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ENG1501: Foundations in English Literary Studies
May/June Examination 2026
Comprehensive Revision: Covering May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025 Exam Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
English Literary Studies – UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
ENG1501
Module Code:
Foundations in English Literary Studies
Module Name:
May/June Examination 2026
Paper / Exam:
May/June 2023, 2024 and 2025
Years Covered:
100 marks per paper
Total Marks:
4 hours (take-home online)
Duration:
Includes all questions with model answers and predicted exam questions for 2026.
Exam Revision Notes | ENG1501 | 2026
,ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
About This Revision Guide
This document covers the full question-and-answer content of ENG1501 past examination pa-
pers from May/June 2023, May/June 2024, and the most recent May/June 2025 sitting. Each
question is presented exactly as it appeared in the exam, followed by a comprehensive model
answer.
Key Concept
ENG1501 Exam Structure (Consistent Across All Papers):
• Question 1 – Poetry (40–50 marks): Close analysis of a prescribed poem using
short paragraph-style answers.
• Question 2 – Novel (50–60 marks): A structured essay of no more than 600
words on an aspect of Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele.
• Both questions are compulsory. You may use your primary texts but must cite
correctly.
• Exam is a 4-hour take-home online assessment.
Exam Tip
One mark roughly equals one well-developed sentence or key point. If a question carries
4 marks, plan four distinct points. Examiners reward specific quotation plus explana-
tion – do not just identify a device; say why it works.
Page 2 of 34
,ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2023
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS – MAY/JUNE 2023
ENG1501: Foundations in English Literary Studies
100 Marks • Duration: 4 Hours (Take-Home)
First Examiners: Dr B. Janari and Dr C. Brevis
Second Examiners: Ms N. Zindela and Prof J. Murray
This paper consists of TWO questions. You must answer BOTH questions. You may use your
primary texts – the poem and the novel – but must cite them correctly.
Page 3 of 34
, ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
2023 – Question 1: Poetry [50 marks]
Read the poem ‘Motho ke Motho ka Batho Babang’ by Jeremy Cronin, then answer the
questions that follow. Answer in full sentences, using short paragraphs to support your answer
with quotations from the poem.
Example
The Poem – ‘Motho ke Motho ka Batho Babang’ by Jeremy Cronin
(Title translates from Sesotho: “A person is a person because of other people.”)
Taking my hand a woman leads me
through the principal streets, of a busy city.
“I’ll show you,” she says
“some of the Johannesburg I know.”
To a block of flats, 7th floor, room 7.
She opens a door.
Inside, a single gas-lamp. A radio on a shelf.
A man sitting, drinking beer.
He rises to greet me. But she
is already turning away,
already calling back to us both:
“I’ll leave you two to talk.”
His name is Diliza. Mine – Jeremy.
He smiles. I smile. We both
sit down. He turns up the radio.
We begin. Halting. Obvious.
Then something shifts. Some moment, turn
and I’m no longer a stranger here
in this room (or he
in the world outside our room).
Source: Jeremy Cronin, Inside (1983). Available as a prescribed text for ENG1501.
Page 4 of 34
]]
ENG1501: Foundations in English Literary Studies
May/June Examination 2026
Comprehensive Revision: Covering May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025 Exam Papers
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
English Literary Studies – UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
ENG1501
Module Code:
Foundations in English Literary Studies
Module Name:
May/June Examination 2026
Paper / Exam:
May/June 2023, 2024 and 2025
Years Covered:
100 marks per paper
Total Marks:
4 hours (take-home online)
Duration:
Includes all questions with model answers and predicted exam questions for 2026.
Exam Revision Notes | ENG1501 | 2026
,ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
About This Revision Guide
This document covers the full question-and-answer content of ENG1501 past examination pa-
pers from May/June 2023, May/June 2024, and the most recent May/June 2025 sitting. Each
question is presented exactly as it appeared in the exam, followed by a comprehensive model
answer.
Key Concept
ENG1501 Exam Structure (Consistent Across All Papers):
• Question 1 – Poetry (40–50 marks): Close analysis of a prescribed poem using
short paragraph-style answers.
• Question 2 – Novel (50–60 marks): A structured essay of no more than 600
words on an aspect of Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele.
• Both questions are compulsory. You may use your primary texts but must cite
correctly.
• Exam is a 4-hour take-home online assessment.
Exam Tip
One mark roughly equals one well-developed sentence or key point. If a question carries
4 marks, plan four distinct points. Examiners reward specific quotation plus explana-
tion – do not just identify a device; say why it works.
Page 2 of 34
,ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2023
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS – MAY/JUNE 2023
ENG1501: Foundations in English Literary Studies
100 Marks • Duration: 4 Hours (Take-Home)
First Examiners: Dr B. Janari and Dr C. Brevis
Second Examiners: Ms N. Zindela and Prof J. Murray
This paper consists of TWO questions. You must answer BOTH questions. You may use your
primary texts – the poem and the novel – but must cite them correctly.
Page 3 of 34
, ENG1501 | Exam Revision 2026 Foundations in English Literary Studies
2023 – Question 1: Poetry [50 marks]
Read the poem ‘Motho ke Motho ka Batho Babang’ by Jeremy Cronin, then answer the
questions that follow. Answer in full sentences, using short paragraphs to support your answer
with quotations from the poem.
Example
The Poem – ‘Motho ke Motho ka Batho Babang’ by Jeremy Cronin
(Title translates from Sesotho: “A person is a person because of other people.”)
Taking my hand a woman leads me
through the principal streets, of a busy city.
“I’ll show you,” she says
“some of the Johannesburg I know.”
To a block of flats, 7th floor, room 7.
She opens a door.
Inside, a single gas-lamp. A radio on a shelf.
A man sitting, drinking beer.
He rises to greet me. But she
is already turning away,
already calling back to us both:
“I’ll leave you two to talk.”
His name is Diliza. Mine – Jeremy.
He smiles. I smile. We both
sit down. He turns up the radio.
We begin. Halting. Obvious.
Then something shifts. Some moment, turn
and I’m no longer a stranger here
in this room (or he
in the world outside our room).
Source: Jeremy Cronin, Inside (1983). Available as a prescribed text for ENG1501.
Page 4 of 34
