English Literature MCQ

1561. Crowned himself as the king of Denmark in the place of Hamlet.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Claudius.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the characters and their actions in Shakespeare's "Hamlet."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Claudius with other characters like Polonius or Laertes, who are not kings.

Explanations: Claudius is the uncle of Hamlet and the brother of the late King Hamlet. After King Hamlet's death, Claudius crowned himself king, leading to the central conflict of the play.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Claudius is correct because he usurps the throne after King Hamlet's death.
Option B: Polonius is incorrect; he is the royal counselor, not the king.
Option C: Laertes is incorrect; he is the son of Polonius and a rival of Hamlet, not the king.
Option D: Prince Fortinbras is incorrect; he is the prince of Norway and a potential successor, but he does not crown himself in place of Hamlet.

Mnemonic: Claudius the King, after Hamlet's father's death, took the crown and led to the play's tragic plot.

1562. What does the priest's son's prayers for the punishment of the tribe's iniquities tell us about the Zuni tribe?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The Zunis are spiritual and have a strong moral code that they live by and teach to their children.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Zuni tribe's spiritual practices and moral teachings are evident through the priest's son's prayers, indicating a strong cultural emphasis on spirituality and morality.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the cultural context and focusing on unrelated aspects like nosiness or fear of natural disasters.

Explanations: The priest's son's prayers reflect the tribe's spiritual and moral framework, showing their commitment to spiritual practices and moral education for their children.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The text does not mention nosiness or interference in others' affairs.
Option B: The prayers indicate a spiritual and moral code within the tribe.
Option C: There is no mention of fear of earthquakes or floods.
Option D: The context does not suggest storytelling for entertainment.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic provided.

1563. 'The Restoration Age' marked the restoration of monarchy with ascent to the throne of:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Charles II.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The Restoration Age marks the return of the monarchy in England after the Commonwealth period.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Charles II and other monarchs like James II or William III.

Explanations: The Restoration Age began in 1660 with the return of Charles II to the throne, ending the Commonwealth era.

Option Analysis:

Option A: James II succeeded Charles II, not the other way around.
Option B: Charles II was the monarch who restored the monarchy in 1660.
Option C: Charles III is a later monarch and not associated with the Restoration.
Option D: William III ruled after the Glorious Revolution, not the Restoration.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1564. Even in John Milton's lifetime, "Paradise Regained" was considered in literary quality as largely .....to "Paradise Lost."

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Inferior.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The literary quality of "Paradise Regained" was considered inferior to "Paradise Lost" during Milton's lifetime.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is thinking "Paradise Regained" is as highly regarded as "Paradise Lost."

Explanations: "Paradise Regained" was generally viewed as less compelling and impactful compared to "Paradise Lost," which is considered a masterpiece. This perception was prevalent even during Milton's lifetime.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Superior" is incorrect because "Paradise Regained" was not considered better than "Paradise Lost."
Option B: "Inferior" is correct as "Paradise Regained" was seen as less literary in quality.
Option C: "Equal" is incorrect because the two works were not regarded as equal in quality.
Option D: "Irrelevant" is incorrect because "Paradise Regained" was not considered irrelevant, just less impressive.

Mnemonic: Regained is less, Lost is best.

1565. Who authored the first two books published in English by a Native American?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Samson Occom.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of early Native American authors and their contributions to English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Samson Occom with other early Native American writers like Mary Rowlandson or William Apess.

Explanations: Samson Occom authored the first two books published in English by a Native American, making him the correct answer. His works include "A Sermon Preached at the Execution of Moses Paul" and "A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs."

Option Analysis:

Option A: William Apess was a Native American writer, but he did not author the first two books in English by a Native American.
Option B: Elias Boudinot was a Cherokee writer, but he did not author the first two books in English by a Native American.
Option C: Mary Rowlandson was a colonial writer, but she was not Native American and did not author the first two books in English by a Native American.
Option D: Samson Occom was a Mohegan minister and writer who authored the first two books published in English by a Native American.

Mnemonic: Samson Occom: First Native Author in English.

1566. Who goes to the village panch to complain against Rani ?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Appanna

Exam Relevance: CBSE Class 10 English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The story "The Blue Bead" by Rabindranath Tagore involves characters who interact in a village setting. Appanna is a key character who takes action against Rani.

Common Mistakes: Some might confuse Appanna with Kappanna, thinking they are the same character.

