English Literature MCQ – Change your future

676. Why is the presence of the comitatus ethic in Beowulf significant?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The comitatus ethic represents the shift from a nomadic to a more organized social structure.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The comitatus ethic in Beowulf highlights the transition from nomadic lifestyles to structured societies, emphasizing loyalty and mutual support between leaders and followers.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the comitatus ethic with Christian values or misinterpreting it as a lack of responsibility in rulers.

Explanations: The comitatus ethic in Beowulf reflects the historical shift from nomadic to organized societies. It emphasizes loyalty and mutual support between a lord and his retainers, illustrating the development of a structured social hierarchy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The comitatus ethic represents the shift from nomadic to organized social structures, emphasizing loyalty and mutual support.
Option B: Incorrect. The comitatus ethic is not guided by Christian ethics but rather by pre-Christian Germanic values.
Option C: Incorrect. The comitatus ethic does not represent a return to older political structures but rather the development of a new social hierarchy.
Option D: Incorrect. The comitatus ethic emphasizes rulers' responsibilities to their followers, not the absence of such responsibilities.

Mnemonic: Comitatus: Loyalty and Structure

677. In Coleridge's, "Rime of the Ancient Mariner, " why couldn't the guest evade the old man?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) The old man had a glimmer in his eye.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem uses supernatural elements to explain the guest's inability to resist the Mariner's story.

Common Mistakes: Misinterpreting the imagery or confusing it with other poetic devices.

Explanations: The Ancient Mariner's "glimmer" in his eye represents a supernatural power that forces the guest to listen. This reflects the poem's exploration of guilt, redemption, and the supernatural.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The guest's politeness is not the reason; the poem emphasizes supernatural compulsion.
Option B: The term "hexed" is not used in the poem; the effect is more subtle and described through imagery.
Option C: The guest's eye is not described as having a glimmer; it's the Mariner's.
Option D: Correct. The Mariner's "glimmer" symbolizes his supernatural influence.

Mnemonic: Glimmer in the eye, can't escape the guy.

678. Belongs to Age of Wordsworth.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Robert Southey

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, A-Level English Literature, University Romanticism courses

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Age of Wordsworth refers to the Romantic Movement in English literature, characterized by poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing poets from the pre-Romantic era with those of the Romantic Movement.

Explanations: Robert Southey was a key figure in the Romantic Movement, alongside William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. They were part of the "Lake Poets" group, known for their nature-inspired poetry and emphasis on emotion and the sublime.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Thomas Gray was an 18th-century poet, not associated with the Romantic Movement.
Option B: Robert Southey was a contemporary of Wordsworth and a central figure in the Romantic Movement.
Option C: George Crabbe was a poet of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known for his realistic portrayals, but not part of the Romantic Movement.
Option D: William Cowper was an 18th-century poet known for his hymns and nature poetry, but not directly linked to the Romantic Age.

679. According to words worth, Lucy has merged with

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Nature.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The concept revolves around William Wordsworth's portrayal of Lucy as a figure deeply connected to nature, reflecting Romantic ideals of harmony with the natural world.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Lucy's relationship with nature with other themes like storm imagery or life events, which are not central to her character in Wordsworth's poems.

Explanations: In Wordsworth's poetry, Lucy is depicted as a figure who embodies the Romantic ideal of unity with nature. Her imagery often merges with natural elements, symbolizing her spiritual connection to the environment. This portrayal highlights the Romantic emphasis on nature as a source of inspiration and solace.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Storm is incorrect because Lucy's imagery is associated with calm, natural settings rather than turbulent weather.
Option B: Nature is correct as Lucy is portrayed as part of the natural landscape, reflecting her deep connection to it.
Option C: Life is incorrect because the poems focus on her spiritual and natural connection rather than her life's events.
Option D: None of the above is incorrect because option B accurately represents Lucy's relationship in the poems.

Mnemonic: Lucy in Nature, serene and true.

680. 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' written by-

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Byron.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a literary work and its author, a fundamental skill in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Confusion between Romantic poets and other literary figures like playwrights or modernist poets.

