Preparing for your BA (Hons.) English exams at Delhi University? This page brings together semester-wise previous year question papers for the English Honours programme, covering everything from classical literature to contemporary criticism.
Each semester section below is filterable by academic year. Note: these collections are added as we’re able to source them — so not every paper, course, or year will necessarily be available for every semester. We keep adding papers as we find them.
Why English PYQs Are Especially Important
English Honours papers at DU are almost entirely essay and critical-analysis based, which means examiners repeatedly test the same set-texts through different critical lenses (feminist, postcolonial, formalist, historicist) rather than asking purely factual questions. Reviewing PYQs helps you:
- Identify which texts and authors get asked most often as full essay questions vs. shorter passages for analysis
- Spot the critical frameworks examiners favour for a given paper (e.g. postcolonial readings in Indian Writing in English, feminist readings in Women’s Writing)
- Practise structuring close-reading answers within tight word/time limits
- Build a shortlist of critical quotes and theorist references that strengthen essay answers across multiple papers
How to Revise English Using These Papers
- Finish a text or unit from your DU English syllabus notes first, then attempt that unit’s PYQs.
- For essay questions, practise outlining your argument (thesis → 3-4 textual points → critical framework → conclusion) before writing in full.
- Note which texts or authors have been asked more than once in the last 3 years — these deserve deeper close-reading prep.
- Cross-check the paper name/code against your own DSC/DSE/GE combination, since English has a substantial elective pool from Semester 3 onward.
Semester 1
Semester 1’s DSC papers are Introduction to Literary Studies, European Classical Literature, and Indian Classical Literature. Question papers below are listed as we’ve been able to source them, so availability may vary. As the foundational semester, expect a good mix of definitional/conceptual questions on literary terms alongside close-reading questions on set texts.
Semester 2
Semester 2 covers 14th to 17th Century English Poetry, 16th and 17th Century English Drama, and 18th Century Literature. Compare available papers here with Semester 1’s to notice how questions shift from foundational concepts to period-specific literary movements.
Semester 3
Semester 3’s core papers are Romantic Literature, Victorian Literature, and Literary Criticism, alongside DSE options like Literature and Cinema and Literary Theory. Whichever papers are available below, prioritise the ones matching your own elective choice — Literary Criticism especially rewards close PYQ review since its theoretical frameworks recur across later papers too.
Semester 4
Semester 4 covers American Literature, Indian Writing in English, and Indian Writing in English Translation, with DSE options such as Dystopian Writings and Literature of the Indian Diaspora. Use whichever PYQs are available below to prioritise recurring postcolonial and translation-studies themes.
Semester 5
Semester 5’s DSC papers are Twentieth Century Poetry and Drama, Twentieth Century Novel, and Dalit Writings, alongside DSE options like Children’s Literature and Indian Partition Literature. Check the paper name/code on each PDF below against your own DSC/DSE combination before relying on it.
Semester 6
Semester 6, your final core semester, has Modern European Drama, Literature and Disability, and Women’s Writing, alongside DSE options like World Literatures and British Literature Post World War II. These are your most recent-pattern PYQs, so prioritise the last 2-3 years’ papers here, subject to availability.
Semester-Wise DSC Paper Reference
| Semester | DSC Papers |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Introduction to Literary Studies · European Classical Literature · Indian Classical Literature |
| Semester 2 | 14th to 17th Century English Poetry · 16th and 17th Century English Drama · 18th Century Literature |
| Semester 3 | Romantic Literature · Victorian Literature · Literary Criticism |
| Semester 4 | American Literature · Indian Writing in English · Indian Writing in English Translation |
| Semester 5 | Twentieth Century Poetry and Drama · Twentieth Century Novel · Dalit Writings |
| Semester 6 | Modern European Drama · Literature and Disability · Women’s Writing |
Source: University of Delhi, Office of Academic Affairs – Department of English programme structure. DSE (elective) papers run alongside DSC from Semester 3 onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are DU English PYQs enough to clear the exam?
PYQs are a strong revision tool but work best alongside complete text-wise notes — essay papers reward depth on the actual texts, not just pattern-spotting.
Do question patterns change between CBCS and NEP English papers?
Do question patterns change between CBCS and NEP English papers?
How many years of PYQs should I revise?
Ideally the last 3-4 academic years, since that window best reflects the current examiner’s pattern while still showing you which texts and questions repeat.
Why is a particular paper or year missing from a semester?
We add question papers as we’re able to source them from students, college archives, and libraries — so coverage isn’t guaranteed to be complete for every course or every academic year. If you have a paper we’re missing, you’re welcome to share it with us.
Where can I find the official DU English syllabus?
You can cross-check the official syllabus on the University of Delhi’s website or through your college’s academic handbook.