English Literature MCQs

Option A: She is sexually deviant.

Option B: She exemplifies unfeminine anger.

Option C: She is not submissive.

Option D: She is understood to be mad.

Correct Answer: She is understood to be mad. ✔

Option A: The ethereal quality of the interior space of Gothic architecture

Option B: The scientific advancement of the ribbed vault and flying buttress associated with Gothic architecture

Option C: The reduction in width of the stone masonry in Gothic architecture

Option D: The immense scale typical of Gothic structures

Correct Answer: The immense scale typical of Gothic structures ✔

Option A: A psychoanalytic term that explains terror

Option B: The supernatural

Option C: “Unheimlich”

Option D: A sense of uncomfortable strangeness

Correct Answer: A psychoanalytic term that explains terror ✔

Option A: The concern for the sanctity of legal inheritance

Option B: The interest in the lessons and values of the Middle Ages for England in the 18th century

Option C: The support for the British class system

Option D: The belief in British superiority to foreign countries

Correct Answer: The interest in the lessons and values of the Middle Ages for England in the 18th century ✔

Option A: The ancestral castle

Option B: Psychological terror

Option C: The supernatural

Option D: Physical violence

Correct Answer: Psychological terror ✔

Option A: The idea that women should advise men

Option B: The idea that the Victorian woman represents “the new woman”

Option C: The idea that women are pure and morally superior to men

Option D: The idea that confinement in the home may induce madness

Correct Answer: The idea that women are pure and morally superior to men ✔

Option A: He reads the Bible.

Option B: He is taught by Victor about the Bible.

Option C: He reads Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”

Option D: He listens outside church services.

Correct Answer: He reads Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” ✔

Option A: The habited nuns

Option B: Ambrosio’s rape and murder of his sister

Option C: Lewis’s use of a female pseudonym in the original edition

Option D: Lewis’s choiceof a feminine literary genre

Correct Answer: The habited nuns ✔

Option A: The use of poetic prose in the Gothic novel

Option B: The Gothic novel’s interest in the apocalyptic prophecies found in Hebrew and Christian Scriptures

Option C: The ascendency of human reason in the Gothic novel

Option D: The representation of contemporary life in the Gothic novel

Correct Answer: The Gothic novel’s interest in the apocalyptic prophecies found in Hebrew and Christian Scriptures ✔

Option A: To encourage rational evaluation rather than arouse emotional reactions

Option B: To emphasize the importance of character development over action

Option C: To assist with the flight and pursuit of villains and their prey

Option D: To support the growth and development of machinery in the 18th century

Correct Answer: To assist with the flight and pursuit of villains and their prey ✔

Option A: She leaves home in search of adventure.

Option B: She takes control of her own money.

Option C: She rejects her aunt’s invitation to travel to Italy.

Option D: She converts to Catholicism.

Correct Answer: She takes control of her own money. ✔

Option A: They provide relief from the real world.

Option B: They prophesy future destruction.

Option C: They are part of the unconscious controlled by science.

Option D: They obscure deep emotions.

Correct Answer: They prophesy future destruction. ✔

Option A: Incest

Option B: Life rituals with blood

Option C: The fear of dying

Option D: The fear of being buried alive

Correct Answer: Incest ✔

Option A: Terror

Option B: Sentimentalism

Option C: Horror

Option D: Ghosts

Correct Answer: Terror ✔

Option A: The castle represents the presence of newer technologies.

Option B: The castle signifies the ruin of feudal medievalism.

Option C: The castle symbolizes the desire for a more powerful aristocracy.

Option D: The castle shows the lack of change in popular architecture styles.

Correct Answer: The castle signifies the ruin of feudal medievalism. ✔

Option A: As a version of the Romantic novel

Option B: As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day

Option C: As the antithesis of postmodernism

Option D: As the resolution of madness

Correct Answer: As a set of literary devices developed in the 18th century but applicable to present day ✔

Option A: It reflects a woman’s everyday life.

Option B: An everyday object causes her terror.

