English Literature MCQ – Change your future

91. Which of the following statements about the plot of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is not true?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) It is never proven within the play that Claudius murdered King Hamlet.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The play leaves Claudius's guilt implied but not conclusively proven.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the play's ambiguity about Claudius's guilt.

Explanations: In "Hamlet," Claudius's guilt is suggested through the ghost of King Hamlet and circumstantial evidence, but it is never definitively proven within the play. This ambiguity is a central aspect of the tragedy.

Option Analysis:

Option A: True, as Hamlet's disturbance is evident throughout the play.
Option B: Correct, as Claudius's guilt is implied but not proven.
Option C: True, as Hamlet's indecision is a key theme.
Option D: True, as Ophelia's drowning is a significant event.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

92. Which of the following offers the best definition of the concept of narrative poetry?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A narrative poem has a plot and tells a story.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often with a sequence of events, characters, and a plot.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the difference between narrative and other poetic forms like lyric or dramatic poetry.

Explanations: Narrative poetry is characterized by its storytelling element, which includes a plot and characters. It often recounts events in a sequence, making it distinct from other poetic forms that focus on emotions or conversations.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because narrative poetry is not vague; it is structured and storytelling-focused.
Option B: Incorrect because it contradicts the definition by stating there is no plot or story.
Option C: Correct because it accurately describes narrative poetry as having a plot and telling a story.
Option D: Incorrect because it describes a different poetic form, such as a dramatic monologue or dialogue poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic needed.

93. Who is the villain in " Hamlet" ?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Claudius.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: In "Hamlet," the villain is the character who opposes the protagonist and causes the main conflict.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Iago from "Othello" with the villain in "Hamlet."

Explanations: Claudius is the villain in "Hamlet" because he kills King Hamlet to seize the throne and marry Gertrude, setting the tragic events of the play in motion.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Horatio is Hamlet's loyal friend and not a villain.
Option B: Iago is a character from "Othello," not "Hamlet."
Option C: Claudius is the antagonist who kills King Hamlet and manipulates others.
Option D: Incorrect because Claudius is the villain.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

94. 'Ballad' is .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) A kind of short narrative poem.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: A ballad is a type of poem that tells a story, often with a narrative structure.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the purpose of a ballad as solely for condoling or expressing love.

Explanations: A ballad is a short narrative poem that tells a story, often with a rhythmic and melodic quality. It typically focuses on themes like love, adventure, or tragedy and uses simple language to convey its message.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. A ballad is a short narrative poem.
Option B: Incorrect. Ballads are not specifically about condoling.
Option C: Incorrect. Ballads are not exclusively love poems.
Option D: Incorrect. Ballads are more than just rhymic verses; they tell a story.

Mnemonic: Ballads Are Narrative, Not Just Rhymes (B.A.N.J.R.)

95. 'Written in March' is a poem composed by .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) William Wordsworth.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The poem 'Written in March' is a well-known work by William Wordsworth, a key figure in Romantic poetry.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between the Romantic poets and other literary figures from different periods.

Explanations: William Wordsworth authored 'Written in March,' reflecting his connection to nature and rural life, characteristic of Romantic literature.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as 'Written in March' is a poem by William Wordsworth.
Option B: Incorrect, William Congreve was a Restoration playwright, not a Romantic poet.
Option C: Incorrect, William Blake, though a Romantic artist, did not write this poem.
Option D: Incorrect, William Shakespeare was an Elizabethan playwright, unrelated to this poem.

Mnemonic: "Wordsworth wrote 'Written in March.'"

96. The poem " the Triumph of life" was written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Shelley.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the ability to recall the author of a specific poem.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Shelley with other Romantic poets like Keats or Blake.

Explanations: "The Triumph of Life" is a well-known poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, a prominent Romantic poet. This poem reflects Shelley's philosophical and political ideas, which are central to his body of work.

Option Analysis:

Option A: John Keats is known for his odes and sonnets, not for writing "The Triumph of Life."
Option B: William Blake wrote "Songs of Innocence and Experience," not "The Triumph of Life."
Option C: Percy Bysshe Shelley is the correct author of "The Triumph of Life."
Option D: This is incorrect because Shelley is the known author of the poem.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

97. Ultimately, the literary theory of deconstruction argues that:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) All of the above answers are correct.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Deconstruction challenges fixed meanings in texts, emphasizing context, heterogeneity, and limitless meaning systems.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding deconstruction as merely destroying meaning rather than exploring its instability.

Explanations: Deconstruction argues that meaning is context-dependent (A), texts are heterogeneous (B), and meaning systems are bound by context yet limitless (C). All options align with deconstruction's principles.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct, as deconstruction emphasizes context-dependent meaning.
Option B: Correct, as texts are seen as heterogeneous.
Option C: Correct, as meaning systems are context-bound yet limitless.
Option D: Correct, as all options are accurate.

Mnemonic: Derrida's D for Deconstruction: Context, Heterogeneity, Limitless.

98. Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. In this work the author argues in favour of.....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Peaceable revolution.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The passage advocates for the power of a minority to influence change through collective action without resorting to war or violence.

Common Mistakes: Misreading the passage as supporting violent revolution by focusing only on the phrase "cast your whole vote" without considering the context of non-conformity and influence.

Explanations: The author argues that a minority can effect change by using its full influence, not through war or violent means. This supports the idea of a peaceable revolution, where change is achieved through collective action and persuasion rather than conflict.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because the passage rejects war and slavery, advocating against violent methods.
Option B: Correct as it aligns with the author's emphasis on non-violent, collective influence to drive societal change.