Explanations: 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' is a significant work by Lord Byron, a key figure in the Romantic movement. It is a narrative poem detailing the protagonist's travels and reflections.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Lord Byron authored 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.'
Option B: Incorrect. G.B. Shaw was a playwright, not the author of this poem.
Option C: Incorrect. John Bunyan wrote 'The Pilgrim's Progress,' a religious allegory.
Option D: Incorrect. T.S. Eliot was a modernist poet, unrelated to this work.

Mnemonic: Byron's Bold Pilgrimage, B for Bards.

681. Who is the writer of 'The Lady of Shalott'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) A. Lord Tennyson.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of the author of a well-known poem in English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Alfred Lord Tennyson with other Victorian poets like Robert Browning.

Explanations: 'The Lady of Shalott' is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, published in 1832. It tells the story of a woman under a curse who can only see the world through a mirror. The poem is notable for its use of imagery and its exploration of themes like isolation and fate.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote 'The Lady of Shalott.'
Option B: Incorrect. Cynewulf was an Old English poet, not associated with this poem.
Option C: Incorrect. Robert Browning was a contemporary of Tennyson but did not write this poem.
Option D: Incorrect. Geoffrey Chaucer was a medieval poet, best known for 'The Canterbury Tales.'

682. How did Shelley died?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) He drowned in Lerici.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recall of the cause of Percy Bysshe Shelley's death.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Shelley's death with that of other Romantic poets, such as Byron or Keats.

Explanations: Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned in a boating accident near Lerici, Italy, in 1822. This is a factual historical event.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shelley did not commit suicide; he died accidentally.
Option B: There is no evidence of Shelley being murdered.
Option C: Shelley drowned in the Gulf of Spezia near Lerici, Italy.
Option D: Shelley did not die from falling off a horse.

683. Absalom and Achitophel includes a of Zimri.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Lampoon.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem uses a lampoon, a satirical literary device, to criticize Zimri.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the difference between satire and lampoon.

Explanations: Absalom and Achitophel satirizes Zimri's short reign using a lampoon, a direct and humorous criticism.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Satire is broader; lampoon is a specific type.
Option B: The poem does not praise Zimri.
Option C: Panegyric is praise, not criticism.
Option D: Correct; lampoon fits the satirical criticism.

Mnemonic: Lampoon is a sharp satire, like a lamp lighting the dark.

684. What was William Shakespeare's influence on 18th-century French drama?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) French playwrights recirculated his plots.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Shakespeare's plots were adapted and reused by 18th-century French playwrights, influencing their dramatic works.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the nature of Shakespeare's influence as either nonexistent or overly restrictive rather than constructive.

Explanations: Shakespeare's plays were a significant source of inspiration for French dramatists in the 18th century. They adapted his plots, themes, and characters, integrating them into their own works. This adaptation was not underground but rather a direct and overt influence on French drama.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as Shakespeare's influence was significant and not nonexistent.
Option B: Incorrect, as his influence did not stifle creativity but rather provided a foundation for innovation.
Option C: Incorrect, as the influence was not underground but rather overt through plot adaptation.
Option D: Correct, as French playwrights reused Shakespeare's plots in their works.

Mnemonic: Recycled Plots by French Playwrights

685. 'Songs of Experience' was written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Blake.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: 'Songs of Experience' is a poetry collection by William Blake.

Common Mistakes: Confusion with other Romantic poets like Wordsworth, Keats, or Shelley.

Explanations: William Blake authored 'Songs of Experience' as part of his 'Songs of Innocence and Experience'. This collection explores themes of adult hardship and societal issues.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Blake wrote 'Songs of Experience'.
Option B: Incorrect. Wordsworth wrote 'The Prelude' and 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'.
Option C: Incorrect. Keats wrote 'Ode to a Nightingale' and 'Ode on a Grecian Urn'.
Option D: Incorrect. Shelley wrote 'Frankenstein' and 'Ozymandias'.

Mnemonic: Blake wrote 'Experience' and 'Innocence'.

