English Literature MCQ

1636. Poets like Tennyson, Robert Browning, Thomas Carlyle and Mathew Arnold belong to the

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Victorian Age.

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, GRE Subject Test in Literature in English, AQA and Edexcel GCSE and A-Level English Literature exams.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Victorian Age (1837–1901) is associated with significant literary figures like Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, and Arnold, who explored themes relevant to the era.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the Victorian Age with the Romantic or Elizabethan periods, which are earlier and have different literary styles and themes.

Explanations: The Victorian Age is defined by its unique literary contributions, including works by the listed poets. This period follows the Romantic era and precedes the Modern Age, making it the correct classification for these writers.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Romantic age (late 18th to early 19th century) is too early and features different poets like Wordsworth and Byron.
Option B: The Victorian Age (1837–1901) correctly includes Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, and Arnold, who were prominent during this period.
Option C: The Elizabethan Age (1558–1603) is much earlier and associated with Shakespeare and Spenser, not the listed poets.
Option D: The Modern Age (20th century onwards) is too late and does not include these Victorian-era writers.

Mnemonic: Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, Arnold: Victorian Voices.

1637. Oscar Wilde believed in:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Aestheticism.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Oscar Wilde was a key proponent of Aestheticism, advocating for art's intrinsic value and beauty.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Wilde's focus on beauty and art over practicality or escapism.

Explanations: Oscar Wilde's philosophy centered on Aestheticism, where art was valued for its beauty and its own sake. His works and essays, such as "The Decay of Lying," emphasize the transformative power of art and the pursuit of beauty, aligning with Aestheticist principles.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Wilde's beliefs align with Aestheticism, focusing on art for art's sake.
Option B: Incorrect. Escapism refers to avoiding reality, which was not Wilde's focus.
Option C: Incorrect. Pragmatism emphasizes practicality, contrary to Wilde's aesthetic ideals.
Option D: Incorrect. Aestheticism is the correct answer, so this option is wrong.

Mnemonic: Wilde's Art: Aestheticism, Always.

1638. Which of the following phrases best characterizes the late-nineteenth century aesthetic movement which widened the breach between artists and the reading public, sowing the seeds of modernism?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Art for art's sake.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The aesthetic movement emphasized art's intrinsic value, rejecting external purposes.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the aesthetic movement with other movements like Romanticism or Realism.

Explanations: The aesthetic movement of the late-nineteenth century advocated for art created solely for its own sake, without the need to serve a moral, political, or religious purpose. This philosophy, encapsulated by the phrase "Art for art's sake," marked a significant shift in artistic thought, prioritizing beauty and form over utility or message. This stance contributed to the growing divide between artists and the general public, as it often resulted in works that were more abstract and less accessible. The movement's emphasis on artistic expression for its own intrinsic value laid the groundwork for modernist art movements that followed.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Art for intellect's sake" focuses on intellectual purposes, which is not the core of the aesthetic movement. The movement was more about beauty and form than intellectual engagement.
Option B: "Art for God's sake" implies a religious motive, which contradicts the secular nature of the aesthetic movement. The movement rejected external purposes, including religious ones.
Option C: "Art for the masses" suggests that art should cater to a broad audience, which is the opposite of the aesthetic movement's elitist stance. The movement often produced works that were inaccessible to the general public.
Option D: "Art for art's sake" correctly captures the essence of the aesthetic movement, emphasizing the intrinsic value of art without the need for external justification.

Mnemonic: "Art for Art's Sake" is a direct and memorable phrase that encapsulates the movement's core belief.

1639. Which of the following statements about Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet 43 ("How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.") is false?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Sonnet 43 is a romantic poem in the same way Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" is a romantic poem.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, A-Level English

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The core concept is understanding the characteristics of romantic poetry and distinguishing between different poets' focuses.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming all romantic poems focus on love, ignoring the nature themes in Wordsworth's work.

Explanations: Sonnet 43 is a romantic poem focused on love, while "Tintern Abbey" explores nature and personal reflection, differing in romantic themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sonnet 43 focuses on love, similar to other sonnets. This is correct.
Option B: It is part of "Sonnets from the Portuguese." This is correct.
Option C: It has fourteen lines, typical of sonnets. This is correct.
Option D: Sonnet 43 is romantic but differs from Wordsworth's nature-focused romanticism. This is incorrect.

