English 3 - Part of English Paper 3: Literature up to 1660 - Renaissance & Merchant of Venice

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Violet

English Paper 3 covers English literature up to 1660 with a syllabus spanning Renaissance history, metaphysical poetry, university wits, and comedy traditions, alongside study of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. The document outlines semester-end exam formats including long-answer and short-notes questions for history and for the play. It also provides guided content on Renaissance features, background, characteristics, key causes such as the printing press, voyages, and nationalism, and links Renaissance influence to Elizabethan literature.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time3 h 52 min

AccessFree to download

Course content

English Literature up to 1660

Detailed syllabus

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Semester end examination

Long Answer Questions

Short Notes Questions

Recommended reading

Part-A 7 Long Questions

History of English Literature upto 1660

Renaissance features and causes

English Paper 3 ====================================================================== Course content: English Literature up to 1660 Text: The Merchant of Venice-William Shakespeare (Play) New Delhi: Macmillan Publishers India Private Limited. 2017 Detailed syllabus: Unit 1: History: Renaissance, Chorus, Dramatic Design, Romantic Comedy Unit 2 History: Metaphysical Poetry, University Wits Unit 3 History: Comedy of Humours, Comedy of Manners Unit 4: The Merchant of Venice (Play)– William Shakespeare Semester end examination: Q. 1 Long Answer Question (History) (1/2) 14 x 1 14 Marks Q. 2 Long Answer Question (History) (1/2) 14 x 1 14 Marks Q. 3 Long Answer Question (Play) (1/2) 14 x 1 14 Marks Q. 4 Long Answer Question (Play) (1/2) 14 x 1 14 Marks Q. 5 (A) Short Notes Question (History) (1/2) 07 x 1 07 Marks Q. 5 (B) Short Notes Question (Play) (1/2) 07 x 1 07 Marks Recommended reading: Daiches, David. A Critical History of English Literature. Ford, Boris (Ed.) . The New Pelican Guide to English Literature: The Age of Chaucer Ford. Boris (Ed.) . The New Pelican Guide to English Literature, Vol. 2, The Age of Shakespeare. Legouis and Cazamian. History of English Literature. Sanders, Andrew. The short Oxford History of English Literature. Oxford Paperbacks. Oxford: Clarendon Press.2001 Bernhard Ten Brink. History of English Literature, Vol.2, Part 2. Henry Holt & Co.: New York.1896 Steven N. Zwicker. The Cambridge Companion to English Literature 1650-1740 Ed. by Cambridge University Press, New York. 2009 ====================================================================== Part-A 7 Long Questions: History of English Literature upto 1660: Q.1 Write a detailed note on the features of Renaissance. OR Discuss the characteristics of Renaissance. OR Renaissance is "the birth of the modern world out of the ashes of the dark ages." -Explain. OR Comment on chief characteristics of Renaissance. OR write a note on influence of Renaissance on Elizabethan Literature. OR"Renaissance was the age of wonder, the glory and the beauty of human mind." -Elaborate. Ans. 'The Renaissance' is a French word. Its meaning is rebirth, revival or reawakening. The Renaissance was the revival of ancient classical mythology literature and culture. It can also be considered thereawakening of the human mind after the long slumber of the dark middle ages. It was the age of wonder, the glory and the beauty of human mind. It appeared as if mankind was awakened from the long sleep and looked at the glory of nature with astonishment. It was like a rediscovery by mankind of himself and the world. It was the revival of the cult of beautythe beauty of woman, nature, art and literature. It started in Italy in the 14th century with the works of Petrarch and certain others. In 1453 it was stimulated by the fall of Constantinople and the invention of the printing press in Germany. The great discoveries of scientists and navigators also boosted the arrival of Renaissance. Its influence reached England during the last phase of 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. As Compton Rickett puts it, "While Italy was afire with the new sunrise; it was still for England merely a streak of light upon the horizon." Let us have a look at the historic background too. It was the Age of Queen Elizabeth-1. In England renaissance means rebirth. It conveys the idea that for centuries European cultures had been extinct but by some means it came back to life which led to the rediscovery of Greek and Roman Literature. This reawakening reached classical learning to Italy in 14th century. It was essentially a European movement which was born in Italy and then spread to Germany, France and England. One was the fall of Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. After this fall of the Roman Empire, the Greek scholars went away to Italy with valuable manuscripts. Thus a revival of classical studies began in Italy. Latin

FAQs

What topics does the detailed syllabus include up to 1660?

It includes Renaissance and dramatic design, metaphysical poetry and University Wits, comedy of humours and comedy of manners, and The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.

How are the semester-end exam questions structured?

The exam includes four long-answer questions for History and four for the Play, plus short notes split into History (Q.5A) and Play (Q.5B), with marks listed for each.

What are the key features and causes of the Renaissance described in the material?

The material explains Renaissance as rebirth and revival of classical culture, emphasizing a wider vision of humanity and humanism. It also highlights causes such as the printing press, voyages, and nationalism in England.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Violet