UGC NET Paper 2 English Mock Test - 5 - UGC NET MCQ

The correct answer is 'Industrial Landscape.'

Key Points

• The industrial setting is a prominent backdrop, reflecting the working-class environment of Nottingham.
• The factory landscape symbolizes the monotony and constraints of Arthur's everyday life.
• Sillitoe uses the industrial milieu to highlight the challenges and struggles of the working class.
• The noise, machinery, and routine of the factory become integral to Arthur's sense of confinement.
• The stark contrast between the industrial setting and Arthur's desire for freedom underscores the tension.
• The industrial landscape serves as a metaphor for societal limitations and the struggles of the working class.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

Additional Information

• Countryside Retreats (Option 2) are not the predominant setting and are not central to Arthur's character.
• Urban Glamour (Option 3) is not the focus; the novel portrays a working-class urban environment.
• Coastal Environments (Option 4) are not featured prominently in the narrative; the industrial landscape dominates.

The correct answer is ''3''.

Key Points

• The novel "Man-Eaters of Malgudi" was written by novelist R. K. Narayan and published in 1961.
• The story centers on the character of Nataraj, an Indian publisher who resides in the fictional town of Malgudi in the southern region of his country. 

​Therefore, Option 3 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• The novel "Fire  on the Mountain" was written by Anita Desai in the year 1988, which is a different version of history that depicts the realm as it might have been.
• The novel "The Interpreter of Maladies" was written by Jhumpa Lahiri in the year 1999, which is a collection of nine short stories.

The correct answer is Instructive Criticism.

Important Points There are three different kinds of criticism. They are legislative criticism, aesthetic criticism, and descriptive criticism.

• Legislative criticism lays down rules for the art of writing, based on the best works of Greek and Latin literature. The Elizabethan criticism in England and a large part of eighteenth-century criticism belong to legislative criticism.
• Aesthetic criticism treats literature as an art, independent activity of the mind. Examples are the criticism of Philip Sidney in the Elizabethan Age in England, John Dryden in the seventeenth century, and Joseph Addison in the eighteenth century. It was followed by S.T. Coleridge, Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, and I.A. Richards in our age.
• Descriptive criticism is a study of individual works of writers, of their aims, methods, and effects. Descriptive criticism is the latest of the three criticisms and the most popular. Among the earliest examples are Ben Johnson’s Conversations with Drummond and John Dryden’s prefaces.

Thus, Instructive Criticism is not a major school of criticism.

The correct answer is 'Imagism'.

Key Points

• Imagism was a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry that sought clarity, precision of language, and fidelity to the image. The Imagists rejected the sentiment and discursiveness typical of much Romantic and Victorian poetry.
• This was in line with Ezra Pound's exhortation to 'Make it New'. The movement favored free verse and was interested in Japanese forms like the haiku.
• The other movements listed, while significant in the Modernist era, do not match the description given in the question.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'substitutes one word for another based on similarity'.

Key Points

• Jakobson defines metaphor as a figure of speech that substitutes one word for another based on similarity.
• Metaphorical substitutions can be based on a variety of similarities, such as physical resemblance, functional similarity, or cause-and-effect relationships.
• Metaphors can be used to create vivid images, to compare two unlike things, or to express abstract ideas in concrete terms.
• Jakobson argues that metaphor is a fundamental cognitive process that allows us to understand and communicate about the world around us.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• Option 2 is incorrect because metonymy is a figure of speech that substitutes one word for another based on contiguity, not similarity.
• Option 3 is incorrect because ellipsis is a figure of speech that omits a word or phrase from a sentence, not substitutes one word for another.
• Option 4 is incorrect because pleonasm is a figure of speech that adds a word or phrase to a sentence, not substitutes one word for another.

The correct answer is  Paradise Lost. Key Points

• Paradise Lost is an epic poem by Milton. 
• It was written in 12 books, totaling more than 10,500 lines.
• It was written in blank verse and tells the biblical tale of the Fall of Mankind, the moment when Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and God banishes them from the Garden of Eden forever.

