LITERARY CRITICISM

Multiple Choice.
1. Aristotle and Plato belong to ____ phase of criticism.

(A) Hellenic

(B) Hellenistic

(C) Renaissance

(D) Graeco-Roman

2. Who was the first literary critic who said that “Art is twice removed from reality”?

(A) Plato

(B) Aristotle

(C) Longinus

(D) Horace

3. ‘On Translating Homer’ is written by

(A) Mathew Arnold

(B) Walter Pater

(C) T. S. ELiot

(D) William Hazlit

4. Who proposed that poets should be banished from the ideal Republic?

(A) Plato

(B) Aristotle

(C) Sir Philip Sidney

(D) Sir Thomas More

5. Who considers poetry ‘a mother of lies’

(A) Aristotle

(B) Plato

(C) Pope

(D) Stephen Gosson

6. Aristotle’s critical work is entitled:

(A) Ars Poetica

(B) Poetics

(C) De Arte Poetica

(D) Art Poetique

7. Who is the author of Ars Poetica?

(A) Plato

(B) Aristotle

(C) Horace

(D) Longinus

8. Who is the author of Symposium?

(A) Aristotle

(B) Dante

(C) Longinus

(D) Plato

9. To whom “poetry is the spontaneous over-flow of powerful passion.”

(A) Keats

(B) Shelley

(C) Wordsworth

(D) Coleridge

10. Horace was a:

(A) Greek Critic

(B) Roman Critic

(C) French Critic

(D) German Critic

11. Aristotle discusses the theory of Tragedy in :

(A) Art Poetique

(B) Poetics

(C) Rhetoric

(D) Ars Poetica

12. How many principal sources of sublimity are there according to Longinus?

(A) Three

(B) Four

(C) Five

(D) Six

13. What is the meaning of the term Hamartia as used by Aristotle in his Theory of Tragedy?

(A) Tragic end of the tragedy

(B) Working of fate against the hero

(C) A weak trait in the character of the hero

(D) A strong quality in the character of the hero

14. Who is the meaning of the term Peripeteia as used by Aristotle in his Theory of Tragedy?

(A) Change in the fortune of the hero from bad to good

(B) Change in the fortune of the hero from good to bad

(C) Constancy in the fortune of the hero

(D) Fluctuations occurring in the fortune of the hero

15. What is the meaning of the term Anagnorisis as used by Aristotle in his Theory of Tragedy?

(A) The hero’s recognition of his tragic flaw

(B) The hero’s ignorance about his tragic flaw

(C) The hero’s recognition of his adversary

(D) The hero’s recognition of his tragic end

16. What is denouement?

(A) The ending of a tragedy

(B) The ending of a comedy

(C) The climax in a tragedy

(D) The climax in a comedy

17. Who was the originator of the Theory of Imitation in Literature?

(A) Longinus

(B) Aristotle

(C) Plato

(D) Horace

18. Who made a difference between ‘poetry’ and ‘poem’

(A) Coleridge

(B) Addison

(C) Arnold

(D) Eliot

19. Who was the most illustrious pupil of Plato?

(A) Aristotle

(B) Longinus

(C) Aristophanes
(D) Socrates

20. Who was the most illustrious disciple of Socrates?

(A) Sophocles

(B) Plautus

(C) Plato

(D) Critus

21. From where has the term Oedipus Complex originated?

(A) Oedipus the Rex

(B) Oedipus at Colonus

(C) Antigone

(D) Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes

22. The term Electra Complex has originated from a tragedy entitled Electra. Who is the author of his tragedy?

(A) Aeschylus

(B) Sophocles

(C) Euripides

(D) Seneca

23. Who remarked, “Spenser write no language.”

(A) Pope

(B) Arnold

(C) Dr. Jhonson

(D) Ben Jonson

24. In which the following works Plato discusses his Theory of Poetry?

(A) Apology

(B) Ion

(C) The Republic

(D) Phaedrus

25. Who is the author of the notorious book entitled The School of Abuse?

(A) Roger Ascham

(B) Stephen Hawes

(C) John Skelton

(D) Stephen Gosson

26. An Elizabethan Puritan critic denounced the poets as ‘fathers of lies’,’schools of abuse’ and’caterpillars of a
commonwealth’. Mark him out from the following crities:

(A) William Tyndale

(B) Roger Ascham

(C) Stephen Gosson

(D) Henry Howard

27. ‘Preface to the Lyrical Ballads’ was published in

(A) 1798

(B) 1800

(C) 1802

(D) 1815

28. Philip Sidney’s Apologie for Poetrie is a defence of poetry against the charges brought against it by:

(A) Henry Howard

(B) Roger Ascham

(C) John Skelton

(D) Stephen Gosson

29. “It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet no more than a long gown maketh an advocate”. Whose
view is this?

