100 Important MCQs on Fiction in English Literature
Friday, May 09, 2025 |
No comments |
100 MCQs Answers on Fiction (Novels & Short Stories) - English Literature
1. In Robinson Crusoe, what is the main reason Crusoe decides to leave home?
A) His desire to seek adventure and fortune
B) A desire to escape from his parents' control
C) His passion for the sea and sailing
D) A personal conflict with his friends
Answer: A) His desire to seek adventure and fortune
Explanation: Crusoe is driven by a strong desire for adventure and the hope of making his fortune, which leads him to leave home despite his family's objections.
2. In Robinson Crusoe, how does Crusoe initially survive on the island?
A) By using tools he finds on the island
B) By learning from the local natives
C) By relying on his previous sailing experience
D) By receiving aid from other shipwrecked survivors
Answer: C) By relying on his previous sailing experience
Explanation: Crusoe survives by applying his resourcefulness and knowledge gained from his previous sailing experiences, learning how to hunt, build, and sustain himself on the island.
3. In Tom Jones, what role does Squire Allworthy play in Tom’s life?
A) He is Tom’s biological father
B) He is a strict guardian who punishes Tom
C) He is Tom’s benefactor and a father figure
D) He is Tom’s rival for the affections of Sophia
Answer: C) He is Tom’s benefactor and a father figure
Explanation: Squire Allworthy is Tom Jones's guardian and a benefactor who treats Tom like his own son, offering him guidance and support throughout his life.
4. In Pride and Prejudice, what is Elizabeth Bennet’s primary concern about Mr. Darcy?
A) His arrogance and pride
B) His wealth and social standing
C) His interest in her sister Jane
D) His past relationships with women
Answer: A) His arrogance and pride
Explanation: Elizabeth initially judges Mr. Darcy harshly because of his pride and perceived arrogance, which causes her to misinterpret his true character.
5. In Wuthering Heights, what is the central relationship in the novel?
A) The bond between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff
B) The rivalry between Heathcliff and Edgar Linton
C) The friendship between Catherine Earnshaw and Nelly Dean
D) The relationship between Hindley Earnshaw and his father
Answer: A) The bond between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff
Explanation: The intense, passionate, and ultimately destructive relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff drives the plot of Wuthering Heights.
6. In Hard Times, what does Thomas Gradgrind emphasize in his educational philosophy?
A) The importance of emotional intelligence
B) The value of creative expression
C) The necessity of facts and practicality
D) The need for spiritual development
Answer: C) The necessity of facts and practicality
Explanation: Gradgrind's philosophy in Hard Times is based on the belief that education should focus solely on facts and practical knowledge, neglecting imagination and emotion.
7. In The Mill on the Floss, what is the main conflict between Tom and Maggie Tulliver?
A) Tom’s jealousy of Maggie’s intellectual pursuits
B) Maggie’s romantic relationships and their consequences
C) Tom’s desire to leave the family mill
D) Maggie’s disobedience to their parents
Answer: B) Maggie’s romantic relationships and their consequences
Explanation: The conflict between Tom and Maggie arises primarily from her romantic entanglements and the social consequences of her actions, which cause a rift between the siblings.
8. In Tess of the d'Urbervilles, how does Tess feel about her past relationship with Alec d'Urberville?
A) She feels proud of her love for him
B) She is ashamed and guilt-ridden
C) She is indifferent about it
D) She believes it was a mistake, but not something to regret
Answer: B) She is ashamed and guilt-ridden
Explanation: Tess’s relationship with Alec is one of the central sources of her shame and guilt, contributing to her tragic downfall.
9. In Sons and Lovers, what is Paul Morel's primary struggle?
A) His struggle to gain independence from his mother
B) His desire to become a successful artist
C) His conflict with his father over their social status
D) His affair with a married woman
Answer: A) His struggle to gain independence from his mother
Explanation: Paul Morel’s primary conflict is his struggle to break free from the overpowering influence of his mother, which affects his personal relationships and future choices.
10. In Nana, what is the character of Nana primarily concerned with?
A) Achieving fame through political activism
B) Gaining power and wealth through her beauty and sexuality
C) Promoting social reforms for women’s rights
D) Pursuing a career in the arts
Answer: B) Gaining power and wealth through her beauty and sexuality
Explanation: Nana uses her physical attractiveness and sexuality as tools to gain power, wealth, and influence, while navigating the social systems around her.
11. In To the Lighthouse, what central theme is explored?
A) The struggle between social classes
B) The passage of time and its effects on human relationships
C) The dangers of industrialization
D) The conflict between nature and civilization
Answer: B) The passage of time and its effects on human relationships
Explanation: The novel explores how time affects the characters' perceptions of themselves and their relationships, particularly through the lens of memory and change.
12. In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, what is Stephen Dedalus’s major internal conflict?
A) His desire to gain fame through writing
B) His tension between religious duty and personal freedom
C) His rivalry with other artists
D) His confusion about love and relationships
Answer: B) His tension between religious duty and personal freedom
Explanation: Stephen Dedalus’s conflict revolves around his struggle to reconcile his devout Catholic upbringing with his desire for intellectual and artistic freedom.
13. In A Passage to India, what is the central theme of the novel?
A) The complexities of friendship across cultural divides
B) The exploration of British colonialism in India
C) The conflict between the Indian independence movement and British rule
D) The exploration of modernity in India
Answer: B) The exploration of British colonialism in India
Explanation: The novel addresses the tensions between British colonial authorities and Indian society, particularly the racial and cultural divide.
14. In The Scarlet Letter, how does Hester Prynne’s public punishment shape her identity?
A) It leads her to renounce her former life and embrace her new identity
B) It makes her more obedient to societal norms
C) It causes her to feel deeply ashamed of her actions
D) It compels her to leave the town and never return
Answer: A) It leads her to renounce her former life and embrace her new identity
Explanation: Hester’s punishment forces her to reevaluate her role in society, ultimately allowing her to embrace a new sense of self, independent of societal expectations.
15. In Lucky Jim, how does Jim Dixon’s attitude toward his academic career evolve?
A) He becomes increasingly dedicated to his studies
B) He seeks to distance himself from academia entirely
C) He grows disillusioned with the pretentiousness of his colleagues
D) He decides to pursue a career in politics instead
Answer: C) He grows disillusioned with the pretentiousness of his colleagues
Explanation: Jim Dixon, the protagonist, becomes disillusioned with the insincerity and pretension of his academic environment, leading him to question his future in academia.
16. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, what does the term "doublethink" refer to?
A) The belief in contradictory ideas at the same time
B) A process of forgetting uncomfortable truths
C) The ability to simultaneously love and hate
D) The government's constant surveillance of citizens
Answer: A) The belief in contradictory ideas at the same time
Explanation: "Doublethink" is the concept in *Nineteen Eighty-Four* of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, which allows the Party to control reality and manipulate truth.
