English Literature MCQ – Change your future

46. Who is Bertramâ€™s main companion throughout much of the play, "Allâ€™s Well that Ends Well"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Parolles.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character relationships in "All's Well that Ends Well."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Parolles with other minor characters.

Explanations: Parolles is Bertram's main companion, often involved in comedic and dramatic scenes with him. Other characters listed are not directly associated with Bertram in this role.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Parolles is Bertram's main companion, making this the correct answer.
Option B: Lafew is a nobleman and not Bertram's companion.
Option C: The First Lord is a minor character and not associated with Bertram.
Option D: The Clown is a servant, not Bertram's main companion.

Mnemonic: Parolles is Bertram's pal.

47. Henry Higgins is a character in:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Pygmalion.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Henry Higgins is a central character in George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing "Pygmalion" with other Shaw plays like "Saint Joan" or "Candida."

Explanations: Henry Higgins is a phonetics expert in "Pygmalion," where he attempts to transform a Cockney flower girl into a duchess. This play is distinct from Shaw's other works, such as "Saint Joan," which is a historical drama about Joan of Arc, and "Candida," a comedy about a woman choosing between two men.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Henry Higgins is in "Pygmalion."
Option B: Incorrect. "Saint Joan" does not feature Henry Higgins.
Option C: Incorrect. "Candida" does not include Henry Higgins.
Option D: Incorrect. The correct answer is A.

Mnemonic: Higgins in Pygmalion, not Joan or Candida.

48. Shelley's final, unfinished poem is titled; 'The Triumph of '.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Life

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of Percy Bysshe Shelley's unfinished poem.

Common Mistakes: Confusion with other themes or titles associated with Shelley.

Explanations: Shelley's final poem is titled 'The Triumph of Life,' focusing on life's triumphs over adversity.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as the poem is titled 'The Triumph of Life.'
Option B: Incorrect, as the poem does not focus on death.
Option C: Incorrect, as fantasy is not the central theme.
Option D: Incorrect, as romance is not the focus.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

49. The Charge of the Light Brigade" (Tennyson) commemorates:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) The Crimean War.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem commemorates a specific event during the Crimean War.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the poem with other wars or battles not related to the Light Brigade.

Explanations: "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Tennyson commemorates the Crimean War, specifically the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. The poem recounts the ill-fated charge of the Light Brigade during the war.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Boer War occurred later and is unrelated to the poem.
Option B: The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval battle during the Napoleonic Wars.
Option C: The Crimean War is the correct context of the poem.
Option D: Incorrect, as the poem does commemorate the Crimean War.

Mnemonic: Charge Crimea, Tennyson's Brigade.

50. The poem 'Second Coming' is written by -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) W.B. Yeats.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a famous poem and its author.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse W.B. Yeats with other modernist poets like T.S. Eliot.

Explanations: 'Second Coming' is a well-known poem by W.B. Yeats, focusing on themes of chaos and the end of an era. It is a key work in English literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. 'Second Coming' is authored by W.B. Yeats.
Option B: Incorrect. T.S. Eliot is a different poet, known for works like 'The Waste Land.'
Option C: Incorrect. Robert Frost is known for his nature-themed poetry, not 'Second Coming.'
Option D: Incorrect. W.H. Auden is another poet, but not the author of this poem.

51. In her essay "The Poem as Event, " Louise M. Rosenblatt sees the reader as performing what function?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the above answers are correct.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Louise M. Rosenblatt's theory of the poem as an event highlights the reader's active role in the interpretive process. The reader is both acted upon by the text and acts upon it, creating a transactional relationship.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is to see the reader as passive, overlooking the active interpretation involved.

Explanations: Rosenblatt's theory posits that reading is a dynamic, transactional process where the reader actively engages with the text. The reader is both influenced by the text (acted upon) and influences the text through their interpretation (acts upon it). This mutual interaction is central to the concept of the poem as an event.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The reader participates in a transaction with the text, as per Rosenblatt's theory.
Option B: Correct. The reader is acted upon by the text, receiving its influence.
Option C: Correct. The reader acts upon the text through interpretation and personal response.
Option D: Correct. All options accurately describe the reader's function in Rosenblatt's theory.

Mnemonic: TRAC: Transaction, Reader, Action, Collaboration.

52. The Greek Stoic philosophy stressed a practical approach.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) People performed their civic duty and accepted their circumstances-good or bad.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Stoic philosophy emphasizes living in accordance with nature and reason, focusing on duty and acceptance of circumstances.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Stoicism as a philosophy focused on dietary practices or mythical beliefs.

Explanations: Stoicism teaches the importance of fulfilling civic duties and accepting one's circumstances as part of a virtuous life. This is reflected in option B.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Refers to a myth, unrelated to Stoicism.
Option B: Accurately reflects Stoic emphasis on duty and acceptance.
Option C: Describes Caesar's influence, not Stoic principles.
Option D: Refers to dietary practices, unrelated to Stoicism.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

53. What does Percy Shelley mean when he refers to poets as being the "unacknowledged legislators of the world"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) He is suggesting that artists serve to develop culture.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Shelley's metaphor highlights the cultural influence of poets, likening them to legislators who shape societal norms and values.

Common Mistakes: Misinterpreting the metaphor as a literal political role rather than a cultural one.