Option C: An apparently normal person is revealed as a man.

Option D: It features a body transformation.

Correct Answer: An everyday object causes her terror. ✔

Option A: As potentially productive when used correctly

Option B: As something needed for humans to advance

Option C: As a way to resolve human madness

Option D: As inherently monstrous

Correct Answer: As inherently monstrous ✔

Option A: Transylvania is England’s economic rival.

Option B: Transylvania and England had been at war in the 1860s.

Option C: Transylvania represents a vaguely known and, therefore, suspicious country.

Option D: Transylvania and England were once part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Correct Answer: Transylvania represents a vaguely known and, therefore, suspicious country. ✔

Option A: A hero who is known for being aristocratic, moody, and secretive

Option B: A character who is essentially kind but performs a horrible act by accident

Option C: A hero-villain who defies the laws of God’s universe

Option D: A hero who is usually defined by his fatal attraction to women

Correct Answer: A hero-villain who defies the laws of God’s universe ✔

Option A: Modern science

Option B: The consciousness

Option C: Theories of evolution

Option D: Ancient evil

Correct Answer: Ancient evil ✔

Option A: Horace Walpole

Option B: Ann Radcliffe

Option C: Matthew Lewis

Option D: Mary Shelley

Correct Answer: Ann Radcliffe ✔

Option A: The heroine’s fantasies about the castle are combined with her fear of violation.

Option B: She is excluded from the novel’s violent disturbances.

Option C: She is excluded from the general sense of isolation in the novel.

Option D: The heroine is robbed of psychological complexity by focusing only on horror.

Correct Answer: The heroine’s fantasies about the castle are combined with her fear of violation. ✔

Option A: He is from a foreign land.

Option B: He is racially different.

Option C: He is Christian.

Option D: He is a connection to a different time.

Correct Answer: He is Christian. ✔

Option A: It has bars on the window.

Option B: It is removed from the main area of the house.

Option C: It is locked.

Option D: It is sunny.

Correct Answer: It is sunny. ✔

Option A: It is a Catholic structure.

Option B: It was built in the Middle Ages.

Option C: It is a sanctuary for women.

Option D: It is labyrinthine.

Correct Answer: It is a sanctuary for women. ✔

Option A: geographical unity

Option B: episodic content

Option C: octosyllabic couplets

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: prostitution was considered problematic but legal

Option B: the Church opposed prostitution on moral grounds

Option C: prostitution was considered a solution to epidemics of rape

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: The 3rd century

Option B: The 4th century

Option C: The 7th century

Option D: The 8th century

Correct Answer: The 4th century ✔

Option A: it describes the importance of communication with others in order to reach salvation

Option B: it describes a form of worship based on praying to devotional art

Option C: it describes a way of life that became popular after the Middle Ages

Option D: Non of these

Correct Answer: it describes the importance of communication with others in order to reach salvation ✔

Option A: anchorites who lived in seclusion

Option B: women who operated their own businesses without men

Option C: women who were villains in stories of courtly love

Option D: educated women

Correct Answer: women who operated their own businesses without men ✔

Option A: a term associated with oral transmission

Option B: an important trait of the medieval lay

Option C: a literary device used in estates satire

Option D: a dramatic demonstration of faith

Correct Answer: a dramatic demonstration of faith ✔

Option A: the mystic is primarily tasked with intellectual work within monasteries

Option B: the mystic is a visionary who experiences divine insight

Option C: the mystic uses a religious platform to promote equal rights for women

Option D: the mystic usually works as a scribe

Correct Answer: the mystic is a visionary who experiences divine insight ✔

Option A: Julian of Norwich

Option B: Margery Kempe

Option C: Catherine of Siena

Option D: Christine de Pizan

Correct Answer: Catherine of Siena ✔

Option A: “Revelations of Divine Love”

Option B: “Acts of Thecla”

Option C: “The Wooing of Our Lord”

Option D: “Orison to an Almighty God”