17. In Huckleberry Finn, what is Huck’s attitude toward society?
A) He believes in the importance of law and order
B) He feels constrained by the expectations of society
C) He desires to become a respected member of society
D) He values tradition and follows social norms
Answer: B) He feels constrained by the expectations of society
Explanation: Huck Finn constantly struggles with the constraints placed on him by society and seeks freedom from these expectations, particularly in his relationship with Jim.
18. In The Portrait of a Lady, what is Isabel Archer’s primary motivation throughout the novel?
A) Her quest for love and marriage
B) Her desire to maintain her independence and freedom
C) Her need to gain wealth and social status
D) Her ambition to pursue a career in art
Answer: B) Her desire to maintain her independence and freedom
Explanation: Isabel Archer values her independence highly, which influences many of her decisions, including her marriage and the way she navigates the world around her.
19. In A Farewell to Arms, how does the novel portray the impact of war on the protagonist, Lt. Frederic Henry?
A) It strengthens his sense of duty and patriotism
B) It causes him to abandon his romantic relationships
C) It leads him to become disillusioned and emotionally numb
D) It inspires him to become a leader in the military
Answer: C) It leads him to become disillusioned and emotionally numb
Explanation: Lt. Frederic Henry’s experience in World War I leaves him disillusioned, disconnected from his emotions, and ultimately seeking escape from the horrors of war.
20. In The Color Purple, how does Celie’s relationship with Shug Avery change her life?
A) It helps Celie discover her voice and assert her independence
B) It causes Celie to abandon her family and run away
C) It leads Celie to become more religious
D) It isolates Celie from her community
Answer: A) It helps Celie discover her voice and assert her independence
Explanation: Shug Avery plays a key role in Celie’s transformation, helping her to realize her worth, challenge oppressive forces in her life, and embrace her independence.
21. In Kanthapura, how is Gandhian ideology portrayed?
A) As irrelevant to rural life
B) As a force of social and political awakening
C) As a threat to traditional customs
D) As a Western import with little effect
Answer: B) As a force of social and political awakening
Explanation: Gandhian principles are shown to inspire resistance and unite the villagers in Kanthapura, symbolizing India's struggle for independence.
22. In Untouchable, what challenge does Bakha face in society?
A) Poverty due to famine
B) Conflict with colonial rulers
C) Discrimination due to his caste
D) Exile from his village
Answer: C) Discrimination due to his caste
Explanation: Bakha, a young sweeper, faces systemic caste-based discrimination, reflecting the harsh realities of untouchability in pre-independence India.
23. Which medium adapted R.K. Narayan’s The Guide into a popular work?
A) Television series
B) Radio drama
C) Feature film
D) Graphic novel
Answer: C) Feature film
Explanation: The Guide was adapted into a critically acclaimed Bollywood film in 1965, starring Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. The film captures Raju’s transformation and the novel’s themes of redemption and identity.
24. In The Shadow Lines, what does the concept of borders symbolize?
A) Religious boundaries only
B) Concrete geographical divisions
C) Illusory separations between people and nations
D) Colonial oppression
Answer: C) Illusory separations between people and nations
Explanation: The novel blurs personal and political boundaries, suggesting that borders are socially constructed and often meaningless in human relationships.
25. In That Long Silence, what is the central conflict faced by Jaya?
A) Her struggle with infertility
B) Her desire to pursue politics
C) Her conflict between societal expectations and personal voice
D) Her involvement in a legal scandal
Answer: C) Her conflict between societal expectations and personal voice
Explanation: Jaya wrestles with traditional gender roles and attempts to reclaim her voice and identity in a patriarchal society.
26. In Anita Desai’s novella Rosarita, what prompts Bonita to question her understanding of her mother’s past?
A) A letter from her mother
B) An encounter with a stranger in Mexico
C) A family reunion
D) Discovering old photographs at home
Answer: B) An encounter with a stranger in Mexico
Explanation: In Rosarita, Bonita, a young Indian woman studying Spanish in Mexico, is approached by an elderly woman who claims to have known her mother, Rosarita, a talented artist who once lived in Mexico. Bonita is initially skeptical, as she believes her mother never traveled to Mexico and was not an artist. However, this encounter leads her to question her understanding of her mother's past, uncovering hidden aspects of her life and identity.
27. In The Mistress of Spices, what is the role of magic and mysticism?
A) To deceive customers
B) To connect tradition with modern diaspora life
C) To ridicule old customs
D) To create fear in others
Answer: B) To connect tradition with modern diaspora life
Explanation: Tilo uses spices imbued with mystical powers to help her immigrant customers, blending magical realism with cultural tradition and identity.
28. In The Twyborn Affair, what theme is central to the novel?
A) Crime and punishment
B) Racial injustice
C) Gender identity and fluidity
D) Political activism
Answer: C) Gender identity and fluidity
Explanation: The novel explores the protagonist’s shifting gender identities, questioning binary norms and societal roles related to gender.
29. In The Handmaid’s Tale, what is the role of language in Gilead?
A) To express individuality
B) To promote gender equality
C) To enforce power and control
D) To preserve historical truths
Answer: C) To enforce power and control
Explanation: Language is manipulated to control thought and behavior, restricting communication and reinforcing the authoritarian regime’s ideology.
30. In Things Fall Apart, how does Okonkwo react to colonial rule?
A) He welcomes it as progress
B) He ignores it completely
C) He resists it violently and refuses compromise
D) He becomes an interpreter for the British
Answer: C) He resists it violently and refuses compromise
Explanation: Okonkwo cannot accept the changes brought by colonial rule and missionary influence, leading to his tragic downfall.
31. In Karmabhumi, what major theme is explored?
A) India's technological revolution
B) The struggle between spiritual and worldly duties
C) Political freedom through violent rebellion
D) Environmental degradation
Answer: B) The struggle between spiritual and worldly duties
Explanation: The protagonist wrestles with ethical choices in a changing India, torn between non-violence, personal duty, and national responsibility.
32. In A House for Mr. Biswas, what does Mr. Biswas yearn for?
A) Fame as a writer
B) A peaceful marriage
C) Independence through owning a home
D) Emigration to England
Answer: C) Independence through owning a home
Explanation: Mr. Biswas’s struggle to own a house symbolizes his quest for identity, self-worth, and autonomy in a postcolonial setting.
33. In Midnight’s Children, what unique trait does Saleem Sinai possess?
A) Ability to control time
B) Power to read minds and connect with other children born at midnight
C) Power to become invisible
D) Ability to manipulate political outcomes
Answer: B) Power to read minds and connect with other children born at midnight
Explanation: Saleem is telepathically linked to other children born at the exact moment of India’s independence, symbolizing the hopes and chaos of the new nation.
34. In The Gift of the Magi, what do Jim and Della sacrifice?
A) Their wedding rings
B) Their home and savings
C) Their most prized possessions for each other’s gift
D) Their relationship for personal dreams
Answer: C) Their most prized possessions for each other’s gift
Explanation: Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della’s hair, and Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch, symbolizing selfless love.
