English Literature MCQ

2071. Who propounds " the touchstone method"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Arnold.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The touchstone method is a literary criticism approach where established works are used as benchmarks to evaluate other texts.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between different literary critics and their methods.

Explanations: Matthew Arnold developed the touchstone method, which uses classic works to assess literary quality. This method emphasizes universal truths and aesthetic standards.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Arnold is the proponent of the touchstone method.
Option B: Incorrect. Shelley was a Romantic poet, not associated with this method.
Option C: Incorrect. Pope was an 18th-century satirist and poet, unrelated to this method.
Option D: Incorrect. Dryden was a Restoration poet and playwright, not known for this method.

Mnemonic: Arnold's Touchstone: True Taste

2072. What is mimesis?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) An imitation.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Mimesis is the representation or imitation of reality in art and literature, often used to reflect human experiences and actions.

Common Mistakes: Confusing mimesis with other literary devices like satire or metaphor.

Explanations: Mimesis involves imitating reality, such as human actions and emotions, to reflect life in literature. It is a key concept in understanding genres like realism.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Reversal refers to a plot change, not imitation.
Option B: Correct, mimesis is imitation.
Option C: Satire is criticism through humor, not imitation.
Option D: Metaphor is a figure of speech, not the broader concept of imitation.

Mnemonic: Mimesis is like mirroring life.

2073. What does Topsy steal?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) A pair of gloves.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall specific details about a character's actions in a literary work.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake might be confusing Topsy's actions with those of other characters in the story.

Explanations: In the story, Topsy is depicted as stealing a pair of gloves, which is a significant detail in her character development. This specific action helps to illustrate her mischievous nature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Marie's bracelet is not mentioned as something Topsy steals.
Option B: Topsy is known for stealing gloves, making this the correct answer.
Option C: Augustine's Bourbon is not associated with Topsy's actions.
Option D: Griddlecakes are not part of Topsy's thefts.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2074. A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland is a travel book (travelogue) written by.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Dr. Johnson.

Exam Relevance: GRE, English literature courses.

Difficulty: Moderate

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

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Dr. Johnson and other Enlightenment thinkers.

Explanations: Dr. Samuel Johnson, a leading literary figure of the 18th century, authored "A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland." This work is significant for its blend of travel writing and social commentary.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Edmund Burke was a philosopher and statesman, not known for travel writing.
Option B: Adam Smith was an economist, author of "The Wealth of Nations."
Option C: Dr. Johnson wrote the travelogue in question.
Option D: Gilbert White was a naturalist, known for "The Natural History of Selborne."

Mnemonic: "Johnson Journeyed to the West."

2075. By nobility of diction Longinus means the use of metaphors and ornamental language as well as.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Proper choice of words.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Longinus emphasizes proper word choice as part of achieving nobility of diction.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Longinus's focus on style over content.

Explanations: Longinus's nobility of diction involves selecting words that elevate language, using metaphors and ornamental elements effectively.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as proper word choice is central to Longinus's theory.
Option B: Incorrect, as Longinus does not focus on selecting ideas.
Option C: Incorrect, as unfamiliar words are not advocated.
Option D: Incorrect, as option A is correct.

Mnemonic: Noble Words Elevate Speech

2076. What Gothic literary convention did NOT originate with Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Psychological terror.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Gothic literary conventions and their origins in Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing psychological terror with other Gothic elements introduced by Walpole.

Explanations: "The Castle of Otranto" established several Gothic conventions, including the ancestral castle, supernatural elements, and physical violence. However, psychological terror, which focuses on internal fears and anxieties, was not a primary feature of Walpole's work and emerged more prominently in later Gothic literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The ancestral castle is a key Gothic convention introduced by Walpole.
Option B: Psychological terror was not a primary feature of Walpole's work.
Option C: The supernatural is central to "The Castle of Otranto."
Option D: Physical violence is present in the novel.

Mnemonic: Walpole's Gothics: Castles, Ghosts, and Violence, but Not the Mind's Fears.

