English Literature MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) - Schoolingaxis.com

English Literature MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

 Que- In The Inferno, how are the wrathful punished ? 

a. They violently fight each other in a muddy swamp.  

b. They are burned in their graves.  

c. They roll heavy stones onto one another.  

d. They are forced to lie under the surface of a marsh. 


Answer- They violently fight each other in a muddy swamp.


Que- In The Inferno, Cerberus is the protector of which circle of hell ? 

a. The circle of lust  

b. The circle of gluttony  

c. The circle of heresy  

d. The circle of treachery 


Answer- The circle of gluttony


Que- According to Robert Hollander, what are the two types of allegory used by Dante ? 

a. Allegory of speech and "allegory of the poets"  

b. Allegory of speech and "allegory of irony"  

c. Allegory of speech and "allegory of the theologians"  

d. Allegory of the poets and "allegory of the theologians" 


Answer- Allegory of the poets and "allegory of the theologians"


Que- According to most critics, how does Dante distinguish love from lust ? 

a. Lust is often pure, while love tends to be crude.  

b. Lust and love are both sins that place the sinner in hell.  

c. Lust involves the subordination of reason to desire.  

d. Lust leads to moral improvement, while love is a more destructive force. 


Answer- Lust involves the subordination of reason to desire.


Que- According to critics, how does Dante's underworld differ from Virgil's hell ? 

a. Unlike Virgil's hell, Dante's underworld focuses on punishment for sins.  

b. Unlike Virgil's hell, Dante's underworld is concerned with destiny and future.  

c. Unlike Virgil's hell, Dante's underworld is not expected to last forever.  

d. Unlike Virgil's hell, Dante's underworld does not include examples of justice. 


Answer- Unlike Virgil's hell, Dante's underworld focuses on punishment for sins.


Que- While in exile, how did Dante's opinions about monarchy shift ? 

a. He came to prefer the idea of an enlightened emperor.  

b. He decided that only a dictator should be in power.  

c. He decided that only the Catholic Church should be in power.  

d. He came to the realization that all emperors are unjust. 


Answer- He came to prefer the idea of an enlightened emperor.


Que- Which of the following is the theme of De Vulgari Eloquentia ? 

a. The historical evolution of language  

b. The language of different literary genres  

c. The difference between grammar and language  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- Which of the following historical events occurred in Dante's lifetime ? 

a. The Italian Renaissance  

b. The Black Death  

c. The Crusades  

d. The Enlightenment 


Answer- The Crusades


Que- Which of the following best represents Dante's criticism of the medieval Church ? 

a. He thought the popes failed to live up the requirements of their offices.  

b. He disbelieved in the Christian doctrine.  

c. He believed that most of the teachings were incorrect.  

d. He thought that the popes were the only successful part of the Church. 


Answer- He thought the popes failed to live up the requirements of their offices.


Que- What is the translation of the term "dolce stil novo" ? 

a. The sweet silence  

b. The sweetness of love  

c. Sweet and still  

d. Sweet new style 


Answer- Sweet new style


Que- What did Dante have in common with Aquinas ? 

a. Both believed that reason was unrelated to faith.  

b. Both believed in the joint power of the Church and the State.  

c. Both believed that only faith was an important part of the Christian worldview.  

d. Both believed that reason and faith were part of the quest for truth. 


Answer- Both believed that reason and faith were part of the quest for truth.


Que- In which way was Dante a precursor of humanism ? 

a. He wrote classical epics with Christian materials.  

b. He promoted the worship of idolatrous statues from the ancient times.  

c. He rejected the influence of Scholasticism.  

d. He was uninterested in the poetics of the sublime. 


Answer- He wrote classical epics with Christian materials.