(A) Shakespeare’s

(B) Marlowe’s

(C) Spenser’s

(D) Sidney’s

30. What does Sidney say about the observance of the three Dramatic Unities in drama?

(A) They must be observed

(B) It is not necessary to observe them

(C) He favours the observance of the Unity of Action only

(D) Their observance depends upon the nature of the theme of the play

31. What does Ben Jonson mean by a ‘Humorous Character’?

(A) A character who is always cheerful and gay

(B) A character who is by nature melancholy

(C) A character whose temper is determined by the predominance of one out of the four fluids in the human
body

(D) An eccentric person

32. Which of the following is a critical work of Ben Jonson?

(A) Discourse of English Poetry

(B) Discoveries

(C) Arte of English Poesie

(D) An Apologie for Poetrie

33. How many poets were included in Jhonson’s ‘The Lives of Most Eminent English Poets’?

(A) 48

(B) 50

(C) 52

(D) 54

34. Dryden wrote An Essay of Dramatic Poesy. Is this?

(A) An Essay

(B) A Drama

(C) A Poetical Work

(D) An Interlocution

35. In Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy there are four interlocuters representing four different ideologies.
Which of them expresses Dryden’s own views?

(A) Lisideius

(B) Eugenius

(C) Neander

(D) Crites

36. What has Dryden to say about the observance of the three Classical Dramatic Unities?

(A) He advocates their strict observance

(B) He does not advocate their strict observance

(C) He says that every dramatist should decide it for himself

(D) He is silent about this issue

37. Is Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy a work of?

(A) Interpretative Criticism

(B) Legislative Criticism

(C) Comparative Criticism

(D) Textual Criticism

38. Who called Dryden the Father of English Criticism?

(A) Joseph Addison

(B) Dr. Johnson

(C) Coleridge

(D) Matthew Arnold

39. The term ‘collective unconscious’ is coined by

(A) Carl Jung

(B) Sigmund Freud

(C) Ernest Jones

(D) Erik Erikson

40. Poetic Diction was taken to be the standard language for poetry in:

(A) The Elizabethan Age

(B) The Neo-Classical Age

(C) The Romantic Age

(D) The Victorian Age

41. “The tragic-comedy which is the product of the English theatre is one the most monstrous inventions that
ever entered into a poet’s thought.” Whose view is this?

(A) John Dryden’s

(B) Alexander Pope’s

(C) Joseph Addison’s

(D) Dr. Johnson’s

42. “Be Homer’s works your study and delight.

Read them by day and meditate by night.”

Who gives this advice to the poets?

(A) Dryden

(B) Pope

(C) Dr. Johnson

(D) Addison

43. Which of the following critics preferred Shakespeare’s Comedies to his Tragedies?

(A) Dryden

(B) Pope

(C) Dr. Johnson

(D) Addison

44. ‘Gynocriticism’ is associated with

(A) Elaine Showalter

(B) Ellen Moors

(C) Julia Kristeva

(D) Kate Millet

45. Wordsworth’s Preface to the Lyrical Ballads is believed to be the Preamble to Romantic Criticism. In which
year was it published?

(A) 1798

(B) 1800

(C) 1801

(D) 1802

46. “The end of writing is to instruct, the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.” Whose view is this?

(A) Wordsworth’s

(B) Coleridge’s

(C) Dr. Johnson’s

(D) Matthew Arnold’s

47. Regarding the observance of the three Classical Unities in a play, Dr. Johnson’s view is that:

(A) Only the Unity of Time should be observed

(B) Only the Unity of Place should be observed

(C) Only the Unity of Action should be observed

(D) All the three Unities should be observed

48. Plato equated poetry with painting, and Aristotle equated it with

(A) drama

(B) music

(C) dance

(D) none

49. “Poetry is emotions recollected in tranquility.” Who has defined poetry in these words?

