Skip to content

Literature-in-English past questions: JAMB UTME 2025

108 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

Sit this paper

108 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

  1. 1.
    'Ibadan, running splash of rust and gold - flung and scattered among seven hills like broken china in the sun.' J.P. Clark, 'Ibadan' The poem above is memorable for its:
    1. A.Metaphor
    2. B.Heroism
    3. C.Pun
    4. D.Lyricism
    Show answer

    Answer: D Lyricism

  2. 2.
    A central theme in the poem NOT MY BUSINESS is:
    1. A.Courage
    2. B.Political complacency
    3. C.Greed
    4. D.Success
    Show answer

    Answer: B Political complacency

  3. 3.
    An understatement for the purpose of emphasis is known as
    1. A.panegyric
    2. B.hyperbole
    3. C.climax
    4. D.litotes
    Show answer

    Answer: D litotes

  4. 4.
    Another form of literature that often employs verse is
    1. A.parable
    2. B.fable
    3. C.drama
    4. D.prose
    Show answer

    Answer: C drama

  5. 5.
    Cleopatra (to her attendants): Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me: now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip... Which thematic concern is most evident in this speech?
    1. A.Death as transcendence
    2. B.Political ambition
    3. C.Female solidarity
    4. D.Rebellion
    Show answer

    Answer: A Death as transcendence

  6. 6.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Antony: "I will be / A bridegroom in my death, and run into't / As to a lover's bed." Eros: "Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn / Most useful for thy country." Antony: "When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then / To do this when I bade thee?" What does this moment between Antony and Eros represent?
    1. A.Cleopatra's successful manipulation
    2. B.A test of loyalty and self-sacrifice
    3. C.Antony's reluctance to die
    4. D.The dishonour of Eros refusing to fight
    Show answer

    Answer: B A test of loyalty and self-sacrifice

  7. 7.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Caesar: "She shall be buried by her Antony: / No grave upon the earth shall clip in it / A pair so famous." Dolabella: "Caesar, thy thoughts / Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming / To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou / So sought'st to hinder." From the excerpt above, Caesar's statement primarily reveals his
    1. A.regret over his inability to prevent Cleopatra's death
    2. B.anger at Dolabella for disobeying his orders
    3. C.admiration for the enduring fame of Antony and Cleopatra
    4. D.desire to separate Antony and Cleopatra in death
    Show answer

    Answer: C admiration for the enduring fame of Antony and Cleopatra

  8. 8.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Cleopatra: O, wither'd is the garland of the war, The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls Are level now with men; the odds is gone, And there is nothing left remarkable Beneath the visiting moon. What is Cleopatra lamenting in this passage?
    1. A.The fall of Rome
    2. B.The destruction of her kingdom
    3. C.The death of her son
    4. D.The death of Antony
    Show answer

    Answer: D The death of Antony

  9. 9.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Enobarbus: "Caesar's whole fleet's at sea: / Well spread and almost yare. For he's not dumb, / That tells my departure." Agrippa: "Let's grant it is not / Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; / To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit / And keep the turn of tippling with a slave..." What tone is used in the above excerpt and why?
    1. A.Regretful, Caesar wishes to reconcile
    2. B.Formal, discussing royal marriages
    3. C.Dramatic, urging Antony to return to war
    4. D.Sarcastic, mocking Antony's loss of dignity
    Show answer

    Answer: D Sarcastic, mocking Antony's loss of dignity

  10. 10.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Enobarbus: I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! What emotion primarily drives Enobarbus in this speech?
    1. A.Pride
    2. B.Gratitude
    3. C.Revenge
    4. D.Guilt
    Show answer

    Answer: D Guilt

  11. 11.
    From the novel; Antony & Cleopatra This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Which character says: "The nature of bad news infects the teller."
    1. A.Antony
    2. B.Cleopatra
    3. C.Enobarbus
    4. D.A messenger
    Show answer

    Answer: D A messenger

  12. 12.
    From the novel; Look Back in Anger This novel is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger The bear in the novel symbolically represents
    1. A.Jimmy Porter
    2. B.Alison Porter
    3. C.Helena Charles
    4. D.Cliff Lewis
    Show answer

    Answer: A Jimmy Porter

  13. 13.
    From the novel; Look Back in Anger This question is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger Bullying in the play is revenge tactics on
    1. A.rejection
    2. B.social class
    3. C.assault
    4. D.acceptance
    Show answer

    Answer: B social class

  14. 14.
    From the novel; Look Back in Anger This question is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger Jimmy's first love, who is ten years older than him, is
    1. A.Miss Drury
    2. B.Helena
    3. C.Alison
    4. D.Madeline
    Show answer

    Answer: D Madeline

  15. 15.
    From the novel; Look Back in Anger This question is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger The setting of the play is
    1. A.Classical England
    2. B.Romantic England
    3. C.Victorian England
    4. D.Elizabethan England
    Show answer

