Monday, June 19, 2023

Some Important Short And Long Answer Type Questions With Their Answers : (English Literature)

 Some Important Short Answer Type Questions With Their Answers :

1. What is Neo-classicism?

Neo-classicism is an eighteenth century western movement of art, literature and architecture. They got inspiration from ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

2. What is a mock-epic?

A mock-epic is a poem in which satire, exaggeration, irony and sarcasm is used to mock the subject or is used the epic style for the trivial subject etc.

3. What is a round character?

A round character is complex and dynamic. In this character improvement and change occurs during the course of work.

4. What is a soliloquy?

Soliloquy is a device used in drama in which a character speaks to himself or herself (thinking loud) by showing his/her feelings or thoughts to the audience.

5. What is conflict?

Conflict is a problem or struggle in a story or play. It occurs in rising action, climax and falling action. It creates suspense and excitement in the story or play.

6. Define 'black comedy'.

A black comedy is a humorous work in which human suffering is regarded as absurd and funny.

7. What is a complex plot?

A complex plot, according to Aristotle, is that which have 'peripeteia' (reversal) and 'anagnorisis (denouement) without these is a simple plot.

8. What is interior monologue?

Interior monologue is the expression of internal thought, feelings and emotions of a character in a dramatic or narrative form.

9. What is Epistolary novel?

Epistolary novel is a narrated work. In this type of novel the story is narrated through letters sent by the observer or by those participating in the events. Example: 18th century's novel 'Richardson's Pamela and Clarissa etc.

10. Differentiate between novel and novella.

Difference between novel and novella is the length of the narrative work. A novella is shorter than a novel and longer than a short story but a novel is a long narrated work.

11. What is 'Point of View?

'Point of view' is an opinion, judgment or attitude on a matter. It may be against or in favour.

12. Define a plot. What are its various elements?

A plot is a logical arrangement of events in a story or play. The exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution are the elements of it.

13. Differentiate between 'blank verse' and 'free verse'.

A 'blank verse' follows the fixed meter like iambic pentameter and un-rhymed. A 'free verse' is also un-rhymed but does not follow the fixed meter.

14. How can you define "pastoral elegy"?

A pastoral elegy is a poem about death. In this poem, the poet expresses his grief for the dead in rural setting or about the shepherds.

15. What is imagism?

Imagism is a movement of Anglo-American poets started in early nineteenth century in which they emphasized the use of clear images and simple and sharp language.

16. What is meant by Stream of Consciousness?

'Stream of Consciousness' is a technique of narration in which the series of thoughts in the mind of the characters are presented. "To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf is one example.

17. What was the Oxford movement?

The Oxford movement started in 1833 for the revival of Catholic doctrine in Anglican Church. It is against the conventional understanding of the religion.

18. Define 'Puritanism'?

Puritanism is the religious movement started in the sixteenth century and the goal of the movement was to purify the church of England from its Catholic practices.

19. What do you mean by 'theater of the absurd'?

Theater of the absurd is one kind of drama in which absurdity is emphasized and lacks realistic and logical structure. For example: "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett.

20. How can you differentiate between flat and round characters?

A round character is a complex and dynamic. In this character improvement and change occurs during the course of work but flat characters are uncomplicated and remain unchanged through the course of work.

21. What is the difference between 'open form poetry' and 'closed form poetry'?

Closed form poetry uses the fixed pattern of stanza, rhyme and meter etc. For example: sonnet, limerick, haiku and sestina etc. Open form poetry does not use these patterns.

22. What is the structure of Spenserian stanza?

Spenserian stanza consist of nine lines, eight lines are in iambic pentameter and followed by single line in iambic hexameter. The last line is called Alexandrine.

23. What is a blank verse?

A blank verse is a form of poetry written in iambic pentameter but un-rhymed.

24. What is 'Art for Arts' sake?

'Art for Arts' sake is nineteenth century literary movement which gives importance to aesthetic pleasure instead of moral, didactic or utilitarian function of literature.

25. What is meant by 'gothic novel'?

A gothic novel is one type of novel. In this type, the cruel passions and supernatural terror is presented. Example: Monastery or Haunted Castle etc.

