English Language

Literary Genres and Techniques

2,756 Questions

Literary Genres and Techniques questions cover poetic devices, narrative structures, and character development across various fiction genres. These are frequently tested in UPSC, state PSC, and English literature entrance exams. Practicing these questions sharpens analytical skills for literary comprehension.

Poetic devices and symbolismElements of Gothic literatureCrime and mystery narrativesAdventure fiction goalsCharacter conflict analysis

Literary Genres and Techniques Questions

Multiple choice geography urban settlements urban land use and urban problems and solutions land use land use patterns

Why seven by twelve extract is a kind of mirror about the land?

  1. Because just by reading the extract sitting in one place one can get complete information about that piece of land by going there.

  2. Because just by reading the extract sitting in one place one can get complete information about that piece of land without actually going there.

  3. Because just by reading the extract sitting in one place one can get complete information about all the places of the world.

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The seven by twelve extract is a kind of mirror about the land. This is because just by reading the extract sitting in one place one can get complete information about that piece of land without actually going there. The register of the revenue department records the details of the ownership rights of the family, status of debts and loans, transfer of ownership and the area under different crops.  

Multiple choice character sketch writing english

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
A character sketch which is used as a short story or a narrative on its own usually lacks _____________________.

  1. a plot or significant action

  2. a detailed description of the character

  3. incidents involving the character

  4. a structure or organization
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Option A:
A character sketch is 'a written description of a person's qualities'.
"Besides being an essay type that students write in composition classes, fiction authors can use character sketches in their pre-writing or drafting stages of short stories or novels as a means to develop the people who'll inhabit the world they're creating." But, character sketches are limited to the personality of that character and certain incidents that shape the character. They do not focus on the plot, but the character.
Hence, the character sketch lacks plot or significant action and option A is correct.
Option B: A character sketch is a detailed description of the character. Hence it cannot be lacking it, and option B is wrong.
Option C: A character sketch may involve incidents with regards to the character.
Option D: A character sketch that is used as a short story does require a structure, or an order under which the character builds. Without a structure, the narrative would be incomplete.
Hence, options B, C and D are wrong.
Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Prentice: My wife is talking of my secretary sir. She's been missing for some time.

Geraldine: I'm Geraldine Barclay. Looking for part-time secretarial work. I've been certified insane.

Rance (to Mrs Prentice): Ignore these random reflections. They're an essential factor in the patient's condition. (to Dr Prentice) Does she have the same name as your secretary?

Prentice: She's taken my secretary's name as her "nom-de-folie". Although morally reprehensible, there's little we can do legally, I'm afraid.

Rance (drying his hands): It seems a trifle capricious but the insane are famous for their wild ways.

Mrs Prentice: I shall contact the employment agency. Miss Barclay can't have vanished into thin air.

She goes into the hall. Dr Prentice pours himself a drink.

Prentice: My wife is unfamiliar with the habits of young women, sir. I've known many who could vanish into thin air. And some who took a delight in doing so.

Dr Rance puts on a white coat.

Rance: In my experience, young women vanish only at midnight and after a heavy meal.

The passage above belongs to a

  1. political enactment

  2. tragedy

  3. historical play

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

At the very beginning we are made aware that passage is a farce- someone who is certified as insane is looking for a secretarial job. Farce is a dramatic work that entertains using buffoonery, horseplay and highly improbable situations. All these characterize the given passage. So, the answer is option D. 

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Read the passage and accordingly, fill in the blank:

Aegeon: Not know my voice! O time's extremity,
Not know my voice! O time's extremity,

Hast thou so crack'd and splitted my poor tongue
In seven short years, that here my only son
Knows not my feeble key of untuned cares?
Though now this grained face of mine be hid
In sap-consuming winter's drizzled snow,
And all the conduits of my blood froze up,
Yet hath my night of life some memory,
My wasting lamps some fading glimmer left,
My dull deaf ears a little use to hear:
All these old witnesses--I cannot err--
Tell me thou art my son Antipholus.

Antipholus of Ephesus: I never saw my father in my life.