35. In The Tell-Tale Heart, what drives the narrator to commit murder?
A) Desire for wealth
B) Revenge for past wrongs
C) Obsession with the old man’s eye
D) Hatred of old age
Answer: C) Obsession with the old man’s eye
Explanation: The narrator becomes obsessed with the old man’s “vulture eye,” which he believes drives him to madness and ultimately to murder.
36. In The Garden Party, what realization does Laura come to by the end?
A) She must host more grand events
B) Death levels all social distinctions
C) Her family is right about class superiority
D) Parties are the most important part of life
Answer: B) Death levels all social distinctions
Explanation: After visiting the house of a dead laborer, Laura begins to see the artificiality of class differences and the universal truth of mortality.
37. In The Necklace, what is Madame Loisel’s tragic flaw?
A) Her excessive pride
B) Her dishonesty
C) Her belief in equality
D) Her kindness
Answer: A) Her excessive pride
Explanation: Madame Loisel desires a luxurious lifestyle and borrows a necklace to appear wealthy, leading to years of hardship when it is lost—only to learn it was fake.
38. In The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, how do the villagers change after discovering the drowned man?
A) They become fearful of the sea
B) They decide to build a stronger harbor
C) They begin to imagine a grander and more compassionate way of life
D) They close off their village to outsiders
Answer: C) They begin to imagine a grander and more compassionate way of life
Explanation: The drowned man, Esteban, becomes a symbol of inspiration, prompting the villagers to expand their vision of beauty and possibility.
39. In Kabuliwala, what does the relationship between the Kabuliwala and Mini signify?
A) Political tension
B) A conflict of cultures
C) A fatherly affection transcending boundaries
D) The evils of colonialism
Answer: C) A fatherly affection transcending boundaries
Explanation: The Kabuliwala’s bond with Mini reflects deep paternal affection, bridging gaps of culture, age, and nationality.
40. In The Blue Umbrella, what lesson does Binya learn by the end of the story?
A) That revenge is satisfying
B) That material possessions are more important than relationships
C) That kindness and forgiveness bring true happiness
D) That competition always leads to success
Answer: C) That kindness and forgiveness bring true happiness
Explanation: Binya learns that forgiving the jealous shopkeeper and giving away the umbrella brings her greater inner joy than owning the beautiful item.
41. In The Shroud (Kafan), what is shocking about the behavior of Ghisu and Madhav?
A) They refuse to bury the dead body
B) They spend the funeral money on food and liquor
C) They donate the body to science
D) They abandon their village
Answer: B) They spend the funeral money on food and liquor
Explanation: Instead of using the funds to buy a shroud for the dead woman, the two men use it for self-indulgence, highlighting themes of poverty and desensitization.
42. In Robinson Crusoe, what is Crusoe’s initial attitude towards slavery?
A) He is vocally opposed to it
B) He tries to abolish it
C) He accepts and participates in it
D) He joins a group of slaves
Answer: C) He accepts and participates in it
Explanation: Crusoe shows little moral conflict regarding slavery, reflecting the colonial mindset of the time.
43. In Tom Jones, how is Tom’s character initially portrayed?
A) As a perfect gentleman
B) As a villain
C) As a kind-hearted but flawed young man
D) As a scholarly recluse
Answer: C) As a kind-hearted but flawed young man
Explanation: Tom is generous and well-meaning but impulsive and prone to mistakes, which makes his journey a classic bildungsroman.
44. When was Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice first published?
A) 1795
B) 1813
C) 1820
D) 1837
Answer: B) 1813
Explanation: Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and has since become one of the most beloved novels in English literature, known for its wit, romance, and critique of social class.
45. In Wuthering Heights, what drives Heathcliff’s actions throughout the novel?
A) Desire for wealth
B) Ambition to travel
C) Revenge and obsessive love for Catherine
D) Political power
Answer: C) Revenge and obsessive love for Catherine
Explanation: Heathcliff’s motivations are largely fueled by his enduring love for Catherine and his desire to exact revenge on those who wronged him.
46. In Hard Times, what philosophy dominates Mr. Gradgrind’s approach to education?
A) Romanticism
B) Utilitarianism
C) Existentialism
D) Mysticism
Answer: B) Utilitarianism
Explanation: Mr. Gradgrind emphasizes facts and measurable outcomes, neglecting imagination and emotional development.
47. In The Mill on the Floss, how is Maggie Tulliver portrayed?
A) As a passive and obedient girl
B) As a rebellious and emotional young woman
C) As a wealthy and arrogant heiress
D) As an ambitious political activist
Answer: B) As a rebellious and emotional young woman
Explanation: Maggie defies societal expectations and yearns for intellectual and emotional fulfillment, making her a tragic heroine.
48. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, what does the subtitle “A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented” suggest?
A) Tess is dishonest
B) Tess is idealized beyond reason
C) Tess remains morally pure despite her hardships
D) Tess is a symbol of feminism
Answer: C) Tess remains morally pure despite her hardships
Explanation: Hardy challenges Victorian morality by portraying Tess as pure in spirit, despite her victimization and social condemnation.
49. In Sons and Lovers, what is the central conflict Paul faces?
A) War and peace
B) Religion and science
C) Love for his mother versus romantic relationships
D) Class struggle
Answer: C) Love for his mother versus romantic relationships
Explanation: Paul’s intense emotional bond with his mother affects his ability to maintain healthy romantic relationships.
50. In Nana, how is the title character portrayed?
A) As a virtuous reformer
B) As a powerful courtesan who exposes societal decay
C) As a religious figure
D) As a war heroine
Answer: B) As a powerful courtesan who exposes societal decay
Explanation: Nana uses her sexuality to dominate men, revealing the moral corruption of the French bourgeoisie.
51. In To the Lighthouse, what narrative technique is prominently used?
A) Linear storytelling
B) Stream of consciousness
C) Third-person omniscient
D) Epistolary form
Answer: B) Stream of consciousness
Explanation: Woolf uses stream of consciousness to delve deeply into characters’ inner thoughts and perceptions.
52. When was A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man first published?
A) 1912
B) 1914
C) 1916
D) 1922
Answer: C) 1916
Explanation: James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was first published in 1916, marking a significant moment in modernist literature.
53. In A Passage to India, what does the Marabar Caves incident symbolize?
A) The success of British colonialism
B) The beauty of Indian geography
C) The misunderstanding and cultural gap between East and West
D) A literal crime
Answer: C) The misunderstanding and cultural gap between East and West
Explanation: The incident serves as a metaphor for the deep divisions and complexities in colonial relationships.
54. In The Scarlet Letter, what does the letter "A" come to represent over time?
A) Only adultery
B) America
C) Alienation
D) Multiple meanings including ability, anguish, and autonomy
Answer: D) Multiple meanings including ability, anguish, and autonomy
Explanation: The scarlet letter evolves in meaning, reflecting Hester's growth and societal transformation.
