English Literature MCQ – Change your future

76. Who called Aristotle "the very Alexander of criticism"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Saintsbury.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of literary criticism and specific references to critics.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise from similar-sounding names or lack of familiarity with Saintsbury's work.

Explanations: George Saintsbury, a prominent literary critic, compared Aristotle to Alexander the Great in the context of criticism, highlighting his influence and precision.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Saintsbury made the comparison.
Option B: Incorrect. Murray is not associated with this statement.
Option C: Incorrect. Atkins is unrelated to this context.
Option D: Incorrect. Tyllard is not known for this reference.

Mnemonic: Saintsbury's Sharp Sword of Criticism

77. What does the term 'eternal silence' in Tennyson's " Ulysses" refer to?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Death

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The term 'eternal silence' in Tennyson's "Ulysses" symbolizes death, reflecting the poem's exploration of mortality and the human condition.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the poem's themes or interpreting 'eternal silence' literally as silence rather than a metaphor for death.

Explanations: In "Ulysses," the speaker expresses a desire to continue living and exploring, contrasting with the 'eternal silence' of death. This silence represents the finality and cessation of life, aligning with the poem's themes of mortality and the human spirit's resistance to death.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Life is incorrect because 'eternal silence' refers to the opposite of life, specifically death.
Option B: Silence is incorrect because it is a metaphor for death, not literal silence.
Option C: Death is correct as 'eternal silence' symbolizes the finality of death.
Option D: Humanity is incorrect because the term refers to death, not the broader concept of humanity.

Mnemonic: Eternal silence means death's finality.

78. The author claims that he got better physical education than his gymnastic teacher because.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: (A) He had better skill of climbing the oak tree and cutting branches.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests the understanding of the author's perspective on practical physical education compared to formal gymnastic training.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming that regular exercise or participation in sports activities is the reason, rather than specific practical skills like tree climbing.

Explanations: The author's physical education involved practical skills like climbing trees and cutting branches, which he found more beneficial than formal gymnastic exercises. This practical skill set is what he credits for his better physical education.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The author's practical skills in climbing trees and cutting branches were more beneficial than formal gymnastic training.
Option B: Incorrect. Regular exercise alone does not explain the author's improved physical education.
Option C: Incorrect. The author did not participate in many sports activities; instead, he focused on specific practical skills.
Option D: Incorrect. Option A is the correct reason.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

79. Which of the following offers the best definition of a fable?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) A story in which the author provides an explicit moral.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A fable is a story that uses animals or inanimate objects to convey a moral lesson, typically ending with an explicit moral.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding fables as solely for children or as humorous stories without a moral.

Explanations: Fables are characterized by their use of animal characters and the inclusion of a moral lesson. This distinguishes them from other narrative forms.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Fables include an explicit moral.
Option B: Incorrect. Fables do not necessarily take place in the distant past.
Option C: Incorrect. While fables may be light-hearted, humor is not their defining feature.
Option D: Incorrect. Fables are not exclusively for children.

Mnemonic: FAHAM: Fables Always Have a Moral

80. Which represents an example of alliteration?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Peter Piper Picked Peppers.

Exam Relevance: SAT, ACT, GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely connected words.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing alliteration with other literary devices like assonance or consonance, which involve vowel or consonant sounds, respectively, but not necessarily the same initial consonant sound.

Explanations: Alliteration is identified by the repetition of the same initial consonant sound. In "Peter Piper Picked Peppers," the 'P' sound is repeated, making it an example of alliteration.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Language Arts" does not repeat the same initial consonant sound.
Option B: "Peter Piper Picked Peppers" repeats the 'P' sound, demonstrating alliteration.
Option C: "I like music" does not repeat the same initial consonant sound.
Option D: "A beautiful scenery with music" does not repeat the same initial consonant sound.

Mnemonic: Alliteration always adds an appealing aspect to awesome artistry.

81. 'Murder in the Cathedral' is a play written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) T.S. Eliot.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the authorship of a specific play in English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing T.S. Eliot with other playwrights like Shakespeare or Marlowe.

Explanations: 'The Murder in the Cathedral' is a well-known play by T.S. Eliot, focusing on the historical assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket. It is a significant work in 20th-century English literature, reflecting Eliot's exploration of religious themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shakespeare wrote in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, not the 20th century when 'Murder in the Cathedral' was written.
Option B: Marlowe was a contemporary of Shakespeare and wrote in the late 16th century, not the 20th century.
Option C: Oscar Wilde was a late 19th-century playwright, known for works like 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' unrelated to this play.
Option D: T.S. Eliot is the correct author, known for his modernist works including this play.

Mnemonic: Eliot's Cathedral: Murder in the Middle Ages.

82. According to Dr. Michael Webster in his essay, "Poetic Modes in the late 19th and early 20th Century, " which of the following is NOT a poetic mode of this time period?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Impressionist.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of poetic modes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Impressionism, an art movement, with poetic modes.

Explanations: Impressionism is an art movement focused on visual effects, not a poetic mode. Genteel, Symbolist, and Decadent are recognized poetic modes of the period.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Genteel is a poetic mode associated with refined themes.
Option B: Symbolist uses symbols for deeper meanings.
Option C: Impressionist is an art movement, not a poetic mode.
Option D: Decadent focuses on beauty and excess.

Mnemonic: Impressionist art, not verse, so C is the answer.

83. Faustus asks two magicians to aid him in summoning the devil. What are their names?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Valdes and Cornelius.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of characters from Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus."

