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MCQOPTIONS
This section includes 225 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your English Literature knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 101. |
What did Sigmund Freud believe about the unconscious? |
| A. | It contains secret instincts and desires that are repressed. |
| B. | It is the only significant aspect of the human psyche. |
| C. | It can never be accessed. |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct. |
| Answer» B. It is the only significant aspect of the human psyche. | |
| 102. |
What are some common criticisms of literary theory ? |
| A. | Theory has replaced literary appreciation with formulas for understanding |
| B. | The reasoning of theory is often too circular |
| C. | Many theories have been pushed too far into abstraction |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct |
| Answer» E. | |
| 103. |
What approach to literary criticism requires the critic to know about the author’s life and times ? |
| A. | Historical |
| B. | Formalist |
| C. | Mimetic |
| D. | All of these |
| Answer» B. Formalist | |
| 104. |
What approach is described by the paragraph? This approach takes as a fundamental tenet that “literature” exists not as an artifact upon a printed page but as a transaction between the physical text and the mind of a reader ? |
| A. | Historical/Biographical Approach |
| B. | Reader Response Approach |
| C. | Formalism |
| D. | Mimetic Approach |
| Answer» C. Formalism | |
| 105. |
What approach is described by the paragraph? Users of this approach believe that all information essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work itself; there is no need to bring in outside information about the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author’s life ? |
| A. | Historical/Biographical Approach |
| B. | Moral/ Philosophical Approach |
| C. | Formalism |
| D. | Psychological Approach |
| Answer» D. Psychological Approach | |
| 106. |
What approach is described by the paragraph? Those who apply this approach believe it is necessary to know about the author and the political, economical, and sociological context of his times in order to truly understand his works ? |
| A. | Historical/Biographical Approach |
| B. | Moral/ Philosophical Approach |
| C. | Formalism |
| D. | Psychological Approach |
| Answer» B. Moral/ Philosophical Approach | |
| 107. |
Ultimately, the literary theory of deconstruction argues that ? |
| A. | the meaning of a text always relies on context. |
| B. | texts are always heterogeneous. |
| C. | any system for the production of meaning is inevitably bound by context, yet also limitless. |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 108. |
Trauma theory primarily developed out of the work of which psychoanalyst ? |
| A. | Sigmund Freud |
| B. | Carl Jung |
| C. | Michel Foucault |
| D. | Jacques Derrida |
| Answer» B. Carl Jung | |
| 109. |
Trauma theory is tremendously influenced by which theoretical school ? |
| A. | Psychoanalysis |
| B. | Marxism |
| C. | Feminism |
| D. | Deconstruction |
| Answer» B. Marxism | |
| 110. |
To whom “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful passion.” ? |
| A. | Keats |
| B. | Shelley |
| C. | Wordsworth |
| D. | Coleridge |
| Answer» D. Coleridge | |
| 111. |
To what idea does the term heteroglossia refer ? |
| A. | An infant’s inability to speak prior to the mirror stage |
| B. | The referential relationships among symbols, signifiers, and signs |
| C. | The multi-layered nature of language in a literary work |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct |
| Answer» D. All of the above answers are correct | |
| 112. |
This poet might be described as a moral or philosophical critic for arguing that works must have “high seriousness.” ? |
| A. | T.S. Eliot |
| B. | Matthew Arnold |
| C. | Elizabeth Browning |
| D. | Virginia Woolf |
| Answer» C. Elizabeth Browning | |
| 113. |
This literary critic warned: “We must remember that the greater part of our current reading matter is written for us by people who have no real belief in a supernatural order . . . And the greater part . . . is coming to be written by people who not only have no such belief, but are even ignorant of the fact that there are still people in the world so ’backward’ or so ’eccentric’ as to continue to believe.” ? |
| A. | C.S. Lewis |
| B. | T.S. Eliot |
| C. | G.K. Chesterton |
| D. | Matthew Arnold |
| Answer» C. G.K. Chesterton | |
| 114. |
This literary critic coined the term “fancy.” ? |
| A. | Samuel Taylor Coleridge |
| B. | Virginia Woolf |
| C. | Matthew Arnold |
| D. | Carl Jung |
| Answer» B. Virginia Woolf | |
| 115. |
This critical approach assumes that language does not refer to any external reality. It can assert several, contradictory interpretations of one text ? |
| A. | Deconstructionism |
