CLASSICAL POETRY ANSWERS

SAMPLE ANSWERS - CLASSICAL
POETRY
QUESTION NO. 1
Answer the following questions.
(i) Define poetry.
Ans. Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic
qualities of language -- such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and
metre -- to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic
ostensible meaning.
(ii) Define alliteration.
Ans. Alliteration is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having
the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series of
multiple words. For example, A big bully beats a baby boy.
(iii) What do you mean by accent?
Ans. Accent is a rhythmically significant stress on the syllables of a
verse within a particular metrical pattern, usually at regular intervals.
In basic analysis of a poem by scansion, accents are represented with a
slash (/).
(iv) What is apostrophe?
Ans. Apostrophe is an exclamatory figure of speech in which the poet
addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or personification. For
example, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
(v) How is a simile different from a metaphor?
Ans. A simile directly compares two things with the help of words "like"
or "as". For example, "Her cheeks are red like a rose". Whereas,
metaphor identifies something as being the same as some unrelated
thing. For example, "All the world's a stage".
(vi) Define humour.
Ans. Humour is the quality of a literary or informative work that makes
the character and/or situation seem funny, laughable, amusing, or
ludicrous.
(vii) Define irony.
Ans. Irony is a contrast or discrepancy between what is said and what
is meant or between what happens and what is expected to happen.
For example, "The butter is as soft as a marble piece."
(viii) Define satire.

Ans. Satire is a technique employed to expose and criticize foolishness
and corruption of an individual or a society by using humour, irony, wit,
exaggeration or ridicule.
(ix) What do you understand by understatement?
Ans. An understatement, the opposite of hyperbole, is a literary device
in which a writer or speaker attributes less importance or conveys less
passion than the subject would seem to demand. For example, "The
desert is sometimes dry and sandy" is an understatement.
(x) What do you understand by Renaissance?
Ans. The Renaissance is a period from the 14th to the 17th century. It
was a time of great social and cultural change in Europe. It was the
"rebirth" of classical literature. Shakespeare, Donne, Herbert, Ben
Jonson and Milton are important literary figures of this period.
(xi) What is the important about the fact that 'The Prologue' is
set in the month of April?
Ans. The month of April is the start of spring. The spring is a symbol of
the new beginnings and the creation of new lives the pilgrims are
about to undertake. So "The Prologue" is set in the month of April.
(xii) Who was St. Thomas A. Becket?
Ans. St. Thomas Becket, born in London, England, on December 21,
1118, was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in
1170 by King Henry II' knights. The king had ordered his murder for
refusing to give the monarchy power over the church.
(xiii) What is Chaucer's contribution to English Literature?
Ans. Chaucer is the father of English poetry. He made experiments in
versification and gave it a new shape. "The Canterbury Tales" is said to
be the first element of drama that gave rise to drama. He is certainly
the grandfather of the English novel.
(xiv) Which dialect did Chaucer use for his poetry?
Ans. Before Chaucer, English language was divided into a number of
dialects. The four of them vastly prominent then the others were: the
Southern, the Midland, the Northern, the Kentish. Chaucer used East
Midland dialect for his poetry.
(xv) What is the purpose of 'The Prologue'?
Ans. The purpose of 'The Prologue" is twofold: to introduce the
characters who are making their pilgrimage to the Canterbury and the
framework of the stories to follow.
Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar
QUESTION NO. 6
Irony and Satire in "The

Prologue"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 9
(i) What is an epic?
Ans. An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a
serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events
significant to a culture or nation narrated in elevated style. For
example, Homer's "Iliad" is an epic.
(ii) What is a blank verse?
Ans. Blank verse is a category of poetry based on unrhymed lines and
a definite meter, usually of iambic pentameter. Examples of blank
verse can be found in Shakespeare, William Cullen Bryant, and Robert
Frost.
(iii) What is a free verse?
Ans. Free verse is an open form of poetry. It does not use consistent
meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern. It thus tends to
follow the rhythm of natural speech. Examples of free verse can be
found in Mathew Arnold, T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound.
(iv) What is a protagonist?
Ans. A protagonist is the central character or leading figure in poetry,
drama, novel or any other literary work. For example, Satan in Milton's
"Paradise Lost", Hamlet in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and Elizabeth
Bennet in Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" are protagonists.
(v) What does the title of "Paradise Lost" refer to?
Ans. The title of "Paradise Lost" refers to the Biblical story of the Fall of
Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and
their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
(vi) What is the setting of "Paradise Lost"?
Ans. The first two books are set in Hell. Heaven is the setting of Book III
and VI. The Garden of Eden is, for the most part, the setting of the rest
of the poem. Time Setting is before the beginning of time.
(vii) What is the subject of "Paradise Lost"?
Ans. The subject of "Paradise Lost" is a lost paradise as the the central
theme to explain, defend, and vindicate God's action in dealing with
succumbing to the temptation of Satan by Adam and Eve after they eat
the forbidden fruit.
(viii) Who are the main characters of "Paradise Lost"?
Ans. Satan, Adam, Eve, God, the Son, Devils (Beelzebub), and Angels
(Michael) are the main characters of "Paradise Lost".
(ix) For what does Milton invoke the Heavenly Muse?
Ans. Muses are nine goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences,
Milton invokes his muse, whom he identifies as the Holy Spirit, to fill his
mind with divine knowledge and guidance in his great work of singing
about man's disobedience and the consequent loss of Paradise.
(x) Why Adam and Even were expelled from Paradise?
Ans. Satan, in the disguise of a serpent, convinced Eve to eat the
Forbidden Fruit. She in turn convinced Adam to have a taste. As a
result of Adam and Eve's sin of eating the Forbidden Fruit, they were
expelled from Paradise.
(xi) Why does Eve eat the forbidden fruit?
Ans. Satan, in the disguise of a serpent, entered Paradise. Finding Eve
alone, he flattered her beauty and godliness. Eve was amazed to see a
creature of the Garden speak. Satan told her that he had gained the
gift of speech by eating a particular fruit. Even was seriously tempted
and ate the Forbidden Fruit.
(xii) Is Eve to blame for the fall?
Ans. It's hard to blame Eve alone for the fall. Both Eve and Adam were
given free will. Eve ate first, but Adam also ate the Forbidden Fruit. If
Adam was not able to resist his wife, how could he resist Satan?
(xiii) For what sin was Satan cast out of Heaven?
Ans. Satan became vain about his beauty and position, and his heart
became rebellious against God. As a punishment, God cast him out of
heaven and sent him to earth for his sin - the revolt against God.
(xiv) How long did it take Satan to fall from Heaven to Hell?
Ans. It took nine days and nine nights for Satan to fall from Heaven to
Hell.
(xv) What demon is floating alongside Satan in the fiery lake at

the beginning of the poem?
Ans. It was Beelzebub, Satan's second in command in the hierarchy of
fallen angels who was floating alongside Satan in the fiery lake at the
beginning of the poem.
QUESTION NO. 11
Milton's Grand Style in

"Paradise Lost"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 17
(i) What does the title of 'The Rape of the Lock' refer to?
Ans. The poem's title might seem confusing until we do a little digging
into the etymology of the word "rape". In the 18th century, in Pope's
day, "rape" also meant to carry away or take something from someone
by force. The word "lock" here means the tress, curl, or ringlet of a
woman's hair.
(ii) What is the setting of 'The Rape of the Lock'?
Ans. The action takes place in London and its environs in the early
1700's on a single day. The story begins at the London residence of
Belinda. The scene then shifts to the Thames. The rest of the story
takes place at Hampton Court Palace, except for a brief scene in the
cave of the Queen of Spleen.
(iii) 'The Rape of the Lock' is called a mock epic poem. Why?
Ans. Like typical epics, there is a statement of purpose and invocation
to the Muse in "The Rape of the Lock". It is divided into Cantos and
written in heroic couplets. Moreover, there is use of supernatural
machinery. However, there is a satirical twist in this epic. It satirizes
the absurdities and frivolities of the aristocratic ladies and gentlemen.
This makes this poem a 'mock epic'.
(iv) Define allegory.
Ans. An allegory is an extended metaphor in which abstract ideas,

concepts and principles are described in terms of characters, figures
and events in ways that are comprehensible to its viewers, readers, or
listeners. For example, George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm" is a
political allegory.
(v) What is a heroic couplet?
Ans. A heroic couplet is a traditional form for English poetry, commonly
used in epic and narrative poetry. It refers to poems constructed from a
sequence of rhyming pairs of lines in iambic pentameter. For example:
"Know then thyself, presume not God to scan/ The proper study of
Mankind is Man".
(vi) What are the satirical targets of 'The Rape of the Lock'?
Ans. The principal satirical targets of "The Rape of the Lock" are the
absurdities and frivolities of the fashionable circle - aristocratic ladies
and gentlemen - of the 18th century England.
(vii) What are some of the images that recur through the poem
'The Rape of the Lock'?
Ans. The first recurring image is the sun. It marks the passing of time
in the poem and emphasizes the dramatic unity of the story. Another
image that recurs is that of china. Delicate dishes that are beautiful,
fragile, and purely luxurious form a fitting counterpart to a world that is
ornamental. The images of gold and silver signify the real value of
underlying glittery and mesmerizing surfaces.
(viii) Write the names of the women in the poem 'The Rape of
the Lock'?
Ans. There are five major women in the poem. Belinda is the heroine of
the poem. Thalestris is Belinda's friend. Betty is Belinda's maid.
Clarissa is an attendant at the Hampton Court Party. Spleen is the
queen of bad tempers and the source of detestable qualities in human
beings.
(ix) What is Belinda's full name in 'The Rape of the Lock'?
Ans. Belinda is the heroine of the poem "The Rape of the Lock" by
Alexander Pope. She is named for a real person: Arabella Fermor; a
member of Pope's circle of prominent Roman Catholics.
(x) Who was the guardian spirit of Belinda?
Ans. The guardian spirit of Belinda is Ariel. He is a sylph. He warns her
that something dreadful may happen and sets a guard of sylphs to
protect his charge, but he is unsuccessful in preventing the loss of the

lock of hair.
(xi) What spirit does Pope call upon to help him write his
poem?
Ans. Usually a poet calls upon one the the 'nine daughter of Zeus' to
sanctify his poetry. However, in 'The Rape of the Lock", Alexander Pope
invokes his catholic friend John Caryll instead, as a muse to provide
him with blessings to narrate a story of not a great hero but a rich, vain
woman called Belinda.
(xii) To whom does Pope dedicate the poem 'The Rape of the
Lock'?
Ans. Pope dedicates this poem to John Caryll. He was the friend of
Arabella Fermor (Belinda) and Pope. He was who originally asked Pope
to write this poem.
(xiii) Who adores the 'sparkling cross' Belinda has on her
neck?
Ans. Infidels adore this cross. Pope is highlighting the fact that the
cross has as much meaning to Belinda as it would to a person without
any religious beliefs. The cross is adored by the Infidels, kissed by the
Jews, but no mention of Priests or Gallants is made in reference to the
cross.
(xiv) According to Pope, when women die, their spirits live on.
What are the four possible forms these spirits will take?
Ans. When quarrelsome women die, their souls go to fire and they
become Salamanders. When polite and submissive women die, their
souls return to water and they become Nymphs. The souls of proud
and serious minded women go to earth and they become Gnomes. The
souls of flirt and coquette women go to air and they become Sylphs.
(xv) What everyday feminine ritual is Pope connecting with the
ancient Greco-Roman sacrifice?
Ans. Sacrifice was the essential element of Greek and Roman religious
rituals. Pope is connecting the feminine ritual of dressing with the
ancient Greco-Roman sacrifice. Belinda's morning routine can be
connected with a hero's ritualized preparation before battle. Belinda's
reflection in the mirror becomes the image of goddess while her maid
is the 'inferior priestess', worshiping at the altar.
QUESTION NO. 24
Character Sketch of Belinda

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 25.