Mnemonic: Peaceful Power Persuades

99. Which of the following texts provides the best example of medieval estates satire?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) The Canterbury Tales.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature, British Literature Exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Medieval estates satire critiques the social hierarchy and the behavior of the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the focus of estates satire, thinking it's about individual character flaws rather than systemic social issues.

Explanations: The Canterbury Tales satirizes the medieval social hierarchy by exposing the corruption and hypocrisy within the Church and other classes. Chaucer uses characters like the Pardoner and the Summoner to critique the clergy, highlighting their greed and moral failings.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight focuses on Arthurian romance and chivalric ideals, not estates satire.
Option B: Piers Plowman is an allegorical poem that critiques societal issues but does not specifically target the estates system.
Option C: The Canterbury Tales directly satirizes the medieval estates through its portrayal of various characters from different social classes.
Option D: The Book of Margery Kempe is an autobiographical account of a mystic and does not contain estates satire.

Mnemonic: Chaucer's Tales: Satire on Social Classes

100. What was the impact on literature of the Education Act of 1870, which made elementary schooling compulsory?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The emergence of a mass literate population at whom a new mass-produced literature could be directed.

Exam Relevance: AQA GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The Education Act of 1870 increased literacy, creating a new audience for literature.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the primary impact of education on literature consumption.

Explanations: The Education Act of 1870 made elementary schooling compulsory, leading to higher literacy rates. This created a mass literate population, which became a new audience for mass-produced literature. Publishers responded by producing affordable books, newspapers, and periodicals aimed at this growing market. This shift allowed for the development of new literary genres and styles that catered to a broader audience, including serialized novels and popular magazines.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Act led to a mass literate population, enabling mass-produced literature.
Option B: Incorrect. Textbooks were produced, but they did not necessarily pay better than novels or plays.
Option C: Incorrect. The demand for classics did not marginalize contemporary writers; literature diversified.
Option D: Incorrect. Not all options are correct.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

101. Who betrays Griffin?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Dr.Kemp.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character actions in a literary work.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Dr. Kemp with other characters who interact with Griffin.

Explanations: Dr. Kemp betrays Griffin by revealing his secret, leading to Griffin's downfall. This is a key event in the story.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Mr. Hall does not betray Griffin.
Option B: Dr. Kemp betrays Griffin by revealing his secret.
Option C: Mr. Cuss is not involved in betraying Griffin.
Option D: Mrs. Hall does not betray Griffin.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

102. What Biblical story acts as a springboard for John Milton's "Paradise Regained"?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The Baptism of Jesus.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: "Paradise Regained" by John Milton is based on the biblical account of Jesus's temptation in the wilderness, which occurs after his baptism.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the sequence of events in the Bible, particularly the events following Jesus's baptism.

Explanations: The story of Jesus's baptism by John the Baptist in the New Testament serves as the starting point for Milton's "Paradise Regained," which focuses on Jesus's subsequent temptation by Satan in the wilderness.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Baptism of Jesus leads to the temptation narrative, which is central to "Paradise Regained."
Option B: Incorrect. The story of Luke does not directly relate to the events Milton portrays.
Option C: Incorrect. The Ascension occurs later in Jesus's ministry and is not the basis for the poem.
Option D: Incorrect. The Second Coming is a future event and unrelated to the poem's focus.

Mnemonic: Baptism Before Temptation

103. Who is Elinor-white?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Wife

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: Understanding character relationships in "Mansfield Park."

Common Mistakes: Confusing Elinor White's role with other female characters in the novel.

Explanations: Elinor White is the wife of Henry Crawford in "Mansfield Park." This is a key relationship that drives the plot and character development in the novel.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Elinor White is not the daughter of any main character in the novel.
Option B: Elinor White is not the daughter-in-law of any main character in the novel.
Option C: Elinor White is the wife of Henry Crawford, making this the correct answer.
Option D: Elinor White is not the aunt of any main character in the novel.

Mnemonic: Elinor White is Crawford's wife, not his daughter or niece.

104. Adonais is an elegy on the death of:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) John Keats.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Adonais is an elegy by Percy Bysshe Shelley, written in memory of John Keats.

Common Mistakes: Confusion may arise between Shelley's elegies and other poets' works.

Explanations: Adonais is Shelley's elegy for John Keats, written after Keats' death in 1821. It reflects Shelley's grief and admiration for Keats' poetic talent.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Moschus is a Greek poet, unrelated to Shelley's elegy.
Option B: Edward William is not a notable figure in this context.
Option C: John Keats is the correct answer, as Adonais is Shelley's elegy for him.
Option D: Shakespeare is unrelated and lived much earlier.

Mnemonic: Adonais mourns Keats' early end.

105. Who kills Lady Macbeth?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) Lady Macbeth.

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

Difficulty: Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of character outcomes in Shakespeare's "Macbeth."

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Lady Macbeth's death with other characters' fates.

Explanations: Lady Macbeth dies by suicide, driven by guilt and madness. This is a key event in the play, showing the tragic consequences of her actions.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Macbeth does not kill Lady Macbeth; she dies by her own hand.
Option B: Macduff is a rival but not involved in Lady Macbeth's death.
Option C: Lady Macduff is a different character and unrelated to Lady Macbeth's death.
Option D: Lady Macbeth dies by her own hand, making this the correct answer.

Mnemonic: "Macbeth's wife, in guilt, takes flight—ends her life by night."

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 7”

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 7”

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