Kerala SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 2 (English) - KTET MCQ

The correct answer is '1 - B, 2 - C, 3 - A, 4 - D.'

Key Points

• Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble" is a key text in gender studies. It challenges traditional notions of gender and argues for a performative understanding of gender identity.
• Thomas Pynchon is associated with "The Crying of Lot 49," a novel known for its complex narrative and themes of paranoia and conspiracy.
• Michel Foucault's "The Order of Things" explores the history of several sciences, including natural history, linguistics, and economics.
• Julia Kristeva's "Powers of Horror" presents her theory of abjection, discussing the human reaction to the threatened breakdown in meaning caused by the loss of the distinction between subject and object or between self and other.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is "a and b".

Key Points

•  A poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and environmentalist from Canada is Margaret Eleanor Atwood.
• Margaret Atwood's futuristic dystopian book "The Handmaid's Tale" was first released in 1985. It takes place in a patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state called the Republic of Gilead, which has toppled the American government, in a near-future America.
• Margaret Atwood wrote the book Surfacing. It was her second novel, and it was published by McClelland and Stewart in 1972. Surfacing deals with the issues of power politics.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 3.

Additional Information

• Don DeLillo's eighth novel, White Noise, was released by Viking Press in 1985. It earned the National Book Award for Fiction in the United States. White Noise is a seminal work of postmodern literature. It is largely regarded as DeLillo's breakthrough book, bringing him to the attention of a far bigger public.
• Paul Beatty's novel The Sellout was published in 2015. The novel is set in and around Los Angeles, California, and reflects on the current status of racial relations in the United States.

In the 1960s Derrida’s work was welcomed in France and elsewhere by thinkers interested in the broad interdisciplinary movement known as structuralism. The structuralists analyzed various cultural phenomena such as myths, religious rituals, literary narratives and fashions in dress and adornment as general systems of signs analogous to natural languages, with their own vocabularies and their own underlying rules and structures and attempted to develop a metalanguage of terms and concepts in which the various sign systems could be described.

William Blake is one of the distinguished Romantic poets who was born in 1757 in  England. Some of his famous works include ‘Natural Religion’, ‘Songs of Innocence’, ‘Songs of Experience’, ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell’,etc. The quote mentioned in the question is from William Blake, which is made in reference to art and implies that making a general observation about a piece of art is a quality of an unreasonable person. One should rather look at the particular characteristics. It was made in response to Reynolds’ praise of "general beauty" and the pursuit of "general truth", while saying that "we perceive by sense, we combine by fancy, and distinguish by reason ... the beauty of which we are in quest is general and intellectual".

The Driver's Seat is a novella by Muriel Spark. Published in 1970, it was advertised as "a metaphysical shocker". It is indeed in the psychological thriller genre, dealing with themes of alienation, isolation and loss of spiritual values.

It was filmed in 1974 starring Elizabeth Taylor and featuring Andy Warhol. In the U.S the film was renamed Identikit. Spark described it as one of her favourite novels.

Robert Browning accuses William Wordsworth in his poem "The Lost Reader".

The correct answer is 'Through the use of multiple languages and literary references'.

Key Points

• "The Waste Land" epitomizes the theme of fragmentation through its structure and content, notably via the eclectic use of several languages (English, German, French, Italian, Sanskrit, and more) and a multitude of references drawn from various literatures, cultures, and historical periods.
• This literary collage reflects the fragmented nature of modern existence and consciousness, illustrating the breakdown of social, cultural, and psychological coherence in the post-World War I era.
• The poem's allusions range from classical to contemporary sources, including but not limited to Greek mythology, Christian scripture, Eastern religions, and the works of Dante, Shakespeare, and Baudelaire. This mix of references serves to both enrich the text and underscore the theme of disconnection from a unified cultural heritage.
• The abrupt shifts between different speakers, locations, and time periods further reinforce the sense of fragmentation and dislocation, challenging readers to piece together meaning from the disparate elements.
• Eliot’s use of fragmentation not only reflects the chaotic state of modern society but also suggests the potential for reconnection and understanding through the active engagement of the reader in navigating the poem’s complexities.
• The formal construction of "The Waste Land" itself, divided into five distinct but interrelated sections, mirrors the fragmentation it depicts, suggesting both the disintegration and the possibility of synthesis or reconciliation.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information

