Syllabus & Assessment

H1 / H2 Literature in English
Candidates should be capable of commenting on the stylistic and literary features of the texts in their discussion of unseen extracts and texts studied. In other words, the ability to appreciate the text in and of its own right is assessed, alongside the ability to demonstrate knowledge of the literary context. Assessment comes in the form of writing critical essays relevant to the examination questions asked. These involve both a personal informed response through the use of various literary technical devices linked to the overall theme of the literary texts, as well as demonstration of critical understanding and insight into the literary epoch within which the selected texts are drawn from.
H1 candidates will sit for P1.
H2 candidates will sit for P1 and P3.

Assessment

H1 Literature in English (8841): Paper 1
H2 Literature in English (9539): Paper 1 & Paper 3

Paper 1: Reading Literature (3 hours - Open Book)

Paper 1 is a compulsory paper designed to give students a broad exposure to literary study. Candidates will answer one question from each of the three sections. All questions hold equal weight in the computing of marks for the paper.

Section A: Unseen Poetry

Two questions will be set, primarily focusing on response and comparison skills.
H2: Each question will require the candidate to respond to and critically compare two unseen poems.
H1: Each question will require the candidate to respond to an unseen poem.
At least one of the questions will feature a Singaporean poem. The candidate will answer one question.

Section B: Prose

Two questions will be set, primarily focusing on analysis skills. One question will be an essay question, the other a passage-based question. The candidate will answer one question on one text (Hard Times  by Charles Dickens).

Section C: Drama

Two questions will be set, primarily focusing on analysis skills. One question will be an essay question, the other a passage-based question. The candidate will answer one question on one text (The Changeling  by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley).

Paper 3: Postcolonial Literature Topic and Pre-20th Century Writing (3 hours - Open Book)

In addition to Paper 1, H2 students offer Paper 3, with three texts and sections.

Section A: Unseen Prose and Drama

There will be a choice of two questions on an unseen text extract from the topic that is the focus of the paper. This question will focus primarily on response and analysis skills.

Section B: Postcolonial Literature

Answer one comparison question from a choice of two. The question will require them to compare two texts they have studied and will focus primarily on comparison and analysis skills.

The texts are:
A Grain of Wheat  by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Anthills of the Savannah  by Chinua Achebe

Section C: Pre-20th Century Writing

Two questions will be set, primarily focusing on analysis skills. One question will be an essay question, the other a passage-based question. The candidate will answer one question on one text, King Lear by William Shakespeare.