26. What is a metaphysical poetry?

A metaphysical poetry is a highly intellectualized poetry with the use of wit, imagery, conceits and paradox etc. It is obscure and rigid. For example: "John Donne's poetry.

Some Important Long Answer Type Questions With Their Answers :

1. What is iambic pentameter?

Iambic pentameter is a metrical pattern commonly used in traditional English poetry. It consists of lines that contain five pairs of syllables, known as metrical feet, with each pair consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. The term "iambic" refers to the specific type of metrical foot called an "iamb," which consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.

In iambic pentameter, each line contains five iambs, resulting in a total of ten syllables. The stress pattern typically follows the natural emphasis of spoken English, with the stressed syllables providing a rhythmic pattern. This pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables creates a sense of regularity and musicality in the verse.

Many renowned poets, including William Shakespeare, John Donne, and Alexander Pope, extensively used iambic pentameter in their works. It has become a defining feature of traditional English poetry and is often associated with sonnets, blank verse, and heroic couplets.

2. How many types of meters are used in English poetry and what are they?

In English poetry, there are several types of meters commonly used to create rhythm and structure within a poem. Here are some of the most well-known types of meters:

Iambic meter: 

This is the most common meter in English poetry. It consists of iambs, which are metrical feet made up of two syllables with the stress on the second syllable. For example, "da-DUM" (unstressed-stressed). An example line of iambic pentameter is "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" (by William Shakespeare).

Trochaic meter: 

This meter is the opposite of iambic meter. It consists of trochees, which are metrical feet made up of two syllables with the stress on the first syllable. For example, "DUM-da" (stressed-unstressed). An example line of trochaic tetrameter is "Tyger! Tyger! burning bright" (by William Blake).

Anapestic meter: 

This meter consists of anapests, which are metrical feet made up of three syllables with the stress on the third syllable. For example, "da-da-DUM" (unstressed-unstressed-stressed). An example line of anapestic tetrameter is "And the sound of a voice that is still" (by Edgar Allan Poe).

Dactylic meter: 

This meter consists of dactyls, which are metrical feet made up of three syllables with the stress on the first syllable. For example, "DUM-da-da" (stressed-unstressed-unstressed). Dactylic meter is less commonly used in English poetry but can be found in works like "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (by Alfred, Lord Tennyson).

Spondaic meter: 

This meter consists of spondees, which are metrical feet made up of two syllables with equal stress on both syllables. For example, "DUM-DUM" (stressed-stressed). Spondaic meter is often used for emphasis or to create a particular rhythmic effect.

These are just a few examples of the many types of meters that can be found in English poetry. Poets often use a combination of these meters and may vary the meter within a poem to create different effects and evoke different emotions.

3. What is metrical feet in English poetry?

In English poetry, a metrical foot is a basic unit of stressed and unstressed syllables that form the underlying rhythm of a line. It helps determine the meter or the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. Each metrical foot consists of a certain number of syllables and a specific arrangement of stressed and unstressed accents.

Here are the most common types of metrical feet in English poetry:

Iamb: 

This foot consists of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. It is represented as "da-DUM" in notation. For example, the word "unite" is an iambic foot because it is pronounced as "u-NITE."

Trochee: 

This foot consists of two syllables, with the first syllable stressed and the second syllable unstressed. It is represented as "DUM-da" in notation. For example, the word "happy" is a trochaic foot because it is pronounced as "HAP-py."

Anapest: 

This foot consists of three syllables, with the first two syllables unstressed and the third syllable stressed. It is represented as "da-da-DUM" in notation. For example, the word "understand" is an anapestic foot because it is pronounced as "un-der-STAND."

Dactyl: 

This foot consists of three syllables, with the first syllable stressed and the next two syllables unstressed. It is represented as "DUM-da-da" in notation. For example, the word "elephant" is a dactylic foot because it is pronounced as "EL-e-phant."

Spondee: 

This foot consists of two syllables, both of which are stressed. It is represented as "DUM-DUM" in notation. For example, the word "heartbeat" is a spondaic foot because it is pronounced as "HEART-beat."

These metrical feet can be combined to create different patterns and meters, such as iambic pentameter (five iambs per line) or trochaic tetrameter (four trochees per line). Poets use these metrical feet and their patterns to establish the rhythm and musicality of their poetry.

                                ***

No comments:

Post a Comment