Exam past questions

Question:
Who wrote the play “Death and the King’s Horseman”?

A) Wole Soyinka
B) Chinua Achebe
C) Ngugi wa Thiong’o
D) Athol Fugard

Answer:
A) Wole Soyinka

Explanation:
“Death and the King’s Horseman” is a play written by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka. It was first published in 1975 and explores themes of cultural clash, tradition, and colonialism in Nigeria during the British colonial period. Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, is renowned for his contributions to African literature and theater.
Question:
Who is the author of the novel “Things Fall Apart”?

A) Chinua Achebe
B) Wole Soyinka
C) Ngugi wa Thiong’o
D) Buchi Emecheta

Answer:
A) Chinua Achebe

Explanation:
“Things Fall Apart” is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It is one of the most widely read and studied works of African literature, exploring the impact of colonialism on Igbo society in Nigeria.

Question:
Which of the following is NOT a work by William Shakespeare?

A) Macbeth
B) The Importance of Being Earnest
C) Hamlet
D) Othello

Answer:
B) The Importance of Being Earnest

Explanation:
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is a play by Oscar Wilde, not William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is famous for his numerous plays, including “Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” and “Othello.”

Question:
Who wrote the poem “The Waste Land”?

A) T.S. Eliot
B) Robert Frost
C) Sylvia Plath
D) Langston Hughes

Answer:
A) T.S. Eliot

Explanation:
“The Waste Land” is a modernist poem written by T.S. Eliot and first published in 1922. It is widely regarded as one of the most important poems of the 20th century.

Question:
What literary device is often used to create a humorous effect by contrasting seemingly incongruous things?

A) Irony
B) Metaphor
C) Simile
D) Oxymoron

Answer:
D) Oxymoron

Explanation:
An oxymoron is a literary device that combines contradictory or incongruous terms for effect, often creating a humorous or striking expression.

Question:
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” who is the lawyer defending Tom Robinson?

A) Atticus Finch
B) Bob Ewell
C) Boo Radley
D) Jem Finch

Answer:
A) Atticus Finch

Explanation:
Atticus Finch is the lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Question:
Who is the author of the novel “1984”?

A) George Orwell
B) Aldous Huxley
C) Ray Bradbury
D) Margaret Atwood

Answer:
A) George Orwell

Explanation:
“1984” is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell, published in 1949. It explores themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and government oppression.

Question:
What is the setting of the novel “Pride and Prejudice”?

A) Regency England
B) Victorian England
C) Colonial America
D) Medieval Europe

Answer:
A) Regency England

Explanation:
“Pride and Prejudice” is set in Regency England, a period in the early 19th century known for its distinctive cultural and social characteristics.

Question:
Who wrote the poem “The Raven”?

A) Edgar Allan Poe
B) Emily Dickinson
C) Walt Whitman
D) Robert Frost

Answer:
A) Edgar Allan Poe

Explanation:
“The Raven” is a narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1845. It is known for its haunting rhythm and themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural.

Question:
What is the genre of the play “Othello”?

A) Tragedy
B) Comedy
C) Romance
D) History

Answer:
A) Tragedy

Explanation:
“Othello” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, first performed in 1604. It tells the story of the Moorish general Othello, whose life is ruined by jealousy and deception.

Question:
Who is the protagonist of the novel “The Catcher in the Rye”?

A) Holden Caulfield
B) Jay Gatsby
C) Scout Finch
D) Elizabeth Bennet

Answer:
A) Holden Caulfield

Explanation:
Holden Caulfield is the protagonist and narrator of J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” which follows his experiences in New York City after being expelled from prep school.

Question:
Which of the following is a play by Henrik Ibsen?
A) A Doll’s House
B) Dr. Faustus
C) Waiting for Godot
D) Death of a Salesman

Answer:
A) A Doll’s House

Explanation:
“A Doll’s House” is a play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, first performed in 1879. It is considered one of the earliest feminist dramas.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “Brave New World”?
A) Aldous Huxley
B) George Orwell
C) Ray Bradbury
D) Margaret Atwood

Answer:
A) Aldous Huxley

Explanation:
“Brave New World” is a dystopian novel written by Aldous Huxley and published in 1932. It explores a future society where people are controlled through technology and conditioning.

Question:
Which of the following poets is associated with the Romantic movement?
A) William Wordsworth
B) T.S. Eliot
C) Ezra Pound
D) Langston Hughes

Answer:
A) William Wordsworth

Explanation:
William Wordsworth is a prominent figure of the Romantic movement in English literature, known for his celebration of nature and exploration of the human experience.

Question:
In “The Great Gatsby,” who is the narrator?
A) Nick Carraway
B) Jay Gatsby
C) Daisy Buchanan
D) Tom Buchanan

Answer:
A) Nick Carraway

Explanation:
Nick Carraway is the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby,” providing insight into the events and characters surrounding the enigmatic Jay Gatsby.

