Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge
CHAPTER IV
pp. 321–336
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS AND TRIPOS EXAMINATIONS

The Ordinances contained in this Chapter are Ordinances of the General Board

In this section

TRIPOS EXAMINATIONS
(Old Regulations)

ENGLISH TRIPOS

OLD REGULATIONS47

Amended by Notice (Reporter, 2011–12, p. 730)

General

Two Parts.

1. The English Tripos shall consist of two Parts.

2. The scheme of the examination shall be as defined in Regulations 15–18.

Notice of variable subjects, etc.

3. Public notice of all the variable subjects and of the texts or portions of subjects specified for special study shall be given by the Faculty Board of English before the end of the Easter Term in the year next but one preceding the examination to which they apply; provided that the Board shall have the power of subsequently issuing amendments if they have due reason for doing so and if they are satisfied that no student's preparation for the examination is adversely affected. The Board shall have power when they give notice of the variable subjects selected for a particular examination to announce any consequential restriction on the combination of papers that a candidate may choose to offer.

The Board shall have power to define or limit by supplementary regulations all or any of the subjects of examination, and to modify or alter such supplementary regulations as occasion may require.

Standing of candidates.

4. The following may present themselves for examination in Part I:

  1. (a)a student who has not obtained honours in an Honours Examination and has kept one term, provided that six complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence;
  2. (b)a student who has obtained honours in an Honours Examination, in the year next after or next but one after so obtaining honours; provided that twelve complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence.

5. A student who has obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos or in another Honours Examination may be a candidate for Part II in the year after or next but one after so obtaining honours, provided that twelve complete terms have not passed after his or her first term of residence.48

6. No student shall be a candidate for both Parts, or for either Part and also for another Honours Examination, in the same term.

7. No student who has been a candidate for either Part shall again be a candidate for the same Part.

8. No student who has failed to attain the standard for honours in Part I shall be a candidate for Part II.

Examiners and Assessors.

9. (a) To conduct the examination in each Part of the Tripos the Faculty Board shall nominate such number of Examiners as they deem appropriate.

(b) The Faculty Board shall have power to nominate Assessors to assist the Examiners for each Part of the Tripos. Assessors may be summoned to meetings of the Examiners for the purpose of consultation and advice, but shall not be entitled to vote.

Meetings of Examiners.

10. Before the examination there shall be general meetings of the Examiners for Part I and of the Examiners for Part II, when the papers set by each Examiner or Assessor shall be submitted to the whole body of Examiners for their approval, and shall be settled by the Examiners for each Part in common.

11. In each Part the answers to the questions in each paper shall be read by two of the whole body of Examiners and Assessors for that Part.

12. The style and method of the candidates’ answers shall be taken into account.

Class-lists.

13. The Examiners for Part I and the Examiners for Part II shall hold separate meetings, at which the class-list for each Part shall be drawn up. In each of these lists the names of the candidates who deserve honours shall be placed in three classes, of which the second shall be divided into two divisions. The names in the first and third classes, and in each division of the second class, shall be arranged in alphabetical order.

14. For special excellence in either Part a mark of distinction may be awarded.

Part I

15. The papers in Part I shall be as follows:

 Paper  1.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550 (also serves as Paper 33 in Part II of the English Tripos)

 Paper  2.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700 (also serves as Paper 34 in Part II of the English Tripos)

 Paper  3.

English literature and its contexts, 1688–1847 (also serves as Paper 35 in Part II of the English Tripos)

 Paper  4.

English literature and its contexts, 1830 to the present (also serves as Paper 36 in Part II of the English Tripos)

 Paper  5.

Shakespeare (also serves as Paper 37 in Part II of the English Tripos)

 Paper  6.

Practical criticism and critical practice

 Paper  7.

European languages and literatures

 Paper  8.

English language for literature, 1300 to the present

 Paper  9.

English literature and its contexts, 1300 to the present (open dissertation)

 Paper 10.

Early medieval literature and its contexts (also serves as Paper 14 of Part II of the English Tripos, as Paper O9 of Part II of the Classical Tripos, and as Paper 11 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 11.

Insular Latin language and literature (Paper 9 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 12.

Old Norse language and literature (Paper 6 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 13.

Medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 14.

Medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Every paper shall be set for three hours except Papers 1, 6, 7, and 8 which shall be set for three and a half hours, and Paper 9 which shall comprise a dissertation, to be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 20, the topic of which must fall within the scope of Papers 1–5 but may range across the chronological boundaries of individual papers within this group.

16. Every candidate for Part I shall offer Papers 1 and 5 and

  1. either(a)Papers 2–4; and two papers from among Papers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10;
  2. or(b)Papers 2–4; one paper from among Papers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10; and one paper from among Papers 11–14;
  3. or(c)two papers from among Papers 2–4; two papers from among Papers 6–10; and one paper from among Papers 11–14.
  4. or(d)two papers from among Papers 2–4; three papers from among Papers 6, 7, 8, and 10;

provided that

  1. (i)in substitution for one of Papers 2–4, a candidate who has not offered Paper 9 may offer a dissertation, to be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 20, on a topic falling within the scope of that paper, except that (1) no candidate shall submit a dissertation of which the main emphasis is on literature written in a foreign language49 and (2) if a candidate submits a dissertation in substitution for Paper 2 it shall not be wholly or largely on Shakespeare;
  2. (ii)in substitution for one of Papers 2–4, a candidate may offer a portfolio of essays, to be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 17, on topics falling within the scope of that paper, except that (1) if a candidate submits a portfolio in substitution for Paper 2 it shall not be wholly or largely on Shakespeare, (2) a candidate who submits a portfolio may not offer a dissertation on a topic which falls principally within the scope of the paper for which the portfolio is substituted.
Portfolio.

17. (a) A candidate who intends to offer a portfolio under Regulation 16(ii) shall notify the Director of Undergraduate Studies through his or her Director of Studies, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board. Such notification shall be not later than a date in the Full Lent Term to be promulgated by the Board in the Michaelmas Term.

