English Literature MCQ – Change your future

901. Who is the writer of Alice in Wonderland?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Lewis Carroll

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, SAT Subject Test in English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the identification of the author of a well-known literary work.

Common Mistakes: Common mistakes include confusing Lewis Carroll with other authors or public figures.

Explanations: Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, authored "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." This book is a cornerstone of English literature, celebrated for its imaginative narrative and memorable characters.

Option Analysis:

Option A: J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series, not "Alice in Wonderland."
Option B: Sir Elton John is a musician, not an author.
Option C: Lewis Carroll wrote "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

Mnemonic: "Curiouser and curiouser" said Alice, created by Lewis Carroll.

902. "Paradise Lost" is divided into .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) 12 Books.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: "Paradise Lost" is an epic poem divided into 12 books, each focusing on different parts of the narrative.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the number of books with other literary works or forget the exact count.

Explanations: "Paradise Lost" is structured into 12 books, each serving as a distinct section of the epic narrative. This division is a hallmark of the poem's composition and is essential to understanding its structure.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. "Paradise Lost" is divided into 12 books.
Option B: Incorrect. 8 books do not correspond to the structure of "Paradise Lost."
Option C: Incorrect. 9 books is not the correct division for this poem.
Option D: Incorrect. 5 books is far fewer than the actual number of books in "Paradise Lost."

Mnemonic: Milton's Masterpiece in 12 Books, Paradise Lost Stands Out.

903. What does the speaker promise his beloved in Sonnet No. - 75?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Immortality.

Exam Relevance: AP Literature, A-Level English

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The poem explores themes of love and immortality, using metaphors to express eternal devotion.

Common Mistakes: Misreading the metaphors as literal promises or confusing with other Donne sonnets.

Explanations: In Sonnet 75, Donne uses metaphors like "we two being one" and "our love is made of something immortal" to promise his beloved that their love will endure beyond death, symbolizing immortality.

Option Analysis:

Option A: A hot lunch is unrelated to the poem's themes of love and immortality.
Option B: Immortality is correct, as the speaker promises eternal love beyond death.
Option C: A trip to Bermuda is not mentioned and irrelevant to the poem's context.
Option D: A horse is unrelated and does not fit the poem's metaphors or themes.

Mnemonic: "Immortal Love in Donne's 75."

904. Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) True.

Exam Relevance: SAT Subject Test in Literature, High School Literature Exams

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Mark Twain is the pen name of Samuel Clemens, a fundamental fact in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Some may confuse Mark Twain with other authors or believe his real name was different.

Explanations: Mark Twain is the pseudonym of Samuel Clemens, an American writer known for works like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn." This is a basic biographical fact about the author.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Samuel Clemens is Mark Twain's real name.
Option B: Incorrect. This would falsely claim Mark Twain's real name was not Samuel Clemens.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic needed.

905. The story is told from the point of view of

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) A third person.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Narrative point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told. A third-person point of view uses an external narrator who can describe the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the third-person point of view with the first-person, where the narrator is a character in the story.

Explanations: The story is told by an external narrator who provides information about multiple characters and events. While Mrs. Mallard's internal state is explored, the narrative is not limited to her perspective.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. The story is not limited to Mrs. Mallard's perspective.
Option B: Incorrect. Josephine's perspective is not the focus.
Option C: Incorrect. Mr. Mallard's perspective is not presented.
Option D: Correct. The story is told by an external narrator.

Mnemonic: Third-person tells all, without a single soul.

906. The Jacobean era ended with a severe economic depression in 1620-1626, complicated by a serious outbreak of ..... in London in 1625.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Bubonic plague.

Exam Relevance: AQA and Edexcel GCSE History.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Jacobean era experienced significant economic and health crises, including a severe outbreak of bubonic plague in 1625.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the bubonic plague with other diseases like cholera or tuberculosis, which were not prominent during this period.

