WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration 2027/2028
By Rabiu Francis ✨ Last Updated: October 16, 2026See the WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration 2027/2028, including literary knowledge, unseen prose and poetry, Shakespeare, prose, drama and current 2026–2030 texts.
The WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration 2027/2028 will help you organise your preparation around the major parts of the Literature-in-English examination.
WAEC Literature-in-English consists of three papers covering General Knowledge of Literature, Unseen Prose, Unseen Poetry, Shakespeare, African and Non-African Prose, African and Non-African Drama, and African and Non-African Poetry.
READ: Access 2027 WAEC Questions and Answers in all Subjects – Free Study Guide
ALSO READ: WAEC Specimens 2027
For the 2027 examination, candidates should study the 2026–2030 WAEC prescribed texts. WAEC’s official harmonized list includes Antony and Cleopatra as the Shakespearean text together with the current prose, drama and poetry selections listed below.
The major areas you should concentrate on are:
- General Knowledge of Literature
- Unseen Prose
- Unseen Poetry
- Shakespearean Context Questions
- African Prose
- Non-African Prose
- African Drama
- Non-African Drama
- African Poetry
- Non-African Poetry
- Themes
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
- Understanding the Current Prescribed Texts
READ ALSO: WAEC Government Syllabus 2027/2028 Questions PDF Download
WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration at a Glance
For your 2027 preparation, concentrate on:
- General Knowledge of Literature
- Literary Genres
- Prose
- Drama
- Poetry
- Literary Appreciation
- Unseen Prose
- Unseen Poetry
- Shakespearean Context Questions
- Theme
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
- Antony and Cleopatra
- African Prose
- So the Path Does not Die
- Redemption Road
- Non-African Prose
- To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured
- African Drama
- Once Upon an Elephant
- The Marriage of Anansewa
- Non-African Drama
- An Inspector Calls
- A Man for all Seasons
- African Poetry
- Once Upon a Time
- New Tongue
- Night
- Not my Business
- Hearty Garlands
- The Breast of The Sea
- Non-African Poetry
- She Walks in Beauty
- The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
- Digging
- Still I Rise
- The Telephone Call
- The Stone
The current 2026–2030 set-text list above is taken from WAEC’s official harmonized Literature-in-English list.
General Knowledge of Literature
General Knowledge of Literature is one of the biggest areas in Paper 1.
WAEC allocates 20 of the 50 Paper 1 questions to General Knowledge of Literature.
This means you should have a good understanding of the basic principles used in studying literature.
Your preparation should cover the three major literary genres:
Prose
Understand the basic features of prose and how prose works are studied.
For revision, it is useful to be comfortable discussing areas such as:
- Story
- Characters
- Setting
- Themes
- Narrative Presentation
- Language and Style
Drama
Understand drama as literature written for performance.
When revising drama, pay attention to:
- Characters
- Dialogue
- Conflict
- Setting
- Important Scenes
- Stage Action
- Themes
- Style
Poetry
You should understand how poetry communicates ideas through language, structure and poetic techniques.
When revising poetry, pay attention to:
- Subject Matter
- Theme
- Persona
- Tone
- Mood
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
- Poetic Devices
These are useful revision categories rather than a separate list of topics stated in the uploaded syllabus.
Unseen Prose
Paper 1 contains five questions on an unseen prose passage.
The passage is expected to be about 120–150 words long.
Because the passage is unseen, you cannot prepare for this section by memorising one particular novel.
You need to practise reading unfamiliar passages and quickly understanding:
- What is happening
- Who is involved
- The main idea
- The writer’s presentation
- Important expressions
- Relevant literary features
How to Prepare for Unseen Prose
Practise with short prose passages regularly.
After reading a passage, ask yourself:
- What is the passage mainly about?
- Who are the important characters?
- Where is the action taking place?
- What attitude does the writer show?
- What important literary technique can I identify?
- What does a particular expression mean in context?
This will prepare you better than simply reading definitions of literary terms.
Unseen Poetry
Paper 1 also contains five questions on an unseen poem.
This means you may receive a poem you have never studied before.