    Answer: D Elizabethan England

  16. 16.
    From the novel; Look Back in Anger This question is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger. Jimmy's feeling about Alison's upper-class status is that of
    1. A.indifference
    2. B.adoration
    3. C.resentment
    4. D.admiration
    Show answer

    Answer: C resentment

  17. 17.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. How does the novel challenge conventional ideas of masculinity?
    1. A.By making Lucas physically weak
    2. B.By showing Lucas fails as a provider
    3. C.By excluding male characters
    4. D.By showing a man openly supporting a mentally ill spouse
    Show answer

    Answer: D By showing a man openly supporting a mentally ill spouse

  18. 18.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. What deeper meaning can be attached to Lucas's work on the farm?
    1. A.Labour as a burden
    2. B.Nature as the enemy
    3. C.An escape from Isabelle
    4. D.Work as spiritual discipline and sacrifice
    Show answer

    Answer: D Work as spiritual discipline and sacrifice

  19. 19.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. What does Lucas's refusal to remarry after Isabelle's death reveal about his core values?
    1. A.He is socially pressured
    2. B.His loyalty and emotional fidelity transcend death
    3. C.He feels guilty for her illness
    4. D.He resents women
    Show answer

    Answer: B His loyalty and emotional fidelity transcend death

  20. 20.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. What does Lucy's awakening at the novel's end most strongly symbolise?
    1. A.Rebirth of hope and emotional reconnection
    2. B.Reversal of time
    3. C.A reward for Lucas's storytelling
    4. D.Scientific success
    Show answer

    Answer: D Scientific success

  21. 21.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. What is the deeper symbolic implication of Lucy's coma?
    1. A.A critique of medical incompetence
    2. B.A symbol of past sins
    3. C.A metaphor for emotional disconnect between generations
    4. D.A reflection of her guilt
    Show answer

    Answer: C A metaphor for emotional disconnect between generations

  22. 22.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. Which best reflects Lucas's leadership style within his family?
    1. A.Authoritarian and strict
    2. B.Quiet and emotional
    3. C.Passive-aggressive
    4. D.Detached and independent
    Show answer

    Answer: B Quiet and emotional

  23. 23.
    From the novel; Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured This question is based on PATH OF LUCAS. Which narrative technique best defines the structure of the novel?
    1. A.Epistolary narration
    2. B.Non-linear flashback
    3. C.Third-person omniscient narration
    4. D.Stream of consciousness
    Show answer

    Answer: B Non-linear flashback

  24. 24.
    From the novel; Redemption Road In the end, what core message does Redemption Road leave the reader with?
    1. A.Justice is always served eventually
    2. B.History should be forgotten to move forward
    3. C.Only revenge can bring peace
    4. D.Healing is possible but depends on courageous confrontation
    Show answer

    Answer: D Healing is possible but depends on courageous confrontation

  25. 25.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. How does the novel critique the role of international aid in post-conflict settings?
    1. A.By showing PIP's limitations despite noble intent
    2. B.By advocating total reliance on foreign assistance
    3. C.By depicting PIP as corrupt
    4. D.By avoiding mention of external support
    Show answer

    Answer: A By showing PIP's limitations despite noble intent

  26. 26.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. In what way does Bendu's relationship with Calvin challenge gender norms?
    1. A.Calvin acts as a victim
    2. B.Their partnership is based on mutual respect without traditional gender roles
    3. C.They reverse parenting roles
    4. D.Calvin is financially dependent on Bendu
    Show answer

    Answer: A Calvin acts as a victim

  27. 27.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. The temporal setting of the novel is?
    1. A.the 1960s and 1970s
    2. B.the renaissance
    3. C.the 1990s and early 2000s
    4. D.the 2010s
    Show answer

    Answer: A the 1960s and 1970s

  28. 28.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. What does Benji's story reveal about the long-term consequences of political silence?
    1. A.Silence protects dignity
    2. B.Silence fosters reconciliation
    3. C.Silence secures promotions
    4. D.Silence can lead to invisibility and forgotten sacrifices
    Show answer

    Answer: D Silence can lead to invisibility and forgotten sacrifices

  29. 29.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. What does the character of Calvin represent in contrast to Terrance Clarke?
    1. A.Ethical masculinity
    2. B.Political radicalism
    3. C.Legal ambiguity
    4. D.Romantic detachment
    Show answer

    Answer: A Ethical masculinity

  30. 30.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. What is the significance of Cobra's polite and religious demeanour after the war?
    1. A.It confirms his legal innocence
    2. B.It shows he has been reformed
    3. C.It disguises unresolved guilt and denial
    4. D.It prepares him for exile
    Show answer

