Here are the 50 MCQs covering non-fictional prose in English literature ( with answers and descriptions) 


1. Which poet compared prose to walking and verse to dancing?

A. T.S. Eliot
B. Charles Lamb
C. Paul Valéry
D. John Dryden

Correct Answer: C. Paul Valéry
Explanation: Paul Valéry distinguished prose as functional and less stylized compared to the heightened nature of verse.

2. What is the primary purpose of a formal essay?

A. Entertainment
B. Imparting knowledge
C. Personal reflection
D. Satirical commentary

Correct Answer: B. Imparting knowledge
Explanation: A formal essay focuses on conveying ideas objectively, often seen in academic or critical journals.

3. What does the French word “essay” mean?

A. Writing
B. Attempt
C. Discourse
D. Theory

Correct Answer: B. Attempt
Explanation: Derived from the French word "essayer," an essay is an attempt to express ideas or arguments on a topic.

4. Who is considered the father of the personal essay in English literature?

A. Francis Bacon
B. Charles Lamb
C. Joseph Addison
D. Thomas More

Correct Answer: B. Charles Lamb
Explanation: Lamb’s Essays of Elia are well-known personal essays characterized by their anecdotal and conversational style.

5. Which of the following is a non-fictional prose work by Francis Bacon?

A. The Anatomy of Melancholy
B. The Essays
C. Utopia
D. The Canterbury Tales

Correct Answer: B. The Essays
Explanation: Bacon’s Essays are concise and philosophical, exploring themes like truth, friendship, and studies.

6. Who authored The Travels of Dean Mahomet?

A. Dean Mahomet
B. Jonathan Swift
C. Addison
D. Richard Hakluyt

Correct Answer: A. Dean Mahomet
Explanation: Dean Mahomet’s travelogue is among the earliest works of Indian English literature.

7. What term describes a novel based on actual events?

A. Allegory
B. Faction
C. Satire
D. Biography

Correct Answer: B. Faction
Explanation: Faction combines factual events with fictional elements, exemplified by works like In Cold Blood.

8. What type of prose is The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton?

A. Travelogue
B. Religious prose
C. Expository prose
D. Satirical prose

Correct Answer: C. Expository prose
Explanation: Burton’s work explores melancholy through an extensive and scholarly expository style.

9. Which work is an example of a "true-life novel"?

A. Morte d'Arthur
B. The Executioner’s Song
C. The Compleat Angler
D. The Essays of Elia

Correct Answer: B. The Executioner’s Song
Explanation: Norman Mailer coined the term "true-life novel" for his fact-based literary work.

10. Who wrote Utopia, a work that inspired the utopian genre?

A. Sir Thomas More
B. Francis Bacon
C. John Donne
D. William Tyndale

Correct Answer: A. Sir Thomas More
Explanation: Utopia by More presents an ideal society and explores various social and political themes.


11. What is the main feature of narrative prose?

A. It defines a subject
B. It describes people and places
C. It deals with events over time
D. It uses figurative language

Correct Answer: C. It deals with events over time
Explanation: Narrative prose focuses on describing events and actions, either external or internal, across a timeline.

12. Which prose style is employed in scholarly writing on subjects like science or philosophy?

A. Narrative
B. Expository
C. Descriptive
D. Poetic

Correct Answer: B. Expository
Explanation: Expository prose explains subjects logically and concretely, aiming to present facts and ideas.

13. What does the term "impressionistic description" in prose mean?

A. A vivid recreation of events
B. A personal perspective on what is described
C. A photographic realism in writing
D. A scholarly exposition of a subject

Correct Answer: B. A personal perspective on what is described
Explanation: Impressionistic descriptions reveal the observer’s personality and emotions while describing an object.

14. Who is credited with bringing printing to England?

A. Francis Bacon
B. William Tyndale
C. William Caxton
D. Thomas More

Correct Answer: C. William Caxton
Explanation: William Caxton introduced printing to England in 1476, revolutionizing the accessibility of literature.

15. What work by Sir Thomas Malory is considered foundational for Arthurian legends?

A. Canterbury Tales
B. Morte d’Arthur
C. The Faerie Queene
D. Utopia

Correct Answer: B. Morte d’Arthur
Explanation: Malory’s Morte d’Arthur compiled Arthurian legends, influencing many later writers.

16. Who wrote the travelogue Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville?

A. Richard Hakluyt
B. John Mandeville
C. Marco Polo
D. Addison

Correct Answer: B. John Mandeville
Explanation: Although based on earlier works, this travelogue was attributed to Mandeville and gained popularity for its adventurous tales.

17. What style is associated with John Lyly's Euphues?

A. Minimalist
B. Ornate and mannered
C. Satirical
D. Realistic

Correct Answer: B. Ornate and mannered
Explanation: Lyly’s Euphues introduced euphuism, a highly decorative and intricate prose style.

