English Literature MCQ

1966. Which of the following is a critical work of Ben Jonson?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Discoveries.

Exam Relevance: GRE Literature Subject Test, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Ben Jonson's critical works include "Discoveries," which contains his thoughts on poetry and drama.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Ben Jonson and other literary figures like Sir Philip Sidney or George Puttenham.

Explanations: "Discoveries" is a critical work by Ben Jonson, reflecting his scholarly analysis of literature. The other options are works by different authors.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Discourse of English Poetry" is not a specific work by Jonson.
Option B: "Discoveries" is Jonson's critical work.
Option C: "Arte of English Poesie" is by George Puttenham.
Option D: "An Apologie for Poetrie" is by Sir Philip Sidney.

Mnemonic: Jonson's Discoveries: Critical Insights

1967. Which of the following Post-Modern theoreticians explores the contradictions of colonial discourse and the ambivalence that the colonizer feels towards the colonized "other" in works such as "Nation and Narration"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Homi Bhabha.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature, Cambridge English Literature exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Post-Modern theorists and their contributions to colonial discourse analysis.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Homi Bhabha with other Post-Modern theorists like Linda Hutcheon or Jacques Derrida, who focus on different aspects of literary theory.

Explanations: Homi Bhabha's work "Nation and Narration" examines the contradictions and ambivalence in colonial discourse, making him the correct choice. His analysis highlights the power dynamics and cultural hybridity inherent in colonial relationships.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Linda Hutcheon is known for her work on postmodernism and historiography, not specifically on colonial discourse.
Option B: Homi Bhabha's focus on colonial discourse and the "other" in "Nation and Narration" makes him the correct answer.
Option C: Jacques Derrida is associated with deconstruction theory, not specifically with colonial discourse analysis.
Option D: Fredric Jameson is known for his work on postmodernism and cultural theory, not on colonial discourse.

Mnemonic: Bhabha Bridges Colonial Gaps

1968. When did Frost's firstborn son died?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) 1900.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Robert Frost's personal history, specifically the death year of his firstborn son.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the timeline of Frost's life with historical events of earlier centuries.

Explanations: Robert Frost's firstborn son, Elliott Frost, died in 1900. This is a factual detail from Frost's biography.

Option Analysis:

Option A: 1600 is incorrect as Frost was born in 1874.
Option B: 1700 is incorrect for the same reason.
Option C: 1800 is incorrect as Frost was not alive then.
Option D: 1900 is correct as it aligns with Frost's timeline.

Mnemonic: Frost's first son died in 1900, the same year as the Boxer Rebellion.

1969. .....is Prospero's daughter.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Miranda.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character relationships in Shakespeare's plays.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise from similar-sounding character names or mixing up characters from different plays.

Explanations: In "The Tempest," Prospero is the main character, and Miranda is his daughter. The other options are characters from different plays and not related to Prospero.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Rosalind is a character from "As You Like It," not related to Prospero.
Option B: Miranda is Prospero's daughter in "The Tempest."
Option C: Sycorax is a witch in "The Tempest," but she is not Prospero's daughter.
Option D: Olivia is a character from "Twelfth Night," unrelated to Prospero.

1970. Whom did Gratiano wish to marry?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Nerrisa.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character relationships in "The Merchant of Venice."

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Portia and Nerrisa, as both are associated with the male leads.

Explanations: In "The Merchant of Venice," Gratiano is betrothed to Nerrisa, who is Bassanio's sister. This is a key detail in the play's plot structure.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Gratiano is betrothed to Nerrisa.
Option B: Incorrect. Portia is married to Bassanio, not Gratiano.
Option C: Incorrect. Jessica is Shylock's daughter and married to Lorenzo.
Option D: Incorrect. Martha is not a character in the play.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1971. Where does Senator Bird take Eliza and Harry?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) To a Quaker settlement.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of historical and literary contexts regarding abolitionist movements and the Underground Railroad.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the roles of different religious groups in abolitionist activities.

Explanations: Quakers were prominent in the Underground Railroad, providing safe havens for escaped slaves. Senator Bird's choice aligns with their abolitionist reputation.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Congregationalist communities were involved in social reform but not specifically known for the Underground Railroad.
Option B: Methodist communities also participated in reform but were not as central to aiding escaped slaves as Quakers.
Option C: Quaker settlements were key in the Underground Railroad, making this the correct choice.
Option D: Philadelphia is a city, not a specific settlement associated with Senator Bird's actions.

Mnemonic: Quakers and the Underground Railroad: "Quakers Quietly Quiet the Quest for Freedom."

1972. 'The Ring and the Book' is a poem written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Browning.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a literary work and its author.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between the poets Browning, Arnold, and Tennyson, as they are all significant figures in Victorian literature.

Explanations: 'The Ring and the Book' is a well-known poem by Robert Browning, characterized by its dramatic monologues and narrative complexity. It is not associated with Mathew Arnold or Tennyson.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Robert Browning authored 'The Ring and the Book.'
Option B: Incorrect. Mathew Arnold wrote works like "Dover Beach," not 'The Ring and the Book.'
Option C: Incorrect. Tennyson is known for poems like "In Memoriam," not this work.
Option D: Incorrect. The poem is indeed by Browning.

Mnemonic: Browning's Book is about a Ring, not Arnold or Tennyson, so don't you fling.

1973. What is the study of poetry's meter and form called?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Prosody.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Prosody is the study of the meter, rhythm, and form of poetry.

Common Mistakes: Confusing prosody with other fields like medicine or misremembering the term.

