BA English Honors Syllabus, Subjects, 1st Year, Semester Wise, Year Wise, Core, Elective, Books

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Sounak Banerjee

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Bachelor of Arts in English is a 3 year undergraduate program that deals with world literature and teaches us about politics, culture and society, its impact on the general public and evolution. The teaching methodology of BA English Honors is instructional material, learning- teaching etc. 

The syllabus of BA English Honors is vast as it consists of literature from around the world such as American Literature, European Literature etc. Some of the topics included are 20th-century American drama, contemporary literature, Anglo-American Writing etc. This course is a combination of drama, prose and poetry etc. 

See Also: English Courses

There are 2 types of elective subjects which are Discipline Centric Elective and Generic Elective. There is also Ability Enhancement Course and Ability Enhancement Elective Course. Students will need to complete 4 core and 2 elective subjects.       

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BA English Honors Course Details

Tabulated below in the following table is the relevant information that will be necessary for the candidates to get an overview of the subject,

Degree Undergraduate
Full form Bachelor of Arts in English honors
Duration 3 years
Age Candidate must be minimum of 17 years or above
Minimum Eligibility Candidate must have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% or above from a recognized board
Average Fees INR 3,000 - 65,000 
Average Salary INR 2.64 L - 4.77 LPA
Employment Roles Language Experts, Translation services, Event Management, Journalism, English Language Teacher, Literature Researchers, Author, Content Writer
Employment Sectors Public relations, advertising, marketing, editorial, content development, media and entertainment house, media services
Top Recruiters Seven Hills, Four Seasons, Collegedunia, Careers360, Upgrad, Tata Consultancy, J.W.Marriott.

BA English Honors Syllabus

The syllabus of BA English Honors is bifurcated into 6 semesters. The course helps in analyzing and understanding world literature and its impact on society. The course is a combination of the core as well as elective subjects which are more focussed on literature or theory. The detailed syllabus of BA English Honors is tabulated below for your reference, 

Semester I Semester II
English Literature 4(i) English Literature 4(ii)
Concurrent – Qualifying Language English Literature 1(i)
Twentieth Century Indian Writing (i) Twentieth Century Indian Writing (ii)
Concurrent – Credit Language -
Semester III Semester IV
English Literature 1(ii) English Literature 2(ii)
Nineteenth Century European Realism (i) Nineteenth Century European Realism (ii)
English Literature 2(i) English Literature 3(i)
Forms of Popular Fiction (i) Classical Literature (ii)
Classical Literature (i) Concurrent – Discipline Centered I
Concurrent – Interdisciplinary Forms of Popular Fiction (ii)
Semester V Semester VI
English Literature 3(ii) English Literature 5(ii)
Contemporary Literature (i) Anglo-American writing from 1930(ii)
English Literature 5(i) Contemporary Literature (ii)
Anglo-American Writing from 1930(i) Literary Theory (ii)
Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (ii)
Literary Theory (i) Concurrent – Discipline Centered II.
Modern European Drama (i) Modern European Drama (ii)

BA English Honors Subjects

BA English Honors is a 3-year undergraduate course that focuses on teaching the candidates about the literature of various places like American Literature, British Literature, Anglo-American Literature, Indian Literature, etc. These works comprise of prose, poetry, drama, short stories, articles, etc. and deal with various themes of love, hatred, fiction, freedom, feminism, patriotism, etc. Following are the main subjects for your reference:

  • American Literature
  • Popular Literature
  • Women’s Writings
  • British Poetry and Drama: 14th and 17th Centuries
  • British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries
  • British Literature: The Early 20th Century
  • Postcolonial literature

See Also: English Courses After 12th

BA English Honors Subjects First Year

  • Twentieth Century Indian Writing - This subject deals with the writings of Indian writers written during the first half of the 20th century and the different themes those writings deal with. 
  • Twentieth Century Indian Writing - This subject deals with the writings of Indian writers during the second half of the 20th century and the various themes and symbolism it entails. 
  • British Poetry and Drama: 14th and 17th Centuries- This subject focuses on the British Poetry and Drama that was written from the 14th to the 17th centuries.

See AlsoEnglish Courses Certificate 

BA English Honors Subjects Second Year

  • American Literature- This subject focuses on American Literature that was written by various American writers focusing on themes of patriotism, feminism, freedom, slavery, democracy, republicanism, etc. 
  • Popular Literature- This subject discusses the popular writings around the world that found an audience and popular support from the masses.
  • British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th centuries- This subject focuses on the British Poetry and Drama that was written in the 17th-18th centuries.