55. In Lucky Jim, what tone dominates the novel?
A) Tragic
B) Romantic
C) Satirical and comic
D) Gothic
Answer: C) Satirical and comic
Explanation: The novel humorously critiques academic life and middle-class pretensions through the misadventures of Jim Dixon.
56. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, what is the purpose of Newspeak?
A) To promote freedom of speech
B) To simplify communication
C) To limit thought and control minds
D) To improve education
Answer: C) To limit thought and control minds
Explanation: Newspeak is designed to eliminate personal expression and independent thought, reinforcing totalitarian control.
57. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, why does Huck decide to help Jim escape?
A) He wants a reward
B) He feels responsible for Jim’s enslavement
C) He chooses friendship over societal norms
D) He wants to sell Jim
Answer: C) He chooses friendship over societal norms
Explanation: Despite being raised in a racist society, Huck acts on his conscience and values his bond with Jim.
58. In The Portrait of a Lady, what is Isabel Archer’s greatest flaw?
A) Her greed
B) Her passive nature
C) Her independence
D) Her romantic idealism
Answer: D) Her romantic idealism
Explanation: Isabel’s belief in freedom and ideal love leads her to a disastrous marriage and deep personal conflict.
59. In A Farewell to Arms, what does rain symbolize?
A) Hope
B) Adventure
C) Death and despair
D) Military triumph
Answer: C) Death and despair
Explanation: Rain often accompanies tragic events, including Catherine’s death, serving as a motif of loss and fatalism.
60. When was Alice Walker’s The Color Purple first published?
A) 1975
B) 1982
C) 1990
D) 1997
Answer: B) 1982
Explanation: The Color Purple was first published in 1982. The novel quickly gained acclaim for its powerful depiction of African American women’s experiences and won several prestigious awards.
61. In Kanthapura, what is the primary narrative style?
A) Third-person omniscient
B) Stream of consciousness
C) Oral storytelling by a village elder
D) Diary entries
Answer: C) Oral storytelling by a village elder
Explanation: The novel is narrated by Achakka, an elderly woman, in the form of an oral history, reflecting traditional Indian storytelling.
62. In Untouchable, what is Bakha’s major internal conflict?
A) Choosing between two lovers
B) Religious doubt
C) Struggling with his low caste status and desire for dignity
D) Escaping to another country
Answer: C) Struggling with his low caste status and desire for dignity
Explanation: Bakha is deeply affected by the humiliation he faces as an untouchable and yearns for social respect and change.
63. In The Guide, what transformation does Raju undergo?
A) From saint to sinner
B) From corrupt tour guide to spiritual figure
C) From farmer to warrior
D) From teacher to writer
Answer: B) From corrupt tour guide to spiritual figure
Explanation: Raju evolves from a self-serving guide to a man venerated as a holy figure, raising questions about identity and redemption.
64. In The Shadow Lines, what theme is central to the novel?
A) Rural life
B) Religious fundamentalism
C) The fluidity of national borders and memory
D) Adventure and travel
Answer: C) The fluidity of national borders and memory
Explanation: The novel explores how personal and political histories intersect, and how borders are constructs that fail to contain human experience.
65. In That Long Silence, how does Jaya begin to redefine herself?
A) By rebelling violently
B) Through political activism
C) By reflecting on her silence and beginning to write again
D) Through religious devotion
Answer: C) By reflecting on her silence and beginning to write again
Explanation: Jaya’s introspection leads her to recognize the ways she’s suppressed herself, and writing becomes a form of empowerment.
66. Which of the following novels was not written by Anita Desai?
A) Clear Light of Day
B) In Custody
C) Fasting, Feasting
D) The Inheritance of Loss
Answer: D) The Inheritance of Loss
Explanation: The Inheritance of Loss was written by Kiran Desai, Anita Desai’s daughter, and won the Man Booker Prize in 2006. The other three novels—Clear Light of Day, In Custody, and Fasting, Feasting—are all acclaimed works by Anita Desai, known for their introspective exploration of family, identity, and societal change.
67. In The Mistress of Spices, what role do the spices play?
A) Merely culinary
B) Magical tools linked to fate and healing
C) Weapons of war
D) Decorative elements
Answer: B) Magical tools linked to fate and healing
Explanation: The protagonist, Tilo, uses the spices for mystical purposes, offering guidance and healing to those in need.
68. In The Twyborn Affair, what is unique about the protagonist's identity?
A) The protagonist is a twin
B) The protagonist appears in three gendered identities
C) The protagonist is invisible
D) The protagonist is a reincarnated being
Answer: B) The protagonist appears in three gendered identities
Explanation: Patrick White's character transitions between different gender presentations, exploring fluidity and societal expectations.
69. In The Handmaid’s Tale, what is the Republic of Gilead based on?
A) Technocracy
B) Socialist principles
C) Theocratic dictatorship
D) Democracy
Answer: C) Theocratic dictatorship
Explanation: Gilead is a dystopian regime based on biblical fundamentalism, especially concerning women’s roles and reproduction.
70. In Things Fall Apart, what causes Okonkwo’s downfall?
A) Disease
B) Colonial invasion and personal pride
C) A failed marriage
D) Natural disaster
Answer: B) Colonial invasion and personal pride
Explanation: Okonkwo’s rigid masculinity and refusal to adapt to changing circumstances under British colonialism lead to his tragic end.
71. In Karmabhumi, what conflict does the protagonist Amarkant face?
A) Between science and religion
B) Between love and political activism
C) Between caste and class
D) Between capitalism and socialism
Answer: B) Between love and political activism
Explanation: Amarkant struggles with his ideals and personal desires, reflecting broader questions of moral and social duty.
72. In A House for Mr. Biswas, how does Mr. Biswas’s relationship with the Tulsi family reflect the novel’s central theme?
A) It represents cultural harmony
B) It symbolizes colonial dominance
C) It highlights his dependence and struggle for autonomy
D) It illustrates his rise to political power
Answer: C) It highlights his dependence and struggle for autonomy
Explanation: Mr. Biswas’s entanglement with the domineering Tulsi family serves as a key symbol of his loss of control and identity. His ongoing efforts to assert independence from them mirror his larger struggle for personal freedom, making this relationship central to the novel’s exploration of postcolonial individualism.
73. In Midnight’s Children, what is Saleem Sinai’s connection to India’s independence?
A) He was born at the exact moment of independence
B) He leads the independence movement
C) He writes the constitution
D) He is Gandhi’s adopted son
Answer: A) He was born at the exact moment of independence
Explanation: Saleem’s life is symbolically tied to the nation’s destiny, making him a metaphor for post-independence India.
74. When was The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry first published?
A) 1901
B) 1905
C) 1910
D) 1920
Answer: B) 1905
Explanation: The Gift of the Magi was first published in 1905 in the New York Sunday World newspaper. The story later appeared in O. Henry's 1906 collection titled The Four Million. It has since become one of the most beloved short stories illustrating selfless love.
