Notice
© 2023, Abha Bhardwaj Sharma
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This study material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The publisher has strived to ensure that all information in this book is correct at the time of publication and accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors.
Please note that the information and materials used in this book are strictly for educational purposes. They have been carefully selected and modified to align with the curriculum. While many are original works, some have been sourced from public domain, news outlets, online magazines/newspapers, and other resources. Any third- party content is used for illustrative or educational purposes and the copyright rests with the original creator/publisher. These are utilised with the intent to provide a diverse and enriching learning experience for the students. The source list is available with the institute. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, the author/ publisher is not liable for any inaccuracies or for the use of this information. For permission requests, contact us on our website, www.miraclejaipur.com.
Address: Miracle English Language and Literature Institute
Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302001
+91-9829121892
UGC NET/JRF Course Material: in Three Parts
Part 1 Units 1-4
Part 2 Units 5-10
Part 3 Practice MCQs & Solved Papers
Compiled by Prof Abha Bhardwaj Sharma.
Effective and comprehensive study material is essential for students preparing for competitive examinations like UGC NET/JRF. Prof Abha Bhardwaj Sharma’s rich study material is thoughtfully curated to provide students with a structured and reliable foundation for their studies. The material is meticulously designed to cover the core concepts, theories, and key topics in each of the units in both pats
Prof Abha Bhardwaj Sharma is a distinguished expert in the fields of Language, Literature, and Linguistics, with a remarkable professional journey spanning over three decades. Her dedication to the realms of education and scholarship is further exemplified by her ownership of the esteemed Miracle English Language and Literature Institute, a renowned institution since its establishment in 1998. Prof Abha’s illustrious career has seen the transformation of numerous students into successful scholars under her guidance.
Key Features of the Study Material Part1 & Part 2
In-Depth Content: The study material extensively explores each literary unit, offering comprehensive coverage of significant literary works, historical contexts, critical analyses, and prominent literary figures. This depth of coverage ensures that students gain a profound understanding of the subject matter, allowing them to engage with the material at an advanced level.
Clarity and Conciseness: The study material is recognised for its remarkable clarity and conciseness, making even the most intricate literary concepts accessible to students with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of expertise. The language and explanations employed are carefully crafted to simplify complex ideas without compromising on the depth of understanding.
Expert Insights: The study material benefits from the inclusion of expert insights that draw from a wealth of experience in the field. These insights offer students valuable perspectives, enabling them to approach literary texts and critical theories with increased confidence and sophistication. By leveraging the expertise embedded in the material, students can develop a more nuanced and informed interpretation of the subject matter.
Updated Content: Recognizing the dynamic nature of the field, the study material is regularly reviewed and updated to align with the evolving trends in literary studies and the UGC NET/JRF syllabus. This commitment to staying current ensures that students receive the most up-to-date and relevant information, preparing them effectively for their academic pursuits and examinations.
The above features collectively make the study material a comprehensive and indispensable resource for students aiming to excel in their literary studies and UGC NET/JRF examinations.
Part 3: Practice MCQs & Solved Papers
In addition to the comprehensive coverage of literary units and key concepts in Parts 1 and 2, Part 3 is a valuable component of the study material. This section is dedicated to Practice Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Solved Papers.
Practice MCQs: This section includes a wide range of MCQs meticulously designed to challenge students’ understanding of the subject matter. These questions not only assess knowledge but also encourage critical thinking and application of concepts. With varying levels of difficulty, these MCQs serve as an excellent tool for self-assessment and skill enhancement.
Solved Papers: The inclusion of Solved Papers in Part 3 is particularly advantageous for students as they can gain insights into the format and structure of actual UGC NET/JRF examinations. These solved papers provide real-life examples of questions and demonstrate how to approach and solve them effectively. By studying these solved papers, students can build confidence and refine their examination strategies.
Introducing our UGC NET/JRF English Literature Part 3 , featuring 1100 thoughtfully crafted questions with detailed explanations. Our book is designed to take your preparation to the next level with innovative and challenging questions. We cover a wide range of topics, including difficult levels, previous years’ papers, passages, comprehensions, reasoning, and analytical questions.
In-Depth Explanations: Our content doesn’t just provide answers; it offers detailed explanations to ensure you understand the concepts thoroughly.
Challenging Questions: We believe in pushing your limits. Our innovative questions will test your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Comprehensive Coverage: We cover a vast array of topics, making sure you’re well-prepared for any question that may come your way.
Previous Years’ Papers: We’ve included questions from previous years’ papers to give you a taste of what to expect in the real exam.
Passages and Comprehensions: Practice reading and comprehending passages to ace the comprehension section of the exam.
Reasoning and Analysis: Enhance your analytical skills with questions designed to make you think critically.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) related to English literature, along with their answers and explanations:
1. Who wrote the play “Romeo and Juliet”?
a) Charles Dickens
b) William Shakespeare
c) Jane Austen
d) George Orwell
Answer: b) William Shakespeare
Explanation: “Romeo and Juliet” is one of William Shakespeare’s famous plays, a tragic love story.
2. Which novel features the character Jay Gatsby?
a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
b) “The Great Gatsby”
c) “Pride and Prejudice”
d) “Moby-Dick”
Answer: b) “The Great Gatsby”
Explanation: Jay Gatsby is the central character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby.”
3. Who is the author of “1984”?
a) George Orwell
b) Aldous Huxley
c) Ray Bradbury
d) J.K. Rowling
Answer: a) George Orwell
Explanation: “1984” was written by George Orwell and is a classic dystopian novel.
4. In Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” what famous soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be”?
a) Act 1, Scene 1
b) Act 2, Scene 2
c) Act 3, Scene 3
d) Act 4, Scene 4
Answer: c) Act 3, Scene 3
Explanation: The soliloquy “To be or not to be” is delivered by Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 3 of the play.
5. Which Bronte sister wrote the novel “Jane Eyre”?
a) Emily Bronte
b) Anne Bronte
c) Charlotte Bronte
d) Branwell Bronte
Answer: c) Charlotte Bronte
Explanation: “Jane Eyre” was written by Charlotte Bronte.
6. Who is the author of “Frankenstein”?
a) Mary Shelley
b) Emily Dickinson
c) Bram Stoker
d) Oscar Wilde
Answer: a) Mary Shelley
Explanation: “Frankenstein” was written by Mary Shelley and is considered one of the earliest science fiction novels.
7. What is the setting of William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies”?
a) A spaceship
b) An island
c) A desert
d) A jungle
Answer: b) An island
Explanation: “Lord of the Flies” is set on a deserted island.
8. Which Shakespearean play features the character Lady Macbeth?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Romeo and Juliet”
c) “Othello”
d) “Hamlet”
Answer: a) “Macbeth”
Explanation: Lady Macbeth is a key character in the play “Macbeth.”
9. In “The Canterbury Tales,” what is the occupation of the character known as the Wife of Bath?
a) Nun
b) Seamstress
c) Weaver
d) Weaver
Answer: c) Seamstress
Explanation: The Wife of Bath in “The Canterbury Tales” is a seamstress.
10. Which novel features the character Huckleberry Finn?
a) “The Scarlet Letter”
b) “Moby-Dick”
c) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
d) “The Catcher in the Rye”
Answer: c) “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Explanation: Huckleberry Finn is the central character in Mark Twain’s novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
11. Who wrote the novel “Dracula”?
a) Mary Shelley
b) Bram Stoker
c) Edgar Allan Poe
d) H.G. Wells
Answer: b) Bram Stoker
Explanation: “Dracula” was written by Bram Stoker and is a classic vampire novel.
12. What is the main setting of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”?
a) London
b) Bath
c) Pemberley
d) Longbourn
Answer: d) Longbourn
Explanation: Most of the events in “Pride and Prejudice” take place in the village of Longbourn.
13. Who wrote the poem “The Raven”?
a) Walt Whitman
b) Edgar Allan Poe
c) Robert Frost
d) Emily Dickinson
Answer: b) Edgar Allan Poe
Explanation: “The Raven” is a famous poem written by Edgar Allan Poe.
14. Which of Shakespeare’s plays features the character Iago?
a) “Hamlet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “Othello”
d) “King Lear”
Answer: c) “Othello”
Explanation: Iago is a prominent character in Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello.”
15. Who is the author of “Wuthering Heights”?
a) Emily Dickinson
b) Jane Austen
c) Emily Bronte
d) Anne Bronte
Answer: c) Emily Bronte
Explanation: “Wuthering Heights” was written by Emily Bronte.
16. Which play features the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
a) “Hamlet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “Romeo and Juliet”
d) “Othello”
Answer: a) “Hamlet”
Explanation: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are characters in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.”
17. Who wrote the novel “Moby-Dick”?
a) Nathaniel Hawthorne
b) Herman Melville
c) Mark Twain
d) F. Scott Fitzgerald
Answer: b) Herman Melville
Explanation: “Moby-Dick” was written by Herman Melville.
18. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” what do the pigs represent?
a) The working class
b) The bourgeoisie
c) The intellectuals
d) The government
Answer: b) The bourgeoisie
Explanation: In “Animal Farm,” the pigs represent the ruling class or bourgeoisie.
19. Which of Shakespeare’s plays features the character Portia?
a) “Hamlet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “Romeo and Juliet”
d) “The Merchant of Venice”
Answer: d) “The Merchant of Venice”
Explanation: Portia is a prominent character in “The Merchant of Venice.”
20. Who is the author of “The Catcher in the Rye”?
a) J.D. Salinger
b) Harper Lee
c) F. Scott Fitzgerald
d) Ernest Hemingway
Answer: a) J.D. Salinger
Explanation: “The Catcher in the Rye” was written by J.D. Salinger and is a coming-of-age novel.
21. Who wrote the epic poem “Paradise Lost”?
a) John Bunyan
b) John Milton
c) John Donne
d) John Dryden
Answer: b) John Milton
Explanation: “Paradise Lost” is an epic poem written by John Milton.
22. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby,” what is Jay Gatsby’s real name?
a) James Gatson
b) John Grisham
c) Jay Gatz
d) Jack Gilbert
Answer: c) Jay Gatz
Explanation: Jay Gatsby’s real name is James Gatz.
23. Which Shakespearean play features the character Shylock?
a) “Hamlet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “The Merchant of Venice”
d) “Othello”
Answer: c) “The Merchant of Venice”
Explanation: Shylock is a character in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.”
24. Who is the author of the novel “Brave New World”?
a) George Orwell
b) Aldous Huxley
c) Ray Bradbury
d) H.G. Wells
Answer: b) Aldous Huxley
Explanation: “Brave New World” was written by Aldous Huxley.
25. In James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses,” which character is the central focus of the story?
a) Leopold Bloom
b) Stephen Dedalus
c) Molly Bloom
d) Gabriel Conroy
Answer: a) Leopold Bloom
Explanation: Leopold Bloom is the central character in “Ulysses.”
26. Who wrote the novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude”?
a) Gabriel García Márquez
b) Pablo Neruda
c) Jorge Luis Borges
d) Isabel Allende
Answer: a) Gabriel García Márquez
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” was written by Gabriel García Márquez.
27. Which novel features the character Jean Valjean?
a) “War and Peace”
b) “Les Misérables”
c) “Crime and Punishment”
d) “The Brothers Karamazov”
Answer: b) “Les Misérables”
Explanation: Jean Valjean is the central character in Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Misérables.”
28. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” what is the name of Frodo Baggins’ loyal friend and gardener?
a) Legolas
b) Aragorn
c) Samwise Gamgee
d) Gimli
Answer: c) Samwise Gamgee
Explanation: Samwise Gamgee is Frodo’s loyal friend and gardener in “The Lord of the Rings.”
29. Who is the author of the novel “A Clockwork Orange”?
a) George Orwell
b) Anthony Burgess
c) Philip K. Dick
d) Aldous Huxley
Answer: b) Anthony Burgess
Explanation: “A Clockwork Orange” was written by Anthony Burgess.
30. Which novel features the character Jayne Eyre?
a) “Pride and Prejudice”
b) “Wuthering Heights”
c) “Jane Eyre”
d) “Sense and Sensibility”
Answer: c) “Jane Eyre”
Explanation: “Jane Eyre” is a novel by Charlotte Bronte featuring the character Jane Eyre.
31. Who wrote the poem “The Waste Land”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) Robert Frost
c) T.S. Eliot
d) Emily Dickinson
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Waste Land” is a famous poem written by T.S. Eliot.
32. Which of Shakespeare’s plays features the character Caliban?
a) “Hamlet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “The Tempest”
d) “Othello”
Answer: c) “The Tempest”
Explanation: Caliban is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest.”
33. Who is the author of “The Road,” a post-apocalyptic novel about a father and son’s journey?
a) Cormac McCarthy
b) Ernest Hemingway
c) John Steinbeck
d) J.D. Salinger
Answer: a) Cormac McCarthy
Explanation: “The Road” was written by Cormac McCarthy.
34. In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment,” what is the name of the main character who commits a murder?
a) Raskolnikov
b) Ivan Karamazov
c) Alyosha Karamazov
d) Smerdyakov
Answer: a) Raskolnikov
Explanation: The main character who commits a murder is Raskolnikov in “Crime and Punishment.”
35. Who is the author of the play “Waiting for Godot”?
a) Samuel Beckett
b) Harold Pinter
c) Tennessee Williams
d) Arthur Miller
Answer: a) Samuel Beckett
Explanation: “Waiting for Godot” is a play written by Samuel Beckett.
36. Which novel features the character Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” as a mark of shame?
a) “Moby-Dick”
b) “The Scarlet Letter”
c) “Jane Eyre”
d) “Wuthering Heights”
Answer: b) “The Scarlet Letter”
Explanation: Hester Prynne is the central character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
37. Who wrote the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
a) Oscar Wilde
b) Henry James
c) Thomas Hardy
d) Charles Dickens
Answer: a) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was written by Oscar Wilde.
38. In Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness,” what river does the character Marlow travel along in Africa?
a) Mississippi River
b) Thames River
c) Congo River
d) Amazon River
Answer: c) Congo River
Explanation: Marlow travels along the Congo River in “Heart of Darkness.”
39. Which play features the character Blanche DuBois, who famously says, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”?
a) “A Streetcar Named Desire”
b) “Death of a Salesman”
c) “The Glass Menagerie”
d) “Long Day’s Journey into Night”
Answer: a) “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Explanation: Blanche DuBois is a character in Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
40. Who is the author of “The Sound and the Fury,” a novel known for its complex narrative structure?
a) William Faulkner
b) Harper Lee
c) John Steinbeck
d) Ernest Hemingway
Answer: a) William Faulkner
Explanation: “The Sound and the Fury” was written by William Faulkner and is known for its innovative narrative style.
41. Who wrote the novel “The Catch-22,” a satirical work set during World War II?
a) Joseph Heller
b) Kurt Vonnegut
c) J.D. Salinger
d) George Orwell
Answer: a) Joseph Heller
Explanation: “Catch-22” is a satirical novel written by Joseph Heller.
42. In Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein,” what is the name of the scientist who creates the monster?
a) Victor Frankenstein
b) Henry Clerval
c) Robert Walton
d) Justine Moritz
Answer: a) Victor Frankenstein
Explanation: Victor Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the monster.
43. Which Shakespearean play features the character Iachimo, who engages in a bet involving the fidelity of the protagonist’s wife?
a) “Othello”
b) “Cymbeline”
c) “Macbeth”
d) “Hamlet”
Answer: b) “Cymbeline”
Explanation: Iachimo is a character in Shakespeare’s play “Cymbeline.”
44. Who is the author of the novel “Beloved,” which explores themes of slavery and the haunting legacy of the past?
a) Toni Morrison
b) Maya Angelou
c) Alice Walker
d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer: a) Toni Morrison
Explanation: “Beloved” is a novel written by Toni Morrison.
45. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” which animal represents the working class and common people?
a) Napoleon
b) Boxer
c) Snowball
d) Squealer
Answer: b) Boxer
Explanation: Boxer represents the working class and common people in “Animal Farm.”
46. Who is the author of “The Road Not Taken,” a famous poem about choices and the paths we take in life?
a) Robert Frost
b) Langston Hughes
c) Emily Dickinson
d) Walt Whitman
Answer: a) Robert Frost
Explanation: “The Road Not Taken” is a poem by Robert Frost.
47. Which novel features the character Raskolnikov, a former student who commits a brutal murder?
a) “War and Peace”
b) “Crime and Punishment”
c) “The Brothers Karamazov”
d) “The Idiot”
Answer: b) “Crime and Punishment”
Explanation: Raskolnikov is the central character in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.”
48. In William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” which Compson brother narrates the first section of the novel and is mentally disabled?
a) Quentin
b) Jason
c) Benjy
d) Caddy
Answer: c) Benjy
Explanation: Benjy Compson narrates the first section of “The Sound and the Fury.”
49. Who is the author of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” a short story that explores the mental health of its female protagonist?
a) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
b) Edith Wharton
c) Kate Chopin
d) Louisa May Alcott
Answer: a) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Explanation: “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
50. Which novel features the character Holden Caulfield, who narrates his experiences over a few days in New York City?
a) “The Great Gatsby”
b) “Lord of the Flies”
c) “Catcher in the Rye”
d) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Answer: c) “Catcher in the Rye”
Explanation: Holden Caulfield is the central character in “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.
51. Who is the author of the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and is a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
52. In Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman,” what is the name of the main character who struggles with his sense of self-worth and identity?
a) Willy Loman
b) Biff Loman
c) Happy Loman
d) Linda Loman
Answer: a) Willy Loman
Explanation: Willy Loman is the main character in “Death of a Salesman.”
53. Who is the author of the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?
a) Langston Hughes
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Robert Browning
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” was written by T.S. Eliot.
54. Which Shakespearean play features the character Viola, who disguises herself as a man named Cesario?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Hamlet”
c) “Twelfth Night”
d) “Julius Caesar”
Answer: c) “Twelfth Night”
Explanation: Viola is a character in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
55. Who is the author of the novel “The Stranger” (French: “L’Étranger”), which explores themes of existentialism and absurdity?
a) Albert Camus
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Franz Kafka
d) Samuel Beckett
Answer: a) Albert Camus
Explanation: “The Stranger” (L’Étranger) was written by Albert Camus.
56. Which novel features the character Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South?
a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
b) “Gone with the Wind”
c) “The Grapes of Wrath”
d) “The Color Purple”
Answer: a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Explanation: Atticus Finch is a central character in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
57. Who is the author of the novel “The Name of the Wind,” the first book in the fantasy series “The Kingkiller Chronicle”?
a) George R.R. Martin
b) Brandon Sanderson
c) Patrick Rothfuss
d) Neil Gaiman
Answer: c) Patrick Rothfuss
Explanation: “The Name of the Wind” is the work of Patrick Rothfuss.
58. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” what is the name of the fictional town where most of the story takes place?
a) Macondo
b) Santa Clara
c) San Lorenzo
d) Tres Camarones
Answer: a) Macondo
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is set in the fictional town of Macondo.
59. . Which play by Christopher Marlowe features a character named Dr. Faustus, who makes a pact with the devil?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Doctor Faustus”
c) “The Jew of Malta”
d) “Edward II”
Answer: b) “Doctor Faustus”
Explanation: “Doctor Faustus” is a play written by Christopher Marlowe.
60. Who is the author of the novel “The Remains of the Day,” which explores the life and reflections of an English butler?
a) Kazuo Ishiguro
b) Ian McEwan
c) Julian Barnes
d) Zadie Smith
Answer: a) Kazuo Ishiguro
Explanation: “The Remains of the Day” was written by Kazuo Ishiguro.
61. Who is the author of the epic poem “Paradise Lost”?
a) John Milton
b) John Donne
c) John Bunyan
d) John Dryden
Answer: a) John Milton
Explanation: “Paradise Lost” is an epic poem written by John Milton.
62. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby,” what is Jay Gatsby’s real name?
a) James Gatson
b) John Grisham
c) Jay Gatz
d) Jack Gilbert
Answer: c) Jay Gatz
Explanation: Jay Gatsby’s real name is James Gatz.
63. Which Shakespearean play features the character Shylock?
a) “Othello”
b) “Cymbeline”
c) “Macbeth”
d) “Hamlet”
Answer: c) “The Merchant of Venice”
Explanation: Shylock is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.”
64. Who is the author of the novel “Beloved,” which explores themes of slavery and the haunting legacy of the past?
a) Toni Morrison
b) Maya Angelou
c) Alice Walker
d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer: a) Toni Morrison
Explanation: “Beloved” is a novel written by Toni Morrison.
65. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” which animal represents the working class and common people?
a) Napoleon
b) Boxer
c) Snowball
d) Squealer
Answer: b) Boxer
Explanation: Boxer represents the working class and common people in “Animal Farm.”
66. Who is the author of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” a short story that explores the mental health of its female protagonist?
a) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
b) Edith Wharton
c) Kate Chopin
d) Louisa May Alcott
Answer: a) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Explanation: “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
67. Which Shakespearean play features the character Viola, who disguises herself as a man named Cesario?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Hamlet”
c) “Twelfth Night”
d) “Julius Caesar”
Answer: c) “Twelfth Night”
Explanation: Viola is a character in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
68. In William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” which Compson brother narrates the first section of the novel and is mentally disabled?
a) Quentin
b) Jason
c) Benjy
d) Caddy
Answer: c) Benjy
Explanation: Benjy Compson narrates the first section of “The Sound and the Fury.”
69. Who is the author of the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and is a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
70. In Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman,” what is the name of the main character who struggles with his sense of self-worth and identity?
a) Willy Loman
b) Biff Loman
c) Happy Loman
d) Linda Loman
Answer: a) Willy Loman
Explanation: Willy Loman is the main character in “Death of a Salesman.”
71. Who is the author of the poem “The Waste Land”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) Robert Frost
c) T.S. Eliot
d) Emily Dickinson
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Waste Land” is a famous poem written by T.S. Eliot.
72. Which novel features the character Holden Caulfield, who narrates his experiences over a few days in New York City?
a) “The Great Gatsby”
b) “Lord of the Flies”
c) “Catcher in the Rye”
d) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Answer: c) “Catcher in the Rye”
Explanation: Holden Caulfield is the central character in “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.
73. Who is the author of the novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” which blends magical realism with the history of Colombia?
a) Gabriel García Márquez
b) Pablo Neruda
c) Jorge Luis Borges
d) Isabel Allende
Answer: a) Gabriel García Márquez
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” was written by Gabriel García Márquez.
74. Which play by Christopher Marlowe features a character named Dr. Faustus, who makes a pact with the devil?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Doctor Faustus”
c) “The Jew of Malta”
d) “Edward II”
Answer: b) “Doctor Faustus”
Explanation: “Doctor Faustus” is a play written by Christopher Marlowe.
75. Who is the author of “The Remains of the Day,” a novel exploring the life and reflections of an English butler?
a) Kazuo Ishiguro
b) Ian McEwan
c) Julian Barnes
d) Zadie Smith
Answer: a) Kazuo Ishiguro
Explanation: “The Remains of the Day” was written by Kazuo Ishiguro.
76. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “Love in the Time of Cholera,” what are the names of the two main characters who are separated for decades before reuniting?
a) Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza
b) Juan Preciado and Pedro Páramo
c) Esteban Trueba and Alba
d) Tita and Pedro
Answer: a) Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza
Explanation: Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza are the main characters in “Love in the Time of Cholera.”
77. Who is the author of the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
a) Oscar Wilde
b) Henry James
c) Thomas Hardy
d) Charles Dickens
Answer: a) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was written by Oscar Wilde.
78. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” what is the name of Frodo Baggins’ loyal friend and gardener?
a) Legolas
b) Aragorn
c) Samwise Gamgee
d) Gimli
Answer: c) Samwise Gamgee
Explanation: Samwise Gamgee is Frodo’s loyal friend and gardener in “The Lord of the Rings.”
79. Who is the author of “The Name of the Wind,” the first book in the fantasy series “The Kingkiller Chronicle”?
a) George R.R. Martin
b) Brandon Sanderson
c) Patrick Rothfuss
d) Neil Gaiman
Answer: c) Patrick Rothfuss
Explanation: “The Name of the Wind” is the work of Patrick Rothfuss.
80. Which novel features the character Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South?
a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
b) “Gone with the Wind”
c) “The Grapes of Wrath”
d) “The Color Purple”
Answer: a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Explanation: Atticus Finch is a central character in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
81. Who is the author of the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray”?
a) Charles Dickens
b) Oscar Wilde
c) Thomas Hardy
d) Henry James
Answer: b) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was written by Oscar Wilde.
82. In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment,” what is the name of the main character who commits a murder?
a) Raskolnikov
b) Ivan Karamazov
c) Alyosha Karamazov
d) Smerdyakov
Answer: a) Raskolnikov
Explanation: The main character who commits a murder is Raskolnikov in “Crime and Punishment.”
83. Who is the author of “The Road Not Taken,” a famous poem about choices and the paths we take in life?
a) Robert Frost
b) Langston Hughes
c) Emily Dickinson
d) Walt Whitman
Answer: a) Robert Frost
Explanation: “The Road Not Taken” is a poem by Robert Frost.
84. In James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses,” which character is the central focus of the story?
a) Leopold Bloom
b) Stephen Dedalus
c) Molly Bloom
d) Gabriel Conroy
Answer: a) Leopold Bloom
Explanation: Leopold Bloom is the central character in “Ulysses.”
85. Which Shakespearean play features the character Caliban?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Hamlet”
c) “The Tempest”
d) “Othello”
Answer: c) “The Tempest”
Explanation: Caliban is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest.”
86. Who is the author of “A Clockwork Orange”?
a) George Orwell
b) Anthony Burgess
c) Philip K. Dick
d) Aldous Huxley
Answer: b) Anthony Burgess
Explanation: “A Clockwork Orange” was written by Anthony Burgess.
87. Which novel features the character Jean Valjean?
a) “War and Peace”
b) “Les Misérables”
c) “Crime and Punishment”
d) “The Brothers Karamazov”
Answer: b) “Les Misérables”
Explanation: Jean Valjean is the central character in Victor Hugo’s
88. Who is the author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” a novel known for its magical realism and exploration of the Buendía family’s history?
a) Gabriel García Márquez
b) Pablo Neruda
c) Jorge Luis Borges
d) Isabel Allende
Answer: a) Gabriel García Márquez
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” was written by Gabriel García Márquez.
89. Which novel features the character Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” as a mark of shame?
a) “Moby-Dick”
b) “The Scarlet Letter”
c) “Jane Eyre”
d) “Wuthering Heights”
Answer: b) “The Scarlet Letter”
Explanation: Hester Prynne is the central character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
90. Who is the author of the play “Waiting for Godot”?
a) Samuel Beckett
b) Harold Pinter
c) Tennessee Williams
d) Arthur Miller
Answer: a) Samuel Beckett
Explanation: “Waiting for Godot” is a play written by Samuel Beckett.
91. In Joseph Conrad’s novella “Heart of Darkness,” what river does the character Marlow travel along in Africa?
a) Mississippi River
b) Thames River
c) Congo River
d) Amazon River
Answer: c) Congo River
Explanation: Marlow travels along the Congo River in “Heart of Darkness.”
92. Who is the author of the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and serves as a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
93. Which novel features the character Jayne Eyre?
a) “Pride and Prejudice”
b) “Wuthering Heights”
c) “Jane Eyre”
d) “Sense and Sensibility”
Answer: c) “Jane Eyre”
Explanation: “Jane Eyre” is a novel by Charlotte Bronte featuring the character Jane Eyre.
94. Who is the author of the novel “The Stranger” (French: “L’Étranger”), which explores themes of existentialism and absurdity?
a) Albert Camus
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Franz Kafka
d) Samuel Beckett
Answer: a) Albert Camus
Explanation: “The Stranger” (L’Étranger) was written by Albert Camus.
95. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” which character represents the Russian revolutionary leader Joseph Stalin?
a) Napoleon
b) Boxer
c) Snowball
d) Squealer
Answer: a) Napoleon
Explanation: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin in “Animal Farm.”
96. Who is the author of the novel “Brave New World”?
a) George Orwell
b) Aldous Huxley
c) Ray Bradbury
d) H.G. Wells
Answer: b) Aldous Huxley
Explanation: “Brave New World” was written by Aldous Huxley.
97. Which play features the character Blanche DuBois, who famously says, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”?
a) “A Streetcar Named Desire”
b) “Death of a Salesman”
c) “The Glass Menagerie”
d) “Long Day’s Journey into Night”
Answer: a) “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Explanation: Blanche DuBois is a character in Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
99. Who is the author of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” a poem that explores the thoughts and insecurities of its speaker?
a) Langston Hughes
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Robert Browning
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” was written by T.S. Eliot.
100. Which novel features the character Humbert Humbert, a highly unreliable narrator who becomes infatuated with a young girl named Lolita?
a) “Lolita”
b) “A Clockwork Orange”
c) “The Great Gatsby”
d) “Brave New World”
Answer: a) “Lolita”
Explanation: Humbert Humbert is the central character in Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita.”
101. Who wrote the play “Romeo and Juliet”?
a) Christopher Marlowe
b) William Shakespeare
c) John Webster
d) Ben Jonson
Answer: b) William Shakespeare
Explanation: “Romeo and Juliet” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, depicting the ill-fated love between two young people from feuding families.
102. Which play has the line “To be or not to be, that is the question”?
a) Macbeth
b) Othello
c) King Lear
103. Which of the following plays is NOT written in blank verse?
a) “Doctor Faustus” by Christopher Marlowe
b) “Endgame” by Samuel Beckett
c) “Paradise Lost” by John Milton (though not a play, it’s in verse)
d) “The Duchess of Malfi” by John Webster
Answer: b) “Endgame” by Samuel Beckett
Explanation: Beckett’s “Endgame” is written in prose, whereas the other listed works are in blank verse.
104. In which play would you find the character ‘Willy Loman’?
a) “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter
b) “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee
c) “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
d) “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee
Answer: c) “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
Explanation: Willy Loman is the tragic protagonist of Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.”
105. T.S. Eliot’s play “Murder in the Cathedral” is about the assassination of which historical figure?
a) King John
b) Thomas Becket
c) Richard II
d) Thomas More
Answer: b) Thomas Becket
Explanation: The play dramatizes the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170.
106. Which of the following plays by Henrik Ibsen is often considered a pioneering work in the realm of feminist literature?
a) “Hedda Gabler”
b) “Peer Gynt”
c) “The Wild Duck”
d) “An Enemy of the People”
Answer: a) “Hedda Gabler”
Explanation: “Hedda Gabler” delves deep into the psyche of its central character and critiques societal expectations of women.
107. In which play does the line “The time is out of joint” appear?
a) “Twelfth Night”
b) “Hamlet”
c) “Antony and Cleopatra”
d) “The Tempest”
Answer: b) “Hamlet”
Explanation: This line is spoken by Prince Hamlet, reflecting his sense of something being wrong in the state of Denmark.
108. Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is a modern reinterpretation of events from which classic play?
a) “Macbeth”
b) “Julius Caesar”
c) “Hamlet”
d) “King Lear”
Answer: c) “Hamlet”
Explanation: Stoppard’s play focuses on two minor characters from “Hamlet,” providing a new perspective on the events of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
109. Who wrote the play “The Caretaker”?
a) Joe Orton
b) Tom Stoppard
c) Harold Pinter
d) Alan Ayckbourn
Answer: c) Harold Pinter
Explanation: “The Caretaker” is one of Pinter’s most famous works and exemplifies his style of the “comedy of menace.”
110. In Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”, what is the name of Blanche’s younger sister?
a) Stella
b) Rose
c) Daisy
d) Lily
Answer: a) Stella
Explanation: Stella is the younger sister of Blanche DuBois and is married to Stanley Kowalski.
111.Which of the following plays was inspired by the Salem witch trials?
a) “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams
b) “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
c) “Equus” by Peter Shaffer
d) “Look Back in Anger” by John Osborne
Answer: b) “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
Explanation: “The Crucible” uses the Salem witch trials as an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the U.S.
112. Which play introduces the concept of “waiting” as its central theme and features two characters, Vladimir and Estragon?
a) “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill
b) “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett
c) “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard
d) “Absurd Person Singular” by Alan Ayckbourn
Answer: b) “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett
Explanation: Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” is a quintessential work of absurdist theatre where the two main characters wait for someone named Godot, who never arrives.
113.Which of the following plays primarily takes place in the Wingfield apartment in St. Louis?
a) “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov
b) “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams
c) “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen
d) “Blithe Spirit” by Noël Coward
Answer: b) “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams
Explanation: “The Glass Menagerie” is set in the Wingfield apartment and offers a look into the lives of its inhabitants.
114. Which character in “Othello” manipulates others and orchestrates Othello’s downfall?
a) Cassio
b) Roderigo
c) Brabantio
d) Iago
Answer: d) Iago
Explanation: Iago, out of jealousy and resentment, plots against Othello, causing a tragic series of events.
115. Which of the following plays is set during the Trojan War and focuses on the fate of the women of Troy after its fall?
a) “The Bacchae” by Euripides
b) “The Women of Troy” by Euripides
c) “Everyman”
d) “The Duchess of Malfi” by John Webster
Answer: b) “The Women of Troy” by Euripides
Explanation: “The Women of Troy” examines the suffering of Trojan women, including Queen Hecuba, after the fall of Troy.
116. Who is considered the protagonist in Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons”?
a) George
b) Chris
c) Joe Keller
d) Lydia
Answer: c) Joe Keller
Explanation: Joe Keller is at the center of the play’s moral dilemma regarding his responsibility for selling faulty aircraft parts during WWII.
117. Which play by Bernard Shaw is inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion?
a) “Saint Joan”
b) “Man and Superman”
c) “Pygmalion”
d) “Major Barbara”
Answer: c) “Pygmalion”
Explanation: “Pygmalion” focuses on phonetics professor Henry Higgins’ attempt to transform flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a duchess.
118. Which of these is NOT a play by Oscar Wilde?
a) “The Importance of Being Earnest”
b) “A Woman of No Importance”
c) “The Seagull”
d) “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
Answer: c) “The Seagull”
Explanation: “The Seagull” is a play by Anton Chekhov, not Oscar Wilde.
119. In which play would you find the character ‘Jimmy Porter’, who is often cited as an archetype of the “angry young man”?
a) “Look Back in Anger” by John Osborne
b) “Arcadia” by Tom Stoppard
c) “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter
d) “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” by Joe Orton
Answer: a) “Look Back in Anger” by John Osborne
Explanation: Jimmy Porter is the central character in “Look Back in Anger,” representing the dissatisfaction of the post-war generation.
120. Which play by J.B. Priestley employs the concept of time in a cyclical and unconventional manner, hinting at the idea of reincarnation?
a) “The Good Companions”
b) “Time and the Conways”
c) “Laburnum Grove”
d) “Dangerous Corner”
Answer: b) “Time and the Conways”
Explanation: “Time and the Conways” plays with the concept of time, suggesting that past, present, and future might coexist.
121. Which play features a character named ‘Astrov’, a country doctor who is disillusioned with life?
a) “Three Sisters” by Anton Chekhov
b) “The Winter’s Tale” by William Shakespeare
c) “Uncle Vanya” by Anton Chekhov
d) “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter
Answer: c) “Uncle Vanya” by Anton Chekhov
Explanation: Dr. Astrov is a character in “Uncle Vanya,” and his interactions with the other characters reveal the melancholy and introspection typical of Chekhov’s plays.
122. Which contemporary play by Yasmina Reza focuses on the chaos that ensues when three friends discuss a piece of modern art?
a) “God of Carnage”
b) “Art”
c) “The Unexpected Man”
d) “Life x 3”
Answer: b) “Art”
Explanation: “Art” is a witty exploration of the value and meaning of art as three friends quarrel over an expensive white painting one of them has purchased.
123. Which character serves as a chorus, providing insight and commentary on the unfolding action, in “The Seven Against Thebes” by Aeschylus?
a) Cassandra
b) Antigone
c) Teiresias
d) The Theban Elders
Answer: d) The Theban Elders
Explanation: In “The Seven Against Thebes,” the Theban Elders serve as the chorus, providing perspective on the events unfolding in the city of Thebes.
124. In which play by August Wilson does the character Troy Maxson struggle with racial barriers in America during the 1950s?
a) “Radio Golf”
b) “Fences”
c) “The Piano Lesson”
d) “King Hedley II”
Answer: b) “Fences”
Explanation: In “Fences,” Troy Maxson, a former baseball player, grapples with the racial barriers of his time while trying to provide for his family.
125. Which play by Samuel Beckett features characters buried up to their necks in sand, symbolizing existential despair?
a) “Krapp’s Last Tape”
b) “Endgame”
c) “Happy Days”
d) “Footfalls”
Answer: c) “Happy Days”
Explanation: In “Happy Days,” the character Winnie is buried up to her waist in Act I and up to her neck in Act II, reflecting the play’s themes of existential ennui and confinement.
126. Which of the following plays was written by the English playwright Caryl Churchill?
a) “The Skriker”
b) “The Dresser”
c) “Equus”
d) “The Habit of Art”
Answer: a) “The Skriker”
Explanation: “The Skriker” is a play by Caryl Churchill that blends English folklore and modern urban life.
127. In which play by Edward Albee do a middle-aged couple, Martha and George, entertain a younger couple, leading to an evening of psychological games and revelations?
a) “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?”
b) “Three Tall Women”
c) “Seascape”
d) “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Answer: d) “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Explanation: The play revolves around Martha and George’s toxic relationship and their interactions with a younger couple, revealing deep-seated insecurities and illusions.
128. Which play by Harold Pinter explores themes of memory, truth, and the blurred line between reality and fiction through a series of non-linear events?
a) “The Dumb Waiter”
b) “The Homecoming”
c) “Betrayal”
d) “Old Times”
Answer: d) “Old Times”
Explanation: In “Old Times,” Pinter delves into the elusive nature of memory and the ways in which past events can be manipulated and reinterpreted.
129. Which of the following plays by Neil Simon focuses on the comedic trials and tribulations of a newlywed couple living in New York City?
a) “Plaza Suite”
b) “The Odd Couple”
c) “Biloxi Blues”
d) “Barefoot in the Park”
Answer: d) “Barefoot in the Park”
Explanation: “Barefoot in the Park” humorously explores the early days of a young couple’s marriage in a New York City apartment.
130. Which play, penned by Lorraine Hansberry, revolves around the Younger family’s struggles in 1950s Chicago and their dreams of a better life?
a) “Clybourne Park”
b) “A Raisin in the Sun”
c) “The Amen Corner”
d) “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Answer: b) “A Raisin in the Sun”
Explanation: “A Raisin in the Sun” portrays the Younger family’s challenges and aspirations, touching on themes of race, class, and the American Dream.
131. Which work by Sarah Kane, known for its intense and graphic content, uses minimalistic dialogue and a fragmented structure to explore themes of love, pain, and human existence?
a) “Blasted”
b) “Cleansed”
c) “4.48 Psychosis”
d) “Crave”
Answer: c) “4.48 Psychosis”
Explanation: “4.48 Psychosis” is a deeply personal play by Sarah Kane, delving into the depths of mental anguish and despair.
132. In which play by Tom Stoppard do the protagonists attempt to determine if they’re in a play and, if so, who wrote it?
a) “Arcadia”
b) “The Real Inspector Hound”
c) “Travesties”
d) “Jumpers”
Answer: b) “The Real Inspector Hound”
Explanation: “The Real Inspector Hound” is a meta-theatrical play, where two theater critics get involved in the murder mystery they’re reviewing, questioning the nature of reality and fiction.
133. Which poet wrote “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”?
a) T.S. Eliot
b) W.B. Yeats
c) Dylan Thomas
d) Philip Larkin
Answer: c) Dylan Thomas
Explanation: This poem is a villanelle by Dylan Thomas, urging resistance against death.
134. Which Romantic poet authored “Ode to a Nightingale”?
a) John Keats
b) Percy Bysshe Shelley
c) William Wordsworth
d) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Answer: a) John Keats
Explanation: Keats’ poem explores the contrast between the immortal song of the nightingale and the mortality of human life.
135. In “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot, which figure is described as the “Unreal City”?
a) Paris
b) New York
c) London
d) Dublin
Answer: c) London
Explanation: “The Waste Land” references London as the “Unreal City”, drawing on its historical and modern disillusionments.
136. Which of these poets was part of the Harlem Renaissance and wrote “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”?
a) Langston Hughes
b) Claude McKay
c) James Baldwin
d) Maya Angelou
Answer: a) Langston Hughes
Explanation: Hughes was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance and this poem celebrates African heritage.
137. Who wrote the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?
a) Robert Frost
b) E.E. Cummings
c) T.S. Eliot
d) W.H. Auden
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: This modernist work by Eliot delves into the psyche of the title character, J. Alfred Prufrock.
138. Which of the following poems was written by William Blake in his collection “Songs of Experience”?
a) “The Lamb”
b) “The Tyger”
c) “To a Mouse”
d) “The Solitary Reaper”
Answer: b) “The Tyger”
Explanation: “The Tyger” contrasts with “The Lamb” from “Songs of Innocence”, both poems exploring facets of creation.
139. Whose collection “Ariel” includes the poem “Lady Lazarus”?
a) Anne Sexton
b) Sylvia Plath
c) Elizabeth Bishop
d) Adrienne Rich
Answer: b) Sylvia Plath
Explanation: “Ariel” is a posthumously published collection of Plath’s, and “Lady Lazarus” is one of its most famous pieces.
140. Which poet, known for his wit and irony, wrote “The Rape of the Lock”?
a) Alexander Pope
b) John Dryden
c) Geoffrey Chaucer
d) Jonathan Swift
Answer: a) Alexander Pope
Explanation: Pope’s poem is a mock-heroic satire about a minor society scandal.
141. Who is the poet behind the line “Beauty is truth, truth beauty”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) John Donne
c) John Keats
d) William Shakespeare
Answer: c) John Keats
Explanation: This line is from “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats.
142. Which modernist poet wrote “In a Station of the Metro”?
a) Ezra Pound
b) Wallace Stevens
c) Marianne Moore
d) Allen Ginsberg
Answer: a) Ezra Pound
Explanation: Pound’s poem is an example of Imagism, capturing a moment in just two lines.
143. Which poet wrote “Because I could not stop for Death”?
a) Emily Dickinson
b) Walt Whitman
c) Robert Browning
d) Christina Rossetti
Answer: a) Emily Dickinson
Explanation: This is one of Dickinson’s most renowned poems, presenting death as a patient suitor.
144. Who authored the World War I poem “Dulce et Decorum Est”?
a) Wilfred Owen
b) Rupert Brooke
c) Siegfried Sassoon
d) Isaac Rosenberg
Answer: a) Wilfred Owen
Explanation: Owen’s poem graphically describes the horrors of gas warfare.
145. ”She Walks in Beauty” is a work by which Romantic poet?
a) Lord Byron
b) Robert Burns
c) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
d) John Keats
Answer: a) Lord Byron
Explanation: This poem reflects Byron’s Romantic sensibilities and his admiration for the beauty of the poem’s subject.
146. Which of the following poems is NOT a sonnet?
a) “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
b) “The Road Not Taken”
c) “When I consider how my light is spent”
d) “Death be not proud”
Answer: b) “The Road Not Taken”
Explanation: While the others are sonnets, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is not written in sonnet form.
147. Which poet is best known for the collection “Leaves of Grass”?
a) Walt Whitman
b) Emily Dickinson
c) Robert Frost
d) Langston Hughes
Answer: a) Walt Whitman
Explanation: “Leaves of Grass” is Whitman’s magnum opus, celebrating the individual and humanity.
148. Who wrote “The World Is Too Much with Us”, lamenting mankind’s disconnection from nature?
a) William Wordsworth
b) Percy Bysshe Shelley
c) John Keats
d) George Gordon Byron
Answer: a) William Wordsworth
Explanation: Wordsworth, a Romantic poet, often focused on the relationship between man and nature.
149. Which poet penned “Auld Lang Syne”?
a) Robert Burns
b) William Blake
c) T.S. Eliot
d) W.H. Auden
Answer: a) Robert Burns
Explanation: This Scottish poem is often sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.
150. Who wrote the metaphysical poem “The Flea”?
a) Andrew Marvell
b) John Donne
c) George Herbert
d) Richard Lovelace
Answer: b) John Donne
Explanation: “The Flea” is a seduction lyric, using the conceit of a flea to explore physical intimacy.
151. The poem “If—” is a work by which British poet?
a) Rudyard Kipling
b) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
c) W.B. Yeats
d) Philip Larkin
Answer: a) Rudyard Kipling
Explanation: “If—” is Kipling’s advice to his son on how to be a man.
152. Which poet, known for her technical precision, wrote “One Art”?
a) Gwendolyn Brooks
b) Elizabeth Bishop
c) Adrienne Rich
d) Anne Sexton
Answer: b) Elizabeth Bishop
Explanation: “One Art” is a villanelle by Bishop that explores the theme of loss.
154. Which poet wrote “Paradise Lost”, an epic poem about the biblical story of the Fall of Man?
a) John Milton
b) Edmund Spenser
c) Geoffrey Chaucer
d) Alexander Pope
Answer: a) John Milton
Explanation: “Paradise Lost” is Milton’s magnum opus, delving deeply into the story of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
155. Which poet is renowned for his “Divine Comedy”, though not written in English?
a) Dante Alighieri
b) Petrarch
c) Boccaccio
d) Virgil
Answer: a) Dante Alighieri
Explanation: Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is an epic journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, written in Italian.
156. Whose poem begins with the line “I wandered lonely as a cloud”?
a) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
b) Percy Bysshe Shelley
c) William Wordsworth
d) John Keats
Answer: c) William Wordsworth
Explanation: This line is from “Daffodils”, where Wordsworth reflects on the beauty of nature.
157. Who wrote the feminist poem “Daddy”?
a) Anne Sexton
b) Sylvia Plath
c) Adrienne Rich
d) Audre Lorde
Answer: b) Sylvia Plath
Explanation: “Daddy” is one of Plath’s most controversial and intense poems, addressing issues of loss, anger, and female empowerment.
