GRE (Graduate Records Exam), Literature

Like all GRE Subject Tests, the Literature in English Test is designed to provide a uniform measure of a prospective student's knowledge of a broad range of topics regarded as important in the field. The goal in determining a student's level of knowledge is to help predict the likelihood of success in graduate study.

Not everyone does well on this test, but you should take it seriously if you want to get into your first-choice graduate school. Here are some tips that you should think about as you study for the GRE in English Literature:

Practice, practice, practice. That means, you should get a copy of a GRE Literature Subject book. You'll probably see several different publishers. I used the book that was available in the library (they actually had several editions of the books). By taking practice exams, you will start to know what kinds of questions you should expect, and what kinds of answers they expect.

Read about English history. If you are ready to take the GRE subject test in Literature, you should have already taken quite a few course in British and American literature. Spend time going over your notes. Make sure you have a grasp of literary periods, writers, and timelines.

Get your terminology down. Memorize literary terms for poetry, figurative language and criticism. One of the worst mistakes that you can make is to do poorly on the GRE simply because you do not have a grasp on the literary language. If you don't know what the question is really asking, it's easy to give the wrong answer. So, I recommend using flash cards to quiz yourselves on important literary terms. Even if you think you already know all the terms, make sure you refresh your memory.

Make sure you know Greek and Roman mythology. It may have been a while since you last studied mythology. Make sure you know the major figures. The gods, goddesses and heroes have a way of influencing writers.

Read, read, read. Read as much as possible. I especially recommend reading the Norton anthologies of American and British Literature. To supplement your reading, studying, and practicing, you should read summaries of major literary works. You can find summaries in your library; and you can usually find them on the Internet. When you haven't read the book or poem in several years, it's easy to forget important plot detail. Summaries can be excellent resources for refreshing your memory.

TEST CONTENTS

English Lit Test: Question Breakdown

• Literature before 1600: 25-35%
• English literature from 1600-1925: 30-40%
• American literature before 1925: 10-15%
• American and British literature after 1925: 20-25%
• Classical, European and Comparative literature: 5-10%