English Literature Mcqs
What was historically significant about Chretien de Troyes Yvain, le Chevalier au Lion ?

A. He recast the history of arthur into the romance genre.
B. He was the first to discuss the knights of the round table.
C. He separated arthurian legend from tales of courtly love.
D. He dropped the supernatural theme found in arthurian legend.

Which of the following genres applies to Langland’s “Piers Plowman” ?

A. Allegory
B. Social satire
C. Dream vision
D. All of these answers

What is the significance of the phrase protecting the heart from Acrene Wisse ?

A. The phrase refers to anchoresses’ responsibility to defend other christians.
B. The phrase suggests that women should safeguard their spirituality through total withdrawal from the world.
C. The phrase is considered one of the positive effects of prayer.
D. The phrase involves becoming a nunin order to escape the bad influence of men.

Why is the presence of the comitatus ethic in Beowulf significant ?

A. The comitatus ethic represents the shift from a nomadic to a more organized social structure.
B. The comitatus ethic is evidence of a period in which behavior was guided by christian ethics.
C. The comitatus ethic shows a historical return to older types of political organization.
D. The comitatus ethic represents a culture in which rulers had no responsibilities to their citizens.

Why is the Battle of Hastings relevant to the development of Middle English ?

A. English as a language of the king’s court was replaced by norman french.
B. Eventually english was reestablished, deeply influenced by norman french.
C. For a time, england became a country with two languages.
D. All of these answers

What is the significance of the title of “Everyman” ?

A. The title suggests a long history of conflict between the government and the individual.
B. The title is part of the morality play’s attempt to make christian struggles universal.
C. The title alludes to other plays in the same cycle.
D. The title suggests that faith-based issues are individual to each christian.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of Old English ?

A. Alliteration
B. Personification
C. Caesura
D. Romance

What is the significance of the dreamer in The Dream of the Rood ?

A. The dreamer functions as an example of the comitatus ethic.
B. The dreamer has a special hope for salvation.
C. The dreamer is a relic from before the christian conversion.
D. The dreamer is an example of the superstition of paganism.

What is the primary purpose of Chetien de Troye’s medieval romances ?

A. To convert readers to christianity through positive examples
B. To inform illiterate readers about arthurian legend
C. To reconcile the hero’s responsibilities in love and wars
D. To sway audiences away from reading tales of courtly love

Which of the following best defines Middle English ?

A. An early form spoken and written by the anglo-saxons
B. A filed-down old english with heavy french influence
C. A unique form of english spoken in germany
D. A form brought to england by the scandinavians