158. Which poet penned “The Second Coming”, which includes the line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Seamus Heaney
d) W.H. Auden
Answer: a) W.B. Yeats
Explanation: Yeats’ poem reflects on the turbulence of the post-WWI era, predicting an imminent apocalypse.
159. Which poet, associated with the Beat Generation, wrote “Howl”?
a) Jack Kerouac
b) William S. Burroughs
c) Allen Ginsberg
d) Neal Cassady
Answer: c) Allen Ginsberg
Explanation: “Howl” is Ginsberg’s critique of the widespread conformity and materialism of society.
160. Who is the author of “The Hollow Men”, which concludes with the lines “This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper”?
a) Ezra Pound
b) Robert Frost
c) T.S. Eliot
d) E.E. Cummings
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Hollow Men” is a reflection on post-WWI disillusionment and the spiritual emptiness of the era.
161. Which Victorian poet wrote the dramatic monologue “My Last Duchess”?
a) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
b) Robert Browning
c) Matthew Arnold
d) Gerard Manley Hopkins
Answer: b) Robert Browning
Explanation: “My Last Duchess” is a portrayal of a Duke who reveals more than he intends about his possessive nature.
162. Whose collection “The Canterbury Tales” includes a series of stories told by pilgrims on a journey?
a) Geoffrey Chaucer
b) John Gower
c) Thomas Malory
d) Sir Gawain
Answer: a) Geoffrey Chaucer
Explanation: “The Canterbury Tales” is a collection of stories, each told by different characters, as they journey together to the shrine of Thomas Becket.
163. Which metaphysical poet wrote “To His Coy Mistress”, which starts with “Had we but world enough, and time”?
a) John Donne
b) Andrew Marvell
c) George Herbert
d) Richard Lovelace
Answer: b) Andrew Marvell
Explanation: “To His Coy Mistress” is Marvell’s contemplation on the fleeting nature of time and the need to seize the moment.
164. Which poet, known for his nature poetry, wrote “Mending Wall”?
a) Robert Frost
b) Wallace Stevens
c) E.E. Cummings
d) T.S. Eliot
Answer: a) Robert Frost
Explanation: “Mending Wall” delves into the relationship between neighbors and the famous line, “Good fences make good neighbors.”
165. Which 17th-century poet is best known for her poems defending and celebrating women, such as “The Author to Her Book”?
a) Anne Finch
b) Anne Bradstreet
c) Aphra Behn
d) Katherine Philips
Answer: b) Anne Bradstreet
Explanation: Bradstreet, the first published American poet, often wrote about her life and the challenges of being a female writer.
166. Who is the poet behind the line “Tread softly because you tread on my dreams”?
a) Seamus Heaney
b) W.B. Yeats
c) Dylan Thomas
d) Samuel Beckett
Answer: b) W.B. Yeats
Explanation: This line is from “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by Yeats.
167. Which poet’s collection “The Whitsun Weddings” includes the poem “Church Going”?
a) Ted Hughes
b) Philip Larkin
c) Derek Walcott
d) Thom Gunn
Answer: b) Philip Larkin
Explanation: Larkin’s “Church Going” reflects on the changing role and significance of churches in modern society.
168. Who wrote the poem “Ozymandias”, portraying the ruins of a once-great king?
a) Percy Bysshe Shelley
b) Lord Byron
c) John Keats
d) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Answer: a) Percy Bysshe Shelley
Explanation: “Ozymandias” is a reflection on the transience of power and human achievement.
169. ”The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a work by which Romantic poet?
a) William Wordsworth
b) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
c) John Keats
d) Percy Bysshe Shelley
Answer: b) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Explanation: This lengthy narrative poem tells the tale of a sailor’s experiences and his penance for a grave sin.
170. Which poet, known for her confessional style, authored “Live or Die”?
a) Anne Sexton
b) Sylvia Plath
c) Elizabeth Bishop
d) Adrienne Rich
Answer: a) Anne Sexton
Explanation: “Live or Die” is a collection of poems that revolve around Sexton’s struggles with mental illness and her poetic journey.
171. Who penned the famous lines “Water, water, everywhere, / Nor any drop to drink”?
a) John Keats
b) William Wordsworth
c) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
d) Percy Bysshe Shelley
Answer: c) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Explanation: This line is from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” describing the plight of the mariner stranded at sea.
172. Which poet wrote about his views on the English class system in “I, Too, Sing England”?
a) Derek Walcott
b) W.H. Auden
c) Linton Kwesi Johnson
d) Benjamin Zephaniah
Answer: d) Benjamin Zephaniah
Explanation: Zephaniah, in his poems, often addresses racial and social issues in Britain, drawing on his own experiences as a person of Caribbean descent.
173. Who authored the complex, fragmented work “Four Quartets”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Ezra Pound
d) W.H. Auden
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “Four Quartets” is a set of four poems that represent Eliot’s mature reflection on spiritual, philosophical, and personal themes.
174. Which poet wrote “The Pisan Cantos” while interned in a camp near Pisa during World War II?
a) W.H. Auden
b) Ezra Pound
c) Robert Graves
d) Richard Aldington
Answer: b) Ezra Pound
Explanation: “The Pisan Cantos” are a part of Pound’s larger work, “The Cantos”, written during a trying period of his life when he was interned for broadcasting fascist propaganda.
175. Which poet is closely associated with the term “sprung rhythm”?
a) Gerard Manley Hopkins
b) Algernon Charles Swinburne
c) Robert Bridges
d) A.E. Housman
Answer: a) Gerard Manley Hopkins
Explanation: “Sprung rhythm” is a rhythmic pattern used in poetry that mirrors natural speech, and it was innovated and popularized by Hopkins.
176. Who penned the poem “In Memoriam A.H.H.”, an elegy mourning the death of a close friend?
a) Robert Browning
b) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
c) John Clare
d) Walter Scott
Answer: b) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Explanation: Tennyson wrote “In Memoriam A.H.H.” over 17 years as a tribute to his friend Arthur Hallam.
177. The term “objective correlative” is closely associated with which poet?
a) T.S. Eliot
b) Wallace Stevens
c) E.E. Cummings
d) William Carlos Williams
Answer: a) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: Eliot’s theory of the “objective correlative” suggests that emotions in literature should be evoked by a specific and corresponding set of objects, situations, or events.
178. Which poet, though an American, chose to live in England and eventually became a British citizen?
a) Ezra Pound
b) Robert Frost
c) T.S. Eliot
d) E.E. Cummings
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: Eliot moved to England in 1914 and eventually renounced his American citizenship in 1927, becoming a British citizen.
179. ”The Dream of the Rood” is a poem from which medieval period?
a) The Renaissance
b) The Norman Conquest
c) The Anglo-Saxon Period
d) The Plantagenet Era
Answer: c) The Anglo-Saxon Period
Explanation: “The Dream of the Rood” is one of the earliest Christian poems in the corpus of Old English literature and an example of the genre of dream poetry.
180.Which poet’s work is characterized by dense allusions, often to the classical world and use of the mythic method?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) Ezra Pound
c) T.S. Eliot
d) James Joyce
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: While James Joyce is a renowned modernist writer, it’s Eliot’s poetry, like “The Waste Land”, that is characterized by dense allusions and the mythic method.
181. Who wrote “Goblin Market”, an allegorical poem exploring themes of temptation and redemption?
a) Elizabeth Barrett Browning
b) Emily Dickinson
c) Christina Rossetti
d) Mary Shelley
Answer: c) Christina Rossetti
Explanation: “Goblin Market”, while seemingly a fairy tale, delves deep into themes of sisterhood, temptation, and Victorian gender roles.
182. Which Modernist poet employed a style known for its deep imagism and precision?
a) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
b) Amy Lowell
c) Robert Frost
d) E.E. Cummings
Answer: a) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
Explanation: H.D. is renowned for her imagist poetry, which emphasizes clarity, precision, and economy of language.
183. Which poet wrote “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”, a villanelle about resisting death?
a) Philip Larkin
b) W.H. Auden
c) Dylan Thomas
d) Ted Hughes
Answer: c) Dylan Thomas
Explanation: This passionate plea to his dying father is one of Thomas’s most famous works, urging him to “rage, rage against the dying of the light”.
184. Which Modernist poet described herself as “the poetess of subjectivity”, and whose work is characterized by its introspective quality?
a) Virginia Woolf
b) Emily Dickinson
c) Katherine Mansfield
d) Edna St. Vincent Millay
Answer: d) Edna St. Vincent Millay
Explanation: Millay, renowned for her sonnets and lyric poems, often delved into personal and introspective themes.
185. Which poet, known for his light verse, wrote the line “Time flies, and fruit flies like a banana”?
a) Ogden Nash
b) E.E. Cummings
c) Groucho Marx
d) Spike Milligan
Answer: c) Groucho Marx
Explanation: While this quote is often misattributed to others, it’s a play on words by Groucho Marx.
186. Who authored the challenging work “Piers Plowman”, an allegorical quest for truth?
a) John Bunyan
b) William Langland
c) Geoffrey Chaucer
d) Sir Thomas Malory
Answer: b) William Langland
Explanation: “Piers Plowman” is a Middle English allegorical narrative poem, likely penned by Langland in the late 14th century.
188. Which 20th-century poet, known for his ironic style, penned the collection “Homage to Clio”?
a) W.H. Auden
b) Stephen Spender
c) Thom Gunn
d) Seamus Heaney
Answer: a) W.H. Auden
Explanation: “Homage to Clio” is a collection of Auden’s poems where Clio, the muse of history, is a central figure.
189. Which poet’s work is a profound exploration of African-American identity, often incorporating jazz rhythms?
a) Langston Hughes
b) Claude McKay
c) Robert Hayden
d) Rita Dove
Answer: a) Langston Hughes
Explanation: Hughes was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance and incorporated the rhythms of jazz and the blues in his poems.
190. Who used a stream-of-consciousness style in her semi-autobiographical verse novel “Blood and Guts in High School”?
a) Sylvia Plath
b) Anne Sexton
c) Kathy Acker
d) Gertrude Stein
Answer: c) Kathy Acker
Explanation: Acker’s work often challenges conventional narrative structures, and “Blood and Guts in High School” is a prime example of her experimental style.
191. Which poet, known for embracing modernist free verse, wrote “The Cantos”, a complex series of poems blending various cultures and time periods?
a) Ezra Pound
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Wallace Stevens
d) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
Answer: a) Ezra Pound
Explanation: “The Cantos” is Pound’s ambitious attempt to capture the essence of human civilization in poetic form.
192. ”The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is often seen as a portrayal of the modern man’s paralysis in the face of existential angst. Who is its author?
a) James Joyce
b) T.S. Eliot
c) F. Scott Fitzgerald
d) W.B. Yeats
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: Eliot’s “Prufrock” is a defining modernist work, capturing the fragmentation and indecisiveness of the modern psyche.
193. Which poet, born in the British Caribbean, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992?
a) Linton Kwesi Johnson
b) V.S. Naipaul
c) Derek Walcott
d) Edward Kamau Brathwaite
Answer: c) Derek Walcott
Explanation: Walcott, born in Saint Lucia, is renowned for his exploration of Caribbean identity, colonial legacy, and intricate ties to Western literary traditions.
194. Which metaphysical poet wrote “The Garden”, celebrating the spiritual and sensual joys of nature?
a) John Donne
b) George Herbert
c) Andrew Marvell
d) Henry Vaughan
Answer: c) Andrew Marvell
Explanation: Marvell’s “The Garden” is a contemplative poem, juxtaposing the allure of nature with the artifices of society.
195. Which poet wrote “The White Goddess”, an exploration into the nature of poetic inspiration, suggesting it has its roots in ancient matriarchal cultures?
a) Robert Graves
b) Ted Hughes
c) W.B. Yeats
d) T.S. Eliot
Answer: a) Robert Graves
Explanation: “The White Goddess” is Graves’s famous work where he delves into poetic myth and the figure of the female muse.
The term “carpe diem” is central to which poem?
a) “Easter 1916”
b) “To His Coy Mistress”
c) “Ozymandias”
d) “Dulce Et Decorum Est”
Answer: b) “To His Coy Mistress”
Explanation: “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell is a classic carpe diem poem, urging one to seize the day and enjoy life before it’s too late.
196. The phrase “They also serve who only stand and wait” is from which work?
a) “On His Blindness” by John Milton
b) “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
c) “The Prelude” by William Wordsworth
d) “Don Juan” by Lord Byron
Answer: a) “On His Blindness” by John Milton
Explanation: This line is from Milton’s sonnet about his own blindness, expressing his faith in divine Providence.
197. Which poet’s personal letters, published posthumously, revealed much about his spiritual anguish and quest for poetic form?
a) Gerard Manley Hopkins
b) Philip Larkin
c) John Keats
d) Robert Frost
Answer: a) Gerard Manley Hopkins
Explanation: Hopkins’s letters provide an intimate look at his struggles with his faith, his poetic innovations, and his life as a Jesuit priest.
198. Which 17th-century poet wrote a sequence of poems known as the “Holy Sonnets”?
a) John Dryden
b) John Milton
c) John Donne
d) Andrew Marvell
Answer: c) John Donne
Explanation: Donne’s “Holy Sonnets” are a sequence of religious poems reflecting on themes of divine love, mortality, and redemption.
199. Who authored the epic poem “Paradise Lost”, a retelling of the biblical story of the Fall of Man?
a) Geoffrey Chaucer
b) John Bunyan
c) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
d) John Milton
Answer: d) John Milton
Explanation: “Paradise Lost” is Milton’s magnum opus, presenting a complex portrayal of Satan and exploring themes of free will, redemption, and human nature.
200. Which American poet is known for her “envelope poems”, written on torn scraps of envelopes?
a) Emily Dickinson
b) Anne Bradstreet
c) Elizabeth Bishop
d) Sylvia Plath
Answer: a) Emily Dickinson
Explanation: Dickinson often penned poems on bits of paper, including envelopes. These “envelope poems” offer unique insights into her creative process.
201. Which poet was part of the “Liverpool poets” in the 1960s and wrote “The Mersey Sound”?
a) Thom Gunn
b) Adrian Henri
c) Seamus Heaney
d) Philip Larkin
Answer: b) Adrian Henri
Explanation: Adrian Henri, along with Roger McGough and Brian Patten, was part of the “Liverpool poets”. “The Mersey Sound” anthology brought them to prominence.
202.Which modern poet, known for her distinctive style and social themes, penned “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”?
a) Adrienne Rich
b) Gwendolyn Brooks
c) Maya Angelou
d) Sharon Olds
Answer: a) Adrienne Rich
Explanation: “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” is one of Rich’s early poems that hints at the feminist themes she would explore more deeply in her later work.
203. Who wrote the poem “The Second Coming”, with the famous line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Robert Frost
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: a) W.B. Yeats
Explanation: This poem by Yeats captures the turbulence of the post-WWI world and is considered one of the foundational texts of modernist poetry.
204. In which novel is there a significant plot device known as “Chekhov’s gun”?
a) “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy
b) “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov
c) “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
d) “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
Answer: d) “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
Explanation: While “Chekhov’s gun” is a literary principle introduced by Anton Chekhov, which suggests that every element in a story should be necessary, it’s in “Anna Karenina” that a significant plot event involves a gun.
205. Which novel begins with the line “Call me Ishmael”?
a) “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
b) “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
c) “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson
d) “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner
Answer: a) “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
Explanation: “Call me Ishmael” is the iconic opening line of Melville’s “Moby Dick”, setting the tone for this epic tale of obsession.
206. In George Orwell’s “1984”, what is the primary role of the “Thought Police”?
a) Protect citizens from external threats
b) Suppress and punish dissent and unorthodox thoughts
c) Organize state-sponsored events
d) Educate children on the principles of the Party
Answer: b) Suppress and punish dissent and unorthodox thoughts
Explanation: The Thought Police in “1984” serve to ensure that citizens of Oceania remain loyal to the Party by suppressing any form of dissent or unorthodox thinking.
207. Which novel portrays the journey of Marlow into the African Congo in search of the mysterious Kurtz?
a) “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair
b) “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
c) “The Secret Agent” by Joseph Conrad
d) “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy
Answer: b) “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
Explanation: “Heart of Darkness” chronicles Marlow’s symbolic journey into the heart of the African continent and the human soul, as he seeks the enigmatic Kurtz.
208. The characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy appear in which novel?
a) “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
b) “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
c) “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
d) “Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen
Answer: a) “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
Explanation: Elizabeth and Darcy are central characters in Austen’s beloved novel, “Pride and Prejudice”, which explores issues of class, love, and social standing.
209. In Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”, what drug is used by the World State 209. to control and pacify its citizens?
a) Soma
b) Prozium
c) Murti-Bing
d) Serotonin Plus
Answer: a) Soma
Explanation: In “Brave New World”, Soma is a drug used to keep the population content and docile, preventing any form of dissent or unhappiness.
210. Which novel tells the story of Okonkwo, a leader and local wrestling champion in Umuofia?
a) “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
b) “The Palm-Wine Drinkard” by Amos Tutuola
c) “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
d) “Half of a Yellow Sun” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer: c) “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
Explanation: “Things Fall Apart” is Achebe’s seminal work that explores the effects of British colonialism on traditional Igbo society, using Okonkwo’s tragic story as its focal point.
211.Which work of fiction is set during the Salem witch trials?
a) “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
b) “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
c) “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath
d) “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Answer: a) “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
Explanation: Although “The Crucible” is a play rather than a novel, it’s set against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials and serves as an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the 1950s.
212. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”, who is the original owner of the One Ring?
a) Frodo Baggins
b) Gandalf
c) Aragorn
d) Sauron
Answer: d) Sauron
Explanation: The One Ring was forged by the dark lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom. He poured much of his own power into the ring, which is why its possession and destruction are central to the trilogy’s plot.
213. Which novel features the fictional African country of Zembla and the character Charles Kinbote?
a) “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys
b) “Pale Fire” by Vladimir Nabokov
c) “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller
d) “The Stranger” by Albert Camus
Answer: b) “Pale Fire” by Vladimir Nabokov
Explanation: “Pale Fire” is a unique work by Nabokov consisting of a 999-line poem by the fictional John Shade and an extensive commentary by Charles Kinbote, who claims to be an exiled king from Zembla.
214. Which novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars, involves the character of Stephen Maturin, a ship’s surgeon and intelligence agent?
a) “The Sea Wolf” by Jack London
b) “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville
c) “Master and Commander” by Patrick O’Brian
d) “The Old Curiosity Shop” by Charles Dickens
Answer: c) “Master and Commander” by Patrick O’Brian
Explanation: “Master and Commander” is the first novel in Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series. Stephen Maturin and Captain Jack Aubrey form a memorable duo in this historical naval fiction series.
215. In Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children”, the protagonist Saleem Sinai is born at the exact moment when…?
a) The Titanic sank
b) The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima
c) India gained its independence
d) The Berlin Wall fell
Answer: c) India gained its independence
Explanation: Saleem Sinai’s birth coincides with the stroke of midnight on 15 August 1947, the moment of India’s independence from British rule.
216. Which dystopian novel has the concept of “Doublethink”, where contradictory beliefs exist simultaneously?
a) “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
b) “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury
c) “1984” by George Orwell
d) “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess
Answer: c) “1984” by George Orwell
Explanation: “Doublethink” is a concept from Orwell’s “1984”, representing the Party’s way of ensuring unyielding loyalty by making its members believe contradictory things.
217. Which novel features the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo?
a) “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel García Márquez
b) “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez
c) “The Sound of Things Falling” by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
d) “The Feast of the Goat” by Mario Vargas Llosa
Answer: b) “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” traces several generations of the Buendía family in the town of Macondo, blending magical realism with historical events.
218. Which novel, written by James Joyce, takes place over a single day in Dublin on June 16, 1904?
a) “Dubliners”
b) “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”
c) “Ulysses”
d) “Finnegans Wake”
Answer: c) “Ulysses”
Explanation: “Ulysses” chronicles the wanderings of Leopold Bloom in Dublin over the course of a single day, June 16, which has since been celebrated as Bloomsday.
219. Which novel has a narrative technique known as “stream of consciousness”?
a) “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf
b) “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens
c) “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
d) “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
Answer: a) “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf
Explanation: Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” employs the “stream of consciousness” technique to delve into the innermost thoughts and feelings of its characters.
220.In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is the “owl-eyed” man surprised to discover that Gatsby’s books are real?
a) Tom Buchanan
b) Meyer Wolfsheim
c) George Wilson
d) An unnamed character who attends Gatsby’s parties
Answer: d) An unnamed character who attends Gatsby’s parties
Explanation: The “owl-eyed” man is a minor character in the novel, representing the superficiality and illusion of Gatsby’s world. He’s surprised that the books are real and not just for show.
221. Which novel features an alternative history where the Axis powers won World War II?
a) “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth
b) “The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K. Dick
c) “Gravity’s Rainbow” by Thomas Pynchon
d) “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
Answer: b) “The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K. Dick
Explanation: “The Man in the High Castle” presents a dystopian vision of a world where the Axis powers have won, leading to a divided United States with Japan controlling the West Coast and the Nazis on the East Coast.
222. In Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov”, which brother is tried for the murder of their father, Fyodor Pavlovich?
a) Alyosha
b) Ivan
c) Dmitry
d) Smerdyakov
Answer: c) Dmitry
Explanation: Dmitry is accused of murdering his father, and a significant portion of the novel is dedicated to his trial. The narrative raises profound moral and spiritual questions.
223. Which novel features the fictional African state of Orisha and a young woman named Zélie fighting to bring back magic to her people?
a) “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
b) “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi
c) “The Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
d) “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi
Answer: b) “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi
Explanation: “Children of Blood and Bone” is a fantasy novel by Tomi Adeyemi set in the fictional realm of Orisha, where magic has been eradicated and Zélie seeks to bring it back.
224. Which novel, heavily employing the stream-of-consciousness technique, unfolds in the mind of the protagonist as she prepares for a dinner party?
a) “The Waves” by Virginia Woolf
b) “Mrs Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf
c) “The Golden Notebook” by Doris Lessing
d) “Orlando” by Virginia Woolf
Answer: b) “Mrs Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf
Explanation: “Mrs Dalloway” covers a single day in post-WWI England and unfolds mainly in the mind of Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares for a dinner party she will host that evening.
225. In “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, what did Holden Caulfield’s younger brother die of?
a) Tuberculosis
b) A car accident
c) Leukemia
d) Drowning
Answer: c) Leukemia
Explanation: Holden’s younger brother, Allie, died of leukemia three years before the events of the novel, an event that greatly affected Holden.
226. Which novel begins with the protagonist being falsely accused of rape and ends with him as an older man, reflecting on his life and writing his memoirs?
a) “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
b) “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin
c) “Atonement” by Ian McEwan
d) “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
Answer: c) “Atonement” by Ian McEwan
Explanation: “Atonement” begins with Briony Tallis falsely accusing Robbie Turner of rape and ends with her reflecting on the consequences of her actions as she writes her memoirs.
227. In “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, what is the significant event from Sethe’s past that continues to haunt her?
a) Escaping from slavery
b) Killing her own child to prevent her from being taken into slavery
c) Being separated from her sister
d) The loss of her mother
Answer: b) Killing her own child to prevent her from being taken into slavery
Explanation: The ghost of Sethe’s deceased daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being returned to slavery, haunts her both physically and mentally throughout the novel.
228. Which novelist, in his work, coined the term “cyberspace” and envisioned a future of artificial intelligence and virtual reality?
a) Philip K. Dick
b) Isaac Asimov
c) Neal Stephenson
d) William Gibson
Answer: d) William Gibson
Explanation: In his novel “Neuromancer”, William Gibson coined the term “cyberspace” and laid the groundwork for many concepts related to the internet, AI, and virtual reality.
229. Which of the following novels is written in the form of an epistolary, through letters, newspaper clippings, and diary entries?
a) “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
b) “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
c) “Moll Flanders” by Daniel Defoe
d) “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
Answer: b) “Dracula” by Bram Stoker
Explanation: “Dracula” is written in an epistolary format, with multiple first-person perspectives presented through letters, diaries, and newspaper articles.
230. In Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day”, the protagonist Stevens reflects on his life while doing what?
a) Attending a funeral
b) Hosting a party
c) On a road trip across England
d) Writing his memoirs
Answer: c) On a road trip across England
Explanation: In “The Remains of the Day”, Stevens, the butler, embarks on a road trip, and throughout his journey, he reflects on his life and the choices he made.
231. The fictitious Brobdingnag, Lilliput, and Laputa are islands visited by the protagonist in which novel?
a) “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson
b) “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe
c) “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift
d) “The Odyssey” by Homer
Answer: c) “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift
Explanation: Lemuel Gulliver, in Swift’s satirical novel “Gulliver’s Travels”, visits various islands with strange inhabitants, including the tiny people of Lilliput, the giants of Brobdingnag, and the scientists of Laputa.
232. Which novel is structured around a series of interviews between the protagonist and the shadowy figure known as “Tyler Durden”?
a) “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk
b) “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis
c) “Less Than Zero” by Bret Easton Ellis
d) “Choke” by Chuck Palahniuk
Answer: a) “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk
Explanation: “Fight Club” is centered around the unnamed protagonist and his interactions with the mysterious Tyler Durden, leading to the formation of the titular fight club.
233. Which novel involves an alien race called the Tralfamadores and a protagonist named Billy Pilgrim?
a) “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick
b) “The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin
c) “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
d) “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov
Answer: c) “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
Explanation: “Slaughterhouse-Five” follows Billy Pilgrim’s life, especially his experiences during the bombing of Dresden in World War II, and his encounters with the alien race known as the Tralfamadores.
234. Which postmodern novel weaves in the fictional accounts of the life of an Englishwoman named Virginia Stephen and a poet named Billy the Kid?
a) “The Crying of Lot 49” by Thomas Pynchon
b) “White Noise” by Don DeLillo
c) “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell
d) “Billy the Kid” by Michael Ondaatje
Answer: d) “Billy the Kid” by Michael Ondaatje
Explanation: “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid” by Michael Ondaatje intersperses the tales of Billy the Kid and Virginia Stephen, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
235. In “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” by Haruki Murakami, the protagonist searches for his missing wife and encounters various mysterious individuals. What is the protagonist’s name?
a) Kafka Tamura
b) Toru Okada
c) Hajime
d) Hoshino
Answer: b) Toru Okada
Explanation: In the novel, Toru Okada embarks on a surreal journey searching for his wife, Kumiko, encountering a series of odd characters and events.
236. ”Pale Fire” by Vladimir Nabokov is presented in the form of a 999-line poem by a fictional poet and a commentary by an obsessed editor. What’s the name of the fictional poet?
a) Humbert Humbert
b) Charles Kinbote
c) John Shade
d) Pnin
Answer: c) John Shade
Explanation: “Pale Fire” contains a 999-line poem supposedly written by the fictional John Shade, with an extensive commentary and interpretation provided by the eccentric Charles Kinbote.
237. In “If on a winter’s night a traveler” by Italo Calvino, the narrative is interrupted by ten different stories. How does each of these stories end?
a) With a resolution
b) In the middle of a sentence
c) With the death of a character
d) With a new beginning
Answer: b) In the middle of a sentence
Explanation: Each story in “If on a winter’s night a traveler” is interrupted, leaving readers hanging in the middle of a sentence, which ties into the novel’s themes of narrative interruption and reader participation.
238. The plot of “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace revolves around a film so entertaining that anyone who watches it loses the will to do anything but watch it repeatedly. What is the name of this film?
a) The Entertainment
b) The Jest
c) The Ennet
d) The Infinite
Answer: a) The Entertainment
Explanation: The film central to the plot of “Infinite Jest” is referred to as “The Entertainment.” It is lethally addictive and becomes a significant focus for various characters and groups within the novel.
239. Which novel by Salman Rushdie intertwines the lives of two protagonists, one from the world of film and the other from politics, exploring the relationship between art and power?
a) “Midnight’s Children”
b) “The Moor’s Last Sigh”
c) “The Satanic Verses”
d) “The Golden House”
Answer: d) “The Golden House”
Explanation: “The Golden House” delves into the worlds of film and politics, investigating the relationship between artistic expression and power, set against the backdrop of contemporary America.
240. ”House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski is notorious for its complex multi-layered narrative and unconventional page layouts. What is at the center of the book’s mystery?
a) A haunted house
b) A never-ending staircase
c) A film about a family
d) A house that is bigger on the inside than on the outside
Answer: d) A house that is bigger on the inside than on the outside
Explanation: The central enigma in “House of Leaves” is a house that defies the laws of physics, being larger on the inside than its external dimensions would suggest, and the various accounts and interpretations of this phenomenon.
241. Which dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood features the character Snowman, who survives a biological catastrophe in a future world dominated by genetic engineering?
a) “The Handmaid’s Tale”
b) “The Testaments”
c) “Oryx and Crake”
d) “Alias Grace”
Answer: c) “Oryx and Crake”
Explanation: “Oryx and Crake” depicts a post-apocalyptic future where Snowman, formerly known as Jimmy, survives in a world devastated by genetic experiments gone awry.
242. Which novel by James Joyce portrays a day in the life of Stephen Dedalus, mirroring the structure of Homer’s “Odyssey”, but set in modern-day Dublin?
a) “Dubliners”
b) “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”
c) “Finnegans Wake”
d) “Ulysses”
Answer: d) “Ulysses”
Explanation: “Ulysses” takes place over a single day, June 16, 1904, in Dublin. It parallels the structure of “The Odyssey”, with its characters Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, and Molly Bloom representing Telemachus, Odysseus, and Penelope respectively.
243. In which novel by Julian Barnes does the protagonist reflect on the unreliability of memories and the nature of history, as he revisits events from his past after receiving a mysterious bequest?
a) “The Noise of Time”
b) “The Sense of an Ending”
c) “Arthur & George”
d) “Flaubert’s Parrot”
Answer: b) “The Sense of an Ending”
Explanation: “The Sense of an Ending” delves into the intricacies of memory, history, and personal responsibility, as the protagonist Tony Webster reexamines events from his past after a legal letter forces him to confront his own understanding of his life.
244. Which of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories revolves around the theme of premature burial?
a) “The Tell-Tale Heart”
b) “The Fall of the House of Usher”
c) “The Premature Burial”
d) “The Masque of the Red Death”
Answer: c) “The Premature Burial”
Explanation: As the title suggests, “The Premature Burial” deals directly with the protagonist’s fear of being buried alive.
245. In which of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories does an old man and a young waiter discuss the concept of nothingness, symbolized by the term “nada”?
a) “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”
b) “Hills Like White Elephants”
c) “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”
d) “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
Answer: d) “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
Explanation: The story delves deep into existential despair and the search for meaning, with the term “nada” (meaning ‘nothing’ in Spanish) representing the nothingness or void.
246. Which of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories is an allegory about a young woman who wears a symbol of her sin as an embroidered letter?
a) “Young Goodman Brown”
b) “The Birthmark”
c) “The Minister’s Black Veil”
d) This is a trick question; the description refers to the novel “The Scarlet Letter.”
Answer: d) This is a trick question; the description refers to the novel “The Scarlet Letter.”
Explanation: While “The Scarlet Letter” is about Hester Prynne who wears an embroidered “A”, it’s a novel, not a short story.
247. Which of D.H. Lawrence’s short stories revolves around a boy who believes he can predict the outcome of horse races by riding a rocking horse?
a) “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
b) “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”
c) “The Fox”
d) “Tickets, Please”
Answer: a) “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
Explanation: The story centers on a boy’s desperate attempt to win his mother’s love by predicting horse race winners.
248. In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, what is the outcome for the “winner” of the titular lottery?
a) They receive a cash prize
b) They are given a new home
c) They are stoned to death by the villagers
d) They are crowned the mayor
Answer: c) They are stoned to death by the villagers
Explanation: “The Lottery” is a chilling tale of blind conformity where the “winner” of the lottery is stoned by fellow villagers, including their own family.
249. Which of J.D. Salinger’s short stories features the Glass family and their precocious child prodigy, Seymour?
a) “A Perfect Day for Bananafish”
b) “For Esmé—with Love and Squalor”
c) “The Laughing Man”
d) “Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes”
Answer: a) “A Perfect Day for Bananafish”
Explanation: This story introduces readers to Seymour Glass, a pivotal character in Salinger’s series about the Glass family, and his tragic ending during a vacation.
250. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the protagonist becomes obsessed with the wallpaper’s pattern. How does she interpret it?
a) As a maze she must solve
b) As a story she must write
c) As a woman trapped behind the pattern
d) As a message from her ancestors
Answer: c) As a woman trapped behind the pattern
Explanation: The protagonist believes she sees a woman creeping behind the chaotic pattern of the wallpaper, symbolizing her own entrapment and societal repression.
251. Which Ray Bradbury story from “The Martian Chronicles” tells of Martians using telepathy to become the long-lost loved ones of Earth’s colonizers?
a) “Rocket Summer”
b) “Night Meeting”
c) “-And the Moon Be Still as Bright”
d) “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed”
Answer: d) “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed”
Explanation: This story highlights the transformation of human colonizers into Martians, with the Martians taking on the appearance of Earthlings’ lost loved ones using their telepathic abilities.
252. In “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber, what kind of life does Walter Mitty daydream about?
a) Life as a successful businessman
b) A series of adventurous and heroic escapades
c) Living as a farmer in a quiet village
d) Becoming the President
Answer: b) A series of adventurous and heroic escapades
Explanation: Walter Mitty daydreams about various heroic roles, including being a naval pilot, a surgeon, and a sharpshooter, escaping his mundane reality.
253. Which of Roald Dahl’s short stories revolves around a woman using a leg of lamb as an impromptu murder weapon?
a) “The Landlady”
b) “The Hitchhiker”
c) “Lamb to the Slaughter”
d) “The Sound Machine”
Answer: c) “Lamb to the Slaughter”
Explanation: This macabre tale sees a woman kill her husband with a frozen leg of lamb, which she then cooks and serves to the police investigating the murder.
254. Which short story by Jorge Luis Borges revolves around a man who is able to remember every single detail of his life, leading to a tragic inability to generalize or abstract?
a) “The Aleph”
b) “The Library of Babel”
c) “Funes, the Memorious”
d) “The Garden of Forking Paths”
Answer: c) “Funes, the Memorious”
Explanation: This story focuses on Ireneo Funes, a young man with an unparalleled memory. The story explores the curse of his perfect recall and his inability to think abstractly.
255. In Eudora Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O.,” why does Sister feel she has to move out of her family’s home?
a) She inherits a house.
b) She’s seeking adventure.
c) She’s in a feud with her family, feeling alienated.
d) She’s getting married.
Answer: c) She’s in a feud with her family, feeling alienated.
Explanation: Sister feels misunderstood and unappreciated by her family, which leads to her decision to move into the post office where she works.
256. The story “A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka depicts the decline of interest in the art of:
a) Painting
b) Starvation as public spectacle
c) Musical composition
d) Dance
Answer: b) Starvation as public spectacle
Explanation: “A Hunger Artist” revolves around a professional starver who fasts for the entertainment of the public but finds that over time, people lose interest in his “art.”
257.Which of Anton Chekhov’s stories portrays the interaction between a student and a peasant woman as they talk about suffering and the interconnectedness of human experiences?
a) “The Bet”
b) “The Lady with the Dog”
c) “Gooseberries”
d) “Misery”
Answer: d) “Misery”
Explanation: In “Misery,” an old cabman desperately tries to share his sorrow over the death of his son but struggles to find a willing listener until he speaks to his horse.
258. Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” culminates in a chilling encounter with which character?
a) The Misfit
b) Mr. Greenleaf
c) Ruby Turpin
d) Julian
Answer: a) The Misfit
Explanation: The family’s vacation takes a turn for the worse when they cross paths with an escaped convict known as The Misfit, leading to a fatal confrontation.
259. In Alice Munro’s “The Bear Came Over the Mountain,” the protagonist, Grant, deals with the progression of his wife’s:
a) Financial ruin
b) Political career
c) Alzheimer’s disease
d) Estrangement from their children
Answer: c) Alzheimer’s disease
Explanation: This story poignantly delves into love, memory, and aging as Grant navigates the challenges presented by his wife Fiona’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
260. Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” uses which narrative device to depict the protagonist’s final moments?
a) Flashback
b) Multiple perspectives
c) Stream of consciousness
d) Time dilation
Answer: d) Time dilation
Explanation: The story stretches out the few seconds of the protagonist’s hanging, depicting an entire escape sequence that, in reality, never happens.
261, Which of Saki’s (H.H. Munro) stories ends with the line, “Romance at short notice was her specialty”?
a) “The Interlopers”
b) “The Open Window”
c) “Tobermory”
d) “The Schartz-Metterklume Method”
Answer: b) “The Open Window”
Explanation: Vera, the young protagonist in “The Open Window”, spins a fantastic tale to deceive her visitor, leading to this memorable closing line.
262.”Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway revolves around a conversation between a man and a woman discussing:
a) Their impending marriage
b) An abortion
c) A business venture
d) Their next travel destination
Answer: b) An abortion
Explanation: While the term “abortion” is never explicitly used, the story’s dialogue and subtext strongly suggest that the couple is discussing whether the woman should have an abortion.
263. In John Updike’s “A&P,” the protagonist Sammy quits his job at the supermarket due to:
a) A pay dispute
b) An argument with a coworker
c) Seeing a group of girls being reprimanded for their attire
d) Wanting to pursue higher education
Answer: c) Seeing a group of girls being reprimanded for their attire
Explanation: Sammy’s decision to quit is an impulsive act of rebellion against societal norms and the reprimanding of the girls, which he sees as unfair.
264. Which of Katherine Mansfield’s stories focuses on the fleeting nature of happiness, set during a garden party?
a) “Bliss”
b) “Miss Brill”
c) “The Garden Party”
d) “The Daughters of the Late Colonel”
Answer: c) “The Garden Party”
Explanation: The story revolves around Laura Sheridan’s coming of age during a garden party and her subsequent realization about the stark class differences after encountering the death of a working-class neighbor.
265. In “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, the soldiers’ physical burdens are meticulously detailed. What else does the title refer to?
a) The medals they’ve earned
b) The emotional and psychological burdens of war
c) The letters from their families
d) The number of enemies they’ve killed
Answer: b) The emotional and psychological burdens of war
Explanation: While the story provides intricate details about the physical items the soldiers carry, the title also metaphorically refers to their emotional traumas, memories, and fears.
266. In James Joyce’s “Araby,” the narrator becomes infatuated with his friend’s sister and wishes to buy her a gift from the bazaar named Araby. How does the story conclude?
a) He buys a beautiful gift and they become a couple.
b) He reaches the bazaar late and leaves empty-handed, disillusioned.
c) He forgets about the bazaar and moves on.
d) He confronts his feelings and they share a passionate moment.
Answer: b) He reaches the bazaar late and leaves empty-handed, disillusioned.
Explanation: The story captures the boy’s crushing disappointment and loss of innocence when he arrives at the bazaar only to find most of the stalls closed.
267. In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” the townspeople discover what shocking secret in Miss Emily’s home after her death?
a) A room filled with stolen goods
b) A diary detailing her affairs with multiple townsmen
c) The corpse of her former lover
d) Proof of her royal lineage
Answer: c) The corpse of her former lover
Explanation: This dark and atmospheric story concludes with the discovery that Miss Emily had been living with the corpse of Homer Barron, her presumed lover, for years.
268. Who is the central character in Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral,” who learns to see the world differently with the help of a blind man?
a) Robert
b) Jack
c) Mel
d) The narrator, who remains unnamed
Answer: d) The narrator, who remains unnamed
Explanation: The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who initially expresses unease about his wife’s close friendship with a blind man named Robert. However, through drawing a cathedral together, the narrator undergoes a transformation in perspective.
269. ”Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor features a character named Hulga who has what physical impairment?
a) She is blind.
b) She has a wooden leg.
c) She is deaf.
d) She has a hunchback.
Answer: b) She has a wooden leg
Explanation: Hulga, who prides herself on her intellectualism, has a wooden leg. The leg becomes central to her encounter with Manley Pointer, a Bible salesman.
270. In “Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx, the story revolves around the secretive relationship between:
a) Two cowgirls
b) A cowboy and a farmer
c) A rancher and a barmaid
d) Two cowboys
Answer: d) Two cowboys
Explanation: The story traces the complex romantic relationship between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, two cowboys, over several decades.
271. Which short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer tells of an elderly Jewish man who visits a prostitute only to discover that she is a former acquaintance?
a) “The Key”
b) “The Last Demon”
c) “Gimpel the Fool”
d) “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy”
Answer: a) “The Key”
Explanation: In “The Key,” an old man named Bessie returns home to find he has forgotten his key. Trying to pass the time, he encounters a prostitute and later realizes he knows her from his past.
272. In “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a:
a) Butterfly
b) Cockroach or insect-like creature
c) Wolf
d) Ghost
Answer: b) Cockroach or insect-like creature
Explanation: “The Metamorphosis” is a novella that delves into the alienation and guilt of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day to find himself turned into a gigantic insect-like creature.
273. Which of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories in “Interpreter of Maladies” tells of an American family touring India and their driver, Mr. Kapasi, who serves as their interpreter?
a) “A Temporary Matter”
b) “Sexy”
c) “Mrs. Sen’s”
d) “Interpreter of Maladies”
Answer: d) “Interpreter of Maladies”
Explanation: The titular story “Interpreter of Maladies” captures the brief connection between Mr. Kapasi and Mrs. Das, a tourist, as they navigate cultural and personal revelations.
274. Who is the author of the novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” narrated by the troubled teenager Holden Caulfield?
a) J.D. Salinger
b) F. Scott Fitzgerald
c) Harper Lee
d) Mark Twain
Answer: a) J.D. Salinger
Explanation: “The Catcher in the Rye” was written by J.D. Salinger and is narrated by Holden Caulfield.
275. Who wrote the novel “Moby-Dick,” which tells the story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for a white whale?
a) Nathaniel Hawthorne
b) Herman Melville
c) Edgar Allan Poe
d) Ralph Waldo Emerson
Answer: b) Herman Melville
Explanation: “Moby-Dick” was written by Herman Melville.
276. In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” what is the name of the character who symbolizes reason and civilization?
a) Ralph
b) Jack
c) Piggy
d) Simon
Answer: a) Ralph
Explanation: Ralph symbolizes reason and civilization in “Lord of the Flies.”
277. Who is the author of the Gothic novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus”?
a) Emily Brontë
b) Mary Shelley
c) Charlotte Brontë
d) Bram Stoker
Answer: b) Mary Shelley
Explanation: Mary Shelley is the author of “Frankenstein.”
278. In Joseph Heller’s satirical novel “Catch-22,” what does the term “Catch-22” refer to?
a) A paradoxical rule that makes it impossible for soldiers to avoid combat
b) A secret code used by spies
c) A hidden treasure
d) A forbidden love affair
Answer: a) A paradoxical rule that makes it impossible for soldiers to avoid combat
Explanation: “Catch-22” refers to a paradoxical rule that traps soldiers in a no-win situation.
279. Which Shakespearean play features the character Iago, who manipulates those around him and schemes to destroy Othello?
a) “Romeo and Juliet”
b) “Othello”
c) “Macbeth”
d) “Hamlet”
Answer: b) “Othello”
Explanation: Iago is a character in Shakespeare’s play “Othello.”
280. Who is the author of the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” set in a dystopian society where women’s rights have been severely restricted?
a) Margaret Atwood
b) George Orwell
c) Aldous Huxley
d) Ray Bradbury
Answer: a) Margaret Atwood
Explanation: “The Handmaid’s Tale” was written by Margaret Atwood.
281. In George Orwell’s novel “1984,” what is the name of the oppressive regime that controls the society of Oceania?
a) The Party
b) The Brotherhood
c) The Inner Circle
d) The Resistance
Answer: a) The Party
Explanation: The Party is the oppressive regime in “1984.”
282. Who is the author of the novel “Pride and Prejudice,” which follows the romantic relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy?
a) Jane Austen
b) Charlotte Brontë
c) Emily Brontë
d) Louisa May Alcott
Answer: a) Jane Austen
Explanation: “Pride and Prejudice” was written by Jane Austen.
283. Which play by William Shakespeare features the characters Rosalind and Orlando, who fall in love in the Forest of Arden?
a) “Romeo and Juliet”
b) “Macbeth”
c) “As You Like It”
d) “Julius Caesar”
Answer: c) “As You Like It”
Explanation: “As You Like It” features Rosalind and Orlando’s love story in the Forest of Arden.
285. Who is the author of “The Odyssey,” an ancient Greek epic poem about the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan War?
a) Homer
b) Virgil
c) Sophocles
d) Aeschylus
Answer: a) Homer
Explanation: “The Odyssey” is attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer.
286. Who is the author of the novel “The Grapes of Wrath,” which explores the plight of the Joad family during the Great Depression?
a) F. Scott Fitzgerald
b) John Steinbeck
c) Ernest Hemingway
d) Harper Lee
Answer: b) John Steinbeck
Explanation: “The Grapes of Wrath” was written by John Steinbeck.
287. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” what does the character Napoleon represent in the allegory of the Russian Revolution?
a) Leon Trotsky
b) Joseph Stalin
c) Vladimir Lenin
d) Karl Marx
Answer: b) Joseph Stalin
Explanation: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin in the allegory of the Russian Revolution in “Animal Farm.”
288. Who is the author of the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which features the adventures of a boy and a runaway slave on the Mississippi River?
a) Charles Dickens
b) Mark Twain
c) Nathaniel Hawthorne
d) Ralph Waldo Emerson
Answer: b) Mark Twain
Explanation: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was written by Mark Twain.
289. Which Shakespearean play features the character Desdemona, who becomes the victim of jealousy and manipulation?
a) “Othello”
b) “Romeo and Juliet”
c) “Hamlet”
d) “Macbeth”
Answer: a) “Othello”
Explanation: Desdemona is a character in Shakespeare’s play “Othello.”
