English Literature MCQ

1711. Complete the following statement. Chaucer wrote his elegiac poem, "The Book of the Duchess, " to praise the young Duchess of Lancaster who tragically died of:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The Black Plague.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem "The Book of the Duchess" by Geoffrey Chaucer is an elegy written in memory of Blanche of Lancaster, who died in 1369.

Common Mistakes: Some may confuse the cause of her death with other historical events or poetic themes.

Explanations: Blanche of Lancaster, the Duchess of Lancaster, died in 1369 during the Black Plague, a historical fact reflected in Chaucer's elegiac poem.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Black Plague was a historical event that caused Blanche's death.
Option B: Incorrect. There is no historical evidence of unrequited love causing her death.
Option C: Incorrect. Drowning in the Thames is not a documented cause of her death.
Option D: Incorrect. She did not die from childbirth complications.

Mnemonic: Black Plague, Blanche's fate.

1712. All of the following define the Gothic EXCEPT:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Reason.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Gothic literature is defined by themes such as the unknown, transgression, and the grotesque, often evoking a sense of mystery and horror.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Gothic elements with those of other literary movements, such as Romanticism, which may emphasize reason and nature.

Explanations: Gothic literature focuses on the irrational, supernatural, and emotionally intense, making reason an unlikely defining feature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The unknown is a key element in Gothic literature, often used to create suspense and fear.
Option B: Transgression is common in Gothic narratives, involving the breaking of societal or moral norms.
Option C: Reason is not a defining feature of Gothic literature, which often emphasizes the irrational and emotional.
Option D: The grotesque is a frequent element in Gothic works, used to evoke strong emotional responses.

Mnemonic: Gothic: Grotesque, Transgression, Unknown, Supernatural.

1713. What is Milton's stated purpose in Paradise Lost?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) To justify the ways of God to men.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, Cambridge International AS & A Level English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Milton's purpose in Paradise Lost is to explain and defend God's actions as depicted in the story of Adam and Eve.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Milton's purpose with asserting poetic superiority or making the story difficult to understand.

Explanations: Milton explicitly states his purpose in the opening lines of Paradise Lost: to "justify the ways of God to men." This means explaining and defending God's actions and decisions, exploring themes like free will and divine justice.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Milton does not use Paradise Lost to assert poetic superiority; his focus is theological.
Option B: The poem does not argue against predestination but explores themes like free will and sin.
Option C: Correct. Milton aims to justify God's ways, explaining His actions and decisions.
Option D: Milton's goal is clarity, not to make the story hard to understand.

Mnemonic: C for Clarify God's Ways

1714. The "Prelude in the Theater" of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust" presents a conversation between an audience member, a theater owner, and a playwright. The audience member wants to be entertained, and the theater owner wants money. What does the playwright want?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Beauty.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests understanding of character motivations in Goethe's "Faust," specifically the playwright's pursuit of artistic beauty.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the roles of the characters and conflating their goals.

Explanations: In "Faust," the playwright represents the artist seeking beauty, while the audience and theater owner prioritize entertainment and profit, respectively.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Entertainment is the audience's desire, not the playwright's.
Option B: Money is the theater owner's concern, not the playwright's.
Option C: Beauty is the playwright's artistic goal.
Option D: Fame is not mentioned and is irrelevant to the playwright's focus.

Mnemonic: Playwright seeks Beauty, not Fame or Money.

1715. The most fundamental project of deconstruction is to display the operations of in any text.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Logocentrism.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Deconstruction challenges the idea of a fixed, central meaning in texts.

Common Mistakes: Confusing logocentrism with other -centrism terms like egocentrism or theocentrism.

Explanations: Deconstruction, as developed by Jacques Derrida, seeks to expose the underlying structures of language and meaning. Logocentrism refers to the belief in a central, stable meaning or origin of words, which deconstruction challenges by showing how meanings are fluid and context-dependent.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Egocentrism is unrelated to deconstruction's focus on language structures.
Option B: Theocentrism pertains to a focus on God, which is not relevant here.
Option C: Logocentrism is the correct focus of deconstruction.
Option D: Metacentrism refers to meta-levels, which is not the primary concern.

Mnemonic: "Logos is the target of deconstruction."