(b) A portfolio submitted under Regulation 16(ii) shall consist of three essays, each of not fewer than 1,500 words and not more than 2,000 words in length. Portfolio essays must be on subjects of literary interest which fall within the scope of the paper for which they are substituted. The portfolio of essays as a whole should exhibit a range and substance comparable with that required by the examination paper for which it is substituted. It should show knowledge of work before and after the date specified in the rubric for the paper for which it was substituted. Candidates will be required to declare that the essays are their own work and that they do not contain material already used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose. Where appropriate full and proper acknowledgement must be given to the work of others.

(c) The essays shall be typewritten, in English, with proper attention to style and presentation; they shall be submitted through the candidate's Director of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive not later than the last Thursday of the Full Lent Term next preceding the examination. Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their portfolios.

Part II

18. The papers in Part II shall be as follows:

Group A (compulsory papers)

 Paper  1.

Practical criticism

 Paper  2.

Tragedy (also serves as Paper O3 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)50

Group B(i)

 Paper  3.

Chaucer50

 Paper  4.

Medieval English literature, 1066–1500 (also serves as Paper 13 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper  5.

Special period of English literature (taken from the period after 1500 and before 1700)

 Paper  6.

Special period of English literature (taken from the period after 1700)

 Paper  7.

Special subject I

Group B(ii)

 Paper  8.

English moralists

 Paper  9.

History and theory of literary criticism (also serves as Paper O4 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

 Paper 10.

Postcolonial and related literatures50

 Paper 11.

American literature

 Paper 12.

Special subject II50

Group C(i)

 Paper 13.

History of the English language51

 Paper 14.

Early medieval literature and its contexts (Paper 10 of Part I of the English Tripos)

 Paper 15.

Old English language and literature (Paper 5 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Group C(ii)

 Paper 16.

Insular Latin language and literature (Paper 9 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 17a.

Old Norse language and literature (Paper 6 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 17b.

Advanced medieval Scandinavian language and literature (Paper 6 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 18a.

Medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 18b.

Advanced medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 19a.

Medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 19b.

Advanced medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

 Paper 20.

Topics in medieval studies: to be specified by the Faculty Board from time to time (Paper Fr. 7 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 21.

Living, loving, and dying in Renaissance France (Paper Fr. 8 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 22.

Reason, experience, and authority: French literature, thought, and history, 1594–1700 (Paper Fr. 9 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 23.

French literature, thought, and history, from 1690 to 1799 (Paper Fr. 10 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 24.

Gender, desire, and power in 19th century French culture (Paper Fr. 11 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 25.

Ethics and experience: literature, thought, and visual culture of the French-speaking world (1900 to the present) (Paper Fr. 12 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 26.

Dante and the culture of his age (Paper It. 7 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 27a.

Introduction to Neo-Latin literature, from 1350 to 1700 (Paper NL 1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 27b.

A special subject in Neo-Latin literature: Sannazaro, Poliziano, Bèze, and Buchanan (Paper NL 2 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 28.

A special subject in comparative literature (i) and (ii) (Papers CS 451 and 5 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

 Paper 29.

A paper in linguistics (Paper 11 or Paper 13 of Parts IIa and Parts IIb of the Linguistics Tripos)52

 Paper 30.

A prescribed Greek author or authors, and a prescribed Latin author or authors (Paper A1 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

 Paper 31.

Prescribed Greek texts (Paper A2 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)53

 Paper 32.

Prescribed Latin texts (Paper A3 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Group D

 Paper 33.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550 (Paper 1 of Part I of the English Tripos)

 Paper 34.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700 (Paper 2 of Part I of the English Tripos)

 Paper 35.

English literature and its contexts, 1688–1847 (Paper 3 of Part I of the English Tripos)

 Paper 36.

English literature and its contexts, 1830 to the present (Paper 4 of Part I of the English Tripos)

 Paper 37.

Shakespeare (Paper 5 of Part I of the English Tripos)

Each paper shall be set for three hours except Papers 1 and 33 which shall be set for three and a half hours. The Faculty Board shall announce in every year, subject to the provisions of Regulation 3, not more than four special subjects for Paper 7, and may in addition announce not more than three special subjects for Paper 12; in each case a candidate may offer not more than one of these subjects. A question paper shall be set for each subject so announced and for which there is a candidate. Every candidate who offers a paper in which there is a choice of subjects shall take only one of these question papers; the candidate's examination entry shall state which subject he or she intends to offer.

19. Every candidate for Part II shall offer:

  1. (a)a dissertation on a subject in English literature;
  2. (b)both papers from Group A;
  3. (c)either(i)if the candidate takes the examination in the year next after obtaining honours in another Honours Examination, one of the following combinations:
  4. eithertwo papers chosen from Groups B and C
  5. orone paper chosen from Groups B and C and a second dissertation on a topic in English literature;
  6. or(ii)if the candidate takes the examination in the year next but one after obtaining honours in another Honours Examination, or if the candidate is an Affiliated Student, one of the following combinations:
  7. eitherthree papers chosen from Groups B and C
  8. ortwo papers chosen from Groups B and C and a second dissertation on a topic in English literature;

provided that:

  1. (i)a candidate shall not offer any paper that he or she has previously offered in another Honours Examination;
  2. (ii)a candidate shall not offer both Paper 9 and one of the special subjects for Paper 12 if the Faculty Board in announcing that special subject have specified that it may not be so combined; nor more than one of the papers from Group C(ii); nor both Papers 17a and 17b; nor both Papers 18a and 18b; nor both Papers 19a and 19b;
  3. (iii)a candidate who has obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos or any allowance on that examination towards a degree shall not offer both Paper 5 and Paper 6;
  4. (iv)in choosing a topic for a dissertation to be offered under this regulation a candidate shall not be precluded from proposing a topic in the same field as that of any of the papers that he or she is offering in the examination, save that, if the dissertation required under sub-paragraph (a) above is in the field of one of the candidate's papers, the Faculty Board may at their discretion decline to allow the candidate to offer a second dissertation in the field of one of his or her papers;
  5. (v)a dissertation offered under this regulation shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 20;
  6. (vi)every candidate who has not previously obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos shall offer either at least one paper from among Papers 3–7 or, subject to the approval of the Faculty Board, and in substitution for one such paper, one paper from among Papers 33–37, except that a candidate who offers a special subject which is a Shakespearian subject announced by the Faculty Board for Paper 7 shall not also offer Paper 37. An application for leave to offer one of Papers 33–37 shall be sent through the candidate's Director of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies so as to arrive not later than the penultimate Friday of the Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination and shall state the scheme of papers that the candidate proposes to offer, together with the topic of the dissertation required under sub-paragraph (a) above and of any dissertation offered under sub-paragraph (c) above. In determining whether to approve such an application the Faculty Board shall take into consideration both the overall balance of the proposed scheme and the potential overlap between the papers to be offered under it. After the Faculty Board have approved such a candidate's proposed scheme, no change may be made in the scheme without the further approval of the Faculty Board.

