English Literature MCQ – Change your future

436. Which of the following factors did not contribute to the growth of the reading public in this period?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The notoriety of the Lake School.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, OCR A Level English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests understanding of factors contributing to the growth of the reading public, focusing on historical and technological influences.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing literary influence with factors that directly increase readership.

Explanations: The Lake School's notoriety, while significant in literary circles, did not directly contribute to the growth of the reading public. Other factors like technological advancements in printing, innovations in book retailing, and increased literacy rates were more impactful.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Lake School's notoriety did not directly contribute to the growth of the reading public.
Option B: The steam-driven printing press increased production efficiency, making books more accessible.
Option C: Cut-price sales made books affordable to a broader audience.
Option D: Sunday schools improved literacy rates, expanding the potential reading public.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic provided.

437. The speaker of 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' saw.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Golden daffodils

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem describes the daffodils as "golden," which is a key detail.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse "yellow" with "golden," as both refer to color.

Explanations: The speaker explicitly states, "A host of golden daffodils," making "golden" the correct descriptor.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The poem does not mention wet daffodils.
Option B: While daffodils are yellow, the poem specifies "golden."
Option C: "Fair" is not used to describe the daffodils.
Option D: Correct, as the poem uses "golden" to describe the daffodils.

Mnemonic: Golden Daffodils Dance

438. Refer to pair of characters who are opposite in many ways and highlight or exaggerate each other's differences.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Dramatic foil

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A dramatic foil is a character who contrasts with another character, highlighting their differences.

Common Mistakes: Confusing dramatic foil with antagonist or protagonist roles.

Explanations: Dramatic foil refers to characters whose traits are opposite, emphasizing each other's characteristics. This contrast helps develop themes and character traits.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Villain refers to an antagonist, not necessarily a contrasting character.
Option B: Hero refers to a protagonist, not defined by opposition.
Option C: Dramatic foil accurately describes contrasting characters.
Option D: Heroine is a female protagonist, not a contrasting pair.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

439. Who is the famous woman novelist in Victorian Age?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) George Eliot.

Exam Relevance: GCSE, A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Victorian literature is characterized by works that reflect the social, political, and cultural changes of the 19th century. George Eliot was a prominent female novelist during this period.

Common Mistakes: Confusion between poets and novelists, or between authors from different literary periods.

Explanations: George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans, was a leading Victorian novelist known for her insightful portrayals of English provincial life. Her works, such as "Middlemarch," are celebrated for their psychological depth and social realism.

Option Analysis:

Option A: E.B. Browning was a poet, not a novelist, and is not associated with the Victorian era's prominent novelists.
Option B: George Eliot is correct as she was a significant Victorian novelist.
Option C: T.S. Eliot was a modernist poet, active in the 20th century, not a Victorian novelist.
Option D: Jane Austen was a renowned novelist, but her works predate the Victorian era, falling instead in the late 18th to early 19th century.

Mnemonic: "George Eliot's novels explore Victorian society."

440. Romeo and Juliet..... one of my favorite tragedy plays.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Is.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Subject-verb agreement with singular noun phrases.

Common Mistakes: Confusing singular and plural verb forms.

Explanations: "Romeo and Juliet" is a singular work, so the verb must be singular. "Is" correctly agrees with the singular subject.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Are" is plural, incorrect for singular subject.
Option B: "Have been" is present perfect, incorrect tense.
Option C: "Is" is correct singular present tense.
Option D: "Were" is past plural, incorrect for singular subject.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

441. Monadnock on his forehead hoar Doth seal the sacred trust, Your mountains build their monument, Though ye destroy their dust. What is the meaning of the word "hoar"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Grey or white with age.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The term "hoar" refers to a color that is grey or white, typically associated with age or weathering.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding "hoar" as referring to physical scars or texture rather than color.

Explanations: "Hoar" is an archaic term meaning grey or white with age, often used poetically to describe weathered or aged surfaces.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; "hoar" does not mean scarred.
Option B: Correct; "hoar" means grey or white with age.
Option C: Incorrect; "ancient or venerable" refers to age, not color.
Option D: Incorrect; "wrinkled with age" refers to texture, not color.

Mnemonic: Hoar is like the hair of an old man, grey and white with time.

442. Griffin came to the inn named in Iping.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Coach & Horses.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the setting in H.G. Wells' "The Invisible Man."

Common Mistakes: Confusing the inn's name with the book's title or misremembering the correct name.

Explanations: In "The Invisible Man," Griffin visits the Coach and Horses Inn in Iping. This is a key location in the story where he begins to lose control of his invisibility.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Invisible Man" is the title of the novel, not the inn's name.
Option B: Correct. The inn's name is Coach & Horses.
Option C: "Inn of Iping" is a misnomer and not the actual name used in the book.
Option D: "Horses and Coach" is a reversed and incorrect version of the inn's name.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

443. Which one is the famous prose work by S. T. Coleridge?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Biographia Literaria.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of S. T. Coleridge's major works, distinguishing between his poetry and prose.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Coleridge's poetic works with his prose, especially since his poems are more widely studied.

