English Literature MCQ – Change your future

781. Who wrote "Civil Disobedience"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Henry David Thoreau.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: "Civil Disobedience" is a seminal essay by Henry David Thoreau, which discusses the moral obligation to oppose unjust laws through nonviolent resistance.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Thoreau with other transcendentalist writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson or Walt Whitman.

Explanations: Henry David Thoreau authored "Civil Disobedience," which argues for the necessity of resisting unjust laws. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, and Margret Fuller are associated with different works and ideas.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "Nature" and "Self-Reliance," not "Civil Disobedience."
Option B: Henry David Thoreau wrote "Civil Disobedience," a key text in discussions of nonviolent resistance.
Option C: Walt Whitman is known for "Leaves of Grass," a collection of poetry.
Option D: Margret Fuller wrote "Woman in the Nineteenth Century," a feminist work.

Mnemonic: Remember: Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" is about civil resistance, not Emerson's nature or Whitman's poetry.

782. Which poem testifies to the profound doubts and uncertainties attending Donne's conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Satire 3.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem "Satire 3" by John Donne reflects his internal struggles and uncertainties during his conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing "Satire 3" with other poems by Donne that do not address religious conversion.

Explanations: "Satire 3" is a poem that reflects Donne's internal struggles and uncertainties during his conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism. The poem is filled with doubt and questioning, which are central to the theme of conversion.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Air and Angels" deals with the nature of angels and the afterlife, not directly with Donne's conversion.
Option B: "Satire 3" reflects Donne's internal struggles and uncertainties during his conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism.
Option C: "The Apparition" is a love poem that does not address religious conversion.
Option D: "The Indifferent" is a poem about Donne's rejection of love and relationships, not his religious beliefs.

Mnemonic: Satire 3: Struggles and Conversion

783. What author defines the function of poetry with reference to the Horatian dictum of "to teach and delight"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Sir Philip Sidney.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Sir Philip Sidney's "An Apology for Poetry" discusses the dual purpose of poetry to teach and delight, referencing Horace's dictum.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Sidney and other Renaissance authors like More or Raleigh, who are not associated with this specific literary theory.

Explanations: Sidney's work explicitly connects poetry to the Horatian ideal of instructing while entertaining, making it a foundational text in literary theory.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sir Thomas More is known for "Utopia," not literary theory on poetry.
Option B: Sir Walter Raleigh is associated with historical writing, not poetic function.
Option C: John Lyly is known for prose and plays, not literary theory.
Option D: Sir Philip Sidney's "An Apology for Poetry" directly addresses the function of poetry.

Mnemonic: Sidney's Apology teaches and delights.

784. Shakespeare's only son Hamnet died in.....?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) 1596.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recall of the year Shakespeare's son Hamnet died.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the year with other significant dates in Shakespeare's life.

Explanations: Shakespeare's son Hamnet died in 1596, as recorded in historical documents. This is a factual date that is widely accepted.

Option Analysis:

Option A: 1595 is incorrect because Hamnet died in 1596.
Option B: 1596 is correct as it is the documented year of Hamnet's death.
Option C: 1597 is incorrect because it is after the year Hamnet died.
Option D: 1598 is incorrect because it is also after the year Hamnet died.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

785. The poem the Song : Go and Catche a Falling Starre first enumerates a number of bizarre actions and then concludes the idea that nothing is as impossible as a notion of a woman being both.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Beautiful and Faithful.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem uses a series of impossible tasks to highlight the impossibility of finding a woman who is both beautiful and faithful.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the poem's metaphorical language and its focus on the combination of beauty and faithfulness.

Explanations: The poem enumerates impossible tasks to emphasize the impossibility of finding a woman who is both beautiful and faithful. This contrast underscores the central theme of the poem.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The poem does not focus on cruelty or inhumanity.
Option B: The poem explicitly contrasts the impossible tasks with the notion of a woman being both beautiful and faithful.
Option C: While the poem touches on selfishness, it is not the central theme.
Option D: The correct answer is explicitly provided in the poem.

