100 Important MCQs on Non-Fictional Prose in English Literature
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100 MCQs Answers on Non-Fictional Prose - English Literature
1. According to Bacon in Of Studies, what is the main purpose of studying?
A) To memorize facts
B) To boast about knowledge
C) To improve judgment and reasoning
D) To impress others
Answer: C) To improve judgment and reasoning
Explanation: Bacon argues that studies serve for "delight, ornament, and ability," ultimately helping individuals refine their reasoning and judgment.
2. What does Bacon mean when he says truth is like a pearl?
A) It is rare and expensive
B) It is found in oysters
C) It shows best in a clear light
D) It is used to deceive people
Answer: C) It shows best in a clear light
Explanation: Bacon uses the simile to suggest that truth is best appreciated plainly and not with embellishment, just like a pearl is best seen in daylight.
3. How does Bacon view love in the context of great enterprises?
A) As a motivator
B) As a virtue
C) As a hindrance
D) As an inspiration
Answer: C) As a hindrance
Explanation: Bacon believes love can distract and hinder individuals from achieving greatness, especially in public affairs.
4. According to Bacon, what is the greatest benefit of friendship?
A) Financial support
B) Physical companionship
C) The ability to share thoughts
D) Social networking
Answer: C) The ability to share thoughts
Explanation: Bacon emphasizes the relief and joy of sharing one’s innermost thoughts with a true friend.
5. What do Addison and Steele criticize most in the essay Duelling?
A) Lack of bravery
B) The legal system
C) The absurdity of risking life for pride
D) Military training
Answer: C) The absurdity of risking life for pride
Explanation: The essay condemns dueling as irrational, where men stake their lives to defend honor based on trivial provocations.
6. Who is Sir Roger de Coverley in Of the Club?
A) A knight who defends honor
B) A club member representing old-fashioned values
C) A villain in disguise
D) A judge of morality
Answer: B) A club member representing old-fashioned values
Explanation: Sir Roger is depicted as a kind but eccentric old gentleman who brings a traditional perspective to the club’s discussions.
7. What is the main criticism of female orators in the essay, Female Orators?
A) Their grammatical mistakes
B) Their use of complex vocabulary
C) Their excessive and unnecessary talking
D) Their political activism
Answer: C) Their excessive and unnecessary talking
Explanation: The essay satirically comments on women who talk incessantly and use speech to dominate social interactions.
8. What is one of the primary goals of The Spectator, as stated by Addison?
A) To entertain kings and queens
B) To make philosophy accessible to everyday readers
C) To promote fiction writing
D) To abolish newspapers
Answer: B) To make philosophy accessible to everyday readers
Explanation: Addison aimed to blend morality with entertainment, educating the middle class through essays in a light and relatable style.
9. What does Wollstonecraft argue women need most to become equal citizens?
A) Financial independence
B) Physical strength
C) Education
D) Voting rights
Answer: C) Education
Explanation: Wollstonecraft strongly advocates for equal education as the foundation for women's rights and societal equality.
10. What is Emerson’s main message in Self-Reliance?
A) Depend on others for success
B) Conform to societal expectations
C) Trust your own intuition and beliefs
D) Follow religious doctrine strictly
Answer: C) Trust your own intuition and beliefs
Explanation: Emerson champions individuality and self-trust, encouraging people to avoid conformity and think independently.
11. What kind of scholar does the speaker admire in The American Scholar?
A) One who memorizes books
B) One who challenges the status quo
C) One who copies European ideals
D) One who avoids manual labor
Answer: B) One who challenges the status quo
Explanation: Emerson promotes an independent, active scholar who contributes to society by thinking freely and originally.
12. What is a key theme in The American Scholar?
A) Dependence on ancient texts
B) Separation of mind and body
C) Unity of nature, action, and thought
D) Rejection of American identity
Answer: C) Unity of nature, action, and thought
Explanation: Emerson advocates a well-rounded individual who integrates natural experience, active participation, and intellectual reflection.
13. According to The Foundations of Indian Culture, what is central to Indian civilization?
A) Industrial development
B) Western education
C) Spirituality and inner development
D) Political power
Answer: C) Spirituality and inner development
Explanation: Aurobindo emphasizes that Indian culture is deeply rooted in spirituality, shaping its art, education, and society.