Explanations: The Jacobean era (1603–1625) faced economic depression from 1620–1626, compounded by a bubonic plague outbreak in London in 1625. This plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, was part of the Second Pandemic affecting Europe.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Cholera outbreaks were later, in the 19th century.
Option B: Tuberculosis was chronic, not an outbreak in 1625.
Option C: Bubonic plague was the specific disease causing the 1625 outbreak.
Option D: Plague is broader; bubonic is the specific form.

Mnemonic: "Bubonic Plague in Jacobean London, 1625."

907. Who wrote the collection of poems entitled "The Wind Among the Reeds?"

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

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, British Literature exams

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the authorship of a specific poetry collection.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Yeats and other poets from different literary traditions.

Explanations: W.B. Yeats authored "The Wind Among the Reeds," a collection of poems. The other options are incorrect because Jorge Luis Borges and Mario Vargas Llosa are Latin American writers, and Charles Baudelaire was a French poet.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. W.B. Yeats wrote "The Wind Among the Reeds."
Option B: Incorrect. Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine writer, not the author of this collection.
Option C: Incorrect. Mario Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian novelist, unrelated to this work.
Option D: Incorrect. Charles Baudelaire was a French poet known for "Les Fleurs du Mal," not this collection.

Mnemonic: "Yeats wrote 'The Wind Among the Reeds' in his teens."

908. What is one reason that Mystery Plays are referred to as such?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) They were produced by medieval craft guilds, which were knows as "mysteries".

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Mystery Plays were performed by medieval craft guilds, which were called "mysteries" due to their specialized trades.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is thinking "mystery" refers to a secret or supernatural theme, rather than the guilds' trades.

Explanations: Mystery Plays were organized by medieval craft guilds, known as "mysteries," reflecting their specialized trades. These plays were part of religious festivals and community events, showcasing the guilds' roles in society.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Mystery Plays do not involve solving crimes; this is a misconception about the term "mystery."
Option B: While the plays have religious themes, the term "mystery" refers to the guilds, not the themes themselves.
Option C: The plays were not written by mystics but by guild members for community performances.
Option D: Correct. The term "mystery" refers to the medieval craft guilds that produced these plays.

Mnemonic: Guilds = Mysteries, Plays = Theirs

909. It was the very witching time of night that he, heavyhearted and crestfallen, pursued his travel homeward. Far below, the Tappan Zee spread its dusky waters. In the dead hush of midnight he could hear the faint barking of a watchdog from the opposite shore. The night grew darker and darker; the stars seemed to sink deeper in the sky, and driving clouds occasionally hid them from his sight. This passage is from:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) A Gothic tale.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Gothic literature often features dark, eerie settings, suspenseful atmospheres, and elements of the supernatural or macabre.

Common Mistakes: Misidentifying the genre based on the presence of a watchdog, which might suggest a different genre like a mystery or thriller.

Explanations: The passage's setting, including the witching hour, dark night, and distant barking, aligns with the typical elements of a Gothic tale, which often use such descriptions to create an atmosphere of suspense and foreboding.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Fairy tales typically involve magical elements and a more whimsical tone, which is not present in the passage.
Option B: Autobiographies are non-fictional and focus on real-life experiences, not fictional settings or atmospheres.
Option C: Detective stories focus on solving a mystery, which is not the focus of the passage.
Option D: Gothic tales often use dark, eerie settings to create suspense, which matches the passage's description.

Mnemonic: Gothic: Gloom, Graves, and Ghosts

910. Which of the following is the other title of Pope's Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Prologue to the Satires.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to identify alternative titles of literary works.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the title with other works by Alexander Pope.