686. Among the prose writers in Age of Milton, the best prose-writer is

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Sir Thomas Browne.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question assesses knowledge of 17th-century English prose writers and their contributions.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the unique qualities of each writer's prose style.

Explanations: Sir Thomas Browne is distinguished for his intricate prose style, philosophical depth, and thematic complexity. His works, such as "Religio Medici" and "Urn Burial," exemplify his ability to blend science, philosophy, and literature, setting him apart as the preeminent prose writer of the Age of Milton.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Robert Burton is known for "The Anatomy of Melancholy," a scholarly work rather than a literary masterpiece.
Option B: Sir Thomas Browne's works are characterized by elaborate syntax, rich vocabulary, and meditative themes, making him the best prose writer of the era.
Option C: Thomas Fuller's works lack the depth and originality found in Browne's writings.
Option D: Jeremy Taylor is known for his sermons and devotional works, which, while skilled, do not match Browne's literary complexity.

Mnemonic: Browne's prose is Browne's best, others are just the rest.

687. In the Middle Ages, which class of people was most likely to be literate?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Monks

Exam Relevance: GCSE History, A-Level History

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: In the Middle Ages, literacy was primarily concentrated among the clergy, particularly monks, who were responsible for copying and preserving manuscripts.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming that literacy was widespread among the working class or peasants, who were generally illiterate.

Explanations: Monks were educated and had access to books, making them the most literate class. Working class women and men, as well as peasants, were generally illiterate due to the lack of education and resources available to them.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Monks were educated and had access to books, making them the most literate class.
Option B: Working class women were generally illiterate due to lack of education and resources.
Option C: Working class men were generally illiterate due to lack of education and resources.
Option D: Peasants were generally illiterate due to lack of education and resources.

688. 'When We Two Parted' is poem.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Autobiographical.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AQA Literature exams.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem reflects Lord Byron's personal experiences, making it autobiographical.

Common Mistakes: Confusing autobiographical with biographical or other literary types.

Explanations: 'When We Two Parted' is autobiographical as it draws from Byron's personal life, specifically his separation from Lady Caroline Lamb. The poem conveys his emotional pain, aligning with autobiographical themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Biographical refers to someone else's life, not applicable here.
Option B: Correct, as the poem is based on Byron's personal experiences.
Option C: Pastoral focuses on rural settings, not relevant.
Option D: Anti-romantic implies opposition to romance, which is not the case.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

689. In the play, "Macbeth, " according to the witches, who will inherit the Scottish throne?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The children of Banquo.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature Exam

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The witches' prophecy in "Macbeth" states that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne, not Macbeth's.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the prophecy about Macbeth's lineage with Banquo's.

Explanations: The witches tell Macbeth he will become king but also reveal that Banquo's children will rule Scotland. This prophecy drives Macbeth's ambition and subsequent actions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. The prophecy does not mention Macbeth's children inheriting the throne. Macbeth himself dies without his line ruling.
Option B: Correct. The witches explicitly state that Banquo's descendants will become kings.
Option C: Incorrect. Macduff is a rival of Macbeth, but the prophecy does not mention his children.
Option D: Incorrect. The witches are supernatural beings and do not have children in the play.

Mnemonic: "Banquo's line, not Macbeth's, will reign."

690. 'Past and Present' is written by

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Carlyle.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature, AP English Literature.

Difficulty: Moderate

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

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Carlyle with other Victorian authors like Mill or Hazlitt.

Explanations: 'The book 'Past and Present' was written by Thomas Carlyle. It critiques industrial society and advocates for a return to moral and communal values. Carlyle is known for his social commentary and historical works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John Stuart Mill is known for works like 'On Liberty' and 'Utilitarianism', not 'Past and Present'.
Option B: William Hazlitt is known for his essays and literary criticism, not this book.
Option C: Thomas Carlyle wrote 'Past and Present', making this the correct answer.
Option D: This is incorrect because Carlyle is the author.

Mnemonic: Carlyle's Past and Present, Mill's Utilitarianism, Hazlitt's essays.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 46”

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 46”

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