14. In The Foundations of Indian Culture, how does Aurobindo respond to colonial critiques of India?
A) He agrees partially
B) He ignores them
C) He defends India's spiritual and cultural strengths
D) He proposes westernization
Answer: C) He defends India's spiritual and cultural strengths
Explanation: Aurobindo argues that colonial critiques overlook India's rich spiritual heritage and philosophical depth.
15. What moral lesson is emphasized in My Experiments with Truth?
A) Success comes from deception
B) Truth and non-violence are essential virtues
C) Power must be pursued at all costs
D) Education is unimportant
Answer: B) Truth and non-violence are essential virtues
Explanation: Gandhi's autobiography centers on his lifelong pursuit of satya (truth) and ahimsa (non-violence) as guiding principles.
16. Which of the following best describes Gandhi’s approach to religion in his autobiography?
A) Fanatical and exclusive
B) Rejecting all faiths
C) Inclusive and experimental
D) Completely atheistic
Answer: C) Inclusive and experimental
Explanation: Gandhi approached religion with openness, learning from various faiths and applying their teachings to his life.
17. In The Hindu View of Life, what does Radhakrishnan state about Hinduism’s uniqueness?
A) Its fixed dogmas
B) Its rejection of other faiths
C) Its adaptability and tolerance
D) Its focus on rituals
Answer: C) Its adaptability and tolerance
Explanation: Radhakrishnan highlights Hinduism’s inclusive nature, allowing for multiple interpretations and continuous growth.
18. What is one major idea conveyed in The Hindu View of Life?
A) Religion must dominate politics
B) Doubt has no place in faith
C) True religion must evolve with reason
D) Eastern philosophies are outdated
Answer: C) True religion must evolve with reason
Explanation: Radhakrishnan believes religion should harmonize with logic and evolve rather than remain rigid.
19. In Wings of Fire, what role does failure play in A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s journey?
A) It halts his progress
B) It discourages him
C) It motivates him to learn and grow
D) It leads him to quit science
Answer: C) It motivates him to learn and grow
Explanation: Kalam describes how setbacks became learning opportunities that shaped his character and success.
20. What is a recurring theme in Wings of Fire?
A) Political conflict
B) Fear of technology
C) Importance of hard work and vision
D) Rejection of tradition
Answer: C) Importance of hard work and vision
Explanation: Kalam emphasizes perseverance, humility, and vision as the driving forces behind his achievements.
21. In Of Studies, what does Bacon mean by saying reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man?
A) Reading provides knowledge, discussion enhances communication skills, and writing ensures precision
B) Reading makes one wise, discussion makes one rich, and writing makes one famous
C) Reading makes one happy, discussion makes one healthy, and writing makes one wealthy
D) None of the above
Answer: A
Explanation: Bacon highlights the distinct contributions of reading, conversation, and writing to intellectual development.
22. In Of Truth, Bacon compares truth to daylight. What does this metaphor suggest?
A) Truth is easily hidden
B) Truth is often complex
C) Truth is simple and clear
D) Truth is irrelevant
Answer: C
Explanation: Bacon implies that truth reveals things plainly and transparently, just as daylight does.
23. According to Bacon in Of Friendship, what is the primary benefit of friendship?
A) Financial gain
B) Emotional support and counsel
C) Social status
D) None of the above
Answer: B
Explanation: Bacon emphasizes how friends provide advice, emotional relief, and honest feedback.
24. In Of Love, which of the following is NOT cited by Bacon as an effect of love?
A) It causes distraction
B) It leads to irrational behavior
C) It enhances intellectual abilities
D) It brings joy
Answer: C
Explanation: Bacon argues that love often disrupts reason rather than boosting intellectual performance.
25. What is the main argument against dueling in the essay Duelling?
A) It is a tradition that should be upheld
B) It is a cowardly act
C) It is a senseless and dangerous practice
D) It is a form of entertainment
Answer: C
Explanation: Steele and Addison criticize dueling as irrational and harmful, suggesting it lacks moral justification.
26. What is the primary purpose of the club described in Of the Club?
A) To engage in political discussions
B) To promote intellectual growth and camaraderie
C) To organize charitable events
D) To conduct business transactions
Answer: B
Explanation: The club was formed to encourage thoughtful dialogue and friendship.
27. What do Addison and Steele conclude in Female Orators about women speaking in public?
A) They encourage women to speak publicly
B) They believe women should remain silent
C) They acknowledge women's speaking ability but urge moderation
D) They are indifferent to the matter
Answer: C
Explanation: The authors admire eloquence in women but advise against excessive public display.
