The GRE Literature Examination tests a candidate’s knowledge of literature and literary subjects through approximately 230 questions across four main topics: literary analysis, cultural and historical contexts, identification, and history and theory of literary criticism. The majority of the material tested is American or British literature, but world literature after 1925 may also be included.
The Graduate Literature Examination (GRE) tests a candidate’s understanding and knowledge of literature and literary subjects. Although individual test questions and subjects vary, each includes approximately 230 questions. The test comprises four main topics, including literary analysis, cultural and historical contexts, identification and history and theory of literary criticism. Individuals may be assessed on their knowledge of poetry, drama, biography, essays, short stories and other related topics.
The most substantial section of the GRE literature focuses on literary analysis. This part focuses on the candidate’s understanding and ability to interpret prose and poetry texts. Questions included in the literary analysis section may address related issues such as technique, meaning and tone, rhetorical strategy, allusion, and grammatical structure. The total score for the literary analysis questions comprises between 40 and 55 percent of the total GRE literature score.
About 20-25% of the total GRE literature score addresses cultural and historical context. Such questions may require the candidate to identify an author or literary work from a passage of text or a brief biographical sketch. Some of the questions in this part may also ask test takers to provide details of a piece of literature, such as character, plot, or setting aspects.
The GRE literature also involves issues related to identification. Applicants may be asked to identify a literary date, author or literary work through content or style recognition. Identification questions account for approximately 15-20% of the total test score.
The final 10-15% of the test questions are related to history and critical theory. Such questions can review critical approaches to the literature. They may also require participants to examine various theoretical issues related to literary technique. Issues in this arena should not be underestimated as an integral part of the GRE literature, despite their smaller number.
The vast majority of the material tested in the GRE literature is American or British literature. Test questions may address modern literature, but may also test candidates’ knowledge of historical texts dating back to 1660. World literature after 1925 may be tested. Rarely, continental, classical, and comparative literature up to 1925 will be included in the test, usually in smaller examples or selected portions of larger examples.
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