Parts I and II

Dissertations.

20. (a) A candidate who intends to offer either a compulsory dissertation in Part II under Regulation 19(a), or Paper 9, or an optional dissertation in either Part under Regulation 16(i) or Regulation 19(c), shall submit the proposed topic of the dissertation through his or her Director of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive not later than the penultimate Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.

(b) The Director of Undergraduate Studies shall communicate the Board's approval or rejection of the proposed topic to the candidate's Director of Studies. When the Board have approved a topic, no change shall be made in it or in a scheme of work approved by the Board without the further approval of the Board. A candidate may submit a revised topic so as to reach the Director of Undergraduate Studies not later than a date in the Full Lent Term to be promulgated by the Board in the Michaelmas Term; topics submitted after that date will be considered by the Board only in the most exceptional circumstances.

(c) The length of a dissertation shall be as follows:

for Part I, not more than 5,000 words in length;

for Part II, not fewer than 6,000 words and not more than 7,500 words in length.

In each case the prescribed length shall include notes and appendices, although appendices beyond the prescribed limit may be allowed in special circumstances, subject to the approval of the Faculty Board given not later than the division of the Lent Term next preceding the examination. Candidates will be required to declare that the dissertation is their own work and that it does not contain material already used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose.

(d) Every dissertation shall be typewritten, in English, with proper attention to style and presentation in accordance with detailed guidelines issued by the Faculty Board; it shall be sent through the candidate's Director of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, accompanied by a brief synopsis of its contents and a list of the books and articles used in its preparation, and in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive not later than the first Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(e) A candidate may be called for viva voce examination in connection with his or her dissertation.

Schemes of work.

21. At the same time as dissertation topics are submitted through candidates’ Directors of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, each candidate shall submit the whole scheme of work to be offered in the examination. The Director of Undergraduate Studies shall communicate the Board's approval or rejection of the proposed scheme of work to the candidate's Director of Studies.

Original compositions.

22. A candidate for either Part shall be allowed to submit an original composition in English, of not more than 5,000 words (inclusive of notes). Such a composition, if of sufficient merit, may be taken into account by the Examiners in classifying the candidate; they shall have power to examine the candidate upon it viva voce. The submission of non-written material shall not be allowed. Compositions shall be typewritten, and shall be sent through candidates’ Director of Studies to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in accordance with detailed arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive not later than the second day of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held. Candidates will be required to declare (1) that the original composition is their own work, (2) that it does not contain material used to any substantial extent for a comparable academic purpose, (3) that it does not contain material that has been, or will be, published prior to the end of the Tripos Examination, and (4) that it does not contain material that has been submitted in candidature for a University or College Prize or Scholarship, or for publication in the Mays Anthology.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS

Part I

For the purpose of the regulations and supplementary regulations for Part I of the English Tripos, ‘English literature’ shall be understood to mean the literature in English of the British Isles including Ireland. In Papers 1–5 candidates must answer primarily in relation to English literature thus defined, and questions will not be asked, nor may answers be primarily written, on authors other than those who were born, or have spent a substantial part of their lives working, in the British Isles. This will not however preclude the possibility of comparison, where appropriate, with other literature in English (such as American or Commonwealth), provided that greater weight falls on English literature than on other literature. These rules shall also govern the acceptability of topics for period dissertations substituted for Papers 2, 3, and 4 but not the open dissertation under Paper 9, in which candidates may write on any literature(s) in English irrespective of country of origin. No more than one dissertation may be submitted. Candidates submitting a dissertation under Paper 9 are permitted to offer an examination paper which covers the same period as the topic for the dissertation. Candidates substituting a portfolio for Papers 2–4 may not offer a dissertation under Paper 9 on a topic which falls principally within the scope of the paper for which the portfolio is substituted. More detailed guidance about the acceptability of specific authors as the subjects of examination answers or as the topics of dissertations may be given in a document issued by the Faculty Board of English and revised as necessary from time to time.

Paper 1. English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550

Medieval texts shall be prescribed for special study; and passages shall be set from them for translation or comment, or both. The Faculty Board may give notice from time to time of a list of topics on which optional questions will be set. Questions shall be set both on the literature and on the life and thought of the period.

Paper 2. English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700

Questions shall be set both on the literature and on the life and thought of the period.54

Paper 3. English literature and its contexts, 1688–1847

Questions shall be set both on the literature and on the life and thought of the period.54

Paper 4. English literature and its contexts, 1830 to the present

Questions shall be set both on the literature and on the life and thought of the period.54

Paper 5. Shakespeare

Questions shall be set requiring explanation and discussion of a specified work or specified works. Questions shall also be set on other works of Shakespeare and matters of historical and critical interest relevant to his works.

Paper 6. Practical criticism and critical practice

The paper, which will be set for three and a half hours (including half an hour’s reading time), will consist of questions offering passages of English verse or prose from various periods for critical comment. The passages set may also include extracts from works of literary criticism and theory, some of which may be in translation. The questions will require close critical analysis of the given passages. They will also allow for the raising of general critical and theoretical issues appropriate to the reading of those extracts. Candidates will be required to answer three questions.

