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

In the dystopian novel Divergent, what is the name of the faction that values intelligence and knowledge?

  1. Erudite

  2. Dauntless

  3. Amity

  4. Candor
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Erudite is the faction in Divergent by Veronica Roth that values intelligence and knowledge, and its members are responsible for the intellectual and scientific pursuits of society.

Multiple choice

In the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale, what is the name of the totalitarian regime that controls the Republic of Gilead?

  1. The Sons of Jacob

  2. The Guardians of the Faith

  3. The Eyes of God

  4. The Handmaids
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The Sons of Jacob is the totalitarian regime in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, which enforces a strict patriarchal society and oppresses women.

Multiple choice

In the dystopian novel Brave New World, what is the name of the drug that is used to control the population and maintain social stability?

  1. Soma

  2. Ambrosia

  3. Elixir

  4. Nectar
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Soma is the drug used in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley to control the population and maintain social stability, creating a society where people are content and docile.

Multiple choice

In the dystopian novel 1984, what is the name of the Ministry that controls the truth and disseminates propaganda?

  1. The Ministry of Truth

  2. The Ministry of Love

  3. The Ministry of Peace

  4. The Ministry of Plenty
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ministry of Truth in 1984 is responsible for controlling the truth and disseminating propaganda, rewriting history and manipulating information to maintain the power of the totalitarian government.

Multiple choice

Which autobiography won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1966?

  1. The Story of My Life

  2. Long Walk to Freedom

  3. The Story of My Experiments with Truth

  4. Dreams from My Father
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Correct answer
Explanation

Malcolm X's autobiography, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X", won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1966, posthumously recognizing its historical and cultural significance.

Multiple choice

Which autobiography was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential books of all time?

  1. The Story of My Life

  2. Long Walk to Freedom

  3. The Story of My Experiments with Truth

  4. Dreams from My Father
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Malcolm X's autobiography, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X", was included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential books of all time, recognizing its impact on American history and culture.

Multiple choice

In Alice Munro's "The Bear Came Over the Mountain," what is the central conflict that drives the story?

  1. A woman's struggle with her aging mother's declining health

  2. A family's financial struggles during the Great Depression

  3. A young girl's coming-of-age journey in a small town

  4. A group of friends' exploration of a mysterious cave
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The story revolves around the protagonist's complex emotions and challenges as she cares for her ailing mother, exploring themes of family, loss, and the complexities of aging.

Multiple choice

In Junot Díaz's "Drown," what is the catalyst that sets off the protagonist's journey of self-discovery?

  1. The death of his beloved grandmother

  2. A traumatic experience during his childhood

  3. A sudden illness that forces him to confront his mortality

  4. A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The protagonist's grandmother's death triggers a series of events that lead him to reflect on his past, his family, and his own identity, prompting a journey of self-discovery.

Multiple choice

In George Saunders' "Tenth of December," what is the central conflict that drives the story?

  1. A family's struggle to survive in a dystopian future

  2. A young boy's encounter with a mysterious creature

  3. A group of friends' quest to find a hidden treasure

  4. A man's journey to find meaning in a meaningless world
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Saunders' story explores the challenges faced by a family living in a totalitarian society, where they must navigate oppressive rules and limited resources to survive.

Multiple choice

In Haruki Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore," what is the central conflict that drives the story?

  1. A young boy's search for his missing father

  2. A man's journey to find the meaning of life

  3. A group of friends' quest to uncover a hidden conspiracy

  4. A surreal tale of a man who transforms into a cat
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Murakami's novel follows the journey of a young boy named Kafka Tamura, who runs away from home in search of his father, encountering a series of strange and surreal events along the way.

Multiple choice

In Jonathan Safran Foer's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," what is the central conflict that drives the story?

  1. A young boy's search for meaning after the death of his father in the 9/11 attacks

  2. A family's struggle to cope with the loss of a loved one

  3. A man's journey to find the truth about his family's past

  4. A group of friends' quest to uncover a hidden conspiracy
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Foer's novel follows the journey of a young boy named Oskar Schell, who embarks on a mission to find a lock that matches a key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center attacks.

Multiple choice

In Dave Eggers' "The Circle," what is the central conflict that drives the story?

  1. A young woman's struggle to maintain her individuality in a technologically advanced society

  2. A group of friends' quest to expose a powerful tech company's secrets

  3. A man's journey to find meaning in a world dominated by technology

  4. A cautionary tale about the dangers of social media and surveillance
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Eggers' novel follows the journey of Mae Holland, a young woman who joins a powerful tech company called The Circle, where she must navigate the challenges of living in a society where technology permeates every aspect of life.

Multiple choice

In Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad," what is the central theme that unifies the novel?

  1. The exploration of slavery and its legacy in America

  2. A story of escape and freedom during the antebellum period

  3. A magical realism tale of an underground railroad that literally transports slaves to freedom

  4. A commentary on the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Whitehead's novel delves into the horrors of slavery and its lasting impact on African Americans, examining the themes of freedom, identity, and the search for a better life.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the novel that is considered to be the first Gothic novel?

  1. The Castle of Otranto

  2. The Monk

  3. Melmoth the Wanderer

  4. Frankenstein
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A Correct answer
Explanation

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole is considered to be the first Gothic novel. It was published in 1764 and is known for its dark and atmospheric setting, supernatural elements, and exploration of themes such as death and madness.

Multiple choice

In the novel "The Hunger Games", what is the name of the annual event in which children from each district are forced to fight to the death?

  1. The Hunger Games

  2. The Reaping

  3. The Bloodbath

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

The Hunger Games is an annual event in which children from each district are forced to fight to the death until only one remains.