Correct Answer: B. “Acts of Thecla” ✔

Option A: people stopped reading the Bible

Option B: people increasingly turned to visual art in order to learn about religion

Option C: people could be religious without the help of a clergy

Option D: interest in the Church history declined rapidly

Correct Answer: people could be religious without the help of a clergy ✔

Option A: The Canterbury Tales

Option B: “Revelations of Divine Love”

Option C: “Book of Hours”

Option D: The Romance of the Rose

Correct Answer: B. “Revelations of Divine Love” ✔

Option A: As a term associated only with religious written literature

Option B: As a device used to describe the flaws in the oral tradition

Option C: As a technique that became popular after the invention of the printing press

Option D: As a method of composing stories in the oral tradition

Correct Answer: As a method of composing stories in the oral tradition ✔

Option A: The Book of Margery Kempe

Option B: “Revelations of Divine Love”

Option C: “The Wooing of Our Lord”

Option D: The Art of Courtly Love

Correct Answer: The Art of Courtly Love ✔

Option A: cancelled out punishment due to sin

Option B: depended entirely on literacy

Option C: were considered “unimportant” by mystics

Option D: were only performed by men

Correct Answer: cancelled out punishment due to sin ✔

Option A: it was normally supervised by a midwife

Option B: it was typically dangerous for mother and infant

Option C: it was normally done without medical equipment

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: 8th and 9th centuries

Option B: 9th and 10th centuries

Option C: 10th and 11th centuries

Option D: 14th and 15th centuries

Correct Answer: 14th and 15th centuries ✔

Option A: Age of Enlightenment

Option B: Age of Reason

Option C: Platonic Period

Option D: Dark Ages

Correct Answer: Dark Ages ✔

Option A: meditation

Option B: wearing white clothing

Option C: weeping

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: superstition

Option B: adultery

Option C: jealous fathers

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: they were exposed to new opportunitiesto learn in universities

Option B: they were not able to attend so they were virtually unaffected

Option C: they were not able to attend so their education levels declined, compared to men

Option D: most of them were unable to read, so they were not admitted

Correct Answer: they were not able to attend so their education levels declined, compared to men ✔

Option A: The repetition of words

Option B: The use of epithets with character’s names

Option C: An episodic structure

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: popular books before the invention of the printing press

Option B: books of prayers used at Christian Mass

Option C: books of information about the history of the Church

Option D: private books of prayers to be recited throughout the day

Correct Answer: private books of prayers to be recited throughout the day ✔

Option A: “Lanval”

Option B: “La Fresne”

Option C: “Bisclavert”

Option D: “Equitan”

Correct Answer: D. “Equitan” ✔

Option A: it provided women with the opportunity to protect their own property

Option B: it provided women with a place to nourish their intellectual growth

Option C: it allowed women to exercise political authority in their communities

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: secular authorities said that virginity was unimportant, while the Church highly valued it

Option B: the Church said that virginity was unimportant, while the secular authorities highly valued it

Option C: secular authorities said that virginity was an ethereal treasure, while religious doctrines said it was spendable

Option D: religious doctrines said that virginity was an ethereal treasure, while secular authorities said it was spendable

Correct Answer: religious doctrines said that virginity was an ethereal treasure, while secular authorities said it was spendable ✔

Option A: freedom

Option B: love

Option C: education

Option D: chastity

Correct Answer: freedom ✔

Option A: they were not allowed to divorce their husbands

Option B: they were not allowed to own a business without permission

Option C: they were not allowed to inherit land if they had any brothers

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: retailers

Option B: domestic servants

Option C: spinners

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: she was considered her husband’s property

Option B: she was considered equal to her husband

Option C: she was more legally powerful than her husband

Option D: she was her husband’s property, but could not be mistreated under law

Correct Answer: she was considered her husband’s property ✔

Option A: chastity

Option B: piety

Option C: education

Option D: secular political activity

Correct Answer: education ✔

Option A: King Alfred

Option B: King Arthur

Option C: King Henry

Option D: King Richard

Correct Answer: King Henry ✔

Option A: Lancelot and Guinevere

Option B: Dante and Beatrice

Option C: Arthur and Guinevere

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: the literary form linked closely with courtly love