Paper 7. European languages and literatures

The languages within the scope of this paper are: classical Greek; classical Latin; French; German; Italian; Old English. Candidates will not be required to show knowledge of more than one of these languages, though they may do so if they wish. In each language, except in the case of Old English, two texts (or collections of texts) will be prescribed for study. Candidates will be required to show knowledge of two such texts (except in the case of Old English, where only one text is set).

Paper 8. English language for literature, 1300 to the present

This paper requires candidates to recognize and describe in English writing from 1300 to the present day; linguistic features (such as syntax, lexis, register, elementary phonetics, rhetoric); the relations between spoken and written Englishes; the historical development and study of the language, in its literary and other varieties; contact between English and other languages. The Faculty Board shall, from time to time, prescribe specified topics, with lists of relevant reading. Candidates will be required to answer on at least one of the specified topics.

Paper 9. English literature and its contexts, 1300 to the present: Open dissertation

The topic of a dissertation to be submitted under this paper must fall within the scope of Papers 1–5. It may be comparative across the period boundaries of the individual papers. The dissertation shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with Regulation 20.

Paper 10. Early medieval literature and its contexts (also serves as Paper 14 of Part II, as Paper O9 of Part II of the Classical Tripos, and as Paper 11 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos).

The period covered by this paper is 1066–c. 1350. English, French, and Latin texts shall be prescribed for special study, and passages set from them for translation or explanation or both. Questions shall also be set on English, French, and Latin texts of the period. Candidates will be required to show knowledge of one of these three languages, and of work in at least one other of them, which they may, if they wish, have studied in translation. Candidates are expected to show such knowledge of the life and thought of the period as is necessary for the understanding of its literature.

Part II

Paper 1. Practical criticism

Passages of English prose and verse for critical comment.

Paper 2. Tragedy (also serves as Paper O3 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Tragedy ancient and modern in connection and comparison with English Tragedy.

Paper 3. Chaucer

Candidates will be expected to show a full and detailed knowledge of the works of Chaucer. Questions shall be set on those works and on Chaucer's relationship to his contemporaries and to the life and thought of his age.

Paper 4. Medieval English literature, 1066–1500 (also serves as Paper 13 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

A specific literary subject shall be prescribed for special study. It shall be of a kind to require reading in early as well as in late medieval English literature and may involve the study of related texts from other languages.

Paper 5. Special period of English literature (taken from the period after 1500 and before 1700)

Candidates will be required to show a substantial knowledge of the literature of whatever period is prescribed together with its life and thought.

Paper 6. Special period of English literature (taken from the period after 1700)

Candidates will be required to show a substantial knowledge of the literature of whatever period is prescribed together with its life and thought.

Paper 7. Special subject I

The work of an author or of a group of authors, or a literary topic or genre, or a period not already prescribed for Paper 5 or Paper 6, within the field of English literature, shall be prescribed for special study. Relevant texts may be recommended for study from time to time. In accordance with Regulation 18 the Faculty Board may from time to time prescribe a number of such special subjects of which one may be offered by candidates for this paper.

Paper 8. English moralists

Questions will be set on the history and nature of moral thought, broadly interpreted. Candidates will be invited to show knowledge of a range of literary, philosophical, social, and political writings by authors from Plato to the present, but the paper will normally permit concentration on a particular chronological period or selection of authors. Candidates will also be given opportunities to relate the themes of this paper to their existing interests in poetry, drama, and the novel. From time to time a special topic may be specified for study.

Paper 9. History and theory of literary criticism (also serves as Paper O4 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

The paper shall comprise historical, critical, and comparative questions on works and problems in the history of literary criticism and also of literary theory from the fourth century bc to the present day. A sufficient number of questions will be set to enable candidates to choose questions on a limited chronological period (including the modern period).

Paper 10. Postcolonial and related literature

The scope of the paper is, subject to the following qualifications, literature in English outside the British Isles and the United States of America. It includes expatriate nationals publishing in those countries (e.g. Rushdie, d’Aguiar, Lessing). Comparative and incidental reference to British, Irish, American, and foreign language texts is welcome but should not form the greater part of any single answer. Answering on texts in translation is permitted but should not constitute the greater part of answers to the paper as a whole.

The paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will consist of passages for comment; Section B will consist of essay questions, enabling comparison between texts from different regions.

Paper 11. American literature

The subject covered by this paper is American literature, life, and thought, with special reference to the period from 1820 to the present day. A list of books may be recommended from time to time for special study. All candidates will be expected to show such knowledge of the life and thought of the period as is necessary for understanding its literature.

Paper 12. Special subject II

For a year for which a subject is announced for this paper under Regulation 18, the work of an author or of a group of authors, or a literary topic or genre, or a period not already prescribed for Paper 5, or 6, or 7, shall be prescribed for special study. Relevant foreign texts as well as English texts may be recommended for study from time to time. In accordance with Regulation 18 the Faculty Board may from time to time prescribe a number of such special subjects of which one may be offered by candidates for this paper.

Paper 13. History of the English language

This paper will be concerned with the historical development and structure of the English language and of its internal and extra-territorial varieties. A specified topic will be prescribed for special study.

The paper will be divided into two sections. Section A will contain questions pertaining to the specified topic; Section B will contain essay questions of a more general nature. Candidates will be required to answer one question from Section A and two questions from Section B.

Dissertations

For the purpose of Regulations 19(a) and 19(c) governing the submission of dissertations in Part II of the Tripos, ‘English literature’ shall be understood to mean literature written in the English language (including Old English), works written by authors of the British Isles in other languages, such as Latin or French, and works written in Old Norse and the Medieval Celtic languages. It shall be understood to embrace the English language and such philosophical, historical, and other writing as normally comes within the scope of the English Tripos.

Where a topic is chosen involving comparison with a foreign literature, the dissertation should be primarily on an English literary topic, though there is no objection to comparison with other literature where this is relevant. Where a topic involves comparison between literature and another medium such as music or the visual arts, the weight of the dissertation should likewise fall on literature (which may, for example, include libretti). Discussion of work produced in a medium other than literature is not admissible as the exclusive topic of a dissertation.