Therefore, Option 2 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Paradise Regained is a poem by John Milton, consisting of four books.The poem tells the story of Satan trying to tempt Jesus Christ like he tempted Adam.
• Samson Agonistes is a dramatic poem or a drama written in blank verse, meaning presented like a play with dialogue for several characters but is written in a poetic style.
• On The Late Massacre in Piedmont, is a sonnet with the theme of good, pious people trapped in a dark world.

The correct answer is "Webster".

Key Points

• 'Lexicography' is the study of lexicons or words that are required for the art of compiling and editing dictionaries. It finds its use in other academic disciplines.
•  Noah Webster is an American lexicographer, English-language spelling reformer, editor, author and political leader.
• An American Dictionary of the English Language published in 1828 also known as Merriam-Webster dictionary is one of his important works.

Therefore, the correct option is option 1.

The correct answer is 'Romanticism'.

Key Points

• Romanticism was a literary and artistic movement that spanned the late 18th to the mid-19th century, placing a strong emphasis on emotional depth, the beauty and mystery of nature, and the significance of individual experience and expression.
• Emotional intensity is a hallmark of Romantic literature and art, with creatives striving to evoke strong feelings and conjure vivid imagery to connect deeply with audiences on an emotional level.
• Nature, in Romanticism, is not just a backdrop for stories but a central character. It is revered and depicted as a source of solace, inspiration, and wisdom, often contrasted with the industrialized, urban world.
• The focus on Individualism and personal subjectivity during the Romantic period marked a departure from the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and collective societal progress. Romantics valued personal freedom, the exploration of the self, and the expression of one's innermost thoughts and desires.
• The movement was also characterized by a fascination with the unconventional, the supernatural, and the sublime—elements that were often woven into the exploration of nature and the self.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information:

• Imagism (Option 1) is a movement that came later, focusing on clarity, precision, and economy of language. It is characterized by vivid imagery and clear, sharp language.
• Symbolism (Option 2) was prevalent at the end of the 19th century and emphasized the use of symbols to represent ideas and emotions, often in a mysterious or abstract manner.
• Aestheticism (Option 4) arose in the late 19th century with the motto "Art for art's sake," focusing on the pursuit of beauty and the creation of art free from moral, political, or utilitarian considerations.

The correct answer is ​ Betty Friedan.

Key Points

• The Feminine Mystique, a landmark book by feminist Betty Friedan was published in 1963.
• It described the pervasive dissatisfaction among women in mainstream American society in the post-World War II period.
• She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfilment through housework, marriage, sexual passivity, and child-rearing alone.
• Further, prevailing attitudes held that “truly feminine” women had no desire for higher education, careers, or a political voice; rather, they found complete satisfaction in their domestic responsibilities.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Toni Morrison, was an American novelist. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
• Alice Walker is an American writer whose novels, short stories, and poems are noted for their insightful treatment of African American culture. Her novels, most notably The Color Purple (1982), focus particularly on women.

The correct answer is  Augustan. 

Key Points

• In the first half of the 18th century, English poets such as Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift emulated Virgil, Ovid, and Horace—the great Latin poets of the reign of the Emperor Augustus (27 BCE to 14 CE).
• Like the classical poets who inspired them, the English Augustan writers engaged the political and philosophical ideas of their day through urbane, often satirical verse.
• The reign of Augustus has often been called the Golden Age of Rome.
• This was the age of many great cultural achievements—including the writing of Roman poetry by the master poets Virgil and Ovid.
• Virgil, known for the Aeneid, and Horace, a prolific writer of smaller poems, were two of the most famous poets of the early Roman Empire in the first century B.C. Primarily known for his love of poetry.
• Ovid was the most successful poet of the following generation.