Aegeon: But seven years since, in Syracusa, boy,
Thou know'st we parted: but perhaps, my son,
Thou shamest to acknowledge me in misery.

Antipholus of Ephesus: The duke and all that know me in the city
Can witness with me that it is not so
I ne'er saw Syracusa in my life.

Duke Solinus: I tell thee, Syracusian, twenty years
Have I been patron to Antipholus,
During which time he ne'er saw Syracusa:
I see thy age and dangers make thee dote.

Re-enter AEMILIA, with ANTIPHOLUS of Syracuse and DROMIO of Syracuse

Aemilia: Most mighty duke, behold a man much wrong'd

All gather to see them

Adriana: I see two husbands, or mine eyes deceive me.

Duke Solinus: One of these men is Genius to the other;
And so of these. Which is the natural man,
And which the spirit? who deciphers them?

Dromio of Syracuse: I, sir, am Dromio; command him away.

Dromio of Ephesus: I, sir, am Dromio; pray, let me stay.

The passage above is an extract from a ___________.

  1. tragedy

  2. farce

  3. political play

  4. historical enactment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Farce is a comic dramatic work that uses exaggerations and highly improbable situations to entertain. The given passage is characterized by all these elements. So, the passage can be classified as a farce. Option B is the correct answer.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO

SALANIO

Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman,
Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare ye well:
We leave you now with better company.

SALARINO

I would have stay'd till I had made you merry,
If worthier friends had not prevented me.

What does the line 'Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano' indicate?

 

  1. stage direction

  2. aside

  3. soliloquy

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

The line 'Enter Bassanio, Lorenzo and Gratiano' indicates that the characters are about to enter the scene of the play. Thus, it's a stage direction. Hence, Option A is correct and the other options are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

SCENE II: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA

PORTIA

By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of
this great world.

NERISSA

You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in
the same abundance as your good fortunes are: and
yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit
with too much as they that starve with nothing. It
is no mean happiness therefore, to be seated in the
mean: superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but
competency lives longer.

What does the line 'Enter Portia and Nerissa' indicate?

 

  1. aside

  2. stage direction

  3. soliloquy

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

The line 'Enter Portia and Nerissa' indicates that the characters are about to enter the stage. Hence, it's a stage direction. Option B is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english


Portia

I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of

thy praise.

Enter a Serving-man

How now! what news?

Servant

The four strangers seek for you, madam, to take
their leave: and there is a forerunner come from a
fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the
prince his master will be here to-night.

What does the line 'Enter a Serving-man' indicate?

 

  1. dialogue

  2. monologue

  3. aside

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

The line 'Enter a Serving-man' indicates that the character is going to enter the scene of the play. Thus, it is a stage direction. Hence, Option D is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

SCENE I. Venice. A street.

Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO

ANTONIO

In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:
It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn;
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.

What does the line 'Enter Antonio, Salarino and Salanio' indicate?

 

  1. Soliloquy

  2. Aside

  3. Stage Directions

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

The line 'Enter Antonio, Salarino and Salanio' indicates that the characters are about to enter the scene of the play. Hence, it's a stage direction. Option C is correct and the other options are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

SCENE V. The same. Before SHYLOCK'S house.

Enter SHYLOCK and LAUNCELOT

SHYLOCK

Well, thou shalt see, thy eyes shall be thy judge,
The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio:--
What, Jessica!--thou shalt not gormandise,
As thou hast done with me:--What, Jessica!--
And sleep and snore, and rend apparel out;--
Why, Jessica, I say!

What does the line 'Enter Shylock and Launcelot' indicate?

 

  1. Aside

  2. Monologue

  3. Soliloquy

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

The line 'Enter Shylock and Launcelot' indicates that the characters are about to enter the scene of the play. Thus, it's a stage direction. Hence option D is correct and the other options are not.,

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Enter Old GOBBO, with a basket

GOBBO

Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way
to master Jew's?

What does the line 'Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket' indicate?

 

  1. Aside

  2. Prologue

  3. Stage direction

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

The line 'Enter Old Gobbo, with a basket' indicates that the character is going to enter the stage. Hence, it's a stage direction. So, option C is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

SCENE I. A desert place.

