UGC NET English June 2025: Solved Chronology Questions from Paper II

Question 1

Arrange the following books in chronological order:

A. G. N. Shuster's The English Ode from Milton to Keats

B. Paul H. Fry's The Poet's Calling in the English Ode

C. John Heath-Stubbs' The Ode

D. Carol Maddison's Apollo and the Nine: A History of the Ode

E. G.M. Foley's Oral Traditional Literature

1. C, A, D, E, B

2. A, B, C, E, D

3. A, D, C, B, E

4. E, B, C, D, A

✓ Answer: 3. A, D, C, B, E

📚 Chronological Order with Country Details

A

G. N. Shuster – The English Ode from Milton to Keats (1940) – United States

A scholarly study of the development of the English ode from the 17th to the early 19th century.

D

Carol Maddison – Apollo and the Nine: A History of the Ode (1958) – United Kingdom

A literary historian's broad exploration of the ode from ancient to modern times.

C

John Heath-Stubbs – The Ode (1974) – United Kingdom

A poet-critic's thematic and stylistic analysis of the ode form in English poetry.

B

Paul H. Fry – The Poet's Calling in the English Ode (1980) – United States

A major theoretical study by a Yale professor, focusing on the ode as an expression of poetic vocation.

E

G. M. Foley (Editor) – Oral Traditional Literature: A Festschrift for Albert B. Lord (1981) – United States

While not solely focused on odes, this volume contextualizes oral tradition in literary forms.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question requires knowledge of critical chronology, literary form (the ode), and the geographical spread of scholarship, all of which are vital for UGC NET English preparation. Understanding who these scholars were and where they worked offers insights into Anglo-American literary criticism, especially regarding lyric poetry. Questions like these prepare you for Paper II topics involving genre evolution, comparative criticism, and scholarly traditions across countries.

Question 2

Arrange the following statements in a chronological order:

A. Nissim Ezekiel founded Quest, a general intellectual review associated with liberal democratic politics.

B. The Illustrated Weekly of India sponsored a short story competition and began publishing contemporary Indian English poetry.

C. The Writers Workshop began to publish volumes of poetry.

D. C. R. Mandy became editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India.

1. A, C, B, D

2. D, B, A, C

3. B, C, A, D

4. B, A, D, C

✓ Answer: 2. D, B, A, C

🗂️ Chronological Order with Context

D

C. R. Mandy became editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India (1947)

This marked an important moment in Indian English journalism and literary culture.

B

The Illustrated Weekly of India sponsored a short story competition and began publishing contemporary Indian English poetry (early 1950s)

Under Mandy's editorship, the magazine became a platform for emerging Indian English writers.

A

Nissim Ezekiel founded Quest, a general intellectual review associated with liberal democratic politics (1955)

Quest became a crucial platform for Indian intellectual and literary discourse during the post-independence period.

C

The Writers Workshop began to publish volumes of poetry (1958)

Founded by P. Lal in Calcutta, it became the most important publisher of Indian English poetry for decades.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question tests knowledge of the institutional and publication history of Indian English literature. Understanding the chronology of literary journals, publishing houses, and editorial leadership is essential for UGC NET candidates. These developments shaped the post-independence Indian English literary landscape and created platforms for writers like Nissim Ezekiel, Kamala Das, and others. Such questions assess your understanding of the cultural and institutional frameworks that supported the growth of Indian Writing in English.

Question 3

Arrange the following novels in a chronological order as per their years of publication:

A. The Serpent and the Rope

B. Two Leaves and a Bud

C. A Bend in the Ganges

D. So Many Hungers

E. Waiting for the Mahatma

1. A, E, B, D, C

2. B, A, C, E, D

3. C, D, B, E, A

4. B, D, E, A, C

✓ Answer: 4. B, D, E, A, C

🗂️ Chronological Order of Novels

B

Two Leaves and a Bud – Mulk Raj Anand (1937)

A powerful critique of colonial exploitation and plantation life in Assam; one of Anand's most politically charged novels.

D

So Many Hungers! – Bhabani Bhattacharya (1947)

Set against the Bengal Famine of 1943, the novel explores nationalism, hunger, and human dignity.

E

Waiting for the Mahatma – R. K. Narayan (1955)

A semi-historical novel involving Gandhi's Quit India Movement, blending Narayan's fictional town Malgudi with real nationalist history.