2077. Maud and In memoriam were written by

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Tennyson.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests recognition of the author of specific literary works.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise if students mix up poets from the Romantic and Victorian eras.

Explanations: Maud and In Memoriam are both poems written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. These works are significant in the study of Victorian literature and are often referenced in English literature courses.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Tennyson authored both Maud and In Memoriam.
Option B: Incorrect. John Keats was a Romantic poet known for works like "Ode to a Nightingale," not these specific poems.
Option C: Incorrect. Percy Bysshe Shelley, another Romantic poet, wrote works like "Frankenstein" and "Ozymandias," not Maud or In Memoriam.
Option D: Incorrect. The correct author is listed in Option A.

Mnemonic: "Tennyson wrote Maud and In Memoriam."

2078. Slave narratives were shaped by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Captivity narratives.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Slave narratives were influenced by the structure and themes of captivity narratives, which focus on survival and deliverance.

Common Mistakes: Some may confuse abolitionist accounts as the primary influence, but they were more about spreading awareness than shaping narrative style.

Explanations: Slave narratives drew from captivity narratives' focus on personal survival and eventual freedom, shaping their storytelling structure and themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Captivity narratives influenced the structure and themes of slave narratives.
Option B: Incorrect. Abolitionist accounts were more about spreading the message rather than shaping the narrative style.
Option C: Incorrect. Folktales were present but not the primary influence on the narrative form.
Option D: Incorrect. African mythology contributed to themes but was not the main shaping force.

Mnemonic: Captivity Shapes Slave Stories

2079. Which of the Romantic poets is called an escapist?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Keats.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The concept tested is the understanding of Romantic poets and their styles, specifically identifying escapism in Keats's work.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Shelley or Wordsworth with Keats, as their styles differ significantly.

Explanations: Keats is known for his escapist tendencies, often immersing himself in the beauty of nature and the imagination, as seen in poems like "Ode to a Nightingale." Shelley's poetry, on the other hand, is more political and social, while Wordsworth focuses on nature and personal emotion.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Keats is correct because his work often escapes into a world of beauty and imagination.
Option B: Shelley is incorrect because his poetry is more focused on political and social issues.
Option C: Wordsworth is incorrect because his poetry is rooted in nature and personal emotion, not escapism.
Option D: None of these is incorrect because Keats is indeed considered an escapist.

Mnemonic: Keats escapes into beauty, Shelley into politics, Wordsworth into nature.

2080. The literary style of Virginia Woolf's novel "To the Lighthouse" is best described in which of the following ways?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) As a domestic stream of consciousness narrative

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The novel employs stream of consciousness to explore the inner lives of characters within a domestic setting.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the narrative style as omniscient or the setting as historical.

Explanations: "To the Lighthouse" uses stream of consciousness to depict the thoughts and emotions of characters like Mrs. Ramsay, focusing on their personal experiences within a family setting. This technique emphasizes the subjective nature of human consciousness and the fluidity of time.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because the narrative is not omniscient; it uses stream of consciousness.
Option B: Incorrect because the novel does not focus on the Great Depression.
Option C: Correct as it accurately describes the narrative style and setting.
Option D: Incorrect because it combines two wrong answers.

Mnemonic: Domestic Dreams in Woolf's Stream

2081. Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. Throughout the Middle Ages, English drama, like that of other European countries, was mainly ..... and .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Religious, Didactic.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Medieval English drama was primarily religious and didactic, serving to educate and convey moral lessons.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the focus of medieval drama, thinking it was more about emotions or psychology.

Explanations: Medieval English drama was heavily influenced by the Church and aimed to convey religious stories and moral lessons. Plays were often performed in churches or town squares and were used as a tool for religious instruction and moral education.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Medieval drama did not focus on psychological or sexual themes.
Option B: Correct. The plays were religious and intended to teach moral lessons.
Option C: Incorrect. While some emotional elements may have been present, the primary focus was on religious and moral themes.
Option D: Incorrect. Option B accurately describes the nature of medieval English drama.