You therefore need to know how to approach poetry independently.
How to Prepare for Unseen Poetry
When practising an unseen poem, identify:
- What the poem is about
- Who appears to be speaking
- The major idea
- Tone
- Mood
- Important images
- Important expressions
- How the language contributes to meaning
The aim is to develop your ability to analyse a poem rather than depend only on memorised notes.
Shakespearean Text
The Shakespearean text prescribed by WAEC for the 2026–2030 WASSCE period is:
Antony and Cleopatra — William Shakespeare.
This is therefore the Shakespearean text you should prepare for the 2027 examination.
How Shakespeare Is Tested in WAEC Literature
Paper 1 contains 20 context questions on the prescribed Shakespearean text.
The syllabus specifically states that the context questions can test areas such as:
- Theme
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
It also states that no essay question is set on the Shakespearean text.
This is important when planning your revision.
You should prepare Antony and Cleopatra for context-based objective questions rather than preparing it like one of your Paper 2 prose essays.
What to Concentrate on in Antony and Cleopatra
Give attention to:
- Major Characters
- Character Relationships
- Major Events
- Themes
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
- Important Scenes
Because the questions are contextual, you should be able to recognise an extract and understand the situation surrounding it.
Practising Shakespeare Context Questions
When studying an important passage from Antony and Cleopatra, ask:
- Who is speaking?
- Who is being addressed?
- What has happened before this point?
- What happens afterwards?
- What does the passage reveal about a character?
- What theme is connected with the extract?
- What feature of style is being used?
- Where does the action take place?
This matches the type of contextual knowledge the syllabus expects.
African Prose
African Prose is tested in Section A of Paper 2.
WAEC sets two essay questions on each prescribed novel, and candidates answer one question from the African Prose section.
The current African Prose texts are:
- Pede Hollist — So the Path Does not Die
- Elma Shaw — Redemption Road
So the Path Does not Die
For So the Path Does not Die, read the complete novel.
For revision, organise your notes around:
- Major Events
- Characters
- Character Relationships
- Setting
- Themes
- Important Conflicts
- Style
You should also practise using events from the novel to support an essay answer.
Redemption Road
For Redemption Road, concentrate on understanding the novel as a complete work.
Prepare notes on:
- Important Events
- Characters
- Relationships
- Themes
- Setting
- Conflicts
- Style
Do not rely only on a short summary.
Non-African Prose
Non-African Prose is tested in Section B of Paper 2.
You answer one question from this section. Together with your African Prose answer, this gives you two Paper 2 answers.
The prescribed Non-African Prose texts are:
- Harper Lee — To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Susanne Bellefeuille — Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured
To Kill a Mocking Bird
When studying To Kill a Mocking Bird, concentrate on:
- Major Characters
- Important Events
- Character Relationships
- Setting
- Themes
- Conflicts
- Style
Read the actual novel so that you can support your essay answer with relevant details.
Path of Lucas The Journey He Endured
Prepare:
- Main Events
- Characters
- Relationships
- Themes
- Setting
- Conflict
- Development of the Story
Again, the important thing is to understand the complete text rather than memorise isolated points.
WAEC Literature Paper 2 Areas of Concentration
Paper 2 is entirely concerned with prose.
It contains:
Section A
African Prose
Section B
Non-African Prose
Two essay questions are set on each prescribed novel.
You answer:
- One African Prose question
- One Non-African Prose question
The paper lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and carries 50 marks.
How to Prepare for Prose Essay Questions
For each of the four prose texts, create notes under:
Characters → Important Events → Setting → Themes → Style
Then practise turning those notes into complete essay answers.
Your answer should explain your points and connect them with events from the novel.
African Drama
African Drama forms Section A of Paper 3.
The current prescribed texts are:
- Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan — Once Upon an Elephant
- Efua Sutherland — The Marriage of Anansewa
Once Upon an Elephant
Concentrate on:
- Major Characters
- Character Relationships
- Important Scenes
- Themes
- Conflicts
- Setting
- Dramatic Presentation
The Marriage of Anansewa
For The Marriage of Anansewa, organise your revision around:
- Characters
- Major Events
- Important Scenes
- Themes
- Conflict
- Setting
- Dramatic Style
Non-African Drama
Non-African Drama forms Section B of Paper 3.