Therefore, Option 1 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Neo-Romanticism was an art movement that flourished in Great Britain during the first half of the twentieth century. Highlighting natural landscapes as canvases for emotion, the Neo-Romantics bridged numerous art history traditions, including Surrealism and Cubism
• The Romantic Period began roughly around 1798 and lasted until 1837.
• The political and economic atmosphere at the time heavily influenced this period, with many writers finding inspiration from the French Revolution. There was a lot of social change during this period
• Metaphysical poets (act. c. 1600–c. 1690), is a label often attached to a loosely connected group of seventeenth-century poets, among whom the central figures are John Donne, George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell, and Richard Crashaw.
• Metaphysical poetry is a group of poems that share common characteristics: they are all highly intellectualized, use rather strange imagery, use frequent paradox and contain extremely complicated thought.

The correct answer is All the above Poets.

Key Points

• The Auden group of poets were oxford educated and were partly communists.
• They were also known as pink poets because of their communist background.
• They employed Industrial imagery.
• They were called Pylon Poets.
• Pylon is a gadget used in electrical transmission.
• Example of a poem, is a poem written by Stephen Spender called The Pylons.
• They were classical in their outlook and were not experimental.
• Roy Cambell a critic made fun of them as Mac Spondee, including Louis MacNeice, Stephen Spender, W H Auden, and Cecil Day Louise, which are the main figures.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 4.

William Pearson (born July 27, 1938), known professionally as Bill Pearson, is an American novelist, publisher, editor, artist, comic book scripter and letterer, notable as the editor-publisher of his own graphic story publication, witzend.

The Restoration period begins in 1660, the year in which King Charles II (the exiled Stuart king) was restored to the English throne. From 1649 onwards England was ruled as a Republic. An act adopted by the Parliament on 19 May 1649 which declare England to be a Commonwealth and continued till 1660. On 4 April 1660 King Charles II (the exiled Stuart king) was restored to the English throne.

The term Restoration is used to describe the event when Anglican monarchy was restored after the Republican puritan commonwealth.

Shakespeare acted in Every Man in his humour though he was not part of the production.

The Rape of the Lock is a mock-heroic narrative poem written by Alexander Pope. One of the most commonly cited examples of high burlesque, it was first published anonymously in Lintot's Miscellaneous Poems and Translations (May 1712) in two cantos (334 lines); a revised edition "Written by Mr. Pope" followed in March 1714 as a five-canto version (794 lines) accompanied by six engravings. Pope boasted that this sold more than three thousand copies in its first four days. The final form of the poem appeared in 1717 with the addition of Clarissa's speech on good humour. The poem was much translated and contributed to the growing popularity of mock-heroic in Europe.

Because the ground swells naturally and makes gaps in the wall.

The correct answer is 'The enduring love between two souls.'

Key Points

• In "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning," John Donne uses the compass as a metaphor to express the enduring and transcendent nature of love.
• The compass represents the connection between two souls that remains unbroken, even when physically apart.
• Donne argues that true love is spiritual and can withstand physical separation.
• The imagery of the compass symbolizes the stability and consistency of love, likening it to a fixed center around which the moving leg of the compass revolves.
• The poem celebrates the strength of a mature and profound love that goes beyond the physical and temporal.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

Additional Information

• Option 2: The poem does not primarily focus on the fleeting nature of human life.
• Option 3: Jealousy is not the central theme addressed in "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning."
• Option 4: While death is mentioned, it is not the primary focus of the metaphor in this poem.

The correct answer is 'Norse through the Viking invasions.'

