

MA in English at Brahma Ramdeo Baba Devanand Post Graduate College


Deoria, Uttar Pradesh
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About the Specialization
What is English at Brahma Ramdeo Baba Devanand Post Graduate College Deoria?
This MA English program at Brahma Ramdeo Baba Devanand Post Graduate College, Deoria, offers a comprehensive study of English literature, language, and critical theory. It explores traditions across periods and geographies, including Indian, American, and Commonwealth literature. The curriculum integrates contemporary critical approaches and language teaching, preparing graduates for diverse roles in Indian academia and publishing.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for arts graduates aspiring to academia, research, or content creation roles. It also suits aspiring teachers and professors targeting NET/JRF qualifications. Working professionals seeking to enhance analytical and communication skills for media, publishing, or corporate roles will greatly benefit from this specialization.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates can expect diverse career paths in India, including university lectureships, research fellowships, content writing, editing, journalism, and public relations. Entry-level salaries range from INR 3-5 LPA, growing with experience. The program cultivates critical thinking, advanced communication, and research skills, crucial for academic pursuits and professional growth across various industries.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Literary History and Theory Fundamentals- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate significant time to understanding core literary periods from Chaucer to the Modern age and fundamental critical theories. Create timelines, concept maps, and participate in peer discussions to solidify understanding of key movements and thinkers.
Tools & Resources
DDUGU Library resources, Online literary encyclopedias, Standard literary theory textbooks, Peer study groups
Career Connection
Builds a strong foundation for advanced studies, NET/JRF exams, and critical analysis skills essential for content development and academic roles in India.
Enhance Academic Reading and Writing Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage with prescribed texts, practice critical annotation, and consistently write academic essays and assignments, ensuring proper citation and referencing. Seek constructive feedback from professors to refine writing style and analytical depth.
Tools & Resources
College writing workshops (if available), Purdue OWL, Academic journals, Grammarly premium access
Career Connection
Improves research paper writing, report generation, and professional communication, vital for any intellectual role from academia to corporate content creation.
Cultivate Language Proficiency and ELT Basics- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on improving both spoken and written English by actively participating in debates, presentations, and group discussions. Leverage linguistics and ELT papers to understand language structure and teaching methodologies, perhaps even practicing micro-teaching sessions.
Tools & Resources
English language clubs, TED Talks for listening practice, IELTS/TOEFL preparation materials, British Council online ELT resources
Career Connection
Essential for teaching careers, language training, corporate communication, and enhancing overall professional presence, significantly boosting employability in India.
Intermediate Stage
Advanced Stage
Specialize in Elective Areas and Research Application- (Semester 3-4)
Deep dive into the chosen optional papers (e.g., European Literature, World Literature, Literature & Ecology), demonstrating expertise. Proactively explore potential topics for your Project Work/Dissertation (ENG 419) early, attending research workshops and refining your research question with faculty guidance.
Tools & Resources
Specialized academic databases (JSTOR, MLA International Bibliography), DDUGU research guides, Faculty advisors for dissertation guidance, Online research methodology courses
Career Connection
Develops expertise in niche areas, crucial for doctoral studies, specialized research roles, and demonstrating focused intellectual capability to prospective employers or for NET/JRF.
Engage with Critical Theory and Interdisciplinary Studies- (Semester 3-4)
Actively participate in seminars on Critical Theory and Gender Studies, applying different theoretical lenses to literary texts and cultural phenomena. Explore connections between literature and other fields like sociology, environmental science, and philosophy as presented in relevant papers.
Tools & Resources
Online philosophy and critical theory courses (e.g., NPTEL, Coursera), Interdisciplinary journals, Discussion forums with peers and professors, Documentaries on cultural studies
Career Connection
Sharpens analytical and interpretive skills, highly valued in academia, think tanks, policy analysis, and any role requiring nuanced understanding of complex cultural and social issues.
Prepare for Viva-Voce and Professional Pathways- (Semester 4)
Systematically review all major papers and your dissertation work, focusing on clarity and coherence for the Viva-Voce (ENG 420). Practice presenting your research findings concisely and defending arguments. Simultaneously, prepare for competitive exams (NET/JRF) or job interviews, focusing on subject matter expertise and soft skills.