The current texts are:
- J. D. Priestley — An Inspector Calls
- Robert Bolt — A Man for all Seasons
An Inspector Calls
Give attention to:
- Characters
- Relationships
- Major Events
- Conflict
- Themes
- Setting
- Important Scenes
- Dramatic Presentation
A Man for all Seasons
Study:
- Characters
- Major Events
- Important Conflicts
- Themes
- Setting
- Important Scenes
- Style
How to Study Drama
Do not study a play exactly like a prose novel.
Pay attention to:
- Who is speaking
- Who is present in a scene
- Important entrances and exits
- Dialogue
- Conflict
- Stage action
- Changes between scenes
This makes it easier to understand how the playwright develops characters and themes.
African Poetry
African Poetry forms Section C of Paper 3.
The prescribed African poems for 2026–2030 are:
- Once Upon a Time — Gabriel Okara
- New Tongue — Elizabeth L. A. Kamara
- Night — Wole Soyinka
- Not my Business — Niyi Osundare
- Hearty Garlands — S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza
- The Breast of The Sea — Syl Cheney-Coker
Once Upon a Time
For revision, concentrate on:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Persona
- Tone
- Language
- Imagery
- Structure
New Tongue
Study:
- Main Idea
- Themes
- Tone
- Language
- Imagery
- Structure
Night
Prepare:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Persona
- Tone
- Mood
- Imagery
- Language
Not my Business
Concentrate on:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Tone
- Repetition
- Imagery
- Structure
- Message
Hearty Garlands
Study:
- Main Idea
- Themes
- Persona
- Tone
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
The Breast of The Sea
Prepare:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Tone
- Imagery
- Language
- Symbolic Presentation
- Structure
Non-African Poetry
Non-African Poetry forms Section D of Paper 3.
The prescribed poems are:
- She Walks in Beauty — Lord Byron
- The Nun’s Priest’s Tale — Geoffrey Chaucer (shortened)
- Digging — Seamus Heaney
- Still I Rise — Maya Angelou
- The Telephone Call — Fleur Adcock
- The Stone — Wilfred Wilson Gipson
She Walks in Beauty
Study:
- Subject Matter
- Theme
- Tone
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
WAEC specifies the shortened version.
Concentrate on:
- Story
- Characters
- Themes
- Humour
- Style
- Literary Presentation
Digging
Prepare:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Persona
- Tone
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
Still I Rise
Give attention to:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Persona
- Tone
- Repetition
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
The Telephone Call
Study:
- Subject Matter
- Tone
- Humour
- Irony
- Dialogue
- Language
- Structure
The Stone
Prepare:
- Subject Matter
- Themes
- Tone
- Mood
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
How Poetry Is Tested in Paper 3
Paper 3 contains:
- Section C — African Poetry
- Section D — Non-African Poetry
Two questions are set for each poetry section, and you answer one question from each section.
That means you must prepare both African and Non-African poetry.
WAEC Literature Paper 3 Areas of Concentration
Paper 3 contains four sections:
- Section A — African Drama
- Section B — Non-African Drama
- Section C — African Poetry
- Section D — Non-African Poetry
You answer one question from each section, making four answers altogether.
The paper lasts 2 hours 30 minutes and carries 100 marks.
Complete WAEC Literature Books to Study for 2027
Shakespearean Text
Antony and Cleopatra — William Shakespeare
African Prose
- So the Path Does not Die — Pede Hollist
- Redemption Road — Elma Shaw
Non-African Prose
- To Kill a Mocking Bird — Harper Lee
- Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured — Susanne Bellefeuille
African Drama
- Once Upon an Elephant — Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan
- The Marriage of Anansewa — Efua Sutherland
Non-African Drama
- An Inspector Calls — J. D. Priestley
- A Man for all Seasons — Robert Bolt
African Poetry
- Once Upon a Time — Gabriel Okara
- New Tongue — Elizabeth L. A. Kamara
- Night — Wole Soyinka
- Not my Business — Niyi Osundare
- Hearty Garlands — S.O.H. Afriyie-Vidza
- The Breast of The Sea — Syl Cheney-Coker
Non-African Poetry
- She Walks in Beauty — Lord Byron
- The Nun’s Priest’s Tale — Geoffrey Chaucer, shortened
- Digging — Seamus Heaney
- Still I Rise — Maya Angelou
- The Telephone Call — Fleur Adcock
- The Stone — Wilfred Wilson Gipson
This is WAEC’s official harmonized Literature-in-English set-text list for WASSCE 2026–2030, so it covers the 2027 examination.
