MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 1 (English) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is ‘The House of Fame.'

 Key Points

• Philosophical Exploration: The House of Fame is a dream vision poem where Chaucer explores philosophical themes, including the nature of truth, fame, and the reliability of human senses.
• Dream Journey: The poem's protagonist experiences a dream journey to the House of Fame, encountering allegorical figures and exploring the complexities of perception.
• Influence of Boethius: Chaucer draws inspiration from Boethius' 'Consolation of Philosophy,' incorporating philosophical discussions and moral reflections.
• Narrative Structure: The poem has a complex structure, with dream sequences, allegorical characters, and discussions on the nature of knowledge.
• Rhetorical Devices: Chaucer employs rhetorical devices, such as irony and satire, to enhance the depth of the philosophical inquiries.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

 Additional Information

• Option 2: The Parliament of Fowls is a dream vision poem but focuses on the theme of love and courtship among birds.
• Option 3: The Legend of Good Women is a poem that celebrates virtuous women and addresses themes of love and fidelity.
• Option 4: The Boke of the Duchesse is an elegy mourning the death of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster.

Michel Foucault:

French philosopher, social theorist, and literary critic.

His book History of Sexuality published in 1976 originally in French language.

Judith Butler

An American philosopher and gender theorist

Best known for her books Gender Trouble published in 1990

Alan Sinfield

an English theorist in the fields of Shakespeare and sexuality,

His book Cultural Politics Queer Reading published in 1990

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

an American academic scholar in the fields of gender studies, queer theory and critical theory.

His book Epistemology of the Closet published 1990.

The Four-Gated City is the concluding novel of the five-volume series, Children of Violence, a major literary achievement of Lessing. The series can be termed as Bildungsroman for it develops the central character, Martha Quest, from birth in Southern Africa at the end of World War One, through an adolescence, youth and marriage shaped by the savageries of the Second World War.

The Four-Gated City portrays Martha, in London as the Fifties begin and also describe post-war Britain after a devastating atomic war. Martha is an integral part of the social history of the time the Cold War, the deepening of poverty and social anarchy. The series virtually covers the twentieth-century. The Four-Gated City ends with the century in the grip of World War Three, a conclusion like space fiction.

• In 1794 Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, the well known Romantic poets, devised to establish a perfect society on the Eastern shores of America, with a system of government where all rule equally. Although the plan could never come into fruition as they originally wished to establish such a community on the banks of the Susquehanna River in the United States, but in 1795 Southey proposed of moving the project to Wales.
• The two men were unable to agree on the location, causing the project to collapse. It stands as one of the most intriguing and ambitious undertakings of the Romantic years. The Pantisocracy was subject to ridicule among their contemporaries, but the ideology behind it is indicative of a telling sense of moral and ethical superiority.

The correct answer is ‘A - III, B - II, C - I, D - IV'.

 Key Points

• William Wordsworth (A) is known for his poem "Tintern Abbey" (III).
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge (B) is known for his poem "Kubla Khan" (II).
• John Keats (C) is known for his poem "Ode to a Nightingale" (I).
• Percy Bysshe Shelley (D) is known for his poem "Ozymandias" (IV).
• These Romantic poets are considered to be among the most important figures in English literature.
• Their works are characterized by their focus on emotion, imagination, and the natural world.
• The Romantic poets had a profound influence on the development of English literature.

The correct answer is Edward Bond's Bingo.

Important Points

• Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death is a play written by English playwright Edward Bond in 1973.
• It shows an ageing William Shakespeare at his Warwickshire home in 1615 and 1616.
• Here, Bond had put the character of Shakespeare on stage and is showed that he was suffering because he signed a contract that protected his landholdings, on the condition that he would not interfere with an enclosure of common lands that would hurt the local peasant farmers.
• Although the play is fictional, this contract has a factual basis. 
• Bingo is a political drama heavily influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre.
• Some have praised Bond’s portrayal of Shakespeare while others have criticized it.  

Thus, option 1 is correct.

Additional Information

• Mountain Language is a one-act play written by Harold Pinter. It concerns a group of women who have been waiting all day outside a prison in the hope of seeing their menfolk inside. 
• Loot is a two-act play by the English playwright Joe Orton. The play is a dark farce that satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force.

