Kerala SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 5 (English) - KTET MCQ

The correct answer is 'Ranulf Higden'

Key Points

• Ranulf Higden, a 14th-century chronicler and monk, is the author of the 'Polychronicon', an important work of prose during the Age of Chaucer.
• The 'Polychronicon' is a universal history, from the creation of the world until the 1350s, written in Latin.
• It was later translated into Middle English by John of Trevisa, making it accessible to a broader audience.
• While Chaucer, Langland, and Gower are all significant writers of the period, they are more renowned for their poetry.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4

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

Key Points

• Chinua Achebe is celebrated for his depiction of the impacts of colonialism on Africa, notably in his novel "Things Fall Apart" and was Nigerian.
• Franz Kafka, although born in Prague, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now the Czech Republic), is often associated with German literature due to his language of writing but is labeled here under his geographical origins.
• Isabel Allende, one of the most widely-read Spanish-language authors, hails from Chile. Her works often delve into magical realism, similar to her literary predecessor Gabriel García Márquez.
• Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian novelist, explored human psychology in the context of the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century Russia.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• The geographical and cultural origins of each writer significantly influence their literary creations, adding diverse voices and perspectives to the global tapestry of literature.

Lamia is a narrative poem written by English poet John Keats which was published in 1820. The poem was written in 1819, during the famously productive period that produced his 1819 odes. It was composed soon after his "La belle dame sans merci" and his odes on Melancholy, on Indolence, to a Grecian Urn and to a Nightingale and just before "Ode to Autumn".

The poem tells how the god Hermes hears of a nymph who is more beautiful than all. Hermes, searching for the nymph, instead comes across Lamia, trapped in the form of a serpent. She reveals the previously invisible nymph to him and in return he restores her human form. She goes to seek a youth of Corinth, Lycius, while Hermes and his nymph depart together into the woods. The relationship between Lycius and Lamia, however, is destroyed when the sage Apollonius reveals Lamia's true identity at their wedding feast, whereupon she seemingly disappears and Lycius dies of grief.

The assertion that, The act of reading a text is both determinate and indeterminate is true as the act of reading a text include not only the words or sentences written on but it include the guess or the different perspectives of the reader of different types.

As reading shouldn’t be seen as a linear process which unfolds clearly over time the unity of the narrative at the pages.

Instead, a more recursive process occurs whereby new knowledge both within the reader and the text modifies old and through which a more general apprehension of the meaning of the text is developed.

So, the reason is also true and true explanation of the assertion.

Politics and the English Language is an essay by George Orwell that highlight as well as criticize the debase and inaccurate written English of his time and examines the relation between political orthodoxies and the degradation of the language. The rules are as follows:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

The correct answer is 'Your'.

 Key Points

• In English, "thy" is an archaic or old-fashioned form of the possessive adjective "your".
• It's used to address someone directly, indicating possession or association.
• In the context of the poem 'Koel', the poet uses "thy" to address the cuckoo bird, adding a sense of intimacy and immediacy to the narrative.
• The usage of "thy" gives the poem a lyrical, poetic quality, enhancing the depth and resonance of its message.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is 'Yann Martel'.

Key Points

• Yann Martel is a Canadian author who gained worldwide recognition for his novel "Life of Pi," a captivating story that explores themes of faith, spirituality, and the resilience of the human spirit.
• The novel follows the journey of a young Indian boy named Pi, who survives a shipwreck and finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
• Martel's imaginative storytelling and philosophical reflections have made "Life of Pi" a beloved work that prompts readers to contemplate the nature of truth, belief, and the power of storytelling.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

The Caretaker is a play in three acts by Harold Pinter. Although it was the sixth of his major works for stage and television, this psychological study of the confluence of power, allegiance, innocence, and corruption among two brothers and a tramp, became Pinter's first significant commercial success.It premiered at the Arts Theatre Club in London's West End on 27 April 1960 and transferred to the Duchess Theatre the following month, where it ran for 444 performances before departing London for Broadway.[2] In 1964, a film version of the play based on Pinter's unpublished screenplay was directed by Clive Donner. The movie starred Alan Bates as Mick and Donald Pleasence as Davies in their original stage roles, while Robert Shaw replaced Peter Woodthorpe as Aston. First published by both Encore Publishing and Eyre Methuen in 1960, The Caretaker remains one of Pinter's most celebrated and oft-performed plays.