28. Which of the following is NOT one of the aims of The Spectator according to Addison and Steele?
A) To entertain readers with humorous content
B) To promote moral and social reform
C) To provide political commentary
D) To educate readers on various subjects
Answer: C
Explanation: The Spectator was intended to refine morals and taste, not to engage in political debate.
29. What reason does Wollstonecraft give for women appearing inferior to men in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman?
A) Their lack of education
B) Their societal roles
C) Their physical differences
D) Their emotional nature
Answer: A
Explanation: She asserts that women’s lower status stems from denied educational opportunities.
30. What does Wollstonecraft advocate for in her treatise?
A) Women's subjugation to men
B) Equal education for women
C) Women's exclusion from politics
D) Women's primary role as homemakers
Answer: B
Explanation: She calls for educational reform to empower women and ensure equality.
31. What key principle is promoted in Emerson’s Self-Reliance?
A) Dependence on others for guidance
B) Embracing nonconformity and individualism
C) Strict adherence to tradition
D) Avoidance of personal responsibility
Answer: B
Explanation: Emerson encourages trusting one's own intuition and resisting societal pressure.
32. What does The American Scholar call for?
A) Political activism
B) Intellectual independence and cultural development
C) Economic prosperity
D) Religious conformity
Answer: B
Explanation: Emerson urges American intellectuals to break free from European dominance and create original thought.
33. What does Aurobindo emphasize in The Foundations of Indian Culture?
A) Westernization of Indian society
B) Reviving traditional Indian values and spirituality
C) Industrialization and modernization
D) Political independence from British rule
Answer: B
Explanation: Aurobindo believes cultural renewal rooted in spiritual traditions is vital to India’s future.
34. In My Experiments with Truth, what does Gandhi primarily explore?
A) Economic theories
B) Scientific discoveries
C) Moral and spiritual development through personal experience
D) Colonial history
Answer: C
Explanation: Gandhi's autobiography focuses on his journey of self-discipline and ethical living.
35. Which concept is central to Gandhi’s philosophy as seen in his autobiography?
A) Passive resistance
B) Truth (Satya) and nonviolence (Ahimsa)
C) Political domination
D) Economic independence only
Answer: B
Explanation: Gandhi believed that truth and nonviolence were essential tools for personal and social change.
36. According to Radhakrishnan in The Hindu View of Life, what is central to Hindu philosophy?
A) Materialism
B) Ritualism
C) Spiritual pluralism and tolerance
D) Political activism
Answer: C
Explanation: Radhakrishnan highlights Hinduism’s embrace of diverse spiritual paths and its emphasis on inner realization.
37. What does Radhakrishnan argue about religion in Indian culture?
A) It should be separated from daily life
B) It is a private affair only
C) It is deeply intertwined with Indian identity and values
D) It is outdated
Answer: C
Explanation: He sees religion, especially Hinduism, as central to India’s cultural and philosophical development.
38. What is a key message in Kalam’s Wings of Fire?
A) Political ideology
B) The importance of military strength
C) Inspiration through personal struggle and scientific progress
D) Criticism of government policies
Answer: C
Explanation: Kalam shares how determination and education led him from humble beginnings to scientific achievement.
39. What does Wings of Fire emphasize as a means of national development?
A) Defense spending
B) Scientific innovation and youth empowerment
C) Foreign aid
D) Importing foreign technology
Answer: B
Explanation: Kalam encourages the youth of India to engage in science and innovation for national progress.
40. In Long Walk to Freedom, what struggle does Mandela describe?
A) India’s independence
B) Civil War in America
C) Fight against apartheid in South Africa
D) African economic policy
Answer: C
Explanation: Mandela recounts his life-long fight against the institutionalized racial segregation of apartheid.
41. What value does Mandela stress throughout his autobiography?
A) Vengeance
B) Political supremacy
C) Reconciliation and equality
D) Isolationism
Answer: C
Explanation: Mandela promotes forgiveness and unity, even after decades of oppression.
42. What did Mandela mean by saying, "Freedom is indivisible"?
A) Only personal freedom matters
B) Freedom must be shared by all, not enjoyed in isolation
C) Freedom is a myth
D) Freedom can be negotiated
Answer: B
Explanation: He believed that true liberty is only real when it includes every person, not just a few.