• The Golden Gate is the first novel by poet and novelist Vikram Seth. The work is a novel in verse composed of 590 Onegin stanzas. It was inspired by Charles Johnston's translation of Pushkin's Eugene Onegin.  
• Show Business is a postmodern satirical novel by Shashi Tharoor.  
• India 2020: A Vision for the New Millennium is a book, written by late former President of India A P J Abdul Kalam, before his tenure as the President, and Mr. Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan.
• Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition is a 2011 novel by Chetan Bhagat Its story is concerned with a love triangle, corruption and a journey of self-discovery. R2020 has addressed the issue of how private coaching institutions exploit aspiring engineering students.

The correct answer is ‘Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.’

Key Points

• Theatre of the Absurd rejects the traditional concept of a linear narrative.
• It employs fragmented and disjointed scenes to convey a sense of chaos and meaninglessness.
• The plays of Theatre of the Absurd often explore themes of existentialism, alienation, and the meaninglessness of life.
• Some of the most famous playwrights of Theatre of the Absurd include Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, and Jean Genet.
• The fragmented and disjointed scenes in Theatre of the Absurd are a reflection of the fragmented and disjointed nature of the modern world.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 1.’

 Additional Information

• b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A: This option is incorrect because R is the correct explanation of A.
• c) A is true but R is false: This option is incorrect because both A and R are true.
• d) A is false but R is true: This option is incorrect because both A and R are true.

The correct answer is 'It increased the need for trade language.'

Key Points

• Expansion of Communication Needs: The shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural ones increased the need for communication beyond immediate social circles, as trade between different communities became more common.
• Specialization Vocabulary: Agriculture brought about specialized roles within societies that required specific terminology, thereby enriching the language.
• Trade Networks: The establishment of trade networks necessitated a common form of communication or lingua franca to facilitate exchanges between different language speakers.
• Settlements and Cultural Exchange: The formation of larger, more settled communities led to greater opportunities for cultural and linguistic exchange, influencing language evolution.
• Societal Complexity: As agricultural societies grew more complex, language evolved to express new concepts related to farming, governance, and social organization, leading to linguistic innovations.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Agriculture led to increased social complexity and interactions, not a decrease in language diversity.
• Option 3: While agriculture catalyzed societal developments, the direct formation of written languages was more complex and involved various factors.
• Option 4: Agriculture had a significant impact on societal development and, by extension, on language evolution.

The correct answer is 'Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.'

 Key Points

• Intentional Fallacy: The Intentional Fallacy is a term used in literary criticism to describe the error of interpreting a literary work based solely on the author's intentions or biographical information.
• New Critics' Focus on the Text: New Critics argue that the meaning of a literary work should be derived from the text itself, independent of the author's intentions. They believe that the author's intentions are irrelevant to the interpretation of the text, as the text is a self-contained object with its own inherent meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.' 

 Additional Information

• Option 2: Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason explains the Assertion.
• Option 3: The Assertion is true, and the Reason is also true, providing a valid explanation.
• Option 4: The Assertion is false, as the Intentional Fallacy is recognized within New Criticism as an error in literary interpretation.

The correct answer is 'The British Empire's colonial expansion.'

Key Points

• Global Empire: The British Empire, at its height, was the largest empire in history and included territories on every continent, which facilitated the global spread of the English language.
• Language of Administration: English was often implemented as the language of administration and education in colonies, which entrenched its use in official and academic contexts worldwide.
• Cultural Exportation: Along with political control, the British Empire exported its culture and language through literature, education, and media, contributing to English's global prominence.
• Lingua Franca: English became a lingua franca for trade, diplomacy, and international relations due to the widespread influence of the British Empire.
• Legacy: The historical legacy of the British Empire continues to influence the global status of English as a dominant world language, used in international business, diplomacy, and as a common second language.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Although the telegraph was important for communications technology, it did not specifically contribute to the global spread of English.
• Option 3: The development of the internet has facilitated global communication but is not the historical reason for the widespread adoption of English.
• Option 4: The Renaissance was influential in the development of Western culture and languages, but it was not a critical factor in the rapid global spread of English.

