GK (Literature)

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, defining the Victorian era in British history. She ascended to the throne in 1837 following William IV's death and ruled until her death in 1901, making her the longest-reigning British monarch until Queen Elizabeth II surpassed that record.

Pre-Raphaelite poetry prioritized form and design over narrative and nature. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (1848-) rejected the conventions of their time, seeking to return to the detailed observation, vibrant colors, and complex compositions of pre-Renaissance Italian art - emphasizing artistic form above storytelling.

The correct chronological order is: Vanity Fair (1847-48) by Thackeray, Henry Esmond (1852) by Thackeray, Middlemarch (1871-72) by George Eliot, The Return of the Native (1878) by Thomas Hardy. This spans mid to late Victorian period literature.

The Rambler (1750-1752) was Samuel Johnson's influential periodical consisting of 208 essays on moral and philosophical topics. The Spectator and The Tatler were earlier publications by Steele and Addison, while The Postman is a fabrication.

Mystery plays (or miracle plays) dramatized stories from the Bible, with focus on New Testament events. While option A mentions Christ's life, 'The New Testament' is the more comprehensive category that mystery plays covered, including nativity, passion, and resurrection narratives.

Edmund Burke, in 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' (1790), warned against the dangers of unchecked popular liberty and radical democracy. He defended tradition and gradual reform over revolutionary change, unlike Locke (pro-liberty) or Hobbes (pro-authoritarian order for stability).

Swift's 'A Tale of a Tub' (1704) satirizes religious dogma and superstition by mocking the extremes of Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism through the allegory of three brothers (Peter, Martin, and Jack) representing different Christian sects.

In Webster's 'The Duchess of Malfi' (1613), Bosola is the complex anti-hero who serves as the executioner (employed by Ferdinand). He kills the Duchess and later seeks redemption before his own death. The Spanish Tragedy features Hieronimo, The White Devil has Flamineo, and The Jew of Malta features Barabas.

Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick' (1851) opens with the famous line 'Call me Ishmael,' introducing the narrator and setting the tone for this epic tale of obsession and whaling. Rip Van Winkle is by Irving, Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne, Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck.

Allen Ginsberg's Beat vision of America, particularly in 'Howl' and other works, is deeply influenced by Walt Whitman's free verse, democratic spirit, and expansive vision. Ginsberg saw himself as Whitman's spiritual heir, continuing the project of poetic celebration of American experience.

Michael Ondaatje, born in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), is a major voice of the Sri Lankan diaspora. Works like 'Running in the Family' explore his Sri Lankan heritage and identity. M.G. Vassanji is East African-Indian, while Itwaru is Caribbean.

These lines from Alexander Pope's 'Rape of the Lock' exemplify paradox - the contradiction of being 'careless' yet 'artful,' and the deliberate effort to seem 'unaffected.' Paradox combines seemingly contradictory ideas for rhetorical effect, unlike irony (saying opposite of meaning), simile (comparison using like/as), or metaphor (direct comparison).

Metonymy is a figure of speech where one object or concept replaces another closely associated one. 'Crown' represents the monarchy or king because the crown is the physical symbol of royal authority, making it a classic example of metonymy.

Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene draws heavily from Arthurian legend, particularly Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Spenser incorporated the knights, chivalric values, and romantic quest structure from the Arthurian tradition into his allegorical epic.

Shakespeare wrote these tragedies in this order: Hamlet (c. 1600), Othello (c. 1603), King Lear (c. 1605), and Macbeth (c. 1606). This reflects the evolution of his tragic vision during the great period of 1600-1606.

Matthew Arnold earned the title 'prophet of modern society' through works like Culture and Anarchy, where he diagnosed the spiritual and intellectual challenges of industrial democracy. His critiques of materialism and advocacy for 'sweetness and light' positioned him as a visionary commentator on modern social conditions.