Overview of Comprehensive Examination Part II Primary Text(s) Standard Reading Lists for Historical Period Portion of the Comprehensive Examination American Literature: Beginnings to 1865 American Literature: 1865-1914 American Literature: 1914 to present British Literature: Medieval British Literature: Renaissance British Literature: Restoration and Eighteenth Century British Literature: Nineteenth Century British Literature: Twentieth Century Children's & Young Adult Literature Composition, Rhetoric, and Language World Literature: European: Classical World Literature: European: Middle Ages to 1600 World Literature: European: 1600-1800 World Literature: European: 1800-1900 World Literature: European: 1900-1945 World Literature: European: 1945 to present World Literature: Third World/Post-Colonial: Classical (up to 1660) World Literature: Third World/Post-Colonial: Age of Independence (1660-1947) World Literature: Third World/Post-Colonial: Independence and After (1947 to present)