Que- In which of the following ways was Dante involved in the Italian politics of his time ? 

a. He held several positions in the local government.  

b. He conducted diplomatic missions.  

c. He literally fought at the Battle of Campaldino.  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- In which dialect is Dante's Vita Nuova primarily written ? 

a. Latin  

b. Tuscan  

c. English  

d. French 


Answer- Tuscan


Que- In De Vulgari Eloquentia, Dante writes primarily in which language ? 

a. Tuscan  

b. Italian  

c. Latin  

d. English 


Answer- Latin


Que- For what reason was Dante exiled from his home ? 

a. Because many people were deeply offended by The Divine Comedy  

b. Because he was embroiled in the conflict between the Black Guelphs and White Guelphs  

c. Because Pope Boniface VIII was upset by his representation of the church in The Divine Comedy  

d. Because Beatrice's family wanted the two lovers separated 


Answer- Because he was embroiled in the conflict between the Black Guelphs and White Guelphs


Que- According to Dante, when is it most appropriate to use Latin ? 

a. In written literature  

b. In everyday speech  

c. In essays  

d. In love poetry 


Answer- In essays


Que- In De Monarchia, what political opinion does Dante express about empire ? 

a. He promotes the separation of Church and State.  

b. He declares papal authority infallible.  

c. He declares emperors infallible.  

d. He says that all empires should be ruled by dictators. 


Answer- He promotes the separation of Church and State.


Que- Which qualities do the fixed stars in paradise represent ? 

a. Faith, hope, and love  

b. Faith, wisdom, and love  

c. Love, compassion, and pride  

d. Justice, temperance, and faith 


Answer- Faith, hope, and love


Que- What is the function of the Primum Mobile ? 

a. It symbolizes Dante's distrust of the Church.  

b. It is the home of the angels.  

c. It separates heaven from hell.  

d. It reminds Dante of his own pride 


Answer- It is the home of the angels.


Que- In which section of The Divine Comedy does Saint Bernard appear ? 

a. The Inferno  

b. The Convivio  

c. The Purgatorio  

d. The Paradiso 


Answer- The Paradiso


Que- In The Paradiso, who leads Dante on his tour of heaven ? 

a. Virgil  

b. Beatrice  

c. Cato  

d. Ulysses 


Answer- Beatrice


Que- In The Paradiso, which quality does Dante associate with the wise ? 

a. Justice  

b. Temperance  

c. Fortitude  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- In The Paradiso, what event does Dante allegorically represent ? 

a. The soul's union with the body  

b. The soul's ascent to heaven  

c. The soul's tour of purgatory  

d. The soul's descent into hell 


Answer- The soul's ascent to heaven


Que- In The Paradiso, how does Dante's journey through heaven end ? 

a. With his exclusion from purgatory  

b. With a vision of the Trinity  

c. With his return to hell  

d. With his death 


Answer- With a vision of the Trinity


Que- In The Paradiso, Dante bases his structure of paradise on which of the following ? 

a. The Renaissance concept of the planets  

b. The Ptolemaic universe  

c. Ancient Roman cosmology  

d. Ancient Greek cosmology 


Answer- The Ptolemaic universe


Que- In Saturn, what does Peter Damian say about God's ways ? 

a. He says that God's ways are similar to those of Roman emperors.  

b. He says that God's ways are extremely simple.  

c. He says that God's ways are beyond human understanding.  

d. He says that God's ways are only available to those in heaven. 


Answer- He says that God's ways are beyond human understanding.


Que- In De Monarchia, what language does Dante primarily use ? 

a. English  

b. Latin  

c. Italian  

d. Tuscan 


Answer- Latin


Que- According to scholars, what is the function of the rose that Dante sees in paradise ? 

a. It alludes to the Garden of Eden.  

b. It symbolizes perfection and paradise.  

c. It is a symbol of the Virgin Mary.  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- According to Dante, which class of people reside on the planet Mars ? 

a. The wise  

b. The warriors of faith  

c. The justice rulers  

d. The contemplative 


Answer- The warriors of faith


Que- Who is Cato ? 

a. A character who appears in the lust circle of hell  

b. A character who appears in the ninth circle of hell  

c. The example Dante uses to show a perfect Christian man  

d. An ancient pagan that Dante meets in purgatory 


Answer- An ancient pagan that Dante meets in purgatory


Que- Which of the following characters appears in The Purgatorio ? 

a. Sapia  

b. Cato  

c. Sordello  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- What is the function of the River Lethe ? 

a. It separates heaven from hell.  

b. It prevents sinners from escaping hell.  

c. It washes away the memory of sin.  

d. It separates Dante from the other sinners 


Answer- It washes away the memory of sin.