(i) What is John Donne considered to be?
Ans. John Donne (1572 - 1631) was an English poet and a cleric in the
Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of
the metaphysical poets. He is often considered the greatest love poet
in the English language. He is also noted for his religious verse.
(ii) Define metaphysical poetry?
Ans. Metaphysical poetry is highly intellectualized poetry marked by
bold and ingenious conceits, incongruous imagery, complexity and
subtlety of though, frequent use of paradox, and often by deliberate
harshness or rigidity of expression. John Donne, Henry Vaughan and
Andrew Marvell are famous metaphysical poets.
(iii) What is a theme?
Ans. Theme is the main, fundamental and universal idea or an
underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or
indirectly. It unifies and controls the entire literary work. For example,
the main theme in the play "Romeo and Juliet" is love with smaller
themes of sacrifice, tragedy, struggle, hardship, devotion and so on.
(iv) What are some common themes in the poems of John
Donne?
Ans. Love as both physical and spiritual, religion, death and the
hereafter, paradoxes, belittling cosmic forces, interconnectedness of
humanity, and fidelity are the common themes in the poem of John
Donne.
(v) What is the difference between Donne's love poems and
divine poems?
Ans. The theme of love poems and divine poems is different. Love
poems describe three kinds of love; cynical, conjugal and Platonic.
Divine poems describe two notes; the Catholic and the Anglican.
However, the thought and spirit behind the two categories of poems is
same.
(vi) What are the three moods of love in Donne's poems?
Ans. The first mood of love is cynical. It celebrates the physical
appetite, notably presented in the "Elegies". The second mood of love
is conjugal. It is a mutually enjoyed love between man and woman as
found in "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning". Thirdly, there is the
Platonic love, as in "The Canonization", where love is regarded as a
holy emotion like the worship of a devotee of God.
(vii) How does Donne distinguish between physical and
spiritual love?
Ans. "Physical love" is the love that is primarily based upon the
sensation or the presence of the beloved or that emphasizes sexuality
whereas "spiritual love" is based on higher and more refined feelings
than sensation. As a Metaphysical poet, Donne uses physical loved to
evoke spiritual love.
(viii) What is a cynical love?
Ans. Cynicism is an attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a
general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others. So
cynical love is anti-woman and hostile to the fair sex. It indicates the
frailty of man -- a matter of advantage for lovers who like casual and
extra-marital relations with ladies.
(ix) How is Donne's life reflected in his poetry?
Ans. Several major events in Donne's life -- his marriage, his
conversion to Anglicanism, his wife's early death, illness, and his
elevation to the Deanship of St. Paul's -- can be seen in his poetry.
(x) How is death treated in Donne's poetry?
Ans. Death is treated both as a reality of life and as an abstract
concept. For Donne death is not necessarily somber but provides a
transition moment -- often a climax -- denoting a change of state.
"Death Be Not Proud", personifies Death as a powerless being who
cannot survive past the Resurrection; ultimately, all people will reach
their metaphysical states.
(xi) What is an allusion?
Ans. An allusion is a casual reference to a person, place, event, or
another passage of literature, often without explicit identification.
Allusions can originate in mythology, biblical references, historical
events, legends, geography, or earlier literary works. For example,

"Don't act like a Romeo in front of her." - "Romeo" is a reference to
Shakespeare's Romeo, a passionate lover of Juliet in "Romeo and
Juliet".
(xii) What is a conceit?
Ans. Conceit is a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects
are likened together with the help of similes, metaphors, imagery,
hyperbole and oxymora. One of the most famous conceits is John
Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", a poem in which Donne
compares two souls in love to the points on a geometer's compass.
(xiii) What is hyperbole?
Ans. Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or
figure of speech. It is used to create emphasis on a situation. It may be
used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is
not to meant to be taken literally. For example, "I had to wait in the
station for ten days - an eternity". (The Heart of Darkness by Joseph
Conrad)
(xiv) Why do you mean by elegy?
Ans. An elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem in the form
of elegiac couplets. It is usually a funeral song or a lament for the
dead. "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray and
"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" by Walt Whitman are the
most popular examples of elegy.
(xv) How many elegies did Donne write?
Ans. Donne wrote 20 elegies. These include: Jealosie, The Anagram,
Change, The Perfume, His Picture, Oh, Let Me Not Serve, Natures Lay
Ideot, The Comparison, The Autumnall, The Dreame, The Bracelet, His
Parting From Her, Julia, A Tale of a Citizen and His Wife, The
Expostulation, On His Mistris, Variety, Loves Progress, To His Mistris
Going to Bed and Love Warr.
QUESTION NO. 29
Donne As a Metaphysical Poet
Introduction
Conceits
The most striking quality of Donne's metaphysical poetry is his use
of inventive, ingenious and intellectual conceits. A conceit is a figure of
speech in which two far-fetched objects or images of very different
nature are compared. Donne's poetry is replete with conceits. The
most famous and striking one is the comparison of the lovers to a pair
of compasses in "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning". A clever, though
obviously frivolous conceit is employed in "The Flea" where the insect
is called marriage-bed and the marriage temple of the lovers because
it has bitten them and sucked their blood. In "Garden", Donne wants to
be converted into a fountain so that he may weep all the time. While
these conceits evoked Dr. Johnson's displeasure, these are fairly well
enjoyed by modern readers.
Concentration
Concentration is an important quality of metaphysical poetry in
general and Donne's poetry in particular. In all of his poems, the reader
is held to one idea or line of argument. His poems are brief and closely
woven. In "The Ecstasy", for instance, the principal argument is that
through the different acts of love, the function of man as man is being
worthily performed. The poet develops the theme without digression.
An expanded epigram would be a fitting description of a metaphysical
poem. No word is wasted, and nothing described in detail. There is a
sinewy strength in the style. Verse forms are usually simple, but always
suitable in enforcing the sense of the poem.
Conclusion
QUESTION NO. 33
(i) Why is Spenser called 'The Poets' Poet'?
Ans. Spenser was first called "The Poets' Poet" by the English essayist
Charles Lamb because his poetic faculty was unique, his greatness was
immediately recognized, he coached many poets, and a host of poets
followed him. Milton, Browne, and two Fletchers were his professed
disciples.
(ii) What are Spenser's intentions in writing 'The Faerie
Queen'?
Ans. Spenser's aim in writing "The Faerie Queene" was to a create a
great national literature for England, equal to the classic epic poems of
Homer and Virgil. The poem is dedicated to Elizabeth I, who is
represented in the poem as the Faerie Queene herself.
(iii) What is Spenserian Stanza?
Ans. The Spenserian Stanza is a fixed verse form invented by Edmund
Spenser for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene". Each stanza contains
nine lines in total: eight lines in iambic pentameter followed by a single
'alexandrine' line in iambic hexameter. The rhyme scheme of these
lines is 'ababbcbcc."
(iv) Who is Una?
Ans. Una is Redcross's future wife, and the other major protagonist in
Book I. She is meek, humble, and beautiful, but strong when it is
necessary; she represents Truth, which Redcross must find in order to
be a true Christian.
(v) Why does Redcross Knight abandon Una?
Ans. The Redcross Knight abandons Una because he believes the
deception of the Archimago, which pretends to show that Una is not
chaste.
(vi) Which of the moral virtues does Redcross Knight
represent?
Ans. The Redcross Knight represents holiness. He is bearing the symbol
of Jesus Christ upon his shield. His brand of holiness includes moral and
theological purity, as he fights deceptive monsters on behalf of his lady
Una.
(vii) What role does Archimago play in 'The Faerie Queen'?
Ans. Archimago is a sorcerer. His name means "Arch-Image". In the
narrative, he is continually engaged in deceitful magics, as when he
makes a false Una to tempt the Red-Cross Knight into lust, and when
he failed, conjures another image, of a squire, to deceive the knight
into believing that Una was false to him.
(viii) What is 'the house of Morpheus'?

Ans. Mopheus is the god of sleeps and dreams. It lives in a mystical
cave that seems far removed from reality. This cave is called "the
house of Morpheus".
(ix) What is meant by a Ballad?
Ans. A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung,
consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain. The
Anonymous medieval ballad, "Barbara Allan", exemplifies the genre.
(x) What is a sonnet?
Ans. A sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of
formal rhyme schemes. In English, a sonnet has 3 quatrains followed
by a couplet and ten syllables per line. (iambic pentameter). It usually
expresses a single, complete thought, idea or sentiment. Examples
include P.B. Shelley's "Ozymandias" and John Keats' "When I Have
Fears".
(xi) Explain the rhyme scheme in a sonnet.
Ans. The Petrarchan or Italian sonnet has the rhyme scheme
ABBAABBA CDECDE. The Shakespearean sonnet has the rhyme
scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The Spenserian sonnet is a variation of
the English sonnet with the rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE.
(xii) What is a Shakespearean Sonnet?
Ans. A Shakespearean Sonnet is a poem expressive of though, emotion
or idea. It is composed of three quatrains and a terminal couplet in
iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg. It is also
call Elizabeth Sonnet or English Sonnet.
(xiii) How many Sonnets did Shakespeare write?
Ans. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets which were collected together
and published posthumously in 1609 by Thomas Thorpe.
(xiv) What are the major themes of Shakespeare's sonnets?
Ans. Different types of romantic love, the dangers of lust and love,
Platonic love vs. carnal lust, real beauty vs. cliched beauty, the
responsibilities of being beautiful, the ravages of time, selfishness and
greed, self-deprecation and inadequacy, homoerotic desire and
financial bondage are the major themes of Shakespeare's sonnets.
(xv) Who is Shakespeare's Dark Lady?
Ans. Twenty-four of Shakespeare's sonnets are addressed to a
mysterious woman called Dark Lady. Scholars believe that she could be
one of four historical women: Mary Fitton, a lady in waiting to Queen
Elizabeth; Lucy Morgan, a brothel owner and former maid to Queen

Elizabeth; Emilia Lanier, the mistress of Lord Hunsdon, patron of the
arts; and the mother of his illegitimate son Devanant.
QUESTION NO. 37
Shakespeare As a Sonneter
COMING SOON!
2. SAMPLE ANSWERS - DRAMA

QUESTION NO. 1
(i) How did Oedipus save Thebes before becoming its king?
Ans. A Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for and undisclosed amount
of time. It placed a great plague over Thebes and refused to remove it
until someone correctly answered its riddle. Many heroes attempted to
answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering
incorrectly. When Oedipus answered the Sphinx, it killed itself.
(ii) What was the riddle posed by Sphinx to Oedipus?
Ans. The riddle posed by Sphinx to Oedipus was, "What goes on four
feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?"
When Oedipus gave the correct answer, "man", the Sphinx threw itself
off a cliff and died.
(iii) Why do the Thebans come to Oedipus?
Ans. A procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the
impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes comes to Oedipus.
Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one
knows how to put an end to it. Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens
have gathered around the palace. The priest responds that the city is
dying and asks the king to save Thebes.