What to Concentrate on When Reading a Prose Text
For revision, make sure you understand:
- The major events
- Important characters
- Character relationships
- Setting
- Themes
- Important conflicts
- Style
You should be able to explain your points with examples from the actual book.
What to Concentrate on When Reading a Drama Text
Pay attention to:
- Characters
- Scenes
- Dialogue
- Major Events
- Conflict
- Themes
- Setting
- Dramatic Presentation
Reading the actual play helps you understand how events unfold on stage.
What to Concentrate on When Reading a Poem
For each prescribed poem, prepare:
- Subject Matter
- Theme
- Persona
- Tone
- Mood
- Imagery
- Language
- Structure
- Important Poetic Techniques
Do not simply memorise a list of devices. Understand how the poet uses them to communicate meaning.
Best Order to Study WAEC Literature-in-English
Stage 1 General Knowledge of Literature
Start with:
- Prose
- Drama
- Poetry
- Basic Literary Appreciation
- Common Literary Techniques
Stage 2 Unseen Literature
Practise:
- Unseen Prose
- Unseen Poetry
Continue doing these throughout your preparation.
Stage 3 Shakespeare
Study:
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Characters
- Important Events
- Themes
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
- Context Questions
Stage 4 Prose
Study:
- So the Path Does not Die
- Redemption Road
- To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured
Stage 5 Drama
Study:
- Once Upon an Elephant
- The Marriage of Anansewa
- An Inspector Calls
- A Man for all Seasons
Stage 6 African Poetry
Study all six prescribed African poems.
Stage 7 Non-African Poetry
Finish with all six prescribed Non-African poems.
Continue answering past questions throughout all the stages.
How to Use These WAEC Literature Areas of Concentration
Start With the Complete Syllabus
Use the full syllabus as your main checklist.
READ ALSO: WAEC Literature-in-English Syllabus 2027/2028 PDF Download
Read the Actual Prescribed Texts
Do not prepare Literature-in-English entirely from summaries.
Summaries can help you revise, but they cannot replace reading the books.
You need to know enough of the actual text to support your answers.
Separate Your Notes by Paper
Create:
Paper 1 Notes
- General Knowledge
- Unseen Prose
- Unseen Poetry
- Shakespeare
Paper 2 Notes
- African Prose
- Non-African Prose
Paper 3 Notes
- African Drama
- Non-African Drama
- African Poetry
- Non-African Poetry
This makes your revision much easier.
Practise Shakespeare Context Questions
Remember that Shakespeare is tested through context questions, not an essay question.
When you revise an important passage, understand:
- Speaker
- Situation
- Character
- Theme
- Style
- Setting
Practise Timed Prose Essays
Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and requires two answers.
Practise completing:
- One African Prose answer
- One Non-African Prose answer
within the available time.
Practise Timed Drama and Poetry Essays
Paper 3 lasts 2 hours 30 minutes and requires four answers.
Practise managing your time across:
- African Drama
- Non-African Drama
- African Poetry
- Non-African Poetry
What Should You Concentrate on Most for WAEC Literature-in-English
You should prepare every prescribed section, but give strong attention to:
- General Knowledge of Literature
- Unseen Prose
- Unseen Poetry
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Theme
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
- African Prose
- Non-African Prose
- African Drama
- Non-African Drama
- African Poetry
- Non-African Poetry
- All Current 2026–2030 Prescribed Texts
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration for 2027
The major areas are General Knowledge of Literature, Unseen Prose, Unseen Poetry, Shakespeare, African and Non-African Prose, African and Non-African Drama, and African and Non-African Poetry.