43. What is a core belief in Self-Reliance that Emerson emphasizes?
A) That imitation is suicide
B) That tradition is essential
C) That following leaders are wise
D) That change is harmful
Answer: A
Explanation: Emerson insists that individuals must avoid imitation and trust their own inner voice.
44. What does Bacon suggest in Of Truth about people's preference for lies?
A) Lies are easier to remember
B) Lies are more profitable
C) Lies add pleasure and imagination to life
D) Lies are always necessary
Answer: C
Explanation: Bacon explains that falsehoods can be entertaining or comforting, unlike stark truths.
45. In Of Studies, what is the role of different types of reading, according to Bacon?
A) All books should be read deeply
B) Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and a few to be chewed and digested
C) Only classical books matter
D) Speed reading is essential
Answer: B
Explanation: Bacon classifies reading based on its value—some books require deep attention, others just a glance.
46. In The American Scholar, what does Emerson identify as the three main influences on a scholar?
A) Books, government, and science
B) Nature, the past, and personal experience
C) Nature, books, and action
D) Education, religion, and society
Answer: C
Explanation: Emerson identifies Nature, the study of the past (books), and active experience as the main shapers of a scholar.
47. What theme does Aurobindo emphasize in defending ancient Indian culture against colonial critiques?
A) Economic superiority
B) Scientific backwardness
C) Spiritual depth and cultural continuity
D) Military tradition
Answer: C
Explanation: Aurobindo defends Indian civilization by highlighting its rich spiritual tradition and timeless values.
48. According to Kalam in Wings of Fire, what key factor helped him succeed despite poverty?
A) Political connections
B) Western education
C) Discipline and encouragement from mentors
D) Inherited wealth
Answer: C
Explanation: Kalam credits his success to hard work, discipline, and guidance from mentors and teachers.
49. How does Mandela describe the transition from prison to presidency in Long Walk to Freedom?
A) As a personal reward
B) As a political trick
C) As a transformation from bitterness to responsibility
D) As a dream come true without struggle
Answer: C
Explanation: Mandela reflects on how imprisonment prepared him for leadership with humility and dedication.
50. In The Hindu View of Life, what does Radhakrishnan argue about religious tolerance in Hinduism?
A) It is a political strategy
B) It is absent in Hindu thought
C) It stems from a belief in one truth with many paths
D) It only applies to Indian religions
Answer: C
Explanation: Radhakrishnan asserts that Hinduism embraces multiple approaches to the divine, fostering spiritual tolerance.
51. Who wrote the essay Of Truth?
A) Francis Bacon
B) John Locke
C) David Hume
D) Thomas Carlyle
Answer: A) Francis Bacon
Explanation: Bacon's essay explores the nature of truth and its relationship to human understanding.
52. Which book is a seminal work of literary criticism by Matthew Arnold?
A) Culture and Anarchy
B) Essays in Criticism
C) The Function of Criticism
D) The Renaissance
Answer: B) Essays in Criticism
Explanation: Arnold's collection of essays explores the role of criticism in literature.
53. Who wrote the influential essay The Function of Criticism at the Present Time?
A) Matthew Arnold
B) Walter Pater
C) T.S. Eliot
D) F.R. Leavis
Answer: A) Matthew Arnold
Explanation: Arnold argues for the importance of criticism in shaping literary taste.
54. Which book is a classic of autobiographical writing by Thomas De Quincey?
A) Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
B) The English Mail-Coach
C) Recollections of the Lakes and the Lake Poets
D) Suspiria de Profundis
Answer: A) Confessions of an English Opium-Eater
Explanation: De Quincey's memoir explores his struggles with addiction.
55. Who wrote the influential work of literary theory The Renaissance?
A) Walter Pater
B) Matthew Arnold
C) T.S. Eliot
D) F.R. Leavis
Answer: A) Walter Pater
Explanation: Pater's collection of essays explores the art and literature of the Renaissance.
56. Which essay by George Orwell critiques the use of language in politics?
A) Politics and the English Language
B) Shooting an Elephant
C) A Hanging
D) The Lion and the Unicorn
Answer: A) Politics and the English Language
Explanation: Orwell argues for clear and honest language in political discourse.
57. Who wrote the influential work of literary criticism The Death of the Author?
A) Roland Barthes
B) Michel Foucault
C) Jacques Derrida
D) T.S. Eliot
Answer: A) Roland Barthes
Explanation: Barthes' essay argues for a focus on the text rather than the author's intentions.