See AlsoEnglish for Beginners

BA English Honors Subjects Third Year

  • Women’s Writing- This subject focuses on the works that were written by women where they have dealt with various themes of submission, freedom, patriotism, feminism, etc. 
  • Partition Literature- This subject deals with the literature and works that were written during the time of partition of India in 1947. 
  • Travel Writing- These writings deal with the various travelogs that people have written describing their experiences and the beauty of foreign lands. 

See Also: German Language Courses

DU BA English Honors syllabus

Tabulated below is the detailed syllabus of BA English Honors at the University of Delhi for your reference,

Semester I Semester II
Indian Classical Literature Indian Writing in English
European Classical Literature British Poetry and Drama: 14th and 17th Centuries
Semester III Semester IV
American Literature British Literature: 18th Century
Popular Literature British Romantic Literature
British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries British Literature: 19th Century
Semester V Semester VI
Women’s Writing Modern European Drama
British Literature: The Early 20th Century Postcolonial literature
Any 2 of the following:
  • Modern Indian Writing in English Translation
  • Literature of the Indian Diaspora
  • British Literature: Post WOrld War II
  • 19th Century European Realism
  • Literary Criticism
  • Science Fiction and Detective Literature
Any 2 of the following:
  • Literature and Cinema
  • World Literatures
  • Literary Theory
  • Partition Literature
  • Research methodology
  • Travel Writing
  • Autobiography

General Elective (Any 4)

  • Academic Writing and composition
  • Media and Communication skills
  • Text and Performance
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Contemporary India; Women and Empowerment
  • Language, Literature and Culture
  • Readings on Indian Diversities and literary Movements

See AlsoFrench Language Course

Skills Enhancement Course (Any two)

  • English Language Teaching
  • Soft skills
  • Translation Studies
  • Creative writing
  • Business communication
  • Technical Writing

See Also: Foreign Language Courses

BA English Honors syllabus Calcutta University

Tabulated below is the detailed syllabus of BA English Honors at Calcutta University for your reference,

Semester I Semester II
History of Literature and Philology  Indian Writing in English 
European Classical Literature  British Poetry and Drama (14th – 17th century) 
Semester III Semester IV
American Literature  British Literature (18th century) 
Popular Literature British Romantic Literature
British Poetry and Drama (17th – 18th century)  19th Century British Literature 
Semester V Semester VI
Women's Writing  Modern European Drama 
Early 20th Century British Literature  Postcolonial Literature 

Discipline Specific Course:

  • Modern Indian Writing in English Translation 
  • Literary Theory 
  • Partition Literature
  • Literary Criticism 
  • Contemporary India: Women and Empowerment 
  • Autobiography 

Skill Enhancement Course:

  • Translation Studies 
  • Business Communication
  • Creative Writing
  • Academic Writing and Composition 

See Also: Spanish Language Course

BA English Honors Syllabus Presidency University

Tabulated below is the detailed syllabus of BA English Honors at Presidency University for your reference, 

Semester I Semester II
English Literature 17801830 (Poetry & Prose) English Literature 18301900 (Poetry & Prose)
Classical and Biblical Background to Eng Lit -
Semester III Semester IV
English Literature (Poetry, Prose & Drama) English Literature 16601780 (Poetry, Drama & Prose) 
English Literature 1660 - 1780 (Poetry, Drama & Prose)  Old and Middle English Literature
Semester V Semester VI
History of English Language Phonetics and Modern Linguistics
IWE Postcolonial Literatures
American Literature Criticism

BA English Honors syllabus Mumbai University

Discussed below is the syllabus of BA English Honors by Mumbai University for your reference,

Year I Year II
Indian Classical Literature British Literature: The Early 20th Century
European Classical Literature Postcolonial Literature
Indian Writing in English British Literatures: post World War
British Poetry and Drama: 14th and 17th century Literary Theory
British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th century Literary Criticism
British Literature: 18th Century Literature and Cinema
British ROmantic Literature -
British Literature: 19th Century -
Year III
World Literature Science Fiction and Defective Literature
Research Methodology 19th Century European Realism
Autobiography Literature of the Indian Diaspora

BA English Honors Syllabus BHU

Discussed below is the syllabus of BA English Honors by Banaras Hindu University for your reference,