1716. Who was Edmund Spenser's patron?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The Earl of Leicester.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Edmund Spenser's patronage is a key aspect of understanding his position in Elizabethan literature.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester, as both were significant figures in Spenser's context.

Explanations: Edmund Spenser was patronized by the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley, who provided him with support and resources. This patronage was crucial for Spenser's literary career, including the composition of "The Faerie Queene."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Earl of Leicester was Spenser's patron.
Option B: Incorrect. Elizabeth I was a monarch, not Spenser's direct patron.
Option C: Incorrect. Lord Burleigh was a statesman, not Spenser's patron.
Option D: Incorrect. Francis Bacon was a philosopher, not Spenser's patron.

Mnemonic: Earl of Leicester, the noble peer, supported Spenser with care.

1717. The author of the story Ram Mohan Roy is.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Rabindranath Tagore.

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, GRE Literature in English

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of authors and their works in English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Rabindranath Tagore with other authors or historical figures.

Explanations: Rabindranath Tagore is the author of the story "Ram Mohan Roy." This is a straightforward fact-based question requiring knowledge of literary works and their authors.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Rabindranath Tagore authored "Ram Mohan Roy."
Option B: Incorrect. O. Henry is known for his short stories, not this specific work.
Option C: Incorrect. J.B. Priestley was a playwright and novelist, unrelated to this story.
Option D: Incorrect. Martin Luther King was a civil rights leader, not an author of this story.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1718. Who is also known as the "Lady with the Lamp"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Florence Nightingale.

Exam Relevance: GCSE, SAT Subject Tests

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Florence Nightingale is a key figure in English literature and history, known for her contributions to nursing.

Common Mistakes: Some might confuse her with other notable women, such as Rani Laxmibai or Bachendri Pal, who are also celebrated but for different reasons.

Explanations: Florence Nightingale earned the nickname "Lady with the Lamp" due to her nighttime rounds tending to soldiers during the Crimean War. This nickname highlights her dedication and compassion in nursing.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Florence Nightingale is known as the "Lady with the Lamp" for her nursing work during the Crimean War.
Option B: Incorrect. Sarojini Naidu was an Indian poet and political activist, known as the "Nightingale of India," but not related to the lamp nickname.
Option C: Incorrect. Rani Laxmibai was a queen and warrior, famous for her role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, unrelated to the "Lady with the Lamp" title.
Option D: Incorrect. Bachendri Pal is a renowned Indian mountaineer, known for being the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, unrelated to the nickname.

Mnemonic: Florence's lamp lit the way in nursing.

1719. An Apology for Poetry is written by -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Philip Sydney.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the author of "An Apology for Poetry," a key text in English literary criticism.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Philip Sydney with other poets or critics from different periods.

Explanations: "An Apology for Poetry" is a defense of poetry written by Philip Sydney in the 16th century. It is a foundational text in English literary theory, arguing for the value and moral worth of poetry. The other options are incorrect because they refer to different authors and works unrelated to this specific text.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Mathew Arnold is a 19th-century poet and critic, not the author of "An Apology for Poetry."
Option B: Philip Sydney wrote "An Apology for Poetry," making this the correct answer.
Option C: Dr. Johnson is known for his dictionary and other literary works, not this text.
Option D: T.S. Eliot is a modernist poet, unrelated to this 16th-century work.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1720. Tracts for the Times relates to?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The Oxford Movement.

Exam Relevance: AQA, Edexcel English Literature GCSE/A-Level

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Tracts for the Times were written by members of the Oxford Movement to promote Anglican reform.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the Oxford Movement with other literary or artistic movements like Romanticism or Symbolism.

Explanations: Tracts for the Times were a series of pamphlets by John Henry Newman and others, advocating for the Oxford Movement's goals of reviving Anglican traditions and emphasizing the Church's role in society.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Tracts for the Times were a key publication of the Oxford Movement.
Option B: Incorrect. The Pre-Raphaelite Movement focused on art and was unrelated to the pamphlets.
Option C: Incorrect. The Romantic Movement emphasized nature and emotion, not Anglican theology.
Option D: Incorrect. The Symbolist Movement was a later artistic movement focused on symbols, not connected to the pamphlets.

Mnemonic: Tracts for Times = Oxford Movement

1721. Which school did John Milton attend?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) St. Paul's School

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of John Milton's educational background, specifically the school he attended.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing St. Paul's School with other schools mentioned in the options.