A

The Serpent and the Rope – Raja Rao (1960)

A philosophical novel exploring East–West identity, spiritual quest, and self-realization—a landmark in Indian English fiction.

C

A Bend in the Ganges – Manohar Malgonkar (1964)

A novel dealing with the Partition of India, violence, and freedom struggle, featuring complex political and personal themes.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question targets your familiarity with major Indian English novels and their publication chronology, a key aspect of literary historiography in UGC NET English. Understanding when these novels were published helps contextualize their thematic concerns—from colonial oppression to nationalist movements and spiritual identity. These works represent distinct phases of Indian socio-political history reflected through fiction and are frequently referenced in questions related to Partition literature, Gandhian fiction, and postcolonial identity.

Question 4

Identify the correct chronological order as per the publication years of the following works:

A. Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions and Times

B. The Advancement of Learning

C. Inquiry into the Original of our Idea of Beauty and Virtues

D. The Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language

1. A, C, D, B

2. C, A, D, B

3. D, B, A, C

4. B, A, C, D

✓ Answer: 4. B, A, C, D

📚 Chronological Order with Details

B

The Advancement of Learning – Francis Bacon – 1605

A foundational prose work advocating for the empirical method in the pursuit of knowledge.

A

Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, and Times – Anthony Ashley Cooper (Earl of Shaftesbury) – 1711

A major text of early Enlightenment moral philosophy and aesthetics.

C

An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue – Francis Hutcheson – 1725

A key work in the development of moral sense theory and aesthetic philosophy.

D

The Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language – Samuel Johnson – 1747

The proposal that led to Johnson's monumental 1755 Dictionary.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question is essential for students of UGC NET English as it combines knowledge of early modern philosophy, lexicography, and 18th-century aesthetics. Each of these works is foundational in its domain—whether it's Bacon's empirical epistemology, Shaftesbury's Enlightenment ethics, Hutcheson's aesthetics, or Johnson's contribution to English language standardization. A solid grasp of these timelines helps you navigate questions on literary history, neoclassicism, Enlightenment thought, and linguistic development in English studies.

Question 5

Arrange the following stages of first language acquisition schedule in its' chronological order:

A. The Two-Word Stage

B. Telegraphic Speech

C. The One-Word Stage

D. Cooing

E. Babbling

1. B, C, A, E, D

2. C, A, B, E, D

3. C, A, D, E, B

4. D, E, C, A, B

✓ Answer: 4. D, E, C, A, B

🧠 Chronological Order of Language Acquisition Stages

D

Cooing (Around 6–8 weeks of age)

This is the earliest vocalization stage, where infants produce soft vowel-like sounds (e.g., "oo", "ah"). It is a pre-linguistic stage and marks vocal experimentation.

E

Babbling (Around 4–6 months)

Babies start producing consonant-vowel combinations like "ba-ba" or "da-da." These sounds have rhythm but no meaning yet.

C

The One-Word Stage (Around 12 months)

Children begin using single words (holophrases) to represent entire ideas (e.g., "milk" could mean "I want milk").

A

The Two-Word Stage (Around 18–24 months)

Simple combinations of two words appear, such as "mummy go" or "baby eat," showing the beginnings of grammar.

B

Telegraphic Speech (Around 24–30 months)

Children form multi-word expressions, often omitting grammatical function words (e.g., "want toy," "go park"). It resembles a telegram in style.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

Questions on language acquisition stages are frequent in UGC NET English Paper I (Language and Linguistics). Understanding the correct order—from cooing to telegraphic speech—is crucial for tackling pedagogy, applied linguistics, and psycholinguistics questions. This specific sequence highlights the natural developmental pattern of speech in infants, which underpins several theoretical frameworks in first language learning. Mastery of these basics strengthens your grasp on more complex linguistic theories and acquisition models likely to appear in the exam.

Question 6

Arrange the following commissions, committees, and events, which were important in the context of the history of English in India, in chronology:

A. Gokak Committee Report

B. Acharya Ramamurti Commission

C. All India Language Conference

D. Kothari Commission

E. The Official Language Act

1. B, E, D, C, A

2. C, E, D, A, B

3. A, B, D, C, E

4. D, E, C, B, A

✓ Answer: 2. C, E, D, A, B

📜 Chronological Order with Years & Context

C

All India Language Conference – 1949

This was a pivotal event discussing the language policy of India after independence, especially focusing on Hindi as the official language and the status of English as an associate language.

