Here are the extracted questions from the MPhil entrance exam paper from Tribhuvan University:
A. Attempt ANY ONE question:
1.Shed light on the major 'Romantic Beliefs' of the first and the second-generation Romantic poets and discuss how those beliefs were articulated in their representative writings.
2.There has been a notable change in the representation of the body, gender, and sexuality in recent decades. Trace the wider context out of which such changes occurred, so as to explicate a variety of ways in which the issues of gender and embodiment are raised in fictional discourses.
(1x20=20 Marks)
B. Attempt ANY THREE questions:
1.Many people blame theory for the present malaise in literary studies. Do you think theory and literary studies are mutually exclusive or does there exist symbiotic compatibility between them?
2. literary text isn't simply an expression of an individual author. It rather reflects and responds to the specific conditions of its time by exploring issues of social inequalities and cultural discrimination. Discuss with examples.
3.In recent years, subjectivity, space, and ethics have been pertinent issues in the study of arts and humanities. How do you see these emerging trends in English studies and research?
4.Literary study is the disciplining and codifying of reading, whose main purpose is the production of new forms of knowledge. Explain how this statement applies to your understanding of literary studies.
(3x10=30 Marks)
C. Write short notes on (any two):
Indigenous aesthetics
Conceit
Biospherical egalitarianism
(2x5=10 Marks)
Research Methodology
D. Attempt ANY ONE question:
Prepare a research proposal on a text of your choice. Your proposal should be comprised of a title, a short introduction, statement of the problem, research question(s), and a methodology.
(1x20=20 Marks)
E. Attempt ANY ONE question:
Identify the structure of reasoning including claims, reasons, evidence, warrants, and rebuttal (counter argument) in the following passage and assess the soundness of the argument.
(1x10=10 Marks)
Subject Area
F. Develop an abstract:
Respond to a call for papers for a conference on “Artificial Intelligence: A Journey into Utopia (or Dystopia),” including your thesis statement, hypothesis, objectives, methodology, and keywords.
(1x10=10 Marks)
G. Write short notes on (any two):
1.Briefly assess the value of academic research.
2.Edit the works cited entry below and format it as per the MLA Manual (9th edition):
Anna C. Tseng and Willy A. Renandya. “The Effect of Narrow Reading on L2 Learners’ Perceptions.” RELC Journal: A Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Volume 51, No. 2, Aug. 2020, pp. 244-258.
3.Thomas Faist. “Diaspora and Transnationalism: What Kind of Dance Partners?” Transnationalism: Concepts, Theories, and Methods. Edited by Rainer Bauböck and Thomas Faist, Amsterdam University Press, 2010, pp. 9-34.
(2x5=10 Marks)
These questions will give you a good sense of the types of questions asked in the MPhil entrance exam.
Here are three additional MPhil-level questions designed to resemble the style and depth of the original exam paper from Tribhuvan University:
Question Set 1
A. Attempt ANY ONE question:
Discuss the impact of Postcolonial theory on the interpretation of English literature. How has the understanding of colonialism and its aftermath altered the reading of canonical texts?
Analyze the evolution of feminist literary criticism from the early 20th century to the present. How has the focus shifted from representation to intersectionality and beyond?
(1x20=20 Marks)
B. Attempt ANY THREE questions:
1. How does the concept of ‘otherness’ function within Gothic literature? Discuss with reference to specific texts.
2, Explain the role of environmental ethics in the context of contemporary literary studies. How do eco-criticism and related approaches enrich our understanding of literature?
The rise of digital humanities has transformed literary studies. Discuss the opportunities and challenges this presents for traditional literary scholarship.
Examine the relationship between literature and social movements. Can literature act as a catalyst for change, or is it merely a reflection of societal shifts?
(3x10=30 Marks)
C. Write short notes on (any two):
Intertextuality
The role of the unreliable narrator in modern fiction
The concept of ‘Stream of Consciousness’ in literary modernism
(2x5=10 Marks)
Question Set 2
A. Attempt ANY ONE question:
1,Trace the development of Magical Realism in Latin American literature and its influence on global literary traditions. How does it blend reality and fantasy to comment on political and social issues?
2,Compare and contrast the treatment of existential themes in the works of Albert Camus and Franz Kafka. How do their philosophies reflect in their literary output?
(1x20=20 Marks)
B. Attempt ANY THREE questions:
What is the role of memory in narrative fiction? Discuss how memory is portrayed in literature as both a reliable and unreliable element of storytelling.
Explore the notion of the ‘hero’ in classical literature versus modern literature. How has the concept evolved over time?
Discuss the ethical considerations in the representation of historical trauma in literature. How should authors balance the need for artistic expression with the responsibilities of historical accuracy?
Examine the portrayal of dystopian societies in literature. How do these fictional worlds critique contemporary political and social systems?
(3x10=30 Marks)
C. Write short notes on (any two):
The influence of the Harlem Renaissance on American literature
The role of satire in literature
The significance of the epistolary form in the 18th century novel
(2x5=10 Marks)
Question Set 3
A. Attempt ANY ONE question:
How has the concept of the ‘tragic hero’ evolved from Ancient Greek drama to contemporary literature? Provide examples from different literary periods to support your answer.
Explore the relationship between literature and psychoanalysis. How have Freudian theories influenced the interpretation of literary texts?
(1x20=20 Marks)
B. Attempt ANY THREE questions:
Analyze the role of narrative structure in shaping the reader’s experience. How do non-linear narratives challenge traditional notions of storytelling?
Discuss the importance of place in literature. How does setting influence character development and thematic exploration?
The concept of ‘the gaze’ has been crucial in both film and literary studies. Discuss its implications in feminist and postcolonial critiques.
Examine how the postmodern condition has been represented in literature. What are the defining characteristics of postmodernist texts, and how do they reflect the uncertainty of the modern world?
(3x10=30 Marks)
C. Write short notes on (any two):
The role of allegory in medieval literature
The impact of the Enlightenment on literary form and content
The development of the detective novel
(2x5=10 Marks)
These questions should provide a strong foundation for practice or assessment at the MPhil level in English literature, encouraging deep analysis and critical engagement with various literary theories and texts.
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