Explanations: Shelley's phrase suggests that poets, through their art, influence societal values and culture, acting as unofficial leaders. This reflects their role in cultural development.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Shelley's metaphor emphasizes poets' role in shaping culture.
Option B: Incorrect. Shelley doesn't discuss social class.
Option C: Incorrect. The focus is on influence, not repression.
Option D: Incorrect. Shelley refers to cultural, not legal, legislation.

Mnemonic: Poets legislate culture, not laws.

54. Who wrote about the idyllic 'Isle of Innisfree'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Yeats.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a well-known work by William Butler Yeats.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Yeats with other modernist poets like Ezra Pound or E.E. Cummings.

Explanations: William Butler Yeats wrote "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," which describes a peaceful retreat. The other poets listed are not associated with this poem.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Dylan Thomas is known for works like "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," not "Innisfree."
Option B: Ezra Pound is associated with modernist poetry and the "Imagist" movement, not this specific poem.
Option C: Yeats wrote "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," making this the correct answer.
Option D: E.E. Cummings is known for his experimental style and works like "i carry your heart," not this poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

55. Dr. Samuel Gladden believes Shelley's agenda was to .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Expose how intimate relationships inform political realities.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Shelley's work examines how personal relationships influence political and social structures.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Shelley's focus as purely political or philosophical rather than relational.

Explanations: Shelley's agenda, as per Gladden, is to explore how intimate relationships shape political realities. This involves analyzing how personal dynamics influence broader societal structures, a central theme in her works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shelley's work does not focus on revolutionizing France.
Option B: Her agenda is not about exposing reality in general.
Option C: Correctly identifies Shelley's focus on intimate relationships' impact on politics.
Option D: Shelley's work does not aim to change sexual morals.

Mnemonic: C for Close Relationships

56. The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies served to promote:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The right to vote for women in a non-violent manner by constitutional means.

Exam Relevance: GCSE History, A-Level History

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) was a major organization in the UK women's suffrage movement, advocating for women's voting rights through peaceful and legal methods.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the NUWSS with more militant suffrage groups like the WSPU, which used direct action.

Explanations: The NUWSS focused on achieving women's suffrage through constitutional means, such as petitioning and lobbying, rather than violence or civil disobedience. This approach distinguished it from other suffrage organizations.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The NUWSS primarily focused on suffrage, not workplace equality.
Option B: Correct. The NUWSS promoted women's suffrage through peaceful, legal methods.
Option C: The NUWSS was not involved in the anti-slavery movement.
Option D: Incorrect, as the NUWSS had a clear purpose related to women's suffrage.

Mnemonic: NUWSS for Suffrage, Peaceful and Legal Ways.

57. Which of the following is among the features that distinguish Robinson Crusoe as a novel as opposed to a romance?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Its focus on the individual and his psychological and moral development.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The distinction between a novel and a romance lies in the focus on individual character development and psychological depth.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the genre differences, thinking romance focuses on realistic character development.

Explanations: Robinson Crusoe is a novel because it emphasizes Crusoe's personal growth, struggles, and internal conflicts, typical of the novel genre's focus on individual psychological and moral development.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Larger-than-life heroes are typical of romances, not novels. Crusoe is heroic but grounded.
Option B: The novel carefully tracks time, unlike romances which often ignore it.
Option C: The novel reflects middle-class values, not aristocratic defense.
Option D: Focus on individual development is a key novel feature.

Mnemonic: Focus on the Individual for Novels

58. Whose great Dictionary, published in 1755, included more than 114, 000 quotations?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Samuel Johnson

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language is a foundational work in English literature, known for its extensive quotations and meticulous scholarship.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Samuel Johnson and other literary figures of his time, such as Jonathan Swift or Ben Jonson, who are also prominent but in different fields.

Explanations: Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1755, is renowned for its comprehensive nature, including over 114,000 quotations. This work established Johnson as a leading figure in lexicography and English literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: William Hogarth was an artist, not a lexicographer. His work is unrelated to dictionaries.
Option B: Jonathan Swift was a writer known for "Gulliver's Travels" and other literary works, not for creating a dictionary.
Option C: Samuel Johnson is correctly identified as the author of the influential 1755 Dictionary of the English Language.
Option D: Ben Jonson was a playwright and poet, not associated with lexicographical works.

Mnemonic: "Johnson's Dictionary: Just the Facts"

59. Amma described the red blanket given by Gopi as

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) A fisherman's net.

Exam Relevance: SAT Literature Subject Test, AP English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the understanding of metaphors and their application in literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be misinterpreting the metaphor as a literal description rather than a symbolic representation.

Explanations: Amma's description of the red blanket as a fisherman's net is a metaphor that highlights the idea of capturing or holding onto something significant. This metaphor is central to the story's themes of connection and support.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because the blanket is not described as a life support system.
Option B: Correct because the blanket is metaphorically compared to a fisherman's net.
Option C: Incorrect because the blanket is not described as a cook's sieve.
Option D: Incorrect because option B is correct.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

60. The Novel, " TristramShandy" is written by.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Sterne

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the author of "Tristram Shandy."

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Sterne and other 18th-century novelists.

Explanations: "Tristram Shandy" is a novel by Laurence Sterne, published in the 18th century. It is known for its innovative narrative structure and digressive style.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Smollett wrote "The Adventures of Roderick Random," not "Tristram Shandy."
Option B: Sterne is the correct author of "Tristram Shandy."
Option C: Fielding wrote "Tom Jones," a different novel.
Option D: Richardson wrote "Pamela," not "Tristram Shandy."

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 4”

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 4”

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