E

The Official Language Act – 1963

Passed by the Indian Parliament, this Act stated that English would continue to be used alongside Hindi for official purposes even after 1965, resolving language tensions across regions.

D

Kothari Commission – 1964–66

Officially the Education Commission, it recommended the Three-Language Formula in schools, where English was proposed as one of the essential languages to be taught.

A

Gokak Committee Report – 1983

Formed in response to language policy concerns in Karnataka, the committee supported the primacy of Kannada, but its debates indirectly reaffirmed the cultural and educational role of English in India.

B

Acharya Ramamurti Commission – 1990

Also known as the National Policy on Education Review Committee, it aimed to re-evaluate the 1986 National Policy on Education and continued to uphold English as a necessary global and academic language.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

For UGC NET English, knowing the policy milestones and educational commissions that shaped the status of English in India is vital. These events—from post-independence language conferences to national commissions—reflect the sociopolitical dynamics that allowed English to persist as a dominant academic and official language.

Question 7

Arrange the following works chronologically:

A. The Heart of Hindustan

B. Occasional Speeches and Writings

C. Eastern Religions and Western Thought

D. Dhammapada

E. The Principal Upanishads

1. D, C, A, B, E

2. C, A, E, B, D

3. B, C, D, E, A

4. A, C, D, E, B

✓ Answer: 4. A, C, D, E, B

📚 Chronological Order with Explanation

A

The Heart of Hindustan – 1912

Written by S.K. Chatterjee, this work explores the cultural and historical spirit of India and contributed to early nationalist discourse.

C

Eastern Religions and Western Thought – 1939

A philosophical work by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, it compares Eastern spiritual traditions with Western philosophical systems, highlighting their intersections and divergences.

D

Dhammapada – c. 3rd Century BCE (Modern editions/translations in 20th century)

Although an ancient Buddhist text, its modern English translations and academic editions became popular in the 20th century, influencing Indian religious and ethical discourse in English literature.

E

The Principal Upanishads – 1953 (translated by Radhakrishnan)

This English translation by Radhakrishnan made foundational Hindu scriptures accessible to the English-educated audience and was a key philosophical and literary contribution.

B

Occasional Speeches and Writings – 1965

A posthumously compiled collection of Radhakrishnan's addresses and reflective writings, published as part of his legacy documentation.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

Understanding the chronological development of Indian philosophical and literary discourse in English is crucial for UGC NET English. This question tests your knowledge not only of literary history but also of how religious, philosophical, and political writings shaped English education and thought in India. Works like The Heart of Hindustan and Eastern Religions and Western Thought laid the groundwork for comparative philosophy, while translations of ancient texts like the Upanishads and Dhammapada helped bring indigenous spiritual thought into the Anglophone academic sphere. Mastery of such timelines enhances your ability to tackle thematic, historical, and genre-based questions in the exam.

Question 8

Arrange the following works of Criticism chronologically:

A. More than Cool Reason

B. Death is the Mother of Beauty

C. Margins of Discourse

D. Meter in English: A Critical Engagement

E. The Rule of Metaphor

1. B, D, C, A, E

2. C, A, E, D, B

3. E, D, A, C, B

4. E, A, C, B, D

✓ Answer: 4. E, A, C, B, D

📚 Chronological Order with Details

E

The Rule of Metaphor – Paul Ricoeur – 1975

Ricoeur explores metaphor as a fundamental mode of discourse, not merely rhetorical flourish but a key to understanding language, meaning, and interpretation.

A

More than Cool Reason: A Field Guide to Poetic Metaphor – George Lakoff and Mark Turner – 1987

Lakoff and Turner apply cognitive linguistics to poetry, showing how metaphor shapes not just literary expression but conceptual thought.

C

Margins of Discourse: The Ethos of Criticism – Barbara Hernstein Smith – 1989

Smith critiques objectivity in criticism and explores how values and ideologies inform scholarly discourse in literature.

B

Death is the Mother of Beauty: Mind, Metaphor, Criticism – Mark Turner – 1992

Turner continues his work on cognitive poetics, exploring the mental structures underlying metaphor, aesthetics, and meaning.