Mnemonic: Beautiful and Faithful: Donne's Impossibility

786. Francis Bacon is a/an.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Essayist.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Francis Bacon is renowned for his essays, which are significant in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding Bacon's primary literary contribution.

Explanations: Francis Bacon is known for his essays, which are a key part of his literary work.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Bacon did not write novels.
Option B: Bacon was not a dramatist.
Option C: Bacon was not primarily a poet.
Option D: Bacon is famous for his essays.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

787. How would "Natural Supernaturalism" be best characterized as a Romantic notion introduced by Carlyle?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A process by which things that are familiar and thought to be ordinary are made to appear miraculous and new to our eyes.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Natural Supernaturalism is a Romantic concept where ordinary things are perceived as extraordinary, emphasizing wonder and transformation.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the concept as animism or spontaneous belief rather than a perceptual transformation.

Explanations: Carlyle's Natural Supernaturalism involves seeing the ordinary as miraculous, aligning with Romantic ideals of wonder and the sublime. This process transforms familiar elements into extraordinary experiences.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; refers to animism, not Carlyle's concept.
Option B: Incorrect; describes spontaneous belief, not transformation.
Option C: Correct; accurately describes the process of making ordinary things appear miraculous.
Option D: Incorrect; unrelated to hallucinations from opium.

Mnemonic: Carlyle's C: Common to Miracle

788. Which of the following literary sub-periods does NOT fall under the Neoclassical Period?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Jacobean Age.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Neoclassical Period includes the Restoration, Augustan Age, and Age of Sensibility. The Jacobean Age is an earlier period.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the Jacobean Age with the Neoclassical Period due to similar historical contexts.

Explanations: The Neoclassical Period in English literature spans from the late 17th to the mid-18th century, emphasizing classical forms and reason. The Jacobean Age (1603–1625) is part of the Early Modern period, not Neoclassical.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Restoration (1660–1685) is part of the Neoclassical Period.
Option B: The Jacobean Age (1603–1625) is an Early Modern period, not Neoclassical.
Option C: The Augustan Age (1688–1750) is part of the Neoclassical Period.
Option D: The Age of Sensibility (mid-18th century) is part of the Neoclassical Period.

Mnemonic: Jacobean is Early, Neoclassical is Later.

789. The authors during the Age of Dryden turned to the great writers for guidance and inspiration.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Classical.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Age of Dryden is characterized by a return to classical influences in literature.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the Age of Dryden with the Elizabethan era or Romantic period.

Explanations: During the Age of Dryden, writers looked to classical antiquity for guidance, emulating Greek and Roman authors. This period emphasized order and reason, aligning with classical ideals.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Elizabethan literature is from the late 16th to early 17th century, not the classical revival of Dryden's time.
Option B: Romantic literature focuses on emotion and nature, contrasting with the classical ideals of the Age of Dryden.
Option C: Puritan literature is religious and moralistic, not aligned with classical inspiration.
Option D: Classical literature from ancient Greece and Rome was the primary influence during the Age of Dryden.

Mnemonic: Dryden Digs Classics

790. The term Phenomenological Criticism is applied to the theory and practice of the School of Critics.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Geneva.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Phenomenological Criticism focuses on the reader's experience and interpretation of a text, emphasizing how meaning is constructed through perception.

Common Mistakes: Confusing Phenomenological Criticism with other critical theories or schools, such as Structuralism or New Criticism.

Explanations: Phenomenological Criticism is associated with the Geneva School of Critics, which emphasizes the reader's experience and interpretation of a text. This approach focuses on how meaning is constructed through perception and understanding, rather than analyzing the text's structure or historical context. The Geneva School is particularly known for its focus on the phenomenological aspects of reading and interpretation.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Oxford is known for its association with the Oxford Movement and other literary traditions, but not specifically with Phenomenological Criticism.
Option B: Cambridge is associated with the Cambridge School of Critics, which focuses on different aspects of literary analysis, not Phenomenological Criticism.
Option C: Geneva is correct because the Geneva School of Critics is directly associated with Phenomenological Criticism.
Option D: St. Andrews is not known for being associated with Phenomenological Criticism.

