Literary Criticism and Theory – Previous Year Questions
452 questions from past UGC NET English papers, each with the correct answer. Open any question for its explanation.
Topic-wise mock tests
- Assertion (A): Understanding a cultural form would not simply place it within one specific culture. Reason (R): Cultural forms are best studied at the intersection of different cultural networks.
- Statement I: Cultures and cultural meanings are the same the world over. Statement II: It is impossible to divide the world into exclusive cultural blocs.
- Which two edited This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color? A. Audre Lorde B. Barbara Smith C. Gloria Anzaldúa D. Cherríe Moraga
- Who coined the term 'genderlect'?
- Which statement about Aristotle's Poetics is true?
- According to Sidney, which are the three kinds of poetry?
- Which science does Hobbes call 'the only science that it hath pleased God hitherto to bestow on mankind'?
- Match List I with List II: List I: Critic List II: Text A. Horace I. A Defence of Rhyme B. John Dryden II. Timber, or Discoveries C. Samuel Daniel III. Ars Poetica D. Ben Jonson IV. Of Dramatic Poesy
- Arrange the following in chronological order of publication: A. The Advancement of Learning B. On the Origin of Species C. On Heroes and Hero-Worship D. The Lives of the Poets
- Who believed that rhyme is not integral to poetry? A. William Wordsworth B. Horace C. Samuel Daniel D. Philip Sidney
- Who called blank verse 'verse only to the eye'?
- Match List I with List II: List I: Essayist List II: Essay A. George Orwell I. 'On the Artificial Comedy of the Last Century' B. Montaigne II. 'Why I Write' C. Charles Lamb III. 'A Modest Proposal' D. Jonathan Swift IV.…
- In 'My First Acquaintance with Poets', whom does Hazlitt call 'the only person I ever knew who answered to the idea of a man of genius'?
- Which essay argues that realism as a method is 'a complete failure'?
- Which works does Walter Pater, in 'Style', name as examples of 'great art'? A. The Iliad B. The Divine Comedy C. Les Misérables D. Faust
- Arrange the following critical terms in the chronological order of their emergence: A. The heresy of paraphrase B. Stream of consciousness C. Practical criticism D. Defamiliarisation
- In 'The Metaphysical Poets', which French poets does Eliot set beside the metaphysicals? A. François Villon B. Jean Racine C. Charles Baudelaire D. Arthur Rimbaud
- Which of the following describe the basic assumptions of structuralism? A. It is concerned with signs and signification. B. It considers only verbal conventions and codes. C. It began with the works of Jacques Derrida.…
- Arrange the following in chronological order of publication: A. Chomsky, Aspects of the Theory of Syntax B. Saussure, Course in General Linguistics C. Eco, Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language D. Austin, How to Do T…
- Who proposed the 'multi-accentuality' of the sign, the sign's inner dialectic and its 'evaluative accent'?
- Which theorist particularly emphasised the social and historical dimensions of a text's reception?
- Match List I with List II: List I: Author List II: Text A. Michel de Certeau I. Distinction B. John Fiske II. Reading the Romance C. Pierre Bourdieu III. Understanding Popular Culture D. Janice Radway IV. The Practice o…
- In The Anxiety of Influence, how does Bloom define 'clinamen'?
- Which assumption best expresses the position of post-structuralist criticism?
- Match List I with List II: List I: Term List II: Theorist A. Superreader I. Michel Foucault B. Biopower II. Mikhail Bakhtin C. Bricolage III. Michael Riffaterre D. Chronotope IV. Claude Lévi-Strauss
- Which two terms are specifically associated with Pierre Bourdieu? A. Habitus B. Consciousness C. Desire D. Distinction
- Who popularised the term 'glocalisation'?
- Statement I: Consumption is driven by self-interest and the maximisation of personal pleasure. Statement II: Social status correlates strongly with housing styles, musical tastes and food preferences.
- Which two books are explorations of the art of the novel by novelists? A. The Brief Compass B. Orhan Pamuk, The Naive and the Sentimental Novelist C. Harold Bloom, The Visionary Company D. Milan Kundera, Testaments Betr…
- Match List I with List II: List I: Term List II: Theorist A. Arche-écriture I. Julia Kristeva B. Cyborg II. Donna Haraway C. Genotext III. Friedrich Schleiermacher D. Hermeneutic circle IV. Jacques Derrida