(iv) What do Thebans think of Oedipus as their king?
Ans. Thebans think that Oedipus is an intelligent and decent king who
cares deeply for his people. When Thebes has been struck by a plague,
they gather around his palace so that Oedipus may save them from the
calamity.
(v) Who is Creon?
Ans. Creon is the brother of queen Jocasta, the wife of King Laius as
well as Oedipus. He goes to the oracle at Delphi to seek Apollo's advice
in saving Thebes from plague. He is accused by Oedipus of conspiring
with Tiresias to take the crown from Oedipus. He becomes king in the
end when Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.
(vi) Why did Creon go to the Oracle?
Ans. He went to the Oracle at Delphi to seek Apollo's advice in saving
Thebes from plague. He wanted to know the cause and remedy of the
plague from Apollo.
(vii) What message did Creon bring from Delphi Oracle?
Ans. Creon brought the message from Delphi Oracle that the gods had
caused the plague in Thebes in response to the murder of Laius, the
previous king of Thebes. The gods had demanded that the murdered
(the pollution of this land) should be killed or exiled. The plague would
be lifted after the completion of the task.
(viii) Who was Laius?
Ans. Laius was the king of Thebes before Oedipus. He was married to
his distant cousin, Jocasta. Apollo's oracle played a leading role in his
reign. When Apollo warned that his son would kill him, Laius was
determined that this was not to be. When his son, Oedipus, was born,
Laius tied his feet together and left him to die on a mountain. Many
years later while on vacation, Laius was killed by Oedipus, who had
survived.
(ix) Define Chorus.
Ans. Chorus is a group of singers who stand alongside or off stage from
the principal performers in a dramatic or musical performance. In
ancient Greece, the chorus was originally a group of male singers and
dancers who participated in religious festivals and dramatic
performances by singing and commenting on the deeds of the
characters and interpreting the significance of the events within the
play. The leader of the chorus was called Charogos.
(x) To which three gods does the Chorus pray for help?
Ans. The Chorus prays to the gods Appollo, Athena, and Artemis for
help.
(xi) What is Creon's defense against the accusations against
him?
Ans. Creon argues that it does not make sense that he would try to
overthrow Oedipus. He already shares a large amount of the authority
as part of the de facto triumvirate made of Oedipus, Jocasta and
himself. He thinks it would be silly to pursue through violence and
hassle a crown when he already has the power. As he lacks the
ambition for that, he thinks the claims are unfounded.
(xii) Who is Choragos?
Ans. Choragos is the "leader" of the Chorus. He does most of the
talking in the Chorus. The rest of the Chorus chants or repeats what he
says, but he is clearly the leader. He is the voice of reason. He
introduces Tiresias and urges Oedipus to listen to him. He also urges
other characters to avoid extremes, to practice moderation, and see
and hear the truth.
(xiii) Why did Oedipus and Laius confront?
Ans. There was a Delphic Oracle about Oedipus that he would grow up
to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus and his father Laius
confront to initiate the fulfillment of the prophecy.
(xiv) Why did Oedipus kill Laius where the three roads meet?
Ans. Oedipus's killing of Laius was predestined. The three roads
represents past, present and future. Oedipus was pushed along by the
irreversible flow of time. So he kills his father, Laius, at a place where
three roads meet in the name of self-defense.
(xv) What was the prophecy about Oedipus?
Ans. The prophecy of Delphic Oracle about Oedipus was that he would
grow up to kill his father and marry his mother.
QUESTION NO. 8
Oedipus Rex As a Tragic Hero

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 9
(i) Write the names of four plays of Marlowe.
Ans. Marlowe has left us from his short, but brilliant, career seven
plays, and in several of them he was a pioneer in that particular genre.
His famous plays include; Tamburlaine the Great, The Tragical History
of Doctor Faustus, The Jew of Malta, and The Tragedy of Edward II.
(ii) What is the setting of the play 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. The five acts of the play are set in Malta in 1565, the year that the
Ottoman Turks besieged the tiny Mediterranean nation. Besides the
main island of Malta, the nation includes four other islands.
(iii) What are the major themes of 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. Hypocrisy, Machiavellian Strategy, revenge, love and avarice, lies
and deceit, justice and judgment, wealth, religion, prejudice,
perseverance and politics are the major themes of "The Jew of Malta".
(iv) Name the religious groups mentioned in 'The Jew of Malta'.
Ans. The play portrays characters of three religious groups -Christians, Jews, and Muslim Turks -- in constant enmity with one
another.
(v) Define the term 'Machiavellian'.
Ans. "Machiavellian" is a widely-used negative term to characterize
unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described in "The
Prince". "Machiavellian" is often associated with deceit, deviousness,
ambition, and brutality, although Machiavelli likely only used it as
stylistic device to gain the reader's attention for his close analysis of
the actual techniques used by rulers. Machiavel is a Senecan ghost in
"The Jew of Malta".
(vi) What is Malta's political situation in 'The Jew of Malta'?
Ans. Malta is in a tricky political situation. Even though it is home to a
majority Western, Christian population, it lives under shadow of the
Turks. To stay safe, Malta has to pay a monetary tribute to the Turks. In
exchange for this protection money, the Turks protect them .
(vii) Interpret 'I count religion but a childish toy'.
Ans. This line is from the Prologue spoken by Machiavell in "The Jew of
Malta" by Marlowe. In this line, Machiavell denounces religion. He says
that religion is nothing but a toy in the hands of religious
fundamentalists and priests. It is a tool one uses to manipulate other

people. This line also sets the tone of Barabas's actions throughout the
rest of the play, as he lies constantly and makes plenty of derogatory
comments on Christianity
(viii) Interpret 'Weigh not men, and therefore, not men's
words'.
Ans. This line is from the Prologue spoken by Machiavell in "The Jew of
Malta" by Marlowe. Machiavell is a symbol of Barabas's philosophy. He
says that it is a cynical attitude about not trusting others or what they
say. Human worth and words are not important.
(ix) Interpret 'For, so l live, perish may all the world!'
Ans. This line is from Act V spoken by Barabas in "The Jew of Malta" by
Marlowe. Barabas plots to undo everything once he is Governor of
Malta -- Christians, Turks, anyone in his way. He only cares for his own
skin.
(x) Interpret 'Excess of wealth is cause of covetousness'.
Ans. This line is from Act I spoken by Ferneze in "The Jew of Malta" by
Marlowe. Ferneze blames Barabas for being rich; it leads others to do
wrong, and therefore, it is all his own fault if others take his money
from him.
(xi) How the Turkish army is destroyed?
Ans. Barabas secretly makes a deal with Ferneze to kill all of the Turks
in Malta in return for a huge sum of money. Barabas' plan works but
Ferneze batrays him at the last minute. The Turkish army is destroyed
and Barabas is killed in the trap he devised for Calymath.
(xii) Who is Barabas?
Ans. Barabas is the protagonist of the play "The Jew of Malta". He is a
wealthy merchant who is unrelenting in his efforts to gain revenge
against his enemies. As the prime malefactor in the play, Barabas
resorts to deceit, betrayal, sedition, usury, extortion, and murder as
means toward his ends.
(xiii) What are the priorities of Barabas?
Ans. Barabas has two priorities: money, and his only daughter, Abigail.
Though the priorities of Barabas shift and evolve in the play, his
motivations seem consistently threefold; he continues to seek and
obtain "Great sums of money, he continues to pursue revenge on
Ferneze, and driven by an insatiable desire for mayhem and
destruction.
(xiv) Why is Barabas' all property confiscated?

Ans. Ferneze, the governor of Malta, issues a decree ordering the
confiscation of half of each Jew's estate to pay tribute to the Turks; if
the Jewish property owner refuses, he must become a Christian; if he
refuses to become a Christian, he "shall absolutely lose all he has".
Having resisted both the confiscations, Barabas loses all he has.
(xv) Why is Barabas impatient with stash of gold?
Ans. Barabas' all property is confiscated by Ferneze except a hidden
stash of gold that Barabas hasn't 'fessed up to'. So he is very impatient
with stash of gold in his house which has now been turned into a
nunnery.
QUESTION NO. 15
Barabas As an Evil Incarnate

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 17
(i) Why does Iago not like Othello?
Ans. Iago's anger stems from the fact that Othello unfairly passed him
over for promotion and made Michael Cassio his lieutenant, even
though Cassio, unlike Iago, has no military field experience. He also
suspects that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. However, the main
cause of his hatred is his deep-seated racism against Othello.
(ii) Who is Roderigo?
Ans. Roderigo is the secondary antagonist of the play "Othello". He is a
dissolute Venetian lusting after Othello's wife Desdemona. He has
opened his purse to Iago in the mistaken belief that Iago is using his
money to pave the way to Desdemona's bed. In the end, Roderigo dies
- stabbed in the back by Iago.
(iii) Who is Desdemona?
Ans. Desdemona is a beautiful, young and white Venetian debutante.
She is the daughter of a senator, Brabantio. She elopes with Othello.
She is capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago,

and responding with dignity to Othello's incomprehensible jealousy.
She dies declaring her love for Othello.
(iv) Who is Michael Cassio?
Ans. Michael Cassio is Othello's lieutenant. He is a young and
inexperienced soldier, whose position is much resented by Iago. Truly
devoted to Othello, Cassio is extremely ashamed after being implicated
in a drunken brawl on Cyprus and losing his place as lieutenant. Iago
uses Cassio's youth, good looks, and friendship with Desdemona to
play on Othello's insecurities about Desdemona's fidelity.
(v) Who is Brabantio?
Ans. Brabantio is a Venetian senator and the father of Desdemona in
"Othello". He has entertained Othello in his home countless times
before the play opens, thus giving Othello and Desdemona opportunity
to fall in love. He is furious upon learning they have eloped, and
Desdemona's decision is reported to be the cause of his death in the
last act.
(vi) What was Brabantio's reaction to Othello's marriage to
Desdemona?
Ans. When Brabantio, Desdemona's father, realizes that his daughter
has married Othello, he reaction is rage. Going to where Othello is
meeting with the Venetian Senators, Brabantio accuses Othello of
using sorcery to seduce his daughter. He us upset because Othello is
not Venetian but Moorish.
(vii) What is the military issue that the Duke of Venice and his
senators discuss?
Ans. The Duke of Venice and his senators talk about the Turk army
headed for the kingdom. They discuss which part of the kingdom do
they plan to attack. Finally they reached the conclusion that Cyprus
would be their target. That is why they send Othello to Cyprus.
(viii) Define the word 'moor'.
Ans. "Moot" is a name applied to the Arab and Berber peoples of North
Africa who inhabited medieval Spain. Thus, Othello may be connected
with the Moors who remained in Spain after the fall of Granada in 1492
until a later expulsion in 1609 or with the people of "Barbary" in North
Africa.
(ix) How does Othello succeed in winning Desdemona's heart?
Ans. Desdemona's father, Brabantio, frequently invited Othello to be a
guest at his home. Othello told tales of his strange adventures prior to
coming to Venice. Desdemona used to come around to hear the
stories. Eventually, Othello began sharing his tales with Desdemona
privately. And, they fell in love.
(x) What is the significance of the handkerchief to Othello?
Ans. The handkerchief is the first gift Desdemona receives from
Othello, so it is a token of his love. Othello claims that his mother used
it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief
represents martial fidelity. The pattern of strawberries on a white
background strongly suggests the bloodstains left on the sheets on a
virgin's weeding night, so the handkerchief suggests a guarantee of
virginity as well as fidelity.
(xi) What proof does Iago use to convince Rederigo that Cassio
and Desdemona are lovers?
Ans. He offers proof in the way of Othello's handkerchief that end up in
Cassio's hands and an overhead conversation. He also emphasizes the
contrast of black Othello and white Desdemona to defile Desdemona's
goodness.
(xii) Who is Emilia?
Ans. Emilia is Iago's wife, and Desdemona's maid, a woman of practical
intelligence and emotional resilience. She follows Iago in wifely duty,
but during the play develops a strong loyalty to Desdemona and, at the
end, denounces Iago's lies to defend Desdemona's reputation.
(xiii) What warning about Desdemona does Branbanito give to
Othello?
Ans. Brabantio warns Othello that if his daughter, Desdemona, deceive
him in order to marry Othello, then she can just as easily deceive
Othello.
(xiv) Why does Desdemona plead the case of Cassio so
passionately?
Ans. Desdemona and Cassio are firm friends. What has happened to
Cassio is precisely what she could not bear to happen to herself.
Therefore, Desdemona pleads the case of Cassio so passionately,
asserting that he is a good man, and worthy to be reinstated in her
husband's favour.
(xv) What happens to the Turkish fleet?
Ans. The Turkish fleet is broken apart by a terrible storm while sailing
to Cyprus. This might mean that the Turkish attack will not happen.
QUESTION NO. 20
Theme of Jealously in "Othello"