Mnemonic: Geneva for Phenomenology: G for Geneva, P for Phenomenology.

791. What were epic poems?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Long poems that told stories about great heroes.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Epic poems are long narrative poems that recount the deeds of great heroes, often involving themes of adventure and heroism.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing epic poems with other types of poetry, such as humorous or short poems.

Explanations: Epic poems are characterized by their length and focus on heroic deeds, making option B the correct choice.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Epic poems are not necessarily funny.
Option B: Correct, as epic poems are long and focus on great heroes.
Option C: Incorrect, as epic poems are not short.
Option D: Incorrect, as epic poems are not solely about gods.

Mnemonic: Epic poems are big, bold, and about brave heroes.

792. Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea behind Anthony DiMatteo's essay, "Shakespeare and the Public Discourse of Sovereignty: 'Reason of State' in 'Hamlet'"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Hamlet is a tragedy that focuses on the Elizabethan era's loss of faith in humanity's ability to govern itself without violence.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The essay discusses how "Hamlet" reflects the Elizabethan era's concerns about governance and violence.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the essay's focus on political themes rather than personal tragedy or Shakespeare's personal circumstances.

Explanations: The essay highlights the loss of faith in non-violent governance during the Elizabethan era, a central theme in "Hamlet."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; focuses on personal plight rather than political themes.
Option B: Incorrect; not about Shakespeare's personal politics.
Option C: Correct; addresses the era's loss of faith in non-violent governance.
Option D: Incorrect; essay does not focus on progressive systems.

Mnemonic: CEase Violence in Governance

793. What is the name of Shakespeare theatre?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The Globe

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The Globe Theatre is the most famous playhouse associated with William Shakespeare.

Common Mistakes: Confusing The Globe with other London landmarks or institutions.

Explanations: The Globe Theatre was a prominent Elizabethan playhouse where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed. It was located in Southwark, London, and was a key venue for English Renaissance theatre.

Option Analysis:

Option A: The Juliet is not a theatre; it refers to a character in Shakespeare's play.
Option B: The Globe is the correct name of Shakespeare's theatre.
Option C: Londinium is the ancient Roman name for London, not a theatre.
Option D: The National Theatre is a modern institution, not Shakespeare's theatre.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

794. The term "Restoration" refers to what event that followed the English Civil War?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) The restoration of the king and the British monarchy.

Exam Relevance: GCSE History, A-Level History

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The Restoration refers to the return of the British monarchy under Charles II after the English Civil War.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the term as related to land redistribution or general peace.

Explanations: The Restoration period (1660-1688) began with Charles II's return to England, ending the Commonwealth and re-establishing the monarchy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; the Restoration was not about lands to the Catholic Church.
Option B: Correct; it refers to the return of the monarchy.
Option C: Incorrect; titles restoration was a consequence, not the main event.
Option D: Incorrect; the Restoration specifically refers to the monarchy's return.

Mnemonic: Restoration: Royal Return

795. What was the licensing system?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All books had to be submitted for official approval before publication.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The licensing system in English literature required all books to be approved by authorities before publication.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the licensing system as a financial arrangement or a requirement for poetic credentials.

Explanations: The licensing system was a form of censorship where books needed official approval. This ensured that content aligned with the government's or church's views.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; royalties to the crown were not the main feature.
Option B: Incorrect; no diploma requirement existed.
Option C: Incorrect; dedication was common but not a licensing rule.
Option D: Correct; it describes the approval process.

Mnemonic: Licensing: Legal Inspection Ensures Compliance

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 53”

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 53”

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