Tools & Resources
Mock viva sessions with faculty, NET/JRF previous year papers, Career counseling services, Interview preparation guides and practice platforms
Career Connection
Directly prepares for academic and research job market entry, increases chances of securing competitive research fellowships or faculty positions, and builds confidence for professional interactions.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- B.A. with English as a subject
Duration: 2 years / 4 semesters
Credits: 80 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 25%, External: 75%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 401 | ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM CHAUCER TO MILTON | Core | 4 | Old English Literature, Middle English Literature, Elizabethan Age Drama, Jacobean and Caroline Poetry, John Milton''''s Paradise Lost, Renaissance Prose |
| ENG 402 | ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE ROMANTICS | Core | 4 | Restoration Drama and Comedy of Manners, Augustan Poetry (Pope, Dryden), 18th Century Novel (Defoe, Swift), Pre-Romanticism (Gray, Collins), Romantic Poetry (Wordsworth, Coleridge), Romantic Prose (Lamb, Hazlitt) |
| ENG 403 | LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM | Core | 4 | Classical Criticism (Plato, Aristotle), Renaissance Criticism (Sidney, Johnson), Romantic and Victorian Criticism, New Criticism and Formalism, Structuralism and Post-structuralism, Psychoanalytic and Marxist Criticism |
| ENG 404 | INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE | Core | 4 | Beginnings of Indian English Writing, Pre-Independence Novel (Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan), Post-Independence Poetry (Nissim Ezekiel, Kamala Das), Indian English Drama (Girard, Karnad), Dalit Literature in Translation, Contemporary Indian English Fiction (Rushdie, Ghosh) |
| ENG 405 | LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING | Core | 4 | Branches of Linguistics (Phonetics, Phonology), Morphology and Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics, Methods of ELT (GTM, Direct Method), Communicative Language Teaching |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 406 | ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM VICTORIAN TO MODERN AGE | Core | 4 | Victorian Poetry (Tennyson, Browning), Victorian Novel (Dickens, Eliot), Aestheticism and Decadence, Modernist Poetry (Yeats, Eliot), Modernist Novel (Woolf, Joyce), Modern Drama (Shaw, Beckett) |
| ENG 407 | AMERICAN LITERATURE | Core | 4 | Early American Writing and Puritanism, American Romanticism (Emerson, Whitman), American Realism (Mark Twain, Henry James), Modern American Poetry (Frost, Stevens), American Drama (O''''Neill, Miller), African American Literature (Hughes, Morrison) |
| ENG 408 | COMMONWEALTH LITERATURE | Core | 4 | Concepts of Commonwealth and Post-colonialism, African Literature (Soyinka, Achebe), Canadian Literature (Atwood, Munro), Australian Literature (Patrick White), Caribbean Literature (Naipaul, Walcott), New Zealand Literature (Katherine Mansfield) |
| ENG 409 | RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | Core | 4 | Types and Approaches to Research, Research Design and Data Collection, Tools for Data Analysis (Qualitative, Quantitative), Thesis Writing and Referencing Styles, Plagiarism and Research Ethics, Computer Applications in Research (MS Office, Internet) |
| ENG 410 | SOFT SKILLS | Core | 4 | Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal), Presentation Skills and Public Speaking, Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork, Time Management and Goal Setting, Stress Management and Emotional Intelligence, Interview Skills and Group Discussions |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 411 | ENGLISH LITERATURE FROM POST-MODERNISM TO CONTEMPORARY | Core | 4 | Postmodernism and its Characteristics, Postmodern Novel (Pynchon, Eco), Contemporary British Fiction (Rushdie, McEwan), Contemporary Poetry and Performance Poetry, Digital Humanities and New Media, Graphic Novels and Popular Culture |
| ENG 412 | GENDER STUDIES | Core | 4 | Concepts of Sex and Gender, Feminist Theories (First, Second, Third Wave), Patriarchy and Gender Roles, LGBTQ+ Studies and Queer Theory, Masculinity Studies, Women''''s Writing in India |
| ENG 413 | DISASTER MANAGEMENT | Core | 4 | Types of Disasters (Natural, Man-made), Disaster Cycle (Mitigation, Preparedness), Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis, Response and Relief Operations, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Role of Government and NGOs in Disaster Management |
| ENG 414A | EUROPEAN LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION | Optional (Chosen from A/B) | 4 | Greek Tragedy (Sophocles, Aeschylus), Roman Epic (Virgil''''s Aeneid), Medieval European Literature (Dante''''s Inferno), Renaissance Drama (Cervantes'''' Don Quixote), Existentialist Literature (Camus, Sartre), Modern European Drama (Ibsen, Chekhov) |
| ENG 415B | WORLD LITERATURE AND TRANSLATION STUDIES | Optional (Chosen from A/B) | 4 | Concept of World Literature (Goethe), Comparative Literature Approaches, Theories of Translation (Nida, Catford), Cultural Translation and Adaptation, Postcolonial Translation, Machine Translation and Digital Tools |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 416 | CRITICAL THEORY | Core | 4 | Post-Structuralism (Foucault, Barthes), Deconstruction (Derrida), Psychoanalytic Criticism (Freud, Lacan), Marxist Criticism and Cultural Materialism, Postcolonial Theory (Said, Spivak), Eco-criticism and Environmental Humanities |
| ENG 417 | DIASPORA LITERATURE | Core | 4 | Concept of Diaspora and Transnationalism, Indian Diaspora Literature (Lahiri, Mistry), African Diaspora Literature, Jewish Diaspora Literature, Identity, Memory, and Belonging, Cultural Hybridity and Nostalgia |
| ENG 418B | LITERATURE AND ECOLOGY | Optional (Chosen from A/B) | 4 | Introduction to Eco-criticism, Nature Writing and Environmental Literature, Environmental Justice and Literature, The Anthropocene and Literature, Ecofeminism and Green Cultural Studies, Representations of Wilderness and Urban Nature |
| ENG 419 | PROJECT WORK / DISSERTATION | Project | 4 | Research Proposal Development, Literature Review and Methodology, Data Collection and Analysis, Dissertation Writing and Formatting, Ethical Considerations in Research, Presentation of Research Findings |
| ENG 420 | Viva-Voce | Viva/Oral Exam | 4 | Comprehensive knowledge of English Literature, Understanding of Literary Theories and Criticism, Research Aptitude and Presentation Skills, Critical Thinking and Analytical Abilities, Communication and Argumentation Skills, Subject-specific knowledge from all semesters |