Question:
What is the central theme of the novel “The Lord of the Flies”?
A) Civilization vs. Savagery
B) Love and Redemption
C) Social Class Struggles
D) The Pursuit of Wealth

Answer:
A) Civilization vs. Savagery

Explanation:
“The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding explores the conflict between civilization and savagery as a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island
Question:
Which literary device involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words?

A) Alliteration
B) Simile
C) Metaphor
D) Personification

Answer:
A) Alliteration

Explanation:
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. It is often used for emphasis or to create a musical effect in writing.

Question:
Which literary device involves giving human characteristics to non-human entities?

A) Personification
B) Hyperbole
C) Onomatopoeia
D) Symbolism

Answer:
A) Personification

Explanation:
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human things or abstract concepts. It is often used to make descriptions more vivid or to convey deeper meanings.

Question:
Which literary device involves the use of words that imitate the sound they describe?

A) Onomatopoeia
B) Metaphor
C) Simile
D) Irony

Answer:
A) Onomatopoeia

Explanation:
Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds they represent. Examples include “buzz,” “hiss,” and “clang.”

Question:
Which literary device involves the comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”?

A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Allusion
D) Hyperbole

Answer:
A) Simile

Explanation:
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.” It is often used to create vivid imagery or to make a comparison more explicit.

Question:
Which literary device involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect?

A) Hyperbole
B) Oxymoron
C) Irony
D) Symbolism

Answer:
A) Hyperbole

Explanation:
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is often used to make a point more forcefully or to create a humorous effect.

Question:
Which literary device involves the use of words that have the opposite meaning of what is intended?

A) Irony
B) Alliteration
C) Oxymoron
D) Metaphor

Answer:
A) Irony

Explanation:
Irony is a literary device that involves using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of what is expected or intended. It often creates a contrast between appearance and reality.

Question:
Which literary device involves the use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts?

A) Symbolism
B) Personification
C) Allegory
D) Imagery

Answer:
A) Symbolism

Explanation:
Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts beyond their literal meaning. Symbols can be objects, images, or actions that carry deeper significance in a text.

Question:
Which literary device involves the repetition of vowel sounds within words?

A) Assonance
B) Consonance
C) Alliteration
D) Onomatopoeia

Answer:
A) Assonance

Explanation:
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity. It is often used to create musicality or to evoke certain emotions in writing.

Question:
Which literary device involves the use of contradictory terms side by side for emphasis or effect?

A) Oxymoron
B) Irony
C) Metaphor
D) Allegory

Answer:
A) Oxymoron

Explanation:
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms for emphasis or effect. Examples include “jumbo shrimp” and “bittersweet.”

Question:
Which literary device involves the use of one thing to represent something else?

A) Metaphor
B) Allegory
C) Simile
D) Personification

Answer:
B) Allegory

Explanation:
An allegory is a narrative in which characters, events, and settings symbolize abstract ideas or moral qualities. It is often used to convey complex themes or moral lessons.

Question:
Who wrote the poem “The Road Not Taken”?

A) Robert Frost
B) Langston Hughes
C) Emily Dickinson
D) Walt Whitman

Answer:
A) Robert Frost

Explanation:
“The Road Not Taken” is a poem written by American poet Robert Frost, first published in 1916. It is one of Frost’s most famous works, exploring themes of choice, regret, and the passage of time.

Question:
Which poem begins with the line “Once upon a midnight dreary”?

A) “The Raven”
B) “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
C) “The Waste Land”
D) “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

Answer:
A) “The Raven”

Explanation:
“The Raven” is a narrative poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1845. It begins with the iconic line “Once upon a midnight dreary,” setting the tone for the haunting and melancholic narrative that follows.

Question:
Who wrote the poem “Ozymandias”?

A) Percy Bysshe Shelley
B) John Keats
C) William Wordsworth
D) Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Answer:
A) Percy Bysshe Shelley

Explanation:
“Ozymandias” is a sonnet written by English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, first published in 1818. It explores themes of power, pride, and the transience of human achievements.

Question:
Which poem famously begins with the line “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”?

A) “Sonnet 18”
B) “The Waste Land”
C) “Sonnet 43”
D) “Ode to a Nightingale”

Answer:
C) “Sonnet 43”

Explanation:
“Sonnet 43,” also known as “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” is a sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, first published in 1850. It is one of Browning’s most famous poems, expressing the depth and breadth of her love.

Question:
Which poet wrote the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night”?

A) Dylan Thomas
B) W.B. Yeats
C) T.S. Eliot
D) William Wordsworth

Answer:
A) Dylan Thomas

Explanation:
“Do not go gentle into that good night” is a villanelle written by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, first published in 1951. It is one of Thomas’s most famous works, exploring themes of death, resistance, and the will to live.

Question:
Who wrote the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”?

A) T.S. Eliot
B) William Wordsworth
C) Walt Whitman
D) Langston Hughes

Answer:
A) T.S. Eliot

Explanation:
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a poem written by American-British poet T.S. Eliot, first published in 1915. It is considered one of the defining works of modernist poetry, exploring themes of alienation, insecurity, and the passage of time.

