English Literature MCQ

1996. Which book is a Tragedy?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Hamlet.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, SAT Subject Test in Literature.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: A tragedy is a serious play with a sad or disastrous ending, often involving themes of conflict, loss, and human suffering.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the genre classification of Shakespeare's plays.

Explanations: Hamlet is a tragedy because it involves themes of revenge, moral conflict, and ends with multiple deaths. The other plays are comedies or problem plays.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare.
Option B: Measure for Measure is a problem play, not a tragedy.
Option C: As You Like It is a comedy.
Option D: She Stoops to Conquer is a comedy.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1997. Wasserkopf comes back to school because he.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Wanted to take back his fees.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Understanding character motivation and plot details.

Common Mistakes: Misinterpreting the character's reasons for returning to school.

Explanations: Wasserkopf returned to school to reclaim his fees, indicating dissatisfaction with his experience.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The story does not suggest Wasserkopf loved the school.
Option B: There is no indication he missed his teachers.
Option C: The story does not mention him wanting to meet friends.
Option D: Correct, as he sought a refund due to dissatisfaction.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1998. Kannan's son asked him to.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Put a couple of coins given by his uncle in the tin.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the plot in "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the specific plot details or confusing it with other stories.

Explanations: In "The Monkey's Paw," Mr. White is asked by his son to place coins into a tin as part of a ritual involving the magical paw. This action is crucial as it leads to the unfolding of the story's events.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as it aligns with the story's plot where the son asks for coins to be placed in the tin.
Option B: Incorrect, as opening a locked door is not part of the story.
Option C: Incorrect, as playing in the garden is unrelated to the narrative.
Option D: Incorrect, as helping with homework is not mentioned in the story.

Mnemonic: Coins in the Tin for Wishes Sin

1999. What do you mean by Tragicomedy?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Blending of tragic and comic elements

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Tragicomedy is a literary genre that combines elements of tragedy and comedy, often resulting in a play that has serious themes but ends happily or with a humorous twist.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing tragicomedy with a tragedy that has a happy ending, but it's more about the integration of both tragic and comic elements throughout the work.

Explanations: Tragicomedy involves the deliberate mixing of tragic and comic elements to create a unique emotional experience. This can include serious themes, character struggles, and moments of tension balanced with humor, irony, or unexpected resolutions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Tragicomedy is not specifically a verse play; it can be written in prose or other forms.
Option B: A play with an unhappy ending is more characteristic of tragedy, not tragicomedy.
Option C: Correct. Tragicomedy blends tragic and comic elements, creating a unique genre.
Option D: Mixture of dramas is too vague and does not specifically address the combination of tragic and comic elements.

Mnemonic: Tragicomedy: Tragedy meets Comedy

2000. Fill in the blank. ..... is remembered as the "Morning Star of the Reformation."

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) John Wycliffe

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: John Wycliffe is recognized for his role in early reform movements, influencing later Protestant Reformation figures.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between John Wycliffe and other literary figures of the period.

Explanations: John Wycliffe is known as the "Morning Star of the Reformation" due to his early advocacy for Church reform and his English Bible translation, which influenced later reformers.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John Donne was a metaphysical poet, not associated with the Reformation.
Option B: John Dryden was a Restoration poet and playwright, unrelated to the Reformation.
Option C: John Wycliffe was an early reformer whose ideas predated the Protestant Reformation.
Option D: Johan Gutenberg was a printer known for the Gutenberg Bible, not directly linked to English literature or the Reformation.

Mnemonic: "Wycliffe's Star Shines Brightly Before the Reformation."

2001. How does Eliza cross the Ohio river?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Hopping rafts of ice.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of a specific plot detail from "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Eliza's method of crossing with other forms of transportation mentioned in the book.

Explanations: In "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Eliza escapes slavery by crossing the Ohio River during winter. The river is frozen, and she navigates by hopping from one ice raft to another, avoiding detection by slave catchers.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The story does not mention Eliza using a ferry to cross the river.
Option B: Eliza does not use a makeshift raft; she uses the frozen river's ice rafts.
Option C: There is no canoe involved in Eliza's escape.
Option D: Correct. Eliza crosses the Ohio River by hopping on ice rafts.

Mnemonic: "Eliza's Ice Hops" - remember her method of crossing.

2002. About Anne Bradstreet

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) A and C.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Anne Bradstreet's personal life and literary works.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Anne Bradstreet with other early American figures or conflating details about her life and works.

Explanations: Anne Bradstreet's husband, Simon Bradstreet, was a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company, making option A correct. She wrote "Upon the Burning of Our House," which confirms option C. Option B is incorrect because she did not arrive on the Mayflower.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Simon Bradstreet was a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company.
Option B: Incorrect. Anne Bradstreet did not arrive on the Mayflower.
Option C: Correct. She wrote about her house burning down.
Option D: Correct. Combines the accuracy of A and C.

Mnemonic: "Anne's house burned, and her husband was in the Bay Company."

2003. Which thinker had a major impact on early-twentieth-century writers, leading them to re-imagine human identity in radically new ways?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All but C.

Exam Relevance: GRE, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of thinkers influencing early-20th-century English literature, particularly in reimagining human identity.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the direct influence of Kant with Freud and Frazer, who were more relevant to the period.