290. Who is the author of “The Scarlet Letter,” a novel set in colonial New England that explores themes of sin and redemption?
a) Nathaniel Hawthorne
b) Edgar Allan Poe
c) Herman Melville
d) Louisa May Alcott
Answer: a) Nathaniel Hawthorne
Explanation: “The Scarlet Letter” was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
291. In Franz Kafka’s novella “The Metamorphosis,” what does the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, turn into overnight?
a) A giant cockroach
b) A werewolf
c) A vampire
d) A ghost
Answer: a) A giant cockroach
Explanation: Gregor Samsa turns into a giant cockroach in “The Metamorphosis.”
292. Who is the author of “The Canterbury Tales,” a collection of stories told by pilgrims on a journey to the shrine of Thomas Becket?
a) Geoffrey Chaucer
b) William Shakespeare
c) John Milton
d) Geoffrey of Monmouth
Answer: a) Geoffrey Chaucer
Explanation: “The Canterbury Tales” was written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
293. In Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” what is the name of Atticus Finch’s daughter and the story’s narrator?
a) Scout Finch
b) Jem Finch
c) Boo Radley
d) Tom Robinson
Answer: a) Scout Finch
Explanation: Scout Finch is the narrator in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
294. Who is the author of “The Brothers Karamazov,” a novel that explores the moral and philosophical dilemmas of three brothers?
a) Fyodor Dostoevsky
b) Leo Tolstoy
c) Ivan Turgenev
d) Anton Chekhov
Answer: a) Fyodor Dostoevsky
Explanation: “The Brothers Karamazov” was written by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
295. In William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” which Compson brother narrates the first section of the novel and is mentally disabled?
a) Quentin
b) Jason
c) Benjy
d) Caddy
Answer: c) Benjy
Explanation: Benjy Compson narrates the first section of “The Sound and the Fury.”
296. Who is the author of the novel “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and is a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
297. Which novel features the character Holden Caulfield, who narrates his experiences over a few days in New York City?
a) “The Great Gatsby”
b) “Lord of the Flies”
c) “Catcher in the Rye”
d) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Answer: c) “Catcher in the Rye”
Explanation: Holden Caulfield is the central character in “Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger.
298. Who is the author of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” a poem that explores the thoughts and insecurities of its speaker?
a) Langston Hughes
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Robert Browning
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” was written by T.S. Eliot.
299. In Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman,” what is the name of the main character who struggles with his sense of self-worth and identity?
a) Willy Loman
b) Biff Loman
c) Happy Loman
d) Linda Loman
Answer: a) Willy Loman
Explanation: Willy Loman is the main character in “Death of a Salesman.”
300. Who is the author of “The Odyssey,” an ancient Greek epic poem about the adventures of Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan War?
a) Homer
b) Virgil
c) Sophocles
d) Aeschylus
Answer: a) Homer
Explanation: “The Odyssey” is attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer.
301. Who coined the term ‘Orientalism’ to describe the West’s patronizing representations of “The East” — Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Michel Foucault
c) Edward Said
d) Homi K. Bhabha
Answer: c) Edward Said
Explanation: In his influential book “Orientalism,” Edward Said critiques the way the West perceives and represents Eastern cultures, arguing that these depictions are tied to imperialist power dynamics.
302. The theory that language shapes our reality and that we can only understand the world through language is a central tenet of which of the following?
a) Formalism
b) Structuralism
c) New Historicism
d) Psychoanalytic Theory
Answer: b) Structuralism
Explanation: Structuralism, associated with figures like Ferdinand de Saussure, posits that human activities, thought patterns, and culture are constructed and understood in relation to language structures.
303. Which critic is famously associated with the concept of the ‘Death of the Author’?
a) Harold Bloom
b) Northrop Frye
c) Roland Barthes
d) Terry Eagleton
Answer: c) Roland Barthes
Explanation: In his essay “The Death of the Author,” Barthes argues against traditional literary criticism’s practice of incorporating the intentions and biographical context of an author in an interpretation of a text, emphasizing the role of the reader instead.
304. The idea that texts should be analyzed in relation to the historical and cultural conditions of their production is central to which theory?
a) Formalism
b) Structuralism
c) New Historicism
d) Psychoanalytic Theory
Answer: c) New Historicism
Explanation: New Historicism looks at literature in its historical context and considers the interplay of the work with its socio-cultural environment.
305. Who proposed the idea of the ‘mirror stage’ in human development, a concept that has been influential in literary and film studies?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Jacques Lacan
c) Carl Jung
d) Julia Kristeva
Answer: b) Jacques Lacan
Explanation: Lacan’s ‘mirror stage’ describes a crucial phase in an infant’s development when they recognize their reflection, leading to the formation of the ego. This concept has been extrapolated to analyses in literature and film where characters grapple with identity and self-recognition.
306. Which feminist critic wrote ‘The Second Sex’, a foundational text for modern feminist literary criticism?
a) Virginia Woolf
b) Judith Butler
c) Elaine Showalter
d) Simone de Beauvoir
Answer: d) Simone de Beauvoir
Explanation: ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir delves into the treatment of women throughout history and is a seminal text in feminist philosophy and criticism.
307. Which theory emphasizes the reader’s role in actively creating the meaning of a text?
a) Reader-response criticism
b) Formalism
c) New Criticism
d) Marxism
Answer: a) Reader-response criticism
Explanation: Reader-response criticism suggests that a text has no fixed meaning until it’s read and that readers play an active role in constructing its significance.
308. Which of the following critics is NOT associated with Marxist literary theory?
a) Terry Eagleton
b) Fredric Jameson
c) Tzvetan Todorov
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: c) Tzvetan Todorov
Explanation: Todorov is best known for his work in structuralism and narratology. The others, Eagleton, Jameson, and Williams, have all made significant contributions to Marxist literary theory.
309. Postcolonial criticism primarily deals with literature produced in countries that were once:
a) Industrial powerhouses
b) Colonized by Western powers
c) Landlocked
d) Predominantly agricultural
Answer: b) Colonized by Western powers
Explanation: Postcolonial criticism examines literature from countries that were colonized, primarily focusing on the effects of colonization on cultures, peoples, and literature.
310. Which theorist introduced the concept of ‘gender performativity,’ arguing that gender is constructed through repeated acts?
a) Judith Butler
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Luce Irigaray
d) Helene Cixous
Answer: a) Judith Butler
Explanation: In her book ‘Gender Trouble,’ Judith Butler introduced the idea of ‘gender performativity,’ arguing that gender is not something one is but something one does, enacted and reenacted through repeated behaviors and actions.
311. Who among the following proposed the “archetypes” theory, which suggests that certain universal symbols and themes appear in literature across different cultures due to shared, collective unconsciousness?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Jacques Lacan
c) Carl Jung
d) Mikhail Bakhtin
Answer: c) Carl Jung
Explanation: Carl Jung’s theory of archetypes postulates that these symbols and themes are innate, universal, and hereditary. They emerge in literature, myths, religions, and dreams across different cultures and epochs.
312. Which literary theory emphasizes the influence of class struggle, economic factors, and ideology on literature and culture?
a) Feminism
b) New Historicism
c) Marxism
d) Deconstruction
Answer: c) Marxism
Explanation: Marxist criticism views literary works as reflections of the social institutions from which they originate and emphasizes the role of class struggle in shaping history and culture.
313. Deconstruction, a form of literary analysis that questions the very concepts of ‘meaning’ and ‘truth’ in literature, is most closely associated with which philosopher?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Jean-François Lyotard
c) Jacques Derrida
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: c) Jacques Derrida
Explanation: Derrida’s method of deconstruction challenges binary oppositions (like speech/writing or presence/absence) in text and destabilizes traditional interpretations, suggesting that meaning is always deferred and can never be finally determined.
314. The ‘female gaze’ as a response to the ‘male gaze’ in film and literature is associated with which feminist critic?
a) Laura Mulvey
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Elaine Showalter
d) Sandra Gilbert
Answer: a) Laura Mulvey
Explanation: While Laura Mulvey is best known for introducing the concept of the ‘male gaze’ in film theory, the ‘female gaze’ emerged as a counterpoint and response to challenge the dominant male perspective in media and literature.
315. Which critic is known for the concept of “heteroglossia,” the idea that multiple voices and perspectives exist within a single text, making it a site of conflict and dialogue?
a) Jacques Lacan
b) Northrop Frye
c) Mikhail Bakhtin
d) Roland Barthes
Answer: c) Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: Bakhtin’s concept of “heteroglossia” emphasizes the multiplicity of voices in a text, representing different classes, ideologies, and values.
316. Eco-criticism primarily focuses on the relationship between literature and which of the following?
a) Economy
b) Environment
c) Technology
d) Education
Answer: b) Environment
Explanation: Eco-criticism explores the relationship between literature and the environment, emphasizing themes of nature, wilderness, and the human impact on the natural world.
317. Who coined the term “intertextuality,” suggesting that texts are interconnected and that they reference and echo other texts?
a) Julia Kristeva
b) Roland Barthes
c) Jacques Derrida
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: a) Julia Kristeva
Explanation: Kristeva’s concept of “intertextuality” implies that every text is a mosaic of quotations, influenced by and referring to other texts, thus challenging the notion of a text’s originality.
318. The idea that the author’s intended meaning is less important than the reader’s reception and interpretation of a text is central to which theory?
a) Formalism
b) Structuralism
c) Reception Theory
d) Psychoanalytic Theory
Answer: c) Reception Theory
Explanation: Reception Theory or Reader-Response criticism focuses on the reader’s role in creating the meaning of a text, rather than relying solely on the author’s intent or the text itself.
319. Which postcolonial critic introduced the concept of “subaltern” to describe the marginalized groups and voices outside the hegemonic power structure?
a) Edward Said
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Homi K. Bhabha
d) Chinua Achebe
Answer: b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Explanation: Spivak’s concept of the “subaltern” examines the ways in which marginalized groups (especially in colonial contexts) are excluded from dominant narratives and power structures.
320. Who argued that all literary texts are essentially “palimpsests,” layered over earlier texts?
a) Gerard Genette
b) Fredric Jameson
c) Jacques Derrida
d) Terry Eagleton
Answer: a) Gerard Genette
Explanation: Genette’s idea of the “palimpsest” emphasizes that literature is built upon and revises previous texts, making all literature a form of rewriting or adaptation.
321. The concept of ‘Différance,’ a play on the words “difference” and “deferral,” was introduced by which philosopher?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Jean-François Lyotard
c) Jacques Derrida
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: c) Jacques Derrida
Explanation: ‘Différance’ is central to Derrida’s deconstructionist theory. It signifies both the act of deferring and the differences that arise through language, showing how meaning is constantly deferred in linguistic structures.
322. Which theory stresses that meaning is constructed through binary oppositions (like light/dark or male/female) within language?
a) Formalism
b) Structuralism
c) New Historicism
d) Psychoanalytic Theory
Answer: b) Structuralism
Explanation: Structuralism, especially as developed by Ferdinand de Saussure, argues that meaning arises from the differences between terms within language.
323. Who proposed the “Anxiety of Influence” theory, suggesting that poets have a difficult relationship with their poetic predecessors?
a) Harold Bloom
b) Northrop Frye
c) Stephen Greenblatt
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: a) Harold Bloom
Explanation: In “The Anxiety of Influence,” Bloom proposes that poets are in a constant struggle with their predecessors, trying to find their own voice amidst the powerful influences of the past.
324. Which of the following theories interrogates the relationship between power and knowledge and how these dynamics produce social realities?
a) Formalism
b) Marxism
c) Deconstruction
d) Foucauldian Discourse Analysis
Answer: d) Foucauldian Discourse Analysis
Explanation: Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault, this approach investigates how knowledge and truth are produced within specific historical and cultural discourses and how they are tied to power relations.
325. Which critic is associated with the idea of “Epistemes,” historical periods defined by their modes of knowledge and discourse?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Jacques Derrida
c) Michel Foucault
d) Edward Said
Answer: c) Michel Foucault
Explanation: Foucault’s concept of “Epistemes” refers to the overarching intellectual frameworks that govern the production of knowledge in any given historical period.
326. The idea of “The Gaze,” especially in the context of cinema and how audiences view characters (particularly women), is central to which theoretical approach?
a) Formalism
b) Psychoanalytic Theory
c) New Historicism
d) Structuralism
Answer: b) Psychoanalytic Theory
Explanation: Psychoanalytic theory, especially as applied to film studies, often delves into concepts of viewing, voyeurism, and the dynamics of the gaze.
327. Who argued for the “politics of location” in feminist theory, stressing the importance of considering geography, history, and location when discussing feminist concerns?
a) bell hooks
b) Adrienne Rich
c) Simone de Beauvoir
d) Elaine Showalter
Answer: b) Adrienne Rich
Explanation: In her essay “Notes Toward a Politics of Location,” Rich examines how women’s lives are deeply influenced by their geographical, historical, and sociopolitical locations.
328. Which literary theorist emphasized the “carnivalesque” in literature, referring to moments when traditional hierarchies and social structures are inverted?
a) Mikhail Bakhtin
b) Jacques Lacan
c) Northrop Frye
d) Roland Barthes
Answer: a) Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: Bakhtin’s concept of the “carnivalesque” refers to elements in literature that mirror the chaos and inversion of social roles found in medieval carnivals.
329. ”There is no outside-text” is a statement associated with which theorist?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Jacques Derrida
c) Michel Foucault
d) Edward Said
Answer: b) Jacques Derrida
Explanation: This phrase from Derrida underscores the idea that everything is text or, more specifically, that everything exists in relation to text, emphasizing intertextuality and the pervasive influence of language.
330. The concept that identity is fluid, performative, and constructed (rather than essential or fixed) is central to the work of which theorist?
a) Judith Butler
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Luce Irigaray
d) Helene Cixous
Answer: a) Judith Butler
Explanation: Judith Butler’s groundbreaking work on gender performativity challenges traditional, fixed notions of identity, arguing instead that identity is a continuous performance.
331. Who coined the term “Orientalism” to describe the Western representation and misrepresentation of the East?
a) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
b) Edward Said
c) Homi K. Bhabha
d) Frantz Fanon
Answer: b) Edward Said
Explanation: In his seminal work “Orientalism,” Edward Said critiques the West’s portrayal and construction of the “Orient,” arguing that these representations serve imperialist objectives.
332. Which of the following critics is associated with the “Death of the Author” concept, suggesting that the author’s intent should not limit the meaning of a text?
a) Roland Barthes
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Terry Eagleton
d) Harold Bloom
Answer: a) Roland Barthes
Explanation: Barthes’ essay “The Death of the Author” posits that the author should not have authoritative status over the text’s meaning, emphasizing the role of the reader in generating meaning.
333. Which feminist theorist proposed the concept of “écriture féminine,” an expression of the female voice in writing?
a) Luce Irigaray
b) Simone de Beauvoir
c) Helene Cixous
d) bell hooks
Answer: c) Helene Cixous
Explanation: Cixous’ theory of “écriture féminine” encourages women to write in a style that embodies their unique experiences and challenges patriarchal language structures.
334. The term “postcolonialism” primarily addresses the concerns of:
a) The time after the publishing of the first novels.
b) Cultures and societies post-World War II.
c) The cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism.
d) The rise of postmodern art.
Answer: c) The cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism
Explanation: Postcolonialism critically examines the impacts of colonialism and imperialism, looking at issues of identity, representation, and resistance in previously colonized societies.
335. Which literary theorist introduced the idea of “Simulacra and Simulation,” suggesting that in the postmodern age, copies have replaced the originals?
a) Jean Baudrillard
b) Jacques Lacan
c) Slavoj Žižek
d) Jacques Derrida
Answer: a) Jean Baudrillard
Explanation: Baudrillard’s concept revolves around the idea that in our current society, simulations (or copies) have become more significant than the real things they represent.
336. Who is known for the theory of the “mirror stage,” suggesting a formative moment in a child’s development when they recognize their reflection?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Carl Jung
c) Jacques Lacan
d) Julia Kristeva
Answer: c) Jacques Lacan
Explanation: Lacan’s “mirror stage” theory posits that a child’s recognition of their reflection is a foundational moment in the formation of the “I” or ego.
337. Which critic proposed the idea of the “cultural materialism,” which combines Marxist theory with cultural studies?
a) Raymond Williams
b) Terry Eagleton
c) Antonio Gramsci
d) Fredric Jameson
Answer: a) Raymond Williams
Explanation: Williams’ cultural materialism looks at the material conditions of a cultural form’s creation, reception, and influence in society.
338. ”The Sublime” in literary theory, especially in relation to Romantic literature, refers to:
a) The depiction of everyday, mundane events.
b) The use of ornate and decorative language.
c) A sense of awe and wonder, often inspired by nature.
d) The focus on urban and industrial life.
Answer: c) A sense of awe and wonder, often inspired by nature.
Explanation: Especially prominent in Romantic literature, “The Sublime” encapsulates feelings of vastness, transcendence, and overpowering grandeur, often evoked by nature.
339. Who argued that literature can act as an “equipment for living,” helping people navigate complex life situations?
a) Northrop Frye
b) Kenneth Burke
c) Cleanth Brooks
d) Mikhail Bakhtin
Answer: b) Kenneth Burke
Explanation: Burke proposed that literature provides strategies for coping with complex life scenarios, giving readers symbolic ways of addressing life’s challenges.
340. Which theoretical approach focuses on the psychological underpinnings of literature, often examining characters’ motivations, desires, and traumas?
a) New Historicism
b) Structuralism
c) Psychoanalytic Theory
d) Formalism
Answer: c) Psychoanalytic Theory
Explanation: Drawing from psychology, especially the works of Sigmund Freud, Psychoanalytic Theory delves deep into the subconscious motives and conflicts in literature.
341. The concept of “Intertextuality,” which emphasizes the interconnectedness of texts and how they reference and echo each other, was developed by:
a) Mikhail Bakhtin
b) Julia Kristeva
c) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
d) Tzvetan Todorov
Answer: b) Julia Kristeva
Explanation: Kristeva introduced the term “intertextuality” to denote the multiple ways texts interact with, refer to, and are influenced by other texts.
342. Which critic, with the idea of “The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious,” emphasized universal symbols and narratives across cultures?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Jacques Lacan
c) Carl Jung
d) Roland Barthes
Answer: c) Carl Jung
Explanation: Jung’s idea of archetypes revolves around universal symbols, characters, and narratives that are present across diverse cultures, rooted in the collective unconscious of humanity.
343. ”Heteroglossia” refers to:
a) A single authoritative voice in a narrative.
b) The erotic undertones in a text.
c) The multiplicity and diversity of voices in a text.
d) The bias against non-normative gender identities.
Answer: c) The multiplicity and diversity of voices in a text.
Explanation: The term “heteroglossia,” introduced by Mikhail Bakhtin, denotes the presence of diverse voices, styles, and perspectives within a single text.
344. Which theoretical approach specifically examines the representation and roles of women in literature and the arts?
a) Marxism
b) Structuralism
c) Feminist Criticism
d) Eco-criticism
Answer: c) Feminist Criticism
Explanation: Feminist criticism focuses on the portrayal of women in literature and other arts, scrutinizing patriarchal biases and advocating for equitable representation.
345. Who proposed the notion of “Epic Theatre,” aiming to prompt critical thinking rather than emotional involvement?
a) Antonin Artaud
b) Augusto Boal
c) Bertolt Brecht
d) Samuel Beckett
Answer: c) Bertolt Brecht
Explanation: Brecht’s “Epic Theatre” techniques aimed to prevent the audience from getting emotionally lost in the narrative, encouraging them instead to remain critical and reflective about the play’s themes and the world around them.
346. Which postcolonial critic introduced the idea of “hybridity,” emphasizing the blending of cultures in postcolonial contexts?
a) Chinua Achebe
b) Edward Said
c) Homi K. Bhabha
d) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Answer: c) Homi K. Bhabha
Explanation: Bhabha’s concept of “hybridity” addresses the complex mix of cultures in postcolonial settings, resulting from the interplay between the colonizer and the colonized.
347. ”The Other” in literary theory refers to:
a) The main character in a story.
b) The use of supernatural elements.
c) A figure or group seen as fundamentally different from and often marginalized by the dominant social group.
d) The alternate plot in a narrative.
Answer: c) A figure or group seen as fundamentally different from and often marginalized by the dominant social group.
Explanation: “The Other” represents individuals or groups who are perceived as different, often leading to their marginalization. This concept is central in postcolonial, feminist, and many cultural studies.
348. The concept of the “Panopticon,” a design for a prison where inmates are always under the potential gaze of a guard, as a metaphor for modern society’s surveillance, was popularized by:
a) Jacques Derrida
b) Michel Foucault
c) Jean Baudrillard
d) Roland Barthes
Answer: b) Michel Foucault
Explanation: Foucault used Jeremy Bentham’s design of the Panopticon to discuss how power dynamics and surveillance work in modern societies, even outside prison contexts.
349. Which of these critics would most likely analyze a text by examining the underlying power structures and class struggles?
a) Northrop Frye
b) Harold Bloom
c) Terry Eagleton
d) Stanley Fish
Answer: c) Terry Eagleton
Explanation: Eagleton, with his Marxist leanings, frequently analyzes texts in terms of their underlying power dynamics, class struggles, and socio-economic contexts.
350. Who coined the term “negative capability” to describe the ability of a writer to accept uncertainty and ambiguity without seeking logical resolution?
a) John Keats
b) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
c) Percy Bysshe Shelley
d) William Wordsworth
Answer: a) John Keats
Explanation: In a letter, Keats introduced the idea of “negative capability,” valuing the capacity of a writer to dwell in uncertainties and mysteries without an irritable quest for fact and reason.
351. The term “carnivalesque,” which denotes a literary mode that subverts and liberates the assumptions of the dominant style or atmosphere through humor and chaos, is associated with which critic?
a) Mikhail Bakhtin
b) Julia Kristeva
c) Roland Barthes
d) Tzvetan Todorov
Answer: a) Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: Bakhtin introduced the idea of the “carnivalesque” as a way of describing moments in literature (and culture) that disrupt traditional power structures and embrace the chaotic and humorous.
352. Who is associated with the idea of “reader-response criticism,” which suggests that the reader plays an active role in creating the meaning of a text?
a) Stanley Fish
b) Northrop Frye
c) Harold Bloom
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: a) Stanley Fish
Explanation: Stanley Fish is a primary figure in reader-response criticism, emphasizing that the reader’s interpretation is vital in understanding any given text.
353. Which of the following best describes “deconstruction” in literary theory?
a) A method that seeks to understand the history and origins of a text.
b) A method that emphasizes the structure and form of a text.
c) A method that interrogates and exposes the inherent contradictions within a text.
d) A method that focuses only on the content and not on the form of a text.
Answer: c) A method that interrogates and exposes the inherent contradictions within a text.
Explanation: Associated mainly with Jacques Derrida, deconstruction seeks to uncover the contradictions within texts, especially the ways they can undermine their own purported meanings.
354. Who proposed the idea of “thick description” in the interpretation of cultural phenomena?
a) Clifford Geertz
b) Edward Said
c) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: a) Clifford Geertz
Explanation: While Geertz was an anthropologist, his idea of “thick description” — a detailed account of field experiences in which the researcher makes the patterns of cultural and social relationships explicit — has been influential in cultural studies and literary theory.
355. Which critic and theorist is best known for the concept of “différance,” suggesting a continual deferral of meaning in language?
a) Jacques Lacan
b) Roland Barthes
c) Jacques Derrida
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: c) Jacques Derrida
Explanation: Derrida’s concept of “différance” plays with the idea that meaning is perpetually deferred in language, and there’s no final or ultimate meaning to any word or sign.
356. Which feminist theorist wrote “The Second Sex,” a groundbreaking work on the treatment and perception of women throughout history?
a) bell hooks
b) Luce Irigaray
c) Simone de Beauvoir
d) Judith Butler
Answer: c) Simone de Beauvoir
Explanation: “The Second Sex,” written by Beauvoir, is a foundational text in feminist philosophy, exploring the ways women have been historically treated as “the other.”
357. Who is best known for the theory of “performativity,” suggesting that gender is constructed through repetitive actions and behaviors rather than being innate?
a) Judith Butler
b) Julia Kristeva
c) Helene Cixous
d) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Answer: a) Judith Butler
Explanation: Butler’s idea of “performativity” challenges traditional notions of gender, arguing that gender is an act that is performed rather than something inherent or fixed.
358. The idea that the socio-cultural and historical contexts surrounding a work of literature should be at the forefront of its analysis is a hallmark of which criticism?
a) New Historicism
b) Structuralism
c) Formalism
d) Psychoanalytic Theory
Answer: a) New Historicism
Explanation: New Historicism, often associated with Stephen Greenblatt, emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural and historical contexts in which a literary work was produced.
359. Who proposed the “Anxiety of Influence,” a theory suggesting that poets are in a constant battle with their predecessors and that new works are often a reaction against older works?
a) T.S. Eliot
b) Northrop Frye
c) Harold Bloom
d) Stanley Fish
Answer: c) Harold Bloom
Explanation: Bloom’s “Anxiety of Influence” proposes that poets (and, by extension, other artists) are always in a tense relationship with their forebears, striving to create original works while inevitably being influenced by past masters.
360.Which critic would be most closely associated with analyzing a text’s binary oppositions, like light/dark or man/woman, to understand its underlying structures?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Claude Lévi-Strauss
c) Edward Said
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: b) Claude Lévi-Strauss
Explanation: Lévi-Strauss, a structuralist anthropologist, emphasized the importance of binary oppositions in understanding the structures of myths, tales, and, by extension, other forms of cultural expression.
361. Which is the oldest known form of the English language?
a) Middle English
b) Modern English
c) Early Modern English
d) Old English
Answer: d) Old English
Explanation: Old English, spoken from approximately AD 450 to 1150, is the earliest form of the English language.
362. Which of the following languages did NOT significantly influence English vocabulary?
a) Latin
b) Greek
c) Swahili
d) French
Answer: c) Swahili
Explanation: While English borrowed words from many languages, Swahili had minimal influence compared to Latin, Greek, and French.
363. What do we call words that have opposite meanings?
a) Homonyms
b) Synonyms
c) Antonyms
d) Acronyms
Answer: c) Antonyms
Explanation: Antonyms are words that have opposing or opposite meanings.
364. Which of the following languages is NOT a Celtic language?
a) Welsh
b) Gaelic
c) Cornish
d) Dutch
Answer: d) Dutch
Explanation: Dutch is a Germanic language. Welsh, Gaelic, and Cornish are Celtic languages.
365. What is the term for a word or phrase spelled the same backward as forward, like “radar”?
a) Homophone
b) Palindrome
c) Oxymoron
d) Anagram
Answer: b) Palindrome
Explanation: A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequences of characters which reads the same backward as forward.
366. Which language is the primary ancestor of modern Spanish?
a) Old Norse
b) Latin
c) Saxon
d) Uralic
Answer: b) Latin
Explanation: Spanish evolved from Vulgar Latin, which was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans.
367. What do you call a word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning, such as “pair” and “pear”?
a) Homograph
b) Homonym
c) Heteronym
d) Homophone
Answer: d) Homophone
Explanation: Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and often different spellings.
368. Which of the following is NOT a feature of a language’s syntax?
a) Word order
b) Sentence structure
c) Tone of voice
d) Verb conjugation
Answer: c) Tone of voice
Explanation: Syntax pertains to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. Tone of voice is more related to intonation and pragmatics.
369. In which century did the Great Vowel Shift, a major change in the pronunciation of the English language, primarily occur?
a) 10th century
b) 13th century
c) 15th century
d) 18th century
Answer: c) 15th century
Explanation: The Great Vowel Shift occurred primarily between the late 14th and the 18th century, with the most significant changes happening in the 15th century.
370. What is a “creole”?
a) An ancient script
b) A language that developed as a mixture of two or more languages and became the native language of a community
c) A language without grammar
d) The first language ever spoken
Answer: b) A language that developed as a mixture of two or more languages and became the native language of a community
Explanation: A creole is a stable natural language that has developed from a pidgin.
371. What is the study of the social aspects of language called?
a) Sociolinguistics
b) Psycholinguistics
c) Ethnolinguistics
d) Neurolinguistics
Answer: a) Sociolinguistics
Explanation: Sociolinguistics examines the social factors such as ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and any other aspects which can influence the way people speak.
372. Which of the following refers to the smallest unit of meaning in a language?
a) Phoneme
b) Allophone
c) Morpheme
d) Clause
Answer: c) Morpheme
Explanation: A morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning.
373. Which historical event in the 17th century had a significant impact on the English language and led to the standardization of English spelling and grammar?
a) The Great Vowel Shift
b) The Norman Invasion
c) The Printing Revolution
d) The Renaissance
Answer: c) The Printing Revolution
Explanation: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century, followed by its widespread use in the subsequent centuries, significantly influenced the standardization of English spelling and grammar.
374.Which of the following words is an example of a “borrowing” from Arabic?
a) Piano
b) Algebra
c) Tsunami
d) Robot
Answer: b) Algebra
Explanation: The word “algebra” is derived from the Arabic word “al-jabr”.
375. What is the primary difference between a “dialect” and a “language”?
a) Dialects have grammar, but languages don’t.
b) Dialects are spoken, while languages are written.
c) There is no clear distinction; the difference often involves political or cultural factors.
d) Languages evolve from dialects.
Answer: c) There is no clear distinction; the difference often involves political or cultural factors.
Explanation: The distinction between dialect and language isn’t just linguistic but can also be political or cultural. What one group might call a dialect, another might label as a separate language.
376. Which of the following is NOT a tone language where pitch can change the meaning of a word?
a) Chinese
b) Yoruba
c) Thai
d) English
Answer: d) English
Explanation: English is not considered a tone language. In tone languages like Chinese, Yoruba, and Thai, pitch can change the meaning of a word entirely.
377. In linguistics, what does “isogloss” refer to?
a) A language isolate
b) The first spoken language
c) A boundary that separates regions with different linguistic features
d) A universal grammar rule
Answer: c) A boundary that separates regions with different linguistic features
Explanation: An isogloss is a geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs.
378.Which language has the most native speakers in the world?
a) English
b) Spanish
c) Mandarin Chinese
d) Hindi
Answer: c) Mandarin Chinese
Explanation: Mandarin Chinese has the highest number of native speakers globally.
379. Which of the following languages is NOT written in the Latin script?
a) German
b) Spanish
c) Russian
d) English
Answer: c) Russian
Explanation: Russian is written using the Cyrillic script.
380. What does “monolingual” mean?
a) Speaking two languages fluently
b) Speaking multiple languages
c) Speaking only one language
d) Not able to speak any language
Answer: c) Speaking only one language
Explanation: “Mono-” means one, so “monolingual” refers to someone who speaks only one language.
381. Which of the following is NOT a tone language?
a) Mandarin Chinese
b) Thai
c) English
d) Vietnamese
Answer: c) English
Explanation: In tone languages, different tones (or pitch contours) can change word meanings. English doesn’t use tone in this way.
382. Which language is known for having the most words?
a) English
b) Russian
c) French
d) Japanese
Answer: a) English
Explanation: English is often cited as having a particularly rich vocabulary, due in part to its history of borrowing words from other languages.
383. What is a “polyseme”?
a) A word with many meanings
b) A word that sounds like another but has a different meaning
c) A word borrowed from another language
d) A word that has a single, clear definition
Answer: a) A word with many meanings
Explanation: A polyseme is a word or phrase with multiple related meanings.
384. Which of these words is an “anagram” of the word “listen”?
a) Silent
b) Lister
c) Tinsel
d) Tensile
Answer: a) Silent
Explanation: An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, typically using all the original letters exactly once.
385. What is a “creole”?
a) A secret code
b) A native language
c) A stabilized, fully-developed natural language that has developed from a pidgin
d) An extinct language
Answer: c) A stabilized, fully-developed natural language that has developed from a pidgin
Explanation: Creoles evolve from pidgins when the pidgin becomes the native language of a community.
386. Which language is the most widely learned as a second language?
a) French
b) Spanish
c) English
d) Mandarin Chinese
Answer: c) English
Explanation: English is the most commonly studied second language worldwide.
387. What does “morpheme” refer to in linguistics?
a) The smallest grammatical unit in a language
b) A change in word meaning due to tone
c) The study of sentences
d) A language’s sound system
Answer: a) The smallest grammatical unit in a language
Explanation: A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning or grammatical function in a language.
388. Which of the following is a type of “inflection” in English?
a) Changing word order
b) Adding “-ed” to make the past tense
c) Creating anagrams
d) Borrowing words from other languages
Answer: b) Adding “-ed” to make the past tense
Explanation: Inflection involves changes to a word to express grammatical meanings, such as tense, mood, or aspect.
389. What is the term for a word spelled like another word but having a different sound and meaning?
a) Homograph
b) Homophone
c) Homonym
d) Antonym
Answer: a) Homograph
Explanation: Homographs are words that share the same spelling but have different meanings and may have different pronunciations.
390. Which language did English borrow the word “piano” from?
a) Italian
b) Spanish
c) German
d) French
Answer: a) Italian
Explanation: The word “piano” comes from the Italian “pianoforte.”
391. Which of the following is the study of language in relation to social factors, including differences of regional, class, and occupational dialect?
a) Sociolinguistics
b) Pragmatics
c) Semiotics
d) Phonology
Answer: a) Sociolinguistics
Explanation: Sociolinguistics investigates language’s social functions and the societal factors that influence language variation and change.
392. What does “isogloss” refer to?
a) A word with the same spelling in multiple languages
b) A boundary that separates regions in which different language usages predominate
c) A language that is spoken by only a few people
d) The standard form of a language
Answer: b) A boundary that separates regions in which different language usages predominate
Explanation: An isogloss is a geographical boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs.
393. Which of the following best describes the word “neologism”?
a) An ancient word
b) A newly coined word or expression
c) A word borrowed from another language
d) A universally understood expression
Answer: b) A newly coined word or expression
Explanation: Neologisms are new words, terms, or phrases that may be in the process of entering common use but have not yet been accepted into mainstream language.
394. Which of the following best describes “code-switching”?
a) Using computer codes in language
b) Alternating between two or more languages in conversation
c) Using secret languages
d) Changing the grammatical structure of a sentence
Answer: b) Alternating between two or more languages in conversation
Explanation: Code-switching involves alternating between two or more languages within a conversation, sentence, or phrase.
395. In which country is Basque, a language unrelated to any other known language, spoken?
a) Portugal
b) France
c) Spain
d) Both b
396. What is the term for words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, like “lead” (a type of metal) and “lead” (to guide)?
a) Homonyms
b) Homographs
c) Homophones
d) Antonyms
Answer: b) Homographs
Explanation: Homographs are words that share the same spelling but have different meanings. They may or may not have the same pronunciation.
397. Which language is known as the “mother” of many modern European languages, including French, Italian, and Spanish?
a) Greek
b) Old Norse
c) Latin
d) Sanskrit
Answer: c) Latin
Explanation: Latin is the precursor to the Romance languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.
398. What term refers to the smallest grammatical unit in a language that can convey meaning, like “un-” in “undo”?
a) Phoneme
b) Morpheme
c) Syntax
d) Lemma
Answer: b) Morpheme
Explanation: A morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit in a language that can have meaning. They can be words on their own or parts of words.
399. Which of the following is NOT a type of tense in English grammar?
a) Past
b) Present
c) Future
d) Yesterday
Answer: d) Yesterday
Explanation: “Yesterday” is not a tense. It’s a time adverb.
400. Which language heavily influenced English vocabulary, especially in legal, clerical, and academic fields during the Norman conquest?
a) German
b) French
c) Greek
d) Spanish
Answer: b) French
Explanation: After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the English language was heavily influenced by Norman French.
401. Which term refers to a word that has the opposite meaning of another word, like “hot” and “cold”?
a) Synonym
b) Homophone
c) Antonym
d) Metonym
Answer: c) Antonym
Explanation: Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.
402. Which of the following words is of Aboriginal origin?
a) Kangaroo
b) Elephant
c) Tiger
d) Cheetah
Answer: a) Kangaroo
Explanation: The word “kangaroo” comes from the Guugu Yimithirr word “gangurru,” referring to a grey kangaroo.
403. What do we call words that are formed from the initials of several words, like NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)?
a) Antonyms
b) Acronyms
c) Anagrams
d) Palindromes
Answer: b) Acronyms
Explanation: An acronym is an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in the name of something, pronounced as a single word.
404. What’s the primary difference between “who” and “whom”?
a) “Who” is formal; “whom” is informal.
b) “Who” is subjective; “whom” is objective.
c) They have the same function and meaning.
d) “Whom” is archaic and no longer in use.
Answer: b) “Who” is subjective; “whom” is objective.
Explanation: “Who” is used as the subject of a verb, whereas “whom” is used as the object of a verb or preposition.
405. Which of the following terms refers to the use of a word to replace a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition?
a) Anaphora
b) Ellipsis
c) Epistrophe
d) Antecedent
Answer: a) Anaphora
Explanation: Anaphora is the use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition. An example would be: “She loves music; she can’t imagine a day without it.”
406. Which language is the closest living relative to English?
a) Dutch
b) German
c) French
d) Frisian
Answer: d) Frisian
Explanation: Frisian, spoken in parts of the Netherlands and Germany, is the closest living linguistic relative to English.
407. The changing of the form of a word, often by adding a suffix, to indicate a change in its grammatical function is known as:
a) Inflection
b) Derivation
c) Compounding
d) Clipping
Answer: a) Inflection
Explanation: Inflection involves changes to a word’s form to indicate grammatical relationships in terms of tense, case, voice, aspect, person, number, gender, and mood.
408. Which is a language that has evolved from a pidgin to become native to a community?
a) Creole
b) Slang
c) Dialect
d) Jargon
Answer: a) Creole
Explanation: A creole is a stable natural language that has evolved from a pidgin (a simplified means of linguistic communication) to become native to a community of speakers.
409. Which of the following refers to a word spelled like another but having a different sound and meaning, such as “lead” (to guide) and “lead” (the metal)?
a) Homograph
b) Heteronym
c) Homophone
d) Homonym
Answer: b) Heteronym
Explanation: Heteronyms are words that are spelled identically but have different meanings when pronounced differently.
410. Which historical event in the 15th century greatly influenced the standardization of the English language due to the mass production of books?
a) The Magna Carta
b) The Norman Conquest
c) The Renaissance
d) The invention of the printing press
Answer: d) The invention of the printing press
Explanation: The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century allowed for books to be produced on a large scale, leading to a more standardized form of the English language.
411. In which country did the English language originate?
a) USA
b) Australia
c) England
d) Canada
Answer: c) England
Explanation: The English language originated in England and later spread around the world through colonization, trade, and other forms of contact.
412. Which policy, introduced during British rule, made English the medium of instruction in Indian schools and colleges in the 19th century?
a) Woods Despatch
b) The Charter Act
c) Vernacular Press Act
d) Indian Education Act
Answer: a) Woods Despatch
Explanation: The Woods Despatch of 1854 recommended the promotion of European literature and science through the English language in India. It played a pivotal role in making English the medium of instruction in India’s institutions.
413. Which Indian author, who writes in English, won the Man Booker Prize in 1997 for the novel “The God of Small Things”?
a) Salman Rushdie
b) Vikram Seth
c) Jhumpa Lahiri
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: d) Arundhati Roy
Explanation: Arundhati Roy won the Man Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel “The God of Small Things.”
414. Which term is used to refer to the blend of English with Indian languages, especially in informal contexts?
a) Pidgin English
b) Hinglish
c) Bilingua
d) IndiEnglish
Answer: b) Hinglish
Explanation: Hinglish is a blend of Hindi and English and is widely used in informal communication, advertising, and entertainment in India.
415. Which institution was set up in 1964 by the Government of India to improve the quality of English teaching in India?
a) National Institute of English
b) English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU)
c) Indian Institute of Foreign Languages
d) Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL)
Answer: d) Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL)
Explanation: CIEFL, now known as English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), was established to improve the standards of teaching English and foreign languages in India.
416. Which Indian city is often referred to as the “Oxford of the East” due to its prominence in higher education and a significant English-speaking population?
a) Bengaluru
b) Kolkata
c) Pune
d) New Delhi
Answer: c) Pune
Explanation: Pune is often called the “Oxford of the East” because of its rich legacy in education and a considerable English-educated populace.
417. What is the significance of the “Three Language Formula” in the context of Indian education?
a) Teaching three foreign languages
b) English, Hindi, and a regional language
c) Only Hindi, English, and Sanskrit
d) Regional language, English, and a classical language
Answer: b) English, Hindi, and a regional language
Explanation: The “Three Language Formula” is an educational policy in India that typically involves the teaching of three languages: the mother tongue or regional language, Hindi, and English.
418. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the widespread use of English in India?
a) British colonization
b) Influence of American pop culture
c) Mandatory teaching of English in all schools
d) Role of English as a link language
Answer: c) Mandatory teaching of English in all schools
Explanation: While English is taught in many schools, it is not mandatory in all schools across India. The widespread use of English is attributed to historical, cultural, and practical reasons.
419. Which Indian English novelist wrote the critically acclaimed book “Midnight’s Children”?
a) Amitav Ghosh
b) Kiran Desai
c) Salman Rushdie
d) R.K. Narayan
Answer: c) Salman Rushdie
Explanation: Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight’s Children” is a seminal work in Indian English literature and won the Booker Prize in 1981.
420. The term “Macaulay’s Children” sometimes used in India refers to:
a) Descendants of Lord Macaulay
b) English-educated Indians
c) Children born after midnight in 1947
d) Advocates of the English language
Answer: b) English-educated Indians
Explanation: The term “Macaulay’s Children” is often used pejoratively to refer to English-educated Indians. It stems from Thomas Babington Macaulay, who played a pivotal role in introducing English education in India.
421. What did the 1963 Official Languages Act in India determine about the use of English?
a) It declared English as the sole official language of India.
b) It removed English from all official proceedings.
c) It proposed the continuous use of English alongside Hindi as an associate official language.
d) It recommended the phasing out of English over a decade.
Answer: c) It proposed the continuous use of English alongside Hindi as an associate official language.
Explanation: The 1963 Official Languages Act allowed for the continued use of English, alongside Hindi, for all official purposes of the Union of India.
422. Which influential Indian leader once remarked, “English is a window to the Western world”?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Sardar Patel
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: a) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru saw English as a tool for India to connect with the Western world and its progressive ideas.
423. In which of these Indian states is English an official language?
a) Kerala
b) Maharashtra
c) Nagaland
d) Bihar
Answer: c) Nagaland
Explanation: In Nagaland, English is the official language, primarily for administrative convenience and communication.
424. Who is the author of the book “The White Tiger,” which provides a darkly humorous perspective on India’s class struggle in a globalized world?
a) Chetan Bhagat
b) Rohinton Mistry
c) Aravind Adiga
d) Pankaj Mishra
Answer: c) Aravind Adiga
Explanation: Aravind Adiga wrote “The White Tiger,” which won the Man Booker Prize in 2008.
425. What is the name of the Indian adaptation of the global ELT (English Language Teaching) program for children, which uses animated characters and stories to make learning engaging?
a) English Tiger
b) Karadi Path
c) English Leap
d) English Masti
Answer: b) Karadi Path
Explanation: Karadi Path is an innovative educational company that has created a unique method for English language learning based on the natural way the brain learns languages.
426. Which state in India passed a bill in 2019 to make English medium instruction mandatory from grades 1 to 6 in all schools?
a) Karnataka
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Punjab
d) West Bengal
Answer: b) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: The Andhra Pradesh government, in 2019, passed a bill to make English the medium of instruction for grades 1 to 6 in all schools.
427. Which 20th-century Indian philosopher and thinker emphasized the importance of the study of English and Western science alongside traditional Indian education?
a) Aurobindo Ghosh
b) Swami Vivekananda
c) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
d) Jiddu Krishnamurti
Answer: b) Swami Vivekananda
Explanation: Swami Vivekananda emphasized the need to study English and Western science, seeing them as essential to modernize and progress, while also valuing India’s traditional spiritual teachings.
428. The Indian English novel “A Suitable Boy” is one of the longest standalone novels ever published. Who is its author?
a) Vikram Seth
b) Amit Chaudhuri
c) Ruskin Bond
d) Khushwant Singh
Answer: a) Vikram Seth
Explanation: “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth, published in 1993, is one of the longest standalone novels in the English language.
429. Which organization was established in 1971 to train teachers in the methodologies of teaching English in India?
a) Regional Institute of English
b) National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
c) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
d) Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Answer: a) Regional Institute of English
Explanation: The Regional Institute of English was set up to enhance the proficiency of English teachers and improve the quality of English teaching in India.
430. Which colonial-era law made English the official language of Indian judiciary and administration in 1835?
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) English Education Act
c) Rowlatt Act
d) Indian Councils Act
Answer: b) English Education Act
Explanation: The English Education Act of 1835 made English the medium of instruction in India’s schools and colleges and set the groundwork for English becoming the official language of administration and judiciary.
431. Which city in India hosts the annual “Jaipur Literature Festival,” a significant event for authors writing in English as well as other languages?
a) Mumbai
b) New Delhi
c) Kolkata
d) Jaipur
Answer: d) Jaipur
Explanation: The Jaipur Literature Festival, often referred to as the “greatest literary show on Earth,” is held annually in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It sees participation from a plethora of authors from India and around the world, writing in both English and various other languages.
432. Which Indian writer, best known for his works in English, also translated his novels into Kannada, his mother tongue?
a) R.K. Narayan
b) U.R. Ananthamurthy
c) Ruskin Bond
d) Kiran Nagarkar
Answer: b) U.R. Ananthamurthy
Explanation: U.R. Ananthamurthy was a prominent writer both in Kannada and English. He even translated some of his own works between the two languages.
433. The term “Babu English” historically refers to:
a) The English used by Lord Macaulay
b) English with Indian idiosyncrasies, used by clerks during the British Raj
c) The English taught in elite schools in India
d) The English used by the first English newspapers in India
Answer: b) English with Indian idiosyncrasies, used by clerks during the British Raj
Explanation: “Babu English” is a colloquial term referring to the English used by Indian clerks or “babus” during the British Raj, often marked by peculiarities and Indianisms.
434. Which modern Indian city was the location of the first English-medium school set up in India in the 18th century?
a) Mumbai
b) Chennai
c) Kolkata
d) New Delhi
Answer: c) Kolkata
Explanation: Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, was where the first English-medium school was set up in India during the 18th century.