Explanations: S. T. Coleridge's "Biographia Literaria" is a significant prose work, serving as both an autobiography and a literary critique. It outlines his literary theories and philosophical thoughts, making it a key text in English literary criticism. The other options are poetic works, not prose.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Kubla Khan" is a poem, not a prose work.
Option B: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a narrative poem, not prose.
Option C: "Biographia Literaria" is Coleridge's major prose work, combining autobiography and literary critique.
Option D: "Christabel" is a narrative poem, not prose.

Mnemonic: Bio for Prose: Remember "Biographia" as Coleridge's prose work.

444. What was the name of David's mother?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Clara.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall specific character details from a well-known literary work.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake might be confusing Clara with other female characters in the novel, such as Dora or Emily.

Explanations: In "David Copperfield," Clara is the name of David's mother. The novel provides significant details about her life and her role in David's upbringing.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Clara is the correct name of David's mother in the novel.
Option B: Dora is not David's mother; she is a character who appears later in the novel.
Option C: Emily is not mentioned as David's mother in the novel.
Option D: Peggotty is a family friend, not David's mother.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

445. When did Hemingway receive the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) 1954.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall the year Ernest Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the year Hemingway won the Nobel Prize with other significant years in his life or career.

Explanations: Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his contributions to modern literature, including works like "The Old Man and the Sea." This recognition highlights his impact on the literary world.

Option Analysis:

Option A: 1952 is incorrect because Hemingway did not receive the Nobel Prize that year.
Option B: 1954 is correct as it is the year Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Option C: 1956 is incorrect because the Nobel Prize was awarded to Hemingway in 1954, not 1956.
Option D: 1958 is incorrect because Hemingway did not receive the Nobel Prize in 1958.

Mnemonic: Hemingway's Nobel Prize year: 1954 - "Hemingway's Golden Year."

446. Who got the Nobel Prize for literature in 2007?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Lessing

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Nobel Prize winners in Literature, specifically focusing on the year 2007.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the year Doris Lessing won with other laureates, such as Harold Pinter or Samuel Beckett.

Explanations: Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 for her work as an epicist, a novelist, and a chronicler of the female experience. The other options refer to authors who either won the prize in different years or have not won it at all.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Samuel Beckett won the Nobel Prize in 1969, not 2007.
Option B: Harold Pinter won the Nobel Prize in 2005, not 2007.
Option C: Tom Stoppard has not been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Option D: Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007.

Mnemonic: Lessing Led in 2007

447. "Major Barbra" is written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Shaw.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to identify the author of a specific literary work.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing George Bernard Shaw with other playwrights or poets like Beckett or Eliot.

Explanations: "Major Barbra" is a play authored by George Bernard Shaw. It is one of his well-known works, often studied in English literature curricula. The other options are incorrect because they refer to different authors known for their own distinct works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Beckett is known for works like "Waiting for Godot," not "Major Barbra."
Option B: Eliot is known for "The Waste Land," not "Major Barbra."
Option C: Shaw is the correct author of "Major Barbra."
Option D: This is incorrect because the correct answer is listed as option C.

Mnemonic: Shaw wrote "Major Barbra," not the others like Beckett or Eliot.

448. 'With cynical air' means.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) 'without any faith'.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Understanding the meaning of the phrase 'with cynical air'.

Common Mistakes: Confusing 'cynical' with 'casual' or 'careless'.

Explanations: The phrase 'with cynical air' describes someone who is skeptical or distrustful. 'Cynical' means having a negative or distrusting attitude, which aligns with 'without any faith'.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as 'cynical' implies a lack of faith.
Option B: Incorrect, as 'casually' does not relate to skepticism.
Option C: Incorrect, as 'carelessly' refers to lack of attention, not skepticism.
Option D: Incorrect, since option A is correct.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

449. The biggest share of dialogues in Othello goes to:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Iago.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: In Shakespeare's *Othello*, Iago has the most lines, making him the character with the largest share of dialogues.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming Othello, as the protagonist, has the most lines, but Iago's role is more central to the plot.

Explanations: Iago's extensive dialogues reveal his manipulative nature and the progression of the tragic plot. His soliloquies and asides are crucial to understanding his schemes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Desdemona has fewer lines as her role is more passive.
Option B: The Chorus is absent in *Othello*.
Option C: Othello's lines are fewer than Iago's despite being the protagonist.
Option D: Iago's dialogues are the most, central to the plot.

Mnemonic: "Iago's the talkative one, always plotting in *Othello*."

450. According to Samuel Johnson, \ No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for.....:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Money

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Samuel Johnson's quote highlights his belief that financial gain is the primary motivator for writing.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Johnson's pragmatic view on writing as a profession.

Explanations: Samuel Johnson's quote, "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money," directly states that money is the main reason for writing, implying that only foolish individuals would write without financial motivation.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Love is not mentioned in Johnson's quote.
Option B: Honor is not referenced in the quote.
Option C: Money is explicitly stated as the reason.
Option D: His party is unrelated to the quote.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic needed; the quote is memorable.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 30”

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 30”

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