75. In The Tell-Tale Heart, what reveals the narrator’s guilt?
A) A confession to police
B) A letter he leaves
C) The imagined sound of a beating heart
D) An eyewitness
Answer: C) The imagined sound of a beating heart
Explanation: The narrator’s guilt manifests as an auditory hallucination, symbolizing his descent into madness.
76. In The Garden Party, what causes Laura’s transformation?
A) A visit to the poor after the party
B) A quarrel with her sister
C) A storm ruining the event
D) A romantic proposal
Answer: A) A visit to the poor after the party
Explanation: Seeing the stark contrast between her life and that of a poor family awakens Laura’s social consciousness.
77. In The Necklace, what is the story’s ironic twist?
A) The necklace was stolen
B) The necklace was a family heirloom
C) The necklace was a fake
D) The necklace turned to gold
Answer: C) The necklace was a fake
Explanation: After years of hardship repaying debt, Madame Loisel learns the necklace she borrowed was not real, underscoring themes of vanity and misfortune.
78. Who is the author of The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World?
A) Gabriel García Márquez
B) Pablo Neruda
C) Isabel Allende
D) Gabriel García Lorca
Answer: A) Gabriel García Márquez
Explanation: The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World is a short story by Gabriel García Márquez, a Colombian author known for his contributions to magical realism and Latin American literature.
79. What profession does the Kabuliwala have in the story Kabuliwala?
A) Carpenter
B) Fruit seller
C) Peddler of dry fruits and nuts
D) Tailor
Answer: C) Peddler of dry fruits and nuts
Explanation: In Kabuliwala, the protagonist is a peddler who travels from Kabul to sell dry fruits and nuts. His profession brings him into contact with Mini and her family, setting the stage for the story’s exploration of friendship and cultural bonds.
80. In The Blue Umbrella, what theme does the umbrella symbolize?
A) Political power
B) Beauty and pride
C) Materialism and generosity
D) Technological advancement
Answer: C) Materialism and generosity
Explanation: The blue umbrella initially causes envy, but ultimately teaches lessons about letting go and sharing.
81. What is the central theme of Premchand's The Shroud (Kafan)?
A) The importance of tradition
B) Critique of social injustice and human selfishness
C) Celebration of family values
D) The power of forgiveness
Answer: B) Critique of social injustice and human selfishness
Explanation: The Shroud (Kafan) exposes the harsh realities of poverty and the selfishness it breeds, highlighting social apathy through the characters' neglect of duty and moral responsibilities.
82. In Robinson Crusoe, what is Crusoe's attitude toward Friday initially?
A) He treats him as an equal
B) He sees him as a companion
C) He considers him a servant
D) He is afraid of him
Answer: C) He considers him a servant
Explanation: Crusoe imposes European superiority by teaching Friday English and Christianity, initially treating him as subordinate.
83. In Tom Jones, what literary technique is extensively used by Fielding?
A) Satirical commentary through the narrator
B) Dramatic monologues
C) Epistolary form
D) Allegorical figures
Answer: A) Satirical commentary through the narrator
Explanation: Fielding uses a self-aware, omniscient narrator to satirize society, morals, and literary conventions.
84. Which social issue is a central theme in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?
A) Gender inequality
B) The effects of industrialization
C) Class and social mobility
D) Colonialism
Answer: C) Class and social mobility
Explanation: Pride and Prejudice critically explores class distinctions and the challenges of social mobility, particularly through the interactions and marriages of the Bennet family and their acquaintances.
85. When was Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights first published?
A) 1837
B) 1847
C) 1855
D) 1861
Answer: B) 1847
Explanation: Wuthering Heights was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym "Ellis Bell." It is Emily Brontë’s only novel and has become a classic of English literature known for its dark themes and complex characters.
86. When was Charles Dickens’s Hard Times first published?
A) 1836
B) 1845
C) 1854
D) 1862
Answer: C) 1854
Explanation: Hard Times was first published in 1854. It was serialized in Dickens’s magazine Household Words and is one of his shortest novels. The book offers a powerful critique of industrial society, utilitarian education, and the neglect of human emotion and imagination.
87. When was George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss first published?
A) 1848
B) 1856
C) 1860
D) 1872
Answer: C) 1860
Explanation: The Mill on the Floss was first published in 1860. This semi-autobiographical novel by George Eliot (pen name of Mary Ann Evans) explores themes of family loyalty, education, and the societal constraints placed on women.
88. In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, what does the subtitle "A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented" suggest?
A) Tess is deceitful
B) Hardy’s irony toward Victorian morality
C) Tess is rebellious
D) Tess is a mythological figure
Answer: B) Hardy’s irony toward Victorian morality
Explanation: The subtitle challenges social judgments, asserting Tess’s moral purity despite her societal condemnation.
89. Which critical approach is often applied to D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers?
A) Marxist criticism
B) Feminist theory
C) Psychoanalytic criticism
D) Postcolonial theory
Answer: C) Psychoanalytic criticism
Explanation: Sons and Lovers is frequently analyzed through a psychoanalytic lens, particularly in relation to Freud’s Oedipus complex. Paul Morel’s intense emotional attachment to his mother and its impact on his romantic relationships makes the novel a key text for exploring unconscious motivations and familial bonds.
90. Which literary approach best applies to Émile Zola’s Nana?
A) Romanticism
B) Naturalism
C) Modernism
D) Existentialism
Answer: B) Naturalism
Explanation: Zola’s Nana is a hallmark of Naturalism, a literary movement that emphasizes the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior. Through the downfall of the courtesan Nana and those around her, Zola critiques the moral decay and excesses of the French Second Empire.
91. When was Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse first published?
A) 1915
B) 1920
C) 1927
D) 1931
Answer: C) 1927
Explanation: To the Lighthouse was first published in 1927. It is a landmark modernist novel by Virginia Woolf, known for its stream-of-consciousness style and its exploration of time, memory, and the inner lives of its characters.
92. Which of the following statements is true about the film adaptation of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man?
A) It was directed by Stanley Kubrick
B) It was never adapted into a film
C) The 1977 film adaptation was directed by Joseph Strick
D) It is a musical adaptation released in the 1990s
Answer: C) The 1977 film adaptation was directed by Joseph Strick
Explanation: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was adapted into a film in 1977, directed by Joseph Strick. The film closely follows James Joyce’s semi-autobiographical novel, capturing Stephen Dedalus’s intellectual and spiritual awakening.
93. Who directed the acclaimed film adaptation of A Passage to India?
A) Richard Attenborough
B) David Lean
C) James Ivory
D) Mira Nair
Answer: B) David Lean
Explanation: The film adaptation of A Passage to India was directed by David Lean and released in 1984. The film received critical acclaim and several Academy Award nominations, capturing the novel’s complex themes of colonialism, race, and cultural misunderstanding.
