Literary Criticism in Practice: Enhance Your Literary Analysis Skills

Question 1

Which of the following is not a widely recognized major approach to literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Impressionism

Answer

Formalism

Answer

Marxism

Answer

Psychoanalysis

Question 2

The New Criticism movement, which emerged in the early 20th century, emphasized the importance of which aspect of literary analysis?

Accepted Answer

Structural analysis

Answer

Authorial intent

Answer

Historical context

Answer

Biographical information

Question 3

Which literary theorist is primarily associated with the concept of the 'death of the author'?

Accepted Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Jacques Lacan

Answer

Michel Foucault

Answer

Julia Kristeva

Question 4

Which of the following is a key concept that is central to feminist literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Patriarchy

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Deconstruction

Answer

Symbolism

Question 5

Which critical approach places emphasis on the psychological motivations and subconscious desires of characters?

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic criticism

Answer

Marxist criticism

Answer

Formalist criticism

Answer

Structuralist criticism

Question 6

Deconstructionist criticism, associated with post-structuralist thought, primarily aims to:

Accepted Answer

Uncover the hidden assumptions and binary oppositions within a text

Answer

Establish a definitive interpretation of the author's intent

Answer

Analyze the formal and technical aspects of the work

Answer

Provide a Marxist analysis of the text's socio-economic context

Question 7

Identify the literary figure who is widely recognized for her contributions to feminist literary criticism:

Accepted Answer

Virginia Woolf

Answer

T.S. Eliot

Answer

James Joyce

Answer

Ernest Hemingway

Question 8

Which critical approach prioritizes the reader's subjective experience and interpretation of a text over the author's intended meaning?

Accepted Answer

Reader-Response Criticism

Answer

Formalist Criticism

Answer

Structuralist Criticism

Answer

Postcolonial Criticism

Question 9

In New Criticism, the text should be interpreted solely based on:

Accepted Answer

Its own internal elements

Answer

The author's biography

Answer

The reader's subjective response

Answer

The historical context

Question 10

Marxist criticism aims to illuminate the:

Accepted Answer

Social and economic forces influencing the text

Answer

Psychological motivations of characters

Answer

Aesthetic value of the work

Answer

Literary devices and techniques employed

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of feminist criticism?

Accepted Answer

Prioritization of male viewpoints

Answer

Focus on women's experiences and perspectives

Answer

Challenge to traditional gender roles

Answer

Analysis of women's representation in literature

Question 12

Biographical criticism examines the:

Accepted Answer

Author's life and experiences in relation to their work

Answer

Structural elements and patterns of the text

Answer

Subconscious themes and symbols in the text

Answer

Colonial effects on literature and culture

Question 13

In deconstructive criticism, 'binary oppositions' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Pairs of contrasting concepts presented as mutually exclusive

Answer

Divisions of a text into distinct sections

Answer

Use of figurative language and imagery

Answer

Exploration of unconscious motivations

Question 14

Structuralist criticism emphasizes the text as a:

Accepted Answer

System of signs and structures

Answer

Reflection of the author's intent

Answer

Expression of the reader's interpretation

Answer

Product of its historical context

Question 15

Formalist criticism focuses on the:

Accepted Answer

Structure, language, and style of the text

Answer

Historical and social influences on the text

Answer

Psychological development of characters

Answer

Cultural and ideological implications of the text

Question 16

Which critical approach examines literature in relation to its social and historical context, emphasizing power dynamics, economic conditions, and class conflicts?

Accepted Answer

Marxist Criticism

Answer

Formalist Criticism

Answer

Reader-Response Criticism

Answer

Cultural Studies

Question 17

Which of the following approaches is not covered in this unit's exploration of literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Quantum criticism

Answer

Formalist criticism

Answer

Structuralist criticism

Answer

Marxist criticism

Question 18

Which critical theory examines how literature mirrors and perpetuates social power dynamics?

Accepted Answer

Marxist criticism

Answer

Deconstructive criticism

Answer

Postcolonial criticism

Answer

Feminist criticism

Question 19

Deconstructive criticism primarily aims to:

Accepted Answer

Uncover hidden meanings and paradoxes within a text

Answer

Analyze the author's intentions and motivations

Answer

Examine the historical and cultural context of a work

Answer

Evaluate the aesthetic value of literature

Question 20

Which text would be most appropriate for a postcolonial critical analysis?

Accepted Answer

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Answer

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Question 21

What is a literary critic's ethical responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Providing fair and unbiased interpretations of texts

Answer

Promoting personal opinions

Answer

Catering to reader expectations

Answer

Avoiding controversial topics

Question 22

What is the ultimate purpose of literary criticism?

Accepted Answer

Providing deep understanding and appreciation of texts

Answer

Definitively determining a text's meaning

Answer

Establishing a hierarchy of literary works

Answer

Entertaining and amusing readers