English Literature MCQ – Change your future

1246. The special contribution of The King James Bible was that it

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Gave a unity to form and expression to the language of religion and faith.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The King James Bible's primary contribution was unifying religious language and expression in English.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the Bible's role in standardizing English beyond religious contexts.

Explanations: The King James Bible standardized religious language, providing a common form for faith expression, which was its main contribution.

Option Analysis:

Option A: While the Bible influenced spellings, its main impact was on religious language unity.
Option B: Imperial expansion was not directly linked to the Bible's translation.
Option C: Correct, as it unified religious expression.
Option D: Uniting regions was a broader British policy, not the Bible's direct role.

Mnemonic: Bible Bind: The King James Bible bound religious language together.

1247. In the opening scene, Prince Escalus decrees a severe penalty for fighting. This latest fighting was started by

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Sampson and Gregory.

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet, focusing on the characters responsible for the initial fight that prompts Prince Escalus's decree.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing the initial fight with later conflicts involving Tybalt, Mercutio, or Romeo.

Explanations: In the opening scene, Sampson and Gregory, Capulet servants, provoke a fight with Montague servants, leading to Prince Escalus's severe penalty decree. This sets the stage for the ongoing feud between the two families.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Sampson and Gregory start the fight, prompting Prince Escalus's decree.
Option B: Incorrect. Tybalt and Mercutio fight later in the play.
Option C: Incorrect. Romeo and Tybalt's conflict occurs after the initial brawl.
Option D: Incorrect. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are not directly involved in the specific fight mentioned.

Mnemonic: Sampson and Gregory start the fray, leading to Prince Escalus's strict decree.

1248. The Last Ride Together was written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Browning.

Exam Relevance: GCSE English Literature, AQA Literature exams.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of English poets and their works, specifically identifying the author of "The Last Ride Together."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Robert Browning with other Victorian poets like Tennyson or Byron.

Explanations: "The Last Ride Together" is a poem by Robert Browning, part of his collection "Men and Women." It is known for its dramatic monologue style, typical of Browning's work.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Byron wrote "Don Juan" and "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," not "The Last Ride Together."
Option B: Tennyson wrote "In Memoriam A.H.H." and "The Charge of the Light Brigade," not this poem.
Option C: Correct. Robert Browning authored "The Last Ride Together."
Option D: Incorrect, as the poem is by Browning.

Mnemonic: "Browning's Ride Together" links the title directly to the poet's name.

1249. On the trip to the caves, what items does Aziz find when he's looking for Adela?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Field glasses

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

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of specific plot details in E.M. Forster's *A Passage to India*.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse the items found in different parts of the novel or mix up details from similar scenes.

Explanations: In the caves, Aziz finds Adela's field glasses, which are used as evidence in the trial against him. This discovery is pivotal to the plot and the misunderstanding that ensues.

Option Analysis:

Option A: A necklace is not mentioned in this context.
Option B: A comb is not part of the items found.
Option C: Field glasses are the correct item found by Aziz.
Option D: A purse is not mentioned in this scene.

Mnemonic: "Field glasses lead to field of tension."

1250. In Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale, " why would the miller's determination to speak following the knight appear unsettling to the 14th century audience?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: D) The miller was far beneath the knight in social order, so the miller should have deferred to the person who ranked above him.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The question tests understanding of medieval social hierarchy and its influence on the structure of "The Canterbury Tales."

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is focusing on politeness rather than social status.

Explanations: In 14th-century England, social hierarchy was strictly observed. The knight, as a noble, ranked above the miller, a tradesman. Speaking out of turn by someone of lower status disrupted the expected order, which was unsettling to the audience.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect; the knight had finished his tale, as each pilgrim tells a story in turn.
Option B: Incorrect; the issue is not about politeness but about social hierarchy.
Option C: Incorrect; the next speaker should have been someone of higher status, not necessarily a clergy member.
Option D: Correct; it highlights the social order issue, which was significant in medieval society.

Mnemonic: Social Status Speaks First

1251. 'Tamburlaine the Great' is written by -

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Marlowe.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of a key work in English literature and its author.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is confusing Christopher Marlowe with other playwrights like Shakespeare or Ben Johnson, who are also prominent figures in English literature.