435. Which renowned Indian English poet wrote the collection “The Ballad of Puran Bhagat”?
a) Agha Shahid Ali
b) Nissim Ezekiel
c) Keki N. Daruwalla
d) Rudyard Kipling
Answer: d) Rudyard Kipling
Explanation: While Rudyard Kipling was British, he was born in India and wrote extensively about the country. “The Ballad of Puran Bhagat” is one of his notable works.
436. The English term “shampoo” derives from:
a) The Sanskrit word “samprapayami”
b) The Hindi word “champu”
c) The Tamil word “shampu”
d) The Urdu word “shampan”
Answer: b) The Hindi word “champu”
Explanation: The term “shampoo” originates from the Hindi word “champu”, which means to press or knead — a reference to the method of head massage.
437. Which Indian author’s work in English was turned into the acclaimed film, “The Namesake”?
a) Rohinton Mistry
b) Anita Desai
c) Jhumpa Lahiri
d) Kamala Markandaya
Answer: c) Jhumpa Lahiri
Explanation: “The Namesake” is a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, which was later adapted into a film directed by Mira Nair.
438.Which prestigious institution in India holds an annual English debating competition called “The Mukarji Memorial Debate”?
a) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
b) St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
c) Presidency College, Kolkata
d) National Law School, Bangalore
Answer: b) St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
Explanation: St. Stephen’s College in Delhi holds the annual Mukarji Memorial Debate, one of the most prestigious English debating competitions in the country.
439. Which of these magazines was the first English-language magazine to be published in India?
a) The Week
b) India Today
c) The Indian Review
d) Outlook
Answer: c) The Indian Review
Explanation: “The Indian Review” was among the earliest English-language magazines published in India, starting its run in the early 20th century.
440. In which year was the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad formally established, though it has older origins as CIEFL?
a) 2007
b) 1958
c) 1964
d) 1992
Answer: a) 2007
Explanation: The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad was formally established in 2007, though its origins trace back to the Central Institute of English (CIE) founded in 1958 and later renamed the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL) in 1972.
441. Which Indian company, founded in the mid-20th century, is renowned for its English language textbooks and publishing?
a) Tata McGraw-Hill
b) Oxford University Press India
c) Rupa Publications
d) Macmillan India
Answer: d) Macmillan India
Explanation: Macmillan India, a subsidiary of the global Macmillan Publishers, has been a significant player in English language publishing and education in India since its establishment in 1893.
442. Which theorist is best known for the concept of “hegemony” to explain how the ruling class maintains its dominance?
a) Michel Foucault
b) Roland Barthes
c) Antonio Gramsci
d) Jacques Derrida
Answer: c) Antonio Gramsci
Explanation: Antonio Gramsci developed the theory of cultural hegemony to explain how states use cultural institutions to maintain power in capitalist societies.
443. Which research method involves a detailed study of a single individual, group, or event?
a) Ethnography
b) Survey
c) Case Study
d) Meta-analysis
Answer: c) Case Study
Explanation: A case study focuses on an in-depth analysis of a specific instance or subject, allowing for a deeper understanding of its complexities.
444. Stuart Hall’s “Encoding/Decoding” model is foundational in which field?
a) Media Studies
b) Psycholinguistics
c) Anthropology
d) Historical Research
Answer: a) Media Studies
Explanation: Stuart Hall’s “Encoding/Decoding” model is central to media studies, focusing on how messages are encoded by creators and decoded by audiences.
445. Which research approach primarily uses numerical data and statistical techniques?
a) Qualitative
b) Quantitative
c) Grounded Theory
d) Phenomenological
Answer: b) Quantitative
Explanation: Quantitative research focuses on gathering numerical data and usually involves statistical analysis.
446. Who among the following is a key figure in subaltern studies, emphasizing the voices of those marginalized by dominant historical narratives?
a) Edward Said
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Homi K. Bhabha
d) Julia Kristeva
Answer: b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Explanation: While several scholars have contributed to subaltern studies, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is particularly noted for emphasizing the voices of the marginalized, especially with her work “Can the Subaltern Speak?”
447. Which type of sampling method involves selecting individuals based on the researcher’s judgment or knowledge of the population?
a) Random Sampling
b) Stratified Sampling
c) Judgmental or Purposive Sampling
d) Systematic Sampling
Answer: c) Judgmental or Purposive Sampling
Explanation: In purposive or judgmental sampling, the researcher uses their judgment to select specific individuals or groups they believe would be most representative or informative.
448. The concept of “Orientalism” is closely associated with which scholar?
a) Frantz Fanon
b) Edward Said
c) Benedict Anderson
d) Clifford Geertz
Answer: b) Edward Said
Explanation: Edward Said’s “Orientalism” critiques the way the West represents the East, arguing that these depictions serve as a form of domination.
449. Which method involves studying the culture and social patterns of people by immersing oneself in the community being studied?
a) Experimental Research
b) Ethnography
c) Content Analysis
d) Historical Analysis
Answer: b) Ethnography
Explanation: Ethnography involves a deep immersion in the community being studied, often involving prolonged periods of fieldwork.
450. Who proposed the “Panopticon” as a metaphor for modern societies where the power is diffused and discipline is internalized?
a) Jean Baudrillard
b) Michel Foucault
c) Pierre Bourdieu
d) Jacques Lacan
Answer: b) Michel Foucault
Explanation: Michel Foucault introduced the concept of the “Panopticon” (originally a prison design by Jeremy Bentham) as a metaphor for how power and discipline operate in modern societies.
451. In research, which term refers to the consistency and reliability of a test or research findings over time?
a) Validity
b) Reflexivity
c) Triangulation
d) Test-retest reliability
Answer: d) Test-retest reliability
Explanation: Test-retest reliability refers to the consistency of a test or research tool in producing similar results over multiple test sessions under consistent conditions.
452. Who is associated with the idea of “The Death of the Author”, emphasizing the role of the reader in interpreting a text?
a) Simone de Beauvoir
b) Roland Barthes
c) Jean-François Lyotard
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: b) Roland Barthes
Explanation: Roland Barthes, in his essay “The Death of the Author,” argues that the author’s intention or identity should not limit the meaning of a text. Instead, the reader plays a vital role in creating meaning.
453. Which research methodology focuses on the study of how people experience the world?
a) Ethnomethodology
b) Phenomenology
c) Hermeneutics
d) Discourse Analysis
Answer: b) Phenomenology
Explanation: Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that examines how individuals perceive and understand their lived experiences.
454. Who among the following scholars proposed the idea of “cultural capital”?
a) Michel Foucault
b) Max Weber
c) Pierre Bourdieu
d) Anthony Giddens
Answer: c) Pierre Bourdieu
Explanation: Pierre Bourdieu proposed the concept of “cultural capital,” suggesting that knowledge, skills, and cultural awareness provide advantages in society similar to economic capital.
456. In research terminology, what does “external validity” refer to?
a) The consistency of a measure
b) The truthfulness of findings
c) The extent to which findings can be generalized to other settings
d) The internal logic of the research design
Answer: c) The extent to which findings can be generalized to other settings
Explanation: External validity refers to how well the results of a study can be generalized to, or have relevance for, settings, people, times, and measures other than the ones used in the study.
457. Which scholar introduced the idea of the “male gaze” in film theory?
a) Judith Butler
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Laura Mulvey
d) Donna Haraway
Answer: c) Laura Mulvey
Explanation: Laura Mulvey, in her influential essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,” introduced the concept of the “male gaze” to critique how women are portrayed in films.
458. Which type of research method often uses a researcher’s diary and personal reflections?
a) Autoethnography
b) Grounded Theory
c) Experimental Research
d) Cross-sectional Study
Answer: a) Autoethnography
Explanation: Autoethnography is a research method that blends the personal experiences of the researcher with ethnographic techniques, often using personal diaries and reflections.
459. The term “simulacra” and the concept of “hyperreality” are associated with which cultural theorist?
a) Jean Baudrillard
b) Jacques Derrida
c) Gilles Deleuze
d) Friedrich Jameson
Answer: a) Jean Baudrillard
Explanation: Jean Baudrillard introduced concepts like “simulacra” and “hyperreality” to describe the postmodern condition where representations and reality become indistinguishable.
460. In the context of qualitative research, what does “thick description” refer to?
a) Using complex jargon
b) Detailed, in-depth data description and interpretation
c) Relying heavily on numerical data
d) Using multiple research methods
Answer: b) Detailed, in-depth data description and interpretation
Explanation: “Thick description” is a term from anthropologist Clifford Geertz, referring to a detailed and in-depth description of the context, meanings, and interpretations in qualitative research.
461. Who proposed the concept of “interpellation,” suggesting individuals are “hailed” into societal roles and norms by dominant ideologies?
a) Slavoj Žižek
b) Louis Althusser
c) György Lukács
d) Walter Benjamin
Answer: b) Louis Althusser
Explanation: Louis Althusser introduced the idea of “interpellation,” describing how individuals are called or “hailed” by ideologies to accept societal roles and norms.
462. Which research strategy involves comparing multiple cases to understand a particular phenomenon?
a) Longitudinal Study
b) Case Study
c) Comparative Study
d) Cohort Study
Answer: c) Comparative Study
Explanation: A comparative study involves comparing two or more cases, groups, or conditions to understand differences, similarities, or trends related to a specific phenomenon.
463. Which term, coined by Raymond Williams, refers to the shared values and beliefs in a society at a particular time?
a) Culture Jamming
b) Structuralism
c) Cultural Materialism
d) Structure of Feeling
Answer: d) Structure of Feeling
Explanation: Raymond Williams introduced the term “structure of feeling” to describe the lived experience and cultural mood at a particular historical moment.
464. Which research method involves analyzing language to reveal social and cultural meanings?
a) Ethnography
b) Phenomenological Research
c) Discourse Analysis
d) Experimental Research
Answer: c) Discourse Analysis
Explanation: Discourse analysis studies language in use, looking at patterns and meanings to understand social and cultural contexts.
465. Whose work on “The Cultural Industry” critiqued mass media’s role in reproducing dominant ideologies?
a) Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari
b) Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer
c) Jacques Lacan
d) Jean-François Lyotard
Answer: b) Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer
Explanation: Adorno and Horkheimer, in their work on the “Culture Industry,” critiqued how mass media reinforces dominant societal values and norms.
466. What does the term “triangulation” mean in the context of research methodology?
a) Focusing on three main hypotheses
b) Using three different data collection tools
c) Using multiple methods or perspectives to gain a more complete understanding
d) Studying three different populations
Answer: c) Using multiple methods or perspectives to gain a more complete understanding
Explanation: Triangulation in research means using multiple methods, data sources, or perspectives to cross-check and validate findings.
467. Who is credited with the theory of “performativity” in gender studies, suggesting that gender is constructed through repeated behaviors and actions?
a) Luce Irigaray
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Judith Butler
d) Simone de Beauvoir
Answer: c) Judith Butler
Explanation: Judith Butler’s theory of “performativity” suggests that gender isn’t something we are, but something we do through repeated performances.
468. Which type of research is primarily concerned with determining the cause and effect relationship?
a) Exploratory Research
b) Descriptive Research
c) Experimental Research
d) Grounded Theory
Answer: c) Experimental Research
Explanation: Experimental research is designed to determine causality by manipulating one variable (the independent variable) and observing the effect on another variable (the dependent variable).
469. Who introduced the term “postcolonialism” to study the cultural legacies of colonialism and imperialism?
a) Edward Said
b) Frantz Fanon
c) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
d) Homi K. Bhabha
Answer: d) Homi K. Bhabha
Explanation: While several scholars have been influential in postcolonial studies, Homi K. Bhabha is known for key concepts in postcolonial theory and introducing the term “postcolonialism.”
470. n research, which term refers to a phenomenon where participants change their behavior due to the awareness of being observed?
a) Observer Bias
b) Hawthorne Effect
c) Confirmation Bias
d) Selection Bias
Answer: b) Hawthorne Effect
Explanation: The Hawthorne Effect refers to a situation where participants alter their behavior because they are aware that they are being observed in a study.
471. Which cultural theorist proposed the idea of “epistemic violence” to address the silencing of certain voices in global discourses?
a) Edward Said
b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
c) Pierre Bourdieu
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: b) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Explanation: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak introduced the concept of “epistemic violence” to highlight how certain voices and perspectives are marginalized or silenced in dominant narratives.
472. What type of research design is used when researchers want to study the same participants at different times in their lives?
a) Cross-Sectional Study
b) Cohort Study
c) Case Study
d) Longitudinal Study
Answer: d) Longitudinal Study
Explanation: A longitudinal study tracks the same participants over different periods, allowing researchers to observe changes and developments in the subjects over time.
473. Which of the following works is a stream-of-consciousness novel that chronicles a single day in the life of its protagonist, Leopold Bloom?
a) “Mrs. Dalloway”
b) “Ulysses”
c) “The Waste Land”
d) “A Passage to India”
Answer: b) “Ulysses”
Explanation: “Ulysses” by James Joyce uses the stream-of-consciousness technique and unfolds over a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin.
474. Which poet wrote “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Ezra Pound
d) Virginia Woolf
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is one of the best-known works of T.S. Eliot, exploring the thoughts and feelings of its introspective speaker.
475. Who wrote “To the Lighthouse,” blending introspective exploration with events in the external world?
a) E.M. Forster
b) George Orwell
c) Virginia Woolf
d) D.H. Lawrence
Answer: c) Virginia Woolf
Explanation: Virginia Woolf’s “To the Lighthouse” is renowned for its introspective depth and the innovative way it handles time and the inner lives of its characters.
476. Which work is a dystopian novel that introduces the concept of “doublethink” and the omnipresent surveillance of “Big Brother”?
a) “Brave New World”
b) “1984”
c) “Fahrenheit 451”
d) “A Clockwork Orange”
Answer: b) “1984”
Explanation: George Orwell’s “1984” introduces readers to a dystopian world where “Big Brother” constantly watches citizens, and “doublethink” denotes the capacity to hold two contradictory beliefs simultaneously.
478. The line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” is from a poem by which modernist poet?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) Robert Frost
c) Seamus Heaney
d) Sylvia Plath
Answer: a) W.B. Yeats
Explanation: This line is from “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats. The poem reflects post-World War I anxieties and the overall mood of the early 20th century.
479. Which poet penned the lines: “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked…”?
a) Robert Lowell
b) Allen Ginsberg
c) Ted Hughes
d) John Ashbery
Answer: b) Allen Ginsberg
Explanation: These lines are the opening of “Howl,” a poem by Allen Ginsberg. The poem is a lament for his generation and a critique of modern society.
480. Who authored “A Room of One’s Own,” emphasizing the need for female writers to have their space and financial independence?
a) Gertrude Stein
b) Doris Lessing
c) Virginia Woolf
d) Jeanette Winterson
Answer: c) Virginia Woolf
Explanation: “A Room of One’s Own” is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf, wherein she asserts that a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.
481. Which novel by Salman Rushdie blends historical fact, myth, and magical realism while narrating the story of two children born at the exact moment India gains independence?
a) “The White Tiger”
b) “The Golden Notebook”
c) “The God of Small Things”
d) “Midnight’s Children”
Answer: d) “Midnight’s Children”
Explanation: “Midnight’s Children” is a novel by Salman Rushdie that uses magical realism to tell the story of two children born at the stroke of midnight when India achieved independence.
482. ”Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” is a famous villanelle by which poet?
a) Philip Larkin
b) Dylan Thomas
c) T.S. Eliot
d) R.S. Thomas
Answer: b) Dylan Thomas
Explanation: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” is one of Dylan Thomas’s most famous works. It’s a villanelle in which the poet addresses his dying father, urging him to “rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
483. Which novel, set in the Congo, explores the dark side of European colonisation and is narrated by a character named Marlow?
a) “Heart of Darkness”
b) “Wide Sargasso Sea”
c) “The Jungle”
d) “The Secret Agent”
Answer: a) “Heart of Darkness”
Explanation: “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad is set in the Congo and critiques the brutalities of European colonization. Marlow, the narrator, recounts his journey up the Congo River in search of the mysterious Kurtz.
484. Which modernist writer’s biography, penned by Hermione Lee, sheds light on the narrative techniques and the pioneering literary style of the said writer?
a) James Joyce
b) Gertrude Stein
c) Virginia Woolf
d) T.S. Eliot
Answer: c) Virginia Woolf
Explanation: Hermione Lee wrote an authoritative biography on Virginia Woolf, diving deep into Woolf’s life, works, and the intricacies of her literary style.
485. Which work, based on an ancient Mesopotamian epic, uses a fragmented narrative to tell a story of resurrection in post-World War I Europe?
a) “The Cantos”
b) “The Waste Land”
c) “The Second Coming”
d) “The Tower”
Answer: b) “The Waste Land”
Explanation: T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” draws inspiration from many sources, including the ancient Mesopotamian “Epic of Gilgamesh.” The poem uses fragmented narratives to depict a disillusioned post-WWI Europe.
486. Which of these novels showcases a polyphonic narrative structure where multiple perspectives are interwoven seamlessly?
a) “The Waves”
b) “Jacob’s Room”
c) “Ulysses”
d) “Good Morning, Midnight”
Answer: a) “The Waves”
Explanation: “The Waves” by Virginia Woolf uses a polyphonic structure where six characters’ voices interweave, creating a complex tapestry of thoughts and emotions.
487. Which 20th-century writer’s works are characterized by the term “carnivalesque” given the playful subversion of established order?
a) Franz Kafka
b) Samuel Beckett
c) Mikhail Bakhtin
d) Italo Calvino
Answer: c) Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: While Bakhtin was primarily a theorist, the term “carnivalesque” is associated with his understanding of literature, emphasizing the playfulness and subversion present in certain texts.
488. The term “interior monologue” is often associated with which modernist novel that intricately explores the inner consciousness of its characters?
a) “Mrs. Dalloway”
b) “To the Lighthouse”
c) “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”
d) “As I Lay Dying”
Answer: a) “Mrs. Dalloway”
Explanation: Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” is renowned for its deep dives into the interior monologues of its characters, revealing their most intimate thoughts and emotions.
489. Who, among the following, is NOT associated with the “Inklings,” a literary group that met at the University of Oxford?
a) J.R.R. Tolkien
b) C.S. Lewis
c) W.H. Auden
d) Charles Williams
Answer: c) W.H. Auden
Explanation: The “Inklings” primarily consisted of writers like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. W.H. Auden was not a part of this group.
490. The phrase “objective correlative” which suggests that specific objects, sequences, or settings can evoke specific emotions, was proposed by which poet-critic?
a) Ezra Pound
b) T.S. Eliot
c) Robert Frost
d) Ted Hughes
Answer: b) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: T.S. Eliot introduced the term “objective correlative” in the context of literary criticism to explain the way art can evoke emotion.
491. Which work serves as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre,” focusing on the life of the “madwoman in the attic”?
a) “The Golden Notebook”
b) “Orlando”
c) “Wide Sargasso Sea”
d) “The Bloody Chamber”
Answer: c) “Wide Sargasso Sea”
Explanation: Jean Rhys’s “Wide Sargasso Sea” provides a backstory for Bertha Mason, the “madwoman in the attic” from “Jane Eyre,” exploring themes of colonialism and cultural clash.
492. Whose poetry collection, published in 1955, carries an epigraph that reads: “I will show you fear in a handful of dust”?
a) Allen Ginsberg
b) Derek Walcott
c) Thom Gunn
d) Philip Larkin
Answer: c) Thom Gunn
Explanation: Thom Gunn’s collection “Fighting Terms” carries this epigraph, which is a line from T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.”
493.The novel “Pale Fire” uses the unusual format of a fictional foreword, poem, and lengthy commentary. Who is its author?
a) John Barth
b) Vladimir Nabokov
c) William Gaddis
d) Jorge Luis Borges
Answer: b) Vladimir Nabokov
Explanation: “Pale Fire” by Vladimir Nabokov employs an inventive structure, including a fictional poem by the character John Shade and an extensive commentary by Charles Kinbote.
494. Which postmodernist novel interweaves nine narratives, ranging from a prehistoric tale to a post-apocalyptic future?
a) “Infinite Jest”
b) “Gravity’s Rainbow”
c) “Cloud Atlas”
d) “House of Leaves”
Answer: c) “Cloud Atlas”
Explanation: “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell consists of six nested stories, each interrupting the one before. The second half of the book then completes each tale in reverse chronological order.
495. Who wrote the modernist work “Quartet” that delves into the emotional entanglements among four characters in 1920s Paris?
a) Djuna Barnes
b) Gertrude Stein
c) Jean Rhys
d) Katherine Mansfield
Answer: c) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Quartet” by Jean Rhys presents the complexities of relationships and vulnerabilities, reflecting some of Rhys’s own experiences in Paris.
496. Which experimental novel uses different colors of ink to signify various narrative threads and is set in a house that seems larger on the inside than the outside?
a) “The Raw Shark Texts”
b) “Only Revolutions”
c) “House of Leaves”
d) “If on a winter’s night a traveler”
Answer: c) “House of Leaves”
Explanation: Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves” is known for its unique layout, colored words, and multi-layered narratives about a house with shifting interiors.
497. Who, among the following, coined the term “heteroglossia” to describe the coexistence of multiple varieties of speech within a single language?
a) Roland Barthes
b) Ferdinand de Saussure
c) Mikhail Bakhtin
d) Jacques Derrida
Answer: c) Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: Mikhail Bakhtin introduced the concept of “heteroglossia” to discuss the multiplicity of voices in literary texts and the diversity of speech forms in language.
498.Which of the following novels employs the form of a detective narrative while delving deep into the realms of metaphysics and literary theory?
a) “The Name of the Rose”
b) “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle”
c) “Atonement”
d) “Blind Assassin”
Answer: a) “The Name of the Rose”
Explanation: Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” combines a detective story with intricate semiotic investigations, medieval studies, and theological discourse.
499. Which poet, associated with the Confessional movement, wrote the collection “Ariel” that was published posthumously?
a) Anne Sexton
b) Robert Lowell
c) Sylvia Plath
d) W.D. Snodgrass
Answer: c) Sylvia Plath
Explanation: Sylvia Plath’s “Ariel” is a posthumously published collection that contains some of her most famous and intense poems.
500. Which novel employs a narrative technique of continuous present tense, and its title is taken from a Shakespearean play?
a) “The Sound and the Fury”
b) “Under the Volcano”
c) “The Golden Bowl”
d) “To the Lighthouse”
Answer: a) “The Sound and the Fury”
Explanation: William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury” uses innovative narrative techniques, and its title is derived from Macbeth’s soliloquy in Shakespeare’s play.
501. Which of the following works by Samuel Beckett features characters waiting for someone who never arrives?
a) “Endgame”
b) “Krapp’s Last Tape”
c) “Footfalls”
d) “Waiting for Godot”
Answer: d) “Waiting for Godot”
Explanation: In “Waiting for Godot,” two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for someone named Godot, who never appears.
502. Which novel, set in a fictional African country, explores post-colonial themes and features a dictator known as “The Ruler”?
a) “Things Fall Apart”
b) “Wizard of the Crow”
c) “Half of a Yellow Sun”
d) “A Grain of Wheat”
Answer: b) “Wizard of the Crow”
Explanation: Written by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, “Wizard of the Crow” is a satirical novel that critiques post-colonial African politics and corruption, featuring a dictator known as “The Ruler.”
503. Whose semi-autobiographical novel, set in the midst of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, is titled “Milkman”?
a) Edna O’Brien
b) Sally Rooney
c) Anna Burns
d) Eimear McBride
Answer: c) Anna Burns
Explanation: “Milkman” by Anna Burns is set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland and delves into the life of its young female protagonist amidst the sociopolitical turmoil.
504. Which novel, known for its stream-of-consciousness narrative, revolves around the life of Mrs. Dalloway preparing for a party she will host in the evening?
a) “Orlando”
b) “To the Lighthouse”
c) “Mrs. Dalloway”
d) “Jacob’s Room”
Answer: c) “Mrs. Dalloway”
Explanation: “Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf uses a stream-of-consciousness narrative to explore the inner thoughts and emotions of its characters over a single day in post-WWI England.
505. Which poet wrote the confessional poem “Daddy,” using Holocaust imagery to convey her troubled relationship with her father?
a) Anne Sexton
b) Sylvia Plath
c) Elizabeth Bishop
d) Adrienne Rich
Answer: b) Sylvia Plath
Explanation: Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” is a highly charged confessional poem, touching upon her strained relationship with her father and using Holocaust imagery as a metaphor.
506. Which feminist scholar’s book “The Second Sex” critically explores the treatment and perception of women throughout history?
a) Simone de Beauvoir
b) bell hooks
c) Germaine Greer
d) Judith Butler
Answer: a) Simone de Beauvoir
Explanation: “The Second Sex” by Simone de Beauvoir is a foundational text in feminist philosophy, analyzing women’s historical oppression and their role in society.
507. ”The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story about a woman’s descent into madness due to enforced confinement. Who is its author?
a) Kate Chopin
b) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
c) Zora Neale Hurston
d) Shirley Jackson
Answer: b) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Explanation: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman provides a critique of the patriarchal medical establishment and its treatment of women’s health and mental well-being.
508. Who wrote “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian novel about a society in which women are stripped of their rights and used primarily for procreation?
a) Ursula K. Le Guin
b) Octavia Butler
c) Doris Lessing
d) Margaret Atwood
Answer: d) Margaret Atwood
Explanation: “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood envisions a dystopian society where women’s rights are severely curtailed, focusing on the life of a woman named Offred.
509. Which poet’s work includes the collection “The Dream of a Common Language,” exploring themes of love, sexuality, and the female experience?
a) Maya Angelou
b) Adrienne Rich
c) Audre Lorde
d) Gwendolyn Brooks
Answer: b) Adrienne Rich
Explanation: Adrienne Rich’s “The Dream of a Common Language” touches on themes central to the female experience, including relationships, motherhood, and sexuality.
510. ”The Color Purple” is a novel about the life of a Black woman in the American South during the early 20th century. Who wrote it?
a) Toni Morrison
b) Alice Walker
c) Zadie Smith
d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer: b) Alice Walker
Explanation: “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker explores themes of race, gender oppression, and redemption through the letters written by its protagonist, Celie.
511. Which novelist wrote “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to “Jane Eyre,” focusing on the life of the character Bertha Mason?
a) Jean Rhys
b) Angela Carter
c) A.S. Byatt
d) Elizabeth Bowen
Answer: a) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” by Jean Rhys gives voice to Bertha Mason, a character from Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre,” exploring her early life in the Caribbean.
512. Who penned the essay “A Room of One’s Own,” asserting that a woman must have financial independence and personal space to write fiction?
a) Virginia Woolf
b) Elaine Showalter
c) Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar
d) Hélène Cixous
Answer: a) Virginia Woolf
Explanation: “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf argues for the need for women to have economic independence and their own space as prerequisites for producing literature.
513. Which feminist theorist wrote “Gender Trouble,” challenging traditional notions of gender and introducing the concept of gender performativity?
a) Luce Irigaray
b) Julia Kristeva
c) Judith Butler
d) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Answer: c) Judith Butler
Explanation: Judith Butler’s “Gender Trouble” critiques conventional categories of gender and introduces the idea that gender is performative, meaning it is constructed through repetitive acts and behaviors.
514. Which African-American poet wrote “For My People,” a poem celebrating the heritage and resilience of Black Americans?
a) Lucille Clifton
b) Gwendolyn Brooks
c) Maya Angelou
d) Margaret Walker
Answer: d) Margaret Walker
Explanation: Margaret Walker’s “For My People” is a powerful ode to the trials, triumphs, and heritage of Black Americans.
515. ”The Bloody Chamber” is a collection of short stories that offers feminist revisions of popular fairy tales. Who authored it?
a) Doris Lessing
b) Angela Carter
c) Jeanette Winterson
d) Sylvia Townsend Warner
Answer: b) Angela Carter
Explanation: Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber” provides dark, erotic, and feminist reinterpretations of classic fairy tales, showcasing the latent themes present in the traditional stories.
516. Who wrote the novel “Surfacing,” which delves into themes of identity, cultural conflict, and the subconscious?
a) Doris Lessing
b) Iris Murdoch
c) Margaret Atwood
d) Muriel Spark
Answer: c) Margaret Atwood
Explanation: “Surfacing” by Margaret Atwood centers on a woman’s journey to her childhood home in Quebec, where she confronts her past, national identity, and the essence of human nature.
517.Which poet penned “The World’s Wife,” a collection offering voices to the women who have traditionally been overshadowed by their famous male counterparts in history and myth?
a) Carol Ann Duffy
b) Jo Shapcott
c) Jackie Kay
d) Seamus Heaney
Answer: a) Carol Ann Duffy
Explanation: “The World’s Wife” by Carol Ann Duffy provides imaginative and often humorous perspectives from women linked to famous men in history, myth, and legend, turning traditional tales on their heads.
518. ”The Female Eunuch,” a key feminist text, was written by which of the following authors?
a) Germaine Greer
b) bell hooks
c) Kate Millett
d) Andrea Dworkin
Answer: a) Germaine Greer
Explanation: “The Female Eunuch” by Germaine Greer critiques the ways women have been repressed and socialized into passive roles in society.
519. Which writer’s work includes “The Passion,” a novel blending historical fiction and magic realism, set during the Napoleonic Wars?
a) Angela Carter
b) A.S. Byatt
c) Hilary Mantel
d) Jeanette Winterson
Answer: d) Jeanette Winterson
Explanation: “The Passion” by Jeanette Winterson intertwines the tales of Henri, a French soldier, and Villanelle, a Venetian woman, during the Napoleonic Wars.
520. ”The Beauty Myth” is a non-fiction work discussing how images of beauty are used against women. Who is its author?
a) Gloria Steinem
b) Betty Friedan
c) Naomi Wolf
d) Camille Paglia
Answer: c) Naomi Wolf
Explanation: “The Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf argues that as women have gained increased social power, the expectations for physical beauty have grown more stringent, acting as a counterforce to women’s advancement.
521. Which of the following novelists wrote “The Power,” envisioning a world where women develop a physical advantage over men?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Sarah Waters
c) Naomi Alderman
d) J.K. Rowling
Answer: c) Naomi Alderman
Explanation: “The Power” by Naomi Alderman poses a scenario where women develop the ability to produce electric shocks, radically altering societal power dynamics.
522. Who is the author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” an autobiographical account of a Black woman’s childhood in the racially segregated American South?
a) Zora Neale Hurston
b) Maya Angelou
c) Audre Lorde
d) Toni Morrison
Answer: b) Maya Angelou
Explanation: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou recounts her early life, touching upon themes of racism, sexual abuse, and personal resilience.
523. Which writer, associated with postcolonial literature, authored “A Critique of Postcolonial Reason,” discussing the relationship between the West and its former colonies?
a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
b) Arundhati Roy
c) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
d) Edward Said
Answer: c) Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Explanation: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is a prominent scholar in the field of postcolonial studies. “A Critique of Postcolonial Reason” is one of her seminal works where she critically examines the historical and ideological constructions that frame the relations between the West and its erstwhile colonies. While other options like Adichie, Roy, and Said are notable figures in postcolonial literature and theory, it’s Spivak who authored the specific work mentioned.
524.Which Nobel Prize-winning poet wrote “Gitanjali,” a collection of prose and poetic songs emphasizing divine and human love?
a) Vikram Seth
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) A.K. Ramanujan
d) R.K. Narayan
Answer: b) Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore’s “Gitanjali” earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. The poems reflect a deep spirituality and a union between the human and the divine.
525. ”The Guide” is a novel that revolves around Raju, a tour guide who transforms into a spiritual guide. Who authored this work?
a) Salman Rushdie
b) R.K. Narayan
c) Ruskin Bond
d) Amitav Ghosh
Answer: b) R.K. Narayan
Explanation: “The Guide” by R.K. Narayan explores the life and transformation of Raju from a tour guide to a revered spiritual figure, touching upon themes of morality, redemption, and self-realization.
526. Which contemporary Indian author wrote “A Suitable Boy,” one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the English language?
a) Kiran Desai
b) Rohinton Mistry
c) Vikram Seth
d) Aravind Adiga
Answer: c) Vikram Seth
Explanation: “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth is set in post-independence India and revolves around the life of Lata Mehra as she navigates societal expectations and personal desires.
527. ”The Shadow Lines” is a novel that delves into the memories of its narrator, spanning three cities and the aftermath of violent events. Who is its author?
a) Amitav Ghosh
b) Salman Rushdie
c) Jhumpa Lahiri
d) Khushwant Singh
Answer: a) Amitav Ghosh
Explanation: “The Shadow Lines” by Amitav Ghosh intricately interweaves personal narratives with historical events, exploring themes of memory, nationalism, and the impact of violence.
528. Which poet, known for translating ancient Tamil and Kannada poetry into English, wrote “A River” and “Elements and Compounds”?
a) Jayanta Mahapatra
b) A.K. Ramanujan
c) Nissim Ezekiel
d) Keki N. Daruwalla
Answer: b) A.K. Ramanujan
Explanation: A.K. Ramanujan was renowned for his translations and his original poetry. His works often blend the traditional with the modern, offering deep insights into Indian culture and personal experiences.
529. ”Train to Pakistan” is a novel that chronicles the tragic events of Partition in 1947. Who wrote this seminal work?
a) Ruskin Bond
b) Mulk Raj Anand
c) Khushwant Singh
d) V.S. Naipaul
Answer: c) Khushwant Singh
Explanation: “Train to Pakistan” by Khushwant Singh presents a poignant portrayal of the horrors of the Partition, focusing on a small village on the India-Pakistan border.
530. Which Indian poet, often associated with the “Bombay Poets,” penned the collection “The Exact Name”?
a) Dom Moraes
b) Kamala Das
c) Nissim Ezekiel
d) P. Lal
Answer: c) Nissim Ezekiel
Explanation: Nissim Ezekiel, a significant post-colonial poet, wrote “The Exact Name” among other collections. His poems often delve into urban life, personal experiences, and existential themes.
531. Who is the author of “Midnight’s Children,” a novel that intertwines India’s transition from British colonialism to independence with the life of its protagonist, Saleem Sinai?
a) Rohinton Mistry
b) Salman Rushdie
c) Arundhati Roy
d) Vikram Chandra
Answer: b) Salman Rushdie
Explanation: “Midnight’s Children” by Salman Rushdie is a magic-realist narrative that mirrors the birth of its protagonist, Saleem Sinai, with India’s emergence as an independent nation.
532. ”Such a Long Journey” is a novel set against the backdrop of political upheaval in India during the reign of Indira Gandhi. Who is its author?
a) Amit Chaudhuri
b) Rohinton Mistry
c) Kiran Nagarkar
d) Raja Rao
Answer: b) Rohinton Mistry
Explanation: “Such a Long Journey” by Rohinton Mistry delves into the life of Gustad Noble and his family in Bombay during a turbulent period of Indian politics.
533. Which writer’s works include “The Serpent and the Rope,” exploring the philosophical quest of a young Indian man named Ramaswamy?
a) Raja Rao
b) Mulk Raj Anand
c) G.V. Desani
d) Bhabani Bhattacharya
Answer: a) Raja Rao
Explanation: Raja Rao’s “The Serpent and the Rope” delves into themes of spirituality, cultural differences, and the quest for meaning, reflecting Rao’s own experiences and philosophical inclinations.
534. Which Indian author penned the novel “The God of Small Things,” which won the Man Booker Prize in 1997?
a) Kiran Desai
b) Anita Desai
c) Shashi Deshpande
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: d) Arundhati Roy
Explanation: “The God of Small Things” is a semi-autobiographical work by Arundhati Roy. The novel explores the tragic fate of a family in Kerala and is known for its rich, poetic prose.
535. Which poet wrote the poignant collection titled “An Atlas of the Difficult World”?
a) Meena Alexander
b) Kamala Das
c) Eunice de Souza
d) Imtiaz Dharker
Answer: a) Meena Alexander
Explanation: Meena Alexander’s “An Atlas of the Difficult World” delves into issues of displacement, identity, and memory.
536. ”The Zigzag Way” is a novel set in Mexico and delves into the world of the native Huichol people. Who authored this work?
a) Anita Nair
b) Jhumpa Lahiri
c) Anita Desai
d) Shobhaa De
Answer: c) Anita Desai
Explanation: “The Zigzag Way” by Anita Desai traces the journey of an American historian in Mexico, weaving together narratives from the past and present.
537. Which Indian poetess wrote the powerful poem “I Will Not Be Spared”?
a) Kamala Das
b) Mamta Kalia
c) Sujata Bhatt
d) Gauri Deshpande
Answer: a) Kamala Das
Explanation: Kamala Das, also known by her pseudonym Madhavikutty, was known for her forthright treatment of female sexuality and identity in her poems.
538. Who authored the novel “Sister of My Heart,” a tale of two cousins bound by a shared secret?
a) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
b) Shashi Deshpande
c) Manju Kapur
d) Rupa Bajwa
Answer: a) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Explanation: “Sister of My Heart” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni revolves around the intertwined lives of two cousins, Anju and Sudha, as they navigate familial obligations, love, and betrayal.
539. ”The Binding Vine” explores themes of love, loss, and the power of female solidarity. Who penned this novel?
a) Githa Hariharan
b) Bharati Mukherjee
c) Shashi Deshpande
d) Manjula Padmanabhan
Answer: c) Shashi Deshpande
Explanation: “The Binding Vine” by Shashi Deshpande delves into the life of Urmila, a professor, who grapples with the loss of her daughter and discovers the diaries of her dead mother-in-law, revealing deep-seated societal issues.
540. Which poet wrote the poem “A Different History,” highlighting cultural tensions and the impact of colonization?
a) Eunice de Souza
b) Sujata Bhatt
c) Arundhathi Subramaniam
d) Meena Kandasamy
Answer: b) Sujata Bhatt
Explanation: “A Different History” by Sujata Bhatt explores the effects of colonialism and the erasure of cultures, contrasting Indian traditions with Western ones.
541. ”Custody” is a novel that revolves around the impact of a bitter custody battle on the lives of two young children. Who is its author?
a) Rupa Bajwa
b) Manju Kapur
c) Anjum Hasan
d) Nayantara Sahgal
Answer: b) Manju Kapur
Explanation: “Custody” by Manju Kapur delves into the emotional and psychological turmoil caused by a marital breakdown and its repercussions on the entire family.
542. Which poet’s collection “When God is a Traveller” was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize?
a) Arundhathi Subramaniam
b) Tishani Doshi
c) Meena Kandasamy
d) Keki N. Daruwalla
Answer: a) Arundhathi Subramaniam
Explanation: “When God is a Traveller” by Arundhathi Subramaniam features poems that meander through various themes, including love, loss, and spirituality.
543. ”The Folded Earth” is a novel set in the Indian Himalayas, exploring love, faith, and redemption. Who wrote this evocative tale?
a) Anuradha Roy
b) Kiran Desai
c) Jhumpa Lahiri
d) Bapsi Sidhwa
Answer: a) Anuradha Roy
Explanation: “The Folded Earth” by Anuradha Roy is a beautifully crafted tale that interweaves narratives from the past and present against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas.
544. Which seminal work, published in 1905, marked Rabindranath Tagore’s entry into the literary scene in English?
a) The Home and the World
b) Muktadhara
c) Gitanjali
d) Ghare-Baire
Answer: c) Gitanjali
Explanation: “Gitanjali” (Song Offerings) is a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore, which brought him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. It was instrumental in introducing Indian culture and spirituality to the West.
545. Who authored “Midnight’s Children,” an allegorical novel that captures the history of India through the life of its protagonist, Saleem Sinai?
a) Khushwant Singh
b) Vikram Seth
c) Salman Rushdie
d) Rohinton Mistry
Answer: c) Salman Rushdie
Explanation: “Midnight’s Children” by Salman Rushdie is a seminal work in Indian writing in English, intertwining personal narratives with national history and winning the Booker Prize in 1981.
546. The novel “A Suitable Boy” is one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in English. Who wrote it?
a) Aravind Adiga
b) Amitav Ghosh
c) Vikram Seth
d) V.S. Naipaul
Answer: c) Vikram Seth
Explanation: Vikram Seth’s “A Suitable Boy” is an expansive narrative focusing on the life of Lata Mehra and her mother’s attempts to find her a suitable husband, set against the backdrop of a newly independent India.
547. Which novel by Aravind Adiga offers a dark, yet humorous commentary on modern India through the narrative of a driver named Balram?
a) Between the Assassinations
b) The White Tiger
c) Last Man in Tower
d) Selection Day
Answer: b) The White Tiger
Explanation: “The White Tiger” delves into the vast disparities and corruption in India, presenting a grim yet engaging tale of a man’s journey from rags to riches.
548. Which book by Amitav Ghosh explores the Opium War between Britain and China, featuring a varied cast from different parts of the world?
a) The Hungry Tide
b) The Glass Palace
c) Sea of Poppies
d) The Shadow Lines
Answer: c) Sea of Poppies
Explanation: “Sea of Poppies” is the first book in Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis Trilogy, focusing on the Opium War and the diverse lives affected by it.
549. Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, a collection of short stories, captures the lives of Indians and Indian-Americans. What is it called?
a) The Namesake
b) Unaccustomed Earth
c) The Lowland
d) Interpreter of Maladies
Answer: d) Interpreter of Maladies
Explanation: “Interpreter of Maladies” delves into the diaspora experience, exploring themes of love, loss, identity, and cultural tensions.
550. Which author’s semi-autobiographical novel “Fasting, Feasting” presents a critique of Indian society and its treatment of women?
a) Anita Desai
b) Kiran Desai
c) Shashi Deshpande
d) Manju Kapur
Answer: a) Anita Desai
Explanation: “Fasting, Feasting” by Anita Desai contrasts the life of an Indian woman, Uma, bound by societal norms, with that of her brother studying in the USA, exploring cultural and gender disparities.
551. The novel “The Inheritance of Loss” portrays the life in a Himalayan town and the challenges faced by the locals. Who wrote this Man Booker Prize-winning work?
a) Arundhati Roy
b) Kiran Desai
c) Rohinton Mistry
d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: b) Kiran Desai
Explanation: Kiran Desai’s “The Inheritance of Loss” interweaves personal narratives with political upheaval, shedding light on the postcolonial Indian experience.
552. Who penned “The Blue Umbrella,” a heartwarming story set in a Himachali village about a girl named Binya and her blue umbrella?
a) Ruskin Bond
b) Khushwant Singh
c) R.K. Narayan
d) Mulk Raj Anand
Answer: a) Ruskin Bond
Explanation: “The Blue Umbrella” by Ruskin Bond is a touching tale of innocence, envy, and the simple joys of life.
553. ”Kanthapura” is a novel that narrates the story of a village with the same name that gets involved in the Indian nationalist movement. Who is the author?
a) R.K. Narayan
b) Raja Rao
c) Mulk Raj Anand
d) Khushwant Singh
Answer: b) Raja Rao
Explanation: Raja Rao’s “Kanthapura” is a cornerstone in Indian writing in English, with its unique style melding the local vernacular with English prose to depict the impact of Gandhi’s ideologies on a small village.
554. Which novel, set in Kerala, intricately interweaves family histories with the broader social and political changes in India?
a) The White Tiger
b) The Golden Gate
c) The God of Small Things
d) A Fine Balance
Answer: c) The God of Small Things
Explanation: “The God of Small Things” is Arundhati Roy’s debut novel that won the Man Booker Prize in 1997. It delves deep into the complexities of social discrimination, familial ties, and love.
555. Which Indian author’s debut work “The Circle of Reason” won the Prix Médicis étranger, one of France’s top literary awards?
a) Kiran Desai
b) Amitav Ghosh
c) Vikram Chandra
d) Chetan Bhagat
Answer: b) Amitav Ghosh
Explanation: Amitav Ghosh’s “The Circle of Reason” showcases his rich storytelling style that deftly combines personal narratives with larger historical and cultural contexts.
556.Which book by Rohinton Mistry offers a deep insight into the life of Parsis living in Mumbai during the 1970s?
a) Such a Long Journey
b) Family Matters
c) A Fine Balance
d) Tales from Firozsha Baag
Answer: a) Such a Long Journey
Explanation: “Such a Long Journey” provides a compelling portrait of the Parsi community in Mumbai during a time of political upheaval in India.
557.”Five Point Someone” is a novel that critiques the educational system at the Indian Institutes of Technology. Who wrote this contemporary work?
a) Chetan Bhagat
b) Amish Tripathi
c) Durjoy Datta
d) Ravi Subramanian
Answer: a) Chetan Bhagat
Explanation: Chetan Bhagat’s “Five Point Someone” gives an insider’s view into the pressures and challenges faced by students at the prestigious IITs.
558. Which novel by Kiran Desai, daughter of celebrated author Anita Desai, won the Man Booker Prize in 2006?
a) The Inheritance of Loss
b) Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard
c) The Artist of Disappearance
d) Clear Light of Day
Answer: a) The Inheritance of Loss
Explanation: Kiran Desai’s “The Inheritance of Loss” examines issues of globalization, cultural conflict, and migration, set against the backdrop of the Himalayas.
559. In which novel does R.K. Narayan depict the life of a poor priest named Krishna and his spiritual journey after a personal tragedy?
a) The Guide
b) Swami and Friends
c) The English Teacher
d) The Vendor of Sweets
Answer: c) The English Teacher
Explanation: “The English Teacher” is an introspective novel by R.K. Narayan that delves into Krishna’s journey of self-discovery after the death of his wife.
560. Which work by Jeet Thayil narrates the opium dens of Mumbai and the city’s underbelly?
a) The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
b) The Illicit Happiness of Other People
c) Narcopolis
d) Sacred Games
Answer: c) Narcopolis
Explanation: “Narcopolis” by Jeet Thayil provides a vivid portrayal of the city’s dark corners, encompassing its drug dens and the lives of its denizens.
561. Shashi Tharoor’s “The Great Indian Novel” is a satirical retelling of:
a) Ramayana
b) Upanishads
c) Mahabharata
d) Vedas
Answer: c) Mahabharata
Explanation: “The Great Indian Novel” reimagines the Mahabharata within the framework of 20th-century Indian history, weaving myth and reality.