Explanations: Appanna goes to the village panch to complain against Rani because he feels wronged by her actions. This is a direct fact from the story.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Appanna is the one who complains to the panch.
Option B: Incorrect. Kappanna is another character but not involved in this complaint.
Option C: Incorrect. Kurudava is unrelated to this specific event.
Option D: Incorrect. Cobra is an animal and not a person in the story.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1567. Which of the following famous literary lines is contained in William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, SAT Subject Test in Literature, University-level literature courses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a specific literary line and its attribution to the correct poem and author.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the line with similar themes from other works, such as agricultural decay or existentialist literature.

Explanations: The line "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold" is a central theme in Yeats' "The Second Coming," symbolizing the breakdown of societal order. The other options are from different works or unrelated contexts.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This line is not from Yeats' poem and might be confused with agricultural themes in other works.
Option B: This line is unrelated to Yeats' work and might be mistaken for urban themes in other literature.
Option C: This is the correct line from Yeats' "The Second Coming," reflecting themes of chaos and societal breakdown.
Option D: This line is from Albert Camus' "The Stranger," not Yeats' poem.

Mnemonic: "Things fall apart when the center can't hold—Yeats warns of chaos in 'The Second Coming.'"

1568. The story has features not seen in this world, such as magic, time travel, strange settings and fantastic characters

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Fantasy

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Fantasy is a genre that includes elements such as magic, time travel, and fantastical settings.

Common Mistakes: Mistaking fantasy for other genres like mystery or folktale.

Explanations: Fantasy literature often includes elements not found in reality, such as magic, time travel, and fantastical settings. These elements distinguish fantasy from other genres.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Mystery involves solving a puzzle or crime, not fantastical elements.
Option B: Myth typically involves traditional stories about gods, not modern fantasy elements.
Option C: Fantasy includes magic, time travel, and fantastical settings.
Option D: Folktales often include moral lessons and may not always include fantastical elements.

Mnemonic: Fantasy Features: Magic, Monsters, and Mystical Worlds.

1569. Fanny Burney established the respectability of the female novelist with the.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Evelina.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Fanny Burney's "Evelina" is a landmark in English literature for establishing the respectability of female novelists.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse "Evelina" with other novels by male authors or associate it with the wrong literary period.

Explanations: "Evelina" by Fanny Burney is significant because it was one of the first novels by a woman to gain critical acclaim and respectability, challenging the stereotype that women could not produce serious literary works. This novel helped pave the way for other female novelists.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Amelia" is a novel by Henry Fielding, a male author, and not related to Fanny Burney's contribution.
Option B: "Clarissa" is a novel by Samuel Richardson, another male author, and not connected to Fanny Burney's work.
Option C: "Pamela" is also by Samuel Richardson and does not relate to Fanny Burney's establishment of female novelist respectability.
Option D: "Evelina" is the correct answer as it is Fanny Burney's novel that marked the beginning of female novelists gaining respectability.

Mnemonic: Evelina Elevated Female Novels

1570. What is the primary purpose of Chetien de Troye's medieval romances?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) To reconcile the hero's responsibilities in love and wars.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Chetien de Troye's romances explore the internal conflicts of knights balancing love and war.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the primary focus as religious conversion or historical education.

Explanations: Chetien's romances focus on the hero's struggle to reconcile love and war responsibilities, highlighting themes of honor and loyalty.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The romances are not primarily conversion tools.
Option B: They were not meant for illiterate readers.
Option C: Correctly identifies the central theme.
Option D: The romances do not discourage courtly love.

Mnemonic: "Love vs. War: Chetien's Core"

1571. Which speaker said that "God is more nearer to us than our own soul?"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Julian of Norwich.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature, University English Literature Exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a specific statement attributed to a medieval English mystic.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the works of different medieval female mystics.

Explanations: Julian of Norwich is known for her mystical visions and the statement "God is more nearer to us than our own soul" reflects her belief in the immanence of God. This statement is central to her work "Revelations of Divine Love," which is one of the earliest surviving books written by an English woman.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Julian of Norwich is correct because she authored the statement in her work.
Option B: Margery Kempe is incorrect; she wrote "The Book of Margery Kempe," focusing on her own spiritual journey without this specific statement.
Option C: Catherine of Siena is incorrect; her works focus on mysticism and letters to popes, not this statement.
Option D: Catherine de Pizan is incorrect; she was a French writer known for her feminist works, not this statement.

Mnemonic: Julian's Nearness: Remember Julian for her emphasis on God's closeness.

1572. A traditional story handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Types include fables, myths and fairy tales

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Folktale.

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, AP English Literature and Composition Exam.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: A folktale is a traditional story passed down through generations by word of mouth, including fables, myths, and fairy tales.