Option B: a method of creating a mystical union

Option C: a term associated with oral transmission

Option D: the writing and studying of saints’ lives

Correct Answer: the writing and studying of saints’ lives ✔

Option A: a method of communication used solely by the early Church

Option B: the spreading of material by word of mouth

Option C: a mode of communication used mainly after the rise of literacy

Option D: a method of communication that became prominent at the end of the Middle Ages

Correct Answer: the spreading of material by word of mouth ✔

Option A: it was a period of surging Roman institutions

Option B: the production of historical records increased

Option C: there are few primary sources that reconstruct the history of the time

Option D: the lack of technology made it literally dark

Correct Answer: there are few primary sources that reconstruct the history of the time ✔

Option A: invasions from barbarian tribes

Option B: financial deficits from increased military expenditures

Option C: falling birth rates

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: enchantment

Option B: spells

Option C: fairy trickery

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: she was the only woman to work in the oral tradition

Option B: she was the first female mystic

Option C: she wrote in order to support herself

Option D: she was the only woman to write medieval lays

Correct Answer: she wrote in order to support herself ✔

Option A: estate satire

Option B: medieval lays

Option C: conduct books

Option D: medieval allegory

Correct Answer: conduct books ✔

Option A: Christine de Pizan

Option B: Catherine of Sienna

Option C: Andreas Capellanus

Option D: Chretien de Troye

Correct Answer: Chretien de Troye ✔

Option A: it includes issues that pertain to the heart

Option B: it is part of the anchoress’ inner self

Option C: it is the most important part of Ancrene Wisse

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: Marie de France

Option B: Hildegard of Bingen

Option C: Christine de Pizan

Option D: The Wife of Bath

Correct Answer: Hildegard of Bingen ✔

Option A: paradox

Option B: affective piety

Option C: imagery

Option D: pathos

Correct Answer: pathos ✔

Option A: it led to the rise of Germanic cultures

Option B: it created a conflict Christianity and paganism

Option C: it led to the end of Roman forms of governing

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: the public disinterest in popular tales about romance

Option B: the increased interest in stories written in medieval Latin

Option C: the decreased public interest in religious stories

Option D: the French lords’ lack of interest in tales of courtly love

Correct Answer: the decreased public interest in religious stories ✔

Option A: a short lyrical poem

Option B: a story of a saint’s life

Option C: a type of book of hours

Option D: a devotional text used by anchoresses

Correct Answer: a story of a saint’s life ✔

Option A: “Revelations of Divine Love”

Option B: “The Book of Margery Kempe”

Option C: “An Orison to Almighty God”

Option D: “The Wooing of Our Lord

Correct Answer: A. “Revelations of Divine Love” ✔

Option A: the triptych

Option B: the flail

Option C: the rudder

Option D: the letter press

Correct Answer: the letter press ✔

Option A: it includes issues that pertain to the heart

Option B: it refers to anchoress’ everyday behavior

Option C: it is part of the anchoress’ inner self

Option D: it is the most important part of Ancrene Wisse

Correct Answer: it refers to anchoress’ everyday behavior ✔

Option A: most medieval women had some property

Option B: married women could hold property once they had children

Option C: married women could hold property without their husband’s consent

Option D: widows could hold property

Correct Answer: widows could hold property ✔

Option A: medieval lay

Option B: courtly love

Option C: hagiography

Option D: romance

Correct Answer: hagiography ✔

Option A: the value of practical virtues over traditional feminine virtues

Option B: the merit of women

Option C: the lack of truth in men’s stereotypes about women

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: a hero in a courtly romance

Option B: a member of a sect that was considered heretical

Option C: a female mystic

Option D: an illiterate anchoress

Correct Answer: a member of a sect that was considered heretical ✔

Option A: justice

Option B: piety

Option C: sexuality

Option D: education

Correct Answer: sexuality ✔

Option A: it improved communication between societies

Option B: it increased the amount of printed material available to the masses

Option C: it created a more unrestricted circulation of texts

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: she said that the institution was too flawed

