If you’re preparing for the JAMB Literature in English exam for the 2025/2026 academic session, you’re in the right place. This subject is a favorite for many arts students, but it requires proper preparation to excel.
In this post, I’ll break down the major areas of concentration in a way that’s easy to understand. Let’s get started.
JAMB Areas of Concentration for Literature in English 2025/2026
For Literature in English, the Areas of Concentration for Literature in English is divided into four main sections:
- Drama
- Prose
- Poetry
- General Literary Principles
Each of these sections comes with recommended texts and topics, so let’s go through them one by one.
Drama
Drama is all about performance and storytelling. JAMB will test your understanding of different types of drama, techniques, and the prescribed plays.
What to Focus On
- Types of Drama: Study tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, melodrama, and farce. Understand their characteristics and differences.
- Dramatic Techniques: Learn about elements like soliloquy, aside, flashback, and stage directions. These are often tested in questions.
- Prescribed Texts: For African drama, focus on “Harvest of Corruption” by Frank Ogodo Ogbeche. For non-African drama, dive into “Othello” by William Shakespeare.
How to Prepare
- Read the plays at least twice. The first read helps you understand the storyline, while the second read helps you focus on themes, characters, and techniques.
- Take note of key quotes. JAMB loves to test your ability to identify who said what.
Prose
Prose is one of the most interesting sections, as it includes novels, novellas, and short stories. You’ll be tested on both African and non-African prose.
What to Focus On
- Types of Prose: Study fiction, biographies, and autobiographies. Understand the differences between these forms.
- Narrative Techniques: Pay attention to point of view (first-person, third-person, omniscient), characterization, and the use of language.
- Prescribed Texts: For African prose, focus on “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe. For non-African prose, read “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.
How to Prepare
- Understand the main themes, such as colonialism in “Things Fall Apart” or class and marriage in “Pride and Prejudice.”
- Practice summarizing each chapter. This helps you retain important details.
Poetry
Poetry can be tricky, but once you understand the basics, it becomes enjoyable. JAMB focuses on appreciation, analysis, and interpretation.
What to Focus On
- Types of Poetry: Learn about sonnets, odes, elegies, ballads, and epics.
- Poetic Devices: Understand imagery, symbolism, metaphors, similes, and sound devices like alliteration and rhyme.
- Prescribed Poems: For African poetry, study “Black Woman” by Léopold Sédar Senghor. For non-African poetry, analyze “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
How to Prepare
- Break each poem into stanzas and analyze its meaning.
- Focus on the poet’s intent and the themes addressed, such as identity in “Black Woman” or choices in “The Road Not Taken.”
General Literary Principles
This section is where you’ll need to show your overall understanding of literature. It’s more theoretical but equally important.
What to Focus On
- Literary Terms: Understand key terms like protagonist, antagonist, satire, irony, symbolism, and stream of consciousness.
- Literary Appreciation: Practice analyzing unseen texts. This will prepare you for questions that test your critical thinking.
Recommended Study Tips
- Start Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to begin studying. Cover all the texts and revise multiple times.
- Use Past Questions: Practicing past questions helps you understand the JAMB question style.
- Join a Study Group: Discussing literature with peers can give you new insights into the texts.
- Watch Performances: For drama texts like “Othello,” watching stage or movie adaptations can help you understand the plot and characters better.
- Take Notes: Create summaries of each text, highlighting key themes, characters, and literary devices.
- Seek Help: If a text feels too complex, don’t hesitate to use online resources or seek help from a teacher.
If you have any questions or need clarification on any text, feel free to drop a comment below. Good luck with your preparation.