94. When was Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter first published?
A) 1837
B) 1845
C) 1850
D) 1865
Answer: C) 1850
Explanation: The Scarlet Letter was first published in 1850. It is one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s most famous works, exploring themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in a strict Puritan society.
95. When was Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim first published?
A) 1945
B) 1954
C) 1961
D) 1970
Answer: B) 1954
Explanation: Lucky Jim was first published in 1954 and quickly became a defining work of post-war British fiction. Known for its sharp satire of academic life and middle-class pretensions, it established Kingsley Amis as a major literary voice.
96. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, what is the significance of "Newspeak"?
A) It encourages creativity
B) It promotes free speech
C) It limits thought and controls perception
D) It celebrates language diversity
Answer: C) It limits thought and controls perception
Explanation: Newspeak is a tool of the Party to reduce the range of thought, making rebellion linguistically impossible.
97. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, why does Huck struggle with helping Jim escape?
A) He fears Jim
B) He doesn't like Jim
C) He believes helping a slave is morally wrong
D) He is afraid of the river
Answer: C) He believes helping a slave is morally wrong
Explanation: Huck’s moral conflict reveals the ingrained racism of his society and his emerging individual conscience.
98. Which critical lens is often used to analyze Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady?
A) Structuralist criticism
B) Feminist criticism
C) Marxist criticism
D) Postcolonial criticism
Answer: B) Feminist criticism
Explanation: The Portrait of a Lady is frequently examined through a feminist lens, as it explores the constraints placed on women’s autonomy and agency in a patriarchal society. Isabel Archer’s struggle for independence highlights the limited choices available to women in the 19th century.
99. In A Farewell to Arms, what best characterizes Hemingway’s prose style?
A) Ornate and metaphorical
B) Abstract and theoretical
C) Sparse and direct
D) Lyrical and poetic
Answer: C) Sparse and direct
Explanation: Hemingway’s style, known as the “Iceberg Theory,” emphasizes understatement and clarity to evoke deeper meaning.
100. Which major literary award did Alice Walker’s The Color Purple win?
A) Nobel Prize in Literature
B) Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
C) Booker Prize
D) National Book Award
Answer: B) Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Explanation: The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983. The novel is celebrated for its powerful portrayal of African American women’s struggles and resilience.
Additional Important MCQs -
101. Which of the following novels was published first?
A) Robinson Crusoe
B) Wuthering Heights
C) Pride and Prejudice
D) Nana
Answer: A) Robinson Crusoe
Explanation: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719, earlier than Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1847), and Zola’s Nana (1880).
102. Which author wrote The Mill on the Floss?
A) Charles Dickens
B) George Eliot
C) D. H. Lawrence
D) Thomas Hardy
Answer: B) George Eliot
Explanation: The Mill on the Floss was written by George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, and published in 1860.
103. Which novel was published in 1913?
A) Tess of the d'Urbervilles
B) Sons and Lovers
C) Wuthering Heights
D) The Mill on the Floss
Answer: B) Sons and Lovers
Explanation: D. H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers was published in 1913, later than Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1847).
104. Which novel was published closest to the Victorian era?
A) Hard Times
B) To the Lighthouse
C) Nana
D) Pride and Prejudice
Answer: A) Hard Times
Explanation: Dickens’ Hard Times (1854) is squarely within the Victorian era, unlike Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (1927), Zola’s Nana (1880), or Austen’s earlier Pride and Prejudice (1813).
105. Match the author with the correct novel:
A) Emily Brontë — Hard Times
B) Henry Fielding — Tom Jones
C) Virginia Woolf — Sons and Lovers
D) Émile Zola — Wuthering Heights
Answer: B) Henry Fielding — Tom Jones
Explanation: Henry Fielding wrote Tom Jones. The other pairings are incorrect.
106. Which of these novels was published in the 20th century?
A) Robinson Crusoe
B) To the Lighthouse
C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
D) Wuthering Heights
Answer: B) To the Lighthouse
Explanation: Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse was published in 1927, the only novel in this list published in the 20th century.
107. Which novel was published first?
A) The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
B) Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
C) Hard Times by Charles Dickens
D) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Answer: D) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)
Explanation: Among these, Wuthering Heights was published earliest in 1847, followed by Hard Times (1854), The Mill on the Floss (1860), and Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891).
108. Which author’s work critiques industrial society and utilitarianism?
A) Henry Fielding
B) Charles Dickens
C) Jane Austen
D) Daniel Defoe
Answer: B) Charles Dickens
Explanation: Dickens’ novel Hard Times critiques industrialization and utilitarian education.
109. Which of the following novels is set in the English moorlands and features intense romantic passion?
A) Wuthering Heights
B) Sons and Lovers
C) Pride and Prejudice
D) Nana
Answer: A) Wuthering Heights
Explanation: Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is famously set on the Yorkshire moors and is known for its passionate, turbulent relationships.
110. Which novel contains the famous opening line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”?
A) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
B) Hard Times by Charles Dickens
C) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
D) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Answer: B) Hard Times by Charles Dickens
Explanation: The iconic opening line comes from Dickens’ Hard Times (1854), capturing the contrasts of the industrial era.
111. Which novel begins with the famous line, “Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road...”?
A) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
B) Ulysses by James Joyce
C) A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
D) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Answer: A) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Explanation: The novel opens with this distinctive line, reflecting the stream of consciousness style and the protagonist’s early childhood.
112. Which of the following quotes is from A Passage to India by E. M. Forster?
A) “Only connect!”
B) “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
C) “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
D) “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Answer: A) “Only connect!”
Explanation: This famous line from Forster’s novel emphasizes the theme of bridging cultural and human divides.
113. Which prestigious award did Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works inspire indirectly through American literature?
A) The Pulitzer Prize
B) The Nobel Prize in Literature
C) The National Book Award
D) The Man Booker Prize
Answer: A) The Pulitzer Prize
Explanation: Although Hawthorne himself never won the Pulitzer, his pioneering work in American literature helped pave the way for future literary recognition in the U.S., such as the Pulitzer Prize established later.
114. Which quote is famously associated with Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim?
A) “I’m a man who knows what he wants.”
B) “The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”
C) “He had a certain desperate energy that kept him going.”
D) “A man with a sense of humor can survive anything.”
Answer: B) “The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”
Explanation: This quote captures the satirical and critical spirit of Lucky Jim and its focus on challenging established norms.
115. Which prestigious prize did George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four win during his lifetime?
A) The Nobel Prize in Literature
B) The James Tait Black Memorial Prize
C) None
D) The Booker Prize
Answer: C) None
Explanation: Despite its enduring influence, Orwell did not receive major literary awards like the Nobel or Booker during his lifetime; Nineteen Eighty-Four became famous posthumously.
116. Which prestigious international prize did Raja Rao receive for his contribution to literature?
A) Booker Prize
B) Neustadt International Prize for Literature
C) Sahitya Akademi Award
D) Jnanpith Award
Answer: B) Neustadt International Prize for Literature
Explanation: Raja Rao was awarded the Neustadt Prize in 1988, one of the most prestigious international recognitions for literary excellence.