• Anaphora is a literary device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.
• It is used to create emphasis, rhythm, and a sense of unity within a text.
• Anaphora can be used in various forms of writing, including poetry, prose, and drama.
• Examples: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

The correct answer is 'Bioregionalism.'

Key Points

• Bioregionalism emphasizes the cultural, historical, and ecological characteristics of smaller, specific geographic areas, fostering a sense of place and a connection to the natural environment.
• It ties directly to ecocriticism's focus on examining literature through an environmental lens, considering how texts reflect and influence human relationships with the natural world.
• This concept encourages local sustainability and community involvement, reflecting ecocritical values.
• By analyzing literature through the lens of bioregionalism, ecocritics can uncover how narratives contribute to or challenge ecological consciousness within specific regions.
• The focus on local landscapes and ecosystems in literature is key to understanding how human culture intersects with the environment.
• Bioregionalism in ecocriticism promotes the exploration of environmental ethics and the impact of human actions on specific ecological communities.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Additional Information

• Option 1, The Anthropocene, is a proposed geological epoch highlighting human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.
• Option 2, Ecological Imperialism, explores the ways in which colonial expansion has impacted ecosystems and indigenous cultures.
• Option 3, The Gaia Hypothesis, proposes that the Earth functions as a self-regulating system.

 The Prelude (1799), Christable (1800), Adonais (1822), Gryll Grange (1861).

Doctor Faustus is a timeless myth pointing directly at the universal truth inherent to our misguided and blasphemous penchant for an ultimate sort of knowledge and power. The idea of an individual selling his or her soul to the devil for knowledge is an old motif in Christian folklore, one that had become attached to the historical persona of Johannes Faustus a disreputable astrologer who lived in Germany sometime in the early 1500s. The immediate source of Marloweís play seems to be the anonymous German work Historia von D. Johann Fausten of 1587, which was translated into English in 1952, and from which Marlowe lifted the bulk of the plot for his work.

The Fairie Queene is a religious allegory by Edmund Spenser, written as an epic poem, although left unfinished. It was constituted in six parts and each book represents a specific virtue. The Book 1 narrates the story of Redcrosse Knight, who represents virtue of Holiness.

The story come to an end in canto 12, when The Knight defeats the Dragon and relieved the kingdom from his terror. The Red crosse Knight got engaged to Una with blessings of her Parents and leave to fulfill his duty.

Spenser use a metaphor of “a ship filled with jolly mariners” in the end to describe the relationship between the tale and its readers. In words of Spenser:

Now strike your sailes ye iolly Mariners,

For we be come vnto a quiet rode,

Where we must land some of our passengers,

And light this wearie vessell of her lode

The correct answer is 'A poem in which the speaker addresses a silent or absent listener, revealing their inner thoughts and feelings.'

 Key Points

• A dramatic monologue is a type of poem where a single speaker addresses a silent or absent listener.
• The speaker reveals their innermost thoughts, emotions, and often engages in self-revelation or confession.
• This form allows for an exploration of the speaker's character, providing insights into their personality, motivations, and experiences.
• The listener, though silent, becomes a crucial part of the poem, serving as a sounding board for the speaker's reflections.
• Prominent examples of dramatic monologues include Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" and T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. While dramatic monologues share similarities with theatrical monologues, they are distinct forms. Dramatic monologues are poems, not performances within a play.
• Option 3 is incorrect. Dramatic monologues typically feature a single speaker, not multiple voices.
• Option 4 is incorrect. While dramatic monologues can be intense and emotional, they do not necessarily follow a fixed rhyme scheme.

“Memorial Verses” (1850) by Matthew Arnold (1822- 1888) is “an elegy of praise or lament” or a tribute to the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth. However, in his poem, Arnold talks about Byron and Goethe (German poet) as well. Arnold implies that the three great poets of the Romantic era were Byron, Goethe, and Wordsworth. Byron and Goethe were the contemporaries of Wordsworth. In general, Arnold talks about the Romantic period, the era preceding that of the Arnold’s (the Victorian Age). He also presents his fears about the Victorian era (to which he belongs) in the poem.

