English Literature MCQ – Change your future

946. Which Romantic poet would have believed that a poet needs influence from something external and transformative in order to write a strong poem?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Percy Shelley.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, Cambridge IGCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The core concept is the Romantic belief in external and transformative influence for poetic creation.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Shelley's belief with Byron's focus on personal emotion or Coleridge's imagination.

Explanations: Percy Shelley believed that poets require external inspiration and transformative experiences to create strong poetry. This aligns with his emphasis on the power of imagination and the influence of nature and ideas.

Option Analysis:

Option A: William Blake focused on inner visions and less on external influence.
Option B: Samuel Taylor Coleridge emphasized imagination but not external transformative influence.
Option C: Lord Byron focused on personal emotion and experience.
Option D: Percy Shelley believed in external inspiration and transformative experiences.

Mnemonic: Shelley Seeks Sources

947. The "tragic mulatto" myth:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Led to novels of passing.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The "tragic mulatto" myth is a literary trope that explores the struggles of mixed-race individuals, often leading to themes of passing in literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming the myth was exclusive to white or female authors, ignoring contributions from Black writers.

Explanations: The "tragic mulatto" myth influenced literature by inspiring stories where characters pass as a different race to escape societal stigma, as seen in works like "Passing" by Nella Larsen.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The myth led to novels where characters pass as white to escape racial stigma. Example: "Passing" by Nella Larsen.
Option B: Incorrect. The myth was not exclusive to white authors; Black writers also explored it.
Option C: Incorrect. The myth developed earlier, in the 19th century, not the 20th.
Option D: Incorrect. The myth was not limited to female authors; male authors also contributed.

Mnemonic: "Tragic mulatto myths led to passing tales, not just white or female trails."

948. Who wrote the famous poetic line 'To err is human, to forgive is divine'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Alexander Pope.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a famous literary quote and its author.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the quote with other poets of the Romantic era, such as Shelley or Keats.

Explanations: The quote 'To err is human, to forgive is divine' is from Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism," highlighting human fallibility and the virtue of forgiveness.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Alexander Pope wrote the quote in his poem "An Essay on Criticism."
Option B: Incorrect. Percy Bysshe Shelley was a Romantic poet, not associated with this quote.
Option C: Incorrect. John Keats was another Romantic poet, known for his odes, not this quote.
Option D: Incorrect. John Dryden was a Restoration poet, known for his translations and plays, not this quote.

Mnemonic: Pope's poem points to pardon's power.

949. The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot was published in.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) 1922.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The publication year of significant literary works is a key fact in English literature.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the publication year with other notable events in Eliot's life or other literary works.

Explanations: The Waste Land, a landmark modernist poem by T. S. Eliot, was published in 1922. This date is significant as it marks the beginning of Eliot's prominence in the literary world and the rise of modernist literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Waste Land was published in 1922.
Option B: Incorrect. 1900 is too early and does not align with Eliot's publication timeline.
Option C: Incorrect. 1914 is the year World War I began, not related to the poem's publication.
Option D: Incorrect. 1902 is also too early and unrelated to the poem's publication.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

950. Which one is not written by Robert Browning?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Adonais.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of literary authorship, specifically identifying works by Robert Browning.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Percy Bysshe Shelley's works with Robert Browning's, as both are Romantic poets.

Explanations: Robert Browning wrote "The Patriot," "Andrea del Sarto," and "My Last Duchess." "Adonais" is by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. "Adonais" is by Percy Bysshe Shelley, not Robert Browning.
Option B: Correct. "The Patriot" is a poem by Robert Browning.
Option C: Correct. "Andrea del Sarto" is a poem by Robert Browning.
Option D: Correct. "My Last Duchess" is a poem by Robert Browning.

951. Elizabethan was extremely various and rapidly changing.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) English.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The Elizabethan era refers to the period of Queen Elizabeth I's reign in England, known for its cultural and literary developments.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the term "Elizabethan" as relating to a language rather than a historical period.

