English Literature MCQ – Change your future

616. What type of literature involves gods and goddesses as the main characters?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Myths.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Myths are traditional stories that often explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or cultural practices, featuring gods and goddesses as main characters.

Common Mistakes: Confusing myths with legends, which are based on historical events or people, or with fairytales, which focus on magical elements and human characters.

Explanations: Myths involve gods and goddesses as central characters, often explaining natural phenomena or cultural practices. Fairytales focus on magical elements and human or anthropomorphic characters. Fables use animals to convey moral lessons. Legends are based on real events or people with exaggerated elements.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Fairytales involve magical elements and human or anthropomorphic characters, not gods.
Option B: Fables use animals to convey moral lessons, not focusing on deities.
Option C: Myths involve gods and goddesses as main characters, explaining natural phenomena or cultural practices.
Option D: Legends are based on real events or people, often with exaggerated elements, not centered around gods.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

617. Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy written by -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Shakespeare.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The play "Antony and Cleopatra" is a well-known tragedy authored by William Shakespeare.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake might be confusing the author with other playwrights like Marlowe or Ibsen.

Explanations: William Shakespeare wrote "Antony and Cleopatra," a tragedy that explores the lives of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. The other options are incorrect as they refer to different authors.

Option Analysis:

Option A: G.B. Shaw is a 20th-century playwright known for works like "Pygmalion," not "Antony and Cleopatra."
Option B: Shakespeare wrote "Antony and Cleopatra," a historical tragedy.
Option C: Marlowe, a contemporary of Shakespeare, wrote plays like "Doctor Faustus," not this tragedy.
Option D: Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright known for realism, not this historical tragedy.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

618. Race relations in the North are attacked in:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Harriet Wilson's Our Nig.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of 19th-century African American literature and its focus on race relations in different regions.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the regional focus of these works, as many associate race relations more with the South.

Explanations: Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig" critiques race relations in the North, particularly in New England, highlighting the experiences of African Americans in a region often perceived as more progressive. The other works focus on the South or broader themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" focuses on the South and the experiences of enslaved women there.
Option B: Harriet Wilson's "Our Nig" addresses race relations in the North, making it the correct choice.
Option C: William Wells Brown's "Clotel" is set in the South and deals with the experiences of enslaved individuals.
Option D: Toni Morrison's "Beloved" is a modern work set in the post-slavery era, focusing on broader themes of memory and trauma.

Mnemonic: Wilson's Nig in the North

619. Shelley expresses all of the following ideas in A Defence of Poetry, EXCEPT:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Poetry has no effect on society.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Shelley's "A Defence of Poetry" argues that poetry has a profound impact on society by inspiring emotions and ideas.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Shelley's emphasis on poetry's societal influence.

Explanations: Shelley believes poetry shapes emotions and ideas, making Option D incorrect as it contradicts his views.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shelley discusses reason's role in understanding beauty.
Option B: Civilization is built through beauty, as Shelley argues.
Option C: Language reflects humanity's impulse towards order, as Shelley states.
Option D: Contradicts Shelley's belief in poetry's societal impact.

Mnemonic: D for Defeat, as Poetry's effect is never defeated.

620. What did Dr. Heidegger caution his guests about before drinking the liquid?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) To not make the mistakes of their youth again.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The story explores themes of regret and the consequences of past actions. Dr. Heidegger's warning reflects the importance of learning from past mistakes.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the story's focus on past regrets rather than other elements like superstitions or friendship.

Explanations: Dr. Heidegger warns his guests to avoid repeating youthful mistakes, highlighting the narrative's focus on regret and the consequences of past actions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The story does not mention a restriction on the number of glasses.
Option B: Correct, as it aligns with Dr. Heidegger's cautionary advice.
Option C: The narrative does not focus on friends' trustworthiness.
Option D: The story does not address superstitions.

Mnemonic: Youth's Mistakes, Heidegger's Warnings

621. Who is William Hazlitt?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Essayist

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: William Hazlitt is known for his contributions as an essayist in English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Hazlitt with other writers who are known for novels, drama, or poetry.