58. Which book is a classic of travel writing by Robert Louis Stevenson?
A) An Inland Voyage
B) Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes
C) The Silverado Squatters
D) Treasure Island
Answer: A) An Inland Voyage
Explanation: Stevenson's travelogue explores the canals of France.
59. Who wrote the influential work of literary theory Aspects of the Novel?
A) E.M. Forster
B) T.S. Eliot
C) F.R. Leavis
D) Virginia Woolf
Answer: A) E.M. Forster
Explanation: Forster's collection of lectures explores the art of fiction.
60. Which essay by Virginia Woolf argues for women's education and independence?
A) A Room of One's Own
B) Three Guineas
C) The Death of the Moth
D) The Modern Essay
Answer: A) A Room of One's Own
Explanation: Woolf argues for women's access to education and economic independence.
61. Who wrote the influential work of literary criticism The Well Wrought Urn?
A) Cleanth Brooks
B) T.S. Eliot
C) F.R. Leavis
D) William Empson
Answer: A) Cleanth Brooks
Explanation: Brooks' collection of essays explores the nature of poetry.
62. Which book is a classic of autobiographical writing by Henry Adams?
A) The Education of Henry Adams
B) Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres
C) The Degradation of the Democratic Dogma
D) A Letter to American Teachers
Answer: A) The Education of Henry Adams
Explanation: Adams' memoir explores his life and education.
63. Who wrote the influential work of literary theory The Uses of Enchantment?
A) Bruno Bettelheim
B) Northrop Frye
C) C.S. Lewis
D) J.R.R. Tolkien
Answer: A) Bruno Bettelheim
Explanation: Bettelheim's psychoanalytic exploration of fairy tales.
64. Which essay by James Baldwin critiques American racism?
A) Notes of a Native Son
B) The Fire Next Time
C) Nobody Knows My Name
D) The Devil Finds Work
Answer: B) The Fire Next Time
Explanation: Baldwin's essay argues for civil rights and critiques American racism.
65. Who wrote the influential work of literary criticism The Anatomy of Criticism?
A) Northrop Frye
B) T.S. Eliot
C) F.R. Leavis
D) William Empson
Answer: A) Northrop Frye
Explanation: Frye's comprehensive theory of literary criticism.
66. Which book is a classic of travel writing by Jonathan Swift?
A) Gulliver's Travels
B) A Modest Proposal
C) The Battle of the Books
D) The Drapier's Letters
Answer: A) Gulliver's Travels
Explanation: Though satirical, *Gulliver's Travels* serves as a mock travel narrative exploring human nature and society.
67. What is the central idea in Swift’s essay A Modest Proposal?
A) Encouraging population growth
B) Advocating dietary reform
C) Critiquing British exploitation through satire
D) Promoting agricultural productivity
Answer: C) Critiquing British exploitation through satire
Explanation: Swift uses shocking satire to highlight the cruel treatment of the Irish by British policies.
68. What theme is explored in Charles Lamb’s essays in Essays of Elia?
A) Political theory
B) Romantic adventures
C) Personal memories and human nature
D) Scientific advancements
Answer: C) Personal memories and human nature
Explanation: Lamb's essays are known for their warmth, nostalgia, and reflections on everyday life.
69. What is the tone of Addison and Steele’s essays in The Spectator?
A) Harsh and critical
B) Informal and humorous
C) Formal and academic
D) Cynical and dismissive
Answer: B) Informal and humorous
Explanation: Their essays aimed to entertain while reforming morals and manners through wit.
70. What literary device is central to Thomas Carlyle’s prose in Sartor Resartus?
A) Allegory
B) Dialogue
C) Hyperbole
D) Stream of consciousness
Answer: A) Allegory
Explanation: Carlyle uses allegory to explore philosophical and spiritual issues through fictional commentary.
71. Which 19th-century figure is known for championing the essay form in a deeply personal style?
A) Thomas Paine
B) William Hazlitt
C) Samuel Johnson
D) Edward Gibbon
Answer: B) William Hazlitt
Explanation: Hazlitt's essays are known for their insight into human psychology and literary criticism.
72. What is a central focus of Samuel Johnson’s essays in The Rambler?
A) Travel experiences
B) Political reforms
C) Moral and philosophical reflection
D) Natural sciences
Answer: C) Moral and philosophical reflection
Explanation: Johnson used the essay to explore moral ideas, daily life, and human behavior.