Explanations: 'Tamburlaine the Great' is a play written by Christopher Marlowe. It is one of his most famous works and is known for its use of blank verse and its portrayal of a powerful and unconventional protagonist.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Shakespeare did not write 'Tamburlaine the Great.' He is known for plays like 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth.'
Option B: Marlowe is the correct author of 'Tamburlaine the Great.'
Option C: Ben Johnson is known for plays like 'Volpone' and 'The Alchemist,' not 'Tamburlaine the Great.'
Option D: John Webster is known for plays like 'The Duchess of Malfi,' not 'Tamburlaine the Great.'

Mnemonic: Marlowe's Might, Tamburlaine's Might.

1252. Which of the following is an example of female hagiography?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Acts of Thecla.

Exam Relevance: Cambridge English Literature exams, AQA English Literature GCSE and A-Level.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Female hagiography refers to the biographies or stories of female saints, highlighting their virtues and spiritual achievements.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the distinction between hagiography and other religious or spiritual texts.

Explanations: "Acts of Thecla" is a narrative account of Thecla's life, conversion, and martyrdom, fitting the definition of female hagiography. Other options are either autobiographies, poems, or prayers, not hagiographical narratives.

Option Analysis:

Option A: "Revelations of Divine Love" is a spiritual autobiography, not hagiography.
Option B: "Acts of Thecla" is a hagiographical text about a female saint.
Option C: "The Wooing of Our Lord" is a poem, not hagiography.
Option D: "Orison to an Almighty God" is a prayer, not hagiography.

Mnemonic: Thecla's Acts tell tales of a saint's life, making it a prime example of female hagiography.

1253. S.T. Coleridge was born in

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) 1772.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a significant poet and critic in the Romantic era.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the birth year with the publication year of his works.

Explanations: Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born in 1772, a fact well-established in literary history.

Option Analysis:

Option A: 1798 is incorrect; it is the year of the first edition of Lyrical Ballads.
Option B: 1772 is correct; it is Coleridge's birth year.
Option C: 1797 is incorrect; it is the year "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" was published.
Option D: Incorrect because the correct answer is listed as B.

Mnemonic: "72 for Coleridge's birth year."

1254. Who is the writer of 'Vision of Sin'?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A. Lord Tennyson.

Exam Relevance: None

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests the recognition of poets and their works in English literature.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Alfred Lord Tennyson with other poets or playwrights from different literary periods.

Explanations: 'Vision of Sin' is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, a well-known Victorian poet. The other options are incorrect because they refer to playwrights or poets who did not write this specific poem.

Option Analysis:

Option A: George Bernard Shaw was a playwright, not the author of 'Vision of Sin'.
Option B: William Shakespeare was a Renaissance playwright and poet, not associated with this poem.
Option C: A. Lord Tennyson is correct as he authored 'Vision of Sin'.
Option D: Christopher Marlowe was an Elizabethan playwright, not the writer of this poem.

1255. Which of the following statements best defines the poetic form of the villanelle?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) A poem that carries a pattern on two rhymes and offers an alternating refrain.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The villanelle is a poetic form with a specific structure involving two rhymes and a repeating refrain.

Common Mistakes: Confusing the villanelle with other poetic forms like elegies or odes.

Explanations: The villanelle is defined by its use of two rhymes and an alternating refrain. This structure is consistent throughout the poem, distinguishing it from other forms.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect because the villanelle has a specific rhyme scheme.
Option B: Incorrect because it refers to elegies, not villanelles.
Option C: Correct as it accurately describes the villanelle's structure.
Option D: Incorrect because it describes a different type of poem.

Mnemonic: Villanelle: Two Rhymes, Refrain, Repeat

1256. How does Wolfgang Iser envision the reader?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) The reader fills in the gaps imposed by an author's intention.

Exam Relevance: GRE Subject Test in Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Wolfgang Iser's theory of the "implied reader" highlights the reader's active role in interpreting texts, emphasizing that meaning is co-constructed through the reader's engagement with the text's gaps and ambiguities.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake is assuming the reader passively receives the author's intended message, rather than actively contributing to the interpretation.