Explanations: William Hazlitt is primarily recognized for his essays, which are celebrated for their wit and insight into human nature. His works often explore topics like art, literature, and philosophy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Hazlitt is not known for writing novels.
Option B: Hazlitt is renowned for his essays.
Option C: Hazlitt did not make significant contributions to drama.
Option D: Hazlitt wrote some poetry, but it was not his main focus.

Mnemonic: Hazlitt's essays are his masterpieces.

622. How did courtly romances break down the virgin/whore dichotomy?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) They redefined women as attainable vs unattainable, rather than virgin vs whore.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Courtly romances shifted focus from women's chastity to their attainability in love, challenging the virgin/whore binary.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the nuanced portrayal of women in courtly romances as merely rejecting traditional dichotomies without recognizing the new framework of attainability.

Explanations: Courtly romances redefined women's roles by emphasizing attainability over virginity, reflecting the ideals of courtly love. This shift allowed for more complex portrayals of women, moving beyond the restrictive virgin/whore dichotomy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; courtly romances did not reject chastity but recontextualized it within courtly love.
Option B: Correct; they redefined women's roles based on attainability.
Option C: Incorrect; the romances did not reject men's classification but offered a new framework.
Option D: Incorrect; courtly romances often explored sexuality and love.

Mnemonic: Courtly Love: Attainable or Not

623. The character of is based on the author Charlotte Bronte herself in Villette (1853).

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Lucy Snowe.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the understanding of semi-autobiographical characters in literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Lucy Snowe with other characters or not recognizing the autobiographical elements in the novel.

Explanations: Charlotte Brontë based the character of Lucy Snowe on herself, drawing from her personal experiences as a governess and her introspective nature. This semi-autobiographical approach allows readers to understand Brontë's perspective and the societal challenges faced by women during the Victorian era.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Lucy Snowe is the correct answer as she is the semi-autobiographical character based on Charlotte Brontë.
Option B: Patrick Bronte is incorrect; he was Charlotte's brother, not a character in "Villette."
Option C: Mary is incorrect; she is not a central character in the novel.
Option D: None of the above is incorrect because Lucy Snowe is indeed based on Charlotte Brontë.

Mnemonic: Lucy Snowe mirrors Charlotte's own life in 'Villette.'

624. At the end of the poem what fall on Shadwell which brought him twice the dullness of his father Flecknoe ?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Robe.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem "Mac Flecknoe" satirizes Thomas Shadwell and his poetic abilities, comparing him to his father Flecknoe. The imagery of the robe symbolizes the inheritance of poetic mediocrity.

Common Mistakes: Misreading the poem's imagery or confusing it with other satirical elements could lead to incorrect answers.

Explanations: In "Mac Flecknoe," Shadwell is portrayed as the heir to his father's poetic dullness. The robe falling on him signifies the inheritance of this trait, doubling his father's mediocrity. This is a key satirical element in the poem.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Books are not mentioned in the poem's conclusion.
Option B: The robe is explicitly described as falling on Shadwell, symbolizing his inherited poetic mediocrity.
Option C: Knowledge is not relevant to the poem's satirical imagery.
Option D: The correct answer is provided, so this is incorrect.

Mnemonic: "Robe brings double dullness, as per Dryden's verse."

625. In the first 75 lines of Book One of "Paradise Regained, " Satan refers to which person he has recently seen, who is identified by the following quote? "Before him [Jesus] a great Prophet, to proclaim / His coming, is sent Harbinger, who all / Invites, and in the Consecrated stream / Pretends to wash off sin"

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) John the Baptist.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of biblical figures and their roles in "Paradise Regained."

Common Mistakes: Confusing John the Baptist with other Johns or biblical figures.

Explanations: The quote describes John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus and announced His coming. This aligns with his role as a prophet and harbinger of Jesus.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John the Apostle was a disciple, not the baptizer.
Option B: John the Baptist fits the description of the harbinger and baptizer.
Option C: Michael the Archangel is a celestial being, not a human prophet.
Option D: Joseph was Jesus's stepfather, not associated with baptism.

Mnemonic: Baptize Before Jesus: John the Baptist.

