English Literature MCQ – Change your future

496. In Acrene Wisse, the mission of the anchorite was justified through what purpose?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) To withdraw and meditate upon God.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The anchorite's mission in Acrene Wisse was centered on withdrawal from the world to focus on spiritual meditation and contemplation of God.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the anchorite's purpose with more active roles like serving the church or preaching.

Explanations: The anchorite's primary purpose was to withdraw from society and engage in deep meditation and reflection on divine matters, as depicted in Acrene Wisse.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Serving the church is not the main justification for the anchorite's mission.
Option B: Correct. The anchorite's mission was to withdraw and meditate upon God.
Option C: While prayer is part of their practice, it is not the primary justification.
Option D: Preaching is not the focus of an anchorite's mission.

Mnemonic: Withdraw to Meditate on God

497. Who wrote 'The Nun's Priest's Tale'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Chaucer

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: "The Nun's Priest's Tale" is part of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," a significant work in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Chaucer and other poets like Shelley or Donne, who are associated with different literary periods and works.

Explanations: Geoffrey Chaucer authored "The Canterbury Tales," which includes "The Nun's Priest's Tale." This tale is a well-known part of Chaucer's work, making him the correct author.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Percy Bysshe Shelley was a Romantic poet, unrelated to Chaucer's works.
Option B: T.S. Eliot was a modernist poet, not connected to "The Canterbury Tales."
Option C: Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales," including "The Nun's Priest's Tale."
Option D: John Donne was a metaphysical poet, unrelated to Chaucer's works.

498. In 1850, Tennyson succeeded Wordsworth as poet laureate.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) True.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the succession of poet laureates in England.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the timeline of poet laureates or misremembering who succeeded whom.

Explanations: In 1850, William Wordsworth passed away, and Alfred Lord Tennyson was appointed as the next poet laureate. This is a well-documented historical fact in English literary history.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Tennyson succeeded Wordsworth as poet laureate in 1850.
Option B: Incorrect. This would mean Tennyson did not become poet laureate, which contradicts historical records.
Option C: Incorrect. Both A and B cannot be correct since only one can be true.
Option D: Incorrect. The correct answer is A, so this option is false.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

499. Margaret Atwood was born in which Canadian city?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Ottowa

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall the birthplace of a significant English-Canadian author.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Margaret Atwood's birthplace with other major Canadian cities where she has lived or worked.

Explanations: Margaret Atwood was born in Ottowa, Canada. This is a factual detail about her biography.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Vancouver is incorrect because Atwood was not born there.
Option B: Toronto is incorrect because, although Atwood has strong ties to Toronto, it is not her birthplace.
Option C: Ottowa is correct because it is where Atwood was born.
Option D: Montreal is incorrect because Atwood was not born there.

Mnemonic: Ottawa is the capital, and that's where Atwood started her tale.

500. What is known as the British Epic?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Beowulf.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Beowulf is recognized as the British Epic due to its status as a significant Old English poem.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Beowulf and other epics like The Iliad or The Odyssey.

Explanations: Beowulf is an Old English epic poem, making it the British Epic. The other options are either Greek epics or a collection of tales.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Beowulf is the British Epic.
Option B: The Iliad is a Greek epic.
Option C: The Odyssey is another Greek epic.
Option D: The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories, not an epic.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

501. According to most historians, why was it so important for a man to marry a virgin wife?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) It assured him that his children were his own.

Exam Relevance: AP World History, British History GCSE

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: In historical patriarchal societies, ensuring the legitimacy of children was crucial for inheritance and family lineage.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the primary focus on paternity rather than other factors like dowries or sin.

Explanations: Virginity was seen as a guarantee that the wife had not had sexual relations before marriage, ensuring that any children born were biologically the husband's.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as it addresses the core reason of paternity assurance.
Option B: Incorrect, as dowries were not the primary concern.
Option C: Incorrect, as virginity was not about sin.
Option D: Incorrect, as the focus was on paternity, not adultery prevention.

Mnemonic: Virginity Assures Paternity (VAP)

502. Which is the best example of the "double standard" that exists in tales of courtly love?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Men are allowed to boast about their affairs, while women must keep them secret.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The double standard in courtly love refers to differing expectations for men and women, where men's romantic exploits are celebrated, while women's fidelity is strictly enforced.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the nuanced gender dynamics in literature, thinking it's about villainy or supernatural elements instead of romantic freedom and chastity.

Explanations: In courtly love narratives, men were often praised for their amorous adventures, which added to their reputation and allure. Women, however, were expected to maintain strict chastity, and any deviation from this norm would result in severe consequences, such as loss of reputation or social ostracism. This disparity in treatment and expectations is a clear example of the double standard.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because it oversimplifies the roles, as not all women were villains and not all men were heroes.
Option B: Incorrect because it conflates gender roles with plot types, which isn't the focus of the double standard.
Option C: Correct because it accurately reflects the differing expectations and freedoms granted to men and women in courtly love narratives.
Option D: Incorrect because it inaccurately represents the typical portrayal of men as immoral, which contradicts the usual romanticized view of men in courtly love narratives.

Mnemonic: Men's Tales, Women's Trials

503. A vowel glide with a consonantal function is called a.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Semi-vowel.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Linguistics, TOEFL

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A semi-vowel is a speech sound that functions as a consonant but is phonetically similar to a vowel, serving as a vowel glide.

Common Mistakes: Confusing semi-vowels with full vowels or consonants like fricatives.