18. What is the significance of Addison and Steele’s The Spectator?

A. It was the first English novel
B. It popularized the periodical essay
C. It was a critical study of English literature
D. It was a travelogue

Correct Answer: B. It popularized the periodical essay
Explanation: The Spectator focused on commentary, essays, and reflections on daily life, shaping the periodical essay format.

19. What is the main focus of a travelogue?

A. The author’s life events
B. The author's philosophy of life
C. The places and people encountered during travels
D. Fictional accounts

Correct Answer: C. The places and people encountered during travels
Explanation: A travelogue documents experiences of places and people rather than focusing on the author’s personal life.

20. Which century is referred to as the "Golden Age of English Pulpit"?

A. 16th Century
B. 17th Century
C. 18th Century
D. 19th Century

Correct Answer: B. 17th Century
Explanation: The 17th century saw the rise of powerful sermons and religious prose, earning it this title.

21. Who wrote The Compleat Angler, a treatise on angling?

A. Isaac Walton
B. John Donne
C. Robert Burton
D. Jeremy Taylor

Correct Answer: A. Isaac Walton
Explanation: Walton’s The Compleat Angler is a beloved book combining angling advice with reflections on nature and life.

22. What is the central theme of Areopagitica by John Milton?

A. The freedom of the press
B. Religious tolerance
C. The importance of education
D. Parliamentary reform

Correct Answer: A. The freedom of the press
Explanation: Areopagitica is Milton’s passionate defense of the right to publish without censorship.

23. What is Sir Thomas Browne’s Religio Medici about?

A. A treatise on angling
B. A personal confession of faith
C. A historical biography
D. A scientific study of medicine

Correct Answer: B. A personal confession of faith
Explanation: Browne’s Religio Medici explores his spiritual beliefs and combines science with religion.

24. Which work is considered the first utopian romance?

A. The Republic
B. Utopia
C. The New Atlantis
DThe Faerie Queene
Answer: b) Utopia
Explanation: Sir Thomas More’s Utopia laid the foundation for the utopian literary genre​. 

25. Who wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy?
a) Robert Burton
b) Francis Bacon
c) Thomas Nashe
d) John Milton
Answer: a) Robert Burton
Explanation: Burton’s work is a detailed and scholarly exploration of melancholy in all its forms​. 


26. Which 16th-century prose writer introduced the euphuistic style in English literature?

A. Thomas Nashe
B. John Lyly
C. Sir Philip Sidney
D. Thomas More

Correct Answer: B. John Lyly
Explanation: Lyly’s Euphues introduced a highly ornamental prose style, known as euphuism, characterized by elaborate balance and alliteration.

27. What is the primary purpose of expository prose?

A. To narrate events
B. To analyze and explain a subject
C. To evoke emotions
D. To entertain with fictional storytelling

Correct Answer: B. To analyze and explain a subject
Explanation: Expository prose is focused on explaining, defining, or analyzing a topic logically and concretely.

28. Which Elizabethan writer penned The Schoolmaster, advocating education for girls?

A. Roger Ascham
B. Thomas Nashe
C. Edmund Spenser
D. John Lyly

Correct Answer: A. Roger Ascham
Explanation: Ascham’s The Schoolmaster emphasized moral education and the psychology of learning, including support for female education.

29. Who translated the Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate in the 14th century?

A. William Tyndale
B. John Wycliffe
C. Thomas Cranmer
D. Reginald Peacock

Correct Answer: B. John Wycliffe
Explanation: Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible was a landmark in making religious texts accessible in English.

30. What is the significance of Sir Thomas More’s Utopia?

A. It critiques religious doctrines
B. It presents an ideal political society
C. It explores metaphysical questions
D. It describes historical events

Correct Answer: B. It presents an ideal political society
Explanation: Utopia describes a fictional island society governed by reason and equality, shaping utopian literature.

31. Which prose writer is associated with The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England?

A. Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
B. John Milton
C. Robert Burton
D. Thomas Fuller

Correct Answer: A. Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
Explanation: Clarendon’s work provides an account of the English Civil Wars, noted for its detailed narrative.

32. What type of prose is primarily used in biographies?

A. Descriptive prose
B. Narrative prose
C. Expository prose
D. Satirical prose

Correct Answer: B. Narrative prose
Explanation: Biographies use narrative prose to describe the life and times of an individual, blending factual details with storytelling.

33. What literary device is most often used in the euphuistic style?

A. Irony
B. Antithesis
C. Simile
D. Hyperbole

Correct Answer: B. Antithesis
Explanation: Euphuistic style heavily relies on balance and contrast through antithesis and parallelism.

34. Which 17th-century prose work by John Milton defends the liberty of the press?

A. Areopagitica
B. The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates
C. The Reason of Church Government
D. Eikonoklastes

Correct Answer: A. Areopagitica
Explanation: Milton’s Areopagitica is a powerful argument against pre-publication censorship.