More detailed guidance about the acceptability of specific writings as the topic of a dissertation may be given in a document issued by the Faculty Board of English and revised as necessary from time to time.

(New Regulations)

ENGLISH TRIPOS

NEW REGULATIONS55

Notice (Reporter, 2011–12, p. 869)

General

Two Parts.

1. The English Tripos shall consist of two Parts.

2. For the purposes of the Regulations and any Supplementary Regulations, ‘English literature’ shall be understood to mean literature written in the English language (including Old English); literature of the British Isles including Ireland (whether written in English, or in other languages such as Latin or French); and works written in Old Norse and the Medieval Celtic languages. It shall be understood to embrace the English language and such philosophical, historical, and other writing as normally comes within the scope of the English Tripos.

3. The scheme of the examination shall be as defined in Regulations 14 to 23.

Notice of variable subjects, etc.

4. Notice of all the variable papers available for examination, and of the variable subjects, texts, or portions of subjects specified for special study, shall be given by the Faculty Board of English before the end of the Easter Term (i) two years prior to the examination in the case of Part I of the Tripos, (ii) one year prior to the examination in the case of Part II of the Tripos; provided that, in both cases, the Board shall have the power of subsequently issuing amendments if they have due reason for doing so and if they are satisfied that no student’s preparation for her or his examination will be adversely affected. The Board shall have power when they give notice of the variable subjects selected for a particular examination to announce any consequential restriction on the combination of papers that a candidate may offer. The Board shall have power to define or limit by supplementary regulations all or any of the subjects of examination, and to modify or alter such supplementary regulations as occasion may require.

Standing of candidates.

5. The following may present themselves as candidates for honours in Part I:

  1. (a)a student who has not obtained honours in an Honours Examination and has kept four terms, provided that six complete terms have not passed after her or his first term of residence;
  2. (b)a student who has obtained honours in an Honours Examination, in the year next but one after so obtaining honours; provided that nine complete terms have not passed after her or his first term of residence.

6. The following may present themselves as candidates for honours in Part II:

  1. (a)a student who has obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos or in another Honours Examination, in the year after or next but one after so obtaining honours; provided that twelve complete terms have not passed after her or his first term of residence;
  2. (b)an Affiliated Student, in accordance with the regulations for Affiliated Students, and subject to the terms of Regulation 20 of the English Tripos.

7. No student shall be a candidate for both Parts, or for either Part and also for another Honours Examination, in the same term.

8. No student who has been a candidate for either Part shall again be a candidate for the same Part.

Examiners and Assessors.

9. (a) To conduct the examination in each Part of the Tripos the Faculty Board shall nominate such number of Examiners as they deem appropriate.

(b) The Faculty Board shall have power to nominate Assessors to assist the Examiners for each Part of the Tripos. Assessors may be summoned to meetings of the Examiners for the purpose of consultation and advice, but shall not be entitled to vote.

Meetings of Examiners.

10. Before the examination there shall be general meetings of the Examiners for Part I and of the Examiners for Part II, when the papers set by each Examiner or Assessor shall be submitted to the whole body of each Part’s Examiners for their approval and shall be settled by the Examiners for each Part.

Class-lists.

11. The Examiners for Part I and the Examiners for Part II shall hold separate meetings, at which the class-list for each Part shall be drawn up. In each of these lists the names of the candidates who deserve honours shall be placed in three classes, of which the second shall be divided into two divisions. The names in the first and third classes, and in each division of the second class, shall be arranged in alphabetical order.

12. For special excellence in either Part a mark of distinction may be awarded.

13. In each examination, candidates must not use the same material twice, either within any given paper or across the examination as a whole. Nor should material be repeated from one examination to the next.

Part I

14. The papers in Part I shall be as follows:

Paper 1.

Practical criticism and critical practice

Paper 2.

Early medieval literature and its contexts, 1066–1350 (also serves as Paper 20 of Part II of the English Tripos, as Paper O9 of Part II of the Classical Tripos, and as Paper 11 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 3.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550 (also serves as Paper 21 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 4.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700 (also serves as Paper 22 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 5.

Shakespeare (also serves as Paper 23 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 6.

English literature and its contexts, 1660–1870 (also serves as Paper 24 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 7A.

English literature and its contexts, 1830–1945 (also serves as Paper 25A of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 7B.

English literature and its contexts, 1870–present (also serves as Paper 25B of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 8A.

Old English language and literature (Paper 5 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 26 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 8B.

Old Norse language and literature (Paper 6 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 27A of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 8C.

Medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 28A of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 8D.

Medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 29A of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 8E.

Insular Latin language and literature (Paper 9 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 30 of Part II of the English Tripos)

Paper 9A.

Greek literature (Paper 5 of Part Ib of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 9B.

Latin literature (Paper 6 of Part Ib of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 10A.

Introduction to French literature, linguistics, film, and thought (Paper Fr.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10B.

Love, violence, and power in France 1100–1500 (Paper Fr.3 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10C.

Rethinking the human: French literature, thought, and culture 1500–1700 (Paper Fr.4 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10D.

Revolutions in writing, 1700–1900 (Paper Fr.5 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10E.

Innovation and upheaval: deformation and reformulation in the 20th and 21st centuries (Paper Fr.6 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10F.

Texts and contexts (Paper A3 in Italian of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10G.

Introduction to German studies (Paper Ge.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10H.

The making of German culture, I (Paper Ge.4 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10I.

Modern German culture, I (Paper Ge.5 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10J.

Modern German culture, II (Paper Ge.6 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10K.

Introduction to the language, literatures, and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world (Paper Sp.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10L.

Introduction to the language, literatures, and cultures of Portuguese-speaking countries (Paper Pg.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10M.

Introduction to Russian culture (Paper Ru.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10N.

Russian culture from the Golden Age to the Silver Age (Paper Ru.5 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10O.

Russian culture after 1880 (Paper Ru.6 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 10P.

Introduction to the language, literature, and culture of Ukraine (Paper Uk.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Every paper shall be set for three hours except Papers 1 and 3 which shall be set for three and a half hours.