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 25
(i) What was happening in Shakespeare's career when he
wrote 'The Tempest'?
Ans.
(ii) What two distinctions does 'The Tempest' have among
Shakespeare's plays?
Ans.
(iii) Why is there no real suspense in the play 'The Tempest'?
Ans.
(iv) List five elements the four romances have in common.
Ans.
(v) What is the 'social storm' which occurs in the opening
scene of 'The Tempest'?
Ans.
(vi) Why is Gonzalo sure the Boatswain will not die of
drowning?
Ans.
(vii) What are the three things associated the Prospero's
magical power?
Ans.
(viii) What is meant by 'the paradox of the romances'?
Ans.
(ix) Why don't Alonso and Antonio simply murder Prospero and
Miranda after they are captured?
Ans.
(x) Who is sycorax and why does she lock Ariel in a tree for 12
years?
Ans. Sycorax is a vicious and powerful witch, and the mother of
Caliban. She locks Ariel in a "cloven pine". Ariel is left in the "cloven
pine" for 12 years because the old witch, Sycorax, dies in the
meantime.
(xi) Who is the most eloquent character in the play 'The
Tempest'?
Ans.
(xii) What three questions does Ferdinand ask when he first
speaks to Miranda?
Ans.
(xiii) Why doesn't Alonso believe his son might still be alive?
Ans.
(xiv) Why does Ariel put everyone but Antonio and Sebastian
to sleep?
Ans.
(xv) What is the origin of 'Setebos', the name of Sycorax's god?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 28
Importance of Island in "The

Tempest"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 33
(i) What is the significance of the title 'The Importance of
Being Earnest'?
Ans. The title "The Importance of Being Earnest" features a salient pun
in the form of the word "earnest", which means "honest", and "truthful"
and the name "Ernest" which is the name of the alter ego that main
character Jack uses to slide away from responsibilities and do as he

pleases. What is important, however, is that the title reflects that there
is something valuable and even honourable about being "earnest".
(ii) What is the subtitle of the play 'The Importance of Being
Earnest'?
Ans. The subtitle of the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is "A
Trivial Comedy for Serious People". His intentions were to make people
think more deeply and make them more aware of the serious things in
life, which should be treated with sincerity, and the trivial things with
seriousness.
(iii) What are the major themes in 'The Importance of Being
Earnest'?
Ans. The nature of marriage, the constrains of morality, the absence of
compassion, hypocrisy vs. inventiveness, lies and deceit, respect and
reputation, society and class, duty and respectability, passion and
morality, religion and secret lives are the major theme in "The
Importance of Being Earnest".
(iv) Define comedy of manners.
Ans. The comedy of manners is an entertainment form which satirizes
the manners and affections of a social class or of multiple classes,
often represented by stereotypical stock characters. "The Importance
of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is a comedy of manners.
(v) What is the setting of the play 'The Importance of Being
Earnest'?
Ans. The primary setting is London and Hertfordshire, England in the
late late 19th century. Specific places include; Algernon Moncrieff's flat
in Half-Moon Street (Act I), the garden at the Manor House, Woolton
(Act II), and drawing room of the Manor House, Woolton (Act III).
(vi) What are the major conflicts in 'The Importance of Being
Earnest'?
Ans. There are two major conflicts. The first conflict is that Lady
Bracknell does not allow Gwendolyn to marry Jack because he does not
know his real parents. Bracknell wants a husband for her daughter that
is rich and has a title. The second conflict is that Gwendolyn thinks that
Jack's real name is Ernest, but it is not. She seems to love him for his
name only and Jack fears he cannot tell her the truth.
(vii) Which moment from the play 'The Importance of Being
Earnest' struck you as the funniest?
Ans. "The Importance of Being Earnest" is funny all the time. However,
the conversation among the vacuous Cecily, the idiot Miss Prism, and
the foolish hypocrite Dr. Chasuble in Act II struck me as the funniest.
The final moment in which Jack is identified as the lost brother of
Algernon and he is accepted by Gwendolen is also a very funny
moment.
(viii) Give two examples of inversion in 'The Importance of
Being Earnest'.
Ans. When Algernon remarks, "Divorces are made in Heaven," he
inverts the cliche about marriages being "made in Heaven." Similarly,
at the end of the play, when Jack calls it "a terrible thing" for a man to
discover that he has been telling the truth all his life, he inverts
conventional morality. Most of the women in the play represent an
inversion of accepted Victorian practices with regard to gender roles.
(ix) What is Wilde's opinion of the aristocracy?
Ans. Aristocrats mask their true nature and fill their lives with trivial
traditions. Throughout the play "The Importance of Being Earnest"
Oscar Wilde makes fun of aristocrats in a cheerful way. He seems to
think that they are practically useless to society.
(x) What is Wilde's view towards formal education?
Ans. Wilde says, "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to
remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be
taught.". This shows he has no value for formal education since it
deprives man's contemplation.
(xi) Who is "Ernest" in the play 'The Importance of Being
Earnest'?
Ans. In "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, there is no
character named "Ernest", but everything depends on pretending to be
Earnest. Jack creates a young brother named "Ernest" to fool his lady
friends, all of whom have an obsession with the name "Ernest".
However, in the end of the play, Jack finds out that his real name is
"Earnest" and his middle name is Jack.
(xii) What is a dandy?
Ans. A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical
appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the
appearance on nonchalance in a cult of Self. Algernon is a dandy in the
play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.
(xiii) How do characters in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'
view marriage differently?

Ans. The characters in "The Importance of Being Earnest" are divided
on whether a person should marry because of duty or because of
pleasure. The older generation thinks of marriage as a business
transaction, through which a person upholds or improves their rank in
society. The younger generation, however, wants to marry of love
regardless of social standing.
(xiv) Interpret 'The truth is rarely pure and never simple'.
Ans. This line is spoken by Algernon in "The Importance of Being
Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. Because most of the play involves the various
lies and deceits told by the protagonist, the purity of truth is always
suspect. Moreover, truth is never simple, as most of it always requires
explanation of the deeper layers.
(xv) Interpret 'Women only call each other sister when they
have called each other a lot of other things first'.
Ans. This line is spoken by Algernon in "The Importance of Being
Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. It means that women call each other names,
bicker, fight and fall out before they feel comfortable to become
sisters. Friendship or relationship starts with enmity.
QUESTION NO. 40
Character Sketch of Miss Prism

COMING SOON!
3. SAMPLE ANSWERS - NOVEL

QUESTION NO. 1
(i) What is a novel?
Ans. A novel is a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes
fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential
story. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen and "A Tale of Two Cities" by
Charles Dickens are famous English novels.

(ii) What is Fielding's concept of novel?
Ans. In his preface to "Joseph Andrews", Fielding claims that novel is a
genre of writing "which I do not remember to have been hitherto
attempted in our language". He defined it as the "comic epic-poem in
prose": a work of prose fiction, epic in length and variety of incident
and character, in the hypothetical spirit of Homer's lost comic poem
Margites.
(iii) Write the names of four novels of Fielding.
Ans. Joseph Andrews (1742), Jonathan Wild (1748), Tom Jones (1749)
and Amelia (1751) are the famous novels of Henry Fielding.
(iv) What factors influenced Fielding in his conception and
composition of 'Joseph Andrews'?
Ans. Fielding's first venture into prose fiction came a year previously
with the publication in pamphlet form of Shamela, a travesty of, and
direct response to, the stylistic failing and moral hypocrisy that Fielding
saw in Richardson's Pamela. The impetus of the novel, as Fielding
claims in his preface, is the establishment of a genre of writing "which I
do not remember to have been hitherto attempted in our language".
(v) What is the purpose of the Author's Preface in 'Joseph
Andrews'?
Ans. The purpose of Fielding's preface in "Joseph Andrews" is to define
and defend his chosen genre, "comic-epic poem in prose". He is
particularly concerned to differentiate the comic epic, and comedy
generally, from burlesque. He also defends the various vices inserted
in the novel.
(vi) How is the novel 'Joseph Andrews' related to 'Pamela'?
Ans. Fielding wrote "Shamela" as a satirical response to Richardson's
"Pamela", and his longer and more serious "Joseph Andrews" likewise
draws on Richardson's novel for an equivocal sort of inspiration. While
"Shamela" is a straightforward travesty of "Pamlea", "Joseph Andrews"
is something more complex, and its relation to "Pamela" is something
other than the relation of parody to original.
(vii) Define digression.
Ans. A digression is a stylistic device authors employ to create a
temporary departure from the main subject of the narrative to focus on
apparently unrelated topics, explaining background details. However,
after this temporary shift, authors return to the main topic at the end
of the narrative. There are several famous digressions in Homer, such

as the "wall scene" in Book 3 of the "Iliad".
(viii) What is the purpose of digression in 'Joseph Andrews'?
Ans. It is perhaps a development of Fielding's verbose writing style that
he includes so many digressions in "Joseph Andrews". There are three
main interpolated tales in the novel. In regards to these interpolated
tales, Fielding employs a variety of tactics to make the stories more
believable. These inserted stories also illustrate other tensions related
to writing a novel, such as control and interruption.
(ix) Define the narrator?
Ans. A narrator is the voice that an author takes on to tell a story. This
voice can have a personality quite different from the author's. For
example, in his story "The Tell-Tale Heart", Edgar Allan Poe makes his
narrator a raving lunatic.
(x) Define burlesque.
Ans. Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to
cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or
by ludicrous treatment of the subjects. Contrasting examples of literary
burlesque are Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" and Samuel
Butler's "Hudibras". W.S. Gilbert's "Robert the Devil" is an example of
theatrical burlesque.
(xi) What is bildungsroman?
Ans. Bildungsroman is a special kind of novel that focuses on the
psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her
youth to adulthood. "Tom Jones" by Henry Fielding and "David
Copperfield" by Charles Dickens are examples of bildungsroman.
(xii) What is important about the plot of the novel 'Joseph
Andrews'?
Ans. "Joseph Andrews" is a picaresque novel in structure, for its plotline is similar to the one-line structure of picaresque fiction. The plot of
the novel progresses by "shutting', moving forward by "small
oscillations of emotion", which, in the larger, all-over design, are small
parts of a unified whole, episodic in nature. At times, events seem like
reversals, followed by forward movement.
(xiii) What are the major themes of 'Joseph Andrews'?
Ans. The vulnerability and power of goodness, charity and religion,
town and country, class and birth, reality verses appearance,
providence, affection, vanity, hypocrisy, and chastity are the major
themes of "Joseph Andrews".

