MCQOPTIONS
Saved Bookmarks
MCQOPTIONS
This section includes 196 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your English Literature knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 51. |
Which of the following is an example of female hagiography ? |
| A. | “Revelations of Divine Love” |
| B. | “Acts of Thecla” |
| C. | “The Wooing of Our Lord” |
| D. | “Orison to an Almighty God” |
| Answer» C. “The Wooing of Our Lord” | |
| 52. |
Which of the following is an alternative name for the Middle Ages ? |
| A. | Age of Enlightenment |
| B. | Age of Reason |
| C. | Platonic Period |
| D. | Dark Ages |
| Answer» E. | |
| 53. |
Which of the following inventions is associated with the rise in literacy ? |
| A. | the triptych |
| B. | the flail |
| C. | the rudder |
| D. | the letter press |
| Answer» E. | |
| 54. |
Which of the following genres applies to Langland’s “Piers Plowman” ? |
| A. | Allegory |
| B. | Social satire |
| C. | Dream vision |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 55. |
Which of the following factors helped create a solidified British political identity ? |
| A. | The shift away from individual petty kingdoms to central rule under King Alfred |
| B. | Efforts to revive learning |
| C. | The translation of Latin religious and historical works in vernacular traditions |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 56. |
Which of the following epic themes are invoked in The Wanderer ? |
| A. | Exile |
| B. | Abandoned mead-halls |
| C. | Loneliness |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 57. |
Which of the following cultural changes occurred as a result of the Norman invasion ? |
| A. | The Church moved away from using Latin. |
| B. | The trend of educational reforms was reversed. |
| C. | England returned to its pre-feudal state. |
| D. | The primary language became French |
| Answer» E. | |
| 58. |
Which of the following couples exemplify/ exemplifies courtly love ? |
| A. | Lancelot and Guinevere |
| B. | Dante and Beatrice |
| C. | Arthur and Guinevere |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 59. |
Which of the following characters from “The Canterbury Tales” might represent the rising middle class of the 14th century ? |
| A. | The merchant |
| B. | The knight |
| C. | The prioress |
| D. | The plowman |
| Answer» B. The knight | |
| 60. |
Which of the following characterize(s) a lay ? |
| A. | geographical unity |
| B. | episodic content |
| C. | octosyllabic couplets |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 61. |
Which of the following characterized court life in the Middle Ages ? |
| A. | recitations by poets |
| B. | knightly tournaments |
| C. | games |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 62. |
Which of the following characteristics are not essential to knightly chivalry as described by Chretien de Troyes ? |
| A. | The knight is religious. |
| B. | The knight is submissive to his lad. |
| C. | The knight is dedicated to his feudal lord. |
| D. | The knight is blond, tall, and elegant. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 63. |
Which of the following best describes the significance of the following line from Julian of Norwich’s “Revelations of Divine Love”: “all manner of things shall be well” ? |
| A. | The world is a happy and wonderful place. |
| B. | We can make the world better if we work hard. |
| C. | There are many things in the world to love. |
| D. | The love and grace of God can change lives for the better. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 64. |
Which of the following best describes how Bede was a typical Christian of his time ? |
| A. | He combined zealous Christianity with English patriotism. |
| B. | He did not believe that Christianity was an essential part of English culture. |
| C. | He thought that England was a pagan wilderness. |
| D. | He believed that English Christians needed to move to a New Israel. |
| Answer» B. He did not believe that Christianity was an essential part of English culture. | |
| 65. |
Which of the following best defines wergild ? |
| A. | Giving inanimate objects human qualities |
| B. | A metaphorical compound |
| C. | A reparational payment demanded of a person guilty of homicide |
| D. | The image used to share qualities in a metaphor or simile |
| Answer» D. The image used to share qualities in a metaphor or simile | |
| 66. |
Which of the following best defines mysticism ? |
| A. | The dream connection between the two sexes |
| B. | A literary genre written mainly in the Anglo-Saxon era |
| C. | The human soul’s tendency towards intimate union with the divine |
| D. | The separation between humanity and divinity |
| Answer» C. The human soul’s tendency towards intimate union with the divine | |
| 67. |
Which of the following best defines Middle English ? |
| A. | An early form spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons |
| B. | A filed-down Old English with heavy French influence |
| C. | A unique form of English spoken in Germany |
| D. | A form brought to England by the Scandinavians |
| Answer» C. A unique form of English spoken in Germany | |
| 68. |
Which of the following best defines alliterative verse ? |
| A. | A traditional form with repeated consonant sounds |