15. Every candidate for Part I shall offer Papers 3 and 5 and any four papers from among Papers 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, provided that

  1. (i)a candidate may offer only one of either Paper 8, or Paper 9, or Paper 10;
  2. (ii)only one option may be offered from amongst the list of options available for Paper 7, and likewise for each of Papers 8, 9, and 10;
  3. (iii)in substitution for one of Papers 4, 6, and 7 not substituted by a portfolio of essays under proviso (iv) below, a candidate may offer a dissertation, to be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 16, on a topic falling within the scope of that paper; except that if a candidate submits a dissertation in substitution for Paper 4 it shall not be wholly or largely on the subject of Shakespeare and his writings;
  4. (iv)additionally or alternatively, in substitution for one of Papers 4, 6, and 7 not substituted by a dissertation under proviso (iii) above, a candidate may offer a portfolio of essays, to be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 17, on topics falling within the scope of that paper; except that if a candidate submits a portfolio in substitution for Paper 4 it shall not be wholly or largely on the subject of Shakespeare and his writings;
  5. (v)a candidate for the English Tripos offering an option under Paper 8, or Paper 9, or Paper 10 shall be required to offer this option as a written paper, and may not substitute it with any form of course-work, albeit that such substitutions may be available to candidates who are offering the same papers for the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos, or the Classical Tripos, or the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos;
  6. (vi)a candidate offering any of Papers 3 to 7, whether as an examination or substituted by a dissertation or portfolio of essays, shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of the literature of the British Isles (which may include Ireland);
  7. (vii)a candidate offering any of Papers 4, 6, 7A, and 7B, whether as an examination or substituted by a portfolio of essays, shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of English literature before and after the medial date specified for the paper in question.
Dissertations.

16. (a) A candidate who intends to offer a dissertation under Regulation 15(iii) shall submit the proposed topic of the dissertation for formal approval to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty Board through her or his Director of Studies in accordance with the arrangements for such notification approved by the Board. Such proposals must be made by the penultimate Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Once a topic has been approved on behalf of the Faculty Board, no change shall be made to it without further formal approval. A candidate may, however, submit a revised topic for approval so as to reach the Director of Undergraduate Studies at any time up until the sixth Wednesday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination.

(b) The dissertation must be on a subject falling within the scope of the paper for which the dissertation is substituted. Comparison with other materials, including foreign literatures and other media such as music or the visual arts, is acceptable, but the weight of the dissertation should fall upon materials that are literary and that come within the scope of the relevant paper.

(c) The length of a dissertation shall be not fewer than 4,000 words and not more than 5,000 words. The prescribed length shall include notes and appendices, although appendices beyond the prescribed limit may be allowed in special circumstances, subject to formal approval given on behalf of the Faculty Board not later than the sixth Wednesday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination. Every dissertation shall be typewritten, in English, paying proper attention to style and presentation.

(d) Candidates shall be required to declare that the dissertation is their own work and that it does not contain material used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose prior to the date of its submission. Where appropriate, full and proper acknowledgement must be given to the work of others via footnotes. The dissertation must be accompanied by a synopsis of its contents of not fewer than 100 words and not more than 150 words, and by a bibliography of the books, articles, and electronic and online resources used in its preparation. The prescribed length detailed under sub-paragraph (c) above shall include neither the synopsis nor the bibliography.

(e) The dissertation shall be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies through the candidate’s Director of Studies, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, so as to arrive at the Faculty not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(f) Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their dissertations.

Portfolio.

17. (a) A candidate who intends to offer a portfolio of essays under Regulation 15(iv) shall notify the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty Board through her or his Director of Studies in accordance with the arrangements for such notification approved by the Board. Initial such notification must be made by the penultimate Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Notification of any change of intention thereafter must be made no later than the sixth Wednesday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination.

(b) A portfolio shall consist of three essays. All of the essays must be on subjects of literary interest falling within the scope of the paper for which the portfolio is substituted. The portfolio as a whole must demonstrate substantial knowledge of the literature of the British Isles (which may include Ireland). It must also demonstrate substantial knowledge of English literature before and after the medial date specified for the paper for which it stands in substitution.

(c) Each essay shall be not fewer than 1,500 words and not more than 2,000 words in length. The prescribed length shall include any notes. The essays shall be typewritten, in English, paying proper attention to style and presentation.

(d) Candidates shall be required to declare that the essays are their own work and that they do not contain material used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose prior to the date of their submission. Where appropriate, full and proper acknowledgment must be given to the work of others, although formal footnoting shall not be a requirement. Each essay must be accompanied by a bibliography of the books, articles, and electronic and online resources used in its preparation. The prescribed length shall exclude these bibliographies.

(e) The portfolio shall be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies through the candidate’s Director of Studies, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, so as to arrive at the Faculty not later than 5 p.m. on the last Thursday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination.

(f) Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their portfolios.

Original compositions.

18. (a) A candidate shall be permitted to supplement her or his Part I examination by submitting an original composition or compositions to be taken into account by the Examiners.

(b) The composition or compositions shall total not more than 5,000 words in length (inclusive of notes), and shall be typewritten, in English. The submission of non-written material shall not be allowed.

(c) Candidates exercising this option shall be required to declare: (i) that the original composition is their own work; (ii) that it does not contain material used to any substantial extent for a comparable academic purpose prior to the date of their submission; (iii) that it does not contain material that has been, or will be, published prior to the end of the Part I Tripos Examination; and (iv) that it does not contain material that has been, or will be, submitted in candidature for a University or College Prize or Scholarship, or for publication in The Mays anthology, prior to the end of the Part I Tripos Examination.

(d) Compositions shall be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty Board through the candidate’s Director of Studies, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive at the Faculty not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(e) Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their original compositions.

Part II

19. The papers in Part II shall be as follows:

Group A

Paper 1.

Practical criticism

Paper 2.

Tragedy (also serves as Paper O3 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 3.

Compulsory dissertation

Group B

Paper 4.

Optional dissertation

Paper 5.

Chaucer

Paper 6.