(A) Shelley

(B) Wordsworth

(C) Coleridge

(D) Matthew Arnold

50. Who is the writer of ‘Hamlet and Oedipus’ (1949)

(A) Carl Jung

(B) Harold Bloom

(C) Ernest Jones

(D) Erik Erikson

51. He holds the distinction of being the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature

A. Wole Soyinka C. Po Chu-I

B. Yasunari Kawabata D. Rabindranath Tagore

The correct answer is D. Tagore won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Both (A) Soyinka and (B) Kawabata
are also Nobel Prize winners but these are not the correct answers; Kawabata won in 1968 and Soyinka 18 years
later in 1986,. The Nobel Prize, which was first given in 1901, did not exist during (C) Po Chu-I’s time in 846 A.D.

52. Filial piety is a basic tenet of this school of thought

A. Taoism C. Hinduism

B. Confucianism D. Buddhism

The correct answer is B. Respect and devotion to parents is important in establishing harmonious relationship
and is a fundamental concept of Confucianism. (A) Taoism emphasizes wu wei or non- action to achieve
harmony with nature. (C) Hinduism highlights the individual’s dharma or duty, while (D) Buddhism focuses on
self-awareness to attain enlightenment.

53. What does this excerpt from the Rigveda reveal about the Hindu belief on the god Purusha?

A thousand heads hath Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet.

One every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide.

The Purusha is all that yet hath been and all that is to be,

The Lord waxes greater still by food.

So mighty is his greatness: yea, greater than this is Purusha,

All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal life in heaven.

A. Purusha is the personification of natural phenomena.

B. The god Purusha is the source of mercy and salvation for all.

C. Purusha is the primal source of all creation.

D. Purusha is powerful and supreme over all earth.

The correct answer is C. Purusha is the Primal Person in a sacrificial ritual where his body parts are
dismembered to create the different parts of the world and the form caste system. (A) is incorrect because the
deities such as, fire (Agni), the sun (Surya), death (Yama), not Purusha, personify various natural phenomena.
(B) is incorrect because the excerpt does not describe Purusha as merciful savior; neither is (D) correct because
the excerpt does not talk about Purusha’s power and supremacy rather, Purusha as the Primal Sacrifice in the
ritual.

54. What insight is suggested by this haiku from Bashō?

Poverty’s child –

He starts to grind the rice

And gazes at the moon.

A. Nature has a soothing effect on the human spirit.

B. Child labor is a reality in many Asian nations.

C. The poor dreams and are hopeful of better things in their life.

D. Life is a never-ending routine of work and leisure.

The correct answer is A. By contrasting the task of grinding rice with the boy’s observation of the moon, Bashō
evokes a sense of longing and captures the comforting effect of nature on the human soul. (B) Child labor is an
actual problem in many third world nations in Asia but it is not the subject of this haiku. (C) Gazing at the moon
may be suggestive of dreaming and hoping but this leaves out the essence that the imagery creates. (D) is
incorrect because, while the grinding of rice is routine, the haiku does not have the tone of boredom.

55. This excerpt from Soyinka’s Telephone Conversation indicates the universal issue of __________.

“ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came.

“You mean – like plain or milk chocolate?” Her assent was clinical, crushing its light

Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted,

I chose, “West African sepia.” – and as an afterthought,

“Down in my passport.”

A. gender discrimination C. human rights violation

B. colonial mentality D. racial discrimination

The correct answer is D. The landlady’s questions about color indicate her deep-rooted prejudice against black
Africans even if they are educated and accomplished. (A) is incorrect because although the telephone
conversation is between a female house owner and a male caller the poem does not focus on gender
discrimination. Neither is (B) acceptable because the poem does not highlight colonial mentality. (C) may be
considered because racial discrimination is a form of human rights violation but this is not the best answer.

56. The Hindu belief that life is an illusion

A. dharma B. artha C. maya D. kama

57. Varnas, the theoretical basis for the caste system of the Hindus rests on __________

A. one’s birthright

B. karma of past thought and actions

C. a person’s capacity and intelligence

D. the quality of contribution to society

58. __________ is a collection of non-speculative hymns representative of the Aryan religious spirit often
comparable to the psalms in the Old Testament.

A. Bhagavad Gita C. Rigveda

B. Dhammapada D. Upanishads
59. What rhetorical device is used in this line from the Ramayana?

“Dearly, loved, devoted Sita! daughter of a royal line.”

