English Literature MCQ – Change your future

466. This checkmark diagram represents the plot structure for what genre of early American writing?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Slave narrative.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Slave narratives often follow a clear, linear structure, which can be represented by a checkmark diagram showing the protagonist's journey from enslavement to freedom.

Common Mistakes: One might confuse this with other autobiographical forms, such as Indian autobiographies, which may not follow the same linear, goal-oriented structure.

Explanations: Slave narratives typically use a linear plot structure to depict the protagonist's escape from slavery, which aligns with the checkmark diagram's representation of a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Slave narratives often follow a linear structure, which can be represented by a checkmark diagram.
Option B: Incorrect. Indian autobiographies may not follow the same linear, goal-oriented structure.
Option C: Incorrect. Sermons typically follow a different structure, often based on biblical exegesis.
Option D: Incorrect. Transcendentalist works focus on philosophical ideas rather than a narrative plot structure.

Mnemonic: Slave narratives follow a clear path, like a checkmark to freedom.

467. A stanza of eight iambic pentameter lines, with the rhyme scheme as ab ab, bc

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Rime Royal stanza.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Rime Royal stanza consists of eight iambic pentameter lines with the rhyme scheme ababbc.

Common Mistakes: Confusing Rime Royal with other stanza forms like Spenserian or Nonette.

Explanations: The Rime Royal stanza is characterized by eight lines of iambic pentameter and the rhyme scheme ababbc. This matches the description in the question.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Nonette stanza refers to a nine-line stanza, not eight.
Option B: Rime Royal stanza correctly matches the description.
Option C: Spenserian stanza typically has nine lines, not eight.
Option D: Incorrect because the correct answer is provided.

Mnemonic: Rime Royal has eight lines, ababbc in rhyme.

468. Which College Frost attended for several months?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Dartmouth College.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Robert Frost's educational background.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Dartmouth College with other colleges Frost attended or institutions with similar names.

Explanations: Robert Frost attended Dartmouth College for several months, which is a factual detail about his early life.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as Dartmouth College is where Frost studied.
Option B: Incorrect, Daffodil International College is unrelated to Frost.
Option C: Incorrect, Dhaka College is not associated with Frost.
Option D: Incorrect, Dental College is unrelated to Frost's education.

Mnemonic: Dartmouth for Frost, like a dart to a target.

469. For Which Shakespeare is known mostly?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Plays

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: William Shakespeare is renowned primarily for his dramatic works, which include tragedies, comedies, and histories.

Common Mistakes: Some may confuse Shakespeare's contributions with poetry or other genres, but his plays are his most celebrated works.

Explanations: Shakespeare is best known for his plays, which are a cornerstone of English literature. His works include famous plays like "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Macbeth," which are widely studied and performed.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shakespeare wrote poetry, but his plays are his most famous works.
Option B: Shakespeare did not write novels; novels became prominent later.
Option C: Shakespeare did not write an autobiography.
Option D: Shakespeare is primarily known for his plays, which are his most celebrated contributions.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic provided.

470. Who " headlong themselves they threw Down from the verge of Heaven" ?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Rebel angels

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The passage refers to the rebellion of angels in John Milton's "Paradise Lost."

Common Mistakes: Misremembering the characters from "Paradise Lost" or confusing them with other biblical figures.

Explanations: In "Paradise Lost," Milton describes the rebel angels, led by Satan, who are cast out of Heaven for their rebellion. The passage directly refers to their fall.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Adam and Eve are created later in "Paradise Lost" and are not associated with the fall of Heaven.
Option B: Noah and the elephant are not characters in "Paradise Lost."
Option C: The rebel angels, led by Satan, are the ones who are cast out of Heaven.
Option D: Benjamin and Joseph are biblical figures from Genesis, unrelated to this context.

Mnemonic: "Rebel Angels Rebel Against God"

471. 'To be or not to be' is the beginning of a famous soliloquy from .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Hamlet.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests recognition of a famous soliloquy from Shakespeare's plays.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse it with other Shakespearean plays like Romeo and Juliet.

