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UGC NET English Literature Notes: Get Standard Notes for UGC NET English Exam!

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Candidates aiming to succeed in the UGC NET English Literature examination must have quality UGC NET notes for English literature for active preparation. UGC NET is a National level eligibility examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the candidates aspiring and striving for lectureships and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) across the country. Candidates aiming to score well on the UGC NET English Literature Exam must give in huge efforts and dedication during the entire stretch of their exam preparation. Candidates might at times find it hectic, time consuming, and difficult to find useful and relevant notes for UGC NET English Literature. Effective and proper UGC NET English study material can help the candidate in several ways while preparing for the examination. By utilizing this article, candidates can get the best UGC NET English Literature Notes and use them in their preparation strategy. 

In this article,

  • Candidates can get UGC NET syllabus-oriented topic-wise UGC NET English Literature important notes which makes it easier to prepare.
  • Candidates can get effective and the best UGC NET English Literature Notes to boost up and ace their UGC NET exam preparation strategy.
  • Candidates can access the best online study material for UGC NET English provided.

UGC NET English Important Qs

Introduction to English Literary Movements Notes

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UGC NET English Literature Syllabus 

Candidates appearing for the UGC NET English Literature Exam must be aware of the whole syllabus of paper 1 and paper 2. The revised syllabus will help the students buy books and other study materials required for the exam. Here is the syllabus for the UGC NET English Literature Syllabus.

Subject: UGC NET English Literature Syllabus

Unit

Syllabus

Unit 1

Drama

Unit II

Poetry

Unit III

Fiction, Short Story

Unit IV

Non-Fictional Prose

The first four units include comprehension passages to access the

candidate’s critical reading, writing and thinking skills. These four units will cover all the literature in English

Unit V

Language: Basics, Theory and Pedagogy

English in use

Unit VI

English in India: History, Evolution and Futures

Unit VII

Cultural Studies

Unit VIII

Literary Criticism

Unit IX

Literary Theory Post World War II

Unit X

Research Methods and Materials in English

Candidates can check out the UGC NET English Syllabus here!

Important Topics of UGC NET English Literature Notes

  1. Drama - Ancient, Medieval and Anglo-Norman Drama, Elizabethan to Jacobean Drama, Restoration to Neo-Classical Age Drama, Victorian Age to Modern Age Drama, and the Contemporary Drama
  2. Poetry - Pre-Chaucerian and the Age of Chaucer Poetry, Poetry in the Age of Revival, Elizabethan Poetry, Puritan and Restoration Age Poetry, Neoclassical /Augustan Age, the Modern, Contemporary Age and American Poetry. 
  3. Fiction, Short Story - Pre-Chaucerian to Elizabethan Age, Romantic Age, Victorian Age, Fiction in Modern Age, and Contemporary Period.
  4. Non-Fictional Prose - Non-Fiction in Anglo-Norman Period, Puritan to the Romantic Age, The Victorian and Modern Age, Contemporary American and Non-British Fiction.
  5. Language: Basics, Theory and Pedagogy - Language Introduction and Definitions, Origin and Development of Language.
  6. English in India: History, Evolution and Futures - Historical Background, Introduction of Indian English Literature, and Indian English Writers.
  7. Cultural Studies - Introduction to Cultural Studies, Major Thinkers of Cultural Studies, Feminism, Post-Colonialism, Marxism, and Poststructuralism. 
  8. Literary Criticism - Criticism: Its Nature and Definition, Major Critics and their Works, Other Important Critics and their Works. 
  9. Literary Theory Post World War II - New Criticism, Cultural Materialism, Feminist Criticism, Russian Formalism, Post-Colonialism, and Psychoanalytical Criticism.
  10.  Research Methods and Materials in English - Meaning of Research, Literary Research, and Research Material.

Download UGC NET English Study Notes PDF: Download Link

Candidates having UGC NET English Literature syllabus oriented UGC NET English Literature Notes can prepare for the UGC NET examination at ease. Below listed are the UGC NET English literature notes PDF for the candidates to make use of.

S. No

Name of the Topic 

UGC NET English Literature Notes

1

Drama: An Introduction

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2

Ancient and Medieval Drama

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3

Drama of the Age of Revival

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4

Elizabethan Age

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5

William Shakespeare

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6.

Restoration Age

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7.

The Age of Jonson

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8.

The Victorian Drama

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9.

Modern Age Drama

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10.

Drama in Contemporary Period

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11.