Key Points

• Language Contact and Borrowing: The Viking invasions of England during the 8th to 11th centuries introduced Norse speakers to the Anglo-Saxon population, leading to significant language contact and borrowing.
• Lexical Contributions: Norse contributed a substantial number of words to the English lexicon, particularly in everyday vocabulary, place names, and even in the realm of law and governance.
• Phonetic Influence: The interactions between Old English and Old Norse speakers are also believed to have influenced the phonetic development of English, including changes in vowel sounds and the simplification of consonant clusters.
• Grammar and Syntax: The influence extended beyond vocabulary; it had impacts on grammar and syntax, with some scholars suggesting that the similarity between the two languages facilitated mutual intelligibility and borrowing.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: While Latin had a significant influence on the English language, it was primarily through the Christianization of England rather than the Roman Conquest.
• Option 3: French had a profound influence on English vocabulary, but this occurred later, primarily after the Norman Conquest in 1066, affecting Middle English.
• Option 4: Greek has indeed influenced the vocabulary of English, particularly in the fields of science and medicine, but this influence was more pronounced in later periods, through scholarly and academic works, not during the Old English period.
• Cultural Impact: Norse influence reflects in English culture and language, showcasing the depth of integration between Viking settlers and Anglo-Saxon inhabitants.

The correct answer is "Background, Casually."

Key Points

• Personal and Cultural Identity: Ezekiel's "Background, Casually" is a multi-part poem that delves deep into the poet's personal journey through the complexities of cultural identity and assimilation in post-colonial India.
• Diaspora and Belonging: The poem explores themes related to the Indian diaspora's experiences, negotiations between traditional Indian values and Western culture, and the quest for a sense of belonging.
• Narrative Style: It's known for its narrative style, weaving together anecdotes, reflections, and vivid imagery to convey the poet's internal and external conflicts.
• Critique of Society: Beyond personal identity, the poem also offers a critique of social norms, prejudices, and the often superficial nature of cultural assimilation.
• Legacy in Indian English Literature: "Background, Casually" is regarded as one of Ezekiel's most significant works, contributing to his status as a pioneer of post-colonial Indian English poetry.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Additional Information

• "Enterprise" encapsulates a metaphorical journey reflecting human endeavors and disillusionment.
• "Night of the Scorpion" is celebrated for its portrayal of rural Indian life and communal reactions to adversity.
• "The Professor" humorously engages with themes of social pretensions and the gap between generations in India.

The correct answer is 'Exploiting her connections and manipulating influential people.'

Key Points

• Becky Sharp is portrayed as a cunning and ambitious woman who uses her intelligence, charm, and social skills to manipulate those around her for social and financial gain.
• From the beginning of the novel, Becky is shown to use her alliances strategically, as seen with her friendship with Amelia Sedley and how she attempts to secure a wealthy husband.
• Becky's manipulation extends to various influential figures throughout the novel, showcasing her adaptability and ruthlessness in achieving her goals.
• Her marriage to Rawdon Crawley is also a part of her strategic maneuvers in society, though it comes with its complications and costs.
• Thackeray's character is a satirical attack on social climbing and moral ambiguity in the context of the British class system of the 19th century; Becky's actions embody the vanity and folly of such pursuits.
• Through Becky Sharp, Thackeray explores themes of social mobility, deceit, and the pursuit of wealth and status at the expense of genuine human connection and moral integrity.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 is often seen as a virtue in literary characters but does not apply to Becky's methods.
• Options 3 and 4 may be plot devices or strategies used in other narratives but do not represent Becky Sharp's primary strategy in "Vanity Fair."

The correct answer is 'They often end in marriage.'

Key Points

• Shakespeare's comedies often end in marriage.
• This is because marriage is seen as a happy and desirable outcome in Shakespeare's time.
• Marriage also provides a resolution to the conflict in the play.

Additional Information

• (2) Shakespeare's comedies often feature mistaken identities, but this is not a key characteristic.
• (3) Shakespeare's comedies sometimes include elements of the supernatural, but this is not a key characteristic.
• (4) Shakespeare's comedies are not always set in England.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

The correct answer is 'To teach and to delight.'

Key Points

• In "An Essay of Dramatic Poesie", Dryden presents poetry, especially dramatic poetry, as having a dual purpose: to teach and to delight.
• This aligns with the Horatian idea of "dulce et utile", meaning poetry should be both sweet (entertaining) and useful (educational).
• Dryden believed that poetry, through engaging narratives and characters, could morally instruct while also providing enjoyment and entertainment.
• By blending these two objectives, poetry can have a meaningful impact on its audience, encouraging them to reflect on themes and moral questions while being engaged.
• The concept of blending entertainment with instruction allows poetry to appeal to a broader audience, making complex ideas and moral lessons more approachable.

