English Literature MCQ – Change your future

271. Poetics deals with many more problems of

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Literature.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Poetics is a branch of literary theory focused on the analysis of poetry and literature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the scope of poetics, thinking it relates more to rhetoric or art.

Explanations: Poetics deals with the principles and methods of poetry and literature, analyzing elements like structure, form, and themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Rhetoric focuses on persuasion and argumentation, not specifically literature.
Option B: Literature is the primary focus of poetics, including its analysis and interpretation.
Option C: Art is a broader category that includes various creative forms beyond literature.
Option D: Diction is a specific element within poetics, not its main focus.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

272. Which of the following characterize(s) a lay?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the Above.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: A lay is characterized by geographical unity, episodic content, and octosyllabic couplets.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the specific characteristics of a lay could lead to incorrect answers.

Explanations: A lay is a medieval narrative poem with geographical unity, episodic structure, and octosyllabic couplets.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, lays have geographical unity.
Option B: Correct, lays have episodic content.
Option C: Correct, lays use octosyllabic couplets.
Option D: Correct, all characteristics are present.

Mnemonic: GEO: Geography, Episodes, Octosyllables

273. Which is the author of the drama 'Joan of Arc'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) G. B. Shaw.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the author of the play "Saint Joan," which is a well-known work by George Bernard Shaw.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing George Bernard Shaw with other playwrights or authors from the same period.

Explanations: George Bernard Shaw is the author of the play "Saint Joan," which is based on the life of Joan of Arc. This play is a significant work in English literature and is often studied in academic settings.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Lord Byron was a Romantic poet, not the author of "Saint Joan."
Option B: Charles Dickens was a novelist, known for works like "Oliver Twist" and "Great Expectations," not a playwright.
Option C: G. B. Shaw wrote "Saint Joan," making this the correct answer.
Option D: P.B. Shelley was a Romantic poet, known for works like "Ozymandias," not the author of this play.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

274. What was Samuel Langhorne Clemens' pen-name

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Mark Twain.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Samuel Langhorne Clemens wrote under the pen name Mark Twain.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise if one is not familiar with the real names of famous authors.

Explanations: Samuel Langhorne Clemens adopted the pen name Mark Twain, which is well-known in English literature. The other options are incorrect because they refer to different authors.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as Samuel Langhorne Clemens used Mark Twain as his pen name.
Option B: Incorrect, Bram Stoker is the author of "Dracula" and not related to Samuel Clemens.
Option C: Incorrect, Ernest Hemingway is a different author known for works like "The Old Man and the Sea."
Option D: Incorrect, Leo Tolstoy is a Russian author, not an American pen name.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

275. Who wrote 'Hard Times' and 'A tale of two Cities'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Charles Dickens.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

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

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Charles Dickens with other Victorian authors.

Explanations: Charles Dickens is a renowned Victorian author known for his novels that critique social issues. 'Hard Times' and 'A Tale of Two Cities' are two of his most famous works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost', not the works mentioned.
Option B: Charles Dickens wrote both 'Hard Times' and 'A Tale of Two Cities'.
Option C: John Webster wrote plays like 'The Duchess of Malfi'.
Option D: Daniel Defoe wrote 'Robinson Crusoe'.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

276. Fiction is

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Made-Up Story

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Fiction is a genre of literature that consists of stories created from imagination, not based on real events.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding fiction as factual information or confusing it with other literary terms.

Explanations: Fiction is defined as stories that are invented or imagined, distinguishing it from non-fiction, which is based on real events or facts.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Real Information is incorrect because fiction is not factual.
Option B: Caption under a picture is unrelated to fiction.
Option C: Made-Up Story is correct as it describes fiction accurately.
Option D: TV Guide is incorrect as it refers to a schedule, not a story.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

277. How did the interaction between the English and the Bretons affect literature?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) This interaction led to the influence of Arthurian legend on French literature.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The interaction between the English and Bretons introduced Arthurian legends into French literature, enriching its narrative traditions.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the specific influence of Breton stories on French literature rather than other cultural impacts.

Explanations: The Bretons brought their stories about King Arthur and his knights to France, which were later adapted into French literature, significantly influencing its development.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; lais production was not ended but enriched by new forms.
Option B: Correct; Breton stories introduced Arthurian legends to French literature.
Option C: Incorrect; focus was not on English conversion to Christianity.
Option D: Incorrect; stories were about Arthurian legends, not ancient myths.

Mnemonic: Bretons Bring Arthur to France

278. The word 'cipher' originally meant.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Zero.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The word 'cipher' originates from the Arabic term 'sifr,' meaning zero.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the etymology of 'cipher' could lead to incorrect associations with unrelated terms like umbrella, rain, or dress.

Explanations: The term 'cipher' comes from the Arabic word 'sifr,' which means zero. This connection is rooted in the historical use of zero in mathematics, which later evolved to signify a code or method of encoding.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. 'Cipher' originates from 'sifr,' meaning zero.
Option B: Incorrect. 'Umbrella' is unrelated to the word's origin.
Option C: Incorrect. 'Rain' has no connection to the term's etymology.
Option D: Incorrect. 'Dress' is unrelated to the word's origin.

Mnemonic: Remember: "Cipher and Zero both start with 'C' and 'Z' respectively, linking their origins."