Medieval English literature, 1066–1500 (also serves as Paper 13 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 7.

English literature, 1500–1547

Paper 8.

Literature, culture, and crisis, 1631–1671

Paper 9.

Lyric

Paper 10.

English literature, 1847–1872

Paper 11.

Modernism and the short story

Paper 12.

Contemporary writing in English

Paper 13.

Postcolonial and related literatures

Paper 14.

American literature

Paper 15.

English moralists

Paper 16.

History and theory of literary criticism (also serves as Paper O4 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 17.

Shakespeare in performance

Paper 18.

Literature and visual culture

Paper 19.

A paper or papers in English literature announced by the Faculty Board from time to time.

Group C

[Paper 20.

Early medieval literature and its contexts, 1066–1350 (Paper 10 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)

Paper 21.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550 (Paper 1 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)

Paper 22.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700 (Paper 2 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)

Paper 23.

Shakespeare (Paper 5 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)

Paper 24.

English literature and its contexts, 1688–1847 (Paper 3 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)

Paper 25.

English literature and its contexts, 1830 to the present (Paper 4 of Part I (Old Regulations) of the English Tripos)]56

〈Paper 20.

Early medieval literature and its contexts, 1066–1350 (Paper 2 of Part I of the English Tripos; also serves as Paper O9 of Part II of the Classical Tripos, and as Paper 11 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 21.

English literature and its contexts, 1300–1550 (Paper 3 of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 22.

English literature and its contexts, 1500–1700 (Paper 4 of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 23.

Shakespeare (Paper 5 of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 24.

English literature and its contexts, 1660–1870 (Paper 6 of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 25A.

English literature and its contexts, 1830–1945 (Paper 7A of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 25B.

English literature and its contexts, 1870–present (Paper 7B of Part I of the English Tripos)〉56

Paper 26.

Old English language and literature (Paper 5 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 8A of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 27A.

Old Norse language and literature (Paper 6 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 8B of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 27B.

Advanced medieval Scandinavian language and literature (Paper 6 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 28A.

Medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 8C of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 28B.

Advanced medieval Welsh language and literature (Paper 7 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 29A.

Medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 8D of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 29B.

Advanced medieval Irish language and literature (Paper 8 of Part II of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos)

Paper 30.

Insular Latin language and literature (Paper 9 of Part I of the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos. Also serves as Paper 8E of Part I of the English Tripos)

Paper 31.

A prescribed Greek author or authors, and a prescribed Latin author or authors (Paper A1 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 32.

Prescribed Greek texts (Paper A2 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 33.

Prescribed Latin texts (Paper A3 of Part II of the Classical Tripos)

Paper 34.

Topics in medieval studies to be specified by the Faculty Board from time to time (Paper Fr.7 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 35.

Living, loving, and dying in Renaissance France (Paper Fr.8 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 36.

Reason, experience, and authority: French literature, thought, and history, 1594–1700 (Paper Fr.9 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 37.

French literature, thought, and history, from 1690–1799 (Paper Fr.10 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 38.

Gender, desire, and power in 19th century French culture (Paper Fr.11 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 39.

Ethics and experience: literature, thought, and visual culture of the French-speaking world (1900–present) (Paper Fr.12 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 40.

Dante and the culture of his age (Paper It.7 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 41A.

Introduction to Neo-Latin literature, from 1350 to 1700 (Paper NL.1 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 41B.

A special subject in Neo-Latin literature (Paper NL.2 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 42A.

A special subject in comparative literature (i) (Paper CS.4 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 42B.

A special subject in comparative literature (ii) (Paper CS.5 of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos)

Paper 43A.

Historical linguistics (Paper 11 of the Linguistics Tripos)

Paper 43B.

History of the English language (Paper 13 of the Linguistics Tripos)

Every paper shall be set for three hours except Papers 1 and 21 which shall be set for three and a half hours. Under the provisions of Regulation 4, the Faculty Board shall announce, each year, the variable papers in Group B (Papers 5 to 19) and Group C (Papers 26 to 43) that shall be available for examination in the following year. A question paper shall be set for every paper in the given year’s schedule (other than Papers 3 and 4) for which there is a candidate.

20. Every candidate for Part II shall offer:

  1. (a)Papers 1, 2, and 3;
  2. (b)either(i)if the candidate takes the examination in the year after obtaining honours in another Honours Examination, two papers chosen from amongst Papers 4 to 43;
  3. or(ii)if the candidate takes the examination in the year next but one after obtaining honours in another Honours Examination, or if the candidate is an Affiliated Student, three papers chosen from amongst Papers 4 to 43; provided that since the availability of each of Papers 5 to 19 and Papers 26 to 43 for examination in any given year will not be confirmed until the Easter Term of the preceding year, these papers should not be selected for study until the year of actual examination, and then only in accordance with the list of papers announced as available that year.
  4. (c)In offering papers for examination, the candidate’s choices shall be further governed by the following provisions:
  5. (i)if a candidate takes the examination in the year next but one after obtaining honours in any Honours examination but has spent the intervening year undertaking legitimate study in another University, the candidate shall offer only two papers chosen from amongst Papers 4 to 43, sub-paragraph (b)(ii) above notwithstanding;
  6. (ii)no candidate shall offer both Papers 17 and 23, or [Paper 25] 〈both Papers 25A and 25B〉57 , or both Papers 27A and 27B, or both Papers 28A and 28B, or both Papers 29A and 29B, or both Papers 41A and 41B, or both Papers 42A and 42B, or both Papers 43A and 43B;
  7. (iii)a candidate who has obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos or any allowance on that examination towards a degree shall not offer any of Papers 21 to 25;
  8. (iv)if a candidate has not previously obtained honours in Part I of the English Tripos and either takes the Part II examination in the year next but one after obtaining honours in another Honours examination or is an Affiliated Student, the candidate shall offer at least one paper from among Papers 20 to 25;
  9. (v)a candidate shall not offer any paper that he or she has previously offered in another Honours Examination;
  10. (vi)a candidate offering any of Papers 21 to 25 shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of the literature of the British Isles (which may include Ireland);
  11. (vii)a candidate offering any of Papers 22, 24, [25], 〈25A, and 25B〉57 shall be required to demonstrate, in each such paper offered, substantial knowledge of English literature before and after the medial date specified for the paper in question;
  12. (viii)a candidate for the English Tripos offering any of Papers 26 to 43 shall be required to offer them as written papers, and may not substitute them with any form of course-work, albeit that such substitutions may be available to candidates who are offering the same papers for the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic Tripos, or the Classical Tripos, or the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos, or the Linguistics Tripos;
  13. (ix)a candidate for Part II of the English Tripos offering any of Papers 22, 24, or 25 shall be required to offer them as written papers, and may not substitute them with any form of course-work, albeit that such substitutions may be available to candidates who are offering the same papers for Part I of the English Tripos;
  14. (x)dissertations offered under this Regulation, whether for Paper 3 or Paper 4, shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 22.
Schemes of work.

