MCQs

English Literature MCQs with Explanations

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2641English LiteratureMedium

In the play, “Twelfth Night,” what country is Orisono from?

AEngland

BIllyria

CFrance

DDenmark

Correct answer

B. Illyria

Explanation

The correct answer is Illyria.

2642English LiteratureMedium

Dr. Samuel Gladden, in his essay “Shelley’s Agenda Writ Large: Reconsidering Oedipus Tyrannus; or, Swellfoot the Tyrant,” argues that Shelley’s “Oedipus- Tyrannus” is important because a________?

AThe poem was incomplete

BShelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it

CShelley himself dismissed the poem

DShelley recognizes the power of sexual transgression in it

Correct answer

B. Shelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it

Explanation

The correct answer is Shelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it.

2643English LiteratureMedium

How many lines are in Spenserian stanza?

A12

C24

Correct answer

B. 9

Explanation

The correct answer is 9.

2644English LiteratureMedium

Shaw’s ‘Man and Superman’ is an example of________?

AComedy of Ideas

BRomantic Comedy

CComedy of Errors

DComedy of Manners

Correct answer

A. Comedy of Ideas

Explanation

The correct answer is Comedy of Ideas.

2645English LiteratureMedium

A poem mourning someone’s death is called________?

AEpic

BElegy

CFable

DNone of these

Correct answer

B. Elegy

Explanation

The correct answer is Elegy.

2646English LiteratureMedium

How did the invention of the printing press affect European culture?

ALearning to read was made easier as print was standardized and made clearer.

BScientific research became a more collaborative effort.

CPrint halted the corruption of texts by copyists, giving everyone identical texts.

DAll of the above

Correct answer

D. All of the above

Explanation

The correct answer is All of the above.

2647English LiteratureMedium

The ode on which topic that Coleridge wrote while attending Jesus College, Cambridge won him the Browne Gold Medal?

AOn the creativity of human mind

BOn supernatural elements in poetry

COn the slave trade

DOn romantic philosophy

Correct answer

C. On the slave trade

Explanation

The correct answer is On the slave trade.

2648English LiteratureMedium

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

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

BLiterature is inextricably connected to its creator.

CA text and its author text are unrelated.

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

Correct answer

C. A text and its author text are unrelated.

Explanation

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

2649English LiteratureMedium

In what way does the Gothic novel of the 18th century differ from the modern English novel that began to emerge in the 17th century and flourished in the 18th century?

AThe consideration of the sensibilities of the protagonists

BThe exploration of cultural taboos

CPlots taken from everyday life

DThe focus on the middle and working classes

Correct answer

B. The exploration of cultural taboos

Explanation

The correct answer is The exploration of cultural taboos.

2650English LiteratureMedium

In “The Gothic Sublime” how does Mishra characterize the Gothic novel?

AAs a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day

BAs the antithesis of postmodernism

CAs the resolution of madness

DAs a version of the Romantic novel

Correct answer

A. As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day

Explanation

The correct answer is As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day.

Dr. Samuel Gladden, in his essay “Shelley’s Agenda Writ Large: Reconsidering Oedipus Tyrannus; or, Swellfoot the Tyrant,” argues that Shelley’s “Oedipus- Tyrannus” is important because a________?

AThe poem was incomplete

BShelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it

CShelley himself dismissed the poem

DShelley recognizes the power of sexual transgression in it

Correct answer

B. Shelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it

Explanation

The correct answer is Shelley writes about Byron’s sexuality in it.

How did the invention of the printing press affect European culture?

ALearning to read was made easier as print was standardized and made clearer.

BScientific research became a more collaborative effort.

CPrint halted the corruption of texts by copyists, giving everyone identical texts.

DAll of the above

Correct answer

D. All of the above

Explanation

The correct answer is All of the above.

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

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

BLiterature is inextricably connected to its creator.

CA text and its author text are unrelated.

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

Correct answer

C. A text and its author text are unrelated.

Explanation

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

In “The Gothic Sublime” how does Mishra characterize the Gothic novel?

AAs a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day

BAs the antithesis of postmodernism

CAs the resolution of madness

DAs a version of the Romantic novel

Correct answer

A. As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day

Explanation

The correct answer is As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day.