GRE Subject Test: Literature in English

The GRE Subject Test in Literature in English assesses knowledge and understanding of literary texts, critical analysis, and interpretation skills.

Major Literary PeriodsGenres and FormsClose Reading and Critical Analysis
Critical Theories and SchoolsIntertextuality and AllusionAdvanced Literary Devices
Analyzing Unseen PassagesComparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretive Arguments
Time Management for the GRE Literature TestProcess of Elimination
Major Literary Perio...Genres and FormsClose Reading and Cr...Critical Theories an...Intertextuality and ...Advanced Literary De...Analyzing Unseen Pas...Comparative AnalysisBuilding Interpretiv...Time Management for ...Process of Eliminati...
Practical Applications

Comparative Analysis

Comparing and Contrasting Texts

Being able to compare two works or authors is a vital skill on the GRE and in the real world.

How to Compare

  • Themes: Are both texts exploring similar or different ideas?
  • Form and Structure: How do the styles differ?
  • Historical Context: What influences shaped each work?

Why It’s Useful

Comparative analysis is handy for academic writing, workplace presentations, and making sense of competing arguments.

Examples

  • Comparing the treatment of love in Shakespeare’s sonnets and John Donne’s poetry.

  • Analyzing how Victorian novels and Modernist fiction address social issues.

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Building Interpretive Arguments