MCQs

English Literature MCQs with Explanations

Read every question, see the correct answer, and understand the explanation at your own pace. Study mode has no timer and no negative marking.

69%

2,470 of 3,603MCQs reviewed

Study Mode — explanations are always visiblePrefer a timed quiz? Start test

2471English LiteratureMedium

In Lucille Clifton’s “wishes for son,” the narrator lists what wishes her sons?

AThat they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman.

BThat they have richer lives than hers.

CThat they have all they ever wished for themselves.

DThat they learn from her mistakes.

Correct answer

A. That they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman.

Explanation

The correct answer is That they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman..

2472English LiteratureMedium

________is a processes of word formation wherein two or more existing words are simply combined?

ADerivation

BCompounding

CBackformation.

DPortmanteau

Correct answer

B. Compounding

Explanation

The correct answer is Compounding.

2473English LiteratureMedium

In his essay “The Death of the Author,” Roland Barthes argues what about literature?

AA text and its author text are unrelated.

BIt is possible to distill meaning from a work based on the author’s politics.

CBiographical information about the author must be considered when evaluating literature.

DAuthorial intent must be considered when evaluating literature.

Correct answer

A. A text and its author text are unrelated.

Explanation

The correct answer is A text and its author text are unrelated..

2474English LiteratureMedium

Swinburne’s poems such as “Hermaphroditus” are best known for which of the following?

ATheir radical politics

BTheir nationalistic tone

CTheir frank depiction of sexuality

DTheir conservative poetics

Correct answer

C. Their frank depiction of sexuality

Explanation

The correct answer is Their frank depiction of sexuality.

2475English LiteratureMedium

A critic examining John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” focuses on the physical description of the Garden of Eden, on the symbols of hands, seed, and flower, and on the characters of Adam, Eve, Satan, and God. He pays special attention to the epic similes and metaphors and the point of view from which the tale is being told. He looks for meaning in the text itself, and does not refer to any biography of Milton. He is most likely a critic?

AFormalist

BReader Response

CFeminist

DMimetic

Correct answer

A. Formalist

Explanation

The correct answer is Formalist.

2476English LiteratureMedium

A critic of Thomas Otway’s “Venice Preserv’d” wishes to know why the play’s conspirators, despite the horrible, bloody details of their obviously brutish plan, are portrayed in a sympathetic light. She examines the author’s life and times and discovers that there are obvious similarities between the conspiracy in the play and the Popish Plot. She is most likely a critic?

AFeminist

BPsychological

CHistorical

DTory

Correct answer

C. Historical

Explanation

The correct answer is Historical.

2477English LiteratureMedium

Who is the writer of The Caroline Period?

ACaedmon

BRobert Herrick

CDante

DCynewulf

Correct answer

B. Robert Herrick

Explanation

The correct answer is Robert Herrick.

2478English LiteratureMedium

Which best describes the tone at the end of “Araby?”

Ahopeful

Bsatiric

Cdisappointed

Djoyful

Correct answer

C. disappointed

Explanation

The correct answer is disappointed.

2479English LiteratureMedium

Which of the following political themes was explored by American Objectivist poets?

ASlavery

BCapitalism and social inequalities

CAmerican attitudes toward Jews and Israel

DAll of these answers

Correct answer

D. All of these answers

Explanation

The correct answer is All of these answers.

2480English LiteratureMedium

A collection of similar Idiolect make up ________?

AIdiolects

BDialect

CRegister

DSlang

Correct answer

B. Dialect

Explanation

The correct answer is Dialect.

In Lucille Clifton’s “wishes for son,” the narrator lists what wishes her sons?

AThat they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman.

BThat they have richer lives than hers.

CThat they have all they ever wished for themselves.

DThat they learn from her mistakes.

Correct answer

A. That they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman.

Explanation

The correct answer is That they experience all the pain and embarrassment of being a woman..

In his essay “The Death of the Author,” Roland Barthes argues what about literature?

AA text and its author text are unrelated.

BIt is possible to distill meaning from a work based on the author’s politics.

CBiographical information about the author must be considered when evaluating literature.

DAuthorial intent must be considered when evaluating literature.

Correct answer

A. A text and its author text are unrelated.

Explanation

The correct answer is A text and its author text are unrelated..