Written on the Body is a secret code only visible in certain lights: the accumulation of a lifetime gather there. In places the palimpsest is so heavily worked that the letters feel like braille. I like to keep my body rolled away from prying eyes, never unfold too much, tell the whole story. I didn't know that Louise would have reading hands. She has translated me into her own book.

'The Movement' was a term coined in 1954 to describe a group of writers including Philip Larkin, Kingsley Amis, Donald Davie, D. J. Enright, John Wain, Elizabeth Jennings, Thom Gunn and Robert Conquest. The term was coined by J. D. Scott. The Movement only included English poets. Those from the other parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland were not involved.

The Movement poets were considered anti-romantic, but Larkin and Hughes showed romantic elements. The Movement took into account Britain's declining supremacy in world politics. The members of the Movement were opposed to modernism, which was reflected in the Englishness of their poetry. The noteworthy elements of the poems were the pastoral images that depicted nostalgia as Britain transited from the rural to the urban.

The correct answer is ‘(ii) and (iii)'.

Key Points

• Naturalism in literature was part of a broader 19th-century movement that sought to apply the principles of realism and impartiality applied to the study of human beings by sciences, to literature.
• John Clare: Known for his celebration of the English countryside and sorrow at its disruption, Clare's poetry is marked by a keen observation of nature, embodying traits akin to Naturalism. His works intricately observed and depicted rural life and natural environments with a profound depth, aligning well with the Naturalism movement’s emphasis on the environment's influence on people.
• Thomas Hardy: Though more renowned as a novelist, Hardy's poetry also reflects naturalistic elements, delving deeply into the harsh realities of rural life, the inevitable decline of the human condition, and the impersonal forces (often nature) shaping human destiny. His poetic works offer a pessimistic outlook on life, consistent with Naturalist philosophy.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Gerard Manley Hopkins is better known for his innovative use of sprang rhythm and vivid imagery inspired by his religious beliefs and appreciation of nature, not strictly Naturalism.
• Robert Frost, while profoundly influenced by nature in his work, does not fit squarely into the Naturalism movement; his poetry often includes themes of self-reflection and human emotion in relation to the natural world.

Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958) deals with the theme of culture and colonialism, was considered his magnum opus. 

The correct answer is ‘Modernist Desolation and Fragmentation.’

 Key Points

• Option 1 Modernist Desolation and Fragmentation: "The Waste Land" is a seminal work of modernist literature, reflecting the disillusionment and fragmentation of the post-World War I era.
• The poem explores the spiritual and emotional desolation of a world that has lost its traditional values and cohesion.
•  "The Waste Land" is known for its complexity, multiple voices, and rich allusions, making it a challenging work that reflects the shattered landscape of the modern world.
• Eliot uses a variety of modernist techniques in The Waste Land, such as stream-of-consciousness, multiple perspectives, and abrupt shifts in tone and style. These techniques help to create a sense of fragmentation and disorientation.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

 Additional Information

• Option 2 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect. While Eliot engages with nature, it is not in a romantic or celebratory manner. Instead, nature is often depicted as desolate and devoid of the vitality found in Romantic poetry.
• Option 3 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect. "The Waste Land" is marked by a lack of explicit religious redemption or hope. It rather presents a world in spiritual crisis and disarray.
• Option 4 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect. The poem does not advocate political utopianism or present a vision of social harmony. It focuses more on the disintegration and decay of societal structures.

The correct answer is 'A sudden shift in tone from the profound to the ridiculous'.

Key Points

• Bathos is a Greek term that translates to "depth", and in literature, it is used to describe an abrupt transition in style from the elevated to the ordinary or ridiculous.
• This rhetorical device is often used intentionally for comic effect, but can also be the result of failed attempts at pathos or sublimity.
• Bathos can highlight the absurdity or irony of a situation, or undermine expectations in order to challenge conventional sentiments and ideas.
• Notable practitioners of bathos include Alexander Pope, who used the term in his essay "Peri Bathous", and satirical writers such as Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

William Butler Yeats[a] (13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939) was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. A pillar of the Irish literary establishment, he helped to found the Abbey Theatre, and in his later years served as a Senator of the Irish Free State for two terms. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival along with Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn and others.