| B. | Formalist Criticism |
| C. | Structuralism |
| D. | Mimetic Criticism |
| Answer» B. Formalist Criticism | |
| 116. |
This feminist critic proposed that all female characters in literature are in at least one of the following stages of development: the feminine, feminist, or female stage ? |
| A. | Virginia Woolf |
| B. | Elaine Showalter |
| C. | Mary Wolstencraft |
| D. | Ellen Mores |
| Answer» C. Mary Wolstencraft | |
| 117. |
This approach can turn a work into little more than a case study, neglecting to view it as a piece of art. Critics sometimes attempt to diagnose long dead authors based on their works, which is perhaps not the best evidence of their psychology. Critics tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature. What approach possess this disadvantage ? |
| A. | Moral/Philosophical |
| B. | Psychological |
| C. | Formalism/New Criticism |
| D. | Historical/Biographical |
| Answer» C. Formalism/New Criticism | |
| 118. |
This approach provides a universalistic approach to literature and identifies a reason why certain literature may survive the test of time. It works well with works that are highly symbolic.What approach has this advantage ? |
| A. | Mimetic |
| B. | Psychological |
| C. | Historical/Biographical |
| D. | Mythological/Archetypal |
| Answer» E. | |
| 119. |
They believe that this approach tends to reduce art to the level of biography and make it relative (to the times) rather than universal. What approach possess this disadvantage ? |
| A. | Moral/Philosophical |
| B. | Formalism/New Criticism |
| C. | Historical/Biographical |
| D. | Psychological |
| Answer» D. Psychological | |
| 120. |
“The tragic-comedy which is the product of the English theatre is one the most monstrous inventions that ever entered into a poet’s thought.” Whose view is this ? |
| A. | John Dryden’s |
| B. | Alexander Pope’s |
| C. | Joseph Addison’s |
| D. | Dr. Johnson’s |
| Answer» D. Dr. Johnson’s | |
| 121. |
The term Electra Complex has originated from a tragedy entitled Electra. Who is the author of his tragedy ? |
| A. | Aeschylus |
| B. | Sophocles |
| C. | Euripides |
| D. | Seneca |
| Answer» C. Euripides | |
| 122. |
The term ‘collective unconscious’ is coined by_____________? |
| A. | Carl Jung |
| B. | Sigmund Freud |
| C. | Ernest Jones |
| D. | Erik Erikson |
| Answer» B. Sigmund Freud | |
| 123. |
The structure of tragedy according to Aristotle is________________? |
| A. | Simple |
| B. | Complex |
| C. | Loose |
| D. | Episodic |
| Answer» C. Loose | |
| 124. |
The statements below are steps on “How to Read and Understand an Expository Essay”. Which comes in as an initial thing to do before writing an expository essay ? |
| A. | Identify the Mode of Development |
| B. | Analysis of the Author |
| C. | Subsequent Readings/Reviews |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct. |
| Answer» C. Subsequent Readings/Reviews | |
| 125. |
The statements below are steps on “How to Read a Short Story Critically”. Which comes in as the last thing to do in the critical reading of a narrative ? |
| A. | Analyze the Structure of the Story |
| B. | Analyze Rhetorical Elements |
| C. | Analyze the Meaning of the Story (Interpretation) |
| D. | Analyze the Essential Elements of the Story |
| Answer» C. Analyze the Meaning of the Story (Interpretation) | |
| 126. |
The statements below are parts of the steps on “How to Explicate Poetry”. Which comes in as second to the last thing to do before writing a critical essay of a poem ? |
| A. | Interpret the Poem. |
| B. | Introduce External Support. |
| C. | Analyze the Elements of the Poem |
| D. | Evaluate the Poem. |
| Answer» B. Introduce External Support. | |
| 127. |
The statements below are parts of the steps on “How to Write an Analytical Essay about Short Fiction”. Which comes in as the last thing to do in the writing an essay about short fiction ? |
| A. | Begin your paper with an introduction that identifies the purpose of the paper and the text you are addressing. |
| B. | Compose topic sentences (four or five, perhaps) that support, explore, demonstrate, or illustrate your thesis. |
| C. | Select specific passages in the text of the story that help you to develop each topic sentence. |
| D. | Build your paper to a climax; save your most engaging or important topic sentence for discussion last. |
| Answer» B. Compose topic sentences (four or five, perhaps) that support, explore, demonstrate, or illustrate your thesis. | |
| 128. |
The statements below are parts of the steps on “How to Analyze a Play”. Which comes in as second thing to do before writing a critical essay of a play ? |
| A. | Identify External Factors Related to the Work |
| B. | Interpret the Play |
| C. | Analyze the Staging |
| D. | Analyze the Essential Elements of the Play |
| Answer» D. Analyze the Essential Elements of the Play | |
| 129. |
