JAMB Syllabus for Literature in English [2026 Latest Version]

JAMB Syllabus for Literature-in-English: The JAMB Syllabus for Literature in English for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

On this page, you’ll see the authentic and official JAMB Syllabus for Literature in English Syllabus. We will also share with you the recommended prose, poets, drama, and anthologies.

This JAMB syllabus for Literature-in-English will assist JAMB candidates in preparing adequately for the upcoming examination.

The syllabus main objective is to:

• stimulate and sustain their interest in Literature in English;
• create an awareness of the general principles of Literature and functions of language;
• appreciate literary works of all genres and across all cultures;
• apply the knowledge of Literature in English to the analysis of social, political and economic events in the society.

PLEASE NOTE: After listing out recommended text-books below, you will see an option to view syllabus for other subjects.

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JAMB Syllabus for Literature-in-English

AllSchool is pleased to inform all students preparing to write Literature and English in UTME that though you only have five topics/subtopics, there are much to read.  They are;

1. DRAMA

This is the first topic/sub-topic. The JAMB approved drama books for literature in English below;

JAMB approved drama books for literature in English

1. Harvest of Corruption by Frank Ogodo Ogbeche (An African Drama)
2. Othello by William Shakespeare (A Non-African Drama) 

After reading the topic, make sure you are able to;

1. Identify the various types of drama.
2. Analyse the contents of the various types of drama.
3. Compare and contrast the features of different dramatic types.
4. Demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques used in each prescribed text.
5. Differentiate between styles of selected playwrights.
6. Determine the theme of any prescribed text.
7. Identify the plot of the play.
8. Apply the lessons of the play to everyday living.
9. Identify the spatial and temporal setting of the play.

2. GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES

This is the second topic/sub-topic. After reading this topic, make sure you are able to;

1. identify literary terms in drama, prose and poetry.
2. identify the general principles of Literature.
3. differentiate between literary terms and principles.
4. Use literary terms appropriately.

3. LITERARY APPRECIATION

This is the third topic/subtopic in the JAMB syllabus for Literature in English. The content of this topic will be gotten from Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose and Poetry. This implies you must have read the recommended books for the poetry, drama and prose. After-which, make sure you are able to;

1. determine literary devices used in a given passage/extract.
2. provide a meaningful inter-pretation of the given passage/extract.
3. Relate the extract to true life experiences.

4. POETRY

This is the 4th topic/sub-topic. Here you have to read the recommend poets;

After reading the topic and the poets, make sure you are able to;

1. identify different types of poetry.
2. compare and contrast the features of different poetic types.
3. determine the devices used by various poets.
4. show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem.
5. deduce the poet’s preoccupation from the poem.
6. appraise poetry as an art with moral values.
7. Apply the lessons from the poem to real life situations.

5. PROSE

While reading the recommended texts, make sure you read the types, narrative devices and textual devices of prose. You also have to read some prose books which are approved by JAMB.

After reading prose as a topics and the recommended prose books, make sure you are able to;

1. differentiate between types of prose.
2. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to.
3. analyse the components of each type of prose.
4.  identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts.
5. determine an author’s narrative style.
6. distinguish between one type of character from another.
7. determine the thematic pre-occupation of the author of the prescribed text.
8. indicate the plot of the novel; identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel.
9. identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel.
10. relate the prescribed text to real life situations.

List of JAMB African and Non-African Plays, Novels and Poem for Literature

Drama:

• African:
  • i. Efua Sutherland: Marriage of Anansewa
• Non-African:
  • i. William Shakespeare: Anthony and Cleopatra

Prose:

• African:
  • i. Pede Hollist: So the Path Does not Die
  • ii. Elma Shaw: Redemption Road
• Non-African:
  • i. Susanna Bellefeuille: Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured

Poetry:

• African:
  • i. Gabriel Okara: Once Upon a Time
  • ii. Elizabeth L.A. Kamara: New Tongue
  • iii. Wole Soyinka: Night
  • iv. Niyi Osundare: Not my Business
  • v. S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza: Hungry Garlands
  • vi. Syl Cheney-Coker: The Breast of the Sea
• Non-African:
  • i. Lord Byron: She Walks in Beauty
  • ii. Geoffrey Chaucer: The Nun’s Priest Tale (shortened)
  • iii. Fleur Adcock: The Telephone Call
  • iv. Wilfred Wilson Gibson: The Stone

JAMB Syllabus for Literature-in-English PDF Download

Click the “download” button below to download the JAMB Syllabus for Literature in English 2026 PDF.

JAMB Approved Recommended Anthologies for UTME

An Anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts [source]. Below are the anthologies candidates writing Lit-in-Eng should read in preparation of the UTME. They are;

1. Gbemisola, A. (2005) Naked Soles, Ibadan: Kraft
2. Hayward, J. (ed.) (1968) The Penguin Book of English Verse, London Penguin
3. Johnson, R. et al (eds.) (1996) New Poetry from Africa, Ibadan: UP Plc
4. Kermode, F. et al (1964) Oxford Anthology of English Literature, Vol. II, London: OUP
5. Parker, E.W. (ed.) (1980) A Pageant of Longer Poems London: Longman
6. Senanu, K. E. and Vincent, T. (eds.) (1993) A Selection of African Poetry, Lagos: Longman
7. Soyinka, W. (ed.) (1987) Poems of Black Africa, Ibadan: Heinemann
8. Nduke Ofiono and Odoh DIego Okenyodo (eds) Camouflage: Best of Contemporary writing from Nigeria, an anthology of new Nigerian writters, Mace Books Association, 20221. New edition.

Approved Critical texts for Literature in English

The critical texts for literature in English are just three. They include

1. Abrams, M. H. (1981) A Glossary of Literary Terms, (4th Edition) New York, Holt Rinehalt and Winston
2. Emeaba, O. E. (1982) A Dictionary of Literature, Aba: Inteks Press
3. Murphy, M. J. (1972) Understanding Unseen, An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students, George Allen and Unwin Ltd.

You read this Literature-in-English JAMB syllabus on your favourite educational website: ALLSCHOOL.

JAMB Syllabus for All Subjects

Allschool wish you the best of luck.

Source: JAMB IBASS.