How To Download Updated JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus 2026/2027

How to Download Updated JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus:- If you’re preparing for the JAMB UTME in 2026/2027 and Literature-in-English is one of your subjects, then the JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus is your key resource for focused study. Understanding and using the syllabus effectively will ensure that you cover all the relevant topics and are fully prepared for your exam.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the updated JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus, how to download it, recommended textbooks, tips for studying, and some frequently asked questions.

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How to Download Updated JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus For Free

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Updated JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus 2026/2027

The JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus for 2026/2027 covers a broad range of topics that assess your understanding of elements of prose, poetry, drama, general literals principles, literal appreciation and their application in real-life scenarios. Here’s an overview of the key areas included:

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES	OBJECTIVES
1. DRAMA a. Types: i. Tragedy ii. Comedy iii. Tragicomedy iv. Melodrama v. Farce vi. Opera etc. b. Dramatic Techniques i. Characterisation ii. Dialogue iii. Flashback iv. Mime v. Costume vi. Music/Dance vii. Décor/scenery viii. Acts/Scenes ix. Soliloquy/aside x. Figures of Speech.. Advertisements c. Interpretation of the Prescribed Texts i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Socio-political context iv. Setting	Candidates should be able to: a.i. identify the various types of drama; a.ii. analyse the contents of the various types of drama; a.iii. compare and contrast the features of different types of drama.b.i. demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques and stage directions used in each prescribed text; b.ii. differentiate between styles of selected playwrights;c.i determine the theme of any prescribed text; c.ii. identify the plot of the play; c.iii. apply the lessons of the play to social reality. c.iv. identify the spatial setting and temporal period of the play.
2. PROSE a. Types: Prose fiction i. Fiction – Novel – Novella/Novelette – Short story ii. Non-fiction – Biography – Autobiography – Memoir iii. Faction: combination of fact and fiction Advertisements b. Narrative Techniques/Devices: i. Point of view – Omniscient – First Person – Second person – Third person – Stream of consciousness – Epiphany ii. Characterisation – Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero villain, heroine. etc iii. Language c. Textual Analysis i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Setting (Temporal/Spatial) iv. Socio-political context	Candidates should be able to: Advertisements a.i. differentiate between types of novel. a.ii. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to; a.iii. analyse the components of each type of prose; a.iv. identify the balance of facts and fiction in literary faction. b.i. identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts; b.ii. determine an author’s narrative style; b.iii. distinguish between one type of character from another; b.iv. Grammar, diction and clarity of expression. c.i. determine the thematic pre-occupation of the prescribed text; c.ii. indicate the plot of the novel; c.iii. identify the setting and period/timing of the novel. c.iv. relate the prescribed text to social reality.
3. POETRY a. Types: i. Sonnet ii. Ode iii. Lyrics iv. Elegy v. Ballad vi. Panegyric vii. Epic viii. Blank Verse, etc. b. Poetic devices i. Imagery ii. Sound (Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.) iii. Diction iv. Persona Advertisements c. Appreciation i. Thematic preoccupation ii. Socio-political relevance iii. Style.	Candidates should be able to: a.i. identify different types of poetry; a.ii. identify the distinctive features of the poetic types. b.i. determine the devices used by various poets; b.ii. show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem; b.iii. identify the figure of speech in the texts. b.iv. Show how poetic devices convey message and meaning. c.i. Deduce the poet’s thematic preoccupation from the poem; c.ii. appraise poetry as an art with moral values; c.iii. apply the lessons from the poem to social reality
4. GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES a. Literary terms: foreshadowing, suspense, theatre, monologue, dialogue, soliloquy, symbolism, protagonist, antagonist, figures of speech, satire, stream of consciousness, synecdoche, metonymy, etc, in addition to those listed above under the different genres.	Candidates should be able to: Advertisements a.i. identify literary terms that are specific to drama, prose and poetry; a.ii. identify areas of overlap in all the genres e.g. verse in drama and poetry, narration in all the genres.
5. LITERARY APPRECIATION Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose and Poetry.	Candidates should be able to: i. identify literary devices used in a given passage/extract; ii. provide an interpretation of the given passage/extract; iii. relate the extract to true life experiences.

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES

OBJECTIVES

1. DRAMA

a. Types:
i. Tragedy
ii. Comedy
iii. Tragicomedy
iv. Melodrama
v. Farce
vi. Opera etc.

b. Dramatic Techniques
i. Characterisation
ii. Dialogue
iii. Flashback
iv. Mime
v. Costume
vi. Music/Dance
vii. Décor/scenery
viii. Acts/Scenes
ix. Soliloquy/aside
x. Figures of Speech..

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c. Interpretation of the Prescribed
Texts
i. Theme
ii. Plot
iii. Socio-political context
iv. Setting

Candidates should be able to:

a.i. identify the various types of drama;
a.ii. analyse the contents of the various types of drama;
a.iii. compare and contrast the features of different types of drama.b.i. demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques
and stage directions used in each prescribed text;
b.ii. differentiate between styles of selected playwrights;c.i determine the theme of any prescribed text;
c.ii. identify the plot of the play;
c.iii. apply the lessons of the play to social reality.
c.iv. identify the spatial setting and temporal period of the play.