Pre-Chaucerian Age

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12.

Age of Chaucer

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13.

The Age of Revival

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14.

New Court Poets

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15.

Elizabethan Poetry

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16.

English Renaissance Poetry

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17.

Metaphysical Poets

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18.

Augustan Age

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19.

Background to the Romantic Age

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20.

Victorian Age

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21.

Contemporary Poetry

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22.

Introduction to Fiction

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23.

Major Writers of the Puritan Age

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24.

Gothic Novels in the Romantic Age

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25.

Novels of Manner

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26.

Introduction of Modern Age

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27.

Major American Novelists

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28.

Non-Fiction: An Introduction

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29.

Chronicles in the Anglo-Norman

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30.

Non-Fiction in Puritan Age

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31.

Diary of the Restoration Age

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32.

Origin and Development of Language

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33.

Indian English Writers

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34.

Introduction of Cultural Studies

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35.

Poststructuralism

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36.

Marxism

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37.

New Criticism

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38.

Cultural Materialism

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39.

Feminist Criticism

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40.

Psychoanalytical Criticism

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41.

Meaning of Research

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42.

Literary Research

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43.

Research Material

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Candidates can view the UGC NET Study Material here!

UGC NET English Literature Notes: Topic-Wise Short Notes

  • Bacon: An Introduction 

Francis Bacon was a philosopher, politician, and essayist. His father was a lawyer and statesman who was the Lord Keeper of the Seal. As a boy, his wit attracted the attention of Queen Elizabeth who called him jestingly “Little Lord Keeper’. He was educated in King’s college, Cambridge. He later studied law and was called to the bar in 1582. After the accession of James I in 1603, Bacon rose rapidly in fame and fortune. The same year, he became a knight and married a rich lady. He was made the Attorney General in 1613, Lord Keeper of the Seal in 1617, Lord Chancellor and Baron Verulam in 1618, and Viscount St. Albans in 1621.His nosedive decline started the same year when he was impeached on various charges of malpractice. He offered no defense, was fined heavily and was imprisoned for a few years. However, Bacon got a royal pardon in the end. He spent the remaining years of his life in scholarly pursuits and died in 1626.

  • Hamlet by Shakespeare

Hamlet was probably performed in July 1602 and was first published in printed form in 1603. As was the practice with Shakespeare, he could have taken the story of Hamlet from sacred possible sources, including works from Denmark and France. However, it goes to the credit of Shakespeare that he appropriated the raw material in such a manner that it appears his own. He modified his source material, and what could have been a simple revenge tragedy, resonates with the most fundamental themes and problems of the Renaissance. The Renaissance with its propagation of the political ideal of humanities generated a new interest in human experience and understanding. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is engrossed in seeking answers to questions that cannot be answered for they concern supernatural and metaphysical matters. Further, Hamlet is in a dilemma – how to know the guilt or innocence, the motivations, the feelings, the mental states of people.

  • Feminism

Feminism is one of the most revolutionary movements that human society has witnessed in recent times. Women after all constitute one half of the human world and any movement that causes a radical shift in their position in society is bound to be momentous. In this unit we will discuss the structure of society as it has come down to us; analyze the role assigned to women in this society; know about the emergence of the awareness that women have been given a secondary status in society; describe the socio-political movements across the world for the rights of women and the resultant legislations in favor of women, different forms of feminism and finally, learn about the early feminist writings. 

  • William Wordsworth - British Poetry

Wordsworth is one of the leading poets of the Romantic age. Romantic age in English Poetry begins with the publication of Lyrical Ballads (1798), a collection of poems jointly published by William Wordsworth and S.T. Coleridge. English poetry before Wordsworth was the poetry of urban upper-middle-class people narrating the follies and foibles of city life. Wordsworth attempted to bring poetry and common man closer by narrating the life and experiences of rural landscapes. The poem celebrates the power of the human mind and the magnificence of Nature. With the help of human memory and imagination, the spiritual powers of Nature can be invoked in times of crisis, when one becomes tired of materialistic life. In such times the mystical healing powers of Nature can give comfort to human beings suffering from pain and pangs of life. The healing touch of Nature, the mystical presence of Nature remains present with the lover of Nature even when he is away from Nature. It celebrates the relationship between Man and Nature. 

Candidates can check out the UGC NET Eligibility Criteria here!