D

Meter in English: A Critical Engagement – Edited by David Baker – 1996

This volume brings together multiple critical voices analyzing English meter, addressing both traditional scansion and poststructural critiques.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question tests your knowledge of critical theory evolution from the 1970s to 1990s, covering hermeneutics (Ricoeur), cognitive linguistics (Lakoff/Turner), feminist criticism (Smith), and prosody studies (Baker). Understanding this timeline is crucial for UGC NET English as these works represent major theoretical shifts—from structuralist approaches to cognitive and ideological critiques of literary discourse. Questions on metaphor theory, reader response, and the intersection of linguistics and literature frequently appear in Paper II, making this chronology essential for comprehensive exam preparation.

Question 9

Arrange the following statements chronologically in order of their appearance in Aristotle's Poetics:

A. The plot is "the end at which tragedy aims".

B. Regarding the Plot, "A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end".

C. The plot of the tragedy should have a Unity: "the component incidents must be so arranged that if one of them be transposed or removed, the unity of the whole is dislocated and destroyed"

D. The character in question must occupy a mean between these extremes: he must be a man "who is not pre-eminently virtuous and just, and yet it is through no badness or villainy of his own that he falls into the misfortune, but rather through some flaw in him"

E. The function of the poet is to narrate "events such as might occur... in accordance with the laws of probability or necessity".

1. E, D, B, C, A

2. B, A, C, E, D

3. C, D, A, B, E

4. A, B, C, E, D

✓ Answer: 4. A, B, C, E, D

📚 Chronological Order with Explanation

A

"The plot is the end at which tragedy aims."

Early in Poetics, Aristotle prioritizes plot (mythos) as the soul of tragedy, stressing its importance over character or diction.

B

"A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end."

He then defines what makes a plot complete — a logical, ordered structure that adheres to a narrative arc.

C

"The component incidents must be so arranged that if one of them be transposed or removed, the unity of the whole is dislocated and destroyed."

Aristotle elaborates on unity of plot, emphasizing causality and coherence as essential features of an effective tragedy.

E

"The function of the poet is to narrate events such as might occur... in accordance with the laws of probability or necessity."

In his theory of mimesis, Aristotle distinguishes poetry from history, asserting that poetry deals with universal truths.

D

"Who is not pre-eminently virtuous and just... but through some flaw in him."

Toward the end, Aristotle introduces the concept of hamartia, the tragic flaw, vital for evoking pity and fear in the audience.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

Understanding the structural progression of Aristotle's Poetics is fundamental for UGC NET English preparation. This question tests your close reading of classical literary theory and your ability to trace the logical development of Aristotle's argument—from defining plot as paramount, to establishing unity and wholeness, to exploring mimesis, and finally to introducing the tragic hero's hamartia. These concepts form the foundation of Western literary criticism and appear frequently in questions on tragedy, dramatic theory, and classical literary criticism across both Paper I and Paper II.

Question 10

Choose the correct chronological order of the given works on Postcolonial Criticism:

A. In Other Worlds

B. Postcolonial Literary Studies: First Thirty Years

C. Nation and Narration

D. The Protestant Ethnic and the Spirit of Capitalism

E. Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization

1. A, E, C, B, D

2. C, A, E, B, D

3. E, D, A, C, B

4. A, C, E, D, B

✓ Answer: 4. A, C, E, D, B

📚 Chronological Order with Explanation

A

In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics – Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak – 1987

A foundational postcolonial text that explores feminism, deconstruction, Marxism, and subaltern studies. Spivak critically questions voice, power, and representation.

C

Nation and Narration – Edited by Homi K. Bhabha – 1990

This influential collection of essays challenges essentialist notions of nationhood and promotes a narrative-based understanding of national identity.

E

Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization – Arjun Appadurai – 1996

Explores the effects of globalization on identity, nationhood, and migration; often cited in postcolonial and diaspora studies.

D

The Protestant Ethnic and the Spirit of Capitalism – Rey Chow – 2002

Offers a cultural critique of identity politics, modernity, and capitalism, particularly in diasporic contexts.

B

Postcolonial Literary Studies: The First Thirty Years – Edited by Robert P. Marzec – 2005

A retrospective examination of how postcolonial literary studies evolved over three decades, its debates, and disciplinary challenges.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

Understanding the chronology of postcolonial theory texts is essential for mastering the theory-heavy portions of UGC NET English Paper II. This question highlights major contributors like Spivak, Bhabha, and Appadurai, whose works define the core canon of postcolonial criticism. Such questions help test not just memory but conceptual mapping of the development of critical postcolonial discourse, including how it intersects with globalization, nationalism, identity, and capitalism — all of which frequently appear in assertion-reason and match-the-following question formats.