• A linear and cohesive narrative structure and focusing solely on modern urban life are contrary to the poem's exploration of fragmentation.
• Employing a single cultural reference point would simplify the poem’s complexity and depth, which is contrary to Eliot’s method of integrating diverse references to emphasize fragmentation

It suggests that understanding of any text rely upon paradigm as well as pattern of reading. A reader receives a different perception toward the same text when situations and requirements got changed. Even the same reader discovers various interpretations of a single text when read it alone or in a class or group. Thus, our understanding of any text depends upon our needs, desires as well as on our prejudices.

Note: The assertion is one of the three crucial propositions in Kolodny’s “Dancing through the Minefield”

1. Naga-Mandala is a famous play by Indian Playwright Girish Karnad in 1988.
2. The play is based on the folktale of same name.
3. The story of Naga-Mandala is narrated by a special character ‘Story’.
4. The narrator-story is born of a woman’s mind which is strongly agitated due to her suspicion that her husband is carrying affairs with some other woman.
5. Rani and Appanna are married couple, a mis-matched man and woman in a typical Indian society and the snake which changes its form into human being to meet its beloved.
6. The story is open-ended and combines conventional and subversive modes.

The correct answer is ‘Candida.’

 Key Points

• Candida is a play by G.B. Shaw, that explores the conflict between idealism and realism through the story of a young woman named Candida who is torn between her love for her husband, the idealistic poet Eugene Marchbanks, and her attraction to the pragmatic clergyman, Reverend James Morell.
• Candida is a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to challenge social conventions.
• She ultimately chooses to stay with her husband, but she also makes it clear that she will not give up her own independence.
• Candida is a complex and challenging play that explores the nature of love, marriage, and the role of women in society.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 1.’

 Additional Information

• The Philanderer: This play explores the themes of love, marriage, and the role of women in society.
• Mrs. Warren's Profession: This play explores the themes of prostitution, morality, and the double standards that society applies to men and women.
• You Never Can Tell: This play is a comedy that explores the themes of love, marriage, and the importance of family.

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

Key Points

• New Historicism is a literary theory that emphasizes the interconnectedness of literature and historical context.
• Scholars of New Historicism, like Stephen Greenblatt, argue that literary works cannot be isolated from the cultural and historical circumstances of their creation and reception. Literature is seen as both shaped by and shaping historical and cultural forces.
• Both the assertion and reason align with the principles of New Historicism.
• New Historicism emphasizes the inseparable relationship between literature and its historical context.
• Literary texts are seen as embedded within the larger cultural and historical framework, and they, in turn, contribute to shaping that context.
• Therefore, the reason provides a valid explanation for the assertion.

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 New Historicism does emphasize the interconnectedness of literature and history.

The correct answer is 'The speaker's joyful participation in American life.'

Key Points

• In the opening line, the speaker asserts their presence and claims their right to sing about America. 
• It reflects a positive and assertive attitude, expressing the speaker's desire to participate in the cultural and national narrative.
• The line sets the tone for the poem's exploration of identity, exclusion, and the aspiration for equality.

Therefore, the correct option is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information 

• Option 1 is incorrect. The speaker does not express reluctance but rather a sense of belonging. 
• Option 2 is incorrect. While exclusion is addressed in the poem, the first line emphasizes the speaker's participation.
• Option 4 is incorrect. The speaker's tone is more affirmative than critical in the opening line.

The correct answer is 'To illustrate racial segregation and discrimination.'

Key Points

• The mention of being sent to the kitchen reflects the racial segregation and discrimination prevalent in society. 
• The speaker is excluded from the main dining area when guests arrive, indicating the racial inequality and social injustice faced by African Americans.