Mnemonic: Religious and Didactic Drama (RDD)

2082. There was once a king who was very greedy and wanted all of the gold in the world. He asked the Gods to give him the "golden touch" so everything he touched turned to gold. The Gods gave him this power and the King soon realized that it was not a good idea! For everything he touched including food, water, and even people, turned to gold. He asked the Gods to forgive him for being so greedy and to take this power away!Â What was the conflict of this story?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The king's new power was not what he expected.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The conflict in a story is the struggle or problem that arises from a situation not meeting expectations.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the difference between the setup and the conflict.

Explanations: The king's conflict stemmed from his power not functioning as he anticipated, leading to negative consequences.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This describes the setup, not the conflict.
Option B: Correctly identifies the conflict as the unexpected outcome of the power.
Option C: Incorrect because the king was not happy with the power.
Option D: Incorrect because the conflict is not about wealth but the negative consequences.

Mnemonic: Conflict is when reality differs from expectations.

2083. According to Theodor Adorno's and Max Horkheimer's "The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception, " which of the following is true of the culture industry?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The culture industry is classified by ruthless uniformity of all ideas.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The culture industry, as described by Adorno and Horkheimer, is characterized by the mass production of standardized cultural goods that enforce conformity and control.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is believing the culture industry promotes diversity or individuality, when it actually enforces uniformity.

Explanations: Adorno and Horkheimer argue that the culture industry imposes a standardized set of ideas and values through mass-produced cultural goods, leading to a homogenized society. This critique highlights the industry's role in enforcing conformity rather than fostering diversity.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The culture industry enforces uniformity through standardized cultural products.
Option B: Incorrect. The culture industry does not bring true democracy; it manipulates consumer choices.
Option C: Incorrect. The culture industry does not promote individuality; it enforces conformity.
Option D: Incorrect. The culture industry does not empower consumers; it imposes standardized desires.

Mnemonic: Culture Industry: Uniformity, Not Individuality

2084. Who is traveling with Macbeth when he first encounters the Three Witches?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Banquo

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character interactions in Shakespeare's "Macbeth."

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise from mixing characters from different Shakespeare plays, such as Mercutio from "Romeo and Juliet."

Explanations: In "Macbeth," Macbeth encounters the Three Witches alongside Banquo during their journey. This meeting sparks Macbeth's ambition, central to the play's plot.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Macduff is introduced later and is not present during this initial encounter.
Option B: Mercutio is a character from "Romeo and Juliet," not "Macbeth."
Option C: Lady Macbeth is at home and does not accompany Macbeth on this journey.
Option D: Banquo is traveling with Macbeth and is present during the encounter with the witches.

Mnemonic: "Banquo and Macbeth meet the three," highlighting their companionship during this pivotal scene.

2085. Who was more under the influence of Godwin's philosophy of life?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Shelley

Exam Relevance: This concept is tested in exams like the GRE Subject Test in Literature and the AP English Literature and Composition exam.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of philosophical influences on Romantic poets, specifically Godwin's impact on Shelley.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Shelley with other Romantic poets who were influenced by different philosophers or ideas.

Explanations: Godwin's philosophy, particularly his utilitarianism and emphasis on reason and individualism, had a significant influence on Shelley's works. Shelley's poetry often reflects these ideas, such as in "Prometheus Unbound," which explores themes of freedom and reason. While other poets like Byron and Shelley were part of the Romantic movement, Shelley was uniquely drawn to Godwin's ideas.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Byron was more influenced by themes of individualism and rebellion, but not directly by Godwin's philosophy.
Option B: Browning's work focuses more on psychological and dramatic elements rather than Godwin's ideas.
Option C: Shelley's poetry reflects Godwin's utilitarianism and emphasis on reason, making him the most influenced.
Option D: Keats focused more on aesthetic beauty and sensuality, less on philosophical ideas like Godwin's.

Mnemonic: Shelley and Godwin: "Shelley sought Godwin's guide for his poetic stride."

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 139”

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 139”

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