AcelumeStart free

JAMB Literature Past Questions 2025

10 questions from the JAMB 2025 Literature paper, with answers and explanations. Tap "Show answer" under each one when you are ready.

JAMB 2025Question 1 · Drama Set Texts
This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. The chief of Ilujinle village is
  1. A.Lakunle
  2. B.Baroka
  3. C.Sadiku
  4. D.Sidi
Show answer

Answer: B. Baroka

Baroka is the Bale (the traditional chief, or "Lion") of Ilujinle village.

JAMB 2025Question 2 · Drama Set Texts
This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. "No one? Do you mean there was no one To bar unwanted strangers from my privacy?" Who made this statement?
  1. A.Lakunle
  2. B.Baroka
  3. C.Sidi
  4. D.Sadiku
Show answer

Answer: B. Baroka

This line is spoken by Baroka, the Bale (village head).

JAMB 2025Question 3 · Drama Set Texts
This question is based on Antony and Cleopatra. Antony: "I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into't As to a lover's bed." Eros: "Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country." Antony: "When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then To do this when I bade thee?" What does this moment between Antony and Eros represent?
  1. A.Cleopatra's successful manipulation
  2. B.A test of loyalty and self-sacrifice
  3. C.Antony's reluctance to die
  4. D.The dishonour of Eros refusing to fight
Show answer

Answer: B. A test of loyalty and self-sacrifice

Antony commands Eros to kill him, as a test of the servant's loyalty.

JAMB 2025Question 4 · Literary Devices/Terminology
Another form of literature that often employs verse is
  1. A.parable
  2. B.fable
  3. C.drama
  4. D.prose
Show answer

Answer: C. drama

While prose is the language of ordinary speech, drama (plays) frequently employs verse; Shakespeare's plays, for example, are primarily written in blank verse.

JAMB 2025Question 5 · Poetry Set Texts
This question is based on Literary Appreciation. A thousand explosions in the belly of the earth, Bleeding rigs, bursting pipes, The oil flows, From the earth's sickbed, Because, The oil only flows, When the earth bleeds. The subject matter of the excerpt above is
  1. A.despoliation
  2. B.contestation
  3. C.unification
  4. D.revolution
Show answer

Answer: A. despoliation

The excerpt describes the violent impact of oil extraction on the environment, using phrases like "a thousand explosions," "bleeding rigs" and "bursting pipes."

JAMB 2025Question 6 · Poetry Set Texts
This question is based on Literary Appreciation. The sunset steals our youth, We must depart, We must follow the trail of the killer-bird, Or else sleep the sleep of terror. The excerpt above portrays the theme of
  1. A.mortality
  2. B.nature
  3. C.nurture
  4. D.affection
Show answer

Answer: A. mortality

The "sunset" is a classic literary metaphor for the end of life or old age.

JAMB 2025Question 7 · Poetry Set Texts
In Lawrence's "Bat", the poetic persona concludes the poem by stating
  1. A.his aversion for bats
  2. B.the beauty of nature
  3. C.the beauty of bats
  4. D.the importance of bats
Show answer

Answer: A. his aversion for bats

The poem concludes with the persona's clear feeling of disgust and horror toward the creatures.

JAMB 2025Question 8 · Prose Set Texts
This question is based on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. The overriding depiction of mystery and terror in the novel accounts for its classification as a
  1. A.neo-classical novel
  2. B.gothic novel
  3. C.satiric fiction
  4. D.science fiction
Show answer

Answer: B. gothic novel

Wuthering Heights is classified as a Gothic novel because it prominently features elements designed to evoke mystery, suspense and fear.

JAMB 2025Question 9 · Prose Set Texts
This question is based on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. From the events in the novel, one can conclude that Joseph is
  1. A.straightforward
  2. B.hypocritical
  3. C.amiable
  4. D.unserious
Show answer

Answer: B. hypocritical

Joseph is a servant at Wuthering Heights who is strictly religious and constantly quotes the Bible to judge others.

JAMB 2025Question 10 · Prose Set Texts
This question is based on So the Path Does Not Die. What is the narrative function of the Kumba Kargbo legend at the beginning of the novel?
  1. A.To introduce Western ideals.
  2. B.To critique African nationalism.
  3. C.To expose the horrors of war.
  4. D.To symbolise Fina's inner rebellion and uniqueness.
Show answer

Answer: D. To symbolise Fina's inner rebellion and uniqueness.

Kumba Kargbo is a forerunner to Fina - she too questions norms, seeks knowledge, and eventually destroys what she wants to save.

Practise all 108 JAMB 2025 Literature questions free

Answer them on Acelume, timed like the CBT, see the answer straight away and get a list of the topics you need to work on.

Create a free accountI have an account

More JAMB Literature past questions

Other subjects