Therefore, the correct option is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information 

• Option 1 is incorrect. The mention of the kitchen is not about the speaker's domestic role but a result of racial discrimination. 
• Option 2 is incorrect. The speaker's love for cooking is not the focus; it's about the unjust treatment.
• Option 4 is incorrect. The kitchen is not portrayed as a preference but as a place of segregation.

“A Song for St. Cecilia's Day” (1687), is the first of two great odes written by poet laureate John Dryden. It was sung with music for the annual St. Cecilia's Day celebration, which was held every year from 1683 to 1703 on November 22. The celebration was sponsored by the London Musical Society.

St. Cecilia was a Roman and an early Christian martyr and patron saint of music. Cecilia is usually represented playing the organ, which serves as an allusion to her legend of having invented the instrument. According to the poem, “When to her organ, vocal breath was giv'n,/ An angel heard, and straight appear'd/ Mistaking earth for Heav'n”.

The correct answer is 'The inherent instability of meaning within the text'.

Key Points

• Post-structuralism challenges the idea that texts can have a single, fixed meaning, instead arguing that meanings are fluid and subject to the interpretation of the reader.
• This approach emphasizes the role of language in shaping reality and suggests that language itself is incapable of fully capturing or conveying fixed meanings.
• Post-structuralist analysis often focuses on how meanings are constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed by readers, highlighting the multiplicity of interpretations rather than seeking a 'true' or 'original' meaning.
• It also investigates the binary oppositions within texts (e.g., good vs. evil, male vs. female) and how these distinctions are socially constructed and subject to deconstruction.
• Through this lens, the reader's interaction with the text becomes a focal point, where each reading can unveil new meanings, thereby destabilizing any authoritative interpretation.
• This approach implicitly critiques the notion of an all-knowing, all-powerful author, instead foregrounding the active role of the reader in generating meaning.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information

• The author's intention and biography (Option 1) are emphasized in biographical criticism, not post-structuralism.
• The cultural and historical context of the text (Option 2) aligns more with historical criticism or cultural studies.
• Economic factors influencing the text's creation (Option 4) are the focus of Marxist literary criticism

The correct answer is 'Lady Macbeth '.

Key Points

• Lady Macbeth is known for her ambition and ruthlessness.
• She persuades Macbeth to murder King Duncan so that Macbeth can become king.
• Lady Macbeth is a complex and tragic character who is ultimately consumed by her own ambition.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• ( 2) Lady Macduff is not known for her ambition and ruthlessness.
• (3) Hecate is not known for her ambition and ruthlessness.
• (4) The Weird Sisters are not known for their ambition and ruthlessness

The correct answer is "Orientalism".

Key Points

• "Orientalism" is a groundbreaking work by Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said, published in 1978. It is foundational in the field of postcolonial studies, introducing the concept of Orientalism as a critical theory.
• Said defines Orientalism as the West's patronizing representations of "The East" — Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. He argues these representations are not based on fact or reality but are constructed to depict the East as exotic, backward, uncivilized, and at times dangerous.
• In "Orientalism," Said critiques Western scholarship for its role in perpetuating these stereotypes, arguing that such representations serve to justify colonial and imperial ambitions, asserting Western dominance over Eastern cultures.
• Said's analysis extends beyond literary texts to include art, politics, and historical writings, demonstrating how Orientalist perspectives permeate Western culture.
• The work has had a profound influence on a range of disciplines, challenging scholars to reconsider their approaches to cultural studies, history, anthropology, and beyond.
• "Orientalism" paved the way for further scholarship in understanding the constructs of cultural hegemony and the power dynamics involved in the representation of other cultures.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• "Culture and Imperialism" extends Said’s critique of Western narratives, focusing on how empire and colonialism have been justified and promoted through Western literature and culture.
• "Covering Islam" and "The Question of Palestine" explore how media and political narratives shape the perception of Islam and the geopolitical issues surrounding Palestine, respectively, but do not introduce the theory of Orientalism.

The correct answer is 'To gain knowledge'.