Explanations: Prosody involves analyzing the structure and rhythm of poetic works, which is essential for understanding poetic techniques and effects.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Prosody is the study of poetry's meter and form.
Option B: Incorrect. Potology is not a recognized term in poetry study.
Option C: Incorrect. Rheumatology is a medical field, unrelated to poetry.
Option D: Incorrect. Scansion refers to analyzing meter, not the broader study.

Mnemonic: Prosody is the study of proses in poetry.

1974. Which of the following sixteenth-century works of English literature was translated into the English language after its first publication in Latin?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Thomas More's Utopia.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the original languages of sixteenth-century English literary works.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming all these works were originally written in English.

Explanations: Thomas More's Utopia was first published in Latin in 1516 and later translated into English. The other works were originally written in English.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Doctor Faustus was written in English.
Option B: King Lear was written in English.
Option C: The History of King Richard III was written in English.
Option D: Utopia was first written in Latin.

Mnemonic: "Utopia's Latin Origin"

1975. 'The Wheel of Fire' a criticism was written by

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) W. Knight.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of literary critics and their works.

Common Mistakes: Confusing W. Knight with other critics like Hazlitt or Dryden.

Explanations: 'The Wheel of Fire' is a well-known criticism by W. Knight, focusing on Shakespeare's plays. This is a direct fact from literary studies.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as W. Knight authored 'The Wheel of Fire'.
Option B: Incorrect, Hazlitt did not write this criticism.
Option C: Incorrect, Dryden was a poet, not the author of this work.
Option D: Incorrect, as the correct answer is listed.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic needed.

1976. Complete the following sentence. Tennyson's In Memoriam and Browning's dramatic monologues can best be seen as combining neoclassicism with romanticism through their:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Romantic emphasis on personal feelings combined with a neoclassical focus on social context.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The works of Tennyson and Browning reflect a synthesis of Romantic and Neoclassical elements, combining emotional depth with structured social commentary.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the balance between Romantic subjectivism and Neoclassical form and context.

Explanations: Tennyson's "In Memoriam" explores personal grief (Romantic) while addressing broader societal themes (Neoclassical). Browning's monologues delve into individual psychology (Romantic) while critiquing social norms (Neoclassical).

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because it focuses on form rather than the blend of personal and social elements.
Option B: Incorrect because the works do not reject science or rely on mythology.
Option C: Correct as it accurately captures the combination of Romantic personal feelings and Neoclassical social focus.
Option D: Incorrect because there is no critique of industrialization or use of satire.

Mnemonic: Feelings and Context

1977. Which of the following descriptions best defines the literary theory known as formalism?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) An approach that emphasizes literary devices in a text.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Formalism is a literary theory that focuses on the analysis of a text's intrinsic elements, such as its structure, language, and literary devices.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing formalism with other theories like historicism or biographical criticism, which focus on external factors rather than the text itself.

Explanations: Formalism emphasizes the study of literary devices within a text, such as plot, character, setting, and themes. It encourages readers to examine how these elements contribute to the overall meaning and structure of the work.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Formalism focuses on literary devices within the text.
Option B: Incorrect. Emphasizing historical context is associated with historicism, not formalism.
Option C: Incorrect. Focusing on biographical intent is part of biographical criticism, not formalism.
Option D: Incorrect. Addressing racial issues is related to critical race theory, not formalism.

Mnemonic: Formalism focuses on the form, not the author or time.

1978. Some reactions to Henry Mayhew's work on London Labor and London Poor might be described as:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of these.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Henry Mayhew's work evoked multiple reactions, including sensationalism, horror, and sympathy.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the range of reactions Mayhew's work elicited.

Explanations: Mayhew's detailed accounts of poverty and squalor in London led to reactions of sensationalism (attraction to shocking details), horror (disbelief at primitive living conditions), and sympathy (pity for the poor). All three reactions were present, making D correct.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sensationalism was a reaction, but not the only one.
Option B: Horror was a reaction, but not the sole response.
Option C: Sympathy was a reaction, but not the only one.
Option D: All three reactions were present, making this correct.

Mnemonic: SHS: Sensationalism, Horror, Sympathy.

1979. Who composed 'The waste Land'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) T.S. Eliot.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: 'The Waste Land' is a significant modernist poem by T.S. Eliot, exploring themes of disillusionment and cultural decay.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between T.S. Eliot and other poets like John Milton or John Donne, who are also well-known but wrote in different styles and periods.

Explanations: 'The Waste Land' is a landmark modernist poem by T.S. Eliot, known for its fragmented structure and exploration of themes like disillusionment. John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost,' George Eliot was a novelist, and John Donne was a metaphysical poet.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. T.S. Eliot authored 'The Waste Land.'
Option B: Incorrect. John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost,' not 'The Waste Land.'
Option C: Incorrect. George Eliot was a novelist, not the author of 'The Waste Land.'
Option D: Incorrect. John Donne was a metaphysical poet, unrelated to 'The Waste Land.'

Mnemonic: Eliot explores the waste land of modernity.

1980. Book I of John Milton's "Paradise Lost" centers on what event?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The fall of the rebel angels.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Book I of "Paradise Lost" introduces the rebellion of the angels and their expulsion from Heaven.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the structure of the poem and confusing the events of Book I with later books.

Explanations: Book I describes the rebellion led by Satan and the subsequent fall of the rebel angels. This event is central to the poem's narrative and sets the stage for the subsequent events involving Adam and Eve.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Book I focuses on the fall of the rebel angels.
Option B: Incorrect. The fall of Adam occurs later in the poem.
Option C: Incorrect. The fall of Eve also occurs later.
Option D: Incorrect. The fall of the son refers to a different context.

Mnemonic: A for Angels' fall in Book I.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 132”

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 132”

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