Question 11

Arrange the following works of Feminism in chronological order:

A. The Female Imagination

B. The Madwoman in the Attic

C. A Literature of their Own

D. Women's Oppression Today: Problems in Marxist Feminist Analysis

E. Revolution in Poetic Language

1. E, D, B, C, A

2. B, A, C, E, D

3. E, A, C, B, D

4. A, B, C, D, E

✓ Answer: 3. E, A, C, B, D

📚 Chronological Order with Explanations

E

Revolution in Poetic Language – Julia Kristeva – 1974

This foundational psychoanalytic feminist text challenges traditional notions of language and identity, introducing the concepts of the semiotic and the symbolic in language.

A

The Female Imagination – Patricia Meyer Spacks – 1975

Examines how women writers use imagination and explores female identity and creativity across literary history.

C

A Literature of Their Own – Elaine Showalter – 1977

Maps the evolution of women's literature through three phases: feminine, feminist, and female, and introduced gynocriticism as a critical practice.

B

The Madwoman in the Attic – Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar – 1979

An iconic feminist text analyzing 19th-century women writers and their use of madness and rebellion as literary metaphors.

D

Women's Oppression Today: Problems in Marxist Feminist Analysis – Michele Barrett – 1980

A critical interrogation of the intersections of Marxism and feminism, particularly focusing on ideology, reproduction, and the material basis of women's oppression.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question is crucial for understanding the evolution of feminist literary criticism from the mid-1970s to early 1980s, a transformative period in critical theory. These works represent major strands of feminist thought—from Kristeva's psychoanalytic linguistics to Showalter's gynocriticism, Gilbert & Gubar's canonical feminist literary analysis, and Barrett's Marxist feminism. For UGC NET English candidates, this chronology helps contextualize feminist debates around language, representation, canon formation, and the intersections of gender with class and ideology. Questions on feminist literary theory frequently draw from these foundational texts in both Paper I and Paper II.

Question 12

Arrange the following works of John Storey in their chronological order of publication:

A. Inventing Popular Culture: From Folklore to Globalisation

B. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction

C. What is Cultural Studies: A Reader

D. Cultural Consumption and Everyday Life

E. Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification

1. B, C, D, A, E

2. C, A, E, B, D

3. E, D, A, C, B

4. E, A, C, B, D

✓ Answer: 1. B, C, D, A, E

📚 Chronological Order with Explanation

B

Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction – 1993

This is Storey's most foundational and widely used text introducing key concepts in cultural studies and popular culture, often prescribed in undergraduate and postgraduate syllabi globally.

C

What is Cultural Studies: A Reader – 1996

This anthology, edited by Storey, compiles essential theoretical writings from various thinkers to explore the scope and definition of cultural studies.

D

Cultural Consumption and Everyday Life – 1999

This book examines how everyday practices and consumer choices are embedded in cultural power relations, building upon Raymond Williams and Pierre Bourdieu.

A

Inventing Popular Culture: From Folklore to Globalisation – 2003

A historical and theoretical overview of how "popular culture" as a concept was shaped—from traditional folklore to contemporary global media.

E

Culture and Power in Cultural Studies: The Politics of Signification – 2010

A more advanced work focusing on the relationship between culture, ideology, and power, examining how meanings are produced and contested.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

John Storey is a pivotal figure in cultural studies, and his works are frequently referenced in UGC NET English syllabi, especially in questions related to popular culture, media studies, and contemporary critical theory. Understanding the chronology of his publications helps contextualize the evolution of cultural studies as a discipline—from foundational introductions in the 1990s to more nuanced explorations of power and signification in the 2010s. Familiarity with Storey's work is essential for answering questions on cultural theory, reader response, and the politics of representation in contemporary literature and media.

Question 13

Arrange the following core elements of list of Work Cited according to MLA Handbook 9th edition:

A. Publisher

B. Title of Source

C. Author

D. Title of Container

E. Publication Date

1. C, B, D, A, E

2. C, D, B, E, A

3. C, B, E, A, D

4. C, B, D, E, A

✓ Answer: 1. C, B, D, A, E

📚 Explanation of Each Element in Order (MLA 9th Edition)

C

Author

Always comes first in an MLA citation. Written as: Last Name, First Name.

