English Literature MCQ

2566. Which of the following is Golding's first novel?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Lord of the Flies

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: William Golding's first novel is Lord of the Flies.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse it with his later works like The Inheritors or Pincher Martin.

Explanations: Lord of the Flies was Golding's debut novel, published in 1954. It established his reputation as a significant literary figure.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Inheritors is Golding's second novel, published after Lord of the Flies.
Option B: Lord of the Flies is Golding's first novel.
Option C: Pincher Martin was published in 1956, after Lord of the Flies.
Option D: Pyramid is a later work, published in 1957.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

2567. Who is the first ever winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Sully Prudhomme.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded annually to an author who has produced the most outstanding work in the field of literature. The first recipient was Sully Prudhomme in 1901.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the first recipient with later laureates or thinking the prize started later than 1901.

Explanations: The Nobel Prize in Literature was first awarded in 1901. Sully Prudhomme, a French poet and essayist, was the first recipient. The other options are incorrect because they won the prize in later years.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Theodor Mommsen won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1902, not 1901.
Option B: Sully Prudhomme was the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901.
Option C: Rudyard Kipling won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, not 1901.
Option D: Henryk Sienkiewicz won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905, not 1901.

Mnemonic: Sully started the Nobel Literature spree.

2568. Which of the following was the most popular form of literature during the Victorian age?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Novel

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The Victorian age saw the rise of the novel as the most popular literary form due to its ability to explore social and moral issues in depth.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the prominence of poetry or drama with the novel during this period.

Explanations: The novel became the dominant literary form during the Victorian era because it could address a wide range of social, moral, and political issues. The rise of the middle class, increased literacy, and better distribution networks contributed to its popularity. Works by authors like Charles Dickens and the Brontë sisters exemplify this trend.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Poetry was less popular than the novel during this period.
Option B: Drama was not as widely consumed due to limited theater attendance.
Option C: The novel was the most popular form, addressing contemporary issues effectively.
Option D: Essays were respected but did not capture the public's imagination as novels did.

Mnemonic: Novels were the 'Novel' idea of the Victorian age.

2569. In "The Wife of Bath's Tale, " what is the significance of "barley bread"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Barley bread represents the wife's answer to the belief that virginity is superior to marriage.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Wife of Bath uses barley bread as a symbol to argue against the superiority of virginity, emphasizing the practical and fulfilling nature of marriage.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the symbolic meaning of barley bread and its connection to the Wife's argument about marriage.

Explanations: In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," barley bread symbolizes the Wife's defense of marriage over virginity. She uses the humble and practical nature of barley bread to argue that marriage, though not as glamorous as virginity, is more fulfilling and realistic.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. The tale does not satirize medieval estates; it focuses on the debate between virginity and marriage.
Option B: Correct. Barley bread symbolizes the Wife's argument that marriage is more fulfilling than virginity.
Option C: Incorrect. The heroine is not portrayed as a fallen woman; she is a confident and assertive character.
Option D: Incorrect. The focus is not on Chaucer's use of alliterative verse but on the thematic debate in the tale.

Mnemonic: Barley Bread: Marriage's Worth

2570. One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. â€œCome and sing with me instead of working so hard, â€ said the Grasshopper â€œLetâ€™s have fun together.â€ â€œI must store food for the winter, â€ said the Ant, â€œ and I advise you to do the same.â€ â€œDonâ€™t worry about winter, itâ€™s still very far away, â€ said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldnâ€™t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Antâ€™s house and humbly begged for something to eat. â€œIf you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need, â€ said the Ant. â€œIâ€™m afraid you will have to go without supper, â€ and he closed the door. What is the theme?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Work before you play.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The story illustrates the importance of hard work and preparation over carelessness and procrastination.

Common Mistakes: Misinterpreting the moral as being about sharing or respect rather than work ethic.

Explanations: The Grasshopper's lack of preparation leads to starvation, while the Ant's hard work ensures survival. This emphasizes the need to work diligently before engaging in leisure.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The story does not focus on sharing but on work and preparation.
Option B: Correct, as the story highlights the importance of working before playing.
Option C: Respect is not the main theme; the focus is on work ethic.
Option D: The story is not about greed but about preparation and responsibility.