562. Who penned the historical novel “The Far Field” that delves into the complexities of Kashmir?
a) Jhumpa Lahiri
b) Meena Kandasamy
c) Madhuri Vijay
d) Anuradha Roy
Answer: c) Madhuri Vijay
Explanation: “The Far Field” by Madhuri Vijay provides a haunting narrative of a woman’s journey to Kashmir, unraveling its multifaceted socio-political landscape.
563. Which work by Anita Nair tells the story of a young girl named Leela and her search for her missing mother in the city of Bangalore?
a) Lessons in Forgetting
b) The Better Man
c) Ladies Coupe
d) Chain of Custody
Answer: a) Lessons in Forgetting
Explanation: “Lessons in Forgetting” is a poignant tale of love, loss, and rediscovery by Anita Nair, showcasing the intricacies of relationships and memories.
564. Which Nigerian author’s groundbreaking work “Things Fall Apart” chronicles the impact of colonialism on traditional Igbo society?
a) Wole Soyinka
b) Ben Okri
c) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
d) Chinua Achebe
Answer: d) Chinua Achebe
Explanation: “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe is a seminal work in African literature that offers a profound exploration of Igbo society’s encounter with British colonialism.
565. ”Half of a Yellow Sun” brings to life the Biafran war through the perspectives of its characters. Who wrote this novel?
a) NoViolet Bulawayo
b) Sefi Atta
c) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
d) Yaa Gyasi
Answer: c) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Explanation: Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” provides a deep dive into the emotional and political turmoil of the Nigerian Civil War.
566. Which South African writer, also a Nobel laureate, penned “Disgrace,” a novel that addresses the complexities of post-apartheid South Africa?
a) Athol Fugard
b) Alan Paton
c) J.M. Coetzee
d) Nadine Gordimer
Answer: c) J.M. Coetzee
Explanation: “Disgrace” by J.M. Coetzee is a raw and thought-provoking exploration of personal and national identity in post-apartheid South Africa.
567. Which book by Tsitsi Dangarembga chronicles the life of a young girl named Tambu and her challenges growing up in Rhodesia?
a) The Joys of Motherhood
b) We Need New Names
c) Nervous Conditions
d) July’s People
Answer: c) Nervous Conditions
Explanation: “Nervous Conditions” is a compelling narrative of gender and colonialism, revealing the intricacies of Tambu’s life and ambitions.
568.Ben Okri’s “The Famished Road” is notable for its blending of:
a) Postcolonial theory and African folklore
b) Magic realism and African myth
c) Detective fiction and political allegory
d) Autobiographical elements and historical accounts
Answer: b) Magic realism and African myth
Explanation: Okri’s novel utilizes magic realism infused with African oral traditions to narrate the story of the spirit child Azaro.
569. Who wrote the novel “The River Between,” depicting the clash between traditional Kikuyu culture and Christianity in Kenya?
a) Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
b) Binyavanga Wainaina
c) Ousmane Sembène
d) Wole Soyinka
Answer: a) Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Explanation: “The River Between” is a seminal work by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, portraying the cultural and spiritual conflict during the colonial era in Kenya.
570. Which Ghanaian-American author’s debut novel “Homegoing” traces the lineage of two half-sisters and their descendants over 300 years?
a) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
b) Teju Cole
c) Ama Ata Aidoo
d) Yaa Gyasi
Answer: d) Yaa Gyasi
Explanation: “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi is a multi-generational tale that navigates the legacy of slavery from Ghana to the United States.
571. Which Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate penned the play “Death and the King’s Horseman,” based on a real historical event?
a) Ben Okri
b) Wole Soyinka
c) Helon Habila
d) Chigozie Obioma
Answer: b) Wole Soyinka
Explanation: “Death and the King’s Horseman” by Wole Soyinka delves into the clash of cultural values and the consequences of misunderstanding between the British colonialists and the indigenous Yoruba people.
572. Which Zimbabwean author’s novel “We Need New Names” addresses issues of immigration and identity for young African migrants?
a) NoViolet Bulawayo
b) Petina Gappah
c) Tsitsi Dangarembga
d) Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Answer: a) NoViolet Bulawayo
Explanation: “We Need New Names” narrates the story of a young girl named Darling and her journey from Zimbabwe to the USA, highlighting the challenges of assimilation and cultural identity.
573. Nadine Gordimer’s “Burger’s Daughter” is set against the backdrop of which significant period in South African history?
a) The Boer War
b) The rise of the African National Congress
c) The Soweto Uprising
d) The end of apartheid
Answer: c) The Soweto Uprising
Explanation: Nadine Gordimer’s “Burger’s Daughter” is deeply intertwined with the events and sentiments leading to the Soweto Uprising, offering insights into the apartheid era’s challenges and resistances.
574. Which author’s semi-autobiographical novel “So Long a Letter” explores the life of a Senegalese widow?
a) Ama Ata Aidoo
b) Mariama Bâ
c) Bessie Head
d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer: b) Mariama Bâ
Explanation: “So Long a Letter” by Mariama Bâ is a poignant reflection on the conditions of women in postcolonial Senegal, primarily through a series of letters.
575. ”Purple Hibiscus” is a coming-of-age narrative set against the backdrop of political unrest in Nigeria. Who is its author?
a) Sefi Atta
b) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
c) Buchi Emecheta
d) Taiye Selasi
Answer: b) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Explanation: Adichie’s “Purple Hibiscus” follows the story of a young girl named Kambili and the oppressive environment she navigates within her family.
576. Which novel by Bessie Head tells the story of Elizabeth, a woman of mixed-race heritage, and her experiences in Botswana?
a) The Collector of Treasures
b) A Question of Power
c) Maru
d) The Cardinals
Answer: c) Maru
Explanation: “Maru” delves deep into the intricacies of race and love within a traditional Batswana community.
577.Who authored “The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born,” a novel critiquing post-independence corruption in Ghana?
a) Chinua Achebe
b) Ayi Kwei Armah
c) Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
d) Wole Soyinka
Answer: b) Ayi Kwei Armah
Explanation: Armah’s novel is a critical reflection on the disillusionment faced by many African nations post-independence.
578. Which writer’s collection “Opening Spaces” is an anthology of contemporary African women’s writing?
a) Yvonne Vera
b) Tsitsi Dangarembga
c) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
d) NoViolet Bulawayo
Answer: a) Yvonne Vera
Explanation: Yvonne Vera’s “Opening Spaces” showcases a diverse range of voices, stories, and experiences from African women writers.
579. Which South African author wrote “Cry, the Beloved Country,” a novel that highlighted the harsh realities of apartheid?
a) Nadine Gordimer
b) Alan Paton
c) J.M. Coetzee
d) Athol Fugard
Answer: b) Alan Paton
Explanation: Paton’s “Cry, the Beloved Country” is a moving exploration of racial injustice and the human capacity for compassion.
580. ”The Joys of Motherhood” that explores the changing socio-economic scene in Nigeria is a novel by which author?
a) Buchi Emecheta
b) Flora Nwapa
c) Sefi Atta
d) Lola Shoneyin
Answer: a) Buchi Emecheta
Explanation: Emecheta’s “The Joys of Motherhood” is a poignant examination of womanhood, tradition, and change in urban Nigeria.
581. Who wrote “Our Sister Killjoy,” a narrative about a young Ghanaian woman’s travels through Europe?
a) Ama Ata Aidoo
b) Taiye Selasi
c) Yaa Gyasi
d) Efua Sutherland
Answer: a) Ama Ata Aidoo
Explanation: Aidoo’s novel reflects on postcolonial identity, diaspora, and the relationship between Africa and the West.
582. ”What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours” is a collection of stories that intertwine themes of keys, locks, and freedom. Who is its author?
a) Teju Cole
b) Helen Oyeyemi
c) Chigozie Obioma
d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer: b) Helen Oyeyemi
Explanation: Oyeyemi’s collection is a magical exploration of connection, boundaries, and transformation.
583. Which Sudanese-British author wrote “Season of Migration to the North,” a reverse migration narrative reflecting on colonialism and identity?
a) Tayeb Salih
b) Leila Aboulela
c) Alain Mabanckou
d) Dinaw Mengestu
Answer: a) Tayeb Salih
Explanation: “Season of Migration to the North” by Tayeb Salih is a counter-narrative to the European “journey to the East,” offering a nuanced examination of the complexities of postcolonial identity.
584. Which Margaret Atwood novel is set in a dystopian future where a theocratic regime has taken over the U.S., reducing women’s rights and using them primarily for procreation?
a) Oryx and Crake
b) Alias Grace
c) The Blind Assassin
d) The Handmaid’s Tale
Answer: d) The Handmaid’s Tale
Explanation: “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a powerful exploration of a future where women’s freedoms are severely curtailed, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremism.
585. Michael Ondaatje’s novel that intertwines multiple narratives including that of a war-time nurse and a burn victim is titled?
a) In the Skin of a Lion
b) Divisadero
c) The English Patient
d) Anil’s Ghost
Answer: c) The English Patient
Explanation: “The English Patient” delves into the memories and histories of its central characters, set against the backdrop of World War II.
586. Which Alice Munro collection won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 for her masterful approach to the short story form?
a) Runaway
b) Too Much Happiness
c) Dance of the Happy Shades
d) Dear Life
Answer: d) Dear Life
Explanation: While Alice Munro’s entire body of work was recognized with the Nobel, “Dear Life” is one of her most celebrated collections.
587. Which of the following books is NOT by Yann Martel?
a) Life of Pi
b) The High Mountains of Portugal
c) Beatrice and Virgil
d) Fall on Your Knees
Answer: d) Fall on Your Knees
Explanation: “Fall on Your Knees” is a novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald, not Yann Martel.
588. Who wrote “The Stone Diaries,” which explores the life of Daisy Goodwill from her birth in 1905 to her death?
a) Carol Shields
b) Margaret Laurence
c) Douglas Coupland
d) Thomas King
Answer: a) Carol Shields
Explanation: “The Stone Diaries” is a novel by Carol Shields that traces the entire life of its protagonist, Daisy Goodwill.
589. Which novel by Rohinton Mistry is centered around four different characters in Mumbai during the turbulent times of the 1970s and the Emergency?
a) Family Matters
b) Such a Long Journey
c) A Fine Balance
d) Tales from Firozsha Baag
Answer: c) A Fine Balance
Explanation: “A Fine Balance” provides a detailed account of life during the Emergency in India, capturing both the macro events and the personal struggles of its characters.
590.”Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture,” a novel that popularized the term “Generation X,” is by which author?
a) Douglas Coupland
b) Will Ferguson
c) Thomas King
d) Leonard Cohen
Answer: a) Douglas Coupland
Explanation: Douglas Coupland’s “Generation X” delves into the lives and frustrations of its titular generation, offering a deep social critique.
591. Which Indigenous Canadian author wrote “The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America”?
a) Lee Maracle
b) Eden Robinson
c) Richard Wagamese
d) Thomas King
Answer: d) Thomas King
Explanation: Thomas King’s “The Inconvenient Indian” is a non-fiction account that critically examines the history and current state of Indigenous peoples in North America.
592. ”Green Grass, Running Water” which interweaves First Nations oral traditions with a modern narrative is a work by?
a) Lee Maracle
b) Eden Robinson
c) Thomas King
d) Richard Wagamese
Answer: c) Thomas King
Explanation: “Green Grass, Running Water” by Thomas King humorously and poignantly challenges canonical Western narratives using Indigenous storytelling methods.
593. Which novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald is a multigenerational saga set in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia?
a) Fall on Your Knees
b) The Way the Crow Flies
c) Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)
d) As Birds Bring Forth the Sun
Answer: a) Fall on Your Knees
Explanation: “Fall on Your Knees” intricately weaves the history of the Piper family across generations, revealing dark secrets and deeply held traumas.
594. Which Australian author wrote “The Book Thief,” a novel set in Nazi Germany narrated by Death?
a) Tim Winton
b) Markus Zusak
c) David Malouf
d) Richard Flanagan
Answer: b) Markus Zusak
Explanation: “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak offers a unique narrative perspective by using Death as the storyteller, recounting the story of Liesel Meminger.
595. ”Cloudstreet,” a sweeping family saga spanning two decades, is a work by?
a) Thomas Keneally
b) Kate Grenville
c) Geraldine Brooks
d) Tim Winton
Answer: d) Tim Winton
Explanation: “Cloudstreet” is one of Tim Winton’s most celebrated works, telling the story of two families living in Perth.
596. Which novel by Richard Flanagan recounts the experience of Australian POWs during the construction of the Thai-Burma Death Railway?
a) The Narrow Road to the Deep North
b) The Sound of One Hand Clapping
c) Gould’s Book of Fish
d) Wanting
Answer: a) The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Explanation: “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” is a haunting portrayal of the suffering endured by the Australian POWs during WWII.
597. Who wrote “The Secret River,” a historical novel set in the early 19th century about a convict settler’s conflict with Indigenous Australians?
a) Peter Carey
b) Kate Grenville
c) Miles Franklin
d) Patrick White
Answer: b) Kate Grenville
Explanation: “The Secret River” by Kate Grenville delves into the early colonial history of Australia, highlighting the conflicts between settlers and Indigenous communities.
598. Which Australian author’s novel “Oscar and Lucinda” won the Booker Prize in 1988?
a) Peter Carey
b) Thomas Keneally
c) David Malouf
d) Patrick White
Answer: a) Peter Carey
Explanation: “Oscar and Lucinda” by Peter Carey is a historical novel that was awarded the Booker Prize for its originality and rich storytelling.
599. ”Schindler’s Ark,” which inspired the movie “Schindler’s List,” was written by which Australian author?
a) Geraldine Brooks
b) Miles Franklin
c) Thomas Keneally
d) David Malouf
Answer: c) Thomas Keneally
Explanation: “Schindler’s Ark” is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, who saved many Jews during the Holocaust. The novel was penned by Thomas Keneally.
600. The “Tomorrow” series, a popular young adult series about a group of teenagers waging a guerrilla war against enemy soldiers, is the work of which author?
a) John Marsden
b) Markus Zusak
c) Melina Marchetta
d) Isobelle Carmody
Answer: a) John Marsden
Explanation: The “Tomorrow” series by John Marsden has been a significant contribution to young adult literature in Australia, depicting themes of warfare, survival, and friendship.
601. Which novel by Geraldine Brooks is a fictional account of the life of the father of the prophet Muhammad?
a) Year of Wonders
b) People of the Book
c) The Secret Chord
d) Caleb’s Crossing
Answer: c) The Secret Chord
Explanation: “The Secret Chord” by Geraldine Brooks provides a rich, fictionalized portrayal of the biblical King David.
602. Who authored “My Brilliant Career,” a semi-autobiographical novel about a young woman’s desire for independence and her struggles with societal norms?
a) Patrick White
b) Miles Franklin
c) Christina Stead
d) Joan Lindsay
Answer: b) Miles Franklin
Explanation: “My Brilliant Career” by Miles Franklin offers insights into the author’s own life and the societal challenges faced by women in the late 19th century.
603.”Picnic at Hanging Rock,” a novel centered around the mysterious disappearance of a group of schoolgirls, is written by?
a) Joan Lindsay
b) Christina Stead
c) David Malouf
d) Patrick White
Answer: a) Joan Lindsay
Explanation: “Picnic at Hanging Rock” by Joan Lindsay is an iconic work in Australian literature, blending mystery with a critique of Victorian society.
604. Which Pakistani author’s debut novel, “Moth Smoke,” portrays the life of a banker in Lahore and his subsequent descent into drugs and betrayal?
a) Daniyal Mueenuddin
b) Kamila Shamsie
c) Bapsi Sidhwa
d) Mohsin Hamid
Answer: d) Mohsin Hamid
Explanation: “Moth Smoke” by Mohsin Hamid captures the societal shifts and struggles in post-nuclear-test Pakistan.
605. ”Burnt Shadows” is a novel that spans from Nagasaki to New York, covering events like the partition of India and 9/11. Who is its author?
a) Kamila Shamsie
b) Nadeem Aslam
c) Bapsi Sidhwa
d) Moni Mohsin
Answer: a) Kamila Shamsie
Explanation: Kamila Shamsie’s “Burnt Shadows” is a tale that examines the repercussions of historical events on individual lives across generations.
606.Which author’s collection of short stories, “In Other Rooms, Other Wonders,” depicts various aspects of life in Pakistan, especially focusing on the feudal system?
a) Daniyal Mueenuddin
b) Mohsin Hamid
c) Hanif Kureishi
d) Fatima Bhutto
Answer: a) Daniyal Mueenuddin
Explanation: “In Other Rooms, Other Wonders” by Daniyal Mueenuddin presents interconnected tales that revolve around the rural and urban landscapes of Pakistan.
607.”Maps for Lost Lovers” is a novel that delves deep into the life of South Asian immigrants in an English town, particularly focusing on honor killings. Who penned this work?
a) Nadeem Aslam
b) Kamila Shamsie
c) Bapsi Sidhwa
d) Sorayya Khan
Answer: a) Nadeem Aslam
Explanation: Nadeem Aslam’s “Maps for Lost Lovers” is a poignant reflection on the cultural tensions and love within immigrant communities.
608.The novel “The Crow Eaters” humorously depicts the life of a Parsi family in pre-partition Lahore. Who is its author?
a) Moni Mohsin
b) Bapsi Sidhwa
c) Fatima Bhutto
d) Hanif Kureishi
Answer: b) Bapsi Sidhwa
Explanation: “The Crow Eaters” by Bapsi Sidhwa provides a comedic yet insightful glimpse into Parsi community life in Lahore.
609.Which Pakistani author’s novel, “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” recounts a young Pakistani’s disenchantment with the American dream post 9/11?
a) Mohsin Hamid
b) Nadeem Aslam
c) Kamila Shamsie
d) Daniyal Mueenuddin
Answer: a) Mohsin Hamid
Explanation: “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid is a monologue that addresses issues of identity, love, and politics in the post-9/11 world.
610. ”A Case of Exploding Mangoes” is a satirical take on General Zia-ul-Haq’s mysterious plane crash. Who wrote this novel?
a) Mohammed Hanif
b) Kamila Shamsie
c) Nadeem Aslam
d) Bapsi Sidhwa
Answer: a) Mohammed Hanif
Explanation: Mohammed Hanif’s novel combines fiction with real historical events, weaving a narrative around the unexplained airplane crash that killed General Zia-ul-Haq.
611. Which author’s memoir, “Songs of Blood and Sword,” recounts her family’s political history in Pakistan, including the assassination of her father, Murtaza Bhutto?
a) Fatima Bhutto
b) Bapsi Sidhwa
c) Moni Mohsin
d) Sorayya Khan
Answer: a) Fatima Bhutto
Explanation: “Songs of Blood and Sword” by Fatima Bhutto is a deeply personal account of her family’s involvement in Pakistani politics.
612. ”Home Fire” is a contemporary reimagining of Sophocles’ Antigone, set against the backdrop of the war on terror. Who is the author?
a) Bapsi Sidhwa
b) Kamila Shamsie
c) Nadeem Aslam
d) Daniyal Mueenuddin
Answer: b) Kamila Shamsie
Explanation: Kamila Shamsie’s “Home Fire” masterfully intertwines classical tragedy with modern-day geopolitics.
611. ”Noontide Toll” focuses on the aftermath of the civil war in Sri Lanka, seen through the eyes of a van driver named Vasantha. Although it’s about Sri Lanka, the author is of Pakistani origin. Who is he?
a) Nadeem Aslam
b) Mohsin Hamid
c) Romesh Gunesekera
d) Mohammed Hanif
Answer: c) Romesh Gunesekera
Explanation: Romesh Gunesekera, though of Sri Lankan descent, has often been associated with South Asian (including Pakistani) literature in English due to shared cultural and historical ties.
Bangladeshi Writing in English:
612. Who is the author of “The Good Muslim,” a novel that delves into the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War?
a) Tahmima Anam
b) Monica Ali
c) Adib Khan
d) Khaled Hosseini
Answer: a) Tahmima Anam
Explanation: Tahmima Anam’s “The Good Muslim” is the second novel in her Bengal Trilogy, which focuses on the repercussions of the Bangladesh Liberation War on a family.
“Brick Lane” is a story of a Bangladeshi woman named Nazneen who moves to London after an arranged marriage. Who wrote this novel?
a) Tahmima Anam
b) Monica Ali
c) Kamila Shamsie
d) Adib Khan
Answer: b) Monica Ali
Explanation: Monica Ali’s “Brick Lane” explores the life of Nazneen as she navigates the complexities of life in a foreign land, all the while reflecting on her past in Bangladesh.
613. Adib Khan’s novel “Seasonal Adjustments” is about a Bangladeshi man’s return to his homeland after living in Australia. The novel deals with:
a) War crimes
b) Cultural shock
c) Espionage
d) Exploration
Answer: b) Cultural shock
Explanation: “Seasonal Adjustments” touches on themes of displacement, identity, and the contrast between Western and Eastern cultures.
Afghani Writing in English:
614. Which Khaled Hosseini novel begins with the line “I became what I am today at the age of twelve…”?
a) A Thousand Splendid Suns
b) And the Mountains Echoed
c) The Kite Runner
d) Sea Prayer
Answer: c) The Kite Runner
Explanation: “The Kite Runner” explores themes of redemption, guilt, and father-son relationships against the backdrop of political unrest in Afghanistan.
615. ”A Thousand Splendid Suns” primarily focuses on the lives of two Afghan women named Mariam and:
a) Laila
b) Soraya
c) Nila
d) Pari
Answer: a) Laila
Explanation: The novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini is a poignant portrayal of the endurance and friendship of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, amidst decades of war and societal oppression.
616. Which novel by Khaled Hosseini offers a multi-generational tale that spans continents, starting from Afghanistan to Greece, France, and the United States?
a) The Kite Runner
b) Sea Prayer
c) A Thousand Splendid Suns
d) And the Mountains Echoed
Answer: d) And the Mountains Echoed
Explanation: “And the Mountains Echoed” is a mosaic of interconnected stories, spanning generations and geographies.
617. Nadia Hashimi’s “The Pearl That Broke Its Shell” revolves around the lives of two Afghan women, Rahima and her great-great-grandmother Shekiba. The story showcases their use of the ancient custom of:
a) Hijab
b) Bacha posh
c) Nikah
d) Hajj
Answer: b) Bacha posh
Explanation: “Bacha posh” is a custom where girls dress and live as boys in Afghan society, which both Rahima and Shekiba adopt for various reasons.
618. ”The Patience Stone” is a novel by an Afghani writer that tells the story of a woman speaking to her comatose husband. Who penned this work?
a) Nadeem Aslam
b) Khaled Hosseini
c) Nadia Hashimi
d) Atiq Rahimi
Answer: d) Atiq Rahimi
Explanation: “The Patience Stone” by Atiq Rahimi presents a haunting narrative where a woman reveals her innermost thoughts and feelings to her silent husband.
619. ”The Blind Man’s Garden” is a novel set in Pakistan and Afghanistan post 9/11. Though it touches upon Afghani themes, its author is of:
a) Bangladeshi origin
b) Indian origin
c) Pakistani origin
d) Afghani origin
Answer: c) Pakistani origin
Explanation: “The Blind Man’s Garden” is written by Nadeem Aslam, a British-Pakistani writer. The novel, though centered around Afghan events, is a reflection of broader South Asian sentiments post 9/11.
620. ”The Bookseller of Kabul” provides a detailed look into the lives of Afghans post-Taliban era. Who is the author?
a) Nadia Hashimi
b) Asne Seierstad
c) Khaled Hosseini
d) Atiq Rahimi
Answer: b) Asne Seierstad
Explanation: Asne Seierstad, a Norwegian journalist, penned “The Bookseller of Kabul” after spending months with an Afghan family. The work offers an intimate portrayal of everyday life in Afghanistan post-Taliban era.
I hope these questions provide an insightful overview of Bangladeshi and Afghani writing in English.
621. Which of the following works, originally written in Malayalam, is a seminal piece of Indian literature that details the life in Kerala, translated into English by Gita Krishnankutty?
a) The Home and the World
b) Breath, Eyes, Memory
c) The Guide
d) The God of Small Things
Answer: d) The God of Small Things
Explanation: “The God of Small Things” is written by Arundhati Roy and is originally in English. The question is a misdirection, as the work is not a translation but an original English novel.
622. ”One Part Woman” is a translation of which Tamil novel that sparked controversy upon its release?
a) Mathorubhagan
b) Ghachar Ghochar
c) Khasakinte Ithihasam
d) Swami and Friends
Answer: a) Mathorubhagan
Explanation: “One Part Woman” is the English translation of the Tamil novel “Mathorubhagan” by Perumal Murugan, which faced significant controversy due to its portrayal of certain traditional practices.
623. Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad’s play “Yayati” is rooted in Indian mythology. The play is originally written in which language?
a) Kannada
b) Marathi
c) Hindi
d) Telugu
Answer: a) Kannada
Explanation: Girish Karnad’s “Yayati” is originally written in Kannada and has been translated into English and other languages.
624. ”The Legend of Khasak” is the English translation of “Khasakinte Ithihasam”, a novel originally written in which language?
a) Telugu
b) Malayalam
c) Kannada
d) Bengali
Answer: b) Malayalam
Explanation: “Khasakinte Ithihasam” is a Malayalam novel by O. V. Vijayan and is considered a classic in Indian literature.
625. Which Bengali novel, written by Rabindranath Tagore, was translated into English as “The Home and the World”?
a) Ghare-Baire
b) Shesher Kabita
c) Chokher Bali
d) Jogajog
Answer: a) Ghare-Baire
Explanation: “The Home and the World” is the English translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Bengali novel “Ghare-Baire”.
626. ”An Atlas of Absence” is the English translation of a work by which renowned Hindi poet?
a) Harivansh Rai Bachchan
b) Mahadevi Varma
c) Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’
d) Ashok Vajpeyi
Answer: d) Ashok Vajpeyi
Explanation: “An Atlas of Absence” is a collection of poems by Ashok Vajpeyi, translated from Hindi to English.
627. ”Ghachar Ghochar” is an English translation of a novel originally written in which language?
a) Kannada
b) Marathi
c) Gujarati
d) Telugu
Answer: a) Kannada
Explanation: “Ghachar Ghochar” is written by Vivek Shanbhag in Kannada and has been translated into English by Srinath Perur.
628. Which Indian epic, translated to English by Arshia Sattar, tells the story of Prince Rama?
a) Mahabharata
b) Ramayana
c) Rigveda
d) Ashtadhyayi
Answer: b) Ramayana
Explanation: The “Ramayana” is an ancient Indian epic that recounts the life of Prince Rama. Arshia Sattar’s translation is one of the many English versions available.
629. ”The Death of Vishnu” is an English novel influenced by Indian mythology but is not a direct translation. Who is its author?
a) Salman Rushdie
b) Manil Suri
c) Rohinton Mistry
d) Vikram Seth
Answer: b) Manil Suri
Explanation: “The Death of Vishnu” is an original work in English by Manil Suri, reflecting the layers of Mumbai’s society interwoven with Indian mythological elements.
630. ”Swami and Friends” is a seminal work in Indian literature written in English by R.K. Narayan. The story revolves around a young boy named Swami in which fictional town?
a) Malgudi
b) Macondo
c) Lumbini
d) Pipli
Answer: a) Malgudi
Explanation: “Swami and Friends” is set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi, a setting common to many of R.K. Narayan’s works.
These questions offer a glimpse into the vast world of Indian translations and literature in English.
631. Which Harlem Renaissance writer penned the novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God”?
a) Richard Wright
b) Langston Hughes
c) Toni Morrison
d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer: d) Zora Neale Hurston
Explanation: Zora Neale Hurston is the author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” a classic of African American literature.
632. Which novel by James Baldwin focuses on the life of a young man named David, an American in Paris, grappling with his sexuality?
a) Go Tell It on the Mountain
b) Another Country
c) Giovanni’s Room
d) Just Above My Head
Answer: c) Giovanni’s Room
Explanation: “Giovanni’s Room” delves into issues of sexuality and identity, portraying the struggles of its protagonist, David.
633. ”Beloved” is a novel about the aftereffects of slavery, written by which African American author?
a) Maya Angelou
b) Alice Walker
c) Toni Morrison
d) Ralph Ellison
Answer: c) Toni Morrison
Explanation: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison is a haunting tale about the trauma and legacy of slavery in America.
634. Which work by Ralph Ellison explores the experiences of an unnamed black protagonist in New York City and his encounters with blindness, invisibility, and social recognition?
a) The Color Purple
b) Native Son
c) The Invisible Man
d) The Bluest Eye
Answer: c) The Invisible Man
Explanation: Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” discusses themes of individuality, identity, and societal recognition.
635. Who wrote the autobiographical work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” detailing her childhood and adolescent years?
a) Audre Lorde
b) Gwendolyn Brooks
c) Maya Angelou
d) Octavia Butler
Answer: c) Maya Angelou
Explanation: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is an autobiographical account by Maya Angelou, addressing themes of racism, trauma, and self-discovery.
636. Which African American science fiction writer is best known for her “Patternist” series and the novel “Kindred”?
a) Audre Lorde
b) Octavia Butler
c) Nikki Giovanni
d) Rita Dove
Answer: b) Octavia Butler
Explanation: Octavia Butler is renowned for her contributions to the science fiction genre, with works like the “Patternist” series and “Kindred.”
637. Who penned the novel “The Color Purple,” which was later adapted into a film directed by Steven Spielberg?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Alice Walker
c) Nella Larsen
d) Angela Davis
Answer: b) Alice Walker
Explanation: “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker is a seminal work that depicts the life of African American women in the early 20th century.
638. Langston Hughes, a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, primarily expressed his work through which literary form?
a) Novels
b) Plays
c) Poetry
d) Essays
Answer: c) Poetry
Explanation: While Hughes wrote in various formats, he’s most famously remembered for his poetic contributions during the Harlem Renaissance.
639. ”Native Son,” a novel about a young black man named Bigger Thomas and his experiences in Chicago, is a work by which writer?
a) James Baldwin
b) Richard Wright
c) Claude McKay
d) W.E.B. Du Bois
Answer: b) Richard Wright
Explanation: “Native Son” by Richard Wright is a classic that delves into issues of racism, poverty, and fear.
640. Which poet wrote the collection “Ain’t I a Woman,” named after a speech by Sojourner Truth?
a) Lucille Clifton
b) Phillis Wheatley
c) Sonia Sanchez
d) bell hooks
Answer: d) bell hooks
Explanation: While bell hooks is known for her feminist writings and not primarily as a poet, she wrote “Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism,” which analyzes the intersection of racism and sexism in the treatment of black women.
641. Which Russian author wrote the seminal novel “War and Peace”?
a) Anton Chekhov
b) Fyodor Dostoevsky
c) Leo Tolstoy
d) Nikolai Gogol
Answer: c) Leo Tolstoy
Explanation: Leo Tolstoy is known for “War and Peace,” an expansive work that delves into the lives of five Russian families during the Napoleonic Wars.
642. ”One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” is a novel about a man in a Soviet labor camp, written by which author?
a) Yevgeny Zamyatin
b) Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
c) Ivan Bunin
d) Boris Pasternak
Answer: b) Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Explanation: This novel by Solzhenitsyn gives a detailed account of a day in the life of an ordinary prisoner, Ivan Denisovich, in a Soviet labor camp.
643. Which Chinese author’s work “The True Story of Ah Q” is a novella about the life of a man named Ah Q, typical of the Chinese lower class?
a) Cao Xueqin
b) Mo Yan
c) Lu Xun
d) Jin Yong
Answer: c) Lu Xun
Explanation: “The True Story of Ah Q” is one of Lu Xun’s most famous works, highlighting the ills of Chinese society at the time.
644. ”Red Sorghum,” a novel that interweaves stories of love, war, and wine-making, was written by which Chinese author?
a) Amy Tan
b) Gao Xingjian
c) Ha Jin
d) Mo Yan
Answer: d) Mo Yan
Explanation: Mo Yan, a Nobel laureate, penned “Red Sorghum,” which has also been adapted into a film.
645. Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian novelist known for magical realism, wrote which of the following novels?
a) The House of the Spirits
b) The Shadow of the Wind
c) One Hundred Years of Solitude
d) The Book Thief
Answer: c) One Hundred Years of Solitude
Explanation: García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is a hallmark of Latin American literature, depicting the Buendía family’s multi-generational story in the fictional town of Macondo.
646. Which Japanese author wrote the surrealistic novel “Kafka on the Shore”?
a) Haruki Murakami
b) Yukio Mishima
c) Banana Yoshimoto
d) Shūsaku Endō
Answer: a) Haruki Murakami
Explanation: “Kafka on the Shore” is one of Haruki Murakami’s most renowned works, known for its unique narrative and intriguing characters.
647. The novel “Blindness,” about a city struck by a sudden epidemic of blindness, is a work of which Portuguese author?
a) Fernando Pessoa
b) António Lobo Antunes
c) José Saramago
d) Eça de Queirós
Answer: c) José Saramago
Explanation: Saramago’s “Blindness” is a profound allegorical tale about humanity’s ability to endure and rebuild.
648. ”The God of Small Things,” a novel that delves into the complexities of the caste system in India, is written by which author?
a) Salman Rushdie
b) Arundhati Roy
c) Vikram Seth
d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: b) Arundhati Roy
Explanation: “The God of Small Things” is Arundhati Roy’s debut novel, which won the Man Booker Prize in 1997.
689. Which South African author wrote “Cry, the Beloved Country,” a novel about the racial divides in pre-apartheid South Africa?
a) Nadine Gordimer
b) J.M. Coetzee
c) Alan Paton
d) Athol Fugard
Answer: c) Alan Paton
Explanation: “Cry, the Beloved Country” is Alan Paton’s most famous work, depicting a father’s search for his son in Johannesburg.
690. Which Nigerian author’s debut novel “Things Fall Apart” provides a detailed depiction of Igbo society before and after colonialism?
a) Chinua Achebe
b) Wole Soyinka
c) Ben Okri
d) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Answer: a) Chinua Achebe
Explanation: Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” is a foundational text in post-colonial literature, offering an African perspective on the effects of European colonization.
These questions span multiple continents and periods, reflecting the richness and diversity of world literature.
691. The term “groundlings” during the Elizabethan era referred to:
a) Actresses of the period.
b) Commoners who watched plays from the pit area of a theatre.
c) The first printed versions of a play.
d) The musicians who played before a theatrical performance.
Answer: b) Commoners who watched plays from the pit area of a theatre.
Explanation: Groundlings were the theatergoers who couldn’t afford seats and instead stood in the pit area of the Globe Theatre and other similar venues.
692. Which of the following plays is NOT associated with the University Wits, a group of playwrights before and during Shakespeare’s time?
a) Doctor Faustus
b) The Jew of Malta
c) The Revenger’s Tragedy
d) Endymion
Answer: c) The Revenger’s Tragedy
Explanation: “The Revenger’s Tragedy” is often attributed to Thomas Middleton or Cyril Tourneur, neither of whom were part of the University Wits.
693. Who wrote “The Faerie Queene,” an allegorical epic poem that praises Queen Elizabeth I?
a) John Donne
b) Sir Walter Raleigh
c) Ben Jonson
d) Edmund Spenser
Answer: d) Edmund Spenser
Explanation: “The Faerie Queene” is an epic poem by Edmund Spenser, written in homage to Queen Elizabeth I and celebrating her rule.
694. Which Elizabethan work is framed as a series of stories told by passengers on a ship traveling from London to Canterbury?
a) The Canterbury Tales
b) The Decameron
c) Arcadia
d) The Pilgrim’s Progress
Answer: a) The Canterbury Tales
Explanation: “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer, although written in the Middle Ages, predates the Elizabethan era but laid the foundations for English literature and was widely read during Elizabeth I’s reign.
695. Which Elizabethan dramatist, rival of Shakespeare, was imprisoned for his satirical play “The Isle of Dogs”?
a) Christopher Marlowe
b) Ben Jonson
c) Thomas Dekker
d) Thomas Nashe
Answer: b) Ben Jonson
Explanation: Ben Jonson co-wrote “The Isle of Dogs,” a satirical play that was deemed seditious. He was imprisoned as a result.
696. Who was the Elizabethan playwright known for his “comedy of humours,” wherein characters were dominated by a single trait or ‘humour’?
a) Thomas Kyd
b) Ben Jonson
c) John Webster
d) John Marston
Answer: b) Ben Jonson
Explanation: Ben Jonson’s concept of the “comedy of humours” involved characters whose actions and reactions were dictated by a single overriding temperament or ‘humour.’
697. Which work was published posthumously in 1623 and is the primary source for a number of Shakespeare’s plays?
a) The First Folio
b) The Sonnets
c) The Book of Common Prayer
d) The Mirror for Magistrates
Answer: a) The First Folio
Explanation: The First Folio is the first published collection of Shakespeare’s plays, compiled by his colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell.
698. Which Elizabethan poet is best known for his poem “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”?
a) Sir Philip Sidney
b) Sir Walter Raleigh
c) Edmund Spenser
d) Michael Drayton
Answer: b) Sir Walter Raleigh
Explanation: Sir Walter Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” is a response to Christopher Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.”
699. ”The Anatomy of Melancholy,” a vast and sprawling work covering topics from love to religion, was penned by which Elizabethan writer?
a) Robert Burton
b) Richard Hooker
c) Thomas Campion
d) John Lyly
Answer: a) Robert Burton
Explanation: Robert Burton’s “The Anatomy of Melancholy” is a comprehensive exploration of the causes and
700. Which Elizabethan play is considered an early revenge tragedy and served as an influence for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”?
a) The Duchess of Malfi
b) The Spanish Tragedy
c) Tamburlaine
d) Every Man in His Humour
Answer: b) The Spanish Tragedy
Explanation: “The Spanish Tragedy” by Thomas Kyd is an influential early revenge tragedy that had notable similarities to and influences on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
701. Which novel features the character Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman in the American South?
a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
b) “Gone with the Wind”
c) “The Grapes of Wrath”
d) “The Color Purple”
Answer: a) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Explanation: Atticus Finch is a central character in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
702. Who is the author of the novel “The Name of the Wind,” the first book in the fantasy series “The Kingkiller Chronicle”?
a) George R.R. Martin
b) Brandon Sanderson
c) Patrick Rothfuss
d) Neil Gaiman
Answer: c) Patrick Rothfuss
Explanation: “The Name of the Wind” is the work of Patrick Rothfuss.
703. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “Love in the Time of Cholera,” what are the names of the two main characters who are separated for decades before reuniting?
a) Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza
b) Juan Preciado and Pedro Páramo
c) Esteban Trueba and Alba
d) Tita and Pedro
Answer: a) Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza
Explanation: Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza are the main characters in “Love in the Time of Cholera.”
704. Who is the author of the play “Waiting for Godot”?
a) Samuel Beckett
b) Harold Pinter
c) Tennessee Williams
d) Arthur Miller
Answer: a) Samuel Beckett
Explanation: “Waiting for Godot” is a play written by Samuel Beckett.
705. Who is the author of the novel “Brave New World”?
a) George Orwell
b) Aldous Huxley
c) Ray Bradbury
d) H.G. Wells
Answer: b) Aldous Huxley
Explanation: “Brave New World” was written by Aldous Huxley.
706. Identify the one that has not been paired correctly.
a. Criticism in wilderness –Geoffrey Hartman
b. Madness and Civilization –Ronald Barthes
c. Poetry and Repression –Harold Bloom
d. Strangers to Ourselves- Julia Kristeva
Answer: b. Madness and Civilization –Ronald Barthes
Explanation: “Madness and Civilization” is actually a book written by Michel Foucault, not Roland Barthes.
707. Which of the following articles of the Indian Constitution made the provision for use of English, alongside Hindi, for official purposes, for fifteen years?
a. Article 351
b. Article 344
c. Article 343
d. Article 348
Correct Answer: c. Article 343
Explanation: Article 343 of the Indian Constitution deals with the official language of the Republic of India, and it made provisions for the continued use of English for official
708. What is meant by ‘Corporate author’ in research”?
a. A writer who belongs to a corporate company
b. A writer who writes on matters of corporate affairs
c. A work produced by an institution, an association or a government agency
d. A renowned author
Answer: c. A work produced by an institution, an association, or a government agency
Explanation: A “corporate author” in research typically refers to a work or publication that is produced by an institution, association, or government agency rather than an individual writer.
709. Which of the following theorists identifies “metonymy” and “metaphor” as two fundamental structures of language?
1. Ferdinand de Sassure
2. Roland Barthes
3. J. L. Austin
4. Roman Jacobson
Answer: 4. Roman Jakobson
Explanation: Roman Jakobson, a linguist and literary theorist, identified “metonymy” and “metaphor” as two fundamental structures of language in his work on linguistics and poetics.
710 Which of the following is not true about “Lyrical Ballads”?
a. It is a manifesto of Romantic poetry.
b. It turns English poetry away from the social and intellectual sophistication of the seventeenth and the eighteenth century poetry.
c. It takes poetry out of the confines of reason and intellect to the unravished and unspoilt beauties of nature.
d. It is very particular about the form and structure of a poem.
Answer: d. It is very particular about the form and structure of a poem.
Explanation: “Lyrical Ballads,” written by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is known for its emphasis on natural and emotional expression in poetry and is not particularly concerned with strict form and structure.
711 J Hillis Miller, one of the leading exponents of deconstruction, makes a deconstructionist reading of which of the following poems of
P. B. Shelley?
a. “ The triumph of life”
b. “ ode to the west wind”
c. “Revolt of Islam”
d. “The witch of Atlas”
Answer: a. “The Triumph of Life”
Explanation: J. Hillis Miller is known for his deconstructionist readings, and he has applied deconstruction to Shelley’s “The Triumph of Life.”
712 The Deserted Village by Oliver Goldsmith
a. Critiques the rural instructions
b. Voices revolt of the individual man against institutions
c. Reflects upon different views on the human soul
d. Advocates urbanism over rural backwardness
Answer: c. Reflects upon different views on the human soul
Explanation: “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith reflects upon different views on the human soul and laments the impact of urbanization and the loss of rural life.
713 A. L. Tennyson in the following lines:
“Yet I doubt not through the ages one increasing purpose runs.
And the thoughts of men are widen’d with the process of the suns”
a. Reflects upon secularism
b. Reflects upon evolutionary faith
c. Reflects upon utilitarianism
d. Reflects upon materialism
Answer: b. Reflects upon evolutionary faith
Explanation: These lines from Tennyson’s “In Memoriam” reflect upon the idea of an evolving and progressing world, often associated with evolutionary faith.
714 Philip Sidney’s Arcadia was influenced by
a. The Spanish Romance of Montemayor
b. The Italian paintings of Veronese
c. The Arthurian Legends
d. The Metaphysical Poetry
Correct Answer: a. The Spanish Romance of Montemayor
Explanation: Philip Sidney’s “Arcadia” was influenced by the Spanish Romance of Montemayor, among other sources.
715 Who among the following has authored The Revenger’s Tragadie?
a. Cyril Tourneur
b. John Webster
c. John Fletcher
d. Thomas Heywood
Answer: a. Cyril Tourneur
Explanation: “The Revenger’s Tragedy” is a play written by Cyril Tourneur.
716 Besides being a playwright, who among the following has translated Homer?
a. Ben Jonson
b. Thomas Dekker
c. Thomas Heywood
d. George Chapman
Answer: d. George Chapman
Explanation: George Chapman, in addition to being a playwright, is known for his translations of Homer’s works.
717 Who among the following in the article. “Fleshly School of poetry”, attacked the Pre-Raphaelites, especially D. G. Rossetti?
a. Robert Browning
b. William Holeman Hunt
c. Robert Buchanan
d. Christina Rossetti
Answer: c. Robert Buchanan
Explanation: Robert Buchanan wrote the article “The Fleshly School of Poetry,” which attacked the Pre-Raphaelites, including D. G. Rossetti.
718 Which among the following is an incomplete poem by P. B. Shelley?
a. The Triumph of Life
b. Ode to the West Wind
c. Queen Mab
d. The Daemon of the World
Answer: a. The Triumph of Life
Explanation: “The Triumph of Life” by P. B. Shelley is considered an incomplete poem.
719 Who among the following attached himself to the Earl of Nottingham’s theatrical company?
a. William Shakespeare
b. Christopher Marlow
c. George Peele
d. Ben Jonson
Answer: c. George Peele
Explanation: George Peele was associated with the Earl of Nottingham’s theatrical company.
720 When was Haruki Murkami’s Men without Women published?
a. 2017
b. 2018
c. 2014
d. 2019
Answer: b. 2018
Explanation: Haruki Murakami’s “Men Without Women” was published in 2018.
721 Who is the author of the essay “Three Women’s Texts and a Critique of Imperialism” (1985)?
a. Ania Loomba
b. Meenakshi Mukherjee
c. Susan Meyer
d. Gayatri Chakravorty spivak
Answer: d. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Explanation: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak authored the essay “Three Women’s Texts and a Critique of Imperialism” in 1985.
722. Who among the following critics appropriates the following statement by Karl Marx?
“They cannot represent themselves: they must be represented”.
a. Ruth Vanita
b. Kamla Bhasin
c. Flaria Agnes
d. Chandra Talpade Mohanty
Answer: d. Chandra Talpade Mohanty
Explanation: Chandra Talpade Mohanty is known for appropriating Karl Marx’s statement in her work on feminism and representation.
723. Under the Net [1954] is written by
a. John Fowles
b. Iris Mudroch
c. Edmund Goose
d. William Cooper
Answer: b. Iris Murdoch
Explanation: “Under the Net” is a novel written by Iris Murdoch.
724. Who among the following is not a recipient of the Nobel prize for Literature?
a. Winston Churchill
b. T. S. Eliot
c. W. H. Auden
d. Madam Curie
Answer: d. Madam Curie
Explanation: Marie Curie, also known as Madam Curie, was not a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. She received Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.