Explanations: Alexander Pope's "Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot" is also known as the "Prologue to the Satires." This dual title reflects its role as an introductory piece to Pope's satirical works. The other options are titles of distinct poems by Pope: "Essay on Man," "Windsor Forest," and "An Essay on Criticism."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. "Prologue to the Satires" is the alternative title.
Option B: Incorrect. "Essay on Man" is a separate philosophical poem.
Option C: Incorrect. "Windsor Forest" is a descriptive poem about nature.
Option D: Incorrect. "An Essay on Criticism" is a treatise on literary criticism.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

911. Which of the following comic playwrights made fun of Victorian values and pretensions?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All but C.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of comic playwrights who satirized Victorian values.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing George Bernard Shaw's focus with pure comedy.

Explanations: W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's operettas, such as "The Pirates of Penzance," satirized Victorian society. George Bernard Shaw's plays, while critical, focused more on social issues than comedy. Robert Corrigan is not associated with Victorian satire.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Gilbert and Sullivan satirized Victorian society.
Option B: Shaw focused on social issues, not pure comedy.
Option C: Corrigan is unrelated to Victorian satire.
Option D: Correct, as A and B are relevant.

Mnemonic: Gilbert and Sullivan satirize, Shaw socializes, Corrigan doesn't.

912. Which of the following describes the chief system by which writers received financial rewards for their literary production?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Patronage

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Patronage was a system where wealthy individuals or institutions provided financial support to writers, enabling them to produce literary works.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing patronage with subscription, as both involve financial support but operate differently.

Explanations: Patronage was the primary system through which writers received financial rewards. Wealthy patrons, such as nobles or the church, supported writers, allowing them to focus on their craft without financial constraints.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Charity refers to general donations and is not a structured system for writers.
Option B: Patronage is the correct system where financial support was provided by patrons.
Option C: Censorship is unrelated to financial rewards and deals with controlling content.
Option D: Subscription is a modern method and not the historical system for English literature.

Mnemonic: Patronage Paves the Way for Poetry

913. William Wordsworth wrote.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) The Lucy Poems

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, SAT Subject Test in Literature, British A-Level English Literature

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: William Wordsworth is known for his Romantic poetry, including the "Lucy Poems," which explore themes of love, death, and nature.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the works of Wordsworth with those of his contemporaries like Coleridge or Pope.

Explanations: William Wordsworth authored the "Lucy Poems," a series of five poems that reflect his Romantic style, focusing on emotion and nature. These poems are central to his literary contributions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "The Rape of the Lock" is by Alexander Pope, a satirical poem unrelated to Wordsworth's work.
Option B: "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a fellow Romantic poet but not Wordsworth.
Option C: "The Lucy Poems" are indeed by Wordsworth, focusing on themes of love and nature.
Option D: "Absalom and Achitophel" is by John Dryden, a political poem from a different era and style.

Mnemonic: "Wordsworth wrote 'Lucy' with love and nature's touch."

914. What best describes the subject of most Victorian novels?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) A and C.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Victorian novels often depict a detailed social world and focus on a protagonist's struggle to find their place in society.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the Victorian era's focus on social realism and individual identity.

Explanations: Victorian novels typically represent a broad social world with realistic details (Option A) and often center on a protagonist's journey to define their role in society (Option C). Together, these elements capture the essence of many Victorian works.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Victorian novels often depict society in detail. Example: Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist."
Option B: Incorrect. Surrealism is not a Victorian theme.
Option C: Correct. Protagonists often seek their societal role. Example: Jane Eyre in Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre."
Option D: Correct. Combines both accurate aspects.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

915. Prospero rescues a spirit named.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Ariel

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, SAT Subject Test in Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of characters in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Ariel with other spirits or characters in the play.

Explanations: Prospero rescues Ariel, a spirit, in "The Tempest." Ariel is bound to serve Prospero and plays a crucial role in the plot.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sycorax is the mother of Caliban, not a spirit rescued by Prospero.
Option B: Ariel is the correct spirit rescued by Prospero.
Option C: Caliban is a deformed servant, not a spirit.
Option D: Stefano is a drunkard and a conspirator, not a spirit.

Mnemonic: Ariel Assists Prospero, Always Ready to Lend a Hand.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 61”

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 61”

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