Cracking the GRE Literature Test, 5th Edition

by The Princeton Review

The GRE subject tests are among the most difficult standardized exams. Rather than testing general problem-solving skills, they require highly specialized knowledge.

The experts at The Princeton Review have thoroughly research each subject test to provide students with the most thorough, up-to-date information available. Students don’t need to relearn the entire histories of their fields—just what they need to know to earn high scores on the exams.

Each guide includes one full-length practice exam, complete with comprehensive explanations for every solution.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 1996

About the author

The Princeton Review is an education services company providing tutoring, test preparation and admission resources for students. It was founded in 1981. and since that time has worked with over 400 million students.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine. And by "fine," I mean, this book is like this scene from Undeclared: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H3GM-...

Which is to say: the only way to prepare yourself to get punched in the face is to get punched in the face. Fear is the only obstacle. A fight is only, like, 20 punches in the face, which is what this test is going to be. 230 punches in the face.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the joy of reading this beauty cover to cover over the last few weeks. I thought it was super helpful, but the practice test they include is way easier than the one ETS supplies so that worries me. I do like that it generally insults ETS and mocks the test while it's telling me how to pass it. It makes me feel like it's us against ETS. Thrilling read, I know.

[Jessica Burstrem · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably still the best book out there, but it's woefully out of date. It was written over ten years ago, and things have changed. The test no longer has a guessing penalty, so that changes the strategy, and it is more about reading comprehension than about identifications now too. I wish I had known all of that before I got into the test.

[Peregrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like it prepared me a lot for the test, but wow this book can be insulting.

[Eric Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea how to rate this, as I haven't taken the exam yet. However, reading it did make me feel somewhat more confident, so that's worth something.

[Garrett Zecker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a helpful book on the GRE Literature exam. But after taking it, it seems that this is an exam that there cannot really be a study guide for as it is a strikingly broad subject and requires a tremendous amount of study prior to attempting it that effectively summarizes all English literature (from 449-present) and modern new criticism. That said, there were some standards that the book mentioned that were on the exam that tend to show up a lot - I would agree with that, and saw many familiarly referenced authors and pieces that the book mentioned. It is important to note, however, that a strong background in literature regardless of the book, as well as an intimate familiarity with the authors and works of volumes one and two of the Norton Anthology is almost unmistakably central to doing well.

The book helped me prep for the types of questions on the exam. I used the 2011 book - it is interesting because while it is unfortunate that there was a style of question in the practice illustrations and exams that was not on the 2014 exam, it also seemed incredibly unfair and difficult to me. So, unfortunate that I spent my time on it, but fortunate that it was not on the test because it was difficult and unfair.

If you can pick up on the styles of questions in the practice exams available online and on the GRE site, and you have a copy of the Norton Anthology, you should be fine without this book. It wasn’t so helpful that I could have gone in without any information from my years of study and done well on it. It was helpful in general test-prep help on the types of questions and explanations of the answers and how they trick you - but it is important to note, only on the specific questions they provide in the book.

Would I use it again? Yes, but I am glad that I took it out of the library rather than purchase it, even if it was a little out of date.

Update, 11/24/2014
I received a 500 out of possible 990 points on the exam.

[Sus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly effective book that does pretty much what it promises: offer good ways to review for an approach the GRE in Lit. I used an earlier edition of this book when I first took this exam nine years ago; I found it as useful the second time around.

I haven't tried any of its competitors, so I can't offer comparisons. But I can recommend the Princeton Review guidebook unreservedly.

(One would do well to bear in mind -- this is the caveat -- that a Literature test is very hard to cram for, so giving yourself adequate review time is assuredly the best way to use the book.)

One final recommendation: I found the review site "vade mecum," at http://www.duke.edu/~tmw15/study%20gu... , extremely helpful for name-, date- and character review. And no, no one paid me to say that. :)

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful, but several major errors in the Iliad discussion seriously weakened my faith in its guidance. There is no valid translation of the Iliad in which the first line is "This is the story of an angry man," especially directly after a discussion of epic invocation. Agamemnon and Achilles are not Spartans. Neither is Odysseus. Thetis is not a demigod. In fact, "demigod" is not a catch-all term for "non-Olympian deity." And it might be a good idea to mention that Achilles' best friend, whose death he avenges, is named Patroclus.

Other erroneous aspects (Virginia Woolf and James Joyce are listed as Nineteenth Century Americans) could be remedied with the aid of a good copyeditor; I suggest the Princeton Review employ one.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the style in which this book is written but am unimpressed with the amount of literary terms included in the text. That's about as far as I've gotten though. I would definitely recommend to anyone taking this exam that they supplement the lit. terms with, for example, an NCTE guide to lit. terms. Again, though, much of my review will be contingent upon how well the test (which I won't take until Nov.) goes, or rather the results I receive back in Jan. :) Well, took the test. I should have listened to my intuition and ordering a separate book but couldn't find one...next time, I should do this.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've gotta say that while this book was really a helpful guide towards what I needed to prepare for the test, besides reading all that they recommend, there is more beyond what is in this book that you need to prepare. For example, the book highlights that Greek mythology will appear on the exam - what I found is that there were lots of questions that required an in-depth knowledge of Greek mythology including the Greek texts. I didn't have an English Literature degree or background, so found this exam particularly daunting but for those with some background, the book might be a more helpful guide to assuage their fears about whether they know enough or not.

[Beth Windle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review book was amazingly helpful. I especially liked the way it provided an explanation of correct/incorrect answers at the back of the test.

I also really like the tone of the authors...sort of a "hey, we know the test is severely deformed, but we're going to help you get the most point you can anyway" attitude.

[Stephanie Bens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very helpful study tool. I actually put it down for several months while doing other things and I found that I could pick it back up and remember easily what the book emphasized as far as reading material and study tips.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose I shouldn't rate this until I see how I actually do on the test, but I feel like it has been helpful, and I liked the tone. It was actually fun to read, especially compared to other prep books.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely useful over view of the hard core old school literary canon.

[Ke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book provides a good foundation for a prospective test-taker.

I'm not sure how reliable the practice test is and was a bit annoyed with the horrible jokes, but I'm sure the writers meant well.

[Jessica]

Decided not to take the test this year. This books seems great, though.

[Kimberly]

i feel like i can't provide stars until i see how i do on the exam?

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLY useful! The test went by easily!

[Windy]

Blah, blah, blaaaaaah.

[Aries Setiadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A recommended book for GRE test-takers.