(xiv) According to Fielding, what are the proper roles of clergy?
Ans. One role of the clergy would be charity, clearly evident in the
character of Parson Adams. Adams also illustrates the clergy's role in
instructing the members of their parish, as well as demonstrating and
modeling Christian morals and propriety. Adam's character is the
epitome of honesty.
(xv) What is the significance of the letter from Joseph to his
sister?
Ans. Joseph's letter to his sister Pamela is significant because it
illustrates his innocence. He thinks that Lady Booby is perhaps
pursuing him, but charitably ascribes this to distraction over the death
of Sir Thomas. In any case, he anticipates his dismissal and advises
Pamela of his return to the Booby country-seat.
QUESTION NO. 3
Henry Fielding As the Father of

English Novel
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 9
(i) Write the names of four novels of Jane Austen.
Ans. Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813),
Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1818,
Posthumous) and Persuasion (1818, posthumous) are the novels of
Jane Austen.
(ii) What was the original title for the novel 'Pride and
Prejudice'.
Ans.The manuscript of the novel was first titled "First Impressions".
However, in 11791, the manuscript was rejected by a publisher. Austen
spent time refining it before it was published as "Pride and Prejudice"
in 1813.
(iii) Write the first line of the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'.
Ans. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of wife.
(vi) Why is Elizabeth so anxious to distrust Mr. Darcy at the
start of the novel?
Ans. The first impression of Mr. Darcy is a sign of arrogance and pride.
Due to pride and sense of superiority, he does not accept the hand of
Elizabeth for dancing, and says to his friend about her "tolerable, but
not handsome enough to tempt me". This creates a negative
impression in her mind. Thus she is so anxious to distrust Mr. Darcy.
(v) Why does Elizabeth refuse to marry Collins?
Ans. Elizabeth refuses to marry Collins because she does not love him.
Elizabeth believes in only marrying for love and no other reason. She is
not fond of his personality. Moreover, he is an idiot.
(vi) How Elizabeth was ignorant of Wickham's character?
Ans. Everyone in Meryton is fooled, and Elizabeth even thinks about
Wickham in a marriageable kind of way. Wickham entertains Elizabeth
with stories about the despicable Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickham charms the
entire town of Meryton. After Mr. Darcy leaves the neighbourhood, he
spreads his sob story about Darcy's cruelty far and wide. Thus
Elizabeth was ignorant of Wickham's character.
(vii) Why was Elizabeth upset at her meeting with Darcy at
Pemberley House?
Ans. Elizabeth was upset at her meeting with Darcy at Pemberley
House because she began to love him. She was surprised to hear about
the good nature of Darcy by Mrs. Reynolds whom she considered
unbearably arrogant. Darcy's sudden arrival at Pemberley's House and
his meeting with her in the garden made her really upset.
(viii) Why is Darcy intrigued and attracted by Elizabeth?
Ans. Darcy is intrigued by refreshing disregard for his title. Elizabeth is
one of those rare women, the only one around him, whose self respect
matches his pride. At the same time, he is attracted by Elizabeth's
eyes, wit and intelligence.
(xi) Why does Darcy's proposal make Elizabeth angry?
Ans. Elizabeth already hates Darcy because she thinks he is
responsible for breaking up Jane and Bingley, he has hurt Mr. Wickham,
and has been rude to Lizzy. Now Darcy tells her outright in the proposal
that he does not want to be in love with her, because of their class
differences, but he can't help it. Thus Darcy's first proposal make
Elizabeth angry.
(x) How do Elizabeth Bennet's ideas on marriage differ from
her society's?
Ans. Elizabeth wants to marry someone she actually loves and
respects, and not just for a good name or money. Her society's belief is
that young ladies should make good matches for their families' sake, to
keep up a good reputation and be wealthy.
(xi) Write a note on Georgiana.
Ans. Georgiana is Darcy's younger sister. She is immensely pretty and
just as shy. She has great skill at playing the pianoforte. She has great
reverence and affection for her brother and gets along well with
Elizabeth from their first meeting. Bingley's sisters had hoped that Mr.
Bingley would marry Georgiana, thus uniting the fortunes of the two
families.
(xii) In which ways is Elizabeth different from the rest of the
Bennet family?
Ans. Elizabeth is judgmental and that she speaks out what she wants
and what she knows. She is the only character who changes
significantly over the course of the story. On the other hand, other
Bennets are stuck in their ways.
(xiii) How has Meryton community been described in 'Pride and
Prejudice'?
Ans. Meryton is a little village where a militia regiment is quartered for
a time, and where the Meryton Ball takes place. This Ball is an event
that shows community life in Meryton. The people in Meryton are
middle-class and every woman is in search of a man to ensure social
stability. People's opinions change really quickly and are general.
(xiv) How did Wickham agree to marry Lydia?
Ans. Wickham married Lydia for money. If Wickham did not marry
Lydia, the reputations of both Lydia and the entire family would have
been ruined. Wickham agreed to marry Lydia because Mr. Dacry agreed
to pay off all his debts and pay him thousands pounds.
(xv) Why does Lydia risk by eloping with Wickham?
Ans. Lydia is all about money and social stature. Wickham is a
pompous jerk but Lydia feels he is her best chance at improving her
fortunes both monetarily and socially.
QUESTION NO. 11
Character Sketch of Elizabeth

Bennet
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 17
(i) What were the conditions in France that led to the
revolution?
Ans. Struggle for hegemony, social antagonism between aristocracy
and the bourgeoisie, debt, ineffective ruler Louis XVI, economic
hardships, the rise of enlightenment ideals, resentment of royal
absolutism, food scarcity, and American influence were the major
conditions in France that led to revolution.
(ii) What is Dickens' attitude towards the French Revolution?
Ans. Dickens regards the French Revolution with some ambivalence. He
seems to support the revolutionary cause but also condemns the way
the Revolution is conducted, often criticizing the evil of the
revolutionaries themselves. The message seems to be that in fighting
oppression with oppression, and acts of barbarism with acts of
barbarism, there is no true revolution.
(iii) Interpret 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times...'.
Ans. This is the opening line of the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" by
Charles Dickens. It describes the time of French Revolution. It means,
in simple terms, that the time period was filled with great
contradictions and extremes, from good to bad.
(iv) What is Bastille? What is its significance?
Ans. The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille
Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of
France and for most of its history was uses as a state prison by the
kings of France. It was stormed by a crowd on July 14, 1789 in the
French Revolution.
(v) Why the Bastille was attacked by the mob?
Ans. The Bastille was a prison where the French government kept its
political prisoners. On July 14, 1789, a mob of revolutionaries attacked
the fortress. It was a blood-thirsty, unruly mob that Dickens
metaphorically describes as "a raging sea" and "a whirlpool of boiling
water". The attack was a flash-point of the French Revolution.
(vi) What is the significance of Hotel De Ville?
Ans. The Hotel De Ville is a building in Paris, France, housing the city's
local administration. The Hotel De Ville is a nice sounding name for a
not-so-nice place. It was where the government took prisoners to be
tortured.
(vii) Write a short note on Tellson's Bank.
Ans. Tellson's Bank near Temple Bar was an old-fashioned place, even
back in 1780. It was a very small, very dark, very ugly, and very
uncomfortable. The partners who ran the bank were old-fashioned too.
They were proud of its smallness, darkness, ugliness, and discomfort.
(viii) What does the red wine symbolize in 'A Tale of Two
Cities'?
Ans. Throughout the novel win symbolizes the French Revolution's
intoxicating power. Drunk on power, the revolutionaries change from
freedom fighters into wild savages dancing in the streets and
murdering at will. The red wine spilled in the street in Paris symbolizes
the blood that will be spilled in the Revolution.
(ix) What is the people's reaction to the broken wine cask?
Ans. People's reaction to the broken wine cask is to get on the ground
and lick the wine as it flows on the ground. They are excited that the
rich lost something, and that they get to have it. So hungry, and poor,
are the people that they don't mind drinking off the street. Obviously,
this shows how bad the conditions in France are.
(x) How is 'honour' defined in 'A Tale of Two Cities'?
Ans.There are multiple versions of honour in the novel. However, the
most effective is that a person has honour who stands up for what is
right and is willing to sacrifice all he or she has for the betterment of
others. Monsiur Defarge is honourable because she stands up for what
she believes, and Carton is honourable because he gives his life for a
friend.
(xi) Who is Madam Defarge?
Ans. Madam Defarge is a fictional character in the novel "A Tale of Two
Cities" by Charles Dickens. She is a tricoteuse, a tireless worker for the
French Revolution, and the wife of Ernest Defarge. She is one of the
main villains of the novel, obsessed with revenge against the
Evremondes.
(xii) What is the significance of Madame Defarge pinning a rose
in her hair?
Ans. Madame Defarge pinning a rose in her hair indicates to the
revolutionaries to stop talking about their revolutionary things. It is a
signal that a spy is nearby and the revolutionaries must watch what
they say.
(xiii) Why is Madame Defarge so merciless towards Charles and
his family?
Ans. Madame Defarge is merciless towards Charles and his family
because Charles' family has killed her family and she thinks they
should be avenged.
(xiv) How and by whom Madame Defarge was killed?
Ans. In a scuffle with Miss Pross, Madame Defarge was killed by a bullet
from her own gun. It symbolizes Dicken's belief that the sort of
vengeful attitude ultimately proves a self-damning one.
(xv) What is the slogan of the revolutionaries in "A Tale of Two
Cities?
Ans. The slogan of the revolutionaries is "Liberty, equality, fraternity, or
death". The revolutionaries were the people engaged in changing the
government of France. They wanted the many freedoms that people
deserve: liberty, equality, and fraternity. They also wanted everyone on
their side and were willing to "take out" those who did not agree.
QUESTION NO. 20
Symbolism in "A Tale of Two