Explanations: "To be or not to be" is a well-known soliloquy from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, where the protagonist contemplates life and death.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Paradise Lost is a poem by John Milton, unrelated to this soliloquy.
Option B: Romeo and Juliet is another Shakespeare play but does not contain this line.
Option C: Hamlet is the correct play where this soliloquy appears.
Option D: Shahnama is a Persian epic, unrelated to Shakespeare.

Mnemonic: Hamlet's famous question starts with "To be or not to be."

472. Which of the following critics preferred Shakespeare's Comedies to his Tragedies?

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

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of literary critics' preferences regarding Shakespeare's works.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Dr. Johnson's preference with that of other critics like Dryden or Addison.

Explanations: Dr. Samuel Johnson, in his critical work, expressed a preference for Shakespeare's comedies, praising their wit and moral depth. He found the tragedies less plausible and overly emotional.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Dryden preferred Shakespeare's tragedies for their grandeur and emotional depth.
Option B: Pope did not specifically prefer comedies over tragedies.
Option C: Dr. Johnson explicitly preferred comedies for their wit and moral lessons.
Option D: Addison appreciated comedies but did not state a preference against tragedies.

Mnemonic: Johnson's Joy in Jests

473. 'Stream of Consciousness' is the phrase first used by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) William James.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The term "Stream of Consciousness" refers to a narrative technique that depicts the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings in a character's mind. It was first introduced by psychologist William James.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is attributing the term to a novelist like James Joyce or Virginia Woolf, who popularized the technique rather than originating it.

Explanations: William James, a psychologist, first used the term "Stream of Consciousness" in his work "The Principles of Psychology." This concept was later adopted by modernist writers to depict the inner workings of the human mind.

Option Analysis:

Option A: James Joyce used the technique but did not coin the term.
Option B: William James introduced the term in his psychological studies.
Option C: Virginia Woolf applied the technique in her writing but did not originate it.
Option D: William Faulkner also used the technique but was not its inventor.

Mnemonic: William James coined the term, not the writers who applied it.

474. Which of the following plays was not authored by Shakespeare in the Jacobean period?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Volpone.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Jacobean period refers to the reign of King James I (1603-1625), during which Shakespeare wrote several plays. Identifying plays from this period and their authors is key.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between plays by Shakespeare and other contemporary playwrights like Ben Jonson.

Explanations: Shakespeare wrote "Othello," "The Tempest," and "King Lear" during the Jacobean period. "Volpone" was authored by Ben Jonson, not Shakespeare.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Othello" was written by Shakespeare during the Jacobean period.
Option B: "Volpone" was written by Ben Jonson, not Shakespeare.
Option C: "The Tempest" was written by Shakespeare during the Jacobean period.
Option D: "King Lear" was written by Shakespeare during the Jacobean period.

Mnemonic: V for Volpone, not by Will.

475. Chaucer was fined in 1367 or 1366 for.....?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Beating a friar in a London street.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Geoffrey Chaucer's historical incidents.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake might be confusing this incident with other historical events involving Chaucer.

Explanations: Geoffrey Chaucer was fined in 1366 for assaulting a friar in London. This event is documented in historical records and is a known fact about his life.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Chaucer was fined for this specific incident in 1366.
Option B: Incorrect. There is no evidence of Chaucer being fined for writing against the church.
Option C: Incorrect. Chaucer did not face penalties for crossing borders.
Option D: Incorrect. Option A is correct, so D is not applicable.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

476. Which author was a reclusive?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Jane Austen.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of authors' biographies and their personal traits, specifically reclusiveness.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Jane Austen's reclusive nature with other authors who were more publicly active.

Explanations: Jane Austen was a reclusive author who preferred a quiet, private life and often wrote in seclusion. This is well-documented in her biography. The other authors were more publicly engaged and social.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Jane Austen was reclusive, often writing in isolation.
Option B: Kerry Greenwood was a contemporary author who was more publicly engaged.
Option C: Vladmir Nobokov, though reclusive in some aspects, is not primarily known for reclusiveness in the same way as Austen.
Option D: Alexandre Dumas was a very social and publicly active author.