Option B: she claimed she was already married to God

Option C: she wanted to make a political statement against the Church

Option D: she was concerned about loss of property

Correct Answer: she claimed she was already married to God ✔

Option A: a type of literature concerned with the behavior of anchorites

Option B: a type of early literature produced solely by medieval women writers

Option C: a literary convention based on the code of behavior associated with chivalrous romance

Option D: a method of oral transmission

Correct Answer: a literary convention based on the code of behavior associated with chivalrous romance ✔

Option A: it assured him that his children were his own

Option B: it assured him that his wife would carry a dowry with her

Option C: it assured him that his wife was not a sinner

Option D: it assured him that her wife would never commit adultery

Correct Answer: it assured him that his children were his own ✔

Option A: she values reason and activity instead of silence

Option B: she emphasizes practical rather than theological virtues

Option C: she does not mention traditional virtues like piety

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: nobility

Option B: adultery

Option C: chastity

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: a heroine who used female attributes to become a saint

Option B: a saint who was NOT the humble, pious, and chaste figure she was expected to be

Option C: an asexual female saint

Option D: an anchorite

Correct Answer: an asexual female saint ✔

Option A: Julian of Norwich

Option B: Margery Kempe

Option C: Catherine de Pizan

Option D: Heloise

Correct Answer: Margery Kempe ✔

Option A: Julian of Norwich

Option B: Margery Kempe

Option C: Catherine of Siena

Option D: Catherine de Pizan

Correct Answer: Julian of Norwich ✔

Option A: she objected to the treatment of secularism as evil

Option B: she applauded its promotion of female education

Option C: she attacked it as misogynistic

Option D: she praised the objectification of women

Correct Answer: she attacked it as misogynistic ✔

Option A: the problem of a “man writing as a woman”

Option B: the idea that woman cannot be as educated as men

Option C: the idea that noble women are more similar to men than peasant women are

Option D: the notion that chastity is impossible for men

Correct Answer: A. the problem of a “man writing as a woman” ✔

Option A: medieval lay

Option B: hagiography

Option C: mysticism

Option D: dream vision

Correct Answer: dream vision ✔

Option A: people who attempt to found their own religious orders

Option B: people who reject asceticism and contemplation

Option C: people who attempted to contact God without the intervention of an established religious order

Option D: people who were formally tied to religious orders

Correct Answer: people who attempted to contact God without the intervention of an established religious order ✔

Option A: pilgrimages

Option B: charitable donations

Option C: prayers on the sinner’s behalf

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: it ended the Church’s role in the creation of books

Option B: it led to a sudden increase of women as scholars and authors

Option C: it declared that books should be produced by men

Option D: it opened up new opportunities for women to learn

Correct Answer: it declared that books should be produced by men ✔

Option A: Julian of Norwich

Option B: Margery Kempe

Option C: Catherine of Siena

Option D: Catherine de Pizan

Correct Answer: Margery Kempe ✔

Option A: people brought tales of romance from different literary and cultural traditions back from their trips

Option B: merchants started to import rare silks and spices from new trade roots

Option C: architects from Western Europe were influenced by new Eastern styles

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: she offers real reasons as to why women are valuable to society

Option B: she literally helps build the city

Option C: she helps the narrator see the merits of women

Option D: All of the Above

Correct Answer: All of the Above ✔

Option A: they deemphasized the importance of chastity

Option B: they redefined women as attainable vs unattainable, rather than virgin vs whore

Option C: they indicated that women’s sexual conduct should not be classified by men

Option D: they rarely explored issues of sexuality, love, or romance

Correct Answer: they redefined women as attainable vs unattainable, rather than virgin vs whore ✔

Option A: 9th century

Option B: 10th century

Option C: 11th century

Option D: 12th century

Correct Answer: 11th century ✔