Thunder and lightning. 
Enter three Witches

First Witch

When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second Witch

When the hurlyburly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.

Third Witch

That will be ere the set of sun.

What does the line 'Enter Three Witches' indicate?

 

  1. Stage Direction

  2. Aside

  3. Monologue

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

The line 'Enter three witches' indicates that the characters are about the enter the scene of the play. Hence, it's a stage-direction. So, Option A is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Enter BASSANIO, with LEONARDO and other followers

BASSANIO

You may do so; but let it be so hasted that supper
be ready at the farthest by five of the clock. See
these letters delivered; put the liveries to making,
and desire Gratiano to come anon to my lodging.

What does the line 'Enter Bassanio and Leonardo with the followers' indicate?

 

  1. Stage Direction

  2. Soliloquy

  3. Monologue

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

The line indicates that the characters are going to enter the stage. Hence, it's a stage direction. So, Option A is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

SCENE II. Venice. A street.

Enter LAUNCELOT

LAUNCELOT

Certainly my conscience will serve me to run from
this Jew my master. The fiend is at mine elbow and
tempts me saying to me 'Gobbo, Launcelot Gobbo, good
Launcelot,' or 'good Gobbo,' or good Launcelot
Gobbo, use your legs, take the start, run away. My
conscience says 'No; take heed,' honest Launcelot;
take heed, honest Gobbo, or, as aforesaid, 'honest
Launcelot Gobbo; do not run; scorn running with thy
heels.' Well, the most courageous fiend bids me
pack: 'Via!' says the fiend; 'away!' says the
fiend; 'for the heavens, rouse up a brave mind,'
says the fiend, 'and run.' Well, my conscience,
hanging about the neck of my heart, says very wisely
to me 'My honest friend Launcelot, being an honest
man's son,' or rather an honest woman's son; for,
indeed, my father did something smack, something
grow to, he had a kind of taste; well, my conscience
says 'Launcelot, budge not.' 'Budge,' says the
fiend. 'Budge not,' says my conscience.
'Conscience,' say I, 'you counsel well;' ' Fiend,'
say I, 'you counsel well:' to be ruled by my
conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master,
who, God bless the mark, is a kind of devil; and, to
run away from the Jew, I should be ruled by the
fiend, who, saving your reverence, is the devil
himself. Certainly the Jew is the very devil
incarnal; and, in my conscience, my conscience is
but a kind of hard conscience, to offer to counsel
me to stay with the Jew. The fiend gives the more
friendly counsel: I will run, fiend; my heels are
at your command; I will run.

What does the line 'Enter Launcelot' indicate?

 

  1. Stage Direction

  2. Aside

  3. Monologue

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

The line 'Enter Launcelot' indicates that the character is about to enter the scene of the play. Hence, it's a stage direction. So, Option A is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

Enter ROSS and ANGUS

ROSS

The king hath happily received, Macbeth,
The news of thy success; and when he reads
Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight,
His wonders and his praises do contend
Which should be thine or his: silenced with that,
In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks,
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,
Strange images of death. As thick as hail
Came post with post; and every one did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence,
And pour'd them down before him.

ANGUS

We are sent
To give thee from our royal master thanks;
Only to herald thee into his sight,
Not pay thee.

What does the line 'Enter Ross and Angus' indicate?

 

  1. Stage direction

  2. aside

  3. soliloquy

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

The line indicates that the characters are about to enter the scene of the play. Hence, it is a stage direction. So, option A is correct and the others are not.

Multiple choice drama reading comprehension english

ALL

The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about:
Thrice to thine and thrice to mine
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace! the charm's wound up.

Enter MACBETH and BANQUO

MACBETH

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

BANQUO

How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these
So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her chappy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.

What does the line 'Enter Macbeth and Banquo' indicate?

 

  1. Aside

  2. Soliloquy

  3. Stage Direction

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

The line 'Enter Macbeth and Banquo' indicates that the characters are about to enter the scene of the play. Hence, it's a stage direction. So, option C is correct.