Common Mistakes: Confusing folktale with other genres like fantasy or realistic fiction.

Explanations: Folktales are traditional stories shared orally, including fables, myths, and fairy tales. Other genres like mystery, fantasy, and realistic fiction-adventure do not fit this definition.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Mystery refers to stories involving suspense and solving a problem, not traditional oral tales.
Option B: Fantasy involves imaginary worlds and magical elements, distinct from traditional folktales.
Option C: Folktale is correct as it matches the description of traditional oral stories.
Option D: Realistic fiction-adventure focuses on real-world settings and action, not traditional tales.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1573. Victorian novels use characterization to represent class and rank. Which of the following passages is a good example of how Charles Dickens reveals the class tension in Hard Times ?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) He was a rich man: banker, merchant, manufacturer, and what not. A big, loud man, with a stare, and a metallic laugh. A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have been stretched to make so much of him. A man with a great puffed head and forehead, swelled veins in his temples, and such a strained skin to his face that it seemed to hold his eyes open, and lift his eyebrows up. A man with a pervading appearance on him of being inflated like a balloon, and ready to start. A man who could never sufficiently vaunt himself a self-made man. A man who was always proclaiming, through that brassy speaking-trumpet of a voice of his, his old ignorance and his old poverty. A man who was the Bully of humility.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Victorian novels often use detailed character descriptions to reflect social class and hierarchy.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding how character traits symbolize broader social issues.

Explanations: The passage describes Mr. Bounderby, emphasizing his wealth, loud demeanor, and self-made identity. These traits highlight class tension by contrasting his nouveau riche status with traditional aristocracy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correctly shows class tension through Mr. Bounderby's characterization.
Option B: Focuses on Mrs. Gradgrind's lack of imagination, unrelated to class tension.
Option C: Describes the Gradgrind children's education, not class dynamics.
Option D: Involves Mrs. Gradgrind's health, not class tension.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

1574. What is the primary focus of Bede's Ecclesiastical History?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The conversion of Britain to Christianity.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Bede's Ecclesiastical History primarily focuses on the spread and establishment of Christianity in Britain.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the focus with the daily lives of people or the history of Christianity outside Britain.

Explanations: Bede's work details the conversion of Britain to Christianity, focusing on key events and figures involved in the missionary efforts. It does not primarily discuss everyday life, the history of Christianity before Britain, or events after the Norman Conquest.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as the focus is not on everyday life but on religious conversion.
Option B: Correct, as it accurately reflects the primary focus of Bede's work.
Option C: Incorrect, as Bede does not cover the history of Christianity before Britain.
Option D: Incorrect, as the Norman Conquest is outside the scope of Bede's narrative.

Mnemonic: "Bede's Book: Britain's Baptism into Belief."

1575. "Mingled with fine wheat and the fat of a new-born babe, " said the shape of old goodman Brown. "Ah, your worship knows the receipt, " cried the old lady, cackling aloud. "So, as I was saying, being all ready for the meeting, and no horse to ride on, I made up my mind to foot it; for they tell me, there is a nice young man to be taken into communion to-night. But now your good worship will lend me your arm, and we shall be there in a twinkling." The word "receipt" in this context means "a written acknowledgment of having received a specified amount of money or goods."

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) False.

Exam Relevance: Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The word "receipt" in this context refers to a recipe or method, not a financial acknowledgment.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding "receipt" as a financial document rather than a recipe or method.

Explanations: In the context of the conversation, "receipt" refers to a recipe or method, likely for a ritualistic purpose. It does not mean a written acknowledgment of having received money or goods.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because it misinterprets "receipt" as a financial document.
Option B: Correct because "receipt" here means a recipe or method, not a financial acknowledgment.

Mnemonic: "In literature, 'receipt' can mean a recipe for magic, not just a receipt for cash."

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 105”

Mani January 4, 2020
You’re might me mistaken For this which poet called himself ” I awake one morning and found myself famous” The Answer is Shelley.
I think u might me mistaken
Anwar Ahmad January 4, 2020
Nice efforts
Anwar Ahmad January 6, 2020
Good practice method
Narinder Singh March 26, 2020
I need objective type questions
Anonymous June 3, 2020
Good practise method
Anonymous September 19, 2020
Lord Byron
Susil October 17, 2020
Great information. I like it.
Anonymous February 2, 2021
Byron
Anonymous September 12, 2021
Lord byron
Lucky November 19, 2022
very nice . its very usefull for us

10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 105”

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