Mnemonic: "Jane Austen's novels are as private as her life; she kept to herself, much like her characters."

477. A type of writing in which ordinary events and details of reality are combined with fantastic and dreamlike elements is known as.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Magic realism.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Magic realism is a literary style that combines realistic descriptions of everyday life with elements of fantasy or the supernatural.

Common Mistakes: Confusing magic realism with surrealism or fantasy, which do not emphasize the blending of reality and the supernatural in the same way.

Explanations: Magic realism seamlessly integrates the ordinary and the extraordinary, creating a sense of wonder while maintaining a realistic setting. This approach allows authors to explore deeper themes through the lens of the fantastic.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Fantastic writing focuses on the supernatural without grounding in reality.
Option B: Realistic writing deals only with the real world without fantastical elements.
Option C: Surrealism emphasizes the irrational and dream-like without a realistic base.
Option D: Magic realism combines ordinary events with fantastic elements.

Mnemonic: Magic Realism: Magic meets reality.

478. Who coined the phrase 'Egotistical Sublime'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) S. T. Coleridge.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The term 'Egotistical Sublime' refers to the Romantic focus on the individual's experience of the sublime, emphasizing personal emotion and imagination.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Romantic poets and their specific contributions to literary theory.

Explanations: S. T. Coleridge coined the term 'Egotistical Sublime' to describe the Romantic emphasis on the individual's emotional and imaginative response to the sublime. This concept highlights the poets' focus on personal experience and introspection.

Option Analysis:

Option A: William Wordsworth focused on nature and the common man, not the specific term 'Egotistical Sublime'.
Option B: P.B. Shelley emphasized political and social themes rather than coining this term.
Option C: S. T. Coleridge is correct as he introduced the term in his literary criticism.
Option D: John Keats is known for his sensuous imagery and odes, not this specific concept.

Mnemonic: "Coleridge's Ego" - Remember Coleridge for the 'Egotistical Sublime'.

479. What is the delicate balancing act of Marvell's \ Horatian Ode\?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Celebrating Cromwell's victories whilst inviting sympathy for the executed king.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature, Edexcel A Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem balances praising Cromwell's military achievements with empathy for Charles I, reflecting the political complexities of the time.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the historical context or conflating the poem's themes with other works.

Explanations: Marvell's "Horatian Ode" celebrates Cromwell's victories, acknowledging his role in the English Civil War. However, it also subtly invites sympathy for Charles I, who was executed, by highlighting the tragedy of his fate. This balance reflects the political tensions and the nuanced perspectives of the time.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The poem does not focus on Roman virtues or Christian beliefs.
Option B: The poem does not mock chastity or focus on feminine virtue.
Option C: Correct. The poem celebrates Cromwell's military successes while evoking empathy for Charles I.
Option D: The poem was written before the Restoration, so it does not address the new regime's frivolity.

Mnemonic: Cromwell's triumph, Charles's plight.

480. Which of the following novelists best represents the mid-Victorian period's contentment with the burgeoning economic prosperity and decreased restiveness over social and political change?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Anthony Trollope.

Exam Relevance: AQA A-Level English Literature, Cambridge Pre-U Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the understanding of mid-Victorian literature and its reflection of societal contentment.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the themes of complacency versus critique in Victorian literature.

Explanations: Anthony Trollope's novels, such as "The Warden," reflect the mid-Victorian period's contentment with economic prosperity and social stability. His works often depict the middle class in harmonious, unconflicted settings, aligning with the era's complacency.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Anthony Trollope's novels, such as "The Warden," reflect the mid-Victorian period's contentment with economic prosperity and social stability. His works often depict the middle class in harmonious, unconflicted settings, aligning with the era's complacency.
Option B: Charles Dickens is known for his critique of social issues, such as poverty and industrialization, which contrasts with the period's complacency.
Option C: John Ruskin was a social critic and art theorist, not a novelist, and his works often criticized the effects of industrialization.
Option D: Friedrich Engels focused on class struggle, which contrasts with the mid-Victorian complacency.

Mnemonic: "Trollope's Tales of Tranquil Times"

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 32”

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 32”

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