Semester I Semester II
Introduction to Poetry and Related Literary Terms  Introduction to Drama and Related Literary Terms 
Introduction to Fiction and Related Literary Terms  Introduction to Prose 
English Phonetics and Grammar  Essentials of Communication
Compulsory I (One language other than English)  Compulsory II (The same Language as for Semester -I)
Elective- I Elective- II (Same as semester 1)
Semester III Semester IV
History of English Literature (1350-1660) History of English Literature (1660-1798) 
English Poetry (1350-1660)  English Poetry (1660-1798) 
English Drama (1350-1660)  English Drama and Prose (1660-1798)
English Prose (1350-1660)  English Drama and Prose (1660-1798)
Elective-III (The same Subject as for Semester - I) Elective-IV (The same Subject as for Semester - I)
Semester V Semester VI
History of English Literature (1798-1914)  History of English Literature (1914-1968)
English Poetry (1798-1914)  English Poetry (1914-1968)
English Novel (1798-1914)  English Novel (1914-1968) 
English Prose  English Drama (1798-1914) 
Elective-V (The same Subject as for Semester - I) Elective-VI (The same Subject as for Semester - I) 

BA English Honors syllabus at UGC

Discussed below is the syllabus of BA English Honors by University Grants Commission for your reference,

Semester I Semester II
Indian Classical Literature Indian Writing in English
European Classical Literature British Poetry and Drama: 14th and 17th Centuries
Semester III Semester IV
American Literature British Literature: 18th Century
Popular Literature British Romantic Literature
British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries British Literature: 19th Century
Semester V Semester VI
Women’s Writing  -
British Literature: The Early 20th Century  -
Any 2 of the following:
  • Modern Indian Writing in English Translation
  • Literature of the Indian Diaspora
  • British Literature: Post WOrld War II
  • 19th Century European Realism
  • Literary Criticism
  • Science Fiction and Detective Literature
Any 2 of the following:
  • Literature and Cinema
  • World Literatures
  • Literary Theory
  • Partition Literature
  • Research methodology
  • Travel Writing
  • Autobiography

General Elective (Any 4)

  • Academic Writing and composition
  • Media and Communication skills
  • Text and Performance
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Contemporary India; Women and Empowerment
  • Language, Literature and Culture
  • Readings on Indian Diversities and literary Movements

See AlsoSign Language Courses

Skills Enhancement Course (Any two)

  • English Language Teaching
  • Soft skills
  • Translation Studies
  • Creative writing
  • Business communication
  • Technical Writing

BA English Honors Books

There are many books that are available for BA English in both online and offline forms. These books offer in-depth knowledge of the subject and will help candidates learn about a topic in greater detail. Some of the books that can be referred for BA English Honors are mentioned below for your reference:

BA English Honors First Year Books

The Short Oxford History of English Literature  Andrew Sanders
History of English Literature  Edward Albert
A History of English Language  A.C. Baugh
Aristotle's Theory of Poetry and Fine Art S.H. Butcher
A Concise History of Indian Writing in English Arvind Krishna Mehrotra

BA English Honors Second Year Books

Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and Literary Imagination Toni Morrison
Beyond Appearances?: Visual Practices and Ideologies in Modern India Sumathi Ramaswamy
Super Culture: American Popular Culture and Europe Leslie Fiedler
The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli
A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage Jeremy Collier

BA English Honors Third Year Books

Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th edn, vol. 2 John Stuart Mill
A Room of One's Own Virginia Woolf
Recasting Women: Essays in Colonial History Kumkum Sangari and Sudesh Vaid
Beginning Theory Peter Barry
Drama from Ibsen to Brecht Raymond Williams

Top Colleges for BA English Honors 

There are more than 4600 colleges in India offering BA English Honors course. More than 46% of the colleges are public colleges while the rest are private or deemed colleges. The average course fees of this course is around INR 3000 - 67,000. Some of the top colleges are tabulated below for your reference, 

BA English Honors Syllabus: FAQs

Ques. What are the subjects in BA English Hons.?

Ans. The important subjects of BA English Honors are:

  • European classical literature
  • British Literature
  • Women writing
  • Literature and caste.

Ques. Is BA English Honors tough?

Ans. No, BA English Honors is not tough at all provided candidates have interest in English Literature. If read carefully, it is one of the most interesting subjects.

Ques. Can I pursue BA English Hons for UPSC?

Ans. Yes , ofcourse, infact English is one of the optional subjects. Candidates can opt for it as it will be advantageous. 

