English Language

Literary Analysis

4,216 Questions

Analyze classic and modernist novels, autobiographies, plays, and graphic novels across various genres. This topic tests your familiarity with prominent authors, literary movements, and thematic elements. Questions appear regularly in the English language sections of SSC, banking, and teaching competency exams.

Classic and modernist novelsAutobiographies and biographiesPoetic language and farcesThematic literary elements

Literary Analysis Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following question on the basis of the given passage:

According to the given passage the author would be LEAST likely to approve of which among the following?

RC Passage 4:
Roger Rosenblatt’s book Black Fiction, manages to alter the approach taken in many previous studies by making an attempt to apply literary rather than sociopolitical criteria to its subject. Rosenblatt points out that criticism of Black writing has very often served as a pretext for an expounding on Black history. The recent work of Addison Gayle’s passes a judgement on the value of Black fiction by clearly political standards, rating each work according to the ideas of Black identity, which it propounds.
Though fiction results from political circumstances, its author react not in ideological ways to those circumstances, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise. Affinities and connections are revealed in the works of Black fiction in Rosenblatt’s literary analysis; these affinities and connections have been overlooked and ignored by solely political studies.
The writing of acceptable criticism of Black fiction, however, presumes giving satisfactory answers to a quite a few questions. The most important of all, is there a sufficient reason, apart from the racial identity of the authors, for the grouping together of Black authors? Secondly, what is the distinction of Black fiction from other modern fiction with which it is largely contemporaneous? In the work Rosenblatt demonstrates that Black fiction is a distinct body of writing, which has an identifiable, coherent literary tradition. He highlights recurring concerns and designs, which are independent of chronology in Black fiction written over the past eighty years. These concerns and designs are thematic, and they come form the central fact of the predominant white culture, where the Black characters in the novel are situated irrespective of whether they attempt to conform to that culture or they rebel against it.
Rosenblatt’s work does leave certain aesthetic questions open. His thematic analysis allows considerable objectivity; he even clearly states that he does not intend to judge the merit of the various works yet his reluctance seems misplaced, especially since an attempt to appraise might have led to interesting results. For example, certain novels have an appearance of structural diffusion. Is this a defeat, or are the authors working out of, or attempting to forge, a different kind of aesthetic? Apart from this, the style of certain Black novels, like Jean Toomer’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expressions?

Irrespective of such omissions, what Rosenblatt talks about in his work makes for an astute and worthwhile study. His book very effectively surveys a variety of novels, highlighting certain fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man. Black Fiction is tightly constructed, and levelheaded and penetrating criticism is exemplified in its forthright and lucid style.
  1. Analyzing the influence of political events on the personal ideology of Black writers

  2. Attempting a critical study, which applies sociopolitical criteria to the autobiographies of Black authors

  3. A literary study of Black poetry that appraises the merits of poems according to the political acceptability of their themes

  4. Studying the growth of a distinct Black literary tradition within the context of Black history

  5. Undertaking a literary study, which attempts to isolate aesthetic qualities unique to Black fiction

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The author clearly disputes the literary approach to Rosenbatt work.  Though fiction results from political circumstances, its author react not in ideological ways to those circumstances, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise. Affinities and connections are revealed in the works of Black fiction in Rosenblatt's literary analysis; these affinities and connections have been overlooked and ignored by solely political studies.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following question on the basis of the given passage:

Rosenblatt's discussion of Black Fiction is __________________________.

RC Passage 4:
Roger Rosenblatt’s book Black Fiction, manages to alter the approach taken in many previous studies by making an attempt to apply literary rather than sociopolitical criteria to its subject. Rosenblatt points out that criticism of Black writing has very often served as a pretext for an expounding on Black history. The recent work of Addison Gayle’s passes a judgement on the value of Black fiction by clearly political standards, rating each work according to the ideas of Black identity, which it propounds.
Though fiction results from political circumstances, its author react not in ideological ways to those circumstances, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise. Affinities and connections are revealed in the works of Black fiction in Rosenblatt’s literary analysis; these affinities and connections have been overlooked and ignored by solely political studies.
The writing of acceptable criticism of Black fiction, however, presumes giving satisfactory answers to a quite a few questions. The most important of all, is there a sufficient reason, apart from the racial identity of the authors, for the grouping together of Black authors? Secondly, what is the distinction of Black fiction from other modern fiction with which it is largely contemporaneous? In the work Rosenblatt demonstrates that Black fiction is a distinct body of writing, which has an identifiable, coherent literary tradition. He highlights recurring concerns and designs, which are independent of chronology in Black fiction written over the past eighty years. These concerns and designs are thematic, and they come form the central fact of the predominant white culture, where the Black characters in the novel are situated irrespective of whether they attempt to conform to that culture or they rebel against it.
Rosenblatt’s work does leave certain aesthetic questions open. His thematic analysis allows considerable objectivity; he even clearly states that he does not intend to judge the merit of the various works yet his reluctance seems misplaced, especially since an attempt to appraise might have led to interesting results. For example, certain novels have an appearance of structural diffusion. Is this a defeat, or are the authors working out of, or attempting to forge, a different kind of aesthetic? Apart from this, the style of certain Black novels, like Jean Toomer’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expressions?