2. PROSE

a. Types: Prose fiction
i. Fiction
– Novel
– Novella/Novelette
– Short story

ii. Non-fiction
– Biography
– Autobiography
– Memoir

iii. Faction: combination of fact and fiction

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b. Narrative Techniques/Devices:
i. Point of view
– Omniscient
– First Person
– Second person
– Third person
– Stream of consciousness
– Epiphany

ii. Characterisation
– Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero villain, heroine. etc

iii. Language

c. Textual Analysis
i. Theme
ii. Plot
iii. Setting (Temporal/Spatial)
iv. Socio-political context

Candidates should be able to:

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a.i. differentiate between types of novel.
a.ii. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to;
a.iii. analyse the components of each type of prose;
a.iv. identify the balance of facts and fiction in literary faction.
b.i. identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts;
b.ii. determine an author’s narrative style;
b.iii. distinguish between one type of character from another;
b.iv. Grammar, diction and clarity of expression.

c.i. determine the thematic pre-occupation of the prescribed text;
c.ii. indicate the plot of the novel;
c.iii. identify the setting and period/timing of the novel.
c.iv. relate the prescribed text to social reality.

3. POETRY

a. Types:
i. Sonnet
ii. Ode
iii. Lyrics
iv. Elegy
v. Ballad
vi. Panegyric
vii. Epic
viii. Blank Verse, etc.

b. Poetic devices
i. Imagery
ii. Sound (Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.)
iii. Diction
iv. Persona

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c. Appreciation
i. Thematic preoccupation
ii. Socio-political relevance
iii. Style.

Candidates should be able to:

a.i. identify different types of poetry;
a.ii. identify the distinctive features of the poetic types.

b.i. determine the devices used by various poets;
b.ii. show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem;
b.iii. identify the figure of speech in the texts.
b.iv. Show how poetic devices convey message and meaning.

c.i. Deduce the poet’s thematic preoccupation from the poem;
c.ii. appraise poetry as an art with moral values;
c.iii. apply the lessons from the poem to social reality

4. GENERAL LITERARY
PRINCIPLES

a. Literary terms:
foreshadowing, suspense, theatre, monologue, dialogue, soliloquy, symbolism, protagonist, antagonist, figures of speech, satire, stream of consciousness, synecdoche, metonymy, etc, in addition to those listed above under the different genres.

Candidates should be able to:

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a.i. identify literary terms that are specific to drama, prose and poetry;
a.ii. identify areas of overlap in all the genres e.g. verse in drama and poetry, narration in all the genres.

5. LITERARY APPRECIATION

Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose and Poetry.

Candidates should be able to:

i. identify literary devices used in a given passage/extract;
ii. provide an interpretation of the given passage/extract;
iii. relate the extract to true life experiences.

Recommended Textbooks for JAMB Literature-in-English 2026/2027

Here are some recommended textbooks that can help you prepare effectively for JAMB Literature-in-English:

Abrams, M. H. – A Glossary of Literary Terms, (4th Edition), New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston
A Dictionary of Literature by Emeaba, O.E
Oxford Anthology of English Literature, Vol. II, by Kermode, F. et al
Literature in English for JAMB A. O. Ogunleye (often edited with the JAMB syllabus). Gives concise summaries of the prescribed novels, plays and poems, plus lots of practice questions and exam‑tip
Comprehensive Guide to Literature‑in‑English: a popular revision manual that walks you through literary terms, genre‑specific strategies and unseen‑passage drills

These textbooks cover the main concepts and topics in the syllabus and are recommended for comprehensive learning.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on JAMB Literature-in-English Syllabus 2026/2027

Is the JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus for 2026/2027 out?

Yes, the JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus for 2026/2027 is officially available for download on the JAMB website.

How many questions come from Literature-in-English in JAMB?

In the JAMB UTME, Literature-in-English typically has 40 multiple-choice questions.

What are the most repeated topics in JAMB Literature-in-English?

The most frequently tested topics are literary terms hot- spots (characterization, figures of speech, limerick and stream of consciousness), genres based repeat (prose, poetry and drama) and general literary principles

Can I pass Literature-in-English without studying directly from the syllabus?

While it’s possible, studying directly from the syllabus ensures you cover all the necessary topics and avoid missing any critical areas.

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Is Literature-in-Englishhard in JAMB?

Literature-in-English can be challenging, but with consistent study and practice, it’s definitely manageable. Understanding key concepts and applying them to real-life scenarios will make it easier.

Conclusion

The JAMB Literature-in-English syllabus for 2026/2027 is your ultimate guide to success in the UTME. By downloading the syllabus, following the recommended textbooks, and practicing regularly, you’ll set yourself up for success. Start preparing early, stay focused, and make sure you cover every topic in the syllabus. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of performing excellently in the exam.