The correct answer is 'The Second Coming'.

Key Points

• "The Second Coming" is one of W.B. Yeats's most famous and frequently anthologized poems, characterized by its apocalyptic imagery and the thematic exploration of historical cycles.
• Yeats introduces the concept of gyres in this poem, a symbol for the cyclical, spiraling progression of history that he believed in. Gyres represent opposing forces within the world that move in vast cycles, influencing the rise and fall of civilizations.
• The poem is noted for its compelling lines "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;/Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world," capturing a sense of chaos and impending change.
• Written in the aftermath of World War I, it reflects the period's turmoil and the poet's foreboding about the future of society.
• The imagery of a "rough beast" slouching towards Bethlehem to be born, serves as an allegory for the coming era, which Yeats predicts will be turbulent and destructive, a stark contrast to the Christian era symbolized by Bethlehem.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: The Tower contains themes of aging and creative legacy, but does not focus on the cyclical nature of history.
• Option 3: Easter 1916 discusses the Easter Rising but does not delve into gyres.
• Option 4: Sailing to Byzantium deals with themes of art, aging, and the quest for immortality, not the cyclical history concept.

The correct answer is 'A, B, C, E, D.'

Key Points

• Walt Whitman, born 1819, is considered a father of free verse poetry and is most known for his work "Leaves of Grass."
• Emily Dickinson, born 1830, is renowned for her unique style and prolific output of poems, most of which were published posthumously.
• Robert Frost, born 1874, is celebrated for his depictions of rural New England life and won four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry.
• Langston Hughes, born 1902, was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance and used jazz rhythms in his works to address racial issues.
• Sylvia Plath, born 1932, is known for her confessional style of poetry and her novel "The Bell Jar."

Orlando: A Biography is a novel by Virginia Woolf, first published on 11 October 1928. The book describes the adventures of a poet who changes sex from man to woman and lives for centuries, meeting the key figures of English literary history

I-3, II-1, III-4, IV-2 

Jacques Marie Émile Lacan was a French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist who has been called "the most controversial psycho-analyst since Freud". Giving yearly seminars in Paris from 1953 to 1981, Lacan influenced many leading French intellectuals in the 1960s and the 1970s, especially those associated with post-structuralism. His ideas had a significant impact on post-structuralism, critical theory, linguistics, 20th-century French philosophy, film theory, and clinical psychoanalysis.

Structural approach is based on structures which have been carefully selected and graded focus on mastery of phonological and grammatical structures rather than on the mastery of vocabulary. The approach doesn’t work on developing ‘communicative competence”, it may help in making correct sentences, but fails in helping the learner to make correct utterances” on the other side, Communicative approach focuses on the significance of language functions because the learner needs knowledge of both meaning and functions.

It insists that the grammatical rules and knowledge of the structures are useless unless they are applied to real-life situations. It lays emphasis on functional, communicative and social interactive activities.

• Poetic license is the right assumed by poets to alter or invert standard syntax or depart from common diction or pronunciation to comply with the metrical or tonal requirements of their writing.

• Poetic license involves the departure of facts or even rules for language in order to create a different effect, usually dramatic, for a piece of work or speech. Shakespeare does this a lot in his works.

• The famous example is the infamous line from Julius Caesar: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” as he has omitted the use of the word “and” after “Romans” in order to keep the line in iambic pentameter. Other examples include the contractions “o’er” and “e’er, ” which are commonly used in poetry.

• The line hints toward the bird described in the poem. As soon the bird realized the presence of the poet or a human it felt cautious and stirred his head as he doesn’t know about the next step of the stranger.
• The action of the bird reflects his fear of an upcoming danger.