1640. World War I affected the writing of many authors. Which of the following poets would not have been touched by that event?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Oscar Wilde

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Oscar Wilde died in 1900, before World War I began in 1914, so he was not affected by the war.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Oscar Wilde with other poets who were contemporaries of World War I.

Explanations: World War I influenced many poets who were alive during or after the war. Oscar Wilde died in 1900, so he was not impacted by the events of World War I.

Option Analysis:

Option A: T.S. Eliot was influenced by World War I, as seen in his works like "The Waste Land."
Option B: Siegfried Sassoon wrote poetry reflecting his experiences in World War I.
Option C: Wilfred Owen is known for his war poetry, including "Dulce et Decorum Est."
Option D: Oscar Wilde died in 1900, before World War I began.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1641. Which of the following poets does Milton emulate?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Both Virgil and Homer.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: John Milton's emulation of Virgil and Homer is a key aspect of his literary style, particularly in "Paradise Lost."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to attribute Milton's influence to only one of the poets, neglecting the other.

Explanations: Milton's work reflects influences from both Virgil and Homer. From Virgil, he adopts the epic structure and themes of heroism and divine intervention. From Homer, he borrows narrative techniques and character archetypes. This dual influence is central to his literary style.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as Milton also drew from Homer.
Option B: Incorrect, as Milton also drew from Virgil.
Option C: Correct, as Milton emulated both poets.
Option D: Incorrect, as Milton was influenced by both.

Mnemonic: Milton Melds Virgil and Homer

1642. Who are the main characters of "The knight's tale"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Palamon and Arcite.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: "The Knight's Tale" focuses on Palamon and Arcite, two knights who compete for Emily's love.

Common Mistakes: Confusing Theseus or Emily as main characters instead of Palamon and Arcite.

Explanations: Palamon and Arcite are the central characters whose rivalry and love drive the narrative. They are prisoners who escape and compete for Emily's hand in a tournament arranged by Theseus.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Palamon and Arcite are the main characters whose rivalry and love form the core of the story.
Option B: Theseus is a secondary character who facilitates the resolution, and Emily is the object of their affection but not a main character.
Option C: Venus and Mars are deities who influence the story but are not central characters.
Option D: Geoffrey Chaucer is the author, not a character, and Emily is not the main focus.

Mnemonic: PA for Palamon and Arcite.

1643. An example of a bildungsroman novel would be:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Charles Dickens' Great Expectations

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: A bildungsroman is a novel that charts the psychological and moral growth of its protagonist from youth to adulthood.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the genre as a simple coming-of-age story rather than a specific focus on internal development.

Explanations: Great Expectations follows Pip's journey of self-discovery and personal growth, making it a classic example of a bildungsroman.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Return of the Native is a tragedy focused on environmental conflict, not personal growth.
Option B: London Labor and the London Poor is non-fiction, not a novel of development.
Option C: Dracula is a gothic horror novel, not focused on character growth.
Option D: Great Expectations is a bildungsroman, focusing on Pip's development.

Mnemonic: Bildungsroman: Growth, Development, and Coming-of-Age

1644. Greville was biographer of:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Sir Philip Sidney

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of literary biographers and their subjects.

Common Mistakes: Confusing Greville's subject with other poets of the same period.

Explanations: Greville wrote the biography of Sir Philip Sidney, a significant figure in English Renaissance literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Edmund Spencer was a poet, not the subject of Greville's biography.
Option B: John Donne was a metaphysical poet, unrelated to Greville.
Option C: Sir Philip Sidney was a prominent poet and statesman, and Greville wrote his biography.
Option D: John Milton was a major poet, but not the subject of Greville's work.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1645. Which of the following contributed to the growing awareness in the Late Victorian Period of the immense human, economic, and political costs of running an empire?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the above.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Late Victorian Period saw increased awareness of the costs of empire due to several rebellions and wars.

Common Mistakes: Some might think only one event contributed, but all three had significant impacts.