Mnemonic: Work first, then play, to avoid a sad day.

2571. For a time the narrator comforts Roderick by reading and painting with him; one of Roderick's paintings is described as follows: "A small picture presented the interior of an immensely long and rectangular vault or tunnel, with low walls, smooth, white, and without interruption or device. Certain accessory points of the design served well to convey the idea that this excavation lay at an exceeding depth below the surface of the earth." What later event in the story does this picture foreshadow?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The narrator and Roderick bury Madeline alive in a stone tomb beneath the mansion.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The painting symbolizes the underground tomb where Madeline is later entombed, foreshadowing her burial.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the symbolic representation of the painting as a literal setting rather than a foreshadowing element.

Explanations: The painting's description of a long, rectangular tunnel with smooth, white walls directly foreshadows the stone tomb beneath the mansion where Madeline is buried alive. This connects the symbolic elements of the painting to the plot's later events.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The painting's tunnel symbolizes the tomb where Madeline is buried, foreshadowing her entombment.
Option B: Incorrect. The painting does not suggest drowning Madeline in the tarn.
Option C: Incorrect. The painting does not indicate an escape via an underground tunnel.
Option D: Incorrect. The painting does not foreshadow being trapped in catacombs.

Mnemonic: "Painting Points to Pit"

2572. Many romantic poets regarded the natural world with a feeling of .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Awe and fascination.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Romantic poets often expressed deep admiration and wonder for nature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the romantic poets' focus on industrialization instead of nature.

Explanations: Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Shelley celebrated nature's beauty and power, viewing it as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as romantic poets often expressed awe and fascination with nature.
Option B: Incorrect, as romantic poets were deeply engaged with nature, not disinterested.
Option C: Incorrect, as there is no evidence of resentment towards nature in their works.
Option D: Incorrect, as fear was not a dominant theme in their view of nature.

Mnemonic: Awe and Nature

2573. According to Jacques Lacan, the mirror stage is the point at which a child:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Is able to separate the "I" from the "Other."

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The mirror stage, according to Lacan, is a pivotal moment in child development where self-awareness begins through recognition in a mirror.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the mirror stage with the development of speech or the refusal of maternal bonds.

Explanations: The mirror stage involves the child's recognition of themselves as separate from others, marking the beginning of self-consciousness.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; the mirror stage does not involve refusal of maternal bonds.
Option B: Correct; the mirror stage is about separating the self ("I") from others.
Option C: Incorrect; it's not about the first mirror encounter but recognition.
Option D: Incorrect; speech is not the focus of the mirror stage.

Mnemonic: Mirror Stage: I vs. Other

2574. ..... is a noteworthy Diarist of the Restoration Age?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Samuel Pepys

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Samuel Pepys is a key figure in Restoration Age literature, known for his diary.

Common Mistakes: Confusing Samuel Pepys with other Restoration Age figures.

Explanations: Samuel Pepys is renowned for his diary, which offers a detailed account of the Restoration period. His work is a primary source for understanding the era.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John Tillotson was an Archbishop, not a diarist.
Option B: Samuel Pepys is the correct answer.
Option C: Sir William Temple was a statesman and essayist, not a diarist.
Option D: Incorrect, as Samuel Pepys is the correct answer.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2575. The Daffodils in Wordsworth's I wandered Lonely as a Cloud dancing because

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) There was a strong wind.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AQA English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The poem uses imagery to describe the movement of daffodils caused by the wind.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the cause of the daffodils' movement as something other than wind.

Explanations: The daffodils are described as "dancing" because the strong wind causes them to sway and move, creating the illusion of dancing.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The poem does not suggest the poet was daydreaming.
Option B: The flowers are not described as having cheerful company.
Option C: The sea waves are not mentioned as being wild.
Option D: The strong wind causes the daffodils to sway and appear to dance.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2576. How did one critic sum up Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Nothing happens-twice.