Explanations: Semi-vowels, or glides, are intermediate sounds between vowels and consonants, functioning as consonants but phonetically resembling vowels.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Fricatives are consonants with turbulent airflow, not vowel glides.
Option B: Full vowels are open, unobstructed vowel sounds.
Option C: Semi-vowels are vowel glides with consonantal function.
Option D: Half-vowel is not a standard phonetic term.

Mnemonic: Semi-vowels glide smoothly, like a slide.

504. Who is one of the lake poets:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Coleridge.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AQA English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The Lake Poets were a group of early 19th-century English poets associated with the Lake District.

Common Mistakes: Confusing William Blake or Robert Browning with the Lake Poets.

Explanations: Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a prominent member of the Lake Poets, alongside William Wordsworth and Robert Southey. William Blake was a Romantic poet but not part of the Lake Poets. Robert Browning was a Victorian poet, not associated with the Lake District.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Coleridge was a key member of the Lake Poets.
Option B: Incorrect. Blake was not part of the Lake Poets.
Option C: Incorrect. Browning was a Victorian poet, not a Lake Poet.
Option D: Incorrect. Coleridge is indeed a Lake Poet.

Mnemonic: "Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Southey roamed the Lakes with their poetry."

505. In the play, "Macbeth, " who becomes king immediately after Duncanâ€™s murder?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Macbeth.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: In "Macbeth," Macbeth assassinates King Duncan and assumes the throne immediately.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Macduff or Malcolm as the immediate successor, but they are not.

Explanations: Macbeth kills King Duncan and becomes king right after the murder, as per the play's events.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Macbeth becomes king after killing Duncan.
Option B: Incorrect. Banquo does not become king; he is killed by Macbeth later.
Option C: Incorrect. Macduff is a loyalist who opposes Macbeth, not a successor.
Option D: Incorrect. Malcolm is Duncan's son and becomes king after Macbeth's fall.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

506. Poole, the butler is convinced that his employer has been.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Murdered.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests understanding of character motivation and plot context in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the evidence presented in the story could lead to incorrect choices.

Explanations: Poole, the butler, discovers signs of violence and disturbance, leading him to believe his employer has been murdered. This aligns with the narrative's clues pointing towards foul play.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as evidence points to murder.
Option B: Incorrect, as there is no indication of kidnapping.
Option C: Incorrect, as hiding is not supported by the context.
Option D: Incorrect, as experiments are unrelated to the scenario.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

507. Epic similes are found in which work of John Milton?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Paradise Lost.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Epic similes are extended comparisons used in epic poetry to enhance grandeur and thematic depth.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the literary devices used in Milton's different works.

Explanations: Epic similes are a hallmark of *Paradise Lost*, contributing to its epic scale. Other works by Milton do not use this device.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. *Paradise Lost* uses epic similes extensively.
Option B: Incorrect. Milton's sonnets do not use epic similes.
Option C: Incorrect. *Lycidas* is a pastoral elegy without epic similes.
Option D: Incorrect. *Areopagitica* is a prose work on freedom of speech.

Mnemonic: Epic similes in Milton's *Paradise Lost* are as grand as the fall of angels.

508. Which of these book is not written by Swift?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Rape of the Lock.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

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

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Alexander Pope with Jonathan Swift, as both are prominent 18th-century English writers.

Explanations: Jonathan Swift authored "Gulliver's Travels," "The Conduct of Allies," and "The Battle of the Books." "Rape of the Lock" is a poem by Alexander Pope, not Swift.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. "Rape of the Lock" is by Alexander Pope, not Swift.
Option B: Correct. "Gulliver's Travels" is a well-known work by Swift.
Option C: Correct. "The Conduct of Allies" is a pamphlet by Swift.
Option D: Correct. "The Battle of the Books" is a satirical work by Swift.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

509. Which novel of Hardy presents 'Egdon Heath' as the background of the story?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Return of the Native

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The novel "Return of the Native" by Thomas Hardy is set in Egdon Heath, a fictional heathland that serves as a central setting and symbol in the story.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing "Return of the Native" with "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," which is set in a different rural area.

Explanations: "Return of the Native" is set in Egdon Heath, a desolate and ancient landscape that Hardy uses to reflect the characters' isolation and the themes of fate and tragedy. The other novels listed do not feature Egdon Heath as their setting.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Tess of the D'Urberville" is set in the Vale of Blackmoor, not Egdon Heath.
Option B: "Return of the Native" is set in Egdon Heath, making it the correct answer.
Option C: "Jude the Obscure" is set in Wessex, but not specifically in Egdon Heath.
Option D: Incorrect, as "Return of the Native" is the correct answer.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

510. An element of the supernatural is present in the poetry of :

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Coleridge.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Coleridge's poetry is known for its supernatural elements, such as in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Coleridge with Wordsworth, who focused more on nature and human emotions.

Explanations: Coleridge's works often include supernatural themes and imagery, making him the correct answer. Wordsworth, Browning, and Byron did not focus on the supernatural in their poetry.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Wordsworth's poetry emphasizes nature and human emotions, not the supernatural.
Option B: Coleridge's works often include supernatural elements, making him the correct answer.
Option C: Browning's poetry is characterized by dramatic monologues and psychological insights, not supernatural themes.
Option D: Byron's work focuses on romanticism, individualism, and personal struggles, not the supernatural.

Mnemonic: "Coleridge's poems are full of magic and the supernatural, like a 'Coleridgean' spell."

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 34”

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 34”

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