What Should I Focus on Most for WAEC Literature
Give strong attention to general literary knowledge, your prescribed texts, Shakespeare context questions, unseen prose and poetry, themes, characterization, style and setting.
What Is the WAEC Shakespeare Book for 2027
The current text is Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.
Is Shakespeare an Essay Question
No.
The syllabus states that only context questions are set on the Shakespearean text and that no essay question is set on it.
How Many Shakespeare Questions Are in Paper 1
There are 20 context questions on the prescribed Shakespearean text.
What Should I Study in Antony and Cleopatra
Give attention to:
- Theme
- Characterization
- Style
- Setting
You should also understand the important characters, relationships, scenes and events so that you can answer context questions.
Is General Knowledge of Literature Important
Yes.
It accounts for 20 questions in Paper 1.
Is Unseen Prose Included
Yes.
There are five objective questions on an unseen prose passage of about 120–150 words.
Is Unseen Poetry Included
Yes.
Paper 1 contains five questions on an unseen poem.
What Are the African Prose Books for WAEC 2027
They are:
- So the Path Does not Die
- Redemption Road
What Are the Non-African Prose Books
They are:
- To Kill a Mocking Bird
- Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured
What Are the African Drama Books
They are:
- Once Upon an Elephant
- The Marriage of Anansewa
What Are the Non-African Drama Books
They are:
- An Inspector Calls
- A Man for all Seasons
What Are the African Poems for WAEC 2027
They are:
- Once Upon a Time
- New Tongue
- Night
- Not my Business
- Hearty Garlands
- The Breast of The Sea
What Are the Non-African Poems
They are:
- She Walks in Beauty
- The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
- Digging
- Still I Rise
- The Telephone Call
- The Stone
How Many Questions Are in Literature Paper 1
Paper 1 contains 50 objective questions.
How Is Paper 1 Divided
It contains:
- General Knowledge of Literature — 20
- Unseen Prose — 5
- Unseen Poetry — 5
- Shakespeare — 20
How Long Is Paper 1
Paper 1 lasts 1 hour.
How Many Questions Do I Answer in Paper 2
You answer two questions:
- One African Prose question
- One Non-African Prose question
How Long Is Paper 2
Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and carries 50 marks.
How Many Questions Do I Answer in Paper 3
You answer four:
- One African Drama
- One Non-African Drama
- One African Poetry
- One Non-African Poetry
How Long Is Paper 3
Paper 3 lasts 2 hours 30 minutes and carries 100 marks.
Are the Old 2021–2025 Literature Books Still Used in 2027
No. WAEC’s current harmonized list is for 2026–2030, and those are the prescribed texts applicable to the 2027 examination.
Where Can I Download the Complete Literature-in-English Syllabus
Use the WAEC Literature-in-English Syllabus 2027/2028 PDF Download page.
Where Can I Find Areas of Concentration for Other WAEC Subjects
Use the WAEC Areas of Concentration 2027/2028 for All Subjects page.
Conclusion
The WAEC Literature-in-English Areas of Concentration 2027/2028 cover General Knowledge of Literature, Unseen Prose, Unseen Poetry, Shakespeare, Prose, Drama and Poetry.
For Paper 1, prepare General Knowledge of Literature, unseen passages and Antony and Cleopatra. Remember that Shakespeare is tested with context questions involving areas such as theme, characterization, style and setting.
For Paper 2, prepare African Prose and Non-African Prose. For Paper 3, prepare African Drama, Non-African Drama, African Poetry and Non-African Poetry.
Most importantly, study the correct 2026–2030 WAEC prescribed texts. These are the books and poems that apply to candidates preparing for the 2027 examination.
Read the actual books, understand the major ideas and characters, practise unseen passages and regularly answer WAEC past questions.
READ ALSO: WAEC Literature-in-English Syllabus 2027/2028 PDF Download
READ ALSO: WAEC Areas of Concentration 2027/2028 for All Subjects
READ ALSO: WAEC Syllabus 2027/2028 PDF Download for All Subjects
READ ALSO: WAEC Timetable 2027
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