73. What idea does Emerson promote in Self-Reliance?
A) Following tradition
B) Relying on society’s opinions
C) Trusting one’s own intuition
D) Seeking external validation
Answer: C) Trusting one’s own intuition
Explanation: Emerson encourages individualism and confidence in one’s inner moral compass.
74. What does Thoreau emphasize in Walden?
A) Accumulating wealth
B) Embracing social norms
C) Simplicity and self-reliance
D) Pursuing political office
Answer: C) Simplicity and self-reliance
Explanation: Thoreau advocates living simply in harmony with nature as a form of personal liberation.
75. In The Souls of Black Folk, what term does W.E.B. Du Bois introduce?
A) The Color Line
B) Cultural Hegemony
C) Social Darwinism
D) The Melting Pot
Answer: A) The Color Line
Explanation: Du Bois discusses the divide between races in America, calling it the central problem of the 20th century.
76. What does Orwell argue in Shooting an Elephant?
A) The joy of colonial life
B) The necessity of imperialism
C) The moral complexity of imperial authority
D) The benefits of British rule
Answer: C) The moral complexity of imperial authority
Explanation: Orwell explores the psychological burden on colonizers and critiques the imperial system.
77. What is the main theme of Virginia Woolf’s essay The Death of the Moth?
A) Social change
B) Feminism
C) Life’s fragility and resilience
D) Literary criticism
Answer: C) Life’s fragility and resilience
Explanation: Woolf reflects on the struggle between life and death through the image of a moth.
78. What is a key idea in T.S. Eliot’s Tradition and the Individual Talent?
A) Originality above all else
B) Romantic emotion
C) The importance of literary tradition
D) Political relevance
Answer: C) The importance of literary tradition
Explanation: Eliot asserts that new works must be judged in relation to existing literary tradition.
79. What does Bertrand Russell explore in The Value of Philosophy?
A) Economic theory
B) Political science
C) The importance of philosophical inquiry
D) Religious doctrine
Answer: C) The importance of philosophical inquiry
Explanation: Russell defends philosophy as expanding the mind and deepening understanding.
80. What theme dominates Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail?
A) Economic reform
B) Violence as protest
C) Just and unjust laws
D) War strategy
Answer: C) Just and unjust laws
Explanation: King distinguishes between morally just laws and those that must be resisted through civil disobedience.
81. What does Montaigne explore in his Essays?
A) Theology
B) Political manifestos
C) Human nature and personal reflection
D) Classical myths
Answer: C) Human nature and personal reflection
Explanation: Montaigne is credited with inventing the modern essay, focused on introspection and philosophy.
82. What is Orwell's stance in The Prevention of Literature?
A) Support for censorship
B) Defense of intellectual freedom
C) Advocacy for state propaganda
D) Indifference to literary integrity
Answer: B) Defense of intellectual freedom
Explanation: Orwell warns against censorship and totalitarian threats to free expression.
83. What does Mary Wollstonecraft argue in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman?
A) Superiority of women
B) Return to traditional roles
C) Equal education and rational capacity
D) Rejection of marriage
Answer: C) Equal education and rational capacity
Explanation: Wollstonecraft asserts that women should be educated to become rational and independent.
84. What theme runs through Orwell’s The Lion and the Unicorn?
A) British culinary habits
B) The value of monarchy
C) The need for democratic socialism in Britain
D) Defense of laissez-faire capitalism
Answer: C) The need for democratic socialism in Britain
Explanation: Orwell combines patriotism with a call for social reform in wartime Britain.
85. What was the main purpose of Addison and Steele’s Sir Roger de Coverley Papers?
A) Religious debate
B) Romantic storytelling
C) Portrayal of social manners and reform
D) Political satire
Answer: C) Portrayal of social manners and reform
Explanation: These essays use fictional characters to reflect and critique early 18th-century society.
86. What is the primary literary technique used by Jonathan Swift in A Modest Proposal?
A) Irony
B) Allegory
C) Euphemism
D) Hyperbole
Answer: A) Irony
Explanation: Swift uses stark irony to critique British policies toward the Irish by proposing an outrageous solution to poverty.
87. What does E.B. White reflect on in his essay Once More to the Lake?
A) Urban development
B) Environmental destruction
C) Nostalgia and the passage of time
D) War and peace
Answer: C) Nostalgia and the passage of time
Explanation: White meditates on memory and the contrast between past and present during a trip with his son.