Explanations: Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis and Sir James Frazer's anthropological studies significantly influenced early-20th-century writers, leading them to explore new aspects of human identity. Immanuel Kant's work, while foundational, did not directly impact this reimagining in the same way.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis influenced writers to explore the unconscious mind, reshaping ideas of human identity. Correct.
Option B: Sir James Frazer's "The Golden Bough" explored primitive cultures, influencing writers to reconsider human nature. Correct.
Option C: Immanuel Kant's philosophy was more foundational and less directly influential in the early 20th century. Incorrect.
Option D: Combines the correct influences of Freud and Frazer, excluding Kant. Correct.

Mnemonic: Freud and Frazer, but not Kant.

2004. Who wrote: "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings / Look on my works ye mighty, and despair!"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem "Ozymandias" is a sonnet that critiques the hubris of power and the inevitable decline of all human achievements. It is a key work in Romantic literature, emphasizing individualism and the sublime.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Percy Bysshe Shelley with Lord Byron, as both were prominent Romantic poets.

Explanations: Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote "Ozymandias" in 1818. The poem uses the ruins of a statue of the once-mighty king Ozymandias to symbolize the fleeting nature of power and human ambition. Shelley's work is known for its political themes and critique of authority, which are central to the Romantic movement.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Lord Byron did not write "Ozymandias." He was known for works like "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and "Don Juan."
Option B: Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote "Ozymandias," which is a critique of power and ambition.
Option C: William Wordsworth, a fellow Romantic poet, wrote "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and focused more on nature and emotion.
Option D: Emily Dickinson was an American poet who wrote about themes like death and immortality, not this poem.

Mnemonic: Shelley's Sands Show Ozymandias' Downfall.

2005. The maiden's songs is more melodious than the singing of?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Nightingale.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The nightingale is a common literary symbol known for its melodious song.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the symbolic significance of the nightingale in literature.

Explanations: The nightingale is often associated with melodious singing in literature, making it the correct choice. Other birds like the cuckoo, crow, and sparrow are not known for such melodiousness.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The cuckoo's song is rhythmic but not melodious.
Option B: The nightingale is known for its melodious song in literature.
Option C: The crow's call is harsh and not melodious.
Option D: The sparrow's song is simple and not as melodious.

Mnemonic: "Nightingale's song is sweet, like a melody in flight."

2006. Which of the following offers the best definition of a frame narrative?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A story within a story

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A frame narrative is a story that contains another story within it, providing context or commentary.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the term as simply introducing characters or summarizing the plot.

Explanations: A frame narrative involves a primary story that sets up and contains a secondary story. This structure allows for layered storytelling and additional themes. For example, in "The Canterbury Tales," the pilgrimage serves as the frame for the various stories told by the characters.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; introducing characters is not the definition of a frame narrative.
Option B: Incorrect; summarizing the plot is unrelated to the frame narrative structure.
Option C: Correct; a story within a story accurately defines a frame narrative.
Option D: Incorrect; reminding the reader of fictionality is a different literary technique.

Mnemonic: Frame Narrative: Story Inside a Story

2007. At the end of the play, Faustus is dragged down to hell, begging to repent.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) True.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The play "Doctor Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe depicts Faustus's tragic end where he is dragged to hell.

Common Mistakes: Some might confuse the ending with Faustus finding redemption, but he does not repent in time.

Explanations: Faustus makes a pact with the devil, and at the end of the play, he is taken to hell despite his pleas for mercy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as the play shows Faustus being dragged to hell.
Option B: Incorrect, as Faustus does not escape hell.
Option C: Incorrect, as the ending is consistent.
Option D: Incorrect, as the correct answer is A.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2008. Who is Thomas Percy in Henry IV, Pt I?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Earl of Northumberland.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character titles in Shakespeare's *Henry IV, Part I*.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Thomas Percy and his son, Henry "Hotspur" Percy, who is the Earl of March.

Explanations: Thomas Percy is the Earl of Northumberland in the play. He is a key rebel leader opposing King Henry IV.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Thomas Percy is the Earl of Northumberland.
Option B: Incorrect. Earl of March refers to Henry Percy, not Thomas.
Option C: Incorrect. Earl of Douglas is a Scottish title unrelated to Percy.
Option D: Incorrect. Earl of Worcester is another character in the play.

Mnemonic: "Northumberland leads the north, Percy's in charge from the start."

2009. In Chapter 11 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, how does Malcolm X survive prison?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Getting an education.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, SAT Literature Subject Test

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The chapter highlights Malcolm X's transformation through education, which was crucial for his survival and personal growth.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse survival methods, thinking physical strength or connections are more important than education.

Explanations: Malcolm X used education to gain knowledge, self-respect, and purpose, which helped him survive the harsh prison environment.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Education provided Malcolm X with mental stimulation and purpose, helping him survive.
Option B: Incorrect. Fighting would lead to more conflict and punishment, not survival.
Option C: Incorrect. Making friends with guards is unlikely and not a sustainable method of survival.
Option D: Incorrect. Contacting authors is not mentioned as a survival strategy in the text.

Mnemonic: "Education Empowers" - E for Education, E for Empowerment.

2010. Utopia was first printed in:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) 1516.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the publication date of Thomas More's "Utopia."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the publication year with other historical events or literary works.

Explanations: "Utopia" was first printed in 1516. This is a well-documented fact in the history of English literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: 1615 is incorrect as it is over a century after the book's initial publication.
Option B: 1516 is correct, as it marks the first printing of "Utopia."
Option C: 1517 is incorrect, as it is the year after the book's first publication.
Option D: 1518 is incorrect, as it is two years after the book's first printing.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 134”

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 134”

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