Exam Relevance: A-Level English Literature, IB English Literature, Undergraduate Literature Courses

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Samuel Beckett's *Waiting for Godot* is known for its minimalist plot and repetitive structure, which a critic famously summarized as "Nothing happens—twice."

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the play's absurdist nature or confusing it with other literary movements or genres.

Explanations: The play's structure involves two acts where the same characters and situations repeat, highlighting themes of waiting and existential futility. The critic's phrase encapsulates this narrative approach.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correctly reflects the play's repetitive and minimalist structure.
Option B: Irrelevant; the phrase refers to modern political critique, not Beckett's work.
Option C: Incorrect; "kitchen sink drama" describes a different genre focused on gritty realism.
Option D: Incorrect; "angry young men" refers to a post-war literary movement, not Beckett's style.

2577. Who has been called " The true child of the Renaissance"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Marlowe.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Christopher Marlowe is recognized as embodying Renaissance ideals in his works, which focus on humanism and individualism.

Common Mistakes: Shakespeare is often mistakenly thought to be the Renaissance figure, overshadowing Marlowe's specific contributions.

Explanations: Marlowe's plays, such as *Doctor Faustus*, exemplify Renaissance themes through their exploration of human ambition and potential.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shakespeare is a major figure but not specifically called "The true child of the Renaissance."
Option B: Chaucer is a medieval author, not a Renaissance figure.
Option C: More was a statesman, not a playwright embodying Renaissance ideals.
Option D: Marlowe's works reflect Renaissance humanism and individualism.

Mnemonic: Marlowe's Renaissance: M for Master of the Renaissance.

2578. As the enraptured Ichabod fancied all this, and as he rolled his great green eyes over the fat meadow lands, the rich fields of wheat, of rye, of buckwheat, and Indian corn, and the orchards burthened with ruddy fruit, which surrounded the warm tenement of Van Tassel, his heart yearned after the damsel who was to inherit these domains, and his imagination expanded with the idea, how they might be readily turned into cash, and the money invested in immense tracts of wild land, and shingle palaces in the wilderness. The word "tenement" is another word for "residence."

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) True.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Understanding the meaning of a word in context.

Common Mistakes: Misinterpreting "tenement" as something other than a residence.

Explanations: The word "tenement" in the passage refers to a residence, specifically the home of Van Tassel. The sentence describes the surrounding lands and orchards, indicating that the "tenement" is where Van Tassel lives. Therefore, the statement that "tenement" means "residence" is correct.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as "tenement" means "residence" in this context.
Option B: Incorrect, as it contradicts the clear meaning of the word.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2579. 'Child is the father of man' is taken from the poem "My Heart Leaps Up" by .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) William Wordsworth.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AP English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The phrase "Child is the father of man" is a well-known line from William Wordsworth's poem "My Heart Leaps Up."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the author with other Romantic poets like Coleridge or Shelley.

Explanations: William Wordsworth wrote the poem "My Heart Leaps Up," which includes the line "Child is the father of man." This phrase reflects Wordsworth's belief in the importance of childhood experiences and their influence on adult life.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. William Wordsworth authored the poem containing the phrase.
Option B: Incorrect. S.T. Coleridge is known for "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
Option C: Incorrect. P.B. Shelley wrote "Ozymandias," unrelated to the phrase.
Option D: Incorrect. A.C. Swinburne wrote "The Garden of Proserpine," not connected to the poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

2580. What happens to the girl who eat the weed, according to Angoori?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Sing and Cry.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall specific events and character actions from a literary text.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing the effects of eating the weed with other substances or events in the story.

Explanations: In the story, when the girl eats the weed, Angoori observes that she begins to sing and cry. This behavior is a direct consequence of consuming the weed, as described in the narrative.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The girl does not die; she experiences emotional and vocal expressions instead.
Option B: Correct, as the girl sings and cries after eating the weed.
Option C: The girl does not speak illogically; her actions are emotional rather than incoherent.
Option D: Incorrect, as option B accurately describes the girl's reaction.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 172”

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 172”

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