A. onomatopoeia B. alliteration C. assonance D. consonance

60. What do these thoughts of Dushyanta reveal about his character?

“A tranquil spot! Why should I thrill?/ Love cannot enter there – ”

A. indecisive B. emotional C. rational D. ambivalent

61. A collection of sayings raging from brief statements to more extended dialogues between Confucius and his
students.

A. Analects C. Book of Changes

B. Tao-Te Ching D. Manyusho

62. Known as the ‘old philosopher’, he is credited as the founder of Taoism

A. Lao-Tzu B. Confucious C. Chuang Tzu D. Li Po

63. The __________ is a Chinese poem sung to the tunes of popular melodies

A. shih B. li sao C. lu-shih D. tzu

Read the following excerpted dialogue from Injustice Done to Tou Ngo then answer questions 14 – 15

Donkey Chang: You’ve poisoned my father, Tou Ngo. Do you want to settle it in court or out of the court?

Tou Ngo: What do you mean ‘settle it in court or out of court?’

Donkey Chang: If you want to settle in court, I’ll take you there to be tried and cross-examined and put to the
torture. With a delicate body like yours you’ll find it hard to bear that. You’re bound to confess to having
poisoned my father. If you want to settle out of court, you’d better become my wifejust as quick as you can. It’ll
be doing you a favor.

Tou Ngo: I have not poisoned your father. I’ll go to court with you.

64. What does Donkey Chang’s attitude show of him as a man?

A. He has so much masculine pride C. He feels that he is the savior.

B. He belittles the strength of women. D. He regards women as objects.

65. What does line 9 reflect about Tou Ngo’s character?

A. She is picky with men. C. She is a very strong woman.

B. She is unafraid of suffering. D. She is truly innocent.

66. The __________ written by Sei Shōnagon records her irreverent reflections on life at the Imperial Court
during the Heian dynasty.

A. The Tale of Genji C. The Pillow Book

B. Things That Cannot Be Compared D. Essays in Idleness

67. This ethical concept suggests a sense of obligation or indebtedness which explains the sense of patriotism
and nationalism of the Japanese.

A. giri B. on C. seppuku D. kami

68. The earliest form of Japanese drama performed on an almost bare stage by a small but elaborately costumed
cast of actors wearing masks is called ___________

A. Nō B. Kabuki C. Jorori D. Kyogen

69. Atsumori compares warriors to images from nature in these excerpt from Motokiyo’s Atsumori. What do
these images reveal about his view of war?

Atsumori: . . . The leaves of the autumn of Juyei

Were tossed by the four winds;

Scattered, scattered (like leaves too) floated their ships.

And they, asleep on the heaving sea, not even in dreams

Went back to home.

Caged birds longing for the clouds –

Wild geese were they rather, whose ranks are broken

As they fly to southward on their doubtful journey. ..

A. War is a challenge for the brave who are unafraid of the risks.

B. War is hateful because warriors have no control over their lives.

C. War is the revenge of the strong and the powerful.

D. War is freedom for the dreams of the people.

70. What is the main idea of this haiku by Bashō?

So soon to die,

And no sign of it showing –

locust cry.

A. beauty of nature C. permanence of things

B. transitoriness of life D. reality of death

71. One of these features is not characteristic of African oral literature

A. repetition and parallel structure C. call-and-response

B. tonal alliteration D. repeat-and-vary

72. The __________ is an important kind of African moral tale intended for listeners to discuss and debate
usually with an open-ending.

A. Trickster B. Ashanti C. enigma D. origin

73. He is the leading figure of the Negritude movement.

A. Leopold Senghor B. Dennis Brutus C. Wole Soyinka D. David Diop

Read this excerpt from Diop’s Africa then answer questions 24-25.

Africa, my Africa,

Africa of proud warriors

In ancestral savannas,

Africa of whom my grandmother sings,

On the banks of the distant river

I have never known you.

74. Which description best describes the persona’s perception of Africa?

A. free and beautiful

B. old and defeated

C. primitive and uncivilized

D. mythical and elusive

75. What is the dominant tone of the poem?

A. regretful and frustrated

B. angry and bitter

C. sad and disdainful

D. invigorated and proud

Answers : 1. (A) 2. (A) 3. (A) 4. (A) 5. (B) 6. (B) 7. (C) 8. (B) 9. (C) 10. (B) 11. (B) 12. (C) 13. (C) 14. (B) 15. (A) 16. (B)
17. (C) 18. (A) 19. (A) 20. (C) 21. (A) 22. (B) 23. (D) 24. (C) 25. (D) 26. (C) 27. (B) 28. (D) 29. (D) 30. (A) 31. (C) 32.
(B) 33. (C) 34. (D) 35. (C) 36. (B) 37. (C) 38. (B) 39. (A) 40. (B) 41. (C) 42. (B) 43. (C) 44. (A) 45. (B) 46. (C) 47. (C) 48.
(B) 49. (B) 50. (C)