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English Literature Interview Questions: Interview preparations can be overwhelming at times. In that case, practising the important questions that are often asked in the interview can ease the stress. If you are going to get interviewed for the position of English Literature teacher, then this blog is for you. We will provide you with the important English Literature interview questions that are often asked by interviewers. We will also suggest the right approach to answering such questions, along with some sample answers to each.
This Blog Includes:
- Important English Literature Interview Questions
- Top 5 Interview Questions for English Literature Teachers with Sample Answers
- Q.1 Why did you choose to be an English Literature teacher?
- Q.2 What are the different types of Literary genres in English?
- Q.3 Give an example of a Sonnet that you like the most.
- Q.4 Who is your favourite author?
- Q.5 Which two poems are termed as “Epics”?
- Bonus Question: The book “The Young Visitors” was written by a girl at the age of nine. Name the author of the book.
- Tips to Answer English Literature Interview Questions
- FAQs
Important English Literature Interview Questions
Below are the top questions that are asked in the English Literature Interview. Make sure to read and prepare the correct answer to all the questions below to ace your interview.
- Why did you choose to be an English Literature teacher?
- What are the different types of Literary genres in English?
- What is Literature?
- What is flash fiction?
- How is drama different from other fictional forms?
- What is a Sonnet?
- Give an example of a Sonnet that you like the most.
- Who is your favourite author?
- Describe a few verses of your favourite poem.
- Mention a famous quote by Shakespeare.
Also Read: 7 Tips to Answer “What makes you unique?”
Top 5 Interview Questions for English Literature Teachers with Sample Answers
Below, we have provided the right approach and sample answers for a few important questions that are asked in an English Literature interview.
Q.1 Why did you choose to be an English Literature teacher?
The right way to answer this question is to be as specific as possible. Make use of different words to articulate your genuine interest in the subject. Be sure to define your interest in the teaching profession. You may answer this question like:
| “I like English literature because it helps me to think critically about different complex topics from a different perspective. It broadens my horizons and enables me to develop transferable skills. I find this subject extremely useful, which is why I want to impart my knowledge to the young generation.” |
Q.2 What are the different types of Literary genres in English?
To answer this question, boost your knowledge of the subject. Make sure to use examples and begin your answer by speaking the definition of the concept first. You may as well choose to describe how each of these genres is used in literature.
| “A literary genre is a way of describing the tone of writing and the primary content, often used by authors. There are typically three types of literary genres, namely, fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The fictional genre includes writing short stories, plays and novels, while the non-fictional genre includes writing memoirs, essays and biographies. Poetry is considered to be one of the literary genres as it involves the use of language in expressing emotions.” |
Q.3 Give an example of a Sonnet that you like the most.
Again, start by defining what a Sonnet is. You may as well choose to name a few before mentioning which is your favourite one.
| “A Sonnet is a 14-line poem created by using any of the formal rhyming schemes in a thematic organisation. I like Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 29” a lot as it beautifully describes the speaker’s state of depression. In the first half of the Sonnet, the speaker talks about how he is different from men with fortune. In the second part, the speaker describes his elevated state, which he achieves when he thinks of his love. The speaker describes further that thinking of this one person he loves elevates him higher than a king. It’s a beautifully written sonnet with a beautiful story.” |
Name you favourite author, describe his work and the reason why is he/she/they are your favourite?
| “My favourite author is Oscar Wilde. He depicted his works with impressive paradox, contradiction and comedic style. His book “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is my all-time favourite for how beautifully the author describes that there is a price that we all have to pay ultimately in response to our actions.” |
Also Read: Teaching Interview Questions
Q.5 Which two poems are termed as “Epics”?
This is a deal-maker or breaker question as it directly assesses your knowledge of the subject. The question is highly specific, and therefore, it is required that you prepare a good answer for this or similar questions for your interview.
| “An Epic is a long narrative poem. The two quite well-known epics are the “Iliad” and the “Mahabharatha”. Both epics take a dig at concepts like war, revenge, love, friendship, will and honour.” |
| “The Young Visitors” was written by Daisy Ashford. The book was written by Daisy Ashford at the age of nine in her exercise book.” |
Tips to Answer English Literature Interview Questions
Preparing for an English Literature Interview can be overwhelming, especially with all those questions revolving around literary themes nd poetic devices. Here, we have mentioned some of the tips to excel in your English Literature Interview.
1. Read the text beyond the surface: Don’t only stick to the point, but try to go in a little depth that the questions hold beyond the text.
2. Show your own perspective: Share your own perspective towards the questions, as it represents originality.
3. Support your answers with textual evidence: Use quotes or references to strengthen your points.
4. Connect themes to your answer: Link literary themes to questions on philosophy, culture, society and history of English Literature.
5. Stay calm when you don’t know an answer: Stay calm instead of panicking when you don’t know the answer. Acknowledge to the interviewer that you don’t know the answers.
6. Be honest and authentic: Don’t talk about the concepts that you never read about. Share your real experiences and connect them with your answers.
7. Show Enthusiasm: Show passion in your answer that will reflect your interest in the Literature.
FAQs
Ans: You may answer this question like – “I like English literature because it helps me to think critically about different complex topics from a different perspective. It broadens my horizons and enables me to develop transferable skills. I find this subject extremely useful, which is why I want to impart my knowledge to the young generation.”
Ans: On average, your interviewer may ask you 15-20 questions in an hour.
Ans: The questions in English Literature may be conceptual. The interviewer may ask you to define a few concepts used in English writing, such as the tone, styles and forms of writing.
Ans: You can answer this question by explaining your interest in the subject. For example, say that you have enjoyed studying literature during your school years, and you are good at it. You also mention the career you want to pursue in the future, which is related to literature.
Ans: As per the University of Cambridge, the father of English poetry is Geoffrey Chaucer. He is also known as the father of English literature. He was an author, a poet, and a civil servant. He is popular for ‘The Canterbury Tales’.
Related Articles
This was all about the English Literature interview questions and answers. Preparing for the above-given ones or similar English Literature interview questions may help you ace your interview. For more such informative blogs, visit the career counselling page of Leverage Edu.
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Hello Retro,
We thank you for your kind words.
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I learn about English literature
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Hey Priya,
It is good to know that you are an English literature student. However, what is it about English literature you specifically want to know? If you are interested in learning about the scope of BA English literature you can visit this blog. On the other hand, visit this link to learn about MA subject list.
For further information consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.
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Hello Retro,
We thank you for your kind words.
I learn about English literature
Hey Priya,
It is good to know that you are an English literature student. However, what is it about English literature you specifically want to know? If you are interested in learning about the scope of BA English literature you can visit this blog. On the other hand, visit this link to learn about MA subject list.
For further information consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.