117. When was Mulk Raj Anand’s novel Untouchable first published?
A) 1947
B) 1935
C) 1950
D) 1961
Answer: B) 1935
Explanation: Untouchable was published in 1935 and is known for its pioneering portrayal of caste-based discrimination in pre-independence India.
118. Which quote is attributed to R. K. Narayan’s The Guide?
A) “He saw his entire life as a preparation for this moment.”
B) “The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.”
C) “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
D) “A line is a dot that went for a walk.”
Answer: A) “He saw his entire life as a preparation for this moment.”
Explanation: This quote reflects Raju’s transformation in The Guide, capturing the theme of unintended spiritual awakening.
119. The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh won which notable Indian literary award?
A) Booker Prize
B) Sahitya Akademi Award
C) Jnanpith Award
D) Commonwealth Writers’ Prize
Answer: B) Sahitya Akademi Award
Explanation: Ghosh’s The Shadow Lines won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990, recognizing its literary innovation and exploration of nationalism, memory, and identity.
120. From a feminist critical perspective, how is That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande interpreted?
A) As a glorification of traditional roles
B) As a critique of colonial governance
C) As an exploration of spiritual awakening
D) As a subtle rebellion against patriarchal expectations
Answer: D) As a subtle rebellion against patriarchal expectations
Explanation: That Long Silence is often viewed through a feminist lens as portraying a woman’s internal resistance and awakening in a deeply patriarchal society, revealing how silence becomes both a burden and a form of protest.
121. Which of the following novels was published first?
A) Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
B) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
C) Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
D) Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Answer: D) Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Explanation: Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719, making it the earliest among these classic novels.
122. Arrange the following novels in the correct chronological order of publication:
A) The Mill on the Floss – Hard Times – Tess of the d’Urbervilles
B) Hard Times – The Mill on the Floss – Tess of the d’Urbervilles
C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles – Hard Times – The Mill on the Floss
D) Hard Times – Tess of the d’Urbervilles – The Mill on the Floss
Answer: B) Hard Times – The Mill on the Floss – Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Hard Times (1854), The Mill on the Floss (1860), and Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) were published in that order.
123. Which novel was published most recently?
A) Nana by Émile Zola
B) Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
C) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
D) Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Answer: C) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Explanation: To the Lighthouse was published in 1927, later than the other listed works.
124. Which of the following pairs of novels is listed in the correct chronological order of publication?
A) Pride and Prejudice – Tom Jones
B) Wuthering Heights – Pride and Prejudice
C) Nana – Sons and Lovers
D) To the Lighthouse – Nana
Answer: C) Nana – Sons and Lovers
Explanation: Nana was published in 1880 and Sons and Lovers in 1913, making this the correct chronological pairing.
125. Which of these novels was published in the 19th century?
A) Robinson Crusoe
B) Sons and Lovers
C) To the Lighthouse
D) Wuthering Heights
Answer: D) Wuthering Heights
Explanation: Wuthering Heights was published in 1847, placing it in the 19th century. The others are either earlier (18th century) or later (20th century).
126. Which of the following novels was published earliest?
A) Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
B) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
C) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
D) The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Answer: B) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Explanation: The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, making it the earliest among these options.
127. Which of these authors is correctly matched with their novel?
A) Kingsley Amis – A Passage to India
B) Alice Walker – The Color Purple
C) George Orwell – Lucky Jim
D) Ernest Hemingway – The Portrait of a Lady
Answer: B) Alice Walker – The Color Purple
Explanation: Alice Walker wrote The Color Purple, published in 1982. The other pairings are incorrect.
128. Arrange the following novels in correct chronological order of publication:
A) Huckleberry Finn – The Portrait of a Lady – A Farewell to Arms
B) A Farewell to Arms – Huckleberry Finn – The Portrait of a Lady
C) The Portrait of a Lady – Huckleberry Finn – A Farewell to Arms
D) Huckleberry Finn – A Farewell to Arms – The Portrait of a Lady
Answer: C) The Portrait of a Lady – Huckleberry Finn – A Farewell to Arms
Explanation: The Portrait of a Lady was published in 1881, Huckleberry Finn in 1884, and A Farewell to Arms in 1929. Option C lists them in correct chronological order.
129. Which novel was published after the Second World War?
A) A Passage to India
B) Nineteen Eighty-Four
C) A Farewell to Arms
D) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Answer: B) Nineteen Eighty-Four
Explanation: Nineteen Eighty-Four was published in 1949, following the end of WWII in 1945.
130. Which of the following novels was written by E. M. Forster?
A) Lucky Jim
B) The Portrait of a Lady
C) A Passage to India
D) A Farewell to Arms
Answer: C) A Passage to India
Explanation: A Passage to India (1924) was written by E. M. Forster and is one of his most celebrated works.
131. Which of the following novels was published first?
A) Kanthapura by Raja Rao
B) The Guide by R. K. Narayan
C) That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande
D) Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand
Answer: D) Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand
Explanation: Untouchable was published in 1935, earlier than Kanthapura (1938), The Guide (1958), and That Long Silence (1988).
132. Which of the following author–novel pairs is incorrect?
A) Anita Desai – Rosarita
B) Amitav Ghosh – The Shadow Lines
C) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – The Mistress of Spices
D) Shashi Deshpande – That Long Silence
Answer: A) Anita Desai – Rosarita
Explanation: The correct title Rosarita does not correspond with any known novel by Anita Desai. She is better known for works like Clear Light of Day and Fire on the Mountain.
133. Arrange the following novels in the correct chronological order of publication:
A) Kanthapura – The Guide – The Shadow Lines
B) The Guide – Kanthapura – The Shadow Lines
C) Kanthapura – The Shadow Lines – The Guide
D) The Shadow Lines – The Guide – Kanthapura
Answer: A) Kanthapura – The Guide – The Shadow Lines
Explanation: Kanthapura (1938), The Guide (1958), and The Shadow Lines (1988) follow this chronological order.
134. Which of these novels was published in the 1980s?
A) Untouchable
B) The Shadow Lines
C) Kanthapura
D) The Guide
Answer: B) The Shadow Lines
Explanation: The Shadow Lines was published in 1988, while the others were published earlier in the 20th century.
135. Identify the incorrect match between the author and their work:
A) R. K. Narayan – The Guide
B) Mulk Raj Anand – Kanthapura
C) Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – The Mistress of Spices
D) Shashi Deshpande – That Long Silence
Answer: B) Mulk Raj Anand – Kanthapura
Explanation: Kanthapura was written by Raja Rao, not Mulk Raj Anand. Anand is the author of Untouchable and other socially conscious novels.