Ques. Does English Honors have scope?

Ans. Yes, English Hons has a wide scope in both the private sector as well as public sector. 

Ques. What is the average salary of a BA English?

Ans. The average salary of a BA English graduate is INR 3.60 LPA. 

Ques. What is the starting salary after BA English?

Ans. The starting salary after completing BA English is around INR 3-4 LPA. But the salary also depends on various factors like experience, qualification, skills, job profile, locations, etc. 

Ques. What is the scope of BA English?

Ans. There is a lot of scope after BA English:

  • MA in English
  • MA in Journalism
  • MA in English Literature
  • Ph.D. in English
  • M.Phil. in English

Ques. What is the minimum age at which one can pursue BA English? 

Ans. Candidates aged 17 years and above are eligible for pursuing BA English provided they have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board with an aggregate of 50%.

Ques. Is it possible to go abroad after completing BA English?

Ans. Yes, one can go abroad to pursue Masters after BA English. One can also go abroad to pursue a job or internship.

Bachelor of Arts [BA] {Hons.} (English) : 33 answered questions

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Ques. How easy is the entrance examination conducted by EFLU Hyderabad for getting into English Hons.?

● Top Answer By Prabhas Sengupta on 16 Jul 21

Ans. The entrance examination conducted by EFLU Hyderabad is not easy for English Honours because there are more than 20 centers where this test takes place. There are certain reservations as well which add up to 50% of all the seats. Even if we don’t consider these numbers, the level of competition will be a real challenge. Also, it is not called BA honors, it is just BA English. One great advantage that you have is that you get to learn a foreign language consecutively for two years. The language that you opt for depends on the merit scored by you in the entrance exam. Spanish and French are usually in good demand. The admission process for this year has been completed. This is not to discourage the students from taking admission but it is important to state the facts. Campuses at Lucknow and Shillong also offer such courses where competition is relatively less. You cannot transfer from one campus to another. If you prepare according to the previous years’ question papers and have a good command of English, then it is not that difficult to get into EFLU.Read more
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Ques. What is it like to do English Hons from Delhi University?

● Top Answer By Manav Batra on 25 Oct 21

Ans. If you are a reading enthusiast and loves to write with a great hold of Grammar, go for English Hons. You should not choose this as your 2nd option because the course is very hectic and requires a lot of concentration and interest.  English Hons is often misunderstood only with British Literature which is not true. You will be reading literature around the world including American, African, European, and Indian.  You must be regular to lectures as they are highly recommended. The faculty at Delhi University for this course is exceptional and their teachings should not be missed. You may find everything online but attending classes has its own advantages.  You will definitely enjoy your experience in the classes while interacting with teachers. It is important to note that your attendance will play a major role in internal assessment.Read more
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Ques. How is Shaheed Bhagat Singh College for English Hons.?

● Top Answer By Gauri Singh on 13 Jan 22

Ans. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College has a very good English department and is one of the best departments in the city.  They have an amazing faculty and the professors are equally talented. The DU English faculty has been rated as one of the top 100 departments in the world, so opting for a degree in Literature from any DU college will be worthwhile. Apart from that huge fests and other cultural events are organized. The management staff is youthful and has no scope of miscommunication between them and the students. The college has a state-of-the-art computerized library with over 65,000 books and 70 journals, so there are no lags considering studies or reference material you need as a student. So, go for English Hons. at SBSC without any doubt.Read more
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Ques. Which college is better for an Honors degree in English Loreto College Kolkata or Shri Shikshayatan College?

● Top Answer By Shivani Jaiswal on 26 Nov 21

Ans. Among Loreto College or Shri Shikshayatan College in Kolkata, the former is said to be better.  The cutoffs here are high and they have very limited seats.  General category students only have 25 official seats.  Their English department is said to be the best in Kolkata.  They have an excellent faculty comprising talented members with years of educational experience. Shri Shikshayatan is a bit liberal and gives students enough freedom to explore, on the other hand Loreto is completely opposite. It is very strict and disciplined. They keep their students in check most of the time.Read more
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Ques. Which college is better for an Honors degree in English Loreto College Kolkata or Shri Shikshayatan College?

