Jammu University Non CBCS
English Literature Previous Year Question Paper
1st Semester
EL-101
UNIT-I: INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY TERMS
1. Alliteration Alliteration refers to the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. For example, in the phrase “She sells seashells by the seashore,” the 's' sound is repeated. Alliteration is often used to create rhythm, mood, or emphasis in poetry and prose.
2. Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Unlike alliteration, assonance focuses on the vowel sounds rather than consonants. For instance, “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain” demonstrates the repeated 'a' sound. It is a common device in poetry to enhance the musical quality of language.
3. Imagery Imagery refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the senses, helping readers to visualize scenes, hear sounds, or even feel emotions. For example, "The golden sun set behind the purple hills" creates a visual image that enhances the reader's experience.
4. Metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. It does not use "like" or "as" (unlike a simile). For example, "Time is a thief" implies that time steals moments from our lives.
5. Simile A simile, like a metaphor, compares two things but uses “like” or “as.” For example, "Her smile was as bright as the sun" compares a smile to the sun using "as."
6. Rhyme Rhyme refers to the correspondence of sounds, typically at the ends of words, in poetry. Rhymes can be full (perfect rhymes like “light” and “night”) or slant (partial rhymes, e.g., “grip” and “deep”).
7. Blank Verse Blank verse is unrhymed poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter (a meter of ten syllables per line, alternating between unstressed and stressed syllables). Famous works like Shakespeare’s plays often use blank verse.
8. Meter Meter is the structured rhythm of a line of poetry, defined by the number and type of beats or syllables. Common meters include iambic pentameter and trochaic tetrameter. It’s what gives poetry its flow and musical quality.
9. Couplet A couplet is two consecutive lines of poetry that usually rhyme and have the same meter. They often signal a conclusion or provide a final, impactful thought. Shakespeare’s sonnets often end with a rhymed couplet.
10. Prologue A prologue is an introduction to a literary work, often giving background information, setting the stage, or hinting at themes to come. In drama, the prologue may be delivered by a single character to offer insight into the plot.
11. Epilogue An epilogue is the concluding section of a literary work that provides closure, summarizes key points, or offers reflections on the story’s events. It often looks to the future or gives a moral to the story.
12. Personification Personification involves attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or abstract concepts. For instance, “The wind whispered through the trees” gives the wind the human quality of whispering.
13. Soliloquy A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts or feelings. This is commonly used in plays, particularly in Shakespeare’s works, to give the audience insight into a character’s mind.
14. Farce Farce is a type of comedy characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations, physical humor, and absurdity. It often involves mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and improbable events. Plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde contain elements of farce.
15. Satire Satire is a genre of literature that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or mock societal issues, individuals, or institutions. Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is a famous example, using dark humor to critique social and economic conditions.
16. Irony Irony refers to a situation or expression where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning. There are several types of irony: verbal irony (when someone says something but means the opposite), situational irony (when there’s a disparity between expected and actual outcomes), and dramatic irony (when the audience knows something the characters do not).
17. Sonnet A sonnet is a 14-line poem, often written in iambic pentameter, and follows a strict rhyme scheme. There are several types of sonnets, including the Shakespearean (ABABCDCDEFEFGG) and the Petrarchan (ABBAABBACDCDCD).
18. Comedy Comedy refers to a genre of literature, particularly in drama, where the plot usually revolves around misunderstandings, humorous situations, and a happy ending. Shakespeare’s comedies, such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” are quintessential examples.
19. Tragedy A tragedy is a dramatic genre that explores serious themes and often ends with the downfall or death of the protagonist. Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “Macbeth” are classic examples of tragic plays, where the heroes' flaws lead to their undoing.
UNIT-II: HISTORY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE: OLD & MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE
1. Literature in the Age of Chaucer The Age of Chaucer (14th century) is a defining period in English literature. Geoffrey Chaucer, often called the "father of English poetry," wrote "The Canterbury Tales," which is a landmark work of Middle English literature. It represents the diversity of medieval society through the voices of pilgrims on a journey to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Chaucer’s works helped establish English as a literary language in an era dominated by French and Latin.
2. Literature of the Revival The Literature of the Revival refers to the Renaissance period in English literature, which marked a resurgence of interest in classical works, philosophy, and humanism. This era saw the rise of prominent playwrights like Shakespeare and poets like John Milton, whose works explored human nature, the cosmos, and the divine.
3. Origin of Drama Drama as a literary genre originated in Ancient Greece, but in England, it began to take shape during the medieval period. The earliest English drama was based on religious themes, performed in churchyards or marketplaces. By the 16th century, drama evolved into more complex works with secular themes, thanks to playwrights like Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare.
4. University Wits The University Wits were a group of late 16th-century English playwrights, most of whom had attended Oxford or Cambridge. They significantly influenced the development of English drama. Notable members include Christopher Marlowe, Robert Greene, and Thomas Nashe. They helped shape the Elizabethan theatre, introducing more sophisticated plots, character development, and poetic language.
UNIT-III: POETRY
Chaucer Selections from Prologue – Characters of Wife of Bath and Monk Chaucer’s "The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Two of the most memorable characters from the Prologue are the Wife of Bath and the Monk.
Wife of Bath: She is a bold and independent woman, renowned for having had five husbands. She challenges societal views on marriage and gender roles, using her own life as evidence of her beliefs on the supremacy of experience over authority. Her tale discusses issues of power in relationships and the role of women in medieval society.
Monk: The Monk is a man of the Church, yet he is portrayed as a man who enjoys worldly pleasures. He is depicted as a hunter, which was not typical for a monk, and Chaucer uses him to criticize the hypocrisy and corruption within the Church during the Middle Ages.
UNIT-IV: SONNET DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH SONNET
1. Sir Thomas Wyatt: “Whoso List to Hunt” Sir Thomas Wyatt is credited with introducing the sonnet to English literature. His poem "Whoso List to Hunt" is one of the first English sonnets and is a Petrarchan sonnet. In this poem, Wyatt compares the pursuit of love to hunting a doe, referencing the unattainability of his beloved. The poem uses metaphorical language to express the pain of unrequited love.
2. Phillip Sidney: "O Grammar Rules (Sonnet 63)" Philip Sidney’s “Sonnet 63” is part of his sequence Astrophel and Stella, which is a collection of sonnets expressing Sidney’s love for Stella. In this particular sonnet, Sidney discusses the beauty of Stella, comparing her physical features to the celestial and eternal. The sonnet’s structure follows the Shakespearean (ABABCDCDEFEFGG) rhyme scheme, showcasing Sidney’s mastery over the sonnet form.
UNIT-V: DRAMA
Ralph Roister Doister by Nicholas Udall "Ralph Roister Doister" is a comedic play written by Nicholas Udall, often considered one of the first English comedies. The play is about a vain, pompous character, Ralph Roister Doister, who believes he is an attractive and capable suitor but ends up making a fool of himself. The comedy explores themes of love, pride, and social status, and it is a precursor to later English comedies, such as those by Shakespeare.