Bengali Literature Optional

Table of Content

In this post; you will get literature Syllabus, Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs), Booklist, Toppers Strategy and some popular notes.

Optional Syllabus

(Answers of both Paper 1 and Paper 2 must be written in Bengali.)

PAPER 1 : History of Language and Literature.


Section A: Topics from the History of Bangla language 

  1. The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches  and approximate dates). 
  2. Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features. 
  3. Dialects of Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics. 
  4. Elements of Bangla Vocabulary. 
  5. Forms of Bangla Literary Prose—Sadhu and Chalit. 
  6. Processes of language change relevant for Bangla: Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (cerebralization), Nasikyibhavan (Nasalization), Samibhavan (Assimilation), Sadrishya (Analogy), Svaragama (Vowel insertion) — Adi Svaragama, Madhya Svaragama or Svarabhakti, Antya Svaragama, Svarasangati (Vowel harmony), y—shruti and w—shruti. 
  7. Problems of standardisation and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization. 
  8. Phonology, Morphology and Syntax of Modern Bangla. (Sounds of Modern Bangla, Conjuncts; word formations, compounds; basic sentence patterns.) 

Section B: Topics from the History of Bangla Literature.

  1. Periodization of Bangla Literature: Old Bangla and Middle Bangla. 
  2. Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature. 
  3. Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature. 
  4. Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms; Mangal Kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata) and religious biographies. 
  5. Secular forms in middle Bangla literature. 
  6. Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth century Bangla poetry. 
  7. Development of prose. 
  8. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama). 
  9. Tagore and post-Tagoreans. 
  10. Fiction, major authors: Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibhusan, Tarasankar, Manik ). 
  11. Women and Bangla literature: creators and created. 

PAPER 2 : Prescribed texts for close study.


Section A

  1. Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University) 

Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas. 

  1. Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi). 
  2. Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya Lila by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi). 
  3. Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta. 
  4. Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chatterjee. 
  5. Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee. 
  6. Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore. 
  7. Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore.  

Section B

  1. Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore. 
  2. Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore. 
  3. Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee. 
  4. Prabandha Samgraha, Vol. 1, by Pramatha Choudhuri. 
  5. Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee. 
  6. Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay: Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy. 
  7. Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das. 
  8. Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri. 
  9. Evam Indrajit by Badal Sircar. 

Download Previous Year Question (PYQs) Papers

Download Yearwise PYQs


2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014

Download Paper Compilation(2014-2023)


Download [] Paper-1 Compilation

Download [] Paper-2 Compilation




Download [] Booklist Pdf

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