Common Mistakes: Confusion with other Shakespearean characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Explanations: In "Doctor Faustus," Valdes and Cornelius are magicians who help Faustus summon the devil. They provide the necessary incantations and rituals for the summoning.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Valdes and Cornelius are the magicians who assist Faustus.
Option B: Incorrect. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are from "Hamlet."
Option C: Incorrect. Troilus and Cressida are from "Troilus and Cressida."
Option D: Incorrect. Pyramus and Thisbe are from "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Mnemonic: Valdes and Cornelius are the key, not Rosencrantz or Guildenstern.

84. Why is the couple in Arna Bontemps's "A Summer Tragedy" getting dressed up?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) To end their lives.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The story highlights themes of despair and financial ruin leading to suicide.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the context of their financial struggles and the lack of other plot elements supporting the other options.

Explanations: The couple's decision to dress up is part of their plan to commit suicide, as they face insurmountable debt and see no other way out.

Option Analysis:

Option A: There is no mention of a party in the story.
Option B: Paying old man Stevenson is not the reason for their attire.
Option C: The couple is preparing to end their lives due to financial despair.
Option D: Attending church is not indicated as their purpose.

Mnemonic: Dressed to Die

85. Who "haunts" the evil Simon Legree when he is drunk?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Cassy

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature exam

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character roles and plot events in "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Cassy with other female characters like Eliza or Aunt Chloe.

Explanations: In "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Cassy haunts Simon Legree when he is drunk. This haunting is a manifestation of her tormented past and her desire for revenge against Legree for his cruelty. The other characters listed do not play this specific role in the novel.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Cassy haunts Legree, making this the correct answer.
Option B: Eliza is a mother who escapes with her child, not involved in haunting Legree.
Option C: George is Eliza's husband, focused on escape, not haunting.
Option D: Uncle Tom is a central character who dies before Legree's haunting.

Mnemonic: C for Cassy, the ghostly figure.

86. Which of the following is NOT a common attribute of Byronic heroes?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Good spirits.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition, University-level English literature courses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Byronic heroes are typically characterized by traits such as arrogance, nihilism, and dark humor, rather than good spirits.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming that Byronic heroes have positive or cheerful traits, when in fact they are often brooding and introspective.

Explanations: Byronic heroes are known for their rebellious, moody, and often melancholic nature. They are typically proud, cynical, and have a dark sense of humor. Good spirits, on the other hand, are not a trait associated with Byronic heroes, as they are more likely to be brooding and introspective.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Arrogance is a common attribute of Byronic heroes, as they often display a sense of superiority and self-importance.
Option B: Nihilism is also a trait associated with Byronic heroes, as they often reject traditional values and beliefs.
Option C: Good spirits are not a characteristic of Byronic heroes, as they are more likely to be gloomy and introspective.
Option D: Dark humor is a common attribute, as Byronic heroes often use wit and irony to cope with their circumstances.

Mnemonic: Byronic heroes are Arrogant, Nihilistic, and have Dark Humor (AND H).

87. 'Lord of the flies' is written by?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) William Golding

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of the author of a famous literary work.

Common Mistakes: Confusing William Golding with other authors of similar time periods or genres.

Explanations: William Golding is the author of "Lord of the Flies," a novel that explores themes of human nature, civilization, and the inherent savagery within individuals. The other options are incorrect because they refer to different authors and their respective works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: E. M. Forster wrote "A Passage to India," not "Lord of the Flies."
Option B: Robert Frost was a poet, known for works like "The Road Not Taken," not a novel.
Option C: George Orwell wrote "1984" and "Animal Farm," not "Lord of the Flies."
Option D: William Golding is the correct author of "Lord of the Flies."

Mnemonic: No mnemonic

88. James Joyce's famous novel -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Ulysses

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: James Joyce is a renowned modernist author, and "Ulysses" is one of his most famous works.

Common Mistakes: Confusing "Ulysses" with other novels by different authors.

Explanations: "Ulysses" is a modernist novel by James Joyce, known for its complex structure and stream-of-consciousness narrative. It is set in Dublin and spans a single day, paralleling Homer's "Odyssey."

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Roots" is a novel by Alex Haley, not James Joyce.
Option B: "Ulysses" is the correct novel by James Joyce.
Option C: "Tom Jones" is a novel by Henry Fielding.
Option D: "Rebecca" is a novel by Daphne du Maurier.

Mnemonic: Ulysses by Joyce, not the Greek hero Odysseus.

89. Nathaniel Hawthorne is the writer of -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The Scarlet Letter.

Exam Relevance: Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition exam.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the identification of a literary work with its author, specifically Nathaniel Hawthorne and "The Scarlet Letter."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Nathaniel Hawthorne with other authors like Ernest Hemingway or Charles Dickens, who wrote the other listed works.

Explanations: Nathaniel Hawthorne authored "The Scarlet Letter," a novel that explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in Puritan New England. The other options are works by different authors: "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. "The Scarlet Letter" is Nathaniel Hawthorne's most famous novel.
Option B: Incorrect. "A Farewell to Arms" is by Ernest Hemingway.
Option C: Incorrect. "Great Expectations" is by Charles Dickens.
Option D: Incorrect. Nathaniel Hawthorne did write "The Scarlet Letter."

Mnemonic: Hawthorne's Heartfelt Tale: The Scarlet Letter.

90. In 'The Ancient Mariner' is one of the important parts of the poem.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Albatross.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The albatross is a central symbol in 'The Ancient Mariner', representing the mariner's guilt and the consequences of his actions.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the albatross with other birds not featured in the poem.

Explanations: The albatross is significant because its death by the mariner leads to a series of tragic events, making it a key element in the poem's narrative.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Flamingo is not mentioned in the poem.
Option B: Albatross is a central symbol in the poem.
Option C: Eagle is not part of the poem's imagery.
Option D: Kite is not featured in the poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 6”

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 6”

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