The probable date of composition of Ars Poetica is_______________? |
| A. | 100 BC |
| B. | 12 to 8 BC |
| C. | 15 AD |
| D. | 20 AD |
| Answer» C. 15 AD | |
| 130. |
The phrase “willing suspension of disbelief” applies to which poet/critic ? |
| A. | Charles Lamb |
| B. | Joseph Conrad |
| C. | Coleridge |
| D. | Wordsworth |
| Answer» D. Wordsworth | |
| 131. |
The New Critics were_________________? |
| A. | Psychological Critics |
| B. | Feminist critics |
| C. | Formalist critics |
| D. | Marxist critics |
| Answer» D. Marxist critics | |
| 132. |
The name “Ars Poetica” (Art of Poetry) was given to Horace’s Epistle to the Pisos by____________? |
| A. | Horace |
| B. | Quintillion |
| C. | Cicero |
| D. | Virgil |
| Answer» C. Cicero | |
| 133. |
The Lyrical Ballads was published in____________________? |
| A. | 1780 |
| B. | 1798 |
| C. | 1815 |
| D. | 1805 |
| Answer» C. 1815 | |
| 134. |
The key word that characterised the Romantic movement was_______________? |
| A. | Inspiration |
| B. | Imagination |
| C. | Fancy |
| D. | Decorum |
| Answer» C. Fancy | |
| 135. |
The Frankfurt School of literary theory was most greatly influenced by which of the following schools of thought ? |
| A. | Formalism |
| B. | Structuralism |
| C. | Poststructuralism |
| D. | Marxism |
| Answer» E. | |
| 136. |
The fall of the prison of Bacille, that marks the begining of French Revolution occurred on______________? |
| A. | June 14,1789 |
| B. | June 14, 1798 |
| C. | July 14, 1789 |
| D. | July 14,1798 |
| Answer» D. July 14,1798 | |
| 137. |
“The end of writing is to instruct, the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.” Whose view is this ? |
| A. | Wordsworth’s |
| B. | Coleridge’s |
| C. | Dr. Johnson’s |
| D. | Matthew Arnold’s |
| Answer» D. Matthew Arnold’s | |
| 138. |
The concept of otherness is related to which of the following theories ? |
| A. | Psychoanalytic theory |
| B. | Feminist theory |
| C. | Ethnic criticism |
| D. | All of the above answers are correct. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 139. |
Regarding the observance of the three Classical Unities in a play, Dr. Johnson’s view is that ? |
| A. | Only the Unity of Time should be observed |
| B. | Only the Unity of Place should be observed |
| C. | Only the Unity of Action should be observed |
| D. | All the three Unities should be observed |
| Answer» D. All the three Unities should be observed | |
| 140. |
Reader-response theory is focused on considering which of the following ? |
| A. | How readers learn to read |
| B. | How readers imagine visual images in a text |
| C. | How readers participate in creating the meaning of a text |
| D. | How readers regard critics |
| Answer» D. How readers regard critics | |
| 141. |
Preface to the Lyrical Ballads was written by_______________? |
| A. | Wordsworth |
| B. | Coleridge |
| C. | Southey |
| D. | Shelly |
| Answer» B. Coleridge | |
| 142. |
‘Preface to the Lyrical Ballads’ was published in______________? |
| A. | 1798 |
| B. | 1800 |
| C. | 1802 |
| D. | 1815 |
| Answer» C. 1802 | |
| 143. |
“Poetry is emotions recollected in tranquility.” Who has defined poetry in these words ? |
| A. | Shelley |
| B. | Wordsworth |
| C. | Coleridge |
| D. | Matthew Arnold |
| Answer» C. Coleridge | |
| 144. |
Poetic Diction was taken to be the standard language for poetry in______________? |
| A. | The Elizabethan Age |
| B. | The Neo-Classical Age |
| C. | The Romantic Age |
| D. | The Victorian Age |
| Answer» C. The Romantic Age | |
| 145. |
Plato’s Republic is written in the form of______________? |
| A. | Drama |
| B. | Narrative mode |
| C. | Poetry |
| D. | Dialogue |
| Answer» E. | |
| 146. |
Plato has a positive view of art, in so far as_______________? |
| A. | It represents the nature |
| B. | It contributes to the spiritual growth of people |
| C. | It shows a tragedy |
| D. | It imitates nobility |
| Answer» C. It shows a tragedy | |
| 147. |
Plato equated poetry with painting, and Aristotle equated it with_______________? |
| A. | drama |
| B. | music |
| C. | dance |
| D. | none |
| Answer» C. dance | |
| 148. |
Plato used the word mimesis in relation to literature with the meaning ? |
| A. | Copying |
| B. | Criticism of life |
| C. | Representation |
| D. | Interpretation |
| Answer» D. Interpretation | |
| 149. |
Plato said that art is an imperfect reflection of the real world because______________? |
| A. | Art presents only part of the world |
| B. | Art describes only what appears and not what is real |
| C. | Art tells lies about the world |
| D. | Art is an exaggeration of the world |
| Answer» C. Art tells lies about the world | |
| 150. |
Philip Sidney’s Apologie for Poetrie is a defence of poetry against the charges brought against it by____________? |
| A. | Henry Howard |
| B. | Roger Ascham |
| C. | John Skelton |
| D. | Stephen Gosson |
| Answer» E. | |