English Literature

UGC NET (English ): 100 Questions & Answers of Unit II- Poetry Unit – II: Poetry 1. Who is considered the father of English poetry and author of The Canterbury Tales ? Geoffrey Chaucer. 2. What 14-line lyric poem structure consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet is known as the English sonnet? Shakespearean (or Elizabethan) Sonnet. 3. Which 14-line poem structure divided into an octave and a sestet is known as the Italian sonnet? Petrarchan Sonnet . 4. Who introduced the Petrarchan sonnet form into English poetry during the 16th century? Sir Thomas Wyatt. 5. Who pioneered blank verse in English poetry through his translation of Virgil's Aeneid ? Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. 6. What is the standard unrhymed meter of five iambic feet per line used extensively in English verse? Blank verse. 7. Who wrote the Elizabethan allegorical epic poem The Faerie Queene ? Edmund Spenser. 8. What name is given to the nine-line stanza scheme invented b...

UGC NET (English ): 100 Questions & Answers of Unit I- Drama Unit – I: Drama 1. Who wrote the classical Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex ? Sophocles. 2. What is the term for the tragic flaw or error in judgment in a protagonist?  Hamartia. 3. Which Greek philosopher wrote Poetics, defining the elements of drama and tragedy?  Aristotle. 4. What term describes the purgation of emotions of pity and fear in a tragedy? Catharsis. 5. Who is the author of the Elizabethan revenge tragedy The Spanish Tragedy ? Thomas Kyd. 6. Which Roman playwright wrote comedies like The Brothers (Adelphoe) that influenced Renaissance drama? Terence. 7. What is the name of the oldest surviving English morality play? The Castle of Perseverance . 8. Which morality play features characters representing abstract qualities like Everyman and Death? Everyman . 9. In Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus , what is the name of the scholar's servant? Wagner. 10. Who wr...

Trends, Movements & Literary Features from the Medieval Period to the Restoration Age. The Age of Chaucer: The Age of Chaucer represents the late medieval period in England. It was a time of transition from feudalism to a more structured urban society. The Church held immense power, but cracks were beginning to show. Feudal lords, knights, and the rising merchant class interacted closely. Literary features of this era include the use of religious and moral themes, courtly love, and social satire. Writers often used allegory, where characters and events stood for abstract moral ideas. The language used was Middle English, which was a mix of Old English and French. The primary literary genre that developed during this time was the verse narrative and the estate satire. Geoffrey Chaucer revolutionized poetry by using everyday speech, realistic characters, and vivid descriptions. Instead of just writing about distant heroes, he wrote about real people from different social classes. ...

The Restoration Age: A Significant Literary Age The Restoration Age is a fascinating and lively chapter in English literary history. It begins in the year 1660. King Charles the Second returned to the English throne after years of strict Puritan rule. This royal return ended the Commonwealth period and brought back the monarchy. Society changed very quickly. People welcomed art, theater, and social pleasures back into their daily lives. Writers began to look at the world with fresh eyes, wit, and sharp critical thinking. During the Puritan years, public entertainment was banned. Theaters were closed down. When King Charles the Second came back, he brought French theatrical ideas with him. English theaters opened their doors once again. For the very first time, women were allowed to act on stage. Playwrights wrote witty, clever comedies about high society. These plays often made fun of foolish manners, vanity, and shallow social rules. This new style of drama is known as Comedy of Manne...