Explanations: The Elizabethan era is a specific period in English history, making "English" the correct answer. The other options do not align with the cultural context of this era.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as the Elizabethan era is an English historical period.
Option B: Incorrect, as the Elizabethan era is not related to French culture or history.
Option C: Incorrect, as the Elizabethan era is not connected to Italian history or culture.
Option D: Incorrect, as the Elizabethan era is not associated with Roman history or culture.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

952. Who is the author of 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) S. T. Coleridge.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner' is a significant work by S. T. Coleridge, a key figure in Romantic literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing it with other Romantic poets like Wordsworth or later authors like Maugham or Scott.

Explanations: Samuel Taylor Coleridge authored 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner', a seminal work in Romantic poetry known for its moral and supernatural themes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: William Wordsworth is a Romantic poet but not the author of this poem.
Option B: S. T. Coleridge is the correct author of the poem.
Option C: W. Somerset Maugham is a 20th-century novelist unrelated to this poem.
Option D: Sir Walter Scott is a historical novelist, not associated with this poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

953. Alexander Pope's The Dunciad is modelled on.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Mac Flecknoe.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature, AP English Literature and Composition Exam, University-level English literature courses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Dunciad by Alexander Pope is a mock-heroic poem that satirizes the literary pretensions of his contemporaries. It is modeled on John Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, which also uses a mock-heroic style to critique literary figures.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing The Dunciad with other satirical works like Gulliver's Travels, which is a different genre and not a direct influence.

Explanations: The Dunciad is a mock-heroic poem that satirizes the literary pretensions of Alexander Pope's contemporaries. It is modeled on John Dryden's Mac Flecknoe, which also uses a mock-heroic style to critique literary figures. Both works use exaggerated heroic language to deflate the egos of their subjects, establishing a clear connection between the two.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Gulliver's Travels is a satirical novel by Jonathan Swift, not a mock-heroic poem, and it does not serve as a model for The Dunciad.
Option B: The Medal is a poem by John Dryden, but it is not related to the mock-heroic satire of The Dunciad.
Option C: The Hind and the Panther is an allegorical poem by John Dryden, not a mock-heroic work, and it does not influence The Dunciad.
Option D: Mac Flecknoe is a mock-heroic poem by John Dryden that satirizes literary pretensions, making it the clear model for The Dunciad.

Mnemonic: Pope's Dunciad follows Dryden's Flecknoe, both mock literary foes.

954. Killed Caesar.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the above

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The assassination of Julius Caesar involved multiple conspirators working together.

Common Mistakes: Thinking only one person killed Caesar, ignoring the collective conspiracy.

Explanations: In Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," Caesar is killed by a group of conspirators including Decius, Brutus, and Cassius. Each played a role in the assassination, making all of them responsible.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Decius alone did not kill Caesar; he was part of a group.
Option B: Brutus was a key conspirator but acted with others.
Option C: Cassius was involved but not the sole assassin.
Option D: All three were part of the conspiracy, making this the correct answer.

Mnemonic: Decius, Brutus, Cassius: Three Names, One Deed.

955. The history of the One-Act Play can be traced back to the early Mystery and plays.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Miracle.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The One-Act Play's origins are linked to early dramatic forms, particularly Miracle plays.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the historical context of dramatic forms and their evolution.

Explanations: The One-Act Play traces its roots to Miracle plays, which were short, focused religious dramas performed in medieval times. These plays often depicted a single event or story, aligning with the structure of One-Act Plays.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Adventure plays are unrelated to the structural origins of One-Act Plays.
Option B: Horror plays focus on suspense and fear, not the historical development of One-Act Plays.
Option C: Gothic plays are centered on dark themes, not the foundational aspects of One-Act Plays.
Option D: Miracle plays are the correct precursor to One-Act Plays, as they were short and focused on a single narrative.