21. (a) Every candidate shall submit her or his scheme of work (a list of papers to be offered for examination), together with the proposed topic(s) of her or his dissertation(s), for formal approval to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty Board through her or his Director of Studies in accordance with the arrangements for such notification approved by the Board. Submissions must be made by the penultimate Friday of the Full Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.

(b) The Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Undergraduate Submissions Committee, acting on behalf of the Faculty Board, shall consider each such submission with respect to two considerations:

  1. (i)where a candidate offers both Papers 3 and 4, if one of the dissertations so offered is in the same field as one of the candidate’s papers, these parties may decline to allow the candidate to offer the second dissertation in the field of that same or any other of her or his papers;
  2. (ii)where a candidate offers six papers, these parties shall consider the overall balance of the candidate’s scheme of work and the potential for overlap, whether between papers or between papers and the dissertation(s), and may reject such proposals as they judge fail to demonstrate sufficient breadth.

(c) Once a scheme of work and topic(s) have been approved on behalf of the Faculty Board, no change shall be made to them without further formal approval. A candidate may, however, submit a revised scheme and/or topic(s) for approval so as to reach the Director of Undergraduate Studies at any time up until the sixth Wednesday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination.

Dissertations.

22. (a) Every candidate, in offering one or more dissertations under Regulation 20, shall submit the proposed topic(s) thereof for formal approval in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 21.

(b) Dissertations must be on subjects falling within the scope of English literature as defined under Regulation 2. Comparison with other materials, including foreign literatures and other media such as music or the visual arts, is acceptable, but the weight of each dissertation should fall upon materials that are literary and that come within the aforementioned definition of English literature.

(c) The length of each dissertation shall be not fewer than 6,000 words and not more than 7,500 words. The prescribed length shall include notes and appendices, although appendices beyond the prescribed limit may be allowed in special circumstances, subject to formal approval given on behalf of the Faculty Board not later than the sixth Wednesday of the Full Lent Term preceding the examination. Each dissertation shall be typewritten, in English, paying proper attention to style and presentation.

(d) Candidates shall be required to declare that dissertations are their own work and that they do not contain material already used to any substantial extent for a comparable purpose prior to the date of their submission. Where appropriate, full and proper acknowledgment must be given to the work of others via footnotes. Each dissertation must be accompanied by a synopsis of its contents of not fewer than 100 words and not more than 150 words, and by a bibliography of the books, articles, and electronic and online resources used in its preparation. The prescribed length detailed under sub- paragraph (c) above shall include neither the synopsis nor the bibliography.

(e) Dissertations shall be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies through the candidate’s Director of Studies, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Faculty Board, so as to arrive at the Faculty not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(f) Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their dissertations.

Original compositions.

23. (a) A candidate shall be permitted to supplement her or his Part II examination by submitting an original composition or compositions to be taken into account by the Examiners.

(b) The composition or compositions shall total not more than 5,000 words in length (inclusive of notes), and shall be typewritten, in English. The submission of non-written material shall not be allowed.

(c) Candidates exercising this option shall be required to declare: (i) that the original composition is their own work; (ii) that it does not contain material used to any substantial extent for a comparable academic purpose prior to the date of their submission; (iii) that it does not contain material that has been, or will be, published prior to the end of the Part II Tripos Examination; and (iv) that it does not contain material that has been, or will be, submitted in candidature for a University or College Prize or Scholarship, or for publication in The Mays anthology, prior to the end of the Part II Tripos Examination.

(d) Compositions shall be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Faculty Board through the candidate’s Director of Studies, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Board, so as to arrive at the Faculty not later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the Full Easter Term in which the examination is to be held.

(e) Candidates may be called for viva voce examination in connection with their original compositions.

Temporary Regulation

24. (i) The examinations for Part I of the English Tripos shall be held under the Old Regulations for the last time in 2014. They shall be held under the New Regulations for the first time in 2015.

(ii) The examinations for Part II of the English Tripos shall be held under the Old Regulations for the last time in 2013. They shall be held under the New Regulations for the first time in 2014.

Footnotes

  1. 47. These regulations will be replaced by New Regulations in accordance with the timetable in Temporary Regulation 24 of the New Regulations, p. 336.a
  2. 48. See also the regulations for Affiliated Students.a
  3. 49. See further the supplementary regulations, p. 321.a
  4. 50. This paper is also available to candidates for Part II of the Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos; see p. 389.a b c d
  5. 51. This paper is suspended until further notice.a b
  6. 52. This paper will be either Paper 11 or Paper 13 of Parts IIa and IIb of the Linguistics Tripos, whichever of those papers is offered.a
  7. 53. This paper is not available until further notice.a
  8. 54. The Faculty Board may from time to time give notice of a prescribed text or texts or of a specified topic for special study in this paper.a b c
  9. 55. These regulations will come into effect in accordance with the timetable in Temporary Regulation 24, p. 336.a
  10. 56. The papers in angular brackets will replace the papers in square brackets with effect from 1 October 2014.a b
  11. 57. The paper will be divided into two options with effect from 1 October 2014 and the papers in angular brackets will replace the paper in square brackets with effect from the same date.a b