35. Which author is known for the biographical series Lives?

A. Isaac Walton
B. Thomas Fuller
C. Robert Burton
D. Richard Hooker

Correct Answer: A. Isaac Walton
Explanation: Walton’s Lives documents the lives of notable figures like John Donne and George Herbert.


36. What is unique about Thomas Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller?

A. It is a biography
B. It is an early example of a picaresque novel
C. It is a euphuistic essay
D. It is a travelogue

Correct Answer: B. It is an early example of a picaresque novel
Explanation: The Unfortunate Traveller blends realism with adventure in the episodic, satirical tradition of the picaresque novel.

37. Who wrote The Anatomy of Absurdity, a critique of Puritanism?

A. John Lyly
B. Thomas Nashe
C. Francis Bacon
D. Robert Burton

Correct Answer: B. Thomas Nashe
Explanation: Nashe's The Anatomy of Absurdity is a satirical critique of societal and religious hypocrisies.

38. Which prose writer is referred to as the "morning star of the English Reformation"?

A. William Tyndale
B. John Wycliffe
C. Richard Hooker
D. Thomas Cranmer

Correct Answer: B. John Wycliffe
Explanation: Wycliffe's efforts to translate the Bible and his criticisms of Church practices earned him this title.

39. What is the focus of Jeremy Taylor's prose works?

A. Political essays
B. Religious devotion
C. Travelogues
D. Education

Correct Answer: B. Religious devotion
Explanation: Taylor’s prose, like Holy Living and Holy Dying, is marked by its devotional and theological themes.

40. Which prose writer of the 17th century authored Urn Burial, a meditation on mortality?

A. Sir Thomas Browne
B. Isaac Walton
C. Thomas Fuller
D. John Milton

Correct Answer: A. Sir Thomas Browne
Explanation: Browne’s Urn Burial reflects on burial practices and the transient nature of life.

41. What literary form is The Compleat Angler by Isaac Walton?

A. Biography
B. Treatise
C. Satire
D. Travelogue

Correct Answer: B. Treatise
Explanation: The Compleat Angler is a treatise on fishing combined with meditations on nature and human life.

42. Who is the author of Death’s Duell, considered one of the finest sermons in English?

A. John Donne
B. Richard Hooker
C. Thomas Fuller
D. Jeremy Taylor

Correct Answer: A. John Donne
Explanation: Donne’s Death’s Duell is a profound meditation on mortality and the afterlife.

43. What is the central theme of Richard Hooker’s Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity?

A. Political philosophy
B. Religious laws and governance
C. A critique of monarchy
D. Personal reflections

Correct Answer: B. Religious laws and governance
Explanation: Hooker’s work addresses the relationship between church and state and defends the Anglican Church's structure.

44. Which prose work is considered an early attempt at the novel form by Aphra Behn?

A. Oroonoko
B. The Fair Jilt
C. The Rover
D. The History of the Nun

Correct Answer: A. Oroonoko
Explanation: Behn’s Oroonoko combines biography, travelogue, and fiction, often seen as a precursor to the novel.

45. Who coined the term "Knowledge is Power"?

A. Francis Bacon
B. John Milton
C. Thomas More
D. Isaac Walton

Correct Answer: A. Francis Bacon
Explanation: Bacon’s philosophical writings emphasize empirical knowledge as a means to human progress.

46. What was the significance of Addison and Steele’s periodicals like The Tatler?

A. They introduced the travelogue genre
B. They established the essay as a literary form
C. They focused on biographies
D. They critiqued poetry

Correct Answer: B. They established the essay as a literary form
Explanation: Their essays addressed daily life, manners, and morals, shaping modern journalism and essay writing.

47. What is Robert Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy primarily about?

A. Religious sermons
B. Causes, symptoms, and cures of melancholy
C. Philosophical dialogues
D. Travel experiences

Correct Answer: B. Causes, symptoms, and cures of melancholy
Explanation: Burton’s encyclopedic work analyzes melancholy in detail, blending scholarship and humor.

48. Which 15th-century work by William Caxton is considered a translation?

A. Recuyell of the Histories of Troye
B. The Canterbury Tales
C. The Book of Common Prayer
DMorte d’Arthur
Answer: a) Recuyell of the Histories of Troye
Explanation: Caxton’s translation of this French work marked an early milestone in English prose​. 

49. Who wrote the autobiographical Confessions, considered a precursor to modern autobiography?
a) John Donne
b) St. Augustine
c) Francis Bacon
d) Thomas Nashe
Answer: b) St. Augustine
Explanation: St. Augustine’s Confessions is an early Christian text that blends personal reflection and theology. 

50.What is the primary focus of Milton’s Of Education?
a) Political reform
b) Educational philosophy
c) Religious tolerance
d) Artistic freedom
Answer: b) Educational philosophy
Explanation: Milton advocates for a holistic education system aimed at moral, intellectual, and physical development​. 










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