English Literature Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 14 english literature competitions for high school students. Of these, 12 are free to participate in and 11 offer virtual participation. Examples include Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests (Anthem, The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged), English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, and Free Expression Essay Competition (PEN America).
- 14
- listed
- 12
- free
- 11
- virtual
- 13
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are english literature competitions for high school students?
- English Literature Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in english literature. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- When are the application deadlines?
- 13 of the 14 competitions listed here have a specific deadline month noted. Deadlines vary by program, so check each listing for exact dates.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 12 of the 14 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 11 of the 14 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are english literature competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — english literature competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in english literature on college applications.
Related Categories
14 activities found·Browse by category
Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests (Anthem, The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged)
Annual international essay contests in which middle and high school students read one of Ayn Rand's novels and write an analytical essay on its themes and characters, with top prizes up to $25,000.
English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition
A performance-based program running since 1983 in which students memorize and perform a Shakespeare monologue and sonnet, advancing from classroom to regional ESU Branch rounds and ultimately a national final in New York City.
Free Expression Essay Competition (PEN America)
An annual essay competition from PEN America in which high school students ages 15-17 write 1,000-word essays on threats to free expression in the U.S. or abroad, with top entries winning cash prizes.
Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Essay Contest
An annual international essay contest on a set Jane Austen theme, open to students worldwide, with scholarship prizes and free registration/travel to the JASNA Annual General Meeting.
JASNA Essay Contest
An annual international essay contest from the Jane Austen Society of North America in which high school students write a scholarly essay on an assigned aspect of Austen's novels, with a $1,000 scholarship for the top entry in each division.
Marin Poetry Center High School Poetry Contest
Annual poetry contest open to any high school student in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, with winning poems published in an anthology and honored at a public awards reading.
National PTA Reflections - Literature
A long-running national arts program with a dedicated Literature category, with entries advancing from local PTA to council, region, state, and national levels.
Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers (The Kenyon Review)
A free annual prize for one unpublished poem, open worldwide to sophomores and juniors, with the winner published in The Kenyon Review and awarded a full scholarship to a Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop.
Poetry Out Loud
A national poetry recitation competition, run by the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation, where students memorize and perform poems, advancing from classroom to school, state, and national finals in Washington, DC.
Reed Magazine Emerging Voices Contest
Creative writing and art contest exclusively for Santa Clara County, California high school students, with winners published in San Jose State University's Reed Magazine.
Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest
An annual essay contest from Penguin Random House open to high school juniors and seniors, who write on a themed prompt tied to a classic novel for a chance at a $1,000 scholarship and a library of Signet Classics for their school.
Student Poetry Award (Poetry Society of America)
An annual national award, endowed under the Whitbread and Bourne bequests, for the best unpublished poem submitted by a student in grades 9-12, judged anonymously by the Poetry Society of America.
The Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival
A nationwide playwriting competition for writers ages 9-19 whose 12 winning plays receive fully staged professional productions in Los Angeles with mentorship from working playwrights.
The New York Times Student Editorial Contest
A free global contest via the NYT Learning Network asking teens to write a 500-word persuasive open letter/editorial, with winning entries published by The New York Times.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.