Cities"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 25
(i) Write the names of four novels of George Eliot.
Ans. Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner
(1861), Romola (1863), Felix Holt, the Radical (1866), Middlemarch
(1871-72) and Daniel Deronda (1876) are the novels of George Eliot.
(ii) What does the Floss symbolize in 'The Mill on the Floss'?
Ans. River Floss stands for the cause of sustenance as well as ruin for
the Tullivers. However, the Floss is related most often to Maggie, and
the river, with its depth and potential to flood, symbolizes Maggie's
deeply running and unpredictable emotions. The river's path,
nonexistent on maps, is also use to symbolize the unforseeable path of
Maggie's destiny.
(iii) What purpose does animal imagery serve in 'The Mill on
the Floss'?
Ans. Tom and Maggie are associated with animal imagery. The imagery
is usually of farm-type animals -- ponies, dogs, ducks -- and usually
points to the character's capacity for affection or non-adherence to
social convention. Following Darwin, Eliot uses this imagery also to
gesture towards the wider relation between humans and animals that
can be especially seen in young children.
(iv) What is the symbolic importance of music in 'The Mill on
the Floss'?
Ans. Music represents the better life, for which Maggie spends the
entire book searching. This sort of "musical" life is one of deep emotion
and energy. Music has the ability to create an entire world here, and it
is often depicted as a safe heaven from harsh reality. Both Philip and
Maggie take comfort and joy in music. Music is also a way to
experience and express heightened emotions.
(v) What are George Eliot's views on education?
Ans. "The Mill on the Floss" is a sensible analysis of what education
really means. She shows that education should be adapted to the
individual's talent; tradition and snob appeal have no place in modern
education. Latin and Greek are suitable for those people who have a
genuine interest in humanistic studies. She makes a strong case for the
need of well-trained teachers.
(vi) What are the major themes of 'The Mill on the Floss'?
Ans. Loss of innocence, the difficulty of choice, the claim of the past
upon present identity, the importance of sympathy, the effect of

society upon the individual, communal verses individual interests,
progress verses tradition, practical knowledge verses bookish
knowledge, gender disparity and love are the major themes of "The Mill
on the Floss".
(vii) Interpret 'The happiest women, like the happiest nations,
have no history'.
Ans. This line is from George Eliot's novel "The Mill on the Floss". It
points that happiness fades away one's past or history. The happiest
nations enjoy themselves with their present and hardly have any
reminiscence of their past. Similarly the happiest women are usually
private individuals who do not have a public image, therefore, they
have no history.
(viii) Interpret 'I desire no future that will break the ties of the
past'.
Ans. In this line Maggie sums up her views on the role of the past in her
life and in her choices. Though she has a substantial history with Philip,
her ties with Tom are older and are therefore stronger to her. Maggie
refuses to let go of her past, but she has to grant weight to her oldest
memories and bonds.
(ix) Who is Maggie Tulliver?
Ans. Maggie Tulliver is the protagonist of the novel "The Mill on the
Floss". She is a hugely complex character. She is the intelligent, clever
and emotionally sensitive daughter of a country mill-owner. Her closest
tie is to her brother Tom. She has dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes.
Her life is the central story of the novel.
(x) What sort of commitments does Maggie feel she has broken
when she elopes with Stephen?
Ans. Stephen is engaged to Lucy. Maggie thinks that she has proved
false to Lucy and violated a social canon through her elopement with
Stephen. She feels guilty that her elopement will also hurt her lover,
Philip. Thus she returns before the elopement with Stephen has led to
sexual intercourse.
(xi) What is the significance of Maggie's sewing?
Ans. Maggie's sewing shows that she has been in financial difficulty.
Sewing, in general, represents a way of repressing and controlling the
self. The paraphernalia of sewing, especially needles and scissors, take
a sinister connotation in "The Mill on the Floss. Scissors are damaging
to Lucy and needles are fatal to Maggie's physical desires.

(xii) What is the significance of Maggie's encounter with
gypsies when she runs away?
Ans. Maggie has a romantic view of gypsies. In running away to the
gypsies, Maggie is motivated mainly by desire of admiration. She is
somewhat conceited about her learning. However, after her encounter
with gypsies, she sees her mistake. She goes in repentance and selfblame.
(xiii) What are Maggie's intentions towards the gypsies?
Ans. There are three intentions of Maggie towards the gypsies; she
wishes to live with them, she wants to teach them, and be their queen.
(xiv) What role does the town of St. Ogg's perform in hastening
Maggie's tragedy?
Ans. St. Ogg's is a town ruled by gossip, rumors and prejudices. It is a
tightly-knit community for better or worse. And it is for worse for
Maggie. Maggie is shunned by nearly everyone here. Tom refuses to
have anything with her. The river floods and Maggie is swept away in a
boat. She goes to rescue Tom. However, both Maggie and Tom drown in
the flood.
(xv) Who is Tom Tulliver?
Ans. Tom Tulliver is the Tullivers' older son. He has his own clear sense
of duty, justice, and fairness. He has affection for his sister Maggie, but
he dislikes her impetus way of doing what she wants. When Mr. Tulliver
goes bankrupt, Tom goes to work at a young age and brings the family
out of debt.
QUESTION NO. 31
Eliot's Art of Characterization

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 33
(i) Why has Hardy divided 'Tess of the d'Urbevilles' in 'Phases'?

Ans. Hardy has divided "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" into seven large
sections called 'phases'. It is interesting that Hardy has chosen the
word 'phase' to describe each of these sections. It seems to symbolize
that Tess, like a plant, an animal, or the moon, goes through natural
cycles of growth. The 'phases' mark the major points of her emotional
and spiritual growth, starting with "The Maiden" and ending with
"Fulfillment".
(ii) What is the setting of the novel 'Tess of the d'Urbevilles'?
Ans. Most of the action takes place in the late 19th Century in
Southwestern England in the country of Wessex, the fictional name of
Dorset Country. Almost all of Hardy's novels take place in this same
general area. The other places include Marlott, Curitiba, and Salisbury.
(iii) In which village the novel 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' starts?
Ans. The novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy starts from
the village of Marlott. This is Tess's childhood home and lay amid the
northeastern undulation of the beautiful Vale of Blakemore or
Blackmoor.
(iv) What are the major symbols in 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles'?
Ans. Prince the horse, seal and spoon, Brazil, the d'Urberville coach,
the d'Urberville family vault, red and white, club-walking, the chases
verses the slopes and cows are the major symbols in "Tess of the
d'Urbevilles".
(v) What are the major themes of 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles'?
Ans. The injustice of existence, changing ideas of social class in
Victorian England, men dominating women, fate and free will, memory
and the past, nature and modernity, Paganism and Christianity,
contrasting regions, marriage, time and sex are the major themes of
"Tess of the d'Urbervilles".
(vi) What is foreshadowing?
Ans. Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives and
advance hint of what is come later in the story. It is used to avoid
disappointment and arouse the reader. For example, "He had no idea of
the disastrous chain of events to follow". In this sentence, while the
protagonist is clueless of further developments, the readers learns that
something disastrous is about to happen for the protagonist.
(vii) What is the significance of the legend of the d'Urberville
Coach?
Ans. The d'Urberville coach is an old legend of the family which Angel
mentions and Alec later explains to Tess. The coach is a symbol of
foreshadowing and the theme of fate that looms over all the characters
in the novel. Whenever a d'Urberville hears the sound of an invisible
coach it is supposed to be a bad omen. The coach also symbolizes the
ancient idea of being punished for one's ancestors.
(viii) Why did contemporary critics think that 'Tess of the
d'Urbervilles' was 'immoral'?
Ans. Contemporary critics like Mowbray Morris though that "Tess of the
d'Urbervilles" was 'immoral' because people usually associated the
Victorian Period with sexual repression and general prudishness. Thus
the sexiness in the novel made is 'immoral' in their eyes.
(ix) What defect marks the social life of the people in and
around Trantridge?
Ans. The villagers around Trantridge live for the moment, disdaining
the idea of saving for the future. Many of them are hard drinkers.
(x) What does Hardy mean when he says that Angel's
fastidious love could 'guard the loved one against his very
self'?
Ans. Angel really loves Tess. However, he has problems with Tess's
sexual history. Though it takes a while for him to reconcile her past
with his ideas about sexual morality, he never stops loving her and his
devotion is always complete.
(xi) Who is Tess?
Ans. Tess is the heroine and moral centre of the novel "Tess of the
d'Urbervilles" by Hardy. She is beautiful and irresistible to men. She
lives with her impoverished family in the village Marlott. She is also
young, innocent, and uneducated -- unaware that the world is rifle with
lust, cruelty, and vanity.
(xii) Why is it difficult for Tess to reject Alec outright when he
asks her to become his mistress?
Ans. It is difficult for Tess to reject the marriage proposal of Alec
outright because Alec can offer economic security, not only for Tess but
her family as well.
(xiii) Who causes more destruction to Tess, Alec or Angel?
Why?
Ans. Angel causes more destruction to Tess. Angel has a moral centre
and knows right from wrong. Alex is an idiot, an easily leadable wolf
who has no redeemable qualities. Alex is incompetent and cannot be

held responsible. Angle is the only character in the novel who should
have known better, did know better and still behaves like a child.
(xiv) Why does Tess decide to leave Marlott?
Ans. Tess leaves the d'Urberbille estate when she is going to have a
baby. Then she decides to leave Marlott when she is hurt by her father
words, when her father says that the people will laugh at them again
by the story of her marriage.
(xv) What does Stonehenge figure in Tess' end? What do you
think it represents?
Ans. Stonehenge is a symbol of the ever-present past. It is Tess's final
place of symbolic sacrifice for her love for Angel Clare. Hardy's decision
to end the novel at Stonehenge not only gives the novel a dramatic
and unforgettable ending, but also shows Hardy's characters' desire to
see paganism as an alternative for a wholly Christian belief system.
QUESTION NO. 38
Tess As a Pure Woman

COMING SOON!
4. SAMPLE ANSWERS - PROSE

QUESTION NO. 1
(i) Who was Bacon and what did he do?
Ans. Francis Bacon was born on 22 January 1561 in London. He was the
son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, keeper of the great seal of Elizabeth I. Bacon
studied at Cambridge University and at Gray's Inn and became a
member of parliament in 1584. He served as attorney general and Lord
Chancellor of England during the Renaissance, but is is best know for

his contributions to philosophy.
(ii) What is your opinion about Bacon in the light of his
character sketch?
Ans.
(iii) What do the essays of Bacon tell about his age?
Ans.
(iv) What is aphorism?
Ans. Aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise
and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and
literary principles. For example, "Studies serve for delight, for
ornament and for ability". (Of Studies by Bacon)
(v) Why Bacon is called modern?
Ans.
(vi) Why is Bacon's style aphoristic?
Ans.
(vii) Why is Bacon's style different?
Ans.
(viii) Is Bacon's precision his wisdom?
Ans.
(ix) What do Bacon's essays teach?
Ans.
(x) Point out the Renaissance elements in Bacon's essays.
Ans. Pragmatical spirit, the Machiavellian approach to life, classical
learning, love of beauty and sensuousness, spirit of humanism,
curiosity and love of travel, wealth of metaphor and analogy, love of
learning, emphasis on ethics and morality, and love of exploration are
the Renaissance elements in Bacon's essays.
(xi) Bacon's essays are full of wisdom. How?
Ans.
(xii) Bacon's style is pithy. How?
Ans.
(xiii) Why is Bacon called a worldly moralist?
Ans.
(xiv) How are Bacon's essay an expression of brevity?
Ans.
(xv) What is the major difference between Russell's and
Bacon's prose style?