Benefits of UGC NET English Literature Notes

The UGC NET English literature notes were created for the students to accelerate their speed in preparing for the upcoming UGC NET Exams. Students can get these notes to clear their doubts and get more explanation on the subject. Students practicing with the subject in notes have more of an advantage in scoring as they tend to revise the portions. These UGC NET English Literature Notes are created by high professionals and Assistant Professors of various prestigious institutions which will help the candidates more. The UGC NET English Literature Study Material will improve the candidate's knowledge of the subject matter. They have wide conceptual notes which cover portions from old English literature to the modern period. Aspirants can even make use of these notes during the end period as this will be easy and more reliable than other online sources. Students preparing for the UGC NET English Literature Notes must start preparing subjects in notes for each and every topic as it will help them to revise for the exams. Students can refer to the latest syllabus, Prescribed Books, Previous Year's Question Papers, and various online sources while they prepare their own subject in notes/ UGC NET English Literature Study Materials.

Candidates can check out the best UGC NET Preparation Tips here!

Sample MCQs for UGC NET English Literature Examination

Candidates should be knowledgeable on the type of questions and pattern of the UGC NET English Examination. This helps them to prepare effectively for the examination.

Below given are some of the sample questions for the candidates to refer to.

  1. In the following cluster of poems by Shelley, which one has the voyage motif?

(A) “Adonais”

(B) The Revolt of Islam

(C) “Ode to the West Wind”

(D) Alastor

Answer: (D) Alastor 

  1. In Sidney's sonnet sequence, Astrophil and Stella, the final sonnet (#108)

(A) Brings no resolution

(B) Ends in joy

(C) Brings a definite resolution

(D) Promises another sonnet sequence

Answer: (A) Brings no resolution

  1. Who among the following English writers opposed the Licensing Act of 1643?

(A) John Milton

(B) Thomas Browne

(C) Andrew Marvell

(D) Abraham Cowley

Answer: (A) John Milton 

  1. Who claimed: “I have not published a single paper that is not written in a spirit of benevolence and with a love of mankind”?

(A) Pope

(B) Dryden

(C) Swift

(D) Addison

Answer: (D) Addison

  1. A protagonist writes a letter of confession, but it gets lost under the carpet only to be found on the wedding day. Who is the protagonist?

(A) Bathsheba

(B) Lucetta

(C) Sue

(D) Tess

Answer: (D) Tess

UGC NET English Literature Study Material & Notes

Aspirants aiming to clear the UGC NET English Literature Exam must have all the proper study materials for their learning and preparation purposes. Candidates can ask for expert advice before planning out their preparation strategy for the UGC NET English Literature exam. Students must set their strategy as a beginning step before buying the study materials as it is the only best way to practice for the exam. Testbook provides you with all the English Literature study materials and notes which will be of great use to the candidates.

Candidates can make use of study materials like

  • UGC NET English Literature Previous Years Papers
  • UGC NET English Literature Test series
  • UGC NET English Literature Notes
  • UGC NET English Literature Books
  • UGC NET English Literature Preparation tips and techniques

Candidates can make use of all these UGC NET English Literature Study Material to achieve in their upcoming UGC NET examination.

UGC NET English Literature Study Material: Previous Years Papers

The study strategies that students implement will reflect on the scores that they secure in the examination. Knowing the time efficiency students appearing for the UGC NET Exams must prepare their unique strategy to attain scores high. Practicing/ Solving previous years' papers is one such strategy that will help the students score more in the examination. Decoding the paper pattern is vital in the preparation strategy for any competitive exam. When students decode the paper pattern they will be able to know the pattern of the paper, the Scrutiny of questions asked, and the topics that are frequently asked. Practicing solved papers has yet another bonus as most of the questions asked in the UGC NET English Literature exam are repeated. Aspirants will also be able to know the pattern of answers required however the questions are asked. Students can take up the help of Testbook to get the previous years papers for the UGC NET English Literature Exam. Testbook provides you with 10 previous years' papers which is a great prelude to the original upcoming exams. Students can download these solved question papers with answers so that they can cross-check their answers to know their level of subject understanding. Get these high-priority UGC NET English Study Materials to boost your preparation here. 

Candidates can check out the UGC NET Previous Years Papers here!

