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English Literature MCQs with Explanations

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801English LiteratureMedium

John Dryden wrote “Absalom and Achitophel.” Who was Achitophel, historically speaking?

AA Judge of Israel

BAbsalom’s advisor

CKing David’s son

DBathsheba’s first husband

Correct answer

B. Absalom’s advisor

Explanation

The correct answer is Absalom’s advisor.

802English LiteratureMedium

Which one of the following terms is often called for the England’s national poet, William Shakespeare?

ABard of London

BMaster Dramatist

CSupreme Poet

DBard of Avon

Correct answer

D. Bard of Avon

Explanation

The correct answer is Bard of Avon.

803English LiteratureMedium

Complete the following sentence. Yeats’s “Sailing to Byzantium” is a good example of High Modernism, because it________?

Adoes not employ rhyme.

Battempts to create a modernist high culture.

Cwas written at the very beginning of the 20th century.

Dembraces the rhythms and diction of common man’s speech.

Correct answer

B. attempts to create a modernist high culture.

Explanation

The correct answer is attempts to create a modernist high culture..

804English LiteratureMedium

In “Dracula” what is the significance of the typewriter?

AIt allows women to participate in the novel.

BIt becomes a way to conceal information.

CIt serves as a path to the public sphere for women.

DIt is a less effective tool than traditional folklore weapons.

Correct answer

C. It serves as a path to the public sphere for women.

Explanation

The correct answer is It serves as a path to the public sphere for women..

805English LiteratureMedium

Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” explores which of the following themes?

AThe power of religious faith

BFate and free will

CDisobedient children

DThe corruptive force of technology

Correct answer

B. Fate and free will

Explanation

The correct answer is Fate and free will.

806English LiteratureMedium

Complete the following sentence. The Romantic movement is least closely related to________?

Aexoticism

Bfolklore.

Cnationalism.

Dparody.

Correct answer

D. parody.

Explanation

The correct answer is parody..

807English LiteratureMedium

Which of the following offers the best description of literary theory?

ALiterary theory involves measuring the quality of a literary work.

BLiterary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work.

CLiterary theory involves considering the publication history of literary texts.

DLiterary theory involves coming to a precise understanding of a writer’s psychology.

Correct answer

B. Literary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work.

Explanation

The correct answer is Literary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work..

808English LiteratureMedium

Which of the Marlowe’s plays were written in collaboration with Thomas Nash?

AQueen of Carthage and The Massacre of Paris

BThe tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage.

CQueen of Carthage and The passionate Shepherd.

DThe passionate Shepherd and The tragedy of Dido.

Correct answer

B. The tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage.

Explanation

The correct answer is The tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage..

809English LiteratureMedium

The ‘r’ in red is articulated as a________?

AFrictionless continuant

BLateral

CSemi__vowel

DTrill

Correct answer

D. Trill

Explanation

The correct answer is Trill.

810English LiteratureMedium

In which century was Piers Plowman written?

A10th

B11th

C12th

D14th

Correct answer

D. 14th

Explanation

The correct answer is 14th.

Complete the following sentence. Yeats’s “Sailing to Byzantium” is a good example of High Modernism, because it________?

Adoes not employ rhyme.

Battempts to create a modernist high culture.

Cwas written at the very beginning of the 20th century.

Dembraces the rhythms and diction of common man’s speech.

Correct answer

B. attempts to create a modernist high culture.

Explanation

The correct answer is attempts to create a modernist high culture..

In “Dracula” what is the significance of the typewriter?

AIt allows women to participate in the novel.

BIt becomes a way to conceal information.

CIt serves as a path to the public sphere for women.

DIt is a less effective tool than traditional folklore weapons.

Correct answer

C. It serves as a path to the public sphere for women.

Explanation

The correct answer is It serves as a path to the public sphere for women..

Which of the following offers the best description of literary theory?

ALiterary theory involves measuring the quality of a literary work.

BLiterary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work.

CLiterary theory involves considering the publication history of literary texts.

DLiterary theory involves coming to a precise understanding of a writer’s psychology.

Correct answer

B. Literary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work.

Explanation

The correct answer is Literary theory involves describing the underlying principles of a literary work..

Which of the Marlowe’s plays were written in collaboration with Thomas Nash?

AQueen of Carthage and The Massacre of Paris

BThe tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage.

CQueen of Carthage and The passionate Shepherd.

DThe passionate Shepherd and The tragedy of Dido.

Correct answer

B. The tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage.

Explanation

The correct answer is The tragedy of Dido and Queen of Carthage..