| B. | An Anglo-Saxon form written in iambic pentameter with traditional rhymes |
| C. | A popular form in the 9th and 10th centuries |
| D. | A form brought to England in the years during the Norman invasion |
| Answer» B. An Anglo-Saxon form written in iambic pentameter with traditional rhymes | |
| 69. |
Which of the following best defines caesura ? |
| A. | A pause or break in a line of poetry |
| B. | Giving inanimate objects human qualities |
| C. | A metaphorical compound |
| D. | The image used to share qualities in a metaphor or simile |
| Answer» B. Giving inanimate objects human qualities | |
| 70. |
Which of the following best characterize noble women in the Middle Ages ? |
| A. | they were expected to fix problems in their husbands’ absence |
| B. | they ran the household |
| C. | they were expected to be religious role models |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 71. |
Which of the following are characteristics of a medieval romance ? |
| A. | Episodic French and German poetry |
| B. | Resemblance to an epic |
| C. | Supernatural themes involving dragons and monsters |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 72. |
Which of the following advice is offered to women in Acrene Wisse ? |
| A. | Anchoresses should live in a dwelling attached to a church. |
| B. | Anchoresses should avoid gossip. |
| C. | Anchoresses should avoid men. |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 73. |
Which of the following accurately describes the way in which the comitatus ethic is represented in Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer ? |
| A. | As a mutually beneficial relationship between rulers and warriors |
| B. | As an economic system of rewards used to ensure warriors reliability |
| C. | As a pre-feudal power structure based on the distribution of economic and military resources |
| D. | All of these answers |
| Answer» E. | |
| 74. |
Which literary device is most important structurally in The Book of the City of Ladies ? |
| A. | assonance |
| B. | allegory |
| C. | litotes |
| D. | simile |
| Answer» C. litotes | |
| 75. |
Which is/are typical of the supernatural in medieval romance ? |
| A. | enchantment |
| B. | spells |
| C. | fairy trickery |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 76. |
Which is/are a theme(s) of “The Acts of Thecla ?” |
| A. | courtly love |
| B. | peasant life |
| C. | praise of chastity |
| D. | female literacy |
| Answer» D. female literacy | |
| 77. |
Which is true of medieval women ? |
| A. | they were not allowed to divorce their husbands |
| B. | they were not allowed to own a business without permission |
| C. | they were not allowed to inherit land if they had any brothers |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 78. |
Which is true of medieval property laws ? |
| A. | most medieval women had some property |
| B. | married women could hold property once they had children |
| C. | married women could hold property without their husband’s consent |
| D. | widows could hold property |
| Answer» E. | |
| 79. |
Which is true of childbirth in the Middle Ages ? |
| A. | it was normally supervised by a midwife |
| B. | it was typically dangerous for mother and infant |
| C. | it was normally done without medical equipment |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 80. |
Which is the best example of the “double standard” that exists in tales of courtly love ? |
| A. | women are always villains, while men are always heroes |
| B. | women are always involved in supernatural plots while men’s storylines tend to be more realistic |
| C. | men are allowed to boast about their affairs, while women must keep them secret |
| D. | men are represented as immoral while women are always presented as chaste |
| Answer» D. men are represented as immoral while women are always presented as chaste | |
| 81. |
Which genre is based on interactions between three feudal classes ? |
| A. | Dream poetry |
| B. | Romance |
| C. | Lai |
| D. | Estates satire |
| Answer» E. | |
| 82. |
Which event(s) characterized the Middle Ages ? |
| A. | invasions from barbarian tribes |
| B. | financial deficits from increased military expenditures |
| C. | falling birth rates |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 83. |
Which best describes the work of a mystic ? |
| A. | the mystic is primarily tasked with intellectual work within monasteries |
| B. | the mystic is a visionary who experiences divine insight |
| C. | the mystic uses a religious platform to promote equal rights for women |
| D. | the mystic usually works as a scribe |
| Answer» C. the mystic uses a religious platform to promote equal rights for women | |
| 84. |
Which best summarizes Christine de Pizan’s reaction to The Romance of the Rose ? |
| A. | she objected to the treatment of secularism as evil |
| B. | she applauded its promotion of female education |
| C. | she attacked it as misogynistic |
| D. | she praised the objectification of women |
| Answer» D. she praised the objectification of women | |
| 85. |
Which are examples of devotional acts ? |
| A. | pilgrimages |
| B. | charitable donations |
| C. | prayers on the sinner’s behalf |
| D. | All of the Above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 86. |