Explanations: John Milton attended St. Paul's School in London, a prestigious institution known for its academic rigor. This fact is well-documented in biographies and historical records about Milton's early life.

Option Analysis:

Option A: London Elementary School is incorrect as it is not the school Milton attended.
Option B: Kings Grammar School is incorrect; Milton did not attend this school.
Option C: St. Paul's School is correct, as it is the school Milton attended.
Option D: Queens School is incorrect; Milton did not attend this institution.

Mnemonic: St. Paul's for Milton's school days.

1722. In Vita Nuova, how does Dante represent love?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Love is an ennobling force that offers a chance for salvation.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, Cambridge A Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: In "Vita Nuova," Dante portrays love as a spiritual force that elevates the soul and leads to salvation.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Dante's portrayal of Beatrice as impure rather than a symbol of divine love.

Explanations: Dante's "Vita Nuova" presents love as an ennobling force that offers a chance for salvation. This is evident in his idealization of Beatrice, who serves as a spiritual guide and a symbol of divine love. Dante's portrayal of love is deeply intertwined with his spiritual and religious beliefs, as he sees love as a means to transcend human limitations and attain a higher state of being.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Dante's portrayal of love as an ennobling force that offers a chance for salvation is central to "Vita Nuova."
Option B: Incorrect. Dante does not consider Beatrice impure; she is seen as a pure and holy figure.
Option C: Incorrect. Love in "Vita Nuova" is deeply connected to spirituality, not separate from it.
Option D: Incorrect. Love does not obscure salvation; instead, it facilitates it.

Mnemonic: "Love Ennobles, Salvations Arise" (LESA)

1723. Used to be the medium for both comedy and tragedy.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Verse.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Verse has historically served as the medium for both comedy and tragedy in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the distinction between medium and genre may lead to incorrect choices.

Explanations: Verse, particularly in poetic and dramatic forms, has been traditionally used for both comedic and tragic works. Shakespeare's plays exemplify this blend, written in verse.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Verse is the medium for both comedy and tragedy.
Option B: Incorrect. Prose is not traditionally used for both genres.
Option C: Incorrect. Drama refers to the genre, not the medium.
Option D: Incorrect. Verse is the correct medium.

Mnemonic: "Verse Varies for both Vice and Virtue."

1724. The poem 'The Battle of Maldon' celebrates events which took place in the 10th century, but who was it between

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Danes and English

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem 'The Battle of Maldon' is a historical account of a conflict between the English and the Danes in the 10th century.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake might be confusing the Danes with other groups like the Normans or French, who were involved in later conflicts.

Explanations: 'The Battle of Maldon' is an Old English poem that recounts the events of a battle fought in 991 AD between the forces of the English king Æthelred the Unready and a Danish Viking army led by Olaf Tryggvason. The poem highlights the heroism and loyalty of the English warriors, particularly the ealdorman Byrhtnoth, who was killed in the battle. The Danes were a significant threat to England during the 10th and 11th centuries, leading to frequent raids and invasions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The poem specifically refers to the battle between the English and the Danes.
Option B: Incorrect. The Dutch were not involved in this historical event.
Option C: Incorrect. The Normans invaded England in 1066, which is after the events depicted in the poem.
Option D: Incorrect. Conflicts with the French, such as the Hundred Years' War, occurred much later in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Mnemonic: Remember the Danes with "D" for Danes and "D" for the 10th century.

1725. What great hero is believed to have held off the Germanic invasion of Britain?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) King Arthur.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of legendary figures in English literature and their roles in historical events.

Common Mistakes: Confusing King Arthur with other historical or literary figures like Charlemagne or Robin Hood.

Explanations: King Arthur is a central figure in Arthurian legend, often depicted as defending Britain against various invaders, including the Saxons, a Germanic group. This aligns with the question's context of holding off a Germanic invasion.

Option Analysis:

Option A: King Arthur is correct as he is associated with defending Britain against invaders, including Germanic tribes.
Option B: Charlemagne was a Frankish king, unrelated to British invasions.
Option C: Robin Hood is a folk hero known for his Robin Hood tales, not for repelling invasions.
Option D: Edward, the Black Prince, was a medieval prince but not known for repelling Germanic invasions.

Mnemonic: "Arthur Against Germans" - links the hero to the event.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 115”

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 115”

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