UGC NET English Literature Study Material: Test Series

Another effective strategy employed by the students to score high in solving mock tests and test series that will gradually help them to revise the entire portions once again and to rectify their mistakes as they take up the tests. Mock tests are great practice for the students which help them to gain confidence and help them overcome their silly mistakes. By practicing these UGC NET Exam English Study Materials Students can crack the exam with actual speed and accuracy. Mock tests help candidates in identifying their low areas and make them focus more on those work areas. On attempting these mock tests and test series students will be able to know the answering strategies. Students can make use of Testbook Test series for UGC NET English Literature Exam preparation. Testbook provides you with mock tests and various types of test series that will boost your energy to prepare for the exam. Aspirants can attempt these Test Series by downloading those question papers. Once completing the mock tests students are advised to check their progress, analyze the results, and compare them to their previous results to know their development. 

Candidates can get the direct link to the UGC NET Test Series here!

Best Books for UGC NET English Literature Examination

Selecting the best books to prepare for the UGC NET English Literature Exam is always tiring. English Literature is a vast subject and candidates are advised to study from their basics to get a clear understanding of all the history and contemporary literature. Candidates can get the UGC NET English Literature from online sources as well as in direct shops. Students must check the latest updated syllabus for more information to know any changes and then go to buy books. The UGC NET Books for English Literature should help the candidates in preparing their UGC NET English Literature Notes. Students must try to get these four types of books for UGC NET Exam preparation:

  1. Books that have the resources of the latest updated syllabus
  2. Books that will give the students solved paper with answers
  3. Books with detailed notes for tougher concepts
  4. Books with reliable language

Here is a list of recommended books for the UGC NET English Literature exam that the candidates can use for preparing UGC NET English Literature Notes.

  1. History of English Literature- Edward Albert
  2. Beginning Theory- Peter Barry
  3. A concise history of Indian Literature in English- Arvind Krishna Mehrotra
  4. Literary Criticism a short history- Wimsatt and Brooks
  5. A Glossary of Literary Terms- M.H Abrams

Students can get the entire list of books from here- Best books for UGC NET English Literature.

UGC NET English Literature Study Material: Online Coaching

We provide you with all the necessary study materials with which students can crack the exam in one attempt. The UGC NET English Literature notes will help the candidates in revising for the exam and will help them in clearing their doubts. In the same way, students can go for Online UGC NET English Literature Online coaching which will help the candidates in a more useful way to crack the exam. Testbook offers you clear-cut coaching of the whole portions of UGC NET English Literature paper 2. There are unit-wise videos that the students can download and study at their own convenience. The highlights of Testbook online coaching are:

  • The English Literature trainers are super talented and experienced in subject matters.
  • The UGC NET English Literature Online coaching has weekly classes.
  • Students will also get doubt-solving sessions which they might find useful.

Students can check out the UGC NET English Super Coaching here!

Daily Live Series for UGC NET English Literature Exam

Testbook live series is the multiple study materials offered by Testbook for the candidates to score more marks on the UGC NET English Literature Exam. Candidates applying for the UGC NET English Literature Exam will definitely require an enormous amount of coaching and study materials to crack the exam in a single attempt. Testbook offers the candidates with super coaching which is online coaching in which students will get video notes for all the units in the UGC NET English Literature Syllabus. The Testbook super coaching will also include doubt-clearing sessions which is yet another advantage for the candidates. Moreover, Testbook has also got all the required UGC NET English Literature study materials such as Previous year question papers, Mock tests, and Test series, UGC NET English Literature Notes, list of books required for UGC NET English Literature Exam and much more. With all these vibrant Study materials candidates can score more and get good results.

We hope that information about the UGC NET English Literature Notes was delivered to the candidates. Candidates can take up the UGC NET Coaching to bring out their best in the UGC NET English Literature examination. For more content and information on the same exam and other competitive exams, candidates can always refer by downloading and making use of our Testbook App for all types of competitive exam updates, live quizzes, test series, and mock tests.

Latest UGC NET Updates

-> The UGC NET Answer Key 2025 June was released on the official website ugcnet.nta.ac.in on 06th July 2025.

-> The UGC NET June 2025 exam will be conducted from 25th to 29th June 2025.

-> The UGC-NET exam takes place for 85 subjects, to determine the eligibility for 'Junior Research Fellowship’ and ‘Assistant Professor’ posts, as well as for PhD. admissions.

-> The exam is conducted bi-annually - in June and December cycles.

-> The exam comprises two papers - Paper I and Paper II. Paper I consists of 50 questions and Paper II consists of 100 questions. 

-> The candidates who are preparing for the exam can check the UGC NET Previous Year Papers and UGC NET Test Series to boost their preparations.

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