The correct answer is 'The possibility of moral redemption.'

Key Points

• Moral Complexity: Nancy's character showcases moral complexity, demonstrating that individuals involved in criminal activities can still possess a moral compass and desire for redemption.
• Sacrifice for Good: Despite her own dangerous circumstances, Nancy makes significant sacrifices to help Oliver, illustrating the theme of moral redemption through selfless actions.
• Internal Conflict: Her struggle between loyalty to Sikes and her innate sense of right and wrong highlights the internal conflicts that individuals face when seeking redemption.
• Hope amidst Despair: Nancy's actions provide hope that even those who have led a life of crime can make choices that redeem their moral character, reflecting Dickens's belief in the potential for goodness in everyone.
• Consequences of Choices: Her tragic end serves to underscore the potential for redemption but also the harsh realities and dangers faced by those trapped in a life of crime.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: While social mobility is a theme in the novel, Nancy’s story focuses more on moral choices than class mobility.
• Option 2: Jealousy is not a central theme explored through Nancy's character.
• Option 4: Her story argues more for the fluidity of moral standing than the permanence of social status.

The correct answer is '2, 4, 1, 3'.

Key Points

• "Notes from Underground" is an 1864 novella and is considered by many to be the first existentialist novel.
• "Crime and Punishment" is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1866.
• "The Idiot" is a novel written by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky and was first published in serial form in the Russian Messenger from 1868 to 1869.
• "The Brothers Karamazov" is the final novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky and was first published in serial form in The Russian Messenger from January 1879 to November 1880.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Published on 4 April 1755 and written by Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, sometimes published as Johnson's Dictionary, is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. ... Johnson produced several revised editions during his life.

The correct answer is 'The dynamics of power and control in relationships.'

Key Points

• Abusive Power Dynamic: The relationship between Bill Sikes and Nancy starkly illustrates the abusive power dynamic that often characterizes relationships founded in crime and exploitation.
• Control and Manipulation: Sikes’s manipulation and control over Nancy highlight the destructive impact of power imbalances within personal relationships, reflecting broader societal issues of control and domination.
• Violence and Fear: The fear and violence inherent in their relationship showcase the extreme consequences of power being wielded destructively, further emphasizing the novel’s critique of societal violence.
• Lack of Genuine Affection: While Nancy exhibits feelings for Sikes, the relationship is devoid of mutual respect or genuine affection, illustrating how environments of crime corrupt interpersonal dynamics.
• Tragic Consequences: The tragic outcome of their relationship underscores the inevitable consequences of such power imbalances, serving as a cautionary tale against the destructive nature of abusive relationships.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: While love is explored in "Oliver Twist," the relationship between Bill Sikes and Nancy is more abusive than transformative.
• Option 2: Although crime and violence are central themes, their relationship more directly explores power dynamics rather than the broader consequences of crime.
• Option 4: Nancy does make a significant sacrifice, but the primary focus of their relationship is the abuse of power, rather than redemption.

The correct answer is ‘B, A, C, D, E’.

 Key Points

• Sense and Sensibility (B) was published in 1811.
• Pride and Prejudice (A) was published in 1813.
• Mansfield Park (C) was published in 1814.
• Emma (D) was published in 1815.
• Northanger Abbey (E) was published posthumously in 1818, although it was written around 1798-1799.
• Jane Austen is one of the most beloved and widely read English novelists of all time.
• Her novels are known for their realism, wit, and social commentary.
• Austen's novels have been adapted into numerous films and television series.

The correct answer is 'Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.'