First extended written specimen of the Old English (Anglo Saxon) language is a code of laws promulgated by Ethelbert, the first English Christian King.

The correct answer is ‘She loves him more than Edgar Linton.’

Key Points

• Heathcliff is convinced that Catherine loves him more than she loves Edgar Linton. 
• He believes that Catherine's love for him is deep and enduring.
• He thinks that Catherine's love for Edgar is superficial and fleeting.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 2.’

The correct answer is Autobiography.

Key Points

• An autobiography is the life story of a person written by himself.
• "Grace Abounding" is the autobiography of English writer and Puritan preacher John Bunyan which was published in 1666. A spiritual autobiography, its title is taken from the Bible.
• Its complete title is "Grace Abandoning to the Chief of Sinners" and the subtitle is ''A Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to His poor servant John Bunyan".
• He wrote the book, while he was imprisoned in Bedford Gaol for his nonconformist religious activities for 12 years.
• Hence, Option 2 is the correct answer.

Dylan Thomas is associated with the group  - The New Apocalypse

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

Key Points

• Transcendentalism emerged in the 1830s and 1840s, focusing on individual intuition and the beauty of nature.
• Romanticism flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasizing emotion and individualism as well as glorifying the past and nature.
• Realism became prominent in the mid-19th century, aiming to depict everyday activities and experiences as accurately as possible without romantic idealization.
• Modernism arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a deliberate break from traditional styles of poetry and prose.
• The Beat Generation emerged in the 1950s, characterized by its rejection of standard narrative values, explicit portrayals of the human condition, and exploration of religion and spirituality.

The correct answer is 'Modernism'.

Key Points

• Ezra Pound was a driving force behind the Modernist movement, which sought to break away from traditional forms of art, poetry, and literature, advocating for innovation and a departure from conventional norms.
• His slogan "Make it new" encapsulated the essence of Modernism, urging artists and writers to experiment with form, style, and subject matter, to reflect the complexities of the 20th century.
• Pound's own literary work, along with his mentorship of other writers such as T.S. Eliot and James Joyce, significantly shaped Modernist literature's direction.
• He was instrumental in promoting the use of free verse, tight language, and imagery that directly influences one's perceptions without over-explanation - elements that became cornerstones of Modernist poetry.
• Pound's contributions weren't just literary. He was also an active advocate for the Modernist movement, through his critical essays and support of emerging writers, which further embedded "Make it new" into the Modernist ethos.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Symbolism is a precursor to Modernism and was more focused on suggesting ideas through symbols rather than outright stating them.
• Option 3: Romanticism emphasized emotion and individualism, which contrasts with Modernism's embrace of disillusionment and fragmented narratives.
• Option 4: Victorianism's moral standards and structured designs contrast sharply with Modernism's experimental and avant-garde tendencies.

The correct answer is ‘He will go to hell.’

Key Points

• Heathcliff believes that losing Catherine would be like losing his soul.
• He believes that his existence after losing her would be meaningless.
• He also believes that he would be condemned to hell.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 2.’

The correct answer is 'Informative and neutral.'

 Key Points

• The speaker provides Durbeyfield with information about his family history in a straightforward and objective manner.
• There is no evidence of boastfulness, arrogance, sarcasm, or condescension in the speaker's tone.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4.'

Additional Information

• Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect because the excerpt does not provide any evidence to support these claims 

The correct answer is 'Look Back in Anger.'