B

Title of Source

This is the main title of the book, article, or webpage being cited. It is italicized if it's a standalone work and placed in quotation marks if it's part of a container.

D

Title of Container

If the source is part of a larger collection or website, the container is that larger whole. For example, a short story in an anthology.

A

Publisher

The organization or company responsible for making the source available.

E

Publication Date

Usually appears at the end of the entry, indicating when the work was published.

🎯 Commentary (UGC NET English)

Knowing the correct order of MLA citation elements is crucial for tackling research methodology and bibliography-related questions in UGC NET English. The 9th edition introduces more flexibility but retains a consistent core element structure. Familiarity with this sequence not only ensures proper citation skills but also boosts accuracy in exam segments covering scholarly writing and referencing standards.

Question 14

Arrange the following works of Criticism chronologically:

A. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity

B. A History of Gay Literature: The Male Tradition

C. History of Sexuality

D. New Lesbian Criticism: Literary and Cultural Readings

E. Bodies That Matter

1. E, D, B, C, A

2. B, A, C, E, D

3. C, A, D, E, B

4. C, B, A, D, E

✓ Answer: 3. C, A, D, E, B

📚 Chronological Order with Publication Years & Notes

C

History of Sexuality – Michel Foucault – 1976 (French) / 1978 (English)

This foundational work challenges traditional understandings of sexuality, arguing that sexuality is a construct shaped by power and discourse. Essential to the development of queer theory and gender studies.

A

Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity – Judith Butler – 1990

Butler questions the fixed identity of "woman" in feminist discourse and introduces the concept of gender performativity, foundational to queer theory and contemporary gender studies.

D

New Lesbian Criticism: Literary and Cultural Readings – Edited by Sally Munt – 1992

This anthology established lesbian criticism as a distinct and critical branch within feminist and queer studies, providing diverse perspectives on lesbian identity and representation.

E

Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex" – Judith Butler – 1993

A sequel to Gender Trouble, Butler furthers her argument by discussing how sex itself is discursively constructed, reinforcing her theory of performativity and addressing critiques of her earlier work.

B

A History of Gay Literature: The Male Tradition – Gregory Woods – 1998

A comprehensive survey of the literary tradition of male homosexuality, tracing it from classical antiquity to modern literature in a scholarly narrative.

📘 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This question combines feminist theory, queer studies, and cultural criticism—core areas in UGC NET English. Recognizing the chronological progression of these works reveals how gender and sexuality discourse evolved: from Foucault's theory of power and sexuality to Butler's performativity and Munt's focused lesbian readings. Such timelines are often used in match-the-following, assertion-reason, and chronology questions in Paper II. A strong grasp of these thinkers and their key works will enhance your ability to tackle theoretical questions and improve overall conceptual clarity in literary criticism and theory.

Question 15

Arrange the following steps of material collection according to hierarchy given by Delia da Sousa Correa and W.R. Owens in The Handbook to Literary Research:

A. Identify your nearest major research library

B. Visit your own university library

C. Identify what is available online

D. Visit your nearest major research library

1. D, A, C, B

2. A, B, C, D

3. B, A, D, C

4. C, B, A, D

✓ Answer: 1. D, A, C, B

📚 Hierarchical Order of Research Material Collection

D

Visit your nearest major research library

Start from a high-resource hub with access to comprehensive archives, rare holdings, and extensive inter-library links. Direct engagement often reveals more than digital access.

A

Identify your nearest major research library

While this might logically seem first, in their context, visiting assumes identification has already been done during the planning phase. The emphasis is on access and utilization.

C

Identify what is available online

Explore digital databases, online journals (like JSTOR or Project MUSE), digitized manuscripts, and e-books. This supports and supplements the physical search.

B

Visit your own university library

Surprisingly, this comes last because it's often limited in rare or extensive research material. However, it remains essential for standard texts, referencing help, and interlibrary requests.

🎯 Commentary (UGC NET English)

This hierarchy of material collection demonstrates a structured approach to academic research emphasized in UGC NET English. It reinforces the importance of combining physical archives, digital resources, and institutional access. Mastering such sequences is crucial for answering questions on research methodology and preparing high-quality dissertations and theses.

UGC NET English June 2025

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