Ans.
QUESTION NO. 7
Renaissance Elements in Bacon

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 9
(i) What is the real title of 'Gulliver's Travels'?
Ans. The real title of "Gulliver's Travels" is "Travels into Several Remote
Nations of the World, by Lemuel Gulliver".
(ii) What is mock-utopia?
Ans. Mock-utopia refers to the idea that a society might appear to be
idyllic or might want to appear idyllic, but there is no such thing as a
perfect society. "Mock" means pretend or fake and "utopia" refers to a
perfect place. "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift is a mock-utopia.
(iii) How 'Gulliver's Travels' is a satire?
Ans. "Gulliver's Travels" serves as a biting satire. Swift uses mock
seriousness and understatement; he parodies and burlesques; he
presents a virtue and then turns it into vice. The tone of the book
varies from mild wit to outright derision. He is constantly attacking
British and European society through its descriptions of imaginary
countries.
(iv) Is Swift a pessimist?
Ans. No doubt, Swift has a very pessimistic view of human kind in
"Gulliver's Travels". However, the book is not a sermon of hopeless
pessimism but a farsighted overview of the social and ideological
tenets of bourgeois progress. Thus Swift is a hopeful pessimist.
(v) Has 'Gulliver's Travels' been written for children?
Ans. "Gulliver's Travels" is not really a children's book, but it has been
seen as a children's story from the start: little people, big people,
talking horses. However, since it publication it has been popular with

both children and adults.
(vi) Is 'Gulliver's Travels' interesting?
Ans. "Gulliver's Travels" is a story of adventure and has several
elements in it of a fairy tale. Both adventure and fairy-elements in a
story greatly appeal to the readers. Thus "Gulliver's Travels" is a very
interesting story.
(vii) Is 'Gulliver's Travels' a tragic work?
Ans. "Gulliver's Travels" is not a wholly tragic work. It does not have a
clear tragic hero. It would be quite appropriate to call is a tragiccomedy.
(viii) What is the purpose of Swift in writing 'Gulliver's
Travels'?
Ans. Swift's main purpose in writing "Gulliver's Travels" is to reform the
weakness and inability of the English government and political world
through the different places that he has artfully created in this book.
He also wants reforms in the inappropriateness of war, the fickleness of
the English social atmosphere, and the corruption of the legal universe
in Swift's era.
(ix) Who are Swift's satirical targets?
Ans. Education, politics, religion, science, society, the nature of man
and the king in the 18th century England are the satirical targets of
Swift in "Gulliver's Travels".
(x) What is the allegorical significance of the floating island of
Laputa?
Ans. The floating island of Laputa is about 4.5 miles in diameter, with
an adamantine base, which its inhabitants can maneuver in any
direction using magnetic levitation. The rebellion of Lindalino against
Laputa is an allegory of Ireland's revolt against Great Britain.
(xi) What are the two empires fighting about in 'Gulliver's
Travels'?
Ans. Lilliput and Blefuscu are the two empires fighting about in
"Gulliver's Travels". They represent the constant fighting between
England and France in the early 18th century.
(xii) What is the significance of size in 'Gulliver's Travels'?
Ans. The small size of Lilliputians and Blefuscudians is an indication of
their moral stature. The Lilliputians are petty, vain, spiteful, selfimportant, and ready to make a war at the drop of a hat. The
Blefuscudians favour opening eggs on the big end, in opposition to the

position of the Lilliputians, and declare a war on Lilliput. On the other
hand, the giant Brodingnagians are good, noble and peace-loving.
(xiii) Who is Gulliver?
Ans. Lemuel Gulliver is the narrator and protagonist of the story. He is
the only genuinely developed character in the whole book. He is the
son of a middle-class family in Nottingham shire, England. Although he
is intelligent and well educated, his perception are naive and gullible.
(xiv) Who are Lilliputians?
Ans. The Lilliputians inhabit the first island Gulliver visits. They are men
six inches in height but possessing all the pretension and selfimportance of full-sized men. They are ruled by an Emperor. They are
mean and nasty, vicious, morally corrupt, hypocritical and deceitful,
jealous and envious, filled with greed and ingratitude -- they are, in
fact, completely human.
(xv) How did Gulliver help the king of Lilliput?
Ans. Gulliver helped the king of Lilliput in different ways. He helped the
king specially in military, by stealing the Blefuscudian's navy.
QUESTION NO. 12
Swift As a Satirist
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 17
(i) In his preface, what does Strachey claim are his goals in
writing 'Eminent Victorians'?
Ans.
(ii) What are the contents of 'Eminent Victorians'?
Ans. "Eminent Victorians" is a book by Lytton Strachey, first published
in 1918 and consisting of four leading figures from the Victorian era.
These figures are: Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, Thomas
Arnold, and General Gordon.
(iii) What are Strachey's targets of irony?

Ans.
(iv) Who was General Gordon?
Ans. General Gordon (1833 - 1885) was a British army officer and
administrator. He became a national hero for his exploits and his illfated defense of Khartoum against Sudanese rebels.
(v) When and where was General Gordon born?
Ans. General Gordon was born on January 28, 1833 at Woolwich in
London - one of 11 children, 5 girls and 6 boys in a closely-knit and
very happy family of a Royal Artillery officer.
(vi) Why is General Gordon always studying his Bible?
Ans.
(vii) What is the physical appearance of General Gordon?
Ans.
(viii) What services did General Gordon render for Britain?
Ans.
(ix) What services did General Gordon render for China?
Ans.
(x) Why was General Gordon given the nickname 'Chinese'?
Ans.
(xi) What services did General Gordon render with the
Khedive?
Ans.
(xii) What services did General Gordon perform as the
governor general of Sudan?
Ans.
(xiii) Why was General Gordon sent to Khartoum?
Ans.
(xiv) When and why General Gordon return to Europe?
Ans.
(xv) How did General Gordon meet his death?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 20
Strachey As a Biographer
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 25
(i) Write the names of contents of 'Unpopular Essays' by
Russell.
Ans. There are 12 contents of "Unpopular Essays" which are;
Philosophy and Politics, Philosophy of Laymen, The Future of Mankind,
Philosophy's Ulterior Motives, The Superior Virtue of the Oppressed, On
Being Modern Minded, An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish, The Functions
of a Teacher, Ideas that have Helped Mankind, Ideas that have Harmed
Mankind, Eminent Men I have Known, and Obituary.
(ii) Is Russell's 'Unpopular Essays' about unpopularity?
Ans.
(iii) Why are Russell's essays so difficult?
Ans.
(iv) Why is Russell so complicated?
Ans.
(v) How is Russell a pacifist?
Ans.
(vi) Why is Russell apposed to irrationality in human life?
Ans.
(vii) 'Man' is the basic concern of Russell. Why?
Ans.
(viii) What is the main focus of Russell's 'Philosophy and
Politics'?
Ans.
(ix) Why does Russell favour the idea of world government?
Ans.
(x) What is the difference between Hegel and Locke's
philosophy?
Ans.
(xi) What is the force of power in the Middle East?
Ans.
(xii) How would you define 'empiricism'?
Ans. Empiricism is a theory that states that knowledge comes only or
primarily from sensory experience. John Locke is a leading philosopher

of British empiricism.
(xiii) Interpret 'Change is one thing, progress is another'.
Ans.
(xiv) What are the three possible scenarios for the future of
mankind?
Ans.
(xv) Why does Russell want a safe and prosperous future of
mankind?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 28
Russell As a Philosopher
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 33
(i) Who is Edward Said?
Ans. Edward Wadie Said (1 November 1935 - 25 September 2003) was
Palestinian American literary theorist and public intellectual who
helped found the critical-theory field of post-colonialism.
(ii) Why is Edward Said famous?
Ans.
(iii) What are the nicknames of Edward Said?
Ans. The full name of Edward Said is "Edward Wadie Said". He has two
famous nicknames; Ed Wadie and Ed Said
(iv) What is the source of 'Culture and Imperialism'?
Ans.
(v) What is the main focus of Edward Said in 'Introduction to
Culture and Imperialism'?
Ans.
(vi) When was 'Culture and Imperialism' published?
Ans. "Culture and Imperialism" is a collection of essays by Edward Said
published in 1993. It followed his highly influential "Orientalism",

published in 1978.
(vii) What is the connection between 'Culture and Imperialism'
and 'Orientalism'?
Ans.
(viii) What is culture according to Edward Said? How is it
influencing on people?
Ans.
(ix) What is imperialism?
Ans. Imperialism is a type of advocacy of Empire. It is a policy of
extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of
military force, or other means. Edward Said uses the term more
broadly to describe any system of domination and subordination
organized with an imperial center and periphery.
(x) What damages has imperialism caused in the past?
Ans.
(xi) What is the relationship between culture and imperialism
of the West?
Ans.
(xii) What does Edward Said mean by civilization?
Ans.
(xiii) What is colonialism?
Ans.
(xiv) What is post colonialism?
Ans.
(xv) What are literary illusions?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 40
Influence of Post Colonialism

on Edward Said
COMING SOON!
5. SAMPLE ANSWERS AMERICAN LIT.

QUESTION NO. 1
(i) What is uniquely American about Whitman's poetry?
Ans.
(ii) What, in Whitman's view, is the function of poetry?
Ans.
(iii) Describe Whitman's conception of the soul and the body.
Ans. The soul and the body are inextricably linked for Whitman. While
the soul is the ultimate repository of the self, and the connection
between souls is the highest order of relating, the body is the vessel
that allows the soul to experience the world. Therefore the body is just
as important.
(iv) What kinds of structures does Whitman use in his poetry?
Ans. Two of the most important structures in Whitman's poetry are the
list and the anecdote. He avoids structures like rhyme because he
wants to show that his is a truly American poetry, one that is fresh and
new, and not indebted to previous poets from other countries.
(v) What kind of vocabulary does Whitman use in his poetry?
Ans. Whitman's vocabulary borrows from these disciplines; anatomy,
astronomy, carpentry and construction, military and war terms,
nautical terms and terms related to the sea, business and professions,
flora and fauna of America.
(vi) What kinds of landscapes do we see in Whitman's poetry?
Ans.
(vii) How does Whitman handle modernity and technological
change?
Ans.
(viii) What is the theme of 'There was a Child Went Forth'?
Ans.
(ix) What is the theme of 'I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak
Growing'?
Ans.
(x) What is the theme of 'One's-Self I Sing'?
Ans.
(xi) What is the theme of 'Poets to Come'?

Ans.
(xii) What is the theme of 'O Captain! My Captain!'?
Ans.
(xiii) What is the theme of 'To a Stranger'?
Ans.
(xiv) What is the theme of 'Shut Not Your Doors'?
Ans.
(xv) What is the theme of 'The Carols'?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 5
Critical Appreciation of "O

Captain! My Captain!
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 9
(i) What are the basic themes in the poetry of John Ashbery?
Ans. John Ashbery's poetry is mainly about the play and process of the
mind interacting with the world. He is also concerned with the process
of artistic creation and appreciation. His themes are numerous since
the mind perceiving subjects is numerous. Other themes include, love,
loss, alienation, the everyday, painting, art, emotions, homeeroticism,
and emotions etc.
(ii) What are the major elements of modernity in John
Ashbery's Poetry?
Ans.
(iii) What is the symbolic significance of the title 'Melodic
Trains'?
Ans.
(iv) What is the main theme of 'Melodic Trains'?
Ans.
(v) What are the symbolic elements in 'Melodic Trains'?
Ans.
(vi) How is journey of train similar to journey of mind? (Melodic
Trains)
Ans.
(vii) What do the stations of train symbolize in 'Melodic Trains'?
Ans.
(viii) What is the main theme of the poem 'The Painter'?
Ans. The main theme of the poem "The Painter" by John Ashbery is that
innovator, modern and creative artists are crucified by the traditional
and conventional people.
(ix) How does Ashbery define art in 'The Painter'?
Ans.
(x) What is Ashbery's wish in 'The Painter'?
Ans.
(xi) What are the major symbols in 'The Painter'?
Ans.
(xii) What does the sea symbolize in 'The Painter'?
Ans.
(xiii) Why does the poet use the image of Tower of Pisa in
'Melodic Trains'?
Ans.
(xiv) Trace political and religious allegory in 'The Painter'?
Ans.
(xv) Why does the painter not paint anything on the canvas?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 12
Critical Appreciation of
"Melodic Trains"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 17
(i) What is trilogy?
Ans. Trilogy is a group of three literary works that together compose a
larger narrative. Early types of trilogy resulted from the common
practice of Athenian playwrights, who would submit tragedies as
groups of three plays for performance in the Dionysia. Examples
include the Oresteia of Aeschylus and Sophocles' trilogy of Oedipus
Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colona.
(ii) In what ways does mourning become Electra?
Ans.
(iii) What is the historical context of 'Mourning Becomes
Electra'?
Ans.
(iv) Why has O'Neil used myth and legend as symbols in his
play?
Ans.
(v) How does O'Neil symbolize hair and eyes in 'Mourning
Becomes Electra'?
Ans.
(vi) What is the significance of the 'Blessed Islands'?
Ans.
(vii) What is the meaning of theme song 'Shenandoah'?
Ans.
(viii) Who are the haunted in 'Mourning Becomes Electra'?
Ans.
(ix) Why are the Mannons driven to their self destructive
behaviour?
Ans.
(x) Why do every Mannon in 'Mourning Becomes Electra' seek
escape from the real world?
Ans.
(xi) Why does Lavinia say, 'I hate love!'?
Ans.
(xii) What kind of relationship does Lavinia have with her
mother?
Ans.
(xiii) Why does Lavinia hate her mother?