● Top Answer By Shalini Jaiswal on 20 Jan 22

Ans. Both Loreto College and Shri Shikshayatan College are the most reputed all-girls colleges in Kolkata. Choosing any one of them will prove to be a good step up for your career. Loreto College is popular for its English Honours course. It is more strict compared to any other college. Students here have to maintain a 80% attendance, failing which you will not be able to sit for the examination. Also for subjects with practicals, students have to maintain a 100% attendance in labs. The faculty of the English department is highly experienced with some professors having 15-20 years of educational experience. Shri Shikshayatan College is a bit more liberal than Loreto. It is not so strict about certain rules and students have the freedom to explore. The attendance, dress code, academics, etc. are much more lenient than Loreto. But according to the education provided both are equally good. Choose the one that meets all your requirements, as only that can give you a fulfilling college life.Read more
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Ques. How is English hons. from Delhi College of Arts and Commerce?

● Top Answer By Prithvi Mishra on 26 Nov 21

Ans. Delhi College of Arts and Commerce is one of the most reputed colleges under Delhi University. The faculties for the English department at the institute are quite good. You will also get a good peer group. English is one of the most sought-after courses offered at the institute. So, if you are getting English (Hons) at DCAC, go for it. Read more
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Ques. Which one is better for English Hons Shyam Lal College or Satyawati College?

● Top Answer By Nirali Shukla on 01 Oct 21

Ans. My cousin sister recently graduated from Satyawati College with her English (Hons). To be precise, the experience wasn’t as pleasant as she expected. Here are some crucial insights regarding the college and faculty according to her first-hand experience. The faculty is not up to the mark due to the overwhelming amount of politics among themselves.  The cold war between the right and left-wing politics creates tension and fights between them. There have been instances when the faculty is too careless to even come to class. Instead, you might be marked absent for attendance, which is unacceptable. Once my sister submitted her assignment on time but it got lost due to the faculty’s carelessness.  To make matters worse, she was marked 0 for that assignment.  Later she found out they usually do that to students who call them out on their insincerity. Categories Shyam Lal College Satyawati College Course Fee 29.75 - 52.35 K 22.96 - 52.32 K Highest CTC 5.5 LPA 3.4 LPA Average CTC 2.5 LPA 1.5 LPA Recruiting Companies TCS, HP, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, etc. KAN Universal Private Limited, Signori Armadio, Infosys, Deloitte, etc. However, one of her friends did her English (Hons.) from Shyamlal College which turned out to be quite well and continued to go for higher studies in the same. But due to my sister’s awful experience at Satyawati, she eventually lost interest in the subject. Moreover, before taking admission into any DU college you must do thorough research on its faculty. Some colleges have really awful faculty which plays a huge role in your career.Read more
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Ques. Which is better for English honors between: Lady Shri Ram College and Daulat Ram College?

● Top Answer By Saheli Gupta on 01 Feb 22

Ans. Between Lady Shri Ram College and Daulat Ram College, the former is the better option for pursuing English honors. Some of my friends attended Lady Shri Ram College and according to them, the faculty base for English Department is great. The cutoff for LSR College is also more compared to Daulat Ram. You will definitely have an excellent time studying there. Read more
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Ques. What is the class timing of BA English honours in Lady Brabourne College Kolkata?

● Top Answer By Sukanya Dey on 28 Dec 21

Ans. The class timings are 10 AM to 4:30 PM. The Honours classes can take place at any time of the day.  The day might begin with an honours class with the very last class being for honours subject too.  All the departments are very strict, so you cannot skip any of the honours classes if you have attended one already.  You must be very particular with attendance in college as it is strictly checked. Failure to maintain a 70% attendance will restrict you from sitting in the selection exams.Read more
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Ques. Should I do BA programme from St. Stephens or English honours from JMC?

● Top Answer By Sugandhi Roy on 29 Oct 21

Ans. I have friends from both St. Stephens and JMC. Here are a few of the information that I got from them.  St. Stephens is a prestigious college with its own sets of rules and code of conduct. It has a good campus. If you want to explore ideas, places and have a decent campus life then St. Stephens is a great option. JMC is an off-campus college. So, you won’t have access to campus. It is a girl’s college with strict rules.  Now coming to the courses, in English honors, you will learn about a myriad of texts from different countries and different time periods. However, you will have to spend your three years around poetry and prose. You won’t get to experience much diversity when it comes to subjects. For the BA program, however, you can choose all subjects from Social Science. There are many combinations that you can opt for.  So, I will suggest that you choose the program which will keep you interested for the next three years. College life will be similar irrespective of the institute. Also, gone are the days when students with honors degrees were treated superior to the students who pursued programs. Read more
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