Irrespective of such omissions, what Rosenblatt talks about in his work makes for an astute and worthwhile study. His book very effectively surveys a variety of novels, highlighting certain fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man. Black Fiction is tightly constructed, and levelheaded and penetrating criticism is exemplified in its forthright and lucid style.
  1. pedantic and contentious

  2. critical but admiring

  3. ironic and deprecating

  4. argumentative but unfocused

  5. stilted and insincere.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The discussion criticizes the subject, idea and criteria of the work.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following question on the basis of the given passage:

From the following options, which does the author not make use of while discussing Black Fiction?

RC Passage 4:
Roger Rosenblatt’s book Black Fiction, manages to alter the approach taken in many previous studies by making an attempt to apply literary rather than sociopolitical criteria to its subject. Rosenblatt points out that criticism of Black writing has very often served as a pretext for an expounding on Black history. The recent work of Addison Gayle’s passes a judgement on the value of Black fiction by clearly political standards, rating each work according to the ideas of Black identity, which it propounds.
Though fiction results from political circumstances, its author react not in ideological ways to those circumstances, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise. Affinities and connections are revealed in the works of Black fiction in Rosenblatt’s literary analysis; these affinities and connections have been overlooked and ignored by solely political studies.
The writing of acceptable criticism of Black fiction, however, presumes giving satisfactory answers to a quite a few questions. The most important of all, is there a sufficient reason, apart from the racial identity of the authors, for the grouping together of Black authors? Secondly, what is the distinction of Black fiction from other modern fiction with which it is largely contemporaneous? In the work Rosenblatt demonstrates that Black fiction is a distinct body of writing, which has an identifiable, coherent literary tradition. He highlights recurring concerns and designs, which are independent of chronology in Black fiction written over the past eighty years. These concerns and designs are thematic, and they come form the central fact of the predominant white culture, where the Black characters in the novel are situated irrespective of whether they attempt to conform to that culture or they rebel against it.
Rosenblatt’s work does leave certain aesthetic questions open. His thematic analysis allows considerable objectivity; he even clearly states that he does not intend to judge the merit of the various works yet his reluctance seems misplaced, especially since an attempt to appraise might have led to interesting results. For example, certain novels have an appearance of structural diffusion. Is this a defeat, or are the authors working out of, or attempting to forge, a different kind of aesthetic? Apart from this, the style of certain Black novels, like Jean Toomer’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expressions?

Irrespective of such omissions, what Rosenblatt talks about in his work makes for an astute and worthwhile study. His book very effectively surveys a variety of novels, highlighting certain fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man. Black Fiction is tightly constructed, and levelheaded and penetrating criticism is exemplified in its forthright and lucid style.
  1. Rhetorical questions

  2. Specific examples

  3. Comparison and contrast

  4. Definition of terms

  5. Personal opinion

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 There is no definition of any of the terms used in the passage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct answer for the following question on the basis of the given passage:

The primary concern of the author in the above passage is _________________________.

RC Passage 4:
Roger Rosenblatt’s book Black Fiction, manages to alter the approach taken in many previous studies by making an attempt to apply literary rather than sociopolitical criteria to its subject. Rosenblatt points out that criticism of Black writing has very often served as a pretext for an expounding on Black history. The recent work of Addison Gayle’s passes a judgement on the value of Black fiction by clearly political standards, rating each work according to the ideas of Black identity, which it propounds.
Though fiction results from political circumstances, its author react not in ideological ways to those circumstances, and talking about novels and stories primarily as instruments of ideology circumvents much of the fictional enterprise. Affinities and connections are revealed in the works of Black fiction in Rosenblatt’s literary analysis; these affinities and connections have been overlooked and ignored by solely political studies.
The writing of acceptable criticism of Black fiction, however, presumes giving satisfactory answers to a quite a few questions. The most important of all, is there a sufficient reason, apart from the racial identity of the authors, for the grouping together of Black authors? Secondly, what is the distinction of Black fiction from other modern fiction with which it is largely contemporaneous? In the work Rosenblatt demonstrates that Black fiction is a distinct body of writing, which has an identifiable, coherent literary tradition. He highlights recurring concerns and designs, which are independent of chronology in Black fiction written over the past eighty years. These concerns and designs are thematic, and they come form the central fact of the predominant white culture, where the Black characters in the novel are situated irrespective of whether they attempt to conform to that culture or they rebel against it.
Rosenblatt’s work does leave certain aesthetic questions open. His thematic analysis allows considerable objectivity; he even clearly states that he does not intend to judge the merit of the various works yet his reluctance seems misplaced, especially since an attempt to appraise might have led to interesting results. For example, certain novels have an appearance of structural diffusion. Is this a defeat, or are the authors working out of, or attempting to forge, a different kind of aesthetic? Apart from this, the style of certain Black novels, like Jean Toomer’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does this technique provide a counterpoint to the prevalent theme that portrays the fate against which Black heroes are pitted, a theme usually conveyed by more naturalistic modes of expressions?

