English Language

Literary Analysis

4,495 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

Which of the following is an example of a novel?

  1. The Great Gatsby

  2. To Kill a Mockingbird

  3. The Catcher in the Rye

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Catcher in the Rye are all examples of novels. Novels are long works of fiction that typically tell the story of one or more characters over a period of time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a short story?

  1. The Tell-Tale Heart

  2. The Lottery

  3. A Rose for Emily

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Tell-Tale Heart, The Lottery, and A Rose for Emily are all examples of short stories. Short stories are short works of fiction that focus on a single event or incident and are typically written in the first person.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the satirical novel that was written by George Orwell in 1945?

  1. Animal Farm

  2. 1984

  3. Brave New World

  4. Fahrenheit 451
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Animal Farm is a satirical novel that was written by George Orwell in 1945. It tells the story of a group of animals who rebel against their human farmer and establish their own society, but eventually become just as corrupt and oppressive as the humans they overthrew.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the satirical play that was written by Aristophanes in 425 BC?

  1. The Clouds

  2. The Wasps

  3. The Frogs

  4. The Birds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Clouds is a satirical play that was written by Aristophanes in 425 BC. It tells the story of a young man who goes to a school for philosophers and learns how to argue both sides of any issue. He then uses his newfound skills to swindle his creditors.

Multiple choice

Which elegy by Matthew Arnold mourns the death of his father, Thomas Arnold?

  1. Dover Beach

  2. The Scholar-Gypsy

  3. Thyrsis

  4. To Marguerite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Arnold's elegy 'Thyrsis' is a deeply personal and moving tribute to his father.

Multiple choice

In ___, Abraham Verghese explores the trauma of a Jewish family's migration from India to the United States.

  1. Cutting for Stone

  2. My Name is Red

  3. The Inheritance of Loss

  4. The God of Small Things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Abraham Verghese's novel 'Cutting for Stone' follows the story of a Jewish family's migration from India to the United States and the trauma they face.

Multiple choice

In ___, Amitav Ghosh weaves a tale of a Jewish family's journey from Burma to India during World War II.

  1. The Glass Palace

  2. Sea of Poppies

  3. The Hungry Tide

  4. River of Smoke
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Amitav Ghosh's novel 'The Glass Palace' follows the story of a Jewish family's migration from Burma to India during World War II.

Multiple choice

In ___, Abraham Verghese explores the trauma of a Jewish family's migration from India to the United States.

  1. Cutting for Stone

  2. My Name is Red

  3. The Inheritance of Loss

  4. The God of Small Things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Abraham Verghese's novel 'Cutting for Stone' follows the story of a Jewish family's migration from India to the United States and the trauma they face.

Multiple choice

Which historical musical is set during the AIDS crisis?

  1. Chess

  2. Hair

  3. Dreamgirls

  4. Rent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rent is a historical musical that tells the story of a group of young people who are living in New York City during the AIDS crisis.

Multiple choice

Which historical musical is set during the January 6th attack on the Capitol?

  1. Hamilton

  2. Jagged Little Pill

  3. Caroline, or Change

  4. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a historical musical that tells the story of a group of middle school students who are competing in a spelling bee.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the mermaid who is the protagonist of the popular novel 'The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock' by Imogen Hermes Gowar?

  1. Margaret

  2. Ada

  3. Nellie

  4. Hannah
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Margaret is the protagonist of the novel 'The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock' by Imogen Hermes Gowar. She is a mermaid who is rescued by a wealthy widow and brought to live in London.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the mermaid who is the protagonist of the popular novel 'The Mermaid's Song' by Nancy Farmer?

  1. Chela

  2. Marina

  3. Sirena

  4. Coral
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Chela is the protagonist of the novel 'The Mermaid's Song' by Nancy Farmer. She is a mermaid who is captured by humans and forced to perform in a circus.

Multiple choice

In the novel The Great Gatsby, what type of salad dressing does Daisy Buchanan prefer?

  1. French dressing

  2. Thousand Island dressing

  3. Ranch dressing

  4. Vinaigrette dressing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In Chapter 7 of The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan is described as preferring vinaigrette dressing on her salad.

Multiple choice

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, what type of salad dressing does Atticus Finch use on his salad?

  1. French dressing

  2. Italian dressing

  3. Ranch dressing

  4. Thousand Island dressing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In Chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is described as using French dressing on his salad.

Multiple choice

In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, what type of salad dressing does Holden Caulfield use on his salad?

  1. French dressing

  2. Italian dressing

  3. Ranch dressing

  4. Thousand Island dressing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In Chapter 10 of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is described as using French dressing on his salad.