1. What is a 'sonnet′?
A. A long narrative poem telling a heroic story
B. A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure
C. A poem written in free verse with no set rhyme or meter
D. A poem intended to be sung
2. Langston Hughes was a central figure in which literary and cultural movement?
A. Beat Generation
B. Southern Gothic
C. Harlem Renaissance
D. Transcendentalism
3. Which Shakespearean play is often considered his greatest tragedy, focusing on themes of ambition, betrayal, and guilt in a Scottish setting?
A. Hamlet
B. Othello
C. Macbeth
D. King Lear
4. Which novel by Toni Morrison tells the story of Sethe, a former slave haunted by the ghost of her baby daughter, exploring the legacy of slavery and its psychological impact?
A. Beloved
B. Song of Solomon
C. The Bluest Eye
D. Jazz
5. Which American playwright is known for works like 'Death of a Salesman′ and 'The Crucible′, exploring themes of the American Dream and societal pressures?
A. Tennessee Williams
B. Arthur Miller
C. Eugene O′Neill
D. Edward Albee
6. The Harlem Renaissance, a flourishing of African American artistic expression, is primarily associated with which decade?
A. 1910s
B. 1920s
C. 1930s
D. 1940s
7. Which author is best known for pioneering the 'stream of consciousness′ narrative technique in novels like 'Mrs. Dalloway′ and 'To the Lighthouse′?
A. James Joyce
B. Virginia Woolf
C. Ernest Hemingway
D. F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. Which American literary movement, prominent in the early 19th century, championed individualism, intuition, and the inherent goodness of people and nature?
A. Realism
B. Naturalism
C. Transcendentalism
D. Modernism
9. What is 'dramatic irony′?
A. Irony that is spoken aloud by a character
B. Irony that is apparent to the audience but not to the characters
C. Irony that arises from a surprising turn of events
D. Irony that is subtle and understated
10. Which period in English literature is marked by significant political and social upheaval, including the English Civil War and the Restoration?
A. The Elizabethan Era
B. The Jacobean Era
C. The Puritan Era (or Commonwealth Period)
D. The Augustan Age
11. The 'Southern Gothic′ literary genre is characterized by which elements?
A. Romanticized portrayals of plantation life and chivalry
B. Focus on urban settings and industrial decay in the North
C. Grotesque characters, decaying settings, and exploration of the dark side of the American South
D. Utopian visions of the future in a technologically advanced South
12. What is the 'Beat Generation′ known for?
A. Their formal and traditional poetic forms
B. Their rejection of mainstream American values and experimentation with drugs and Eastern spirituality
C. Their focus on political activism and social reform
D. Their celebration of consumerism and suburban life
13. What is 'Gothic literature′ primarily characterized by?
A. Lighthearted romances and comedies of manners
B. Rational and realistic depictions of everyday life
C. Atmosphere of horror, mystery, and the supernatural, often in decaying settings
D. Political satires and social critiques
14. The 'Lost Generation′ is a term most often associated with which group of writers?
A. Victorian poets
B. American Modernist expatriates after World War I
C. British Romantic novelists
D. Harlem Renaissance writers
15. What is the primary characteristic of a 'bildungsroman′?
A. A story focused on political intrigue
B. A narrative of a character′s moral and psychological growth
C. A tale of romantic love and courtship
D. An epic poem recounting heroic deeds
16. What is the significance of the green light in F. Scott Fitzgerald′s 'The Great Gatsby′?
A. Gatsby′s wealth and extravagance
B. Daisy Buchanan′s favorite color
C. Gatsby′s unattainable dream of the past and Daisy
D. The symbol of hope for the future
17. What is the 'American Dream′ as often depicted in American literature?
A. The pursuit of political power and influence
B. The ideal of upward mobility, prosperity, and success through hard work
C. The desire for a simple, agrarian lifestyle
D. The quest for spiritual enlightenment and religious fulfillment
18. Ernest Hemingway′s writing style is best described as:
A. Ornate and verbose
B. Minimalist and understated
C. Highly metaphorical and symbolic
D. Humorous and satirical
19. What literary device involves a contrast between what is said and what is actually meant?
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Irony
D. Hyperbole
20. Which novel by Jane Austen satirizes the societal pressures and romantic expectations of women in 19th-century England, focusing on the Bennet sisters?
A. Persuasion
B. Emma
C. Pride and Prejudice
D. Sense and Sensibility
21. What is 'free verse′ poetry?
A. Poetry that strictly adheres to traditional rhyme and meter
B. Poetry that is free from regular meter and rhyme schemes
C. Poetry written in a foreign language
D. Poetry that is always humorous and lighthearted
22. In Shakespearean tragedies, what is 'hamartia′ commonly understood to represent?
A. The hero′s greatest strength
B. A fatal flaw or tragic error
C. Divine intervention
D. Comic relief
23. Which literary period is characterized by a focus on reason, logic, and neoclassicism, often drawing inspiration from classical Greek and Roman literature?
A. Romanticism
B. Enlightenment (Age of Reason)
C. Modernism
D. Victorian Era
24. In Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights′, what is the central theme explored through the tumultuous relationship of Heathcliff and Catherine?
A. Social mobility and class distinctions
B. The destructive nature of passionate love and revenge
C. The importance of family and inheritance
D. Religious hypocrisy in Victorian society
25. In 'Frankenstein′ by Mary Shelley, what primarily motivates Victor Frankenstein′s creation of the creature?
A. Financial gain and societal recognition
B. A desire to conquer death and discover the secrets of life
C. To alleviate human suffering and disease
D. Out of loneliness and a need for companionship
26. What is the function of a 'chorus′ in classical Greek drama and often in adaptations?
A. To provide comic relief
B. To represent the voice of the community, commenting on the action
C. To play the role of the main antagonist
D. To perform musical interludes between scenes
27. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typically associated with American Romanticism?
A. Emphasis on emotion and intuition
B. Celebration of nature and the individual
C. Focus on urban life and industrial progress
D. Idealization of the past and folklore
28. What is the primary difference between 'Realism′ and 'Naturalism′ in literature?
A. Realism focuses on the supernatural, while Naturalism focuses on everyday life.
B. Realism seeks to depict life as it is, while Naturalism emphasizes deterministic forces shaping characters.
C. Realism is optimistic, while Naturalism is pessimistic.
D. There is no significant difference between Realism and Naturalism.
29. Which novel by Charles Dickens critiques the harsh realities of industrialization and social injustice in Victorian England?
A. A Tale of Two Cities
B. Great Expectations
C. Oliver Twist
D. David Copperfield
30. Which author wrote 'The Waste Land′, a landmark poem of Modernism known for its fragmented structure and allusions?
A. W.B. Yeats
B. T.S. Eliot
C. Ezra Pound
D. Robert Frost