When did the Norman Invasion take place ? |
| A. | 9th century |
| B. | 10th century |
| C. | 11th century |
| D. | 12th century |
| Answer» D. 12th century | |
| 87. |
When did the Roman Empire formally legalize Christianity ? |
| A. | The 3rd century |
| B. | The 4th century |
| C. | The 7th century |
| D. | The 8th century |
| Answer» C. The 7th century | |
| 88. |
What were “conduct books” ? |
| A. | books that established standards of behavior for women |
| B. | books that were primarily intended to teach men how to treat their wives |
| C. | books that conformed with strict standards of behavior |
| D. | books that recounted historical events in the medieval era |
| Answer» B. books that were primarily intended to teach men how to treat their wives | |
| 89. |
What was the primary function of The Rule of Saint Benedict ? |
| A. | The Rule of Saint Benedict standardized monasticism. |
| B. | The Rule of Saint Benedict was the first example of poetry written in the vernacular language. |
| C. | The Rule of Saint Benedict explained the new architectural style. |
| D. | The Rule of Saint Benedict offered an early example of dream poetry. |
| Answer» B. The Rule of Saint Benedict was the first example of poetry written in the vernacular language. | |
| 90. |
What was the function of the Anglo- Saxon Chronicle ? |
| A. | The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records the history of the continuity and persistence of Anglo-Saxon culture in Old English. |
| B. | The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle offers a lay person’s perspective on Anglo-Saxon history. |
| C. | The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle focuses on the courtly adventures of Anglo-Saxon English. |
| D. | The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle presents an accurate description of the Second and Third Crusades. |
| Answer» B. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle offers a lay person’s perspective on Anglo-Saxon history. | |
| 91. |
What was the focus of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae ? |
| A. | The life and poems of Caedmon |
| B. | The conversion of Britain from paganism |
| C. | The early years of William the Conqueror |
| D. | The tales of King Arthur |
| Answer» E. | |
| 92. |
What was historically significant about Chretien de Troyes Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion ? |
| A. | He recast the history of Arthur into the romance genre. |
| B. | He was the first to discuss the Knights of the Round Table. |
| C. | He separated Arthurian legend from tales of courtly love. |
| D. | He dropped the supernatural theme found in Arthurian legend. |
| Answer» B. He was the first to discuss the Knights of the Round Table. | |
| 93. |
What was “courtly love” ? |
| A. | a type of literature concerned with the behavior of anchorites |
| B. | a type of early literature produced solely by medieval women writers |
| C. | a literary convention based on the code of behavior associated with chivalrous romance |
| D. | a method of oral transmission |
| Answer» D. a method of oral transmission | |
| 94. |
What was a virago ? |
| A. | a heroine who used female attributes to become a saint |
| B. | a saint who was NOT the humble, pious, and chaste figure she was expected to be |
| C. | an asexual female saint |
| D. | an anchorite |
| Answer» D. an anchorite | |
| 95. |
What was a Lollard ? |
| A. | a hero in a courtly romance |
| B. | a member of a sect that was considered heretical |
| C. | a female mystic |
| D. | an illiterate anchoress |
| Answer» C. a female mystic | |
| 96. |
What literary term is suggested by thequote steadfast companions will stand by him from Beowulf ? |
| A. | The golden torque |
| B. | Hurnting |
| C. | Comitatus ethic |
| D. | Kenning |
| Answer» D. Kenning | |
| 97. |
What led to the alliterative revival ? |
| A. | A return to reading poetry from the 11th and 12th centuries |
| B. | The influence of southern courtly poets writing in French and Latin |
| C. | A surge in English nationalism |
| D. | The introduction to new poetic forms during the Norman invasion |
| Answer» D. The introduction to new poetic forms during the Norman invasion | |
| 98. |
What is the verse form of Marie de France’s Lanval ? |
| A. | Dactylic pentameter |
| B. | Octosyllabic couplets |
| C. | Heroic couplets |
| D. | Clerihew |
| Answer» C. Heroic couplets | |
| 99. |
What is the significance of the “Green Knight” ? |
| A. | He suggests the lack of knightly themes in Middle English poetry. |
| B. | He alludes to an ancient Anglo-Saxon ruler. |
| C. | He represents the link with Celtic mythology. |
| D. | He suggests a continued tie with paganism. |
| Answer» D. He suggests a continued tie with paganism. | |
| 100. |
What is the significance of the title of “Everyman” ? |
| A. | The title suggests a long history of conflict between the government and the individual. |
| B. | The title is part of the morality play’s attempt to make Christian struggles universal. |
| C. | The title alludes to other plays in the same cycle. |
| D. | The title suggests that faith-based issues are individual to each Christian. |
| Answer» C. The title alludes to other plays in the same cycle. | |