Que- What does the term "translatio studii" mean ? 

a. The ability to move from purgatory into heaven  

b. The translation of culture from one civilization to another  

c. The movement from one circle of hell to another  

d. The idea that the punishment fits the crime 


Answer- The translation of culture from one civilization to another


Que- The levels of purgatory are associated with which religious concept ? 

a. The planets  

b. The seven deadly sins  

c. The Augustan calendar  

d. The seven sacraments 


Answer- The seven deadly sins


Que- In The Purgatorio, which of the following characters does Dante dream about ? 

a. Rachel and Leah  

b. Brutus and Cassius  

c. Dido and Aeneas  

d. Pope Boniface and Pope Clement 


Answer- Rachel and Leah


Que- In The Purgatorio, what is the function of the residents' punishments ? 

a. The punishments prevent hope from being reborn in sinners.  

b. The punishments keep the sinners from entering the path to salvation.  

c. The punishments allow the sinners to purge their sins.  

d. The punishments remind the sinners that they are damned to hell. 


Answer- The punishments allow the sinners to purge their sins.


Que- In The Purgatorio, how does Dante represent the entryway to the seventh terrace of lust ? 

a. He must be allowed by Cerberus to pass.  

b. He must walk through an immense wall of flames.  

c. He must be escorted into the terrace by an angelic messenger.  

d. He must first be ferried across the River Lethe. 


Answer- He must walk through an immense wall of flames.


Que- According to most scholars, what does The Purgatorio allegorically represent ? 

a. The penitent life  

b. The afterlife existence for mortal sinners  

c. The heavenly paradise  

d. The earthly paradise 


Answer- The penitent life


Que- According to Dr. Mazzotta, what trait distinguishes Dante's purgatory from his hell ? 

a. Purgatory is less future-oriented.  

b. Purgatory is a place of redemptive intervention.  

c. Purgatory includes references to time.  

d. Purgatory is less rooted in the human, natural world. 


Answer- Purgatory includes references to time.


Que- According to Dr. Mazzotta, what is the central allegorical theme in The Purgatorio ? 

a. The poet's attempt to climb the mountain  

b. The poet's attempt to find his way back to Florence from Jerusalem  

c. The poet's descent into hell  

d. The poet's tour of earthly paradise 


Answer- The poet's attempt to climb the mountain


Que- According to Dante, who resides in his ante-purgatory ? 

a. The souls of those who are ready to enter heaven  

b. The souls of those who are not yet ready to purge their sins  

c. The souls of those who are about to enter hell  

d. The souls of the repentant who are punished for their sins 


Answer- The souls of those who are not yet ready to purge their sins


Que- According to Dante, what place is at the top of his purgatory ? 

a. The Gate to Limbo  

b. The Garden of Eden  

c. The Dark Wood  

d. The circles of Hell 


Answer- The Garden of Eden


Que- Which historical figure appears in the circle of lust ? 

a. Francesca  

b. Judas  

c. Ciacco  

d. Alberigo 


Answer- Francesca


Que- What is limbo ? 

a. In The Inferno, the place for many ancient Roman, Greek, and Egyptian thinkers  

b. For Dante, the home of major figures from the Hebrew Bible  

c. The place for virtuous non-Christian adults  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above


Que- The quote "abandon all hope ye who enter here" is from which text ? 

a. Vita Nuova  

b. The Divine Comedy  

c. De Vulgari Eloquentia  

d. De Monarchia 


Answer- The Divine Comedy


Que- In which circle would Dante place someone who committed suicide ? 

a. The circle of violence  

b. The circle of wrath  

c. The circle of heresy  

d. The circle of treachery 


Answer- The circle of violence


Que- In The Inferno, which three characters are located in the deepest circle of hell ? 

a. Guinevere, Dido, and Francesca  

b. Homer, Dante, and Virgil  

c. Brutus, Cassius, and Judas  

d. Pope Nicholas, Pope Boniface, and Pope Clement 


Answer- Brutus, Cassius, and Judas


Que- In The Inferno, where is hell physically situated ? 

a. Beneath Cairo  

b. Beneath Jerusalem  

c. Beneath Rome  

d. Beneath Florence 


Answer- Beneath Jerusalem


Que- In The Inferno, how is the idea of Fortune represented ? 

a. Fortune is a "divine minister" similar to an angel.  

b. Fortune is responsible for the distribution of worldly goods.  

c. Fortune is beyond human understanding.  

d. All of the above 


Answer- All of the above

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