Key Points

• According to Bacon's "Of Studies," reading is for "weighing and considering" – in other words, it is a source of knowledge. Bacon suggests that reading allows us to benefit from the insights and experiences of others.
• He emphasizes that reading helps us not only to memorize factual information but also to understand, weigh, and consider these facts. It equips us with intellectual tools that allow us to form opinions, make decisions, and apply knowledge in different contexts.
• Bacon does not dismiss the role of reading in developing original thought, refining writing skills, and cultivating worldly wisdom. However, he underscores that its primary purpose is to serve as a source of knowledge. He implies that original thought, improved writing, and wisdom are products of proper reading, but they are not the immediate purpose of the act itself.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Drilling is a technique that us foreign language learning classrooms. It used to be an important feature of audio-lingual method approaches to language teaching, which emphasized on repeating structural patterns through oral practice.

Drilling means listening to a model, provided by the teacher, or a tape or another student and repeating what is heard. Harmer states that drilling is mechanical ways if getting students to demonstrate and practice their ability to use specific language items in a controlled manner. Also, comprehension of the item by the learners is not required in Drilling.

The correct answer is ‘C, D, B, A.’

Key Points

• The Book of the Duchess (C): This is Chaucer's first major work, believed to have been written in the latter part of the 1360s. It is an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster, John of Gaunt's first wife.
• The Parliament of Fowls (D): Thought to have been composed in the early 1380s, this poem delves into themes of love and is often read as a Valentine's Day poem, suggesting its placement after "The Book of the Duchess."
• Troilus and Criseyde (B): This work, crafted in the mid-1380s, is a long poem retelling the tragic love story of Troilus and Criseyde set against the backdrop of the Trojan War. It predates "The Canterbury Tales."
• The Canterbury Tales (A): Begun around 1387 but never completed, this collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury is Chaucer's most famous work and is considered a cornerstone of English literature.
• This chronological order reflects Chaucer's development as a writer, moving from courtly love poems to more complex narratives and finally to the rich tapestry of tales for which he is most celebrated.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• The chronological order reflects the evolution of Chaucer's style from elegiac and romantic works to his most ambitious project, "The Canterbury Tales," that showcases an array of characters and societal themes.
• This progression illustrates Chaucer's development as a writer and his experiment with various genres and storytelling techniques.

The correct answer is '(i), (ii), and (iii)'.

Key Points

• "Death and the King's Horseman" is a play that explores themes of cultural conflict and duty, based on a real event in Nigeria during British colonial rule.
• "The Swamp Dwellers" delves into the struggle between old traditions and the new ways brought by modernity in a rapidly changing Africa.
• "The Lion and the Jewel" is a comedy that critiques the clash between modern European customs and traditional African culture, showcasing Soyinka's talent in handling both serious themes and humor.
• Wole Soyinka is the first African laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1986), recognized for his work encompassing plays, poetry, essays, and novels that express his radical ideas and his commitment to human rights and political freedom.
• His writing is characterized by its exploration of cultural identity, colonialism, and the complexities of African and Western societies intersecting.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 only captures two of Soyinka's notable works but omits "The Lion and the Jewel."
• Option 3 incorrectly includes "Things Fall Apart," which is a novel by Chinua Achebe, another prominent Nigerian author.
• Option 4 mistakenly pairs "Death and the King's Horseman" with "Things Fall Apart," overlooking key works by Soyinka

The correct answer is 'Satire.'

Key Points

• The Comedy of Humours is a genre associated with the portrayal of characters dominated by a single trait or "humour" (such as melancholy, sanguine, choleric, or phlegmatic).
• This comedic style aims to satirize and exaggerate these dominant traits for humorous effect.
• Ben Jonson is a notable playwright associated with the Comedy of Humours, and his play "Every Man in His Humour" is a prime example.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2.'