Irrespective of such omissions, what Rosenblatt talks about in his work makes for an astute and worthwhile study. His book very effectively surveys a variety of novels, highlighting certain fascinating and little-known works like James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man. Black Fiction is tightly constructed, and levelheaded and penetrating criticism is exemplified in its forthright and lucid style.
  1. reviewing the validity of a work of criticism

  2. comparing various critical approaches to a subject

  3. talking of the limitations of a particular kind of criticism

  4. recapitulation of the major points in a work of criticism

  5. illustrating the theoretical background of a certain kind of criticism.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The entire passages talks about the validity of the work.

Multiple choice
  1. The life of Jews under the Nazi, Adolf Hitler

  2. The life of Russians transported to Siberia by Stalin

  3. The story of the rule in Italy under Mussolini

  4. The life in the Victorian age in England

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Anne Frank's diary documents her family's experiences hiding from Nazi persecution in Amsterdam during World War II. It records the life of Jews under Adolf Hitler's regime, including their fears, daily struggles, and ultimately their discovery. The diary is one of the most poignant first-person accounts of the Holocaust.

Multiple choice
  1. Kin-Siang

  2. Hwang-Ho

  3. Yin-Yuang

  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Hwang-Ho (Yellow River) is called 'China's Sorrow' because of its frequent and devastating floods throughout Chinese history, which caused massive destruction of crops, property, and loss of life. The river earned this somber nickname due to its unpredictable nature and the catastrophic impact on Chinese civilization over millennia. Other options like Kin-Siang and Yin-Yuang are not associated with this historical epithet.

Multiple choice
  1. They fought side by side with the men in the eight year war with the French.

  2. They shot down US bomber planes with bullets during the US-Vietnam war.

  3. They wrote novels and plays depicting women as patriots fighting to save the Vietnamese nation from colonial invaders.

  4. They maintained many hospitals along the Ho Chi Minh trail with other young women volunteers.

  5. They fought against Chinese domination in 39-43 CE.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The Trung sisters fought against Chinese domination in 39-43 CE.

Multiple choice
  1. Mein Kampf

  2. Communist Manifesto

  3. Das Capital

  4. The Repblic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hitler wrote his autobiography during the 2nd World War.

Multiple choice
  1. Animal Farm

  2. Finding the Centre

  3. Nineteen Eighty Farm

  4. Homage to Catalonia

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

George Orwell authored 'Animal Farm' (1945), 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (1949), and 'Homage to Catalonia' (1938). 'Finding the Centre' is a 1984 work by V.S. Naipaul. Note: Option C has a typo - it should be 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'.

Multiple choice
  1. Tarzen of the Apex

  2. The Wreck

  3. The Wealth of Nations

  4. Dr. Zinvago

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776), considered the foundational work of modern economics. It introduced concepts like division of labor, free markets, and the invisible hand. The other options are fictional or unrelated titles: Tarzan of the Apes (Edgar Rice Burroughs), The Wreck is generic, and Dr. Zhivago was written by Boris Pasternak.

Multiple choice
  1. Volpone

  2. Mother Courage and Her Children

  3. A Doll's House

  4. Endgame

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Samuel Beckett, Nobel laureate in 1969, wrote 'Endgame' (1957). Other options: Volpone (Jonson), Mother Courage (Brecht), A Doll's House (Ibsen).

Multiple choice
  1. Moby Dick

  2. Anna Karenina

  3. Invisible Man

  4. The Grapes of Wrath

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man' (1952) features an unnamed African American narrator addressing social identity issues. Other novels have named narrators or third-person narration.

Multiple choice
  1. Don Quixote

  2. Endymion

  3. Annus Mirabilis

  4. Pilgrim's Progress

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' (1662-1663) IS a mock-heroic poem modeled on Cervantes' 'Don Quixote'. Both satirize chivalric romance through absurd heroes. Hudibras is a Presbyterian knight, ridiculing Puritan hypocrisy during the English Civil War, just as Quixote satirizes knight-errantry.