 Key Points

• Affective Fallacy:  A term used in literary criticism to describe the error of interpreting a literary work based solely on the emotional responses it elicits in the reader.
• New Criticism's Focus on Formal Elements: They argue that a proper analysis of a literary work should focus on its formal elements, such as its language, structure, imagery, and symbolism, rather than on subjective emotional reactions. 
• They believe that the text's intrinsic qualities are the primary source of its meaning.
• New Critics believe that the Affective Fallacy occurs when a reader's emotional response to a literary work is used as the sole basis for interpreting its meaning. 
• They argue that such an approach is subjective and unreliable, as different readers may have different emotional reactions to the same text. 
• Instead, they advocate for a close reading of the text's formal elements, which they believe can provide a more objective and comprehensive understanding of its meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

 Additional Information

• Option 2: Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason explains the Assertion.
• Option 3: The Assertion is true, and the Reason is also true, providing a valid explanation.
• Option 4: The Assertion is false, as the Affective Fallacy, according to New Criticism, is a recognized error in literary interpretation.

• "Joothan" is an autobiographical narrative written by Omprakash Valmiki.
• It provides a firsthand account of the author's experiences of social discrimination and untouchability.
• The narrative explores issues related to caste oppression and discrimination prevalent in the Indian society.

• "Joothan" is not a novel or novella.
• It is not a biography; it is specifically an autobiography.

Originally published as Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë, published under the pen name "Currer Bell", on 16 October 1847, by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first American edition was published the following year by Harper & Brothers of New York. Arguably a Bildungsroman, Jane Eyre follows the experiences of its eponymous heroine, including her growth to adulthood and her love for Mr. Rochester, the brooding master of Thornfield Hall.
The novel revolutionised prose fiction in that the focus on Jane's moral and spiritual development is told through an intimate, first-person narrative, where actions and events are coloured by a psychological intensity. Charlotte Brontë has been called the "first historian of the private consciousness" and the literary ancestor of writers like Proust and Joyce. The book contains elements of social criticism, with a strong sense of Christian morality at its core and is considered by many to be ahead of its time because of Jane's individualistic character and how the novel approaches the topics of class, sexuality, religion and feminism

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

Key Points​

• "The Country Wife" by William Wycherley was first performed in 1675. It is a notable example of Restoration comedy, known for its sharp satirical wit and commentary on the manners and sexual mores of Restoration society.
• "The Way of the World" by William Congreve debuted in 1700. This play is also a Restoration comedy, celebrated for its sophisticated dialogue, complex characters, and intricate plot mechanisms.
• "Manfred" by Lord Byron, published in 1817, is not a Restoration drama but a work from the Romantic period. It is a dramatic poem that delves into the themes of guilt, redemption, and the supernatural, reflecting the Romantic era's focus on emotion and the sublime.
• "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde was first performed in 1895. It is a play from the Victorian era, known for its witty dialogue, satirical commentary on Victorian society, and exploration of identity and social obligations.
• The chronological order of publication/performance starts with Wycherley's and Congreve's works in the Restoration period, followed by Byron's Romantic-era poem, and concludes with Wilde's Victorian play.
• This sequence shows the evolution of English drama from the Restoration's comedic critiques of society to the Romantic and Victorian periods' broader thematic explorations.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

The correct answer is 'José Rivera; the exploration of spiritual awakening amidst societal collapse'.

Key Points

• "Marisol" is a postmodern play written by José Rivera.
• The play follows Marisol Perez, a Puerto Rican woman living in New York City, who navigates an apocalyptic landscape as her reality begins to unravel.
• Rivera's work often explores themes of identity, spirituality, and the human capacity for resilience in the face of adversity.
• "Marisol" engages with socio-political issues and the dichotomies of urban life, but it is primarily focused on the protagonist's spiritual awakening and the endurance of human spirit amid societal collapse.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

(A) is true but (R) is false.

The correct answer is '(a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)'.

Key Points

• Ethnography (iv): involves the researcher immersing themselves in the community or group being studied to observe and interact directly with participants.
• Content Analysis (iii): is a method for studying and analyzing communication in various forms to understand patterns, themes, biases, and meanings.
• Case Study (ii): focuses on an in-depth investigation of a single case (an individual, group, event, or community) to explore and understand complex issues.
• Historical Research (i): involves examining past events to interpret and understand their causes, effects, and significance within a historical context.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• Each research methodology in humanities serves specific objectives and helps uncover insights that can be both subjective and objective, depending on the nature of the study.