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 novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the character of Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties at his mansion. Which dish is served at one of these parties and becomes a symbol of Gatsby's wealth and extravagance?

  1. Lobster Thermidor

  2. Beef Wellington

  3. Oysters Rockefeller

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

Lobster Thermidor is a luxurious dish made with lobster, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce. It is served at one of Gatsby's parties and represents his desire to impress and dazzle his guests.

Multiple choice

In the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, the two star-crossed lovers share a passionate kiss at a feast. What food item do they exchange as a token of their love?

  1. A pomegranate

  2. A fig

  3. A peach

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

In the play, Romeo and Juliet share a kiss at a feast and exchange a pomegranate as a symbol of their love and devotion.

Multiple choice

In the novel "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulfield is known for his cynical attitude and his dislike of "phoniness". What food item does he order at a diner that reflects his disdain for conformity?

  1. A hamburger

  2. A hot dog

  3. A grilled cheese sandwich

  4. A tuna salad sandwich
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Holden orders a tuna salad sandwich at a diner because he sees it as a simple and unpretentious meal, unlike the more popular and trendy dishes that other customers order.

Multiple choice

In the novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez, the Buendía family is haunted by a recurring dream of a banana plantation. What does this dream symbolize?

  1. Prosperity and abundance

  2. Loss and decay

  3. Love and passion

  4. Power and control
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The dream of the banana plantation symbolizes the Buendía family's decline and the loss of their fortune and power over time.

Multiple choice

In the novel "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, the protagonist Celie is subjected to abuse and oppression by her husband. What food item does she use as a symbol of her resilience and determination to overcome her hardships?

  1. Bread

  2. Beans

  3. Greens

  4. Pork chops
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Celie uses beans as a symbol of her resilience and determination to overcome her hardships. She grows beans in her garden and cooks them into various dishes, finding solace and strength in the simple act of preparing and eating this humble food.

Multiple choice

In the novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, the Joad family is forced to leave their home during the Great Depression and travel to California in search of a better life. What food item do they rely on as a staple during their journey?

  1. Bread

  2. Potatoes

  3. Beans

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

Beans are a staple food for the Joad family during their journey. They are affordable, easy to cook, and provide essential nutrients.

Multiple choice

In the book "The Song of Achilles", what is the name of Achilles' lover, a Trojan prince?

  1. Patroclus

  2. Hector

  3. Paris

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

Patroclus, a Trojan prince, is Achilles' lover and close friend.

Multiple choice

Which autobiography is written by a Holocaust survivor?

  1. Night

  2. Man's Search for Meaning

  3. The Diary of a Young Girl

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

Night is the autobiography of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.

Multiple choice

Which autobiography is written by a travel writer?

  1. Eat, Pray, Love

  2. The Alchemist

  3. The Motorcycle Diaries

  4. A Walk in the Woods
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Eat, Pray, Love is the autobiography of travel writer Elizabeth Gilbert.

Multiple choice

Which of these works is known for its utopian vision of an ideal society?

  1. Utopia

  2. The Prince

  3. The Divine Comedy

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

Utopia, written by Thomas More, presents a vision of an ideal society based on reason and justice.

Multiple choice

Which of these works is a collection of short stories set during the Black Death?

  1. The Decameron

  2. The Canterbury Tales

  3. The Divine Comedy

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

The Decameron, written by Giovanni Boccaccio, is a collection of stories told by a group of young people quarantined during the Black Death.

Multiple choice

Which of the following short stories by Raymond Carver creates a mood of isolation and alienation?

  1. Cathedral

  2. Neighbors

  3. Why Don't You Dance?

  4. A Small, Good Thing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In \"Neighbors,\" the protagonist feels isolated and alienated from his neighbors, who are portrayed as cold and indifferent.

Multiple choice

Which of the following short stories by Alice Munro creates a mood of nostalgia and longing?

  1. The Beggar Maid

  2. The Moons of Jupiter

  3. Runaway

  4. The Progress of Love
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In \"The Moons of Jupiter,\" the protagonist reflects on her past and experiences a sense of nostalgia and longing for her childhood and adolescence.

Multiple choice

Which of the following short stories by Tobias Wolff creates a mood of regret and loss?

  1. Bullet in the Brain

  2. In the Garden of the North American Martyrs

  3. The Night in Question

  4. Hunters in the Snow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In \"Bullet in the Brain,\" the protagonist reflects on his past mistakes and experiences a sense of regret and loss.

Multiple choice

Which of the following short stories by Amy Tan creates a mood of hope and optimism?

  1. The Joy Luck Club

  2. The Kitchen God's Wife

  3. The Hundred Secret Senses

  4. The Bonesetter's Daughter
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In \"The Joy Luck Club,\" the characters face various challenges, but they ultimately find hope and optimism through their relationships with each other.