 Key Points

• "Look Back in Anger" is a groundbreaking play by John Osborne, first performed in 1956.
• The play is a seminal work of the "Angry Young Men" movement in British drama, reflecting the discontent and disillusionment of the working class in post-war Britain.
• The protagonist, Jimmy Porter, becomes a symbol of the angry and frustrated young man railing against societal conventions.
• Osborne's play is characterized by its raw emotion, social critique, and departure from traditional theatrical conventions.
• "Look Back in Anger" marked a significant shift in British drama, challenging the established order and paving the way for more realistic and socially relevant plays.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. "The Caretaker" is a play by Harold Pinter, not John Osborne. It explores themes of power, identity, and social dynamics.
• Option 3 is incorrect. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is a play by Edward Albee, not John Osborne. It delves into the complexities of marriage and societal expectations.
• Option 4 is incorrect. "The Birthday Party" is a play by Harold Pinter, not John Osborne. It involves psychological tension and absurdity.

In the second stanza, the speaker longs for the oblivion of alcohol, expressing his wish for wine, "a draught of vintage," that would taste like the country and like peasant dances, and let him "leave the world unseen" and disappear into the dim forest with the nightingale.

In "Signs Taken For Wonders," Homi K. Bhabha examines several moments in postcolonial ... that depict the "sudden, fortuitous discovery of the English book" (102). ... that the English book points toward the fixity of Colonial power, along with its ... the "English book" serve as a foil for Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's essay "Can ...

The correct answer is 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.

Key Points

• Defining Magical Realism: "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is widely recognized as a quintessential example of magical realism, a literary style where magical elements are a natural part of an otherwise mundane, realistic environment.
• Epic Tale of the Buendía Family: The novel tells the multi-generational story of the Buendía family, whose patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, founds the fictional town of Macondo. The narrative weaves between the personal and the historical, exploring themes of love, solitude, destiny, and decay.
• Literary Accomplishments: This work significantly contributed to Gabriel García Márquez winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
• Global Influence: The book has been translated into dozens of languages, capturing the imagination of readers worldwide and making a profound impact on the global literary landscape.
• Cultural and Political Commentary: Through its blend of the magical and the real, the novel comments on the turbulent history and politics of Latin America, offering a critical yet whimsical examination of human nature and society.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Love in the Time of Cholera is another acclaimed novel by Márquez, focusing on an enduring love story.
• Option 2: Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a novella blending non-linear storytelling and magical realism to explore the nature of collective guilt.
• Option 4: The Autumn of the Patriarch delves into the life of a perpetual dictator, representing a critique on tyranny.

• Allegory is a literary device that uses symbols and metaphors to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
• In John Dryden's poem "Absalom and Achitophel", the biblical characters and events are used to allegorize a political crisis in contemporary England.
• The character of Ling David represents King Charles II, Absalom represents the Duke of Monmouth, and the events of the story parallel the political struggles of the time.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2.'

• Option 1: Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent abstract ideas or concepts, but in this case, the characters and events in "Absalom and Achitophel" are not merely symbols; they are used to allegorize a specific historical event.
• Option 3: A chronicle play is a type of historical drama that presents a series of events from history, but "Absalom and Achitophel" is not a chronicle play in the traditional sense; it is a political allegory that uses biblical characters and events to represent contemporary events.
• Option 4: Melodrama is a type of play that emphasizes sensationalism and emotion, but "Absalom and Achitophel" is not a melodrama; it is a political allegory that uses wit and satire to comment on contemporary events.

A malapropism is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, sometimes humorous utterance. An example is the statement by baseball player Yogi Berra, "Texas has a lot of electrical votes", rather than "electoral votes". Malapropisms often occur as errors in natural speech and are sometimes the subject of media attention, especially when made by politicians or other prominent individuals.

The above quote is an example of Run-on line or enjambment as the meaning runs over from one line to the next, without terminal punctuation. The break comes in the middle of a phrase or line (“My lute, ) and idea moves on to the next line without any comma or full stop.

End-stopped rhyme is opposite of Run-on line as a pause comes at the end of a sentence, clause or phrase such as a colon, semi-colon, period or full stop. For example:

Bright Star, would I were as stedfast as thou art—

Not in lone splendor hung aloft the night,

A Tercet is a poetic unit of three lines, rhymed or unrhymed. If rhymed it follows the same rhyme scheme in three lines such as aaa. Haiku is an example of a tercet.

Alliteration is a literary stylistic device and occurs when a series of words in a line have the same first consonant sound. For Example:

Fred’s friends fried Fritos for Friday’s food.