Explanations: Iser's theory posits that readers are not mere recipients of meaning but actively engage with the text to fill in gaps and create meaning. This process is essential for understanding how texts are interpreted differently by various readers.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Iser's theory emphasizes the reader's active role in filling gaps, which is central to his concept of the implied reader.
Option B: Incorrect. This subordinates the reader, which contradicts Iser's emphasis on the reader's active role.
Option C: Incorrect. Iser's theory does not diminish the reader's importance; it highlights their active contribution.
Option D: Incorrect. This suggests the reader is passive, which is contrary to Iser's view of the reader as an active constructor of meaning.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1257. Which of the following offers the best definition of a theatrical tragedy?

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) A play that depicts the downfall of a noble person.

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Tragedy in English literature typically involves the downfall of a noble or heroic figure, often due to a flaw or series of errors.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding the role of humor or revenge in defining tragedy.

Explanations: Tragedy focuses on the noble protagonist's downfall, often exploring themes of fate, hubris, and moral dilemmas. This is exemplified in works like Shakespeare's "Hamlet" or Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex."

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correctly identifies the central theme of tragedy involving a noble character's downfall.
Option B: Incorrect; revenge is a theme but not the defining element of tragedy.
Option C: Incorrect; overcoming defeat is more characteristic of comedy or triumph narratives.
Option D: Incorrect; absence of humor is not a defining feature of tragedy.

Mnemonic: Noble Downfall Tragedy

1258. Sue and Johnsy stayed in

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: C) Greenwich Village.

Exam Relevance: None.

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: The story "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry is set in Greenwich Village, a bohemian neighborhood in Manhattan, New York.

Common Mistakes: Students might confuse Greenwich Village with the broader city of New York or Manhattan, not recognizing the specific neighborhood mentioned in the story.

Explanations: In "The Last Leaf," Sue and Johnsy are artists living in a studio apartment in Greenwich Village. This setting is crucial as it reflects their bohemian lifestyle and the tight-knit community of artists in the area.

Option Analysis:

Option A: New York is too broad; the story specifies Greenwich Village.
Option B: Manhattan is also too broad; Greenwich Village is a specific neighborhood within Manhattan.
Option C: Greenwich Village is correct as it is the specific location where Sue and Johnsy live.
Option D: California is incorrect as the story is set on the East Coast.

Mnemonic: No mnemonic.

1259. Transcendentalists believe that modern education is corrupting .....

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: B) Individualism

Exam Relevance: AP English Literature and Composition

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes: Transcendentalists valued individualism and self-reliance, believing modern education stifled these principles.

Common Mistakes: Misunderstanding may arise if one focuses on education's impact on society rather than individualism.

Explanations: Transcendentalists criticized education for promoting conformity over personal thought, thus corrupting individualism.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Knowledge is not the target of their criticism.
Option B: Correct, as education was seen as stifling individualism.
Option C: Society is influenced but not the primary focus.
Option D: Careers are not the main concern of their critique.

Mnemonic: "Transcendentalists Treasure True Thought"

1260. 'Lady Windermere's fan' is written by:

Correct Answer: Correct answer is: A) Oscar Wilde.

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

Difficulty: Very Easy

Concept notes: The question tests knowledge of the authorship of a specific literary work.

Common Mistakes: A common mistake could be confusing Oscar Wilde with other playwrights or authors of the same period.

Explanations: Lady Windermere's Fan is a play written by Oscar Wilde, known for his satirical and witty works. The play explores themes of societal expectations and moral dilemmas.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Oscar Wilde wrote Lady Windermere's Fan.
Option B: Incorrect. John Galsworthy is known for The Forsyte Saga, not this play.
Option C: Incorrect. T.S. Eliot is a poet and playwright known for works like The Waste Land.
Option D: Incorrect. The play is indeed written by Oscar Wilde.

Mnemonic: "Wilde's Windermere, a fan of wit."

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10 thoughts on “English Literature MCQ - Set 84”

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 84”

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