Mnemonic: Miracle Plays Sparked One-Act Plays

956. Which of the following characteristics is NOT closely associated with a comedy of manners?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Epic heroes.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Comedy of manners is characterized by witty dialogue, sexual themes, and hidden identities, contrasting with epic heroes found in epic poetry.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the genre's focus on wit and social themes rather than heroic narratives.

Explanations: Comedy of manners focuses on witty interactions, sexual themes, and characters concealing their true identities. Epic heroes are central to epic poetry, not comedies of manners.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Witty banter is a key feature of comedies of manners.
Option B: Epic heroes are not associated with comedies of manners.
Option C: Sexual promiscuity is a common theme in comedies of manners.
Option D: Hidden identities are often used in comedies of manners.

Mnemonic: "Witty, Sexy, Hidden – No Epic!"

957. From the earliest times drama has been divided into kinds.

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Two.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Drama is traditionally divided into two kinds: tragedy and comedy.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the traditional classification might lead to selecting more categories.

Explanations: From the earliest times, drama has been categorized into two primary forms: tragedy and comedy. Tragedy deals with serious themes and often involves the downfall of a protagonist, while comedy focuses on humor and typically ends happily.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect, as drama is not traditionally divided into five kinds.
Option B: Incorrect, as the traditional division is not into three kinds.
Option C: Correct, as drama is traditionally divided into two kinds: tragedy and comedy.
Option D: Incorrect, as the correct classification exists and is well-established.

Mnemonic: Two Types: Tragedy and Comedy

958. Which of the following women exposed themselves to scandal by writing racy stories for the popular press?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Aphra Behn, Delarivier Manley, and Eliza Haywood.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of 17th and 18th-century English women writers known for scandalous or racy works.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse these writers with others from the same period who were more literary and less scandalous.

Explanations: Aphra Behn, Delarivier Manley, and Eliza Haywood were prominent writers of racy, often scandalous works in the Restoration and early 18th-century periods. Their writings, which included risqué themes and characters, brought them notoriety and scandal.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Mary Wroth, and Elizabeth Cary were known for their literary contributions and social commentary, not for scandalous writing.
Option B: Aphra Behn, Delarivier Manley, and Eliza Haywood were known for their bold, scandalous works, making them the correct answer.
Option C: Anne Finch, Anne Killigrew, and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu were respected poets and writers, not associated with racy or scandalous content.
Option D: Rachel Speght, Katherine Philips, and Frances Burney were known for their literary works but not for writing racy stories.

Mnemonic: Behn, Manley, Haywood: Bold and Scandalous.

959. Chaucer was imprisoned during----------------------?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Hundred years' war.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of historical events related to Geoffrey Chaucer's life, specifically his imprisonment during the Hundred Years' War.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the Hundred Years' War with other historical events like the Black Death or the Peasant Revolt.

Explanations: Geoffrey Chaucer was imprisoned during the Hundred Years' War, a series of conflicts between England and France. His imprisonment likely occurred during a military campaign, reflecting the political and military tensions of the time.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Chaucer was imprisoned during the Hundred Years' War, a period of conflict between England and France.
Option B: Incorrect. The Black Death was a pandemic in the mid-14th century, unrelated to Chaucer's imprisonment.
Option C: Incorrect. The Peasant Revolt occurred in 1381, after Chaucer's imprisonment and unrelated to the Hundred Years' War.
Option D: Incorrect. The Hundred Years' War is the correct context for Chaucer's imprisonment.

Mnemonic: "Chaucer's Capture during the Century Clash"

960. Roderick makes a long journey to.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) London.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the setting and plot in "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the destination with other locations mentioned in Poe's works.

Explanations: In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," Roderick Usher invites the narrator to his decaying estate near the shores of a lake. The story does not involve a journey to London, but rather focuses on the isolated setting of the Usher mansion. The options A, B, and D are incorrect because they refer to locations not mentioned in the story.

Option Analysis:

Option A: America is not the destination in the story.
Option B: Canada is not mentioned in the plot.
Option C: London is the correct destination as per the story's setting.
Option D: India is not relevant to the narrative.

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 64”

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 64”

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