Ans.
(xiv) Why does Lavinia hate Adam?
Ans.
(xv) Why is Lavinia instead of committing suicide prepared to
meet her punishment by living a solitary life?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 22
Character Sketch of Electra

COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 23
(i) What is a crucible?
Ans. A crucible is a container that can withstand very high
temperatures and is used for metal, glass, and pigment production as
well as a number of modern laboratory processes. It's a little container
full of violent reactions. It is a good metaphor for the violent hysteria
that the little village of Salem contained during the witch trials.
(ii) What is an overture? Why does Miller use on in 'The
Crucible'?
Ans. An overture is a dramatic instrumental musical opening, and also
a prelude. In "The Crucible", the first Act is named "An Overture"
because it is the beginning of a series of dramatic events that will
occur throughout the course of the play. It provides relevant and
interesting background information on the events that occurred during
the Salem witch trials.
(iii) What is the purpose of Miller's comments and explanation
throughout the play?
Ans.
(iv) Why does Miller open Act IV of 'The Crucible' with a scene
of madness?
Ans. By opening Act IV with its chilling, yet pitiful scene of madness
among the prisoners, as seen especially in Tituba's ravings, Miller
powerfully conveys the depth of the misery, suffering, and insanity
wrought by the witchcraft trails. This scene also creates a dark
atmosphere and a somber tone of the tragic final events that are about
to unfold.
(v) State the significance of fifth avenue parade in July 1917.
Ans.
(vi) What does fire symbolize 'The Crucible'?
Ans.
(vii) Interpret 'Them that will not confess will hang'.
Ans.
(viii) How does Abigail thrives on the attention of all in the
court and become the centre of excitement?
Ans.
(ix) What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be
pretending fails on her?
Ans.
(x) Why does Abigail accuse Proctor's wife?
Ans. Abigail accuses Proctor's wife of witchcraft, most likely because
she is in love with John Proctor. Accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft may
get Elizabeth out of the picture and make room for her. A second
reason for accusing her of witchcraft includes protection. If John's own
wife is accused, he will be less inclined to condemn all the girls.
(xi) What are Abigail's feelings towards John Proctor?
Ans.
(xii) Why does John Proctor confess his act of adultery?
Ans.
(xiii) Why has proctor refused to let Parris baptize his third
child?
Ans.
(xiv) How has Proctor earned his death?
Ans.
(xv) Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds
the puppet with the needle in it?
Ans. Cheever has not once doubted the Proctors. He did not believe
Abigail's story that Elizabeth's spirit stabbed her in the stomach. When
he finds the poppet, he is astonished because it is evidence enough for
him to believe that Abigail was telling the truth and Elizabeth is a
witch. He is afraid both by the thought of what will happen to her and
the thought of how rampant the witchcraft in his own town.
QUESTION NO. 26
Major Thematic Concerns in

"The Crucible"
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 29
(i) What is the meaning of the title 'A Farewell to Arms'?
Ans. There are two straightforward interpretations of the title "A
Farewell to Arms", with a pun on the word "Arms". The hero, Frederick
Henry, bids farewell to 'arms' as in weapons, and also, when Catherine
dies, to the loving 'arms' of a human being.
(ii) What is Hemingway's opinion about war?
Ans.
(iii) How does love affect the characters' perception of war?
Ans.
(iv) What is the role of foreshadowing in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
Ans.
(v) What kind of weather dominates the novel 'A Farewell to
Arms'?
Ans.
(vi) What do lowlands and mountains symbolize in 'A Farewell
to Arms'?
Ans.
(vii) What does wine symbolize in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
Ans.
(viii) What are the major conflicts in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
Ans.
(ix) What is the 'Lost Generation' in 'A Farewell to Arms'?

Ans.
(x) Interpret 'I'm not brave anymore darling. I'm all broken.
They've broken me.'
Ans.
(xi) How is Frederic Henry?
Ans. Fredrick Henry is the narrator and protagonist of the novel "A
Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway. He is a young American ambulance
driver in the Italian army during World War I. He displays courage in
battle, but his selfless motivations undermine all sense of glory and
heroism. His life lacks real passion until he meets the beautiful
Catherine Barkley.
(xii) Why is Frederic Henry in the ambulance service instead of
a combat unit like the soldier from Pittsburgh?
Ans.
(xiii) What type of rifle does Frederic has? What country is it
from?
Ans. Frederic has a sniper rifle. It is a man-portable, high precision,
shoulder-fired rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets
at longer rangers than other small arms. The rifle of Frederic is from
Austria.
(xiv) Why does Frederic Henry plunge into the river The
Tagliamento?
Ans. Frederic is arrested by Italian army, tied to a tree and about to be
shot when he breaks free and escapes to the relative safety of the
water. He plunges into Tagliamento river, where he hold onto a log.
Fredric's plunge into the river is seen by many as a baptism.
(xv) How is Henry wounded after he crawls out of the river?
Ans. When Henry crawls out of the river, he attempts to hide on a train
to Milan. In the attempt, he cuts his head.
QUESTION NO. 33
Frederic Henry As a
Typical Hemingway
Hero
COMING SOON!
QUESTION NO. 35
(i) What is the symbolic significance of the title 'Jazz'?
Ans. Jazz is called Jazz because it is structure on a little musical form
called ... Jazz. The novel has alternating character voices that act like
solos, repeating refrains that keep it flowing in one general direction, a
feeling of dissonance and harmony at the same dang time -- all of
which are attributes of a musical form called Jazz.
(ii) Tell with reference to Jazz, what is Harlem Renaissance?
Ans. The Harlem Renaissance was the name given to the cultural,
social, and artistic explosion that took place in Harlem between the
end of World War I and the middle of the 1930s. During this period
Harlem was a cultural center, drawing black writers, artists, musicians,
photographers, poets, and scholars.
(iii) Why was the Jazz music called the devil's music?
Ans. The reason why jazz was called "the devil's music" was because
"Jazz" used to be a slang word associated with sex. Also, jazz originally
came out of the brothels. So the more "wholesome" members of
society did not want anything to do with it.
(iv) What is the effect of Jazz on the lives of poor people?
Ans.
(v) Define feminism.
Ans. Feminism is a range of movements and ideologies that share a
common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political,
economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. This includes
seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and
employment. A feminist advocates or supports the rights and equality
of women.
(vi) Interpret 'Don't ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I
din't fall in love, I rose in it.'
Ans. This line is from Toni Morrison's novel "Jazz". In this line, Joe Trace
addresses Dorcas directly in his imagination. Dorcas is already dead,
but his is explaining how he felt and still feels about her. He does not
regret the relationship because he freely chose it.
(vii) Interpret 'When they fall in love with a city, it is forever
and it is like forever.'
Ans.
(viii) Interpret 'A son ain't what a woman say. A son is what a
man do.'
Ans.
(ix) Who is Violet?
Ans. Violet is a fifty-six year old woman living in Harlem with her
husband Joe. She is nicknamed "Violet" after she invades Dorcas'
funeral to dishonor the girl's face with a knife. An orphan raised by her
grandmother in rural Virginia, Violet herself has no children and, after
several miscarriages, she longs for a child.
(x) Why does Violet release her encaged birds?
Ans. Violet releases her encaged birds after Dorcas dies. She rejects
what she holds dear, both in terms of the birds and in terms of her
relationship with Joe.
(xi) Why does Violet plan to get herself a boy friend?
Ans.
(xii) Who is Joe Trace?
Ans. Joe Trace is Violet's husband. He is a good looking man in his late
fifties. He works hard, shuttling between a job as a waiter and a
cosmetic salesman. He loves his wife but is hurt when she closes
herself off from him because of her depression. A sympathetic
character, Joe is nonetheless a murderer and adulterer, cheating his
wife and then killing his lover.
(xiii) Name the parents of Joe Trace.
Ans.
(xiv) Why is there tension between Joe and Violet?
Ans.
(xv) Why are Joe and Violet subject of ridicule in their
community?
Ans.
QUESTION NO. 40
City As a Character in "Jazz"

CLASSICAL POETRY ANSWERS

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SAMPLE ANSWERS - CLASSICAL

(viii) Define satire.

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

Irony and Satire in "The

(xv) What demon is floating alongside Satan in the fiery lake at

Milton's Grand Style in

Ans. An allegory is an extended metaphor in which abstract ideas,

protect his charge, but he is unsuccessful in preventing the loss of the

Character Sketch of Belinda

QUESTION NO. 25.

events, legends, geography, or earlier literary works. For example,

Donne As a Metaphysical Poet

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

(viii) What is 'the house of Morpheus'?

Elizabeth; Lucy Morgan, a brothel owner and former maid to Queen

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

2. SAMPLE ANSWERS - DRAMA

dying and asks the king to save Thebes.

Oedipus Rex As a Tragic Hero

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

fundamentalists and priests. It is a tool one uses to manipulate other

(xiv) Why is Barabas' all property confiscated?

Barabas As an Evil Incarnate

She is capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago,

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

Theme of Jealously in "Othello"

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

Importance of Island in "The

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

character Jack uses to slide away from responsibilities and do as he

view marriage differently?

Character Sketch of Miss Prism

3. SAMPLE ANSWERS - NOVEL

Charles Dickens are famous English novels.

of the narrative. There are several famous digressions in Homer, such

themes of "Joseph Andrews".

Henry Fielding As the Father of

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

Character Sketch of Elizabeth

Symbolism in "A Tale of Two

upon present identity, the importance of sympathy, the effect of

to Lucy and needles are fatal to Maggie's physical desires.

Eliot's Art of Characterization

(i) Why has Hardy divided 'Tess of the d'Urbevilles' in 'Phases'?

who has no redeemable qualities. Alex is incompetent and cannot be

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

Tess As a Pure Woman

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar

4. SAMPLE ANSWERS - PROSE

Chancellor of England during the Renaissance, but is is best know for

Bacon's prose style?

Renaissance Elements in Bacon

talking horses. However, since it publication it has been popular with

Blefuscudians favour opening eggs on the big end, in opposition to the

(iii) What are Strachey's targets of irony?

primarily from sensory experience. John Locke is a leading philosopher

published in 1993. It followed his highly influential "Orientalism",

Influence of Post Colonialism

5. SAMPLE ANSWERS AMERICAN LIT.

(xi) What is the theme of 'Poets to Come'?

Critical Appreciation of "O

(xiii) Why does Lavinia hate her mother?