    Answer: C It disguises unresolved guilt and denial

  31. 31.
    From the novel; Redemption Road This question is based on REDEMPTION ROAD. Why is Bendu's abandonment of her child in the Duluma camp significant?
    1. A.It highlights her rejection of Cobra's authority
    2. B.It exposes her lack of maternal instinct
    3. C.It dramatizes the horrors of war on motherhood and memory
    4. D.It foreshadows her suicide
    Show answer

    Answer: C It dramatizes the horrors of war on motherhood and memory

  32. 32.
    From the novel; Second Class Citizen This question is based on Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen It all began like a dream. You know, that sort of dream which seems to have originated from nowhere, yet one was always aware of its existence... The technique used in the line above is
    1. A.stream of consciousness
    2. B.foreshadowing
    3. C.omniscient point of view
    4. D.flashback
    Show answer

    Answer: D flashback

  33. 33.
    From the novel; Second Class Citizen This question is based on Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen The narrative of the novel centres around
    1. A.Ike
    2. B.Francis
    3. C.Mrs Ofili
    4. D.Adah
    Show answer

    Answer: D Adah

  34. 34.
    From the novel; Second Class Citizen This question is based on Buchi Emecheta's Second Class CItizen. Adah faces discrimination based on
    1. A.gender and race
    2. B.education and social status
    3. C.age and religion
    4. D.nationality and language
    Show answer

    Answer: A gender and race

  35. 35.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 Beauty in Donne's "The Good Morrow" represents the poet's persona's
    1. A.friend
    2. B.lover
    3. C.niece
    4. D.mother
    Show answer

    Answer: B lover

  36. 36.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 Decked with dances by baobabs over balances The above line in Neto's The Grieved Lands is an example of
    1. A.assonance
    2. B.consonance
    3. C.onomatopoeia
    4. D.alliteration
    Show answer

    Answer: D alliteration

  37. 37.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 I shall booze and zoom myself home The diction used in the above excerpt in Onu's "A Government Driver on His Retirement" is
    1. A.onomatopoeic
    2. B.veiled
    3. C.complex
    4. D.formalised
    Show answer

    Answer: D formalised

  38. 38.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 In Lawrence's "Bat", the poetic persona concludes the poem by stating
    1. A.his aversion for bats
    2. B.the beauty of nature
    3. C.the beauty of bats
    4. D.the importance of bats
    Show answer

    Answer: A his aversion for bats

  39. 39.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 Niyi Osundare's "The Leader and the Led" is a fable because of the
    1. A.lies in it
    2. B.simplicity of the language
    3. C.witty nature of the poem
    4. D.use of animals who act as humans
    Show answer

    Answer: D use of animals who act as humans

  40. 40.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 Sesay's "The Song of the Women of my Land" is
    1. A.panegyric
    2. B.free verse
    3. C.satirical
    4. D.blank verse
    Show answer

    Answer: A panegyric

  41. 41.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 The experience of the persona in Eliot's "The Journey of the Magi" is
    1. A.challenging but fulfilling
    2. B.rough and hopeless
    3. C.smooth and exciting
    4. D.tortuous and frustrating
    Show answer

    Answer: A challenging but fulfilling

  42. 42.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 The persona in Lade Worsonu's "Raider of the Treasure Trove" warns against
    1. A.war
    2. B.greed
    3. C.power
    4. D.rage
    Show answer

    Answer: D rage

  43. 43.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 The spatial setting of Senghor's "Black Woman" is
    1. A.Asia
    2. B.Africa
    3. C.India
    4. D.Europe
    Show answer

    Answer: B Africa

  44. 44.
    From the novel; Selected Poems from: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English: 2021-25 The subject matter of Angelou's "Caged Bird" is
    1. A.the abolition of slavery and the freedom of caged people
    2. B.the limitation of racially discriminated African Americans
    3. C.segregation and racial discrimination
    4. D.the colonial invasion and slave trade
    Show answer

    Answer: C segregation and racial discrimination

  45. 45.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Fina's character is best described as:
    1. A.Bold and irrational
    2. B.Detached and aloof
    3. C.Resilient, reflective and evolving
    4. D.Passive and resigned
    Show answer

    Answer: C Resilient, reflective and evolving

  46. 46.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Fina's insistence on supporting her sister Isa, despite Cammy's protest, stems from:
    1. A.African communal values
    2. B.Political ideology
    3. C.Feminist ideology
    4. D.Religious guilt
    Show answer

    Answer: A African communal values

  47. 47.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. The abandonment of Musudugu by many women before Kumba Kargbo's birth reflects:
    1. A.The psychological cost of isolation
    2. B.Weakness in the social fabric
    3. C.Patriarchal encroachment
    4. D.The flexibility of tradition
    Show answer

    Answer: C Patriarchal encroachment

  48. 48.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. What is the narrative function of the Kumba Kargbo legend at the beginning of the novel?
    1. A.To introduce Western ideals.
    2. B.To critique African nationalism.
    3