Explanations: The India Mutiny (1857) revealed the human and political costs of colonial rule. The Boer War (1899-1902) highlighted economic and military expenses. The Jamaica Rebellion (1865) showed the social and political tensions. Together, these events contributed to awareness of empire's costs.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The India Mutiny exposed the fragility of colonial control and the human costs of repression.
Option B: The Boer War demonstrated the economic burden and political complications of empire.
Option C: The Jamaica Rebellion highlighted the social unrest and political challenges in maintaining control.
Option D: All events contributed to the growing awareness of empire's costs.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1646. At what point does the narration unfolds in the poem Paradise Lost?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) After the defeat of rebel angels.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, British Literature courses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem begins in medias res, recounting events after the defeat of rebel angels.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the narrative structure and assuming the poem starts in Eden.

Explanations: *Paradise Lost* starts with the defeated rebel angels in Hell, recounting their rebellion against God. This sets the stage for the subsequent events in Eden.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. The narration does not begin in Eden.
Option B: Incorrect. The fall of man occurs later in the poem.
Option C: Correct. The poem begins after the defeat of rebel angels.
Option D: Incorrect. This describes a pre-rebellion moment.

Mnemonic: Milton starts mid-rebellion, not in Eden's bliss.

1647. What was Ebenezer Scrooge's job?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) A banker.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Ebenezer Scrooge's profession is a key detail in "A Christmas Carol."

Common Mistakes: Confusing Scrooge's role with other characters or elements in the story.

Explanations: Ebenezer Scrooge is a banker in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." This is explicitly stated in the novel, making it a straightforward fact to recall.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Scrooge is a banker in the novel.
Option B: Incorrect. Scrooge is not a policeman.
Option C: Incorrect. Scrooge is a real person, not a ghost.
Option D: Incorrect. Scrooge is not an accountant.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1648. What happened when Rani poured the curry with magical roots on the ant-hill?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Cobra got attracted to Rani.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests understanding of the specific magical effect described in the story.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming the curry would harm the ants or the cobra, rather than attract the cobra.

Explanations: The magical roots in the curry had a specific effect of attracting the cobra to Rani, rather than harming the ants or the cobra.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The ants did not die because the curry's effect was on the cobra, not the ants.
Option B: The cobra did not die; instead, it was attracted to Rani.
Option C: The cobra was attracted to Rani due to the magical roots in the curry.
Option D: This is incorrect because option C is the correct answer.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

1649. Dryden's critical views are expressed in his longest single prose work.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) The Essay of Dramatick Poesie.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of John Dryden's major prose works and their content.

Common Mistakes: Confusion with Sir Philip Sidney's works like "A Defense of Poetry" or "An Apologie for Poetry."

Explanations: John Dryden's "The Essay of Dramatick Poesie" is his longest single prose work and a key text in English literary criticism. It discusses drama and poetry, comparing French and English approaches. The other options are works by Sir Philip Sidney, not Dryden.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "A Defense of Poetry" is by Sir Philip Sidney, not Dryden.
Option B: "An Apologie for Poetry" is also by Sir Philip Sidney.
Option C: "On Poetry" is a general title, not specific to Dryden.
Option D: "The Essay of Dramatick Poesie" is Dryden's work, correctly identifying his longest prose work.

Mnemonic: Dryden's Essay on Drama is his longest prose, not Sidney's Defense or Apologie.

1650. How was the boy different from others shoe-shine boys?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) He did not sit on the pavement and went house-to-house.

Exam Relevance: SAT Literature Subject Test, GRE Analytical Writing

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The story highlights the boy's unique approach to shoe-shining by going house-to-house instead of waiting on the street.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the boy's method as charging less or using a footrest instead of recognizing his proactive approach.

Explanations: The boy's difference lies in his proactive method of going to customers' homes, distinguishing him from others who waited on the pavement.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The story does not mention a footrest.
Option B: The boy did not charge less; he focused on quality.
Option C: Correct, as the boy went door-to-door.
Option D: The story does not mention funny stories.

Mnemonic: House-to-House, Unique Approach

⬅ Previous SetSet 110Next Set ➡

10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 110”

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 110”

Leave a Reply