Dynamics of Bangladesh Society
  • A. M. Chowdhury & Fakrul Alam - Bangladesh at the Threshold
  • Kamal Siddiqui - Jagatpur

Political Systems of UK & USA

Paper Code: 221909 | Marks: 100 | Credits: 4
Core Concepts:
  • Constitutional theories
  • Forms of government
  • Separation of powers
  • Government organs
  • Political behavior
System Studies:
UK System
Constitutional monarchy, Parliament, Prime Minister
US System
Federal system, President, Congress, Checks & Balances
Key Comparisons:
  • Parliamentary vs Presidential systems
  • Unitary vs Federal structures
  • Party system differences
  • Judicial review processes

Comprehensive Study Guide

Drama study
Drama Study Strategy
  1. Textual Analysis: Read each play at least twice
  2. Character Mapping: Create charts for major characters
  3. Thematic Study: Identify 3-5 major themes per play
  4. Historical Context: Research performance conditions
  5. Comparative Study: Note evolution of dramatic techniques
Tip: Watch recorded performances when available
Poetry study
Poetry Study Approach
  1. Close Reading: Annotate poems line by line
  2. Memorization: Learn key lines from major poems
  3. Comparative Analysis: Contrast poets' treatment of nature
  4. Form Study: Analyze meter, rhyme, structure
  5. Biographical Context: Relate poems to poets' lives
Tip: Create thematic clusters of poems
Writing study
Writing Improvement
  1. Thesis Development: Practice crafting clear arguments
  2. Citation Practice: Master MLA/APA formats
  3. Peer Review: Exchange drafts with classmates
  4. Model Analysis: Study high-scoring sample essays
  5. Timed Practice: Simulate exam conditions
Tip: Allocate time for planning/writing/reviewing

Semester Study Plan

Month Focus Area Key Tasks Assessment
Month 1-2 Drama Studies
  • Read all prescribed plays
  • Analyze dramatic techniques
  • Compare tragic/comic elements
 Character analysis essay
Month 3-4 Romantic Poetry
  • Memorize key poems
  • Study poetic devices
  • Trace thematic development
 Poetry explication test
Month 5 Literary History
  • Create period timeline
  • Identify major authors
  • Note genre developments
 Period identification quiz
Month 6 Revision
  • Practice past papers
  • Focus on weak areas
  • Group study sessions
 Mock exams
Exam Preparation Checklist
Effective Study Techniques
  • Pomodoro Technique: 25-min focused sessions
  • Mind Mapping: Visual organization of concepts
  • Active Recall: Self-testing for memorization
  • Interleaving: Mixing different subjects
  • Spaced Repetition: Review over increasing intervals

Syllabus Analysis & Insights

Curriculum Structure Analysis

The second year curriculum demonstrates a carefully balanced approach to literary studies with three distinct components:

40%

Literary Genre Studies
(Drama, Poetry)

30%

Historical & Theoretical
Framework

30%

Skills Development &
Interdisciplinary Studies

Balance Assessment

Category Strengths Challenges
Content Coverage Comprehensive genre representation Heavy reading load in poetry paper
Skill Development Strong writing component Limited creative writing opportunities
Diversity Includes non-Western texts (Soyinka) Limited postcolonial perspectives
Assessment Clear marking structure Potential over-reliance on exams
Key Highlights
Strengths
  • Genre-focused specialization
  • Historical contextualization
  • Academic writing emphasis
  • Local/global balance
Challenges
  • Reading intensity
  • Theory/practice balance
  • Assessment diversity
Opportunities
  • Comparative studies
  • Interdisciplinary links
  • Digital humanities
Skills Development

Learning Pathway Analysis

Prerequisite Knowledge
  • First year literary terminology
  • Basic critical approaches
  • Essay writing fundamentals
  • Historical period awareness
Third Year Preparation
  • Advanced critical theory
  • Research methodology
  • Specialized genre studies
  • Comparative literature

Featured Authors

Sophocles

Sophocles

Greek Tragedian

Master of Greek tragedy known for Oedipus Rex and its exploration of fate and free will.

Tragedy Fate
Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

English Playwright

The Bard of Avon, renowned for his comedies, tragedies, and sonnets.

Comedy Tragedy
Shaw

George Bernard Shaw

Irish Dramatist

Nobel laureate known for witty dialogue and social commentary in plays like Arms and the Man.

Satire Social Critique
Wordsworth

William Wordsworth

English Poet

Pioneer of Romantic poetry, celebrated for his nature-inspired works like "Tintern Abbey".

Nature Romanticism
Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

English Poet

Romantic poet famous for supernatural poems like "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".

Supernatural Imagination
Keats

John Keats

English Poet

Master of odes known for "Ode to a Nightingale" and his concept of negative capability.

Beauty Mortality

Author Perspectives

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

William Shakespeare in As You Like It

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility."

William Wordsworth in Lyrical Ballads

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

George Bernard Shaw

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."