Additional Information

• Option 1: Farce is a comedic genre characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations.
• Option 3: Romantic Comedy focuses on romantic relationships and often ends with a positive resolution.
• Option 4: Morality Plays are a different genre that conveys moral lessons through allegorical characters and events

Patrick White is the first Australian to win a Nobel prize for his novels and one of the most celebrated novelist of 20th century English literature. These four novels were written by White. The chronology is as follows:

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

 Key Points

• Charles Dickens (A) is known for his novel "David Copperfield" (III).
• William Makepeace Thackeray (B) is known for his novel "Vanity Fair" (II).
• Charlotte Brontë (C) is known for her novel "Jane Eyre" (I).
• George Eliot (D) is known for her novel "Middlemarch" (IV).
• These Victorian novelists are considered to be among the most important figures in English literature.
• Their works are characterized by their realism, social commentary, and psychological depth.
• The Victorian novelists had a profound influence on the development of English literature.

The next two novels, The Return of the Native (1878) and The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), established Hardy as a formidable writer. Hardy published two more novels, Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891) and Jude the Obscure (1895), which were his last long fiction works.

The correct answer is 'Narrative analysis'.

Key Points

• Narrative analysis in autobiographical research focuses on how individuals construct their identities through the stories they tell about themselves, emphasizing the interplay between narrative and self-conception.
• This method pays particular attention to the structure, content, and style of the autobiographical narratives, analyzing how these elements contribute to the portrayal and construction of the narrator's identity.
• It examines how narrators position themselves in their stories, the roles they assign to themselves and others, and how they interpret and make sense of their life experiences through narrative.
• Narrative analysis also explores the coherence or fragmentation of the narrative, looking at how life events are sequenced, emphasized, or omitted, and what this reveals about the narrator's sense of self and identity development.
• Through this approach, researchers can assess the impact of cultural, social, and personal factors on the narrative construction of identity, understanding how individuals leverage narrative forms and tropes to articulate their sense of self.
• Narrative analysis thus provides a nuanced tool for exploring the complex ways in which identities are narrated, challenged, and renegotiated over time.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information

• Quantitative content analysis (Option 1) focuses on objectively counting and analyzing the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts rather than the nuanced construction of identity in narratives.
• Psychoanalytic criticism (Option 2) applies theories of psychology to interpret texts, which might not directly address the relationship between narrative structure and identity.
• Sociological surveys (Option 4) collect data on populations through questionnaires and are less focused on the detailed interpretation of narrative forms and their impact on identity

The correct answer is 'The power of compassionate action.'

Key Points

• Embodiment of Virtue: Rose Maylie serves as an embodiment of purity, virtue, and compassion within the novel, showcasing these qualities through her actions and interactions with other characters, including Oliver.
• Influence of Kindness: Through her kind and selfless actions, Rose significantly impacts the lives of those around her, illustrating how compassion and altruism can bring about positive change in others' lives.
• Social Responsibility: Dickens uses Rose's character to highlight the idea of social responsibility among the privileged towards the less fortunate, emphasizing the moral duty to help those in need.
• Contrast to Other Characters: Her gentle nature and willingness to help Oliver starkly contrast with the exploitation and indifference he experiences from many other characters, illuminating the disparities in human decency and compassion within society.
• Representation of Ideals: Rose Maylie represents the Victorian ideal of womanhood—kind, moral, and nurturing—serving as a foil to the darker elements of Victorian society portrayed in the novel and demonstrating the potential for goodness and positive influence.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: While class distinctions are explored, Rose represents more than the fragility of the upper class; she embodies the influence of compassion.
• Option 3: The corruption within the orphanage system is addressed elsewhere in the novel, but not specifically through Rose's character.
• Option 4: Although Dickens touches on many social issues, the struggle for women's rights is not a central theme explored through Rose Maylie's character.

1 and  4 

The contact zone is a theoretical concept, first proposed and defined by Mary Louise Pratt, a Spanish scholar in her work titled Imperial Eyes: Travel Writing and Transculturation, published in 1992.

She remarked, “I use this term to refer to social spaces where cultures meet, clash and grapple with each other, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power, such as colonialism, slavery, or their aftermaths as they lived out in many parts of the world today”. In Postcolonial societies “contact” suggests the historical moment when settler and indigenous cultures first met.

Act II, Sc. 7