88. What concern is central to Susan Sontag’s essay Against Interpretation?
A) The loss of creativity in art
B) Excessive theoretical analysis
C) The rise of modernism
D) The collapse of storytelling
Answer: B) Excessive theoretical analysis
Explanation: Sontag critiques the tendency to over-interpret art rather than experiencing it sensually and directly.
89. What theme does James Baldwin address in Notes of a Native Son?
A) Post-colonial identity
B) Racial tension and personal grief
C) Industrial development
D) Artistic education
Answer: B) Racial tension and personal grief
Explanation: Baldwin reflects on his father’s death and the challenges of being Black in mid-20th-century America.
90. What does Michel de Montaigne believe about the self in his Essays?
A) It is unknowable
B) It is static and unchanging
C) It is best ignored
D) It is the most important subject for exploration
Answer: D) It is the most important subject for exploration
Explanation: Montaigne believed that self-reflection reveals universal truths about humanity.
91. What is the tone of Bertrand Russell's In Praise of Idleness?
A) Pessimistic
B) Moralistic
C) Lightly humorous and philosophical
D) Aggressively polemical
Answer: C) Lightly humorous and philosophical
Explanation: Russell defends leisure as a valuable and necessary component of civilized life.
92. What is a recurring concern in George Orwell’s essays?
A) The loss of religious faith
B) The collapse of capitalism
C) The abuse of power and truth
D) The decline of monarchy
Answer: C) The abuse of power and truth
Explanation: Orwell repeatedly warns of totalitarianism, censorship, and propaganda.
93. What does Ralph Waldo Emerson argue in The American Scholar?
A) Dependence on European intellectual traditions
B) The necessity of scientific education
C) The rise of industrial capitalism
D) Intellectual independence and self-reliance
Answer: D) Intellectual independence and self-reliance
Explanation: Emerson urges American thinkers to break away from old models and cultivate their own voices.
94. What is the central theme in Virginia Woolf’s Three Guineas?
A) Historical fiction
B) Advocacy for women's education and anti-fascism
C) Romantic love
D) Socialist economics
Answer: B) Advocacy for women's education and anti-fascism
Explanation: Woolf addresses gender inequality and links it to the rise of authoritarian politics.
95. In Civil Disobedience, what does Thoreau argue is the duty of individuals?
A) To follow government blindly
B) To resist unjust laws
C) To prioritize economic growth
D) To ignore political matters
Answer: B) To resist unjust laws
Explanation: Thoreau claims individuals must not support a government that acts immorally.
96. What concept does Baldwin explore in The Fire Next Time?
A) Atheism
B) American consumerism
C) Race, religion, and national identity
D) Globalization
Answer: C) Race, religion, and national identity
Explanation: Baldwin reflects on race relations and the moral future of America.
97. What is the significance of Radhakrishnan’s The Hindu View of Life?
A) It introduces western theology
B) It explains Hinduism’s political goals
C) It interprets Hinduism as tolerant and evolving
D) It rejects all other religions
Answer: C) It interprets Hinduism as tolerant and evolving
Explanation: Radhakrishnan presents Hinduism as a dynamic and inclusive philosophy.
98. What literary form did Francis Bacon help to develop in English?
A) The sonnet
B) The play
C) The novel
D) The essay
Answer: D) The essay
Explanation: Bacon is known for popularizing the essay form in English with moral and intellectual insights.
99. In Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, what does John Dickinson advocate?
A) Royal loyalty
B) Revolutionary violence
C) Legal protest against British taxation
D) Agricultural reform
Answer: C) Legal protest against British taxation
Explanation: Dickinson promotes peaceful resistance to British policies before the American Revolution.
100. What does A.P.J. Abdul Kalam stress in Wings of Fire?
A) The importance of privilege
B) Luck in life
C) Vision, perseverance, and education
D) Literary criticism
Answer: C) Vision, perseverance, and education
Explanation: Kalam’s autobiography emphasizes how dedication and dreams can transform one’s destiny.
Note: Above 1-50 multiple-choice questions are based on the following non-fictional prose works -
1. Francis Bacon
- Of Studies
- Of Truth
- Of Friendship
- Of Love
- Duelling
- Of the Club
- Female Orators
- Aims of the Spectator
- A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
- Self-Reliance
- The American Scholar
- The Foundations of Indian Culture
- My Experiments with Truth
- The Hindu View of Life
- Wings of Fire
- Long Walk to Freedom
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English Literature, English Literature MCQ, English Literature Non-Fiction Prose Questions, English Literature Questions, Non-Fiction
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