279. As friends, where do Fielding and Aziz go to discuss the politics of India at the end of the novel?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) At the university.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall specific events and settings from the novel.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the location with other settings mentioned in the book.

Explanations: In the novel, Fielding and Aziz meet at the university to discuss political matters, making it the correct location.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as their discussion does not take place at Aziz's house.
Option B: Correct, as the university is where they meet to discuss politics.
Option C: Incorrect, as there is no mention of horseback riding in this context.
Option D: Incorrect, as they do not go on a boat ride.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

280. The Seasons is a.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Pastoral poem.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A pastoral poem focuses on rural life, nature, and the simplicity of country living, often idealizing the countryside.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the difference between a pastoral poem and other genres like mock-epic or pastiche.

Explanations: The Seasons by John Clare is a pastoral poem as it idealizes rural life and nature, typical of the genre.

Option Analysis:

Option A: A mock-epic satirizes trivial subjects, which The Seasons does not do.
Option B: A pastiche imitates another style, which The Seasons does not.
Option C: A pastoral elegy mourns a loss, which The Seasons does not focus on.
Option D: Correct, as The Seasons is a pastoral poem focusing on rural life and nature.

Mnemonic: Pastoral poems paint pictures of peaceful pastures.

281. Which of the following best defines the heroic couplet?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Two lines of rhyming verse written in iambic pentameter.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The heroic couplet is a poetic form consisting of two lines that rhyme and are written in iambic pentameter.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the term "couplet" as referring to characters rather than poetic lines.

Explanations: The heroic couplet is defined by its structure: two consecutive lines of verse that rhyme and follow the iambic pentameter rhythm, which consists of ten syllables with a stress on every second syllable.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Refers to characters, not poetic structure.
Option B: Correctly identifies the poetic form.
Option C: Describes poem endings, unrelated to the couplet.
Option D: Pertains to comedy characters, not poetry.

Mnemonic: Heroic Couplets: Two Lines, Rhyme, and Iambic Pentameter.

282. Who is singing in 'The Solitary Reaper'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A beautiful girl

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem describes a young girl singing while reaping, highlighting her beauty and the emotional impact of her song.

Common Mistakes: Misreading the imagery or confusing it with other Romantic poems.

Explanations: The poem focuses on a solitary girl reaping and singing, emphasizing her beauty and the melancholic tone of her song. The imagery centers on her alone in the field, not on mythical or otherworldly beings.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The poem does not mention a goddess.
Option B: A muse is not referenced in the poem.
Option C: Correct, as the poem describes a beautiful girl singing.
Option D: The poem does not mention a circle of temptresses.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

283. Which writing includes the manifesto of Romantic poetry?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Lyrical Ballads.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Lyrical Ballads is considered the manifesto of Romantic poetry as it introduced key Romantic themes and styles.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse it with other Romantic works like The Prelude or The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Explanations: Lyrical Ballads, published in 1798, marked the beginning of the Romantic movement in English literature. It emphasized emotion, nature, and the common man, setting the stage for Romanticism.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Prelude is Wordsworth's long autobiographical poem, not a manifesto.
Option B: Lyrical Ballads is the correct answer as it serves as the manifesto of Romantic poetry.
Option C: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a narrative poem by Coleridge, not a manifesto.
Option D: Songs of Innocence is a collection by Blake, unrelated to the Romantic manifesto.

Mnemonic: Lyric Ballads Launch Romanticism

284. The title of the poem 'Goe and Catche a Falling Starre' referres to

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) A faithful woman.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem uses a metaphor to highlight the rarity of a faithful woman.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the metaphor as a literal falling star.

Explanations: The poem employs the metaphor of a falling star to symbolize the rarity of a faithful woman, emphasizing how difficult it is to find such a person.

Option Analysis:

Option A: A meteor is a literal falling star, not the metaphorical reference in the poem.
Option B: A volcano is unrelated to the poem's theme or metaphor.
Option C: The poem focuses on women, not men.
Option D: Correct, as the poem uses the falling star metaphor for a faithful woman.

Mnemonic: Faithful women are as rare as falling stars.

285. As a boy, Frederick Douglass witnesses a scene that mortifies him and brings him face to face for the first time with the horrors of slavery. What is it?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Watching his aunt get whipped.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of key events in Frederick Douglass's autobiography, specifically his early experiences with slavery.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing this event with other traumatic experiences Douglass describes, such as the death of his mother or witnessing other beatings.

Explanations: In "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," the whipping of his aunt, Hester, is a defining moment. It reveals the violent and dehumanizing nature of slavery, leaving a lasting impact on Douglass and shaping his resolve to escape.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Douglass's mother died when he was very young, but this event is not the first time he confronts slavery's horrors.
Option B: While Douglass witnesses violent beatings, the specific instance of a slave being beaten to death is not the first event that mortifies him.
Option C: Correct. The whipping of his aunt Hester is the first vivid encounter with slavery's brutality.
Option D: Douglass's father beating his mother is not an event he witnesses; this option conflates different aspects of his family history.

Mnemonic: Aunt's Whip Exposes Slavery's Core

⬅ Previous SetSet 19Next Set ➡

10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 19”

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 19”

Leave a Reply