Question:
Which poem describes a visit to a “yellow wood” and the decision to take “the one less traveled by”?

A) “The Road Not Taken”
B) “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
C) “Ode to a Nightingale”
D) “Daffodils”

Answer:
A) “The Road Not Taken”

Explanation:
“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost describes a moment of decision in a “yellow wood,” where the speaker chooses “the one less traveled by” as a metaphor for taking a unique or unconventional path in life.

Question:
Who wrote the poem “If”?

A) Rudyard Kipling
B) William Wordsworth
C) Robert Frost
D) Langston Hughes

Answer:
A) Rudyard Kipling

Explanation:
“If” is a poem written by English writer Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1910. It offers advice and guidance on how to live a virtuous and fulfilling life, addressing themes of perseverance, integrity, and self-discipline.

Question:
Which poet wrote the poem “Daffodils”?

A) William Wordsworth
B) John Keats
C) Percy Bysshe Shelley
D) Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Answer:
A) William Wordsworth

Explanation:
“Daffodils,” also known as “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” is a poem written by English poet William Wordsworth, first published in 1807. It celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of memory to uplift the spirit.

Question:
Which poet wrote the poem “The Tyger”?

A) William Blake
B) William Wordsworth
C) John Keats
D) Percy Bysshe Shelley

Answer:
A) William Blake

Explanation:
“The Tyger” is a poem written by English poet William Blake, first published in 1794 as part of his collection “Songs of Experience.” It explores the nature of good and evil, creation, and the mysteries of existence through the image of a powerful and enigmatic tiger.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”?

A) Harper Lee
B) F. Scott Fitzgerald
C) Ernest Hemingway
D) Mark Twain

Answer:
A) Harper Lee

Explanation:
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel written by American author Harper Lee, first published in 1960. It explores themes of racial injustice, moral growth, and the loss of innocence in the American South during the 1930s.

Question:
Which novel features the character Holden Caulfield?

A) “The Catcher in the Rye”
B) “1984”
C) “Brave New World”
D) “The Great Gatsby”

Answer:
A) “The Catcher in the Rye”

Explanation:
Holden Caulfield is the protagonist and narrator of J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye,” which follows his experiences in New York City after being expelled from prep school.

Question:
Who wrote the play “Romeo and Juliet”?

A) William Shakespeare
B) Christopher Marlowe
C) Ben Jonson
D) John Milton

Answer:
A) William Shakespeare

Explanation:
“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595. It tells the story of two young lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families.

Question:
Which novel features the character Jay Gatsby?

A) “The Great Gatsby”
B) “The Grapes of Wrath”
C) “Moby-Dick”
D) “Pride and Prejudice”

Answer:
A) “The Great Gatsby”

Explanation:
Jay Gatsby is the title character and protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby,” which explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “Pride and Prejudice”?

A) Jane Austen
B) Charles Dickens
C) Emily Brontë
D) Charlotte Brontë

Answer:
A) Jane Austen

Explanation:
“Pride and Prejudice” is a novel written by English author Jane Austen, first published in 1813. It is one of Austen’s most famous works, known for its witty social commentary and memorable characters.

Question:
Which novel features the character Atticus Finch?

A) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
B) “The Great Gatsby”
C) “1984”
D) “Brave New World”

Answer:
A) “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Explanation:
Atticus Finch is a central character in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He is a lawyer who defends an African American man falsely accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “1984”?

A) George Orwell
B) Aldous Huxley
C) Ray Bradbury
D) Margaret Atwood

Answer:
A) George Orwell

Explanation:
“1984” is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell, published in 1949. It explores themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and government oppression in a future society dominated by a totalitarian regime.

Question:
Which novel features the character Scout Finch?

A) “To Kill a Mockingbird”
B) “The Catcher in the Rye”
C) “Lord of the Flies”
D) “The Great Gatsby”

Answer:
A) “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Explanation:
Scout Finch is the narrator and protagonist of Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The story is told from her perspective as she grows up in the racially charged atmosphere of 1930s Alabama.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “Jane Eyre”?

A) Charlotte Brontë
B) Emily Brontë
C) Anne Brontë
D) Jane Austen

Answer:
A) Charlotte Brontë

Explanation:
“Jane Eyre” is a novel written by English author Charlotte Brontë, first published in 1847. It is a bildungsroman, or coming-of-age story, following the experiences of its titular character as she navigates love, independence, and social class.

Question:
Who wrote the novel “Moby-Dick”?

A) Herman Melville
B) Nathaniel Hawthorne
C) Walt Whitman
D) Emily Dickinson

Answer:
A) Herman Melville

Explanation:
“Moby-Dick” is a novel written by American author Herman Melville, first published in 1851. It tells the story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest for revenge against the white whale Moby Dick, exploring themes of fate, obsession, and the human condition.