725 Find out the correct sequence of the publications of the following books
a. India: An Area of Darkness: India: A Wounded Civilization: India: A Million Mutinies Now: A House for Mr. Biswas
b. A House for Mr. Biswas: India: A Million Mutinies Now: India: An Area of Darkness: India: A Wounded Civilization
c. [A House for Mr. Biswas: India: An Area of Darkness: India: A Wounded Civilization: India: A Million Mutinies Now
d. India: A Wounded Civilization: A House for Mr. Biswas: India: An Area of Darkness: India: A Million Mutinies
Answer: b. A House for Mr. Biswas: India: A Million Mutinies Now: India: An Area of Darkness: India: A Wounded Civilization
Explanation: The correct sequence of publication for these books by V.S.
“A House for Mr. Biswas” by V.S. Naipaul – Published in 1961.
“India: An Area of Darkness” by V.S. Naipaul – Published in 1964.
“India: A Wounded Civilization” by V.S. Naipaul – Published in 1977.
“India: A Million Mutinies Now” by V.S. Naipaul – Published in 1990.
726. The “Ancient and Modern Quarrel” in western Literary Criticism appears during
a. 100 BC
b. Fifth century CE
c. Sixteenth Century CE
d. Twentieth Century CE
Answer: c. Sixteenth Century CE
Explanation: The “Ancient and Modern Quarrel” in Western Literary Criticism emerged in the sixteenth century CE when scholars debated the merits of classical (ancient) literature compared to modern literature.
727. In which year Miles Coverdale translated The Old Testament of The Bible?
a. 1533
b. 1534
c. 1535
d. 1536
Answer: c. 1535
Explanation: Miles Coverdale translated The Old Testament of The Bible in the year 1535.
728. Who is the author of the poem “House of Fame”?
a. William Langland
b. Geoffrey Chaucer
c. Thomas Moore
d. Philip Sidney
Answer: b. Geoffrey Chaucer
Explanation: Geoffrey Chaucer is the author of the poem “House of Fame.”
729. The heroic couplet is a pair of
a. Twelve- syllable lines that rhyme
b. Ten- syllable lines that do not rhyme
c. Eight- syllable lines that do not rhyme
d. Eight- syllable lines that rhyme
Answer: b. Ten-syllable lines that rhyme
Explanation: A heroic couplet consists of two lines of ten syllables each that rhyme with each other.
730. The book Women Beware Women was published in the year
1. 1612
2. 1620
3. 1621
4. 1622
Answer: 3. 1621
Explanation: “Women Beware Women” was published in the year 1621.
731. Which of the following is not a part of Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis Trilogy?
a. Sea of poppies
b. River of smoke
c. Flood of fire
d. The Calcutta Chromosome
Answer: d. The Calcutta Chromosome
Explanation: “The Calcutta Chromosome” is a separate novel by Amitav Ghosh and is not part of the Ibis Trilogy, which includes “Sea of Poppies,” “River of Smoke,” and “Flood of Fire.”
732. “A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Which of the following texts glorifies this as its predominant theme?
a. The old man and the sea
b. War and peace
c. A farewell to arms
d. For whom the bell tolls
Answer: a. The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: This quote is from Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea,” where the theme of resilience in the face of adversity is predominant.
733. Which of the following critics is associated with the term “contrapuntal reading”?
1. Mikhail Bakhtin
2. Edward Said
3. Roland Barthes
4. Jacques Derrida
Answer: 2. Edward Said
Explanation: Edward Said is associated with the term “contrapuntal reading,” which refers to the practice of reading texts in relation to their colonial and post-colonial contexts.
734. Who is the author of “A Literature of their own?
a. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar
b. Elaine Showalter
c. Virginia Woolf
d. Sylvia Plath
Answer: a. Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar
Explanation: “A Literature of Their Own” is a feminist literary criticism work written by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar.
735. Who said,” there is, there can be and there ought to be the difference between the language of prose and metrical composition”?
a. John Dryden
b. William Wordsworth
c. S.T. Coleridge
d. T. S. Eliot
Answer: a. John Dryden
Explanation: John Dryden is known for his statement emphasizing the distinction between prose and metrical composition.
736. Stuart hall belongs to ——— schools of cultural studies.
a. Oxford
b. Cambridge
c. Birmingham
d. American
Answer: c. Birmingham
Explanation: Stuart Hall is associated with the Birmingham School of Cultural Studies.
737. Tolkappivam is a book of grammar and poetics written in the ——language.
a. Telugu
b. Tamil
c. Kannada
d. Malayalam
Answer: b. Tamil
Explanation: Tolkappiyam is a book of grammar and poetics written in the Tamil language.
738.. Gaiutra Bahadur wrote an autobiographic novel titles
a. An era of darkness
b. Dauka puran
c. The Collie Woman
d. Rama’s Banishement
Answer: c. The Coolie Woman
Explanation: Gaiutra Bahadur wrote an autobiographical novel titled “The Coolie Woman.”
739.. Subramani’s Fantasy Eaters [1988] is a
a. Novel
b. Collection of short stories
c. Collection of essays
d. Poem
Answer: b. Collection of short stories
Explanation: “Fantasy Eaters” by Subramani is a collection of short stories.
740. Canadian Multiculturalism act was passed in the year :
a. 1958
b. 1968
c. 1978
d. 1988
Answer: d. 1988
Explanation: The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was passed in the year 1988.
741. The Writer and the World by V. S. Naipaul is a
a. Novel
b. Travelogue
c. Collection of essays
d. Non-fiction
Answer: c. Collection of essays
Explanation: “The Writer and the World” by V. S. Naipaul is a collection of essays.
742. “ It is significant that the productive capacities of this Third space have a colonial or post-colonial provenance “. The above lines have been written by
a. Salman Rushdie
b. Edward Said
c. Benedict Anderson
d. Homi K. Bhabha
Answer: d. Homi K. Bhabha
Explanation: The quoted lines are associated with the post-colonial theorist Homi K. Bhabha.
743. Find the correct explanation of the term ‘Aporia’:
a. It denotes a speaker’s or character’s deliberation on an irresolvable
question
b. It is an address to something inanimate
c. It is applied to a work of art fraught with inherent tension
d. It refers to a form of denial of existence
Answer: a. It denotes a speaker’s or character’s deliberation on an irresolvable question
Explanation: Aporia refers to a state of perplexity or a speaker’s deliberation on an irresolvable question within a text.
744. Which writer does not belong to the Angry young men Movement?
a. John Osborne
b. Kingsley Amis
c. Seamus Heaney
d. Philip Larkin
Answer: c. Seamus Heaney
Explanation: Seamus Heaney was not a part of the Angry Young Men Movement, which primarily included British playwrights and novelists.
745. Should poets bicycle –pump the human heart or squash it flat?
Man’s love is of man’s life a thing apart:
Girls aren’t like that.
The above lines are written by:
1. Philip Larkin
2. Kingsley Amis
3. Donald Davie
4. John Wain
Answer: 1. Philip Larkin
Explanation: These lines are written by Philip Larkin.
746. Which of the collections of poems are not written by Meena Alexander?
a. River and Bride
b. Articulate Silence
c. Raw Silk
d. Stone Roots
e. A Time to Change
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
1. A and B only
2. Band D only
3. C and E only
4. B and E only
Answer: 2. B and E only
Explanation: “Articulate Silence” and “Stone Roots” are not collections of poems written by Meena Alexander.
747. Which of these are not forms of flash action?
a. Drabble
b. Postcard fiction
c. Novelette
d. Short story
e. Nanofiction
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
1. A and E only
2. A, B and E only
3. D and E only
4. C, D and E only
Answer: 3. D and E only
Explanation: “Novelette” and “Short story” are not forms of flash fiction.
748. Identify the poems termed as “pastoral elegies”:
a. Lycidas
b. In Memory of W. B. Yeats
c. Adonais
d. Thyrsis
e. In Memoriam
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
a. A, B and C only
b. B, C and E only
c. A, C and D only
d. C, D and E only
Answer: c. A, C and D only
Explanation: “Lycidas,” “Adonais,” and “Thyrsis” are considered pastoral elegies.
749. Identify the correct combination among the following :
a. Demons –Novel
b. Landlady – Novella
c. The Crocodile – short story
d. A Writer’s Diary –Essay
e. Mary Stuart – Translation
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
1. A, B and E only
2. C,D and E only
3. B,C and E only
4. B, C and D only
Answer: 3. B, C and D only
Explanation: “Landlady” is a short story, “The Crocodile” is a collection of short stories, and “A Writer’s Diary” is a collection of essays. The other options are incorrect.
750. Identify the correct ones among the following :
A Arun Kolatkar uses colloquial speech in his poems
B. Kolatkar envisions abstract qualities to paint a picture of life of his own kind
C. The poem Boatride by Kolatkar talks about a ride in the Ganges
D. Private Poems in Public Garden is composed by Dilip Chitre
E. “In Ethiopia’ is a poem on Africa by Arun Kolatkar
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
1. A. Band C only
2. B, D and E only
3. A. Band D only
4. C, B and E only
Answer: 2. B, D and E only
751. Which of these are correct combination of the works by Doris Lessing and their respective themes?
a. The Golden Notebook -deals with Johor travelling to Rohonda
B.The Good Terrorist -is about a doomed love affair
C.Shikasta- is about a planet, which is cut-off due to the advanced influence of civilization
D.Alfred and Emily- explores the life of her parents
E. The Grass is singing – drawn from her experiences in Africa
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
1. A and D only
2. A. B and E only
3. C. D and E only
4. E,B and A only
Answer: 4. E, B, and A only
Explanation: The correct combinations of works by Doris Lessing and their respective themes are as follows:
“The Golden Notebook” – Explores the inner life of a writer.
“The Good Terrorist” – Deals with a doomed love affair.
“Shikasta” – Involves a planet cut off from advanced civilization.
“Alfred and Emily” – Explores the life of her parents.
“The Grass is Singing” – Drawn from her experiences in Africa.
752 identify the correct combination among the following:
a. Spondee : it consists of three stresses syllables
b. Pyrrhic: it consists of two unstressed syllables
c. Amphimacer : it a metrical foot of three syllables
d. Choriambus : it is a foot of verse consisting of two stresses syllables enclosing two unstressed syllables
e. Trochaic : it has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.
f. Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
a. A,B and E only
b. B, C and E only
c. B, C and D only
d. C,D and E only
Answer: a. A, B, and E only
Explanation: The correct combinations are as follows:
Spondee: It consists of two stressed syllables.
Pyrrhic: It consists of two unstressed syllables.
Trochaic: It has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one.
753. Which of the following observations are true about Roland Barthes’ contributions to literary theory?
a. He rejected the model for structural analvsis of narratives
b. He perceived “meaning” as an effect of various interconnections among linguistic codes
c. He identified the various codes found in the process of structuration
d. He played a significant role in the development of ‘semiology
e. He questioned the concept of literary criticism as an act of uncovering some hidden truth intended by the “Author
Choose the correct answer from the options given below
a. A, B and C only
b. C,D and E only
c. B, C, D and E Only
d. A, B, C, D and E write answers of each and expalin along with each question
Answer: c. B, C, D, and E only
Explanation: Roland Barthes made significant contributions to literary theory, including:
Perceiving “meaning” as an effect of various interconnections among linguistic codes.
Identifying various codes found in the process of structuration.
Playing a significant role in the development of ‘semiology
Questioning the concept of literary criticism as an act of uncovering some hidden truth intended by the “Author.”
754. In” an apology for poetry”Sidney discusses the didactic function of poetry by comparing it to philosophy and:-
1.religion .
2.aesthetics
3. history.
4. ethics.
Answer:- religion.
Explanation In “An Apology for Poetry,” Sidney discusses the didactic function of poetry by comparing it to philosophy and religion. He argues that poetry, like religion, can inspire and elevate the human spirit.
755. According to Longinus , which two of the following qualities apply to ‘great poetry’?
A. It must be work of genius,an inspired person.
B.It must cause a feeling of melancholy in the reader.
C.It must employ devices of rhetoric.
C. it must please selectively and on special occasions.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:-
1.A and B only
2.A and C only
3.B and D only
4.C and D only
Answer 1.A and B only
Explanation According to Longinus, “great poetry” must have two qualities:
A. It must be the work of a genius, an inspired person.
B. It must cause a feeling of melancholy in the reader.
These qualities are associated with the sublime and the emotional impact of great poetry.
756. In “The function of criticism”T.S Eliot attacked j.Middleton Murry and similar critics for being devotees of what he called:-
1”the inner voice”
2”the Romantic impulse”
3.”the Symbol Hunt”
4.”the Muse’s Mystery”
Ansewer:- 1.”the inner voice”
Explanation In “The Function of Criticism,” T.S. Eliot criticized J. Middleton Murry and similar critics for being devotees of what he called “the inner voice.” Eliot believed that such critics focused too much on personal and subjective responses to literature, rather than objective analysis.
757. Who among the following, compared ‘the mind in creation ‘to a fading coal’?
1. Wordsworth.
2. Coleridge.
3.Shelley
4.Keats
Answer:- A Wordsworth
Explanation The comparison of “the mind in creation” to a fading coal is made by William Wordsworth. This comparison emphasizes the fleeting nature of creative inspiration.
758.Who among the following considered paraphrase as ‘a heresy’?
1.Percy Lubbock
2.Edmund Wilson
3.I.A Richards
4.Cleanth Brooks
Correct Answer:- 1.Percy Lubbock
Explanation Lubbock considered paraphrase as ‘a heresy’ because he believed that it reduced the complexity and depth of literary works by simplifying them into plain language.
759.Empiricist linguistics is concerned with :-
1.Investigation of the human mind
2.directly observable sense data
3.reason as a determinant of enquiry
4.innate language knowledge
Answer:- 1.Investigation of the human mind
Explanation Empiricist linguistics is concerned with the investigation of the human mind. It emphasizes the role of direct observation and experience in understanding language.
760. In Noam Chomsky ‘s definition of grammar which two features are drawn from mathematics?
A.Complexity
B.Abstraction
C.transformation
D.generation
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:-
1.A and B only
2.A and C only
3.B and D only
4.C and D only
Answer:- 1.A and B only
Explanation
In Noam Chomsky’s definition of grammar, the two features drawn from mathematics are:
A. Complexity
B. Abstraction
These features highlight the intricate and abstract nature of grammar.
761.’Potato’is a sixteenth century borrowing into English form:-
1.Spanish
2.French
3.German
4.Norwegian
Answer- 1.Spanish
The word “Potato” is a sixteenth-century borrowing into English from Spanish.
762.Who among the following represents the global spread of English diagrammatically as three concentric circles?
1.David Crystal
2.Jenny Cheshire
3.Braj B.Kachru
4.Salikoko Mufwene
Answer:- 1.David Crystal
Explanation David Crystal represents the global spread of English diagrammatically as three concentric circles, symbolizing the inner circle (native speakers), the outer circle (non-native speakers in former British colonies), and the expanding circle (learners and users of English worldwide).
763.Who Among the following is the founder of the Survey of English Usage(SEU)?
1.Randolph Quirk
2.Henry Watson Fowler
3.Michael Swan
4.Bryan Garner
Answer:- A Randolph Quirk
Explanation The founder of the Survey of English Usage (SEU) is Randolph Quirk. SEU is a research project dedicated to studying the English language and its usage.
764. Who is the author of the short story,”Beethoven Was one of the-Sixteenth Black “?
1.J.M.Coetzee
2.Nadine Gordimer
3.Andre Brink
4.Bessie Head
Answer- 1.J.M Coetzee
Explanation
“Beethoven Was One of the Sixteenth Black” is a short story by J.M. Coetzee, a renowned South African author.
765.Arrange the following texts in the chronological order of publication.
A.This Bridge Called My Back
B.Sexual politics
C.Gender Trouble
D.The feminine Mystique
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:-
1.B,D,A,C
2.D,B,A,C
3.D,A,B,C
4.B,D,C,A
Correct Answer:-
2.DBAC
Explanation the chronological order of publication for the mentioned texts along with their publication dates:
“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan – Published in 1963.
“Sexual Politics” by Kate Millett – Published in 1970.
“This Bridge Called My Back” (Edited by Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa) – First published in 1981.
“Gender Trouble” by Judith Butler – Published in 1990.
766.Who is the author of the essay “Lear ,Tolstoy and the Fool”?
1.Aldous Huxley
2.George Orwell
3.Virginia Woolf
4.Somerest Maugham
Answer:- 1.Aldous Huxley
Explanation The author of the essay “Lear, Tolstoy, and the Fool” is Aldous Huxley. In this essay, Huxley explores the ethical and philosophical ideas presented in Shakespeare’s “King Lear.”
767.Which of the following poems by Robert Browning contains the lines “Our interest ‘s on the dangerous edge of things, /The honest thief, the tender murder, /The superstitious ethicist…”?
1.”A Death in the Desert”
2.”Count Gismond”
3.”Bishop Blougram’s Apology “
4.”Love among the Ruins “
Answer 1.”A Death in the Desert
Explanation The lines “Our interest ‘s on the dangerous edge of things, /The honest thief, the tender murder, /The superstitious ethicist…” are from Robert Browning’s poem “A Death in the Desert.” They reflect Browning’s exploration of complex moral and ethical dilemmas.
768. Who among the following edited The Cornhill Magazine?
1. Charles Dickens.
2. Lewis Carol.
3.William Makepeace Thackeray.
4.Anthony Trollope
Answer 1.Charles Dickens
Explanation Charles Dickens edited The Cornhill Magazine. Dickens was known for his contributions to literature and his involvement in various literary endeavors, including editing magazines.
769. Which literary movement emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism?
a) Realism
b) Modernism
c) Romanticism
d) Postmodernism
Answer: c) Romanticism
Explanation: The Romantic movement, spanning the late 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasized emotion, nature, and individualism as counterpoints to the perceived constraints of urbanization and rationalized enlightenment ideals.
770. The literary device used to give human traits to non-human entities is called:
a) Metaphor
b) Allusion
c) Personification
d) Hyperbole
Answer: c) Personification
Explanation: Personification is a figure of speech in which non-human entities or inanimate objects are given human qualities or characteristics.
771. Which novel features the character Atticus Finch?
a) The Great Gatsby
b) To Kill a Mockingbird
c) The Catcher in the Rye
d) Moby Dick
Answer: b) To Kill a Mockingbird
Explanation: Atticus Finch is a central character in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, where he serves as a moral hero and a source of inspiration.
772. Which of the following is NOT a tragedy by William Shakespeare?
a) Macbeth
b) Othello
c) The Tempest
d) King Lear
Answer: c) The Tempest
Explanation: While Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear are tragedies penned by Shakespeare, The Tempest is typically classified as a romance or comedy.
773.Who wrote the poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”?
a) Robert Frost
b) Dylan Thomas
c) T.S. Eliot
d) W.B. Yeats
Answer: b) Dylan Thomas
Explanation: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” is a villanelle written by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. It’s a plea from a son to his dying father.
774. Which novel starts with the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”?
a) War and Peace
b) Pride and Prejudice
c) A Tale of Two Cities
d) Mansfield Park
Answer: c) A Tale of Two Cities
Explanation: This iconic line is the opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, referencing the dualities of the French Revolution.
775. Which novel features the character Mina Harker?
a) Frankenstein
b) The Picture of Dorian Gray
c) Wuthering Heights
d) Dracula
Answer: d) Dracula
Explanation: Mina Harker is a principal character in Bram Stoker’s gothic horror novel Dracula.
776. Who wrote the play “The Importance of Being Earnest”?
a) George Bernard Shaw
b) Samuel Beckett
c) Oscar Wilde
d) Harold Pinter
Answer: c) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedic play penned by Oscar Wilde, emphasizing the trivialities of society.
777. Which work is a stream-of-consciousness novel set in Dublin over a single day?
a) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
b) The Sound and the Fury
c) Mrs. Dalloway
d) Ulysses
Answer: d) Ulysses
Explanation: Ulysses by James Joyce is set in Dublin and employs a stream-of-consciousness technique. It takes place over a single day, June 16th.
778. The Booker Prize is awarded to authors from which region?
a) United States
b) The Commonwealth and Ireland
c) Scandinavian countries
d) Spanish-speaking countries
Answer: b) The Commonwealth and Ireland
Explanation: The Booker Prize, originally known as the Man Booker Prize, is awarded annually for the best original novel written in English and published in the UK. The eligibility was primarily for authors from the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland, and Zimbabwe.
779. Who among the following poets penned “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?
a) Robert Frost
b) W.B. Yeats
c) T.S. Eliot
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a modernist poem by T.S. Eliot, highlighting the anxieties and indecision of the titular character.
780. Which author wrote “Middlemarch”?
a) Jane Austen
b) George Eliot
c) Elizabeth Gaskell
d) Charlotte Brontë
Answer: b) George Eliot
Explanation: “Middlemarch” is a novel by George Eliot (pseudonym for Mary Ann Evans), depicting the social world of a provincial town.
781. Which of these poets was NOT part of the Lake Poets?
a) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
b) John Keats
c) William Wordsworth
d) Robert Southey
Answer: b) John Keats
Explanation: The Lake Poets include Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, and Robert Southey. John Keats, while a Romantic poet, wasn’t part of this group.
782. In which work is the fictional town of Macondo prominently featured?
a) Things Fall Apart
b) Wide Sargasso Sea
c) One Hundred Years of Solitude
d) The God of Small Things
Answer: c) One Hundred Years of Solitude
Explanation: Macondo is the central setting of Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, representing various phases of Colombian history.
783. Which genre focuses on the lives and romantic entanglements of its protagonists, often set among the British landed gentry?
a) Bildungsroman
b) Gothic Fiction
c) Comedy of Manners
d) Tragedy
Answer: c) Comedy of Manners
Explanation: The Comedy of Manners is a genre that satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often dealing with romantic entanglements.
784. Who wrote “Death of a Salesman”?
a) Eugene O’Neill
b) Tennessee Williams
c) Arthur Miller
d) Edward Albee
Answer: c) Arthur Miller
Explanation: “Death of a Salesman” is a play by Arthur Miller, delving into the tragic life of Willy Loman and his unfulfilled American Dream.
785. Which work is considered a seminal text on power and statecraft?
a) Utopia
b) The Prince
c) Paradise Lost
d) Don Quixote
Answer: b) The Prince
Explanation: “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli is a treatise on political power and statecraft, advising rulers on how to maintain their power.
786. Which of these is an Old English epic poem?
a) Iliad
b) Beowulf
c) Odyssey
d) Aeneid
Answer: b) Beowulf
Explanation: “Beowulf” is an Old English epic poem narrating the heroic deeds of the titular character against the monster Grendel.
787. Who wrote “The Second Sex”, exploring the treatment of women throughout history?
a) Simone de Beauvoir
b) Virginia Woolf
c) Betty Friedan
d) Gloria Steinem
Answer: a) Simone de Beauvoir
Explanation: “The Second Sex” is a detailed analysis of women’s oppression by Simone de Beauvoir, examining the societal constructs around womanhood.
788. Who proposed the idea of “Death of the Author”, emphasizing the interpretation of the reader over the intentions of the writer?
a) Jacques Derrida
b) Roland Barthes
c) Harold Bloom
d) Raymond Williams
Answer: b) Roland Barthes
Explanation: Roland Barthes’s essay “Death of the Author” asserts that the creator’s intentions shouldn’t dominate the interpretation of the text, instead emphasizing the reader’s role.
789.Which of the following is NOT a poem found in the Exeter Book?
a) “Wulf and Eadwacer”
b) “The Wanderer”
c) “The Dream of the Rood”
d) “The Wife’s Lament”
Answer: c) “The Dream of the Rood”
Explanation: While “The Dream of the Rood” is an Old English poem, it is not found in the Exeter Book. Instead, it is inscribed on the Ruthwell Cross and preserved in the Vercelli Book.
790. Which playwright is best known for “Volpone” and “The Alchemist”?
a) Christopher Marlowe
b) Ben Jonson
c) John Webster
d) Thomas Middleton
Answer: b) Ben Jonson
Explanation: Ben Jonson, a key figure in English Renaissance drama, wrote the satirical comedies “Volpone” and “The Alchemist.”
791. ”The World Is Too Much with Us” is a sonnet by:
a) Percy Bysshe Shelley
b) William Wordsworth
c) John Keats
d) Lord Byron
Answer: b) William Wordsworth
Explanation: This sonnet expresses Wordsworth’s dismay at the world’s disconnection from nature, a recurring theme in his poetry.
792. In Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” who is the leader of the group of child thieves?
a) Bill Sikes
b) Mr. Brownlow
c) Fagin
d) Mr. Bumble
Answer: c) Fagin
Explanation: Fagin is the antagonist who leads a group of young pickpockets in London.
793. Which novel features the character Mina Harker?
a) “Frankenstein”
b) “Wuthering Heights”
c) “Jane Eyre”
d) “Dracula”
Answer: d) “Dracula”
Explanation: Mina Harker is one of the main characters in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
794. Who wrote “Brave New World”?
a) George Orwell
b) Aldous Huxley
c) Anthony Burgess
d) John Steinbeck
Answer: b) Aldous Huxley
Explanation: “Brave New World” is a dystopian novel by Aldous Huxley that critiques the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
795. The Imagist movement focused on:
a) Extensive use of metaphors and allegories
b) Direct treatment of the “thing,” precise language, and avoidance of unnecessary words
c) Highly emotional and subjective content
d) Long narrative sequences
Answer: b) Direct treatment of the “thing,” precise language, and avoidance of unnecessary words
Explanation: Imagism was an early 20th-century poetry movement that championed clarity, precision, and economy of language.
796. The term “intertextuality” was popularized by:
a) Roland Barthes
b) Jacques Derrida
c) Julia Kristeva
d) Michel Foucault
Answer: c) Julia Kristeva
Explanation: Intertextuality refers to the interdependent ways in which texts stand in relation to each other, a concept introduced and popularized by Julia Kristeva.
797, In James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” the narrative takes place over how long?
a) One week
b) One month
c) One day
d) One year
Answer: c) One day
Explanation: “Ulysses” chronicles the events of a single day, June 16, 1904, in the life of its protagonist, Leopold Bloom.
798. A metonymy is a figure of speech:
a) That exaggerates for emphasis
b) That substitutes the name of one thing with the name of something else closely associated with it
c) That implies a comparison between two unlike things
d) That gives human attributes to non-human entities
Answer: b) That substitutes the name of one thing with the name of something else closely associated with it
Explanation: In metonymy, the name of one thing is replaced with the name of something else with which it is closely associated (e.g., “The White House issued a statement” where “The White House” is used for the people who work within it).
799. Which of the following books was written by Lewis Carroll?
a) “The Wind in the Willows”
b) “The Chronicles of Narnia”
c) “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
d) “The Hobbit”
Answer: c) “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
Explanation: Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” a classic of children’s literature.
800. ”Waiting for Godot,” a play where two characters wait for someone who never arrives, was written by:
a) Harold Pinter
b) Samuel Beckett
c) Tom Stoppard
d) Tennessee Williams
Answer: b) Samuel Beckett
Explanation: “Waiting for Godot” is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett. It’s often cited as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century.
801. Who is the author of the play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” known for its wit and satire of Victorian society?
a) George Bernard Shaw
b) Oscar Wilde
c) Samuel Beckett
d) Arthur Miller
Answer: b) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Importance of Being Earnest” was written by Oscar Wilde.
802. In Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights,” who is the brooding and passionate protagonist?
a) Catherine Earnshaw
b) Heathcliff
c) Edgar Linton
d) Isabella Linton
Answer: b) Heathcliff
Explanation: Heathcliff is the brooding and passionate protagonist of “Wuthering Heights.”
803. Who is the author of the novel “Mrs. Dalloway,” which explores a single day in the life of its title character, Clarissa Dalloway?
a) Virginia Woolf
b) E.M. Forster
c) D.H. Lawrence
d) Joseph Conrad
Answer: a) Virginia Woolf
Explanation: “Mrs. Dalloway” was written by Virginia Woolf.
804. In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” what is the name of the character who represents savagery and chaos?
a) Ralph
b) Piggy
c) Jack
d) Simon
Answer: c) Jack
Explanation: Jack represents savagery and chaos in “Lord of the Flies.”
805. Who is the author of “The Waste Land,” a modernist poem known for its fragmented structure and allusions?
a) W.B. Yeats
b) Robert Frost
c) T.S. Eliot
d) Ezra Pound
Answer: c) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Waste Land” is a famous modernist poem written by T.S. Eliot.
806. Which novel by Salman Rushdie tells the story of Saleem Sinai, who is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the moment of India’s independence?
a) “The God of Small Things”
b) “Midnight’s Children”
c) “A Suitable Boy”
d) “White Teeth”
Answer: b) “Midnight’s Children”
Explanation: “Midnight’s Children” is a novel by Salman Rushdie.
807. Who wrote the Gothic novel “Dracula,” featuring the vampire Count Dracula and Professor Abraham Van Helsing?
a) Bram Stoker
b) Mary Shelley
c) Edgar Allan Poe
d) H.P. Lovecraft
Answer: a) Bram Stoker
Explanation: “Dracula” was written by Bram Stoker.
809. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “Tender Is the Night,” what is the name of the charismatic and troubled psychiatrist?
a) Dick Diver
b) Jay Gatsby
c) Tom Buchanan
d) Nick Carraway
Answer: a) Dick Diver
Explanation: Dick Diver is the charismatic and troubled psychiatrist in “Tender Is the Night.”
810. Who is the author of “The Heart of Darkness,” a novella that explores the dark side of colonialism in Africa?
a) Joseph Conrad
b) E.M. Forster
c) Chinua Achebe
d) V.S. Naipaul
Answer: a) Joseph Conrad
Explanation: “The Heart of Darkness” was written by Joseph Conrad.
811. Which novel features the character Jean Valjean, a former convict who seeks redemption in 19th-century France?
a) “War and Peace”
b) “Les Misérables”
c) “The Count of Monte Cristo”
d) “Great Expectations”
Answer: b) “Les Misérables”
Explanation: Jean Valjean is the central character in Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Misérables.”
812. Who is the author of “A Passage to India,” a novel that explores the complexities of British-Indian relations during the colonial era?
a) Rudyard Kipling
b) R.K. Narayan
c) E.M. Forster
d) Salman Rushdie
Answer: c) E.M. Forster
Explanation: “A Passage to India” was written by E.M. Forster.
813. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” what is the name of the fictional town where most of the story takes place?
a) Macondo
b) Santa Teresa
c) San Lorenzo
d) Santa Clara
Answer: a) Macondo
Explanation: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is set in the fictional town of Macondo.
814. Who is the author of “The Road,” a post-apocalyptic novel that follows a father and son’s journey through a devastated landscape?
a) Cormac McCarthy
b) J.G. Ballard
c) Margaret Atwood
d) Octavia E. Butler
Answer: a) Cormac McCarthy
Explanation: “The Road” was written by Cormac McCarthy.
815.In William Faulkner’s novel “As I Lay Dying,” what is the name of the Bundren family’s deceased mother whose body they are transporting for burial?
a) Addie Bundren
b) Dewey Dell Bundren
c) Jewel Bundren
d) Anse Bundren
Answer: a) Addie Bundren
Explanation: The deceased mother is Addie Bundren in “As I Lay Dying.”
816. Who is the author of the novel “White Teeth,” which explores the lives of two families in London, one English and one Bangladeshi?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Monica Ali
c) Hanif Kureishi
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: a) Zadie Smith
Explanation: “White Teeth” was written by Zadie Smith.
817. Which Shakespearean play features the character Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who seeks revenge on Antonio?
a) “The Tempest”
b) “Much Ado About Nothing”
c) “The Merchant of Venice”
d) “Twelfth Night”
Answer: c) “The Merchant of Venice”
Explanation: Shylock is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.”
818. Who is the author of “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” a novel that explores themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions?
a) Charles Dickens
b) Oscar Wilde
c) Thomas Hardy
d) Henry James
Answer: b) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was written by Oscar Wilde.
819.In Samuel Beckett’s play “Endgame,” what are the names of the two main characters who are trapped in a bleak and circular existence?
a) Vladimir and Estragon
b) Clov and Hamm
c) Pozzo and Lucky
d) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Answer: b) Clov and Hamm
Explanation: Clov and Hamm are the two main characters in “Endgame.”
820. Who is the author of “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” a Sherlock Holmes mystery novel set on the eerie moors of Devonshire?
a) Agatha Christie
b) Arthur Conan Doyle
c) Wilkie Collins
d) Raymond Chandler
Answer: b) Arthur Conan Doyle
Explanation: “The Hound of the Baskervilles” was written by Arthur Conan Doyle.
821. In J.M. Coetzee’s novel “Disgrace,” what is the name of the protagonist, a university professor who faces personal and professional crisis?
a) David Lurie
b) Michael K
c) John Proctor
d) Winston Smith
Answer: a) David Lurie
Explanation: David Lurie is the protagonist of “Disgrace.”
822. Who is the author of “The Remains of the Day,” a novel that explores the life of an English butler, Stevens, and his reflections on his past?
a) Ian McEwan
b) Kazuo Ishiguro
c) Julian Barnes
d) Salman Rushdie
Answer: b) Kazuo Ishiguro
Explanation: “The Remains of the Day” was written by Kazuo Ishiguro.
823. Which novel by Jane Austen features the character Anne Elliot, who is persuaded to break off her engagement to Captain Frederick Wentworth but later regrets it?
a) “Pride and Prejudice”
b) “Sense and Sensibility”
c) “Persuasion”
d) “Mansfield Park”
Answer: c) “Persuasion”
Explanation: “Persuasion” by Jane Austen features the character Anne Elliot.
824. Who is the author of the novel “The Great Gatsby,” set in the Roaring Twenties and featuring the enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby?
a) F. Scott Fitzgerald
b) Ernest Hemingway
c) John Steinbeck
d) Sinclair Lewis
Answer: a) F. Scott Fitzgerald
Explanation: “The Great Gatsby” was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
825. In Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart,” what is the name of the Igbo warrior and leader whose life unravels as British colonialism encroaches?
a) Obierika
b) Okonkwo
c) Nwoye
d) Ekwefi
Answer: b) Okonkwo
Explanation: Okonkwo is the protagonist in “Things Fall Apart.”
826. Who is the author of “Beloved,” a novel that explores the haunting legacy of slavery in America?
a) Toni Morrison
b) Maya Angelou
c) Alice Walker
d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer: a) Toni Morrison
Explanation: “Beloved” was written by Toni Morrison.
827. In George Orwell’s novella “Animal Farm,” what does the character Snowball represent in the allegory of the Russian Revolution?
a) Karl Marx
b) Vladimir Lenin
c) Joseph Stalin
d) Leon Trotsky
Answer: d) Leon Trotsky
Explanation: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky in the allegory of the Russian Revolution in “Animal Farm.”
828. Who is the author of “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” that explores the backstory of Mr. Rochester’s first wife?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and serves as a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
829. Which novel by Leo Tolstoy explores themes of love, society, and the Russian aristocracy, focusing on the character Anna Karenina?
a) “War and Peace”
b) “Crime and Punishment”
c) “Anna Karenina”
d) “The Brothers Karamazov”
Answer: c) “Anna Karenina”
Explanation: “Anna Karenina” is a novel by Leo Tolstoy.
830. Who is the author of “The Catcher in the Rye,” narrated by the troubled teenager Holden Caulfield?
a) J.D. Salinger
b) F. Scott Fitzgerald
c) Harper Lee
d) Mark Twain
Answer: a) J.D. Salinger
Explanation: “The Catcher in the Rye” was written by J.D. Salinger and is narrated by Holden Caulfield.
831. In Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged,” what is the name of the mysterious and enigmatic industrialist who leads a strike of productive individuals?
a) John Galt
b) Howard Roark
c) Dagny Taggart
d) Hank Rearden
Answer: a) John Galt
Explanation: John Galt is the central character in “Atlas Shrugged.”
832. Who is the author of “The Master and Margarita,” a satirical novel that blends elements of fantasy, comedy, and social commentary?
a) Leo Tolstoy
b) Fyodor Dostoevsky
c) Vladimir Nabokov
d) Mikhail Bulgakov
Answer: d) Mikhail Bulgakov
Explanation: “The Master and Margarita” was written by Mikhail Bulgakov.
833. In William Faulkner’s novel “Light in August,” what is the name of the central character who embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the American South?
a) Joe Christmas
b) Quentin Compson
c) Lena Grove
d) Byron Bunch
Answer: a) Joe Christmas
Explanation: Joe Christmas is the central character in “Light in August.”
834. Who is the author of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” a short story that explores the mental deterioration of a woman confined to her bedroom?
a) Kate Chopin
b) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
c) Edith Wharton
d) Willa Cather
Answer: b) Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Explanation: “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
835. Which Shakespearean play features the character Caliban, a native of a remote island who is enslaved by Prospero?
a) “The Tempest”
b) “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
c) “Othello”
d) “Much Ado About Nothing”
Answer: a) “The Tempest”
Explanation: Caliban is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest.”
836. Who is the author of “The Stranger,” a novel that tells the story of Meursault, an emotionally detached Algerian who commits a murder?
a) Albert Camus
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Franz Kafka
d) André Gide
Answer: a) Albert Camus
Explanation: “The Stranger” was written by Albert Camus.
837. In Salman Rushdie’s novel “The Satanic Verses,” what is the name of the character who experiences a transformation and falls from an airplane?
a) Gibreel Farishta
b) Saladin Chamcha
c) Shalimar the Clown
d) Karim Amir
Answer: a) Gibreel Farishta
Explanation: Gibreel Farishta is the character who experiences a transformation in “The Satanic Verses.”
838. Who is the author of “The Grapes of Wrath,” which tells the story of the Joad family’s journey during the Dust Bowl era in America?
a) John Steinbeck
b) Ernest Hemingway
c) F. Scott Fitzgerald
d) William Faulkner
Answer: a) John Steinbeck
Explanation: “The Grapes of Wrath” was written by John Steinbeck.
839. Which novel by Margaret Atwood explores a dystopian future in which women’s fertility is controlled by the government?
a) “Alias Grace”
b) “The Handmaid’s Tale”
c) “Cat’s Eye”
d) “Oryx and Crake”
Answer: b) “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Explanation: “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel.
840. Who is the author of “The Shadow of the Wind,” a novel set in post-war Barcelona that revolves around a mysterious book and its author?
a) Carlos Ruiz Zafón
b) Mario Vargas Llosa
c) Julio Cortázar
d) Gabriel García Márquez
Answer: a) Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Explanation: “The Shadow of the Wind” was written by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
841. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre,” what is the name of the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall?
a) Mr. Rochester
b) St. John Rivers
c) Edward Fairfax
d) Mr. Brocklehurst
Answer: a) Mr. Rochester
Explanation: Mr. Rochester is the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall in “Jane Eyre.”
842. Who is the author of “The Metamorphosis,” a novella in which the protagonist wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into an insect?
a) Franz Kafka
b) Fyodor Dostoevsky
c) Albert Camus
d) Hermann Hesse
Answer: a) Franz Kafka
Explanation: “The Metamorphosis” was written by Franz Kafka.
843. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, what is the name of the One Ring’s malevolent creator?
a) Sauron
b) Saruman
c) Gollum
d) Gandalf
Answer: a) Sauron
Explanation: Sauron is the malevolent creator of the One Ring in “The Lord of the Rings.”
844. Who is the author of “The Road to Wigan Pier,” a non-fiction book that explores the conditions of the working class in England during the 1930s?
a) George Orwell
b) H.G. Wells
c) Aldous Huxley
d) Virginia Woolf
Answer: a) George Orwell
Explanation: “The Road to Wigan Pier” was written by George Orwell.
845. Which Shakespearean play features the character Iago, who manipulates those around him and schemes to destroy Othello?
a) “Romeo and Juliet”
b) “Othello”
c) “Macbeth”
d) “Hamlet”
Answer: b) “Othello”
Explanation: Iago is a character in Shakespeare’s play “Othello.”
846. Who is the author of the novel “The Poisonwood Bible,” which tells the story of an American missionary family in the Belgian Congo?
a) Barbara Kingsolver
b) Arundhati Roy
c) Zadie Smith
d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: a) Barbara Kingsolver
Explanation: “The Poisonwood Bible” was written by Barbara Kingsolver.
848. In Joseph Heller’s satirical novel “Catch-22,” what does the term “Catch-22” refer to?
a) A paradoxical rule that makes it impossible for soldiers to avoid combat
b) A secret code used by spies
c) A hidden treasure
d) A forbidden love affair
Answer: a) A paradoxical rule that makes it impossible for soldiers to avoid combat
Explanation: “Catch-22” refers to a paradoxical rule that traps soldiers in a no-win situation.
849. Who is the author of “The Secret Garden,” a novel about a young girl named Mary Lennox who discovers a hidden, neglected garden?
a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
b) Louisa May Alcott
c) L.M. Montgomery
d) Edith Nesbit
Answer: a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
Explanation: “The Secret Garden” was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
850. In A.E. Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young,” what does the speaker believe is the athlete’s greatest accomplishment?
a) Winning a championship
b) Becoming famous
c) Dying young and avoiding the ravages of time
d) Breaking a record
851. In A.E. Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young,” what does the speaker believe is the athlete’s greatest accomplishment?
a) Winning a championship
b) Becoming famous
c) Dying young and avoiding the ravages of time
d) Breaking a record
Answer: c) Dying young and avoiding the ravages of time
Explanation: The speaker in the poem believes that the athlete’s greatest accomplishment is dying young and being remembered at the peak of his glory.
852. Who is the author of “The Canterbury Tales,” a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their journey to the shrine of Thomas Becket?
a) Geoffrey Chaucer
b) William Langland
c) John Milton
d) Edmund Spenser
Answer: a) Geoffrey Chaucer
Explanation: “The Canterbury Tales” was written by Geoffrey Chaucer.
853. In Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein,” what is the name of the scientist who creates a creature using reanimated body parts?
a) Victor Frankenstein
b) Henry Clerval
c) Robert Walton
d) Justine Moritz
Answer: a) Victor Frankenstein
Explanation: Victor Frankenstein is the scientist who creates the creature in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”
854. Who is the author of the epic poem “Paradise Lost,” which tells the story of the Fall of Man and Satan’s rebellion against God?
a) John Bunyan
b) John Donne
c) John Milton
d) John Dryden
Answer: c) John Milton
Explanation: “Paradise Lost” is an epic poem written by John Milton.
855. In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment,” what is the name of the impoverished student who commits a murder and grapples with guilt?
a) Ivan Karamazov
b) Raskolnikov
c) Prince Myshkin
d) Alyosha Karamazov
Answer: b) Raskolnikov
Explanation: The protagonist of “Crime and Punishment” is Raskolnikov.
856. Who is the author of the novel “The Color Purple,” which explores the lives of African American women in the early 20th century?
a) Alice Walker
b) Toni Morrison
c) Maya Angelou
d) Zora Neale Hurston
Answer: a) Alice Walker
Explanation: “The Color Purple” was written by Alice Walker.
857.In J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, what is the name of the dark wizard who killed Harry Potter’s parents and is often referred to as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”?
a) Severus Snape
b) Sirius Black
c) Albus Dumbledore
d) Lord Voldemort
Answer: d) Lord Voldemort
Explanation: Lord Voldemort is the dark wizard in the “Harry Potter” series.
858. Who is the author of the classic novel “Moby-Dick,” which tells the story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit of a giant white whale?
a) Herman Melville
b) Nathaniel Hawthorne
c) Washington Irving
d) Edgar Allan Poe
Answer: a) Herman Melville
Explanation: “Moby-Dick” was written by Herman Melville.
859. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “Chronicle of a Death Foretold,” what event does the town anticipate and fail to prevent?
a) A wedding
b) A funeral
c) A murder
d) A flood
Answer: c) A murder
Explanation: The town anticipates and fails to prevent a murder in “Chronicle of a Death Foretold.”
860. Who is the author of “The Good Earth,” a novel that portrays the life of a Chinese farmer, Wang Lung, and his struggles during a period of change?
a) Pearl S. Buck
b) Amy Tan
c) Maxine Hong Kingston
d) Lisa See
Answer: a) Pearl S. Buck
Explanation: “The Good Earth” was written by Pearl S. Buck.
861. In Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel “Brave New World,” what is the name of the drug that is used to control and pacify the citizens?
a) Soma
b) Prozac
c) Valium
d) Xanax
Answer: a) Soma
Explanation: Soma is the drug used in “Brave New World” to control citizens.
862. Who is the author of “The Dubliners,” a collection of short stories that portray the lives of ordinary people in Dublin, Ireland?
a) James Joyce
b) Oscar Wilde
c) Samuel Beckett
d) W.B. Yeats
Answer: a) James Joyce
Explanation: “The Dubliners” was written by James Joyce.
863. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” what is the name of the dragon that guards a treasure hoard in the Lonely Mountain?
a) Smaug
b) Gollum
c) Sauron
d) Balrog
Answer: a) Smaug
Explanation: The dragon in “The Hobbit” is named Smaug.
864. Who is the author of the novel “The Remains of the Day,” which explores the life of an English butler, Stevens, and his reflections on his past?
a) Ian McEwan
b) Kazuo Ishiguro
c) Julian Barnes
d) Salman Rushdie
Answer: b) Kazuo Ishiguro
Explanation: “The Remains of the Day” was written by Kazuo Ishiguro.
865. In Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” what is the name of the protagonist who searches for her identity and voice?
a) Janie Crawford
b) Celie Johnson
c) Sethe
d) Pecola Breedlove
Answer: a) Janie Crawford
Explanation: Janie Crawford is the protagonist of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
866. Who is the author of “The Sun Also Rises,” a novel that explores the lives of expatriates in post-World War I Europe?
a) F. Scott Fitzgerald
b) Ernest Hemingway
c) John Steinbeck
d) Sinclair Lewis
Answer: b) Ernest Hemingway
Explanation: “The Sun Also Rises” was written by Ernest Hemingway.
867. In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” what is the name of the oppressive regime that has taken control of the United States?
a) The Republic of Gilead
b) The New Order
c) The United Theocracy
d) The Society of Purity
Answer: a) The Republic of Gilead
Explanation: “The Handmaid’s Tale” is set in the Republic of Gilead.
868. Who is the author of “The Little Prince,” a novella that tells the story of a young prince who travels from planet to planet?
a) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
b) Marcel Proust
c) Albert Camus
d) Jean-Paul Sartre
Answer: a) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Explanation: “The Little Prince” was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
869. Which Shakespearean play features the character Portia, who disguises herself as a lawyer to save Antonio in a court of law?
a) “The Tempest”
b) “Much Ado About Nothing”
c) “The Merchant of Venice”
d) “Twelfth Night”
Answer: c) “The Merchant of Venice”
Explanation: Portia is a character in Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice.”
870. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” what is the name of the mysterious gypsy who arrives in Macondo and brings a sense of wonder and magic to the town?
a) Melquíades
b) José Arcadio Buendía
c) Aureliano Buendía
d) Fernanda del Carpio
Answer: a) Melquíades
Explanation: Melquíades is the name of the mysterious gypsy in “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”
871. Who is the author of the novel “The Stranger,” in which the protagonist, Meursault, commits a senseless murder and faces existential questions?
a) Albert Camus
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Franz Kafka
d) André Gide
Answer: a) Albert Camus
Explanation: “The Stranger” was written by Albert Camus.
872. In Salman Rushdie’s novel “Midnight’s Children,” what special ability do the children born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, possess?
a) Telepathy
b) Invisibility
c) Superhuman strength
d) Time travel
Answer: a) Telepathy
Explanation: The children born at midnight on August 15, 1947, in “Midnight’s Children” have the ability of telepathy.
873. Who is the author of “The Catcher in the Rye,” narrated by the troubled teenager Holden Caulfield?
a) J.D. Salinger
b) F. Scott Fitzgerald
c) Harper Lee
d) Mark Twain
Answer: a) J.D. Salinger
Explanation: “The Catcher in the Rye” was written by J.D. Salinger and is narrated by Holden Caulfield.
874. In Franz Kafka’s novella “The Metamorphosis,” what does the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, transform into overnight?
a) A giant cockroach
b) A mouse
c) A beetle
d) A bat
Answer: a) A giant cockroach
Explanation: Gregor Samsa transforms into a giant cockroach in “The Metamorphosis.”
875. Who is the author of “The Road to Wigan Pier,” a non-fiction book that explores the conditions of the working class in England during the 1930s?
a) George Orwell
b) H.G. Wells
c) Aldous Huxley
d) Virginia Woolf
Answer: a) George Orwell
Explanation: “The Road to Wigan Pier” was written by George Orwell.
876. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre,” what is the name of the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall?
a) Mr. Rochester
b) St. John Rivers
c) Edward Fairfax
d) Mr. Brocklehurst
Answer: a) Mr. Rochester
Explanation: Mr. Rochester is the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall in “Jane Eyre.”
877. is the author of “The Poisonwood Bible,” a novel that tells the story of an American missionary family in the Belgian Congo?
a) Barbara Kingsolver
b) Arundhati Roy
c) Zadie Smith
d) Jhumpa Lahiri
Answer: a) Barbara Kingsolver
Explanation: “The Poisonwood Bible” was written by Barbara Kingsolver.
878. In Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” what is the name of the fictitious person that Algernon invents to escape social obligations?
a) Ernest Worthing
b) Sir Charles Goring
c) Lord Bracknell
d) Bunbury
Answer: d) Bunbury
Explanation: Algernon invents the fictitious person named Bunbury in the play.
879. Who is the author of “The Road,” a post-apocalyptic novel in which a father and son journey through a devastated landscape?
a) Cormac McCarthy
b) Don DeLillo
c) Philip Roth
d) Jonathan Franzen
Answer: a) Cormac McCarthy
Explanation: “The Road” was written by Cormac McCarthy.
880. Which American poet is known for his collection “Leaves of Grass” and is often considered one of the most influential poets in American literature?
a) Emily Dickinson
b) Robert Frost
c) Walt Whitman
d) Langston Hughes
Answer: c) Walt Whitman
Explanation: Walt Whitman is the poet known for “Leaves of Grass.”
881. In Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart,” what is the name of the Igbo warrior and leader whose life unravels as British colonialism encroaches?
a) Obierika
b) Okonkwo
c) Nwoye
d) Ekwefi
Answer: b) Okonkwo
Explanation: Okonkwo is the protagonist in “Things Fall Apart.”
882. Who is the author of “The Night Circus,” a fantasy novel that revolves around a magical competition between two young illusionists?
a) Neil Gaiman
b) Laini Taylor
c) Erin Morgenstern
d) Leigh Bardugo
Answer: c) Erin Morgenstern
Explanation: “The Night Circus” was written by Erin Morgenstern.
883. In George Orwell’s novella “Animal Farm,” what does the character Snowball represent in the allegory of the Russian Revolution?
a) Karl Marx
b) Vladimir Lenin
c) Joseph Stalin
d) Leon Trotsky
Answer: d) Leon Trotsky
Explanation: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky in the allegory of the Russian Revolution in “Animal Farm.”
884. Who is the author of “Wide Sargasso Sea,” a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre” that explores the backstory of Mr. Rochester’s first wife?
a) Zadie Smith
b) Jean Rhys
c) Maya Angelou
d) Arundhati Roy
Answer: b) Jean Rhys
Explanation: “Wide Sargasso Sea” was written by Jean Rhys and serves as a prequel to “Jane Eyre.”
885. In Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” what historical event serves as a backdrop to the story?
a) French Revolution
b) American Civil War
c) Napoleonic Wars
d) Industrial Revolution
Answer: c) Napoleonic Wars
Explanation: The Napoleonic Wars serve as a backdrop to “War and Peace.”
886. Who is the author of “The Master and Margarita,” a satirical novel that blends elements of fantasy, comedy, and social commentary?
a) Leo Tolstoy
b) Fyodor Dostoevsky
c) Vladimir Nabokov
d) Mikhail Bulgakov
Answer: d) Mikhail Bulgakov
Explanation: “The Master and Margarita” was written by Mikhail Bulgakov.
887. In Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights,” what is the name of the brooding and passionate master of Wuthering Heights?
a) Edgar Linton
b) Hareton Earnshaw
c) Heathcliff
d) Joseph
Answer: c) Heathcliff
Explanation: Heathcliff is the master of Wuthering Heights in the novel.
888. Who is the author of the novel “The Road Not Taken,” which includes the famous lines “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by”?
a) Robert Frost
b) Emily Dickinson
c) Langston Hughes
d) Maya Angelou
Answer: a) Robert Frost
Explanation: “The Road Not Taken” was written by Robert Frost.
889. In Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel “Brave New World,” what is the name of the drug that is used to control and pacify the citizens?
a) Soma
b) Prozac
c) Valium
d) Xanax
Answer: a) Soma
Explanation: Soma is the drug used in “Brave New World” to control citizens.
890. Who is the author of “The Secret Garden,” a novel about a young girl named Mary Lennox who discovers a hidden, neglected garden?
a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
b) Louisa May Alcott
c) L.M. Montgomery
d) Edith Nesbit
Answer: a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
Explanation: “The Secret Garden” was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
891. In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” what do the boys stranded on a desert island descend into as they struggle to survive?
a) Anarchy and chaos
b) Democracy and order
c) Civilization and peace
d) Enlightenment and harmony
Answer: a) Anarchy and chaos
Explanation: The boys in “Lord of the Flies” descend into anarchy and chaos on the desert island.
892. Who is the author of “The Road to Serfdom,” a book that argues against collectivism and government control of the economy?
a) Friedrich Hayek
b) Karl Marx
c) John Maynard Keynes
d) Adam Smith
Answer: a) Friedrich Hayek
Explanation: “The Road to Serfdom” was written by Friedrich Hayek.
893. In Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Never Let Me Go,” what is the dark secret that the characters gradually discover about their lives?
a) They are clones raised for organ donation.
b) They have superhuman abilities.
c) They are time travelers.
d) They are part of a government experiment.
Answer: a) They are clones raised for organ donation.
Explanation: The characters in “Never Let Me Go” discover that they are clones raised for organ donation.
894. Who is the author of “The Road,” a post-apocalyptic novel in which a father and son journey through a devastated landscape?
a) Cormac McCarthy
b) Don DeLillo
c) Philip Roth
d) Jonathan Franzen
Answer: a) Cormac McCarthy
Explanation: “The Road” was written by Cormac McCarthy.
895. In George Orwell’s novella “Animal Farm,” what does the character Snowball represent in the allegory of the Russian Revolution?
a) Karl Marx
b) Vladimir Lenin
c) Joseph Stalin
d) Leon Trotsky
Answer: d) Leon Trotsky
Explanation: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky in the allegory of the Russian Revolution in “Animal Farm.”
896. Who is the author of “The Road to Serfdom,” a book that argues against collectivism and government control of the economy?
a) Friedrich Hayek
b) Karl Marx
c) John Maynard Keynes
d) Adam Smith
Answer: a) Friedrich Hayek
Explanation: “The Road to Serfdom” was written by Friedrich Hayek.
897. In Charlotte Brontë’s novel “Jane Eyre,” what is the name of the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall?
a) Mr. Rochester
b) St. John Rivers
c) Edward Fairfax
d) Mr. Brocklehurst
Answer: a) Mr. Rochester
Explanation: Mr. Rochester is the enigmatic owner of Thornfield Hall in “Jane Eyre.”
898. Who is the author of “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” a novel that explores the consequences of a man’s immoral actions on his portrait?
a) Oscar Wilde
b) Edgar Allan Poe
c) Bram Stoker
d) Mary Shelley
Answer: a) Oscar Wilde
Explanation: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was written by Oscar Wilde.
899. In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” what do the boys stranded on a desert island descend into as they struggle to survive?
a) Anarchy and chaos
b) Democracy and order
c) Civilization and peace
d) Enlightenment and harmony
Answer: a) Anarchy and chaos
Explanation: The boys in “Lord of the Flies” descend into anarchy and chaos on the desert island.
900. Who is the author of “The Secret Garden,” a novel about a young girl named Mary Lennox who discovers a hidden, neglected garden?
a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
b) Louisa May Alcott
c) L.M. Montgomery
d) Edith Nesbit
Answer: a) Frances Hodgson Burnett
Explanation: “The Secret Garden” was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
901. In George Orwell’s novel “1984,” what is the name of the totalitarian regime that controls the dystopian society?
a) The Party
b) The Brotherhood
c) The Rebellion
d) The Government
Answer: a) The Party
Explanation: The Party is the totalitarian regime in “1984.”
902. Who is the author of “Moby-Dick,” which tells the story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit of a giant white whale?
a) Herman Melville
b) Nathaniel Hawthorne
c) Washington Irving
d) Edgar Allan Poe
Answer: a) Herman Melville
Explanation: “Moby-Dick” was written by Herman Melville.
903. In Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot,” what is the significance of the character Godot?
a) Godot is a symbol of hope and salvation.
b) Godot is a character who never appears in the play.
c) Godot is a deity worshipped by the characters.
d) Godot is a metaphor for the passage of time.
Answer: b) Godot is a character who never appears in the play.
Explanation: In “Waiting for Godot,” Godot is a mysterious character who the main characters are waiting for but never actually appear in the play.
904. Who is the author of “The Waste Land,” a modernist poem known for its fragmented structure and references to various mythologies and cultures?
a) T.S. Eliot
b) Ezra Pound
c) W.B. Yeats
d) Robert Frost
Answer: a) T.S. Eliot
Explanation: “The Waste Land” was written by T.S. Eliot and is considered a landmark in modernist poetry.
905. In Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein,” what is the subtitle of the book?
a) The Man Who Created Life
b) The Modern Prometheus
c) The Science of Resurrection
d) The Monster’s Revenge
Answer: b) The Modern Prometheus
Explanation: “Frankenstein” is subtitled “The Modern Prometheus,” drawing a parallel to the Greek myth of Prometheus who stole fire from the gods.
906. Who is the author of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” a short story in which the narrator insists on their sanity while describing a murder they have committed?
a) Edgar Allan Poe
b) Nathaniel Hawthorne
c) H.P. Lovecraft
d) Washington Irving
Answer: a) Edgar Allan Poe
Explanation: “The Tell-Tale Heart” was written by Edgar Allan Poe.
907.In Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway,” what is the central event that the characters are preparing for throughout the story?
a) A wedding
b) A funeral
c) A grand ball
d) A royal visit
Answer: b) A funeral
Explanation: The central event in “Mrs. Dalloway” is a funeral that the characters are preparing for.
908. Who is the author of the play “The Glass Menagerie,” a memory play that tells the story of the Wingfield family?
a) Arthur Miller
b) Tennessee Williams
c) Eugene O’Neill
d) August Wilson
Answer: b) Tennessee Williams
Explanation: “The Glass Menagerie” was written by Tennessee Williams.
909. In William Faulkner’s novel “The Sound and the Fury,” which member of the Compson family is mentally challenged and narrates one of the sections of the novel?
a) Quentin
b) Jason
c) Benjy
d) Caddy
Answer: c) Benjy
Explanation: Benjy Compson, who is mentally challenged, narrates one of the sections of “The Sound and the Fury.”
910. Who is the author of “The Stranger,” in which the protagonist, Meursault, commits a senseless murder and faces existential questions?
a) Albert Camus
b) Jean-Paul Sartre
c) Franz Kafka
d) André Gide
Answer: a) Albert Camus
Explanation: “The Stranger” was written by Albert Camus.
911. In Chinua Achebe’s novel “Things Fall Apart,” what is the name of the Igbo warrior and leader whose life unravels as British colonialism encroaches?
a) Obierika
b) Okonkwo
c) Nwoye
d) Ekwefi
Answer: b) Okonkwo
Explanation: Okonkwo is the protagonist in “Things Fall Apart.”
912. Who is the author of “The Night Circus,” a fantasy novel that revolves around a magical competition between two young illusionists?
a) Neil Gaiman
b) Laini Taylor
c) Erin Morgenstern
d) Leigh Bardugo
Answer: c) Erin Morgenstern
Explanation: “The Night Circus” was written by Erin Morgenstern.
913. When did T.B. Macaulay present his “Minutes on Education” advocating English education in India?
a. 12 March, 1835
b. 2nd February, 1835
c. 22nd January, 1835
d. 5th May, 1835
Answer: b. 2nd February, 1835
Explanation: T.B. Macaulay presented his “Minutes on Education” on 2nd February, 1835, in which he advocated for the promotion of English education in India.
914. The passage that is considered the death-knell of neo-classical criticism is attributed to:
a. John Dryden
b. Alexander Pope
c. Samuel Johnson
d. Joseph Addison
Answer: a. John Dryden
Explanation: The passage is attributed to John Dryden and signifies a departure from neo-classical criticism. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing nature from custom and breaking free from rigid rules.
915. Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s postscript to The General in His Labyrinth (1991) about Simon Bolivar’s last journey is one of the finest examples of:
a. Reading archive and using its contents
b. Processing archival information for theoretical judgment
c. Irrelevance of archive for an artist
d. A novelist getting misguided by the archive
Answer: a. Reading archive and using its contents
Explanation: Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s postscript involves reading historical archives and using their contents to create a vivid narrative.
916. Which of the following is NOT a method of data analysis?
a. Qualitative method
b. Quantitative method
c. Mixed method
d. Subjective method
Answer: d. Subjective method
Explanation: The subjective method is not a commonly recognized method of data analysis. The other options (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) are well-established approaches to data analysis.
917. Who has used the term “bowling alone” to describe the erosion of community ties in the United States?
a. Frank Furedi
b. Zygmunt Bauman
c. Robert Bellah
d. Robert Putnam
Answer: d. Robert Putnam
Explanation: Robert Putnam is known for using the term “bowling alone” to describe the decline of social capital and community involvement in the United States.
918. Which of the following is NOT a kind of ‘sign’ as suggested by Charles Sanders Peirce?
a. Icon
b. Index
c. Symbol
d. Visual
Answer: d. Visual
Explanation: Charles Sanders Peirce identified three kinds of signs: icons, indexes, and symbols. “Visual” is not one of the types of signs he distinguished.
919. Who among the following was a major advocate of oral history?
a. Sylvia Plath
b. Esther Greenwood
c. Paul Thompson
d. Carolyn Steedman
Answer: c. Paul Thompson
Explanation: Paul Thompson is known for his advocacy of oral history as a valuable method of preserving and understanding the past through firsthand accounts.
920.Who among the following considers a text as a “site of struggle between authority and popular culture”?
a. Roland Barthes
b. Northrop Frye
c. Mikhail Bakhtin
d. Michel Foucault
Answer: c. Mikhail Bakhtin
Explanation: Mikhail Bakhtin’s literary theory explores the idea of texts as sites where different voices, including those of authority and popular culture, engage in a dynamic dialogue.
921. ”Emblems” by Francis Quarles is:
a. A commentary on Homer’s Iliad
b. A commentary on a volume of Biblical illustrations
c. A commentary on Virgil’s Aeneid
d. A commentary on Thomas Moore’s Utopia
Answer: b. A commentary on a volume of Biblical illustrations
Explanation: “Emblems” by Francis Quarles is a collection of emblems that serve as a commentary on a volume of Biblical illustrations.
922. Who among the following is the author of The Steele Glass?
a. The Earl of Surrey
b. Thomas Sackville
c. George Gascoigne
d. Edmund Spenser
Answer: d. Edmund Spenser
Explanation: “The Steele Glass” is a work by Edmund Spenser.
923. Sir David Lyndsay’s “Satire of the Three Estatis” is both:
a. Political and religious
b. Political and secular
c. Immoral and secular
d. Immoral and religious
Answer: a. Political and religious
Explanation: “Satire of the Three Estatis” by Sir David Lyndsay is a satirical work that addresses both political and religious themes.
925. Who among the following has used lines from the Shakespearean play Othello to critique racism in one of his poems?
a. Edward Braithwaite
b. Franz Fanon
c. Derek Alton Walcott
d. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Answer: c. Derek Alton Walcott
Explanation: Derek Alton Walcott used lines from Shakespeare’s Othello to critique racism in one of his poems.
926. Derek Alton Walcott, in the poem “The Sea is History,” makes a parallel between:
a. Evolution of mankind and nature
b. Evolution of human history and religion
c. Evolution of Paganism and Christianity
d. Evolution of Christianity and slavery of the Blacks
Answer: d. Evolution of Christianity and slavery of the Blacks
Explanation: In the poem, Walcott draws a parallel between the historical evolution of Christianity and the slavery of Black people.
927. ”The Voyage and Travail of Sir John Mandeville” was written in:
a. Queen’s English
b. Northumbrian dialect
c. Midland dialect
d. Cockney
Answer: c. Midland dialect
Explanation: “The Voyage and Travail of Sir John Mandeville” was written in the Midland dialect.
928.”The Elegy written in a Country Churchyard” is written in:
a. Quatrains of ten-syllable lines
b. Octave and Sestet
c. Heroic couplet
d. Alexandrines
Answer: c. Heroic couplet
Explanation: “The Elegy written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray is written in heroic couplets.
929. Marge Piercy’s novel “Woman on the Edge of Time” (1976) is based on:
a. Shulamith Firestone’s “The Dialectic of Sex”
b. Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
c. Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”
d. Donna Haraway’s “A Cyborg Manifesto”
Answer: a. Shulamith Firestone’s “The Dialectic of Sex”
Explanation: Marge Piercy’s novel “Woman on the Edge of Time” is based on Shulamith Firestone’s “The Dialectic of Sex.”
930. Which among the following is a short story by the Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree:
a. Khali Jagah
b. Hamara Shahar Us Baras
c. Bel Patra
d. Mai
Answer: a. Khali Jagah
Explanation: “Khali Jagah” is a short story by Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree.
931. ”Women of Palestine” (1982) and “Indian Women in Struggle” (1980) deal with:
a. Women’s religious and familial issues
b. Female militancy and political involvement
c. Women’s struggle at their workplace
d. Women’s reproductive rights
Answer: b. Female militancy and political involvement
Explanation: Both works deal with the theme of female militancy and political involvement.
932. The following statement is written by which of the authors given below:
“Could fulfillment ever be felt as deeply as loss?”
a. Arundhati Roy
b. Kiran Desai
c. Shashi Tharoor
d. Rohinton Mistry
Answer: d. Rohinton Mistry
Explanation: The statement is written by Rohinton Mistry in his novel “A Fine Balance.”
933. Who first translated the Bhagavad Gita into English?
a. H.T. Colebrook
b. Alexander Duff
c. Charles Wilkins
d. Sir William Jones
Answer: c. Charles Wilkins
Explanation: Charles Wilkins is credited with the first English translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
934. Who among the following is exclusively associated with diary writing in English?
a. Samuel Pepys
b. Samuel Johnson
c. Ben Jonson
d. Samuel Richardson
Answer: a. Samuel Pepys
Explanation: Samuel Pepys is known for his diary, which is a significant work of diary writing in English literature.
935. ”Abt Vogler” is authored by:
a. Matthew Arnold
b. Robert Browning
c. Alfred Lord Tennyson
d. None of the above
Answer: b. Robert Browning
Explanation: “Abt Vogler” is a poem written by Robert Browning.
936. The predominant emotion running through the poem “Cristina” by Robert Browning is that of:
a. Sadness
b. Aggression
c. Love
d. None of the above
Answer: a. Sadness
Explanation: The poem “Cristina” by Robert Browning primarily conveys a sense of sadness.
937. Which one is correctly matched?
a. Heathcliff – Mansfield Park
b. Maggie Tulliver – The Mill on the Floss
c. Josiah Bounderby – Wuthering Heights
d. Fanny Price – Hard Times
Answer: b. Maggie Tulliver – The Mill on the Floss
Explanation: Maggie Tulliver is the protagonist of George Eliot’s “The Mill on the Floss.”
938. Which of the following works has Santiago as its protagonist?
a. Mansfield Park
b. The Mayor of Casterbridge
c. The Old Man and the Sea
d. The Lord of the Rings
Answer: c. The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: Santiago is the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.”
939. Which of the following texts coins the slogan “Vande Mataram”?
a. Anandmath
b. Mrinalini
c. Durgeshnandini
d. Kapalkundala
Answer: a. Anandmath
Explanation: The slogan “Vande Mataram” was popularized in the novel “Anandmath” by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
940. Who among the following is associated with the term intentional fallacy in literary criticism?
a. W.K. Wimsatt
b. Roland Barthes
c. J. Hillis Miller
d. John Keats
Answer: a. W.K. Wimsatt
Explanation: W.K. Wimsatt is known for his work on the intentional fallacy in literary criticism.
941. Which of the following works is set in the backdrop of religious persecution in Mexico?
a. The Power and the Glory
b. For Whom the Bell Tolls
c. In Our Time
d. All of the above
Answer: a. The Power and the Glory
Explanation: “The Power and the Glory” by Graham Greene is set in the backdrop of religious persecution in Mexico.
942. Dey Virahsawmy’s “Toufann” is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play:
a. Hamlet
b. Macbeth
c. The Twelfth Night
d. The Tempest
Answer: b. Macbeth
Explanation: “Toufann” by Dey Virahsawmy is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”
943. ”Uttararamacharita” by _____ is based on Valmiki’s Ramayana.
a. Bhasa
b. Bhavabhuti
c. Bharavi
d. Kalidasa
Answer: b. Bhavabhuti
Explanation: “Uttararamacharita” is a Sanskrit play written by Bhavabhuti, and it is based on Valmiki’s Ramayana.
944. Who among the following coined the term The Movement?
a. F.W. Bateson
b. F.R. Leavis
c. J.D. Scott
d. I.A. Richards
Answer: a. F.W. Bateson
Explanation: F.W. Bateson is associated with coining the term “The Movement” in literary criticism.
945. In Kannada literature, the ‘Vachana Movement’ addressed:
a. Progressive Values
b. Vedic Themes
c. Vedantic Thoughts
d. Upanishadic Ideas
Answer: a. Progressive Values
Explanation: The ‘Vachana Movement’ in Kannada literature addressed progressive values and social issues.
946. Which of the following novels has its epigraph taken from the Katha Upanishad?
A) The Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham
B) Point counter point by Aldous Huxley.
C) A room with a view by E.M.Froster
D) The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells (Correct Answer)
Explanation: The novel “The Island of Doctor Moreau” by H.G. Wells has its epigraph taken from the Katha Upanishad, which is a Hindu scripture.
947. Who is the author of the essay, “What isn’t Literature?”
A) Paul Ricoeur
B) Hans-George Gadamer
C) Terry Eagleton
D) E.D. Hirsch Jr. (Correct Answer)
Explanation: The essay “What isn’t Literature?” is authored by E.D. Hirsch Jr., known for his views on literary criticism and cultural literacy.
948. Erich Auerbach’s Mimesis (1946) ends with a chapter on:
A) Wyndham Lewis’s The Apes of God.
B) James Joyce’s Ulysses.
C) George Eliot’s Middlemarch
D) Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. (Correct Answer)
Explanation: Erich Auerbach’s “Mimesis” (1946) ends with a chapter discussing Virginia Woolf’s novel “To the Lighthouse.”
949. Which of the following clusters is associated with what Julia Kristeva terms the ‘semiotic’?
A) Authority, order, and patriarchy (Correct Answer)
B) Displacement, slippage, and condensation
C) Repression, control, and normalcy
D) Logic, reason, and power
Explanation: Julia Kristeva’s ‘semiotic’ is associated with clusters like authority, order, and patriarchy, which she analyzes in her works.
950. Which two works in the following list are written by Aphra Behn?
A) Rover
B) Oroonoko
C) Soldier’s Fortune
D) The Princess of Cleve
Correct Answer: A and B only
Explanation: Aphra Behn is the author of “Rover” and “Oroonoko” from the given list.
951. Which two of the following are works by Gustave Flaubert?
A) The Temptation of Saint Anthony
B) Old Goriot
C) Therese Raquin
D) Sentimental Education
Answer: A and C only
Explanation: Gustave Flaubert is the author of “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” and “Madame Bovary,” which is not listed but includes characters from “Sentimental Education.”
952. Which two of the following conform to liberal humanist thought?
A) Literature transcends the limits of the age of its origin and so is timeless.
B) Literature is untouched by the essential human nature which is unchanging.
C) Literature is devoid of any purpose to enhance life or promote human values.
D) Identity is a unique essence unaffected by environment and society.
Answer: A and C only
Explanation: Liberal humanist thought aligns with the ideas that literature is timeless and that it serves to enhance life and promote human values.
953. Which two of the following conform to Northrop Frye’s typology of literature?
A) Mythos of spring: Comedy
B) Mythos of summer: Satire
C) Mythos of autumn: Tragedy
D) Mythos of winter: Romance
Answer: A and B only
Explanation: Northrop Frye’s typology of literature includes Comedy and Satire as part of the mythos of spring and summer.
954. Which two of the following writers does A. D. Hope address through his poetic responses in A Book of Answers?
A) Tolstoy
B) Dostoevsky
C) Mallarme
D) Goethe
Answer: A and D only
Explanation: A. D. Hope addresses Tolstoy and Goethe through his poetic responses in “A Book of Answers.”
955. Which two of the following are true according to the documentation style prescribed by the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook?
A) If the title page of a book contains an imprint as well as the publisher’s name, omit the imprint and use the publisher’s name.
B) While giving a URL copy it from the Web browser but omit http:// or https://.
C) If a quotation extends to more than five lines set it off from the text as block indented an inch from the left margin.
D) Long titles should be abbreviated using the first letter of key words typed in upper case without intervening space.
Answer: A and B only
Explanation: According to the MLA Handbook, it’s recommended to omit http:// or https:// from URLs (B), and when citing a book, you should use the publisher’s name and omit the imprint (A).
956. Which two of the following are highlighted in relation to specific historical moments by Stephen Greenblatt?
A) crisis of meaning
B) circulation of meaning
C) production of meaning
D) deferral of meaning
Answer: A and B only
Explanation: Stephen Greenblatt highlights the “crisis of meaning” and the “circulation of meaning” in relation to specific historical moments in his work.
957. Who among the following belong to the Chicago School of critics?
A) R. S. Crane
B) E. M. W. Tillyard
C) Elder Olson
D) Allen Tate
Answer: A and C only
Explanation: R. S. Crane and Elder Olson are associated with the Chicago School of critics.
958. Which of the following poems contains John Donne’s famous conceit bringing a parallel between lovers and the hands of a compass?
A) “Negative Love”
B) “Lovers Infinitenesse”
C) “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”
D) “A Valediction: Of Weeping”
Answer: “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”
Explanation: John Donne’s famous conceit comparing lovers to the hands of a compass is found in the poem “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning.”
Arrange the following essays in the chronological order of publication.
A. T. S. Eliot, “The Function of Criticism”
B. Edgar Allan Poe, “The Philosophy of Composition”
C. Henry James, “The Art of Fiction”
D. Virginia Woolf, “Modern Fiction”
Answer: C, B, A, D
Explanation: The chronological order of publication is Henry James, Edgar Allan Poe, T. S. Eliot, and Virginia Woolf.
959. Arrange the following journals in the chronological order in which they started publication.
A. The Tatler
B. The Examiner
C. The Review
D. The Spectator
Answer: A, D, C, B
Explanation: The chronological order of publication is The Tatler, The Spectator, The Review, and The Examiner.
960. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: Postmodern narratives focus on the indeterminate and unstable nature of textuality and subjectivity.
Reason R: Postmodern narrative acts regard narratives and characters as tentative representations of writing and identity.
Answer: Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both Assertion A and Reason R are true, and Reason R explains why Postmodern narratives focus on indeterminate and unstable textuality and subjectivity.
961. Given below are two statements
Statement I: In Waiting for Godot, it is Vladimir who questions the Boy who comes from Godot towards the end of the two Acts.
Statement II: In Waiting for Godot, it is Estragon who says, “Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it’s awful.”
Answer: Both Statement I and Statement II are true
Explanation: Both statements are true. In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir questions the Boy, and Estragon makes the statement about nothing happening.
962. Given below are two statements
Statement I: New Historicism stipulates that teleological connotations of history have to be eschewed.
Statement II: New Historicism neither denies nor accepts totalizing explanations of historical events.
Answer: Both Statement I and Statement II are true
Explanation: Both statements are true. New Historicism rejects teleological connotations of history and avoids totalizing explanations of historical events.
963. What was poor Yorick in Hamlet?
A) Jester
B) Actor
C) Soldier
D) Gravedigger
Answer: Jester
Explanation: In Hamlet, Yorick was the court jester.
964. Which of the following words refers to a sound that is associated with a particular meaning?
A) phoneme
B) phonic substance
C) phonestheme
D) phonemoid
Answer: phonestheme
Explanation: A phonestheme is a sound or phoneme in a word that is associated
965. Who among the following Dickens characters appears as a ghost?
A) Daniel Quilp
B) Dora Spenlow
C) Esther Summerson
D) Jacob Marley
Answer: Daniel Quilp
Explanation: Daniel Quilp is a character in Dickens’ “The Old Curiosity Shop” and is associated with ghostly and eerie qualities.
966. Virginia Woolf’s Orlando opens in 1588 and Orlando, a sixteen‐year‐old boy, writes a poem called:
A) “The Evergreen Tree”
B) “The Poison Tree”
C) “The Oak Tree”
D) “The Magic Tree”
Answer: “The Evergreen Tree”
Explanation: In Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando,” the poem written by Orlando as a sixteen-year-old boy is titled “The Evergreen Tree.”
967. What function of English is exemplified by the use of English in India as a “link language” along with a first language by stable bilinguals in well-defined social contexts?
A) complementary
B) supplementary
C) auxiliary
D) equative
Answer: complementary
Explanation: In India, English is often used as a complementary language alongside individuals’ first languages in specific social contexts to bridge communication gaps.
968. Who among the following is said to have believed that the Persian Gulf War (1990-91) never happened?
A) Zygmunt Bauman
B) Jean Baudrillard
C) Jacques Derrida
D) Jurgen Habermas
Answer: Zygmunt Bauman
Explanation: Zygmunt Bauman, a sociologist and philosopher, is known for his views on the hyperreality of events like the Persian Gulf War, which he saw as
969. What 19th-century philosophical term of Russian origin did Friedrich Nietzsche use to describe the disintegration of traditional morality in western society?
A) absolutism
B) cynicism
C) nihilism
D) anarchism
Answer: nihilism
Explanation: Friedrich Nietzsche used the term “nihilism” to describe the disintegration of traditional moral values and beliefs in western society during the 19th century.
970. Which of the following statements is true of the working group set up by the University Grants Commission in 1978 to study the medium of instruction in higher education?
A) It recommended a quicker switchover of the medium of instruction from English to Indian languages.
B) It observed that English need not be displaced as the medium of instruction although regional languages were quite ready to take over its functions.
C) It argued that English as a highly developed language was best suited for India’s industrial and scientific progress.
D) It asserted that English had the potential to further polarize an already-divided nation along socio-economic and intellectual fault lines.
Answer: It recommended a quicker switchover of the medium of instruction from English to Indian languages.
Explanation: The working group recommended a faster transition from English to Indian languages as the medium of instruction in higher education.
971. In comparative philology and sometimes in modern phonology, what is the term used to refer to the deletion of a vowel within a word?
A) Aphaeresis
B) Equi-deletion
C) Paradigm
D) Syncope
Answer: Aphaeresis
Explanation: Aphaeresis refers to the deletion of a vowel at the beginning of a word within a word.
972. Which of the following statements best describes Terry Eagleton’s views on literature?
A) It is involved in the reproduction of the dominant social order.
B) Its raison d’être is to reflect social reality directly.
C) Its primary purpose is to produce beauty and pleasure.
D) It is closely allied to religion in its significance and seriousness.
Answer: It is involved in the reproduction of the dominant social order.
Explanation: Terry Eagleton’s views on literature emphasize its role in reinforcing and perpetuating the dominant social order and ideologies.
973. Which of the following are true of ‘performance’, as used in linguistic theory?
A. It is analogous to the Saussurean concept of language.
B. It refers to the specific utterances of individual native speakers in actual situations.
C. It is an innate grammar that suggests humans’ universal ability to use language.
D. It includes hesitations and unfinished structures arising out of psychological difficulties acting upon the speaker.
Answer: A and B only
Explanation: In linguistic theory, “performance” refers to the actual use of language by speakers in real situations, which includes individual utterances and variations.
974. Which among the following are the works of George Gissing?
A. New Grub Street
B. Agnes Grey
C. The Odd Women
D. Mary Barton
Answer: A and C only
Explanation: The works “New Grub Street” and “The Odd Women” are authored by George Gissing.
975. Which of the following are novels by Ian McEwan?
A. Atonement
B. The Man with Two Left Feet
C. The Child in Time
D. The Rachel Papers
Answer: A and C only
Explanation: “Atonement” and “The Child in Time” are novels by Ian McEwan.
976. Which of the following are poems by Nissim Ezekiel that make fun of Indians’ use of English?
A. “Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.”
B. “Philosophy”
C. “Very Indian Poem in Indian English”
D. “Jewish Wedding in Bombay”
E. “Poet, Lover, Birdwatcher”
Answer: A only
Explanation: “Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S.” by Nissim Ezekiel is known for its humorous take on Indians’ use of English.
977. Match the List I with List 2:
List I (Author)
A. Sean O’Casey
B. Dylan Thomas
C. Terence Rattigan
D. Arnold Wesker
List II (Text)
I. I’m Talking About Jerusalem
II. The Winslow Boy
III. Juno and the Paycock
IV. In the Shadow of the Glen
V. Under Milk Wood
Answer: A-II, B-I, C-III, D-V, E-IV
Explanation: The matching of authors and their respective texts is as follows:
A. Sean O’Casey – III. Juno and the Paycock
B. Dylan Thomas – V. Under Milk Wood
C. Terence Rattigan – II. The Winslow Boy
D. Arnold Wesker – IV. In the Shadow of the Glen
978. Match List 1 with List 2
List I (First Line)
A. “Courage!” he said, and pointed toward the land…
B. I am poor brother Lippo, by your leave!
C. I caught this morning morning’s minion…
D. Look in my face; my name is Might‐have‐been…
E. The sea is calm tonight…
List II (Poet)
G.M Hopkins
Alfred Tennyson
D.G. Rossetti
Matthew Arnold
Robert Browning
Answer: A-II, B-III, C-I, D-V, E-IV
Explanation: The matching of the first lines with their respective poets is as follows:
A. “Courage!” he said, and pointed toward the land… – Alfred Tennyson
B. I am poor brother Lippo, by your leave! – D.G. Rossetti
C. I caught this morning morning’s minion… – G.M Hopkins
D. Look in my face; my name is Might‐have‐been… – Robert Browning
E. The sea is calm tonight… – Matthew Arnold
979. Match the list 1 with list 2
List 1 (Character)
A. Winston Smith
B. Paul Morel
C. ‘whiskey priest’
D. Leopold Bloom
E. Paul Pennyfeather
List 2 (Novel)
I. Sons and Lovers
II. Ulysses
III. Nineteen Eighty‐four
IV. Decline and Fall
V. The Power and the Glory
Answer: A-III, B-I, C-V, D-II, E-IV
Explanation: The matching of characters with their respective novels is as follows:
A. Winston Smith – III. Nineteen Eighty‐four
B. Paul Morel – I. Sons and Lovers
C. ‘whiskey priest’ – V. The Power and the Glory
D. Leopold Bloom – II. Ulysses
E. Paul Pennyfeather – IV. Decline and Fall
980. The novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” tells the story of a young scientist who creates a grotesque creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Who is its author?
a) Emily Brontë
b) Bram Stoker
c) Mary Shelley
d) Daphne du Maurier
Answer: c) Mary Shelley
Explanation: Mary Shelley wrote “Frankenstein” when she was just 18 years old, and it was published in 1818. It’s often considered the first science fiction novel and is a foundational work in Gothic literature.
981- 1000
Reasoning Questions 20
Reasoning Question 1:
In George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm,” the pigs gradually assume leadership on the farm. Analyze and provide a reason for this transformation.
Answer: The transformation of the pigs into leaders is symbolic of the corrupting nature of power and the failure of the animal rebellion. Initially, the pigs are seen as the intellectuals and strategists of the rebellion, but over time, they become authoritarian and oppressive. This transformation occurs due to their lust for power, privilege, and the corrupting influence of human traits. The pigs manipulate the other animals through propaganda and fear, ultimately betraying the principles of the rebellion.
Reasoning Question 2:
In William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies,” the conch shell is used as a symbol of authority and order. Explain the significance of the conch shell in the story.
Answer: The conch shell represents the rule of law, democracy, and civilization in “Lord of the Flies.” When the boys first discover it, they use it to establish order and to call meetings. It symbolizes the power of consensus and the idea that everyone has a voice in decision-making. However, as the boys descend into savagery, the conch’s authority wanes, and it ultimately shatters, signifying the complete breakdown of order and civilization.
Reasoning Question 3:
In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” analyze how Victor Frankenstein’s pursuit of scientific knowledge ultimately leads to his downfall.
Answer: Victor Frankenstein’s relentless pursuit of scientific knowledge and his desire to play God by creating life lead to his downfall. His ambition and disregard for ethical and moral boundaries drive him to create the Creature, but he fails to take responsibility for his creation. This leads to tragic consequences, including the deaths of loved ones and his own misery. Victor’s unchecked scientific curiosity and hubris ultimately bring about his ruin, emphasizing the theme of the dangers of unchecked scientific progress.
Reasoning Question 4:
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” examine the role of the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock and its symbolism in the story.
Answer: The green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dream and his longing for a future with Daisy. It represents the American Dream itself, which is often elusive and unattainable. Gatsby associates the green light with hope and the possibility of rekindling his romance with Daisy. However, the light is always just out of reach, symbolizing the impossibility of recapturing the past and the ephemeral nature of dreams.
Reasoning Question 5:
In Toni Morrison’s novel “Beloved,” analyze how the haunting presence of the titular character, Beloved, serves as a metaphor for the legacy of slavery in America.
Answer: Beloved’s haunting presence represents the unresolved trauma and painful legacy of slavery that continues to haunt the lives of the characters. She embodies the collective memory of slavery and the horrors endured by African Americans. Just as slavery left a lasting impact on the lives of former slaves and their descendants, Beloved’s return disrupts the lives of Sethe and her family, forcing them to confront their past and the atrocities of slavery.
Reasoning Question 6:
In Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” discuss how the journey up the Congo River serves as both a physical and metaphorical journey into the darkness of human nature.
Answer: The journey up the Congo River in “Heart of Darkness” represents a descent into the moral and psychological darkness of human nature. As Marlow progresses deeper into the jungle, he encounters the brutality and dehumanization of the colonial enterprise. The river itself symbolizes the passage into the heart of darkness, where the veneer of civilization erodes, and the worst aspects of human nature are revealed. The journey serves as an exploration of the inherent darkness within us all.
Reasoning Question 7:
In John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath,” analyze the significance of the biblical allusions and themes of social justice in the story.
Answer: The biblical allusions and themes of social justice in “The Grapes of Wrath” underscore the novel’s exploration of the suffering and resilience of the Joad family and other migrant workers during the Great Depression. The biblical references, such as the Exodus narrative, highlight the Joads’ journey as a modern-day exodus in search of a promised land. The novel also addresses themes of injustice and inequality, calling for social reform and compassion in the face of economic hardship.
Reasoning Question 8:
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” examine the symbolism of the scarlet letter “A” and its evolving meaning throughout the story.
Answer: The scarlet letter “A” initially symbolizes adultery and shame in “The Scarlet Letter.” However, as the story progresses, it takes on multiple meanings. For Hester Prynne, it becomes a symbol of her strength and resilience in the face of societal judgment. For others, it transforms into “able” and “angel,” signifying Hester’s benevolence and her ability to help those in need. Ultimately, the scarlet letter becomes a complex symbol that reflects the characters’ changing perceptions and the themes of sin, redemption, and identity.
Reasoning Question 9:
In J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series, analyze the role of the “Deathly Hallows” and their significance in the final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
Answer: The “Deathly Hallows” represent three powerful magical objects—the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak. Together, they symbolize the themes of mortality, the quest for power, and the acceptance of death. In the final book, Harry Potter seeks to unite the Deathly Hallows to defeat Voldemort, but he ultimately chooses to relinquish their power, emphasizing the importance of love, sacrifice, and the acceptance of mortality over the pursuit of power.
Reasoning Question 10:
In Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” analyze the theme of cyclicality and repetition in the Buendía family’s history.
Answer: The cyclicality and repetition of events in the Buendía family’s history underscore the novel’s theme of the eternal return and the idea that history repeats itself. The characters’ names and traits echo across generations, and events seem to recur in a cyclical fashion. This reflects the notion that the family is trapped in a never-ending cycle of love, violence, and solitude, mirroring the broader history of Latin America.
Reasoning Question 11
In George Orwell’s “1984,” analyze the significance of the government’s use of Newspeak as a tool for controlling thought and communication.
Answer: Newspeak is a linguistic tool used by the government to limit freedom of thought and expression in “1984.” It eliminates words and concepts that could be used to express dissent or independent thinking. By controlling language, the government controls thought, making it impossible for citizens to articulate rebellion or resistance. Newspeak reinforces the theme of totalitarianism and the power of language to shape reality.
Reasoning Question 12:
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” analyze the concept of the One Ring as a symbol of power and corruption. How does it corrupt those who possess it?
Answer: The One Ring in “The Lord of the Rings” symbolizes absolute power and the corrupting influence it has on those who possess it. It exerts a malevolent force that magnifies a person’s desires and weaknesses. Frodo, the Ring’s bearer, is constantly tempted by its power, and characters like Gollum and Boromir are driven to madness and betrayal. The Ring’s corrupting influence illustrates the theme that power can corrupt even the noblest of individuals.
Reasoning Question 13:
In Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” discuss the impact of colonialism on Igbo society and the character Okonkwo.
Answer: Colonialism in “Things Fall Apart” disrupts traditional Igbo society and challenges Okonkwo’s values and identity. The arrival of the British colonialists leads to cultural clashes, the imposition of foreign authority, and the suppression of Igbo customs. Okonkwo, once a respected warrior, struggles to adapt to the changes and feels emasculated by colonial rule. This underscores the theme of the destructive impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and individuals.
Reasoning Question 14:
In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” analyze the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by Victor Frankenstein in creating and abandoning the Creature.
Answer: Victor Frankenstein’s ethical and moral dilemmas in “Frankenstein” revolve around his creation of the Creature and his subsequent abandonment of it. He faces the dilemma of pushing scientific boundaries without considering the consequences, as well as the moral responsibility of caring for his creation. His decision to reject and abandon the Creature leads to tragedy and poses questions about the ethical boundaries of scientific exploration and the responsibilities of creators.
Reasoning Question 15:
In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” analyze Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect and its symbolic meaning in the story.
Answer: Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect in “The Metamorphosis” serves as a metaphor for his alienation and dehumanization in society. His physical transformation reflects his emotional and psychological isolation from his family and society. It also symbolizes the dehumanizing effects of modernity and the demands of the capitalist system. Gregor’s metamorphosis raises questions about identity, conformity, and the human condition.
Reasoning Question 16:
In William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying,” analyze the narrative technique of multiple first-person perspectives and its impact on the reader’s understanding of the story.
Answer: The use of multiple first-person perspectives in “As I Lay Dying” provides insight into the subjective experiences and perspectives of the characters. It allows readers to see the story from different angles and to understand the characters’ motivations and contradictions. This narrative technique creates a complex and fragmented narrative that mirrors the characters’ emotional states and the challenges they face. It also underscores the theme of the subjective nature of truth and reality.
Reasoning Question 17:
In Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” analyze the symbolism of the repeating pattern of names and events in the Buendía family’s history.
Answer: The repeating pattern of names and events in “One Hundred Years of Solitude” represents the cyclical nature of history and the idea that the past is destined to repeat itself. The Buendía family’s actions and destinies are often preordained, mirroring the broader historical context of Latin America. This symbolism underscores the novel’s theme of the inescapable cycle of love, violence, and solitude that plagues the family and the region.
Reasoning Question 18:
In Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” analyze Janie Crawford’s journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.
Answer: Janie Crawford’s journey in “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a quest for self-discovery and empowerment. She moves from a repressive marriage to self-realization, seeking to define her identity and find her own voice. Through her relationships and experiences, she gains a sense of agency and independence. Janie’s journey illustrates the theme of the importance of self-discovery and autonomy in achieving happiness.
Reasoning Question 19:
In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” analyze the role of the decaying mansion as a symbol of the Usher family’s decline.