626. Gulliver's Travels is an.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Allegory

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Gulliver's Travels uses fictional elements to critique real-world issues, making it an allegory.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the difference between an allegory and other literary forms like epics or essays.

Explanations: Gulliver's Travels employs characters and events to symbolize and critique political and social issues, fitting the definition of an allegory.

Option Analysis:

Option A: An epic is a long narrative poem, which Gulliver's Travels is not.
Option B: An essay is a non-fictional prose piece, which does not apply here.
Option C: Alliterative verse refers to a poetic style, not the genre of the work.
Option D: An allegory uses fictional elements to convey deeper meanings, which Gulliver's Travels does.

Mnemonic: Alliteration in verse, essays explain, epics are long, but Gulliver's an allegory.

627. The Wife of Usher's Well is an example of.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Traditional ballad.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Wife of Usher's Well is classified as a traditional ballad because it is a folk song passed down through generations with an anonymous origin and a narrative structure.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing traditional ballads with literary ballads, which are written by known authors with more complex language.

Explanations: Traditional ballads are anonymous and orally transmitted, often with regional variations. The Wife of Usher's Well fits this definition as it is a narrative folk song with tragic themes, typical of traditional ballads.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Literary ballads are authored by known poets, unlike The Wife of Usher's Well, which is anonymous.
Option B: Correct. Traditional ballads are anonymous, orally transmitted, and have narrative structures.
Option C: Broadside ballads are printed, not necessarily traditional or anonymous.
Option D: Incorrect because the ballad fits the traditional category.

Mnemonic: "Traditional ballads are 'timeless tales,' passed down through the ages, while literary ballads are 'literary works' by known authors."

628. How many children does Aziz have?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) 3.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall specific details from a text.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be misremembering the number of children mentioned in the text.

Explanations: The text explicitly states that Aziz has three children, making option A the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as the text states Aziz has three children.
Option B: Incorrect, as the text does not mention four children.
Option C: Incorrect, as the text does not mention two children.
Option D: Incorrect, as the text does not mention six children.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

629. What is the difference between traditional literary criticism and post-New Criticism literary theory?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Traditional literary criticism focused on tracking influences and textual allusions and considering the historical contexts of literary texts.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition Exam, Cambridge A Level English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Traditional literary criticism emphasizes understanding a text through its historical context, influences, and textual allusions.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the focus of traditional criticism as being solely on psychological aspects or gender issues.

Explanations: Traditional literary criticism involves analyzing a text by examining its historical context, the influences on the author, and the allusions within the text. This approach helps readers understand the text within its broader cultural and social framework.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Exploring gender issues is more characteristic of feminist criticism, not traditional literary criticism.
Option B: Incorrect. Traditional literary criticism is not limited to pre-20th-century texts; it can be applied to any literary work regardless of its time period.
Option C: Correct. This accurately describes the focus of traditional literary criticism on influences, allusions, and historical contexts.
Option D: Incorrect. Considering psychological aspects is more associated with psychoanalytic criticism, not traditional literary criticism.

Mnemonic: TCTT: Traditional Critics Track Texts and Times

630. In The Dubliners, which negative characteristic(s) does Joyce associate with Dublin as a place?

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

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: James Joyce's *The Dubliners* portrays Dublin with several negative characteristics, including commonness, boredom, and backwardness.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is focusing on only one negative trait without recognizing the others.

Explanations: Joyce's portrayal of Dublin in *The Dubliners* emphasizes the city's stagnation and lack of progress. The stories depict the lives of ordinary Dubliners, highlighting the city's mundane nature (commonness), the monotony of daily life (boredom), and its resistance to change (backwardness). These traits collectively define Joyce's negative view of Dublin.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Commonness is a trait, but not the only one.
Option B: Boredom is another trait, but not exclusive.
Option C: Backwardness is a trait, but not the sole characteristic.
Option D: Correctly identifies all negative traits associated with Dublin.

Mnemonic: CBB (Commonness, Boredom, Backwardness)

⬅ Previous SetSet 42Next Set ➡

10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 42”

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 42”

Leave a Reply