136. Which of the following novels was published first?
A) Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
B) A House for Mr. Biswas by V. S. Naipaul
C) Karmabhumi by Munshi Premchand
D) The Twyborn Affair by Patrick White
Answer: C) Karmabhumi by Munshi Premchand
Explanation: Karmabhumi was published in 1932, earlier than Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958), Naipaul’s A House for Mr. Biswas (1961), and White’s The Twyborn Affair (1979).
137. Which of the following author–novel pairs is correct?
A) Salman Rushdie – The Handmaid's Tale
B) Margaret Atwood – The Twyborn Affair
C) V. S. Naipaul – A House for Mr. Biswas
D) Chinua Achebe – Midnight's Children
Answer: C) V. S. Naipaul – A House for Mr. Biswas
Explanation: V. S. Naipaul wrote A House for Mr. Biswas. The other pairings are incorrect.
138. Arrange the following novels in the correct chronological order of publication:
A) Karmabhumi – Things Fall Apart – Midnight’s Children
B) Things Fall Apart – Karmabhumi – Midnight’s Children
C) Things Fall Apart – Midnight’s Children – Karmabhumi
D) Karmabhumi – Midnight’s Children – Things Fall Apart
Answer: A) Karmabhumi – Things Fall Apart – Midnight’s Children
Explanation: Karmabhumi (1932), Things Fall Apart (1958), and Midnight’s Children (1981) follow that publication order.
139. Which of these novels explores themes of dystopia and reproductive control?
A) The Twyborn Affair
B) The Handmaid’s Tale
C) Things Fall Apart
D) Karmabhumi
Answer: B) The Handmaid’s Tale
Explanation: Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) is a dystopian novel that focuses on authoritarianism, reproductive rights, and gender oppression.
140. Identify the incorrect author–book match:
A) Patrick White – The Twyborn Affair
B) Margaret Atwood – Midnight’s Children
C) V. S. Naipaul – A House for Mr. Biswas
D) Chinua Achebe – Things Fall Apart
Answer: B) Margaret Atwood – Midnight’s Children
Explanation: Midnight’s Children was written by Salman Rushdie, not Margaret Atwood. She wrote The Handmaid’s Tale.
141. Which of the following short stories was published first?
A) The Gift of the Magi
B) Kabuliwala
C) The Blue Umbrella
D) The Tell-Tale Heart
Answer: D) The Tell-Tale Heart
Explanation: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart was published in 1843, making it the earliest among these options.
142. Which of the following author–short story pairs is correct?
A) Guy de Maupassant – The Garden Party
B) O. Henry – The Gift of the Magi
C) Katherine Mansfield – The Shroud
D) Ruskin Bond – Kabuliwala
Answer: B) O. Henry – The Gift of the Magi
Explanation: O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi. The other pairings are incorrect.
143. Which of these stories was written by a French author?
A) The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
B) The Shroud
C) The Necklace
D) The Blue Umbrella
Answer: C) The Necklace
Explanation: The Necklace was written by Guy de Maupassant, a noted French short story writer.
144. Arrange the following stories in the correct chronological order of publication:
A) Kabuliwala – The Gift of the Magi – The Blue Umbrella
B) The Tell-Tale Heart – Kabuliwala – The Blue Umbrella
C) The Gift of the Magi – The Blue Umbrella – The Tell-Tale Heart
D) The Blue Umbrella – The Tell-Tale Heart – Kabuliwala
Answer: B) The Tell-Tale Heart – Kabuliwala – The Blue Umbrella
Explanation: Publication order: The Tell-Tale Heart (1843), Kabuliwala (1892), The Blue Umbrella (1974).
145. Which story revolves around sacrifice and irony in gift-giving?
A) The Necklace
B) The Gift of the Magi
C) The Garden Party
D) The Shroud
Answer: B) The Gift of the Magi
Explanation: O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi features a young couple who each sacrifice their most prized possession to buy a gift for the other.
146. Identify the incorrect author–story match:
A) Munshi Premchand – The Shroud
B) Gabriel García Márquez – The Garden Party
C) Katherine Mansfield – The Garden Party
D) Tagore – Kabuliwala
Answer: B) Gabriel García Márquez – The Garden Party
Explanation: The Garden Party was written by Katherine Mansfield. Gabriel García Márquez wrote The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World.
147. Which of these short stories is by Gabriel García Márquez?
A) The Garden Party
B) The Necklace
C) The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
D) The Shroud
Answer: C) The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
Explanation: Márquez wrote this magical realist story about a village transformed by the arrival of a mysterious drowned man.
148. Which story is an example of magical realism?
A) The Gift of the Magi
B) The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
C) The Tell-Tale Heart
D) The Necklace
Answer: B) The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
Explanation: Márquez’s story blends fantastical elements with reality, a hallmark of magical realism.
149. Which of these stories involves a theme of class and social awareness?
A) The Garden Party
B) The Gift of the Magi
C) Kabuliwala
D) The Blue Umbrella
Answer: A) The Garden Party
Explanation: Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party explores class difference through the eyes of a young girl confronted with mortality and privilege.
150. Which of the following short stories is written by Munshi Premchand?
A) The Necklace
B) The Shroud
C) The Blue Umbrella
D) The Gift of the Magi
Answer: B) The Shroud
Explanation: The Shroud (Kafan) by Premchand portrays rural poverty, apathy, and complex father-son dynamics.
Note: Most of these multiple-choice questions are based on the following novels/short stories -
Novels
1. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
2. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
5. Hard Times by Charles Dickens
6. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
7. Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
8. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
9. Nana by Émile Zola
10. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
11. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
12. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
13. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
14. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
15. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
16. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
17. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
18. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
19. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
20. Kanthapura by Raja Rao
21. Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand
22. The Guide by R. K. Narayan
23. The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh
24. That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande
25. Rosarita by Anita Desai
26. The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
27. The Twyborn Affair by Patrick White
28. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
29. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
30. Karmabhumi by Munshi Premchand
31. A House for Mr. Biswas by V. S. Naipaul
32. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
Short Stories1. "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
2. "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
3. "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield
4. "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
5. "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" by Gabriel García Márquez
6. "Kabuliwala" by Rabindranath Tagore
7. "The Blue Umbrella" by Ruskin Bond
8. "The Shroud" (Kafan) by Munshi Premchand
>> 100 Important MCQs on Non-Fictional Prose in English Literature >><< 100 Important MCQs on Drama in English Literature <<
<< 100 Important MCQs on Poetry in English Literature <<
>> 100 important One-liner on Fiction in English Literature >>
See Also
- English Literature Practice Sets
- English Literature Important Questions on Cultural Studies
- English Literature Question Answers on Indian English Literature
- English Literature Questions Answers on American Literature
- English Literature Question Answers on Chaucer and His Age
- English Literature Question Answers on Rhetoric and Prosody
- English Literature Question Answers on Literary Theory and Criticism
- English Literature Objective Type Important Question Answers
English Literature, English Literature Fiction Questions, English Literature MCQ, English Literature Questions, Fiction
0 comments:
Post a Comment