Answer: The decaying mansion in “The Fall of the House of Usher” serves as a symbol of the Usher family’s physical and psychological decline. The house reflects the family’s deteriorating lineage and mental instability. As the house crumbles, so do the Ushers, and the two are intricately linked. The mansion’s eerie atmosphere and decay contribute to the story’s Gothic mood and themes of decay and madness.
Reasoning Question 20:
In J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” analyze the character of Holden Caulfield as a symbol of teenage alienation and disillusionment.
Answer: Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” represents the teenage experience of alienation and disillusionment. He rejects societal norms and feels disconnected from the adult world, which he perceives as phony and hypocritical. His search for authenticity and meaning in a superficial world mirrors the struggles many teenagers face. Holden’s character serves as a symbol of adolescent angst and the desire to preserve innocence in a corrupt world.
Questions 1000- 1100
Passage:1
In the quiet town of Elmsworth, nestled between rolling hills and scenic valleys, lived Mrs. Eleanor Bennett, a widow of five years. Though her heart bore the weight of a lost love, Eleanor’s spirit remained unbroken. Every morning, she would wander through her vast orchard, greeting each tree as if it were an old friend. Her favorite, a grand old apple tree, stood tall near the edge of the property, its limbs stretching out as if to embrace the world. Underneath its shade, she would often read, write, or simply daydream, the gentle rustling of leaves serving as her serene background score.
!. Which of the following can be inferred about Eleanor’s emotional state?
a) She is resentful of her past.
b) She finds solace in nature.
c) She is seeking a new relationship.
d) She dislikes the town of Elmsworth.
Answer: b) She finds solace in nature.
2. The description of the apple tree’s “limbs stretching out as if to embrace the world” suggests:
a) The tree is the largest in the orchard.
b) Eleanor views the tree as a protective figure.
c) The tree is located at a high altitude.
d) The apple tree has been pruned recently.
Answer: b) Eleanor views the tree as a protective figure.
3. Given that Eleanor finds comfort in the rustling of the leaves, what can be inferred about her preferred ambiance?
a) She prefers noisy surroundings.
b) She appreciates natural serenity.
c) She enjoys modern urban sounds.
d) She finds silence unnerving.
Answer: b) She appreciates natural serenity.
4. Based on Eleanor’s routine of wandering through her orchard and spending time under the apple tree, one might conclude:
a) She has a bustling social life.
b) She is an expert on apple cultivation.
c) She finds therapeutic value in nature.
d) She plans to sell the orchard soon.
Answer: c) She finds therapeutic value in nature.
5. The depiction of Eleanor greeting each tree “as if it were an old friend” indicates:
a) Eleanor speaks to trees.
b) The orchard was planted by Eleanor’s ancestors.
c) Eleanor values memories and connections.
d) The trees in the orchard are rare and exotic.
Answer: c) Eleanor values memories and connections.
6. If Eleanor’s spirit is described as “unbroken” despite her personal loss, it suggests:
a) She has forgotten her past.
b) She has overcome the immediate grief of her loss.
c) She is indifferent to her surroundings.
d) She has regrets about her past.
Answer: b) She has overcome the immediate grief of her loss.
7. The choice of the word “nestled” to describe the town of Elmsworth’s location implies:
a) The town is in a chaotic setting.
b) The town is isolated from other cities.
c) The town has a comforting and cozy ambiance.
d) The town is at the peak of a hill.
Answer: c) The town has a comforting and cozy ambiance.
8. Eleanor’s daily activities in the orchard suggest that she:
a) Is trying to escape her memories.
b) Is deeply connected to her property.
c) Wants to sell the apples from her orchard.
d) Is preparing to plant more trees.
Answer: b) Is deeply connected to her property.
9. Given Eleanor’s affinity for the apple tree, which literary device is most evident in the passage?
a) Irony
b) Simile
c) Foreshadowing
d) Alliteration
Answer: b) Simile
10. The overarching theme of the passage can be best described as:
a) The passage of time and its effects.
b) The commercial value of orchards.
c) The healing power of nature.
d) The challenges of living alone.
Answer: c) The healing power of nature.
Passage: 2
In the twilight of Victorian London, a peculiar scholar named Jonathan spent his days within the dusty confines of the Royal Library. Fascinated by obscure scripts from the Far East, he soon deciphered a tale that spoke of a mythical city named Lysandra, located somewhere in the Himalayas. Lysandra, as the text revealed, was not made of bricks or stones, but of shimmering crystals that gleamed under the moonlight. Its inhabitants were said to possess knowledge that could alter the course of history. As whispers of this newfound knowledge spread, skeptics mocked him, but the allure of Lysandra was too powerful for Jonathan to ignore. He soon embarked on an expedition, determined to uncover the city’s secrets.
11. Jonathan’s interest in obscure scripts primarily suggests:
a) His dissatisfaction with Western literature.
b) His quest for knowledge and the unknown.
c) His professional obligation as a librarian.
d) His attempt to impress society.
Answer: b) His quest for knowledge and the unknown.
Explanation: The passage highlights his fascination with an obscure script and his determination to discover Lysandra, indicating a thirst for knowledge and discovery.
12. The mention of “shimmering crystals” in Lysandra’s description implies:
a) A wealthy city with abundant natural resources.
b) A fragile city easily destroyed.
c) A city with a unique, almost magical appearance.
d) A city with advanced technological capabilities.
Answer: c) A city with a unique, almost magical appearance.
Explanation: The emphasis on the city’s moonlit gleam and the unique construction material (crystals) suggest an enchanting or magical ambiance.
13. What can be inferred about society’s general perception of Jonathan’s discovery?
a) They were indifferent to his findings.
b) They were envious of his knowledge.
c) They were supportive of his expedition.
d) They were skeptical and mocking.
Answer: d) They were skeptical and mocking.
Explanation: The passage mentions that “skeptics mocked him,” suggesting disbelief and derision from society.
14. The fact that Lysandra’s inhabitants possessed transformative knowledge implies:
a) The city was a hub for global education.
b) The knowledge could have potential benefits or dangers.
c) The city’s inhabitants were all scholars and academics.
d) The knowledge was readily available for outsiders.
Answer: b) The knowledge could have potential benefits or dangers.
Explanation: The phrase “alter the course of history” indicates the gravity and potential impact of the knowledge.
15. Jonathan’s choice to embark on an expedition despite skepticism suggests:
a) He had financial backers for his journey.
b) He was trying to escape his duties at the Royal Library.
c) He was driven by a deep personal conviction.
d) He was influenced by external pressures.
Answer: c) He was driven by a deep personal conviction.
Explanation: The allure of Lysandra was “too powerful for Jonathan to ignore,” implying a strong personal drive.
16. If Lysandra’s primary construction material is crystals, what can be speculated about its climate?
a) Hot and tropical
b) Cold and frigid
c) Mild and temperate
d) Dry and arid
Answer: b) Cold and frigid.
Explanation: Crystals, especially in the context of the Himalayas, could suggest colder climates where such formations might naturally occur or be preserved.
17. The “twilight of Victorian London” suggests:
a) The story is set during the daytime.
b) London is experiencing a blackout.
c) The era is transitioning, possibly nearing its end.
d) Jonathan primarily worked during evenings.
Answer: c) The era is transitioning, possibly nearing its end.
Explanation: “Twilight” metaphorically suggests a period of decline or transition, indicating the later stages of the Victorian era.
18. What might be a potential reason for Jonathan’s fascination with Lysandra?
a) The promise of wealth and riches.
b) The opportunity to be recognized and respected.
c) A chance to rewrite known history.
d) The allure of a potential new home.
Answer: c) A chance to rewrite known history.
Explanation: The text emphasizes the knowledge that could “alter the course of history,” suggesting its transformative potential.
19. The fact that Lysandra is located in the Himalayas suggests:
a) The city is easily accessible to travelers.
b) The city is situated at a high altitude.
c) The city experiences a tropical climate.
d) The city is surrounded by oceans.
Answer: b) The city is situated at a high altitude.
Explanation: The Himalayas are known for their mountainous terrain and high altitudes.
20. If the tale of Lysandra was so influential for Jonathan, it might indicate that:
a) The Royal Library lacked other interesting scripts.
b) Jonathan was easily influenced by fictional tales.
c) The tale resonated with a deeper personal or scholarly interest.
d) Jonathan was planning to write a book on Lysandra.
Answer: c) The tale resonated with a deeper personal or scholarly interest.
Explanation: Given Jonathan’s dedication and determination, it’s likely that the tale of Lysandra had significant personal or scholarly resonance for him.
Passage: 3
In the drawing-room of Netherfield, Elizabeth Bennet, while her sister poorly played a tune on the piano, was engaged in conversation with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth, with her characteristic wit and charm, tried to elicit more from the reserved Mr. Darcy, who responded in his usual brief and cold manner. The atmosphere was palpably tense, a mixture of fascination and resistance between the two. The silent interplays, the half-said sentences, and the gazes that lingered a moment too long all spoke of an underlying current of attraction, masked by societal expectations and personal prejudices.
21. Elizabeth’s interaction with Mr. Darcy in the drawing-room suggests:
a) She is trying to irritate him.
b) She is genuinely interested in getting to know him.
c) She is trying to divert his attention from her sister.
d) She is making polite conversation out of obligation.
Answer: b) She is genuinely interested in getting to know him.
Explanation: Elizabeth’s “characteristic wit and charm” suggests a genuine attempt to engage with Darcy.
22. Mr. Darcy’s “usual brief and cold manner” indicates:
a) Disinterest in the present company.
b) A possible disdain for Elizabeth.
c) A reserved and guarded personality.
d) An attempt to end the conversation swiftly.
Answer: c) A reserved and guarded personality.
Explanation: His manner is described as “usual,” suggesting it’s a trait rather than a specific reaction to Elizabeth.
23. The “silent interplays” and “half-said sentences” between the characters imply:
a) A lack of topics to discuss.
b) A shared secret between them.
c) An unspoken attraction or tension.
d) A cultural barrier in communication.
Answer: c) An unspoken attraction or tension.
Explanation: The passage hints at an “underlying current of attraction” between them.
24. Elizabeth’s sister’s poor performance on the piano might suggest:
a) A lack of musical training.
b) Nervousness due to the present company.
c) A disinterest in playing the instrument.
d) A broken or untuned piano.
Answer: b) Nervousness due to the present company.
Explanation: The setting is a formal gathering, and her sister’s poor performance might be attributed to the pressure of the situation.
25. The “gazes that lingered a moment too long” can be interpreted as:
a) An attempt to intimidate.
b) A sign of deep contemplation.
c) An unintentional stare.
d) A hint of romantic interest.
Answer: d) A hint of romantic interest.
Explanation: Given the overall context of the passage, the lingering gazes suggest an unspoken romantic tension.
26. Which element does NOT contribute to the tension in the room?
a) Elizabeth’s wit and charm.
b) The poorly played tune on the piano.
c) Mr. Darcy’s reserved responses.
d) The silent interplays between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Answer: a) Elizabeth’s wit and charm.
Explanation: Elizabeth’s wit and charm are more indicative of her personality rather than a source of tension.
27. The phrase “masked by societal expectations” suggests:
a) The characters are wearing physical masks.
b) There are strict societal rules governing interactions.
c) Both characters are concealing their true emotions.
d) Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy come from different societal backgrounds.
Answer: b) There are strict societal rules governing interactions.
Explanation: The context of the novel and the choice of the word “masked” suggests that societal norms and expectations are influencing their behavior.
28. Elizabeth’s “characteristic wit and charm” suggests that she is:
a) Frequently the center of attention.
b) A seasoned conversationalist.
c) Often sarcastic and humorous.
d) Trying to impress Mr. Darcy.
Answer: b) A seasoned conversationalist.
Explanation: Her ease in engaging Mr. Darcy suggests her conversational skills.
29. The overall mood of the scene can best be described as:
a) Casual and relaxed.
b) Festive and jubilant.
c) Tense and charged.
d) Melancholic and somber.
Answer: c) Tense and charged.
Explanation: The various elements, such as the silent interplays and half-said sentences, contribute to a palpable tension in the room.
30. The underlying current of attraction between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is complicated by:
a) Their mutual disinterest.
b) The age difference between them.
c) Their societal roles and personal prejudices.
d) Their past experiences with love.
Answer: c) Their societal roles and personal prejudices.
Explanation: The passage suggests that societal expectations and personal biases mask their attraction.
Passage: 4
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to get to the sea as soon as I can.
31. Ishmael’s desire to sail is driven primarily by:
a) His financial condition.
b) An inherent love for the sea.
c) His personal mental and emotional state.
d) An interest in the funerals he comes across.
Answer: c) His personal mental and emotional state.
Explanation: Ishmael mentions “driving off the spleen” and references his mood, suggesting his primary reason is emotional.
32. When Ishmael mentions the “watery part of the world,” he is referring to:
a) The world’s oceans and seas.
b) Areas with a lot of rainfall.
c) Coastal cities and towns.
d) Rivers and lakes.
Answer: a) The world’s oceans and seas.
Explanation: Given the context of sailing and his desire to go to the sea, this refers to the world’s oceans and seas.
33. The phrase “driving off the spleen” metaphorically suggests:
a) Venturing into dangerous territories.
b) Escaping from mundane routines.
c) Alleviating feelings of melancholy or sadness.
d) Overcoming physical challenges.
Answer: c) Alleviating feelings of melancholy or sadness.
Explanation: “Spleen” historically refers to melancholy, suggesting he seeks the sea to combat his low spirits.
34. Ishmael’s mention of “pausing before coffin warehouses” implies:
a) A profession related to funerals.
b) An obsession with death.
c) A somber and reflective state of mind.
d) A keen interest in carpentry.
Answer: c) A somber and reflective state of mind.
Explanation: The mention of coffins in conjunction with other indications of his mood suggests a reflective and possibly melancholic state.
35. The “damp, drizzly November in my soul” is a figurative way of expressing:
a) An actual weather report.
b) A deep-seated regret about past Novembers.
c) A cold, bleak emotional state.
d) Anticipation for the winter season.
Answer: c) A cold, bleak emotional state.
Explanation: The phrase is a metaphor for feeling downcast or gloomy.
36. When Ishmael talks about “knocking people’s hats off,” he likely means:
a) A genuine desire to annoy others.
b) A literal pastime he indulges in.
c) A metaphorical representation of his urge to disrupt.
d) A critique of fashion trends of his time.
Answer: c) A metaphorical representation of his urge to disrupt.
Explanation: Given the tone and context, this seems an expression of an internal disruptive impulse rather than a literal action.
37. Ishmael’s attitude towards the sea can best be described as:
a) Fearful and apprehensive.
b) Resigned and indifferent.
c) Rejuvenating and therapeutic.
d) Curious but uninformed.
Answer: c) Rejuvenating and therapeutic.
Explanation: He sees the sea as an escape from his emotional lows, suggesting its therapeutic role for him.
38. The passage primarily focuses on:
a) Ishmael’s adventures at sea.
b) The various ways in which Ishmael disrupts societal norms.
c) The reasons why Ishmael is drawn to the sea.
d) The financial hardships Ishmael faces.
Answer: c) The reasons why Ishmael is drawn to the sea.
Explanation: While various aspects of his life are touched upon, the main theme is his reasons for seeking the sea.
39. The mention of “hypos” refers to:
a) Hypothermia due to cold weather.
b) Hypotheses or ideas he comes up with.
c) Low spirits or depression.
d) Physical ailments or diseases.
Answer: c) Low spirits or depression.
Explanation: In the context of the passage and historically, “hypos” refers to melancholy or depression.
40. Ishmael views the sea as:
a) A place of work and financial gain.
b) A mysterious realm full of unknown wonders.
c) A temporary escape from his everyday life.
d) The ultimate destination of his life’s journey.
Answer: c) A temporary escape from his everyday life.
Explanation: Ishmael sees the sea as a way to alleviate his melancholy and restore his mood.
Passage: 5
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.”
41. The opening statement suggests that:
a) Wealthy men are always seeking a wife.
b) Marriage is purely based on love.
c) Social expectations play a significant role in matrimonial decisions.
d) A good fortune always leads to happiness.
Answer: c) Social expectations play a significant role in matrimonial decisions.
Explanation: The “truth universally acknowledged” speaks to widespread societal beliefs about marriage and wealth.
42. The phrase “rightful property” implies that:
a) Daughters are like objects to be acquired.
b) Marriage is a transactional process.
c) Single wealthy men have obligations to families.
d) Both b and c.
Answer: d) Both b and c.
Explanation: The passage hints at the idea that wealthy men are expected to marry, making it a somewhat transactional process. It also suggests that families feel a wealthy man has some obligation to them.
43. The sentiment expressed in the passage can be seen as:
a) Progressive for its time.
b) Cynical about societal norms.
c) Neutral and factual.
d) Advocating for romantic love.
Answer: b) Cynical about societal norms.
Explanation: Austen is commenting on societal beliefs in a somewhat satirical manner, pointing out the almost transactional nature of marriage in her society.
44. The “feelings or views of such a man” being “little known” suggests:
a) Wealthy men are secretive.
b) Individual feelings are often overshadowed by societal expectations.
c) Men are not as emotional as women.
d) Wealthy men are often misunderstood.
Answer: b) Individual feelings are often overshadowed by societal expectations.
Explanation: The passage implies that regardless of a man’s personal feelings, society has certain expectations of him.
45. What might be inferred about the “surrounding families”?
a) They are indifferent to the status of a man.
b) They prioritize love over material wealth.
c) They are eager to marry off their daughters to wealthy men.
d) They respect individual choices and feelings.
Answer: c) They are eager to marry off their daughters to wealthy men.
Explanation: The context implies that families see a wealthy man as a potential match for their daughters due to his fortune.
46. The word “acknowledged” in the passage emphasizes:
a) Discreetness.
b) Acceptance.
c) Doubt.
d) Novelty.
Answer: b) Acceptance.
Explanation: The term suggests that this belief is widely accepted and recognized.
47. The tone of the passage can be best described as:
a) Solemn.
b) Humorous.
c) Indifferent.
d) Excited.
Answer: b) Humorous.
Explanation: Jane Austen’s satirical tone pokes fun at societal norms and expectations.
48. The primary focus of the passage is on:
a) The desires of wealthy single men.
b) The nature of societal expectations and norms.
c) The beauty of romantic love.
d) The importance of a good fortune.
Answer: b) The nature of societal expectations and norms.
Explanation: The passage highlights how societal expectations shape perceptions about marriage.
49. The passage suggests that a single man’s fortune:
a) Guarantees him happiness.
b) Puts him under societal scrutiny.
c) Has no influence on his marital prospects.
d) Determines his personal feelings.
Answer: b) Puts him under societal scrutiny.
Explanation: His fortune makes him a target for families looking to marry off their daughters.
50. In the context of the passage, “entering a neighbourhood” implies:
a) Literally moving to a new place.
b) Making oneself known in society.
c) Starting a new business venture.
d) Traveling for leisure.
Answer: b) Making oneself known in society.
Explanation: Even if a man’s personal feelings or views aren’t known initially, society forms opinions based on his status.
Poem Excerpt 1.
Extract from “Ozymandias”:
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desart. … Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
51. The “traveller from an antique land” implies:
a) The traveller is old.
b) The traveller comes from a bygone civilization.
c) The traveller is a merchant.
d) The traveller is lost.
Answer: b) The traveller comes from a bygone civilization.
Explanation: “Antique land” denotes an ancient or old civilization.
52. The “shattered visage” symbolizes:
a) A broken statue.
b) The decay of time.
c) Ozymandias’s defeat.
d) Both a and b.
Answer: d) Both a and b.
Explanation: While it literally represents a broken statue, it also metaphorically stands for the ravages of time.
53. ”The sneer of cold command” tells us that Ozymandias was:
a) A gentle ruler.
b) An indifferent king.
c) A commanding and arrogant ruler.
d) A fearful king.
Answer: c) A commanding and arrogant ruler.
Explanation: The “sneer” and “cold command” suggest a sense of superiority and disdain.
54. The “sculptor well those passions read” indicates:
a) The sculptor understood Ozymandias deeply.
b) The sculptor misinterpreted Ozymandias’s intentions.
c) The statue was crafted hastily.
d) The statue was not to Ozymandias’s liking.
Answer: a) The sculptor understood Ozymandias deeply.
Explanation: The line means the sculptor accurately captured the essence and emotions of Ozymandias.
55. ”Stamped on these lifeless things” suggests:
a) The markings on the statue.
b) The emotions are vivid even on an inanimate object.
c) Ozymandias’s influence is present everywhere.
d) Both a and b.
Answer: d) Both a and b.
Explanation: The emotions of Ozymandias were so strong they are vividly “stamped” or portrayed on the statue.
56. ”The hand that mocked them” refers to:
a) Ozymandias’s own hand.
b) The hand of the sculptor.
c) Those who opposed Ozymandias.
d) Time itself.
Answer: b) The hand of the sculptor.
Explanation: The sculptor’s hand “mocked” or imitated the emotions of Ozymandias in the statue.
57. ”My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings” signifies:
a) A humble proclamation.
b) A declaration of unparalleled power and greatness.
c) A request for recognition.
d) A warning to future rulers.
Answer: b) A declaration of unparalleled power and greatness.
Explanation: The phrase “King of Kings” shows extreme pride and self-importance.
58. ”Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” conveys:
a) A message of hope to future generations.
b) A showcase of Ozymandias’s accomplishments.
c) The fleeting nature of human achievements.
d) The eternal glory of Ozymandias.
Answer: c) The fleeting nature of human achievements.
Explanation: While the message is arrogant, the ruined state of the statue indicates the transitory nature of power and human works.
59. The overall tone of the poem is:
a) Celebratory.
b) Melancholic.
c) Ironic.
d) Jubilant.
Answer: c) Ironic.
Explanation: While Ozymandias’s inscription boasts of great achievements, the ruined statue in a vast desert presents a contrasting picture of decay and the inevitable passage of time.
60. The poem primarily conveys the:
a) Skill of the sculptor.
b) Power of Ozymandias.
c) Transience of human power and achievements.
d) Beauty of ancient artifacts.
Answer: c) Transience of human power and achievements.
Explanation: Despite the prideful inscription, the broken statue amidst the vastness of the desert highlights the ephemerality of human grandeur.
Poem Excerpt 2
Excerpt from “The Road Not Taken”:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
61. The “yellow wood” suggests:
a) The wood is precious.
b) It’s autumn.
c) The wood is ill.
d) The trees are birches.
Answer: b) It’s autumn.
Explanation: “Yellow wood” typically indicates the season of autumn when leaves turn yellow.
62. The speaker’s regret over not being able to “travel both” indicates:
a) The difficulty in choosing a path.
b) A desire for companionship.
c) Dislike for the woods.
d) Fear of the unknown.
Answer: a) The difficulty in choosing a path.
Explanation: The poem delves into the challenge of making choices and the inherent regrets and possibilities they carry.
63. The line “To where it bent in the undergrowth” implies:
a) The road is winding.
b) The road is well-traveled.
c) The road is challenging.
d) The road is clear.
Answer: a) The road is winding.
Explanation: The road “bends” and disappears into the undergrowth, indicating its winding nature.
64. The phrase “as just as fair” suggests:
a) The second road is more beautiful.
b) Both roads are equally appealing.
c) The second road is less traveled.
d) The second road is safer.
Answer: b) Both roads are equally appealing.
Explanation: The phrase indicates that the two roads, in terms of appearance, were similar or equally attractive.
65. ”Because it was grassy and wanted wear” indicates:
a) The road was green.
b) The road was neglected.
c) The road was unused or less traveled.
d) The road was new.
Answer: c) The road was unused or less traveled.
Explanation: A “grassy” road “wanting wear” signifies that it was less frequented by travelers.
66. The last two lines of the excerpt suggest:
a) Both roads were untouched.
b) The chosen road was tougher.
c) Both roads had been similarly traveled upon.
d) The first road was more popular.
Answer: c) Both roads had been similarly traveled upon.
Explanation: Despite the initial appearance, the observation reveals that both roads were used about the same.
67. The poem’s primary theme is:
a) Nature’s beauty.
b) Choices and their consequences.
c) The passing of time.
d) The joys of traveling.
Answer: b) Choices and their consequences.
Explanation: The poem delves into the intricacies of making decisions and how they shape one’s journey.
68. The speaker’s attitude towards the roads can best be described as:
a) Indifferent.
b) Analytical.
c) Impulsive.
d) Fearful.
Answer: b) Analytical.
Explanation: The speaker carefully examines both roads, reflecting on their appearances and implications.
69. The poem highlights the:
a) Importance of making quick decisions.
b) Need to travel extensively.
c) Inevitability of choices in life.
d) Beauty of the woods in autumn.
Answer: c) Inevitability of choices in life.
Explanation: The poem captures the essence of life’s journey, where choices are inevitable, and every path has its own set of possibilities.
70. By choosing the road “grassy and wanted wear,” the speaker might be looking for:
a) A comfortable journey.
b) A less popular choice.
c) A more scenic route.
d) A path leading to a city.
Answer: b) A less popular choice.
Explanation: The fact that the road “wanted wear” might indicate the speaker’s inclination towards a path less traveled or a less conventional choice.
Poem Excerpt 3
Excerpt from “Ariel”
Stasis in darkness.
Then the substanceless blue
Pour of tor and distances.
God’s lioness,
How one we grow,
Pivot of heels and knees!—The furrow
71. The line “Stasis in darkness” most likely signifies:
a) Physical inactivity.
b) Emotional stagnation.
c) Brightness and illumination.
d) Depth of the sea.
Answer: b) Emotional stagnation.
Explanation: “Stasis” means a state of inactivity or equilibrium, and when combined with “darkness,” it implies a sense of emotional or psychological stagnation.
72. ”Pour of tor and distances” can be interpreted as:
a) A vision of a mountain range.
b) The passing of time.
c) The vastness of the sky.
d) An overflowing river.
Answer: c) The vastness of the sky.
Explanation: The “substanceless blue” hints at the sky or the void, and “tor and distances” suggest expansiveness.
73. ”God’s lioness” is an expression that conveys:
a) Strength and fierceness.
b) Spiritual enlightenment.
c) Peace and serenity.
d) The beauty of nature.
Answer: a) Strength and fierceness.
Explanation: A lioness is typically seen as a symbol of strength, power, and fierceness.
74. ”How one we grow” indicates:
a) Unity with nature.
b) Individual growth.
c) The passing of seasons.
d) A thriving community.
Answer: a) Unity with nature.
Explanation: The line suggests a merging or becoming one with the surroundings, possibly nature.
75. The phrase “Pivot of heels and knees” most likely refers to:
a) A dance move.
b) Aging and weakness.
c) An athletic activity.
d) Physical transformation.
Answer: a) A dance move.
Explanation: The pivot action typically relates to a dance or movement involving the heels and knees.
76. ”The furrow” at the end of the excerpt suggests:
a) A wrinkle or mark.
b) A trench in a field.
c) Depth of thought.
d) Fresh beginnings.
Answer: b) A trench in a field.
Explanation: A furrow typically refers to a trench or groove in farming, suggesting cultivation or perhaps the passage of time.
77. The tone of the excerpt can be described as:
a) Light-hearted and whimsical.
b) Mournful and regretful.
c) Reflective and introspective.
d) Angry and resentful.
Answer: c) Reflective and introspective.
Explanation: The poem delves into deep images and introspection, suggesting a contemplative tone.
78. ”Substanceless blue” might refer to:
a) A clear day.
b) A mirage.
c) A painting.
d) A dreamy state.
Answer: d) A dreamy state.
Explanation: The term “substanceless” combined with “blue” gives a surreal, dream-like quality, suggesting something ethereal or intangible.
79. Plath’s use of the phrase “God’s lioness” might be an attempt to:
a) Convey divinity and power.
b) Depict a religious tale.
c) Highlight the beauty of wildlife.
d) Discuss ancient myths.
Answer: a) Convey divinity and power.
Explanation: Merging the concepts of “God” and “lioness” combines both the divine and the powerful, suggesting a force or entity of great strength and divinity.
80. The overall theme of this excerpt revolves around:
a) Nature’s beauty.
b) The challenges of life.
c) Personal identity and introspection.
d) A journey through landscapes.
Answer: c) Personal identity and introspection.
Explanation: The poem delves deep into personal feelings, the nature of self, and the introspective journey of the individual.
Poem Excerpt 4
Excerpt from “One Art”:
The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
81. What is the recurring theme of this excerpt?
a) Finding oneself.
b) The challenges of creativity.
c) The inevitability of loss.
d) Time management.
Answer: c) The inevitability of loss.
Explanation: The poem repeatedly references the act of losing, suggesting it as a common and inevitable experience.
82. The line “so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost” suggests:
a) Everything is meant to be misplaced.
b) Objects have a will of their own.
c) Loss is a natural part of life.
d) People are careless.
Answer: c) Loss is a natural part of life.
Explanation: The poet seems to be reflecting on how certain things are destined to be lost, emphasizing the natural occurrence of loss.
83. How does the poet seem to feel about loss in this excerpt?
a) Deeply saddened.
b) Frustrated and annoyed.
c) Accepting and resigned.
d) Hopeful and optimistic.
Answer: c) Accepting and resigned.
Explanation: The repeated assertion that “the art of losing isn’t hard to master” and the notion that loss isn’t a disaster show a sense of acceptance.
84. The mention of “lost door keys, the hour badly spent” is an example of:
a) Metaphor.
b) Hyperbole.
c) Simile.
d) Concrete imagery.
Answer: d) Concrete imagery.
Explanation: Bishop provides tangible examples of everyday losses to which readers can easily relate.
85. The poet’s attitude toward mastering the art of losing is:
a) Sarcastic.
b) Detached.
c) Earnest.
d) Evasive.
Answer: c) Earnest.
Explanation: The repetition of the phrase suggests a sincere attempt to convey the idea.
86. ”Accept the fluster” means:
a) Embrace the confusion.
b) Avoid the situation.
c) Challenge the status quo.
d) Deny the reality.
Answer: a) Embrace the confusion.
Explanation: “Fluster” indicates a state of agitation or confusion. The poet advises acceptance of such moments.
87. The excerpt primarily deals with:
a) How to be organized.
b) Coping mechanisms for loss.
c) The challenges of daily life.
d) Celebrating little moments.
Answer: b) Coping mechanisms for loss.
Explanation: The poem offers a perspective on how to deal with and understand loss in various forms.
88. The repetition of the line “The art of losing isn’t hard to master” serves to:
a) Emphasize the poem’s message.
b) Create a musical rhythm.
c) Contrast with other themes.
d) Highlight the poet’s personal struggles.
Answer: a) Emphasize the poem’s message.
Explanation: Repetition is often used to underscore a particular theme or message in poetry.
89. The use of the word “art” in this context implies:
a) Creativity.
b) Skill and technique.
c) Aesthetic beauty.
d) Professionalism.
Answer: b) Skill and technique.
Explanation: In the context of the poem, “art” refers to the skill or technique of handling loss.
90. What does the poet seem to suggest about the nature of disasters?
a) They are avoidable.
b) They are often overstated.
c) They are life-changing.
d) They are unpredictable.
Answer: b) They are often overstated.
Explanation: The idea that “their loss is no disaster” implies that what we often perceive as disasters might not be as grave as they seem.
Poem Excerpt 5
Excerpt from “The Waste Land”
April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
91. What does the poet imply about April?
a) It is a month of rebirth.
b) It is warmer than winter.
c) It is a deceptive month.
d) It causes more deaths.
Answer: a) It is a month of rebirth.
Explanation: The mention of “breeding lilacs out of the dead land” and “stirring dull roots with spring rain” suggests regeneration.
92. What is the paradoxical element about April being the “cruellest month”?
a) April should symbolize new beginnings.
b) Winter is generally considered harsh.
c) Lilacs are spring flowers.
d) Roots should not be dull in spring.
Answer: a) April should symbolize new beginnings.
Explanation: Traditionally, spring symbolizes rebirth, but Eliot contradicts this by calling April cruel.
93. ”Memory and desire” being mixed by April signifies:
a) The conflict between the past and future.
b) The rejuvenation of old emotions.
c) An inability to forget.
d) A detachment from reality.
Answer: b) The rejuvenation of old emotions.
Explanation: The mention of “memory and desire” in the context of spring suggests the reawakening of past feelings.
94. What does “Dull roots with spring rain” depict?
a) A harsh spring.
b) Nature’s delay in response to the season.
c) The fertility of the earth.
d) The impending beauty of spring.
Answer: b) Nature’s delay in response to the season.
Explanation: The “dull roots” indicate a sluggish response from nature to the revitalizing “spring rain.”
95. The phrase “Winter kept us warm” is an example of:
a) Oxymoron.
b) Metaphor.
c) Simile.
d) Irony.
Answer: a) Oxymoron.
Explanation: The juxtaposition of “winter” (typically cold) with “warm” creates an oxymoronic effect.
96. What is implied by “Earth in forgetful snow”?
a) Snow causes amnesia.
b) Winter hides the troubles of the world.
c) Earth wants to forget its past.
d) Snow is not good for cultivation.
Answer: b) Winter hides the troubles of the world.
Explanation: The “forgetful snow” suggests a covering up or masking of the underlying issues or problems.
97. The mention of “dried tubers” being fed by winter implies:
a) A lack of nutrition.
b) A storage of energy.
c) The preparation for spring.
d) The death of nature.
Answer: c) The preparation for spring.
Explanation: Tubers store energy, and their mention suggests the potential for growth come springtime.
98. The tone of this excerpt is best described as:
a) Joyful.
b) Melancholic.
c) Indifferent.
d) Ironic.
Answer: d) Ironic.
Explanation: The poem presents contrasts like a “cruel” April and a “warm” winter, showcasing irony.
99. Which element is NOT associated with April in this excerpt?
a) Cruelty.
b) Memory.
c) Desire.
d) Warmth.
Answer: d) Warmth.
Explanation: Warmth is associated with winter in this passage, not April.
100. What does the poet possibly mean by “A little life”?
a) Young plants.
b) Newborn animals.
c) Fleeting moments.
d) Minimal sustenance.
Answer: d) Minimal sustenance.
Explanation: In the context of “feeding a little life with dried tubers,” it suggests a minimal or just-enough sustenance to survive.
We’ve covered a vast array of topics, ensuring that you’re well-prepared for whatever the exam throws your way. From past papers to comprehension passages and analytical questions, we’ve left no stone unturned in providing you with a comprehensive resource.
But it’s not just about the exam. The skills you’ll acquire through this preparation will serve you well in your academic and professional life. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities are assets that will set you apart in any field.
So, as you delve into the pages of our course, embrace the opportunity to grow, to learn, and to challenge yourself. Let this journey be a testament to your dedication and determination. Remember, success is not the destination; it’s the path you take to get there.
As you reach the end of this course material, remember that your journey in English Literature is a lifelong one. These three parts are not just guides for an exam; they are stepping stones in your ongoing exploration of a rich and diverse field of knowledge.
English Literature is not confined to textbooks; it’s a living, breathing entity that evolves with time. The critical thinking skills you’ve honed, the deep understanding you’ve gained, and the passion you’ve nurtured will serve you well beyond the exam.
In conclusion, embrace this learning experience not as a means to an end but as a pathway to a world of literary wonders. We hope this course material has equipped you with the tools you need to succeed in the UGC NET/JRF exam and beyond. Your journey in English Literature is just beginning, and the possibilities are boundless.
🎓 Miracle Institute
A Glorious 25-Year Journey of Success and Excellence
We are overjoyed to celebrate 25 years of success and academic excellence at Miracle Institute! From our inception, we have been committed to nurturing the brightest minds and empowering them to achieve remarkable feats in the field of education.
Empowering Success in UGC NET/JRF, Pre PhD, and Lecturer Exams: Our students have consistently excelled in prestigious exams like UGC NET/JRF, Pre PhD, and Lecturer exams. Their outstanding achievements are a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the comprehensive guidance provided by our esteemed faculty.
A Perfect Track Record of Success: We take immense pride in the fact that our success rate is nearly 100 percent. Our students’ achievements reflect the unparalleled commitment of our faculty, staff, and students to academic excellence and personal growth.
Top Results in Graduation and Masters from Reputed Universities: We believe that quality education is the foundation for a successful career. Over the years, our students have consistently secured top results in Graduation and Masters examinations from renowned universities, opening doors to endless opportunities.
Launching Successful Careers: At Miracle Institute, our mission goes beyond academic success. We equip our students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in their professional endeavours. Our alumni have gone on to enjoy successful careers, making us immensely proud.
Accolades to Prof Abha Sharma and Her Team: The driving force behind our institute’s success is the visionary leadership of Prof Abha Sharma and her dedicated team of educators. Their tireless efforts, passion for teaching, and commitment to the students’ welfare have shaped countless success stories.
A Culture of Excellence and Support: At Miracle Institute, we foster a culture of excellence, where students are encouraged to dream big and strive for greatness. Our institute provides a supportive and nurturing environment, where every student can thrive.
Celebrate with Us: We invite you to join us in celebrating this momentous milestone. As we mark 25 years of success, we renew our commitment to excellence and pledge to continue guiding and inspiring the brightest minds.
Become Part of Our Legacy: Experience the transformative journey of education at Miracle Institute. Join our family and embark on a path that leads to success, fulfilment, and lifelong learning.
Enrol Today: Don’t miss the opportunity to be a part of our success story. Contact us at [9829121892] or visit www.miraclejaipur.com to secure your spot at Miracle Institute.
Accolades to our esteemed faculty, dedicated team, and most importantly, to our brilliant students who are the true ambassadors of Miracle Institute’s success!
Miracle Institute – 25 Years of Shaping Dreams and Illuminating Minds!
🌐 Discover More: www.miraclejaipur.com
📧 Email: infomiraclejaipur@gmail.com
📞 Contact Us: 9829121892
About the Author
Professor Abha Bhardwaj Sharma is not just a name, but an institution in herself. The esteemed founder and owner of Miracle English Language and Literature Institute, Prof. Abha, with her encyclopedic knowledge and a teaching style imbued with a scientific temper, has graced the world of English literature with her unrivaled expertise and inspirational guidance.
Embarking upon her illustrious career as a young lecturer in a government college in 1991, a role of significant prestige as a gazetted post, she soon recognised a deeper calling. In 1998, the esteemed Miracle Institute was born from her fervent desire to provide holistic and transcendental educational experiences. Her journey, punctuated by relentless passion and a ceaseless pursuit of knowledge, echoes the ethos of versatility and limitless learning.
Prof. Sharma’s teachings are a melodious symphony of traditional and contemporary, grounded in deep-rooted knowledge yet reaching for the innovative skies. A bibliophile at heart, every book to her is a universe of knowledge, and every page, a journey into the profound depths of understanding. With a keen interest spanning across the varied terrains of life, her pedagogical approach encapsulates holistic teaching, integrating literary education with life wisdom.
A counsellor, friend, and mentor, Prof.Abha compassionate nature and unwavering support have illuminated the paths of countless students. Her wisdom flows generously, marking her as a confidant who aids in navigating both academic labyrinths and life’s intricate alleys. The elegance of her articulation, coupled with a smiling, humble persona, radiates warmth devoid of arrogance or snobbery.
The literary world has been adorned by her prolific contributions. Prof. Sharma is the author of seminal works, including enriching volumes on Self-Help, ‘ I Am A Miracle’ Neurolinguistics ( NLP), and a comprehensive four-volume exploration into the History of English Literature. Her incisive insights into American, Indian, African, and other world literatures, as well as her exhaustive glossary on English literary devices, terms, rhetorical terms, and easily comprehensible works on Literary Criticism and Theories, are testimonials to her academic prowess and pedagogical brilliance.
In Prof. Abha Bhardwaj Sharma, students and peers find a guardian of learning, where complex theories unravel into understandable concepts, and where every interaction is a step closer to intellectual and personal enlightenment. Her journey, marked by academic accolades and enriched by the successes of those she mentored, continues to be an odyssey where learning and teaching converge into a harmonious dance of knowledge, wisdom, and humanistic grace.
a
UGC NET English Syllabus | |
Unit 1 | Drama |
Unit 2 | Poetry |
Unit 3 | Fiction, short story |
Unit 4 | Non-Fictional Prose |
Unit 5 | |
Unit 6 | English in India: history, evolution, and Future |
Unit 7 | Cultural Studies |
Unit 8 | Literary Criticism |
Unit 9 | Literary Theory post World War II |
Unit 10 | Research Methods and Materials in English |
Note: The first four units will be tested through comprehension and passages to test the critical reading, thinking, and writing skills of the candidate.
The Ten Units of UGC NET Syllabus
Book 1: Drama
Description: This book provides an in-depth exploration of dramatic literature, encompassing various genres, playwrights, historical contexts, and critical perspectives. It delves into classic and contemporary plays, offering profound insights for scholars, professors, and enthusiasts of the dramatic arts.
Book 2: Poetry
Description: This book delves into the rich world of poetry, offering a comprehensive examination of different poetic forms, themes, and renowned poets. It explores the evolution of poetry over time, providing readers with a profound understanding of this intricate art form.
Book 3: Fiction and Short Story
Description: This book offers a thorough analysis of narrative techniques, character development, plot structures, and critical interpretations within the realms of fiction and short stories. It includes a diverse range of short stories and novels for comprehensive study.
Book 4: Non-Fictional Prose
Description: This book provides an extensive exploration of non-fictional prose, encompassing essays, autobiographies, and other prose forms. It offers critical perspectives on influential non-fiction works and their significance in literature.
Book 5: Language and Pedagogy
Description: This book covers linguistic theories, language teaching methodologies, and practical applications of English. It serves as a valuable resource for language enthusiasts, educators, and anyone interested in effective language pedagogy.
Book 6: English in India
Description: This book traces the history and evolution of the English language in the Indian context. It explores linguistic diversity, sociolinguistics, and the future of English in India, offering insights into its role in shaping the nation.
Book 7: Cultural Studies
Description: For enthusiasts of cultural studies, this book delves into critical cultural theories, cultural artifacts, and their profound impact on society. It highlights the interdisciplinary nature of cultural studies and its relevance in contemporary contexts.
Book 8: Literary Criticism
Description: This book serves as a comprehensive guide to various critical approaches, enabling readers to critically assess and interpret literary texts. It features the works of influential literary critics and their contributions to the field.
Book 9: Literary Theory post World War II
Description: Tailored for enthusiasts of literary theory, this book explores post-World War II literary theories and theorists. It provides a deep dive into the theoretical discourse, making it an invaluable resource for scholars engaging in advanced literary analysis.
Book 10: Research Methods and Materials in English
Description: This book is an indispensable resource for research-oriented scholars. It covers research methodologies, data collection, analysis, and the effective use of research materials in English literature studies, guiding researchers on their academic journeys.
Each of these books is designed to cater to the specific needs and interests of students, scholars, professors, and enthusiasts within their respective units of the UGC NET syllabus, offering extensive and comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.
We’re excited to share that we’ve introduced an advanced series for the same course. This series comprises ten in-depth books, each dedicated to one of the ten units. These books offer a deep dive into the subject matter, providing extensive knowledge and insights.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about learning and wishes to explore even further after clearing the NET exam, these books can be your lifelong companions. They not only enhance your understanding but also serve as valuable resources for teaching and advancing your career.
Feel free to reach out to us if you’re interested in acquiring these books. We’re here to support your quest for knowledge and growth, even beyond the NET exam.
🌐 Discover More: www.miraclejaipur.com
📧 Email: infomiraclejaipur@gmail.com
📞 Contact Us: 9829121892
These ten books serve as invaluable resources for individuals with diverse interests and academic pursuits within the field of English literature, language, culture, and critical analysis. They are designed to:
Enhance Academic Knowledge: These books provide extensive coverage of various literary genres, language theories, cultural studies, and critical approaches, enabling readers to deepen their academic knowledge.
Support Scholarly Research: For scholars and Ph.D. students, these books offer a wealth of information, critical perspectives, and reference material, making them essential for conducting advanced research and producing high-quality academic work.
Enrich Teaching: Professors and educators can use these books as comprehensive teaching aids, helping them create engaging and informative lessons for their students.
Prepare for Examinations: Students preparing for UGC NET and other academic examinations can utilize these books to enhance their understanding of the syllabus and practice for exams.
Expand Cultural Awareness: Books on cultural studies foster cultural awareness and promote interdisciplinary thinking, making them valuable for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of culture and society.
Develop Critical Thinking: By exploring literary criticism, literary theory, and post-World War II theories, readers can enhance their critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential in academic and professional contexts.
Improve Language Pedagogy: The book on language and pedagogy is a valuable resource for language educators, providing insights into effective language teaching methods and theories.
Guide Research: The book on research methods and materials equips researchers with the tools and techniques necessary for conducting research in English literature, aiding them in producing high-quality research projects.
Promote Lifelong Learning: These books encourage a lifelong passion for learning and academic exploration, making them valuable companions for individuals who seek continuous intellectual growth.
Cater to Enthusiasts: Enthusiasts of English literature, language, and culture can delve into these books to satisfy their curiosity, expand their horizons, and deepen their appreciation of these subjects.
A lifelong collection or asset collection, much like the ten books dedicated to the UGC NET syllabus, represents a passionate and dedicated pursuit. In the context of the syllabus books, these ten volumes are akin to a collection of knowledge and expertise, gradually acquired and meticulously organized. Just as collectors gather rare items or assets over time, students, scholars, and enthusiasts accumulate valuable insights, theories, and critical perspectives from these books.
Just as a collector preserves and manages their collection, individuals immersed in the world of UGC NET studies cherish and maintain their knowledge as a valuable asset. These books enrich academic knowledge, support scholarly research, and serve as lifelong companions in the pursuit of excellence in English literature and language studies.
Furthermore, both lifelong collections and academic pursuits contribute to personal growth and fulfillment. Whether one collects rare artifacts or accumulates profound literary insights, the journey reflects the individual’s interests, aspirations, and dedication over the course of their life. These collections, whether tangible or intellectual, can serve as legacies, providing valuable inheritances and reflecting the collector’s passion and values. In essence, they are lifelong assets that enrich the mind and leave a lasting impact on the world.
Share this post / Spread the witty word / Let the echo wander / Bookmark the brilliance