[Chris Childers]

I could pass parts I & II but would have to, well, study to do much at all with III and IV. It would be a bear to grade.

PS.: I'm assuming it all has to come straight out of your head. I mean, I might talk about Don Juan and the Prelude for E2 but I'd have to know them pretty damn well to do it without the texts in front of me.

[Orwn Acra]

I would just leave.

[R. S. Gwynn]

Terese, the time limits are on the different sections. I don't know how well I would have done as an undergraduate major. Even now, there were several quotes I didn't recognize; one of them was from To the Lighthouse, which I've taught.

Interesting that Shakespeare pretty much does it for drama and that neither James nor Twain makes an appearance, though I suppose one could use them in one of the comparative essays. No Emerson or Whitman either, for that matter.

It's a test that looks more intimidating that it is. Lots of choices/options. But I shudder to think what it would look like to a senior in one of those departments where you don't have to read Shakespeare to fulfill requirements.

Yes, I assume that this is a bluebook and pen test--no supporting materials, including Google.

[John Whitworth]

I am a good examinee. I could have done this when I finished my Oxford Englsh degree (second class) and I could do it now - better I think because now I can write on any damn thing whether I know about it or not. It's the journalism, folks. I am quite sure the average English student at a British university NOW could not do it. They are much more ignorant NOW for sundry weighty reasons. I agree with Sam. It is an excellent test. But then I guess he was a good examinee. My wife (English graduate Oxford First Class) could never have done it . She'd have run out of time. That's the problem with knowing a lot.

[Michael Juster]

Personally, I'm not sure anything after 709 AD is necessary.

[Maryann Corbett]

Originally Posted by Michael Juster

Personally, I'm not sure anything after 709 AD is necessary.

Mike, that would work fine, but it would be the exit exam for a different department.

I agree that this looks plenty rigorous.

[FOsen]

It's an impressive exam and a good refresher course in itself. I think I could have struggled through the first section (discussing Sam’s "Narcissiad" under mock-epics) but it'd be tough to fill two bluebooks with the alphabet, let alone 5 essays, in 100 minutes.

But what to make of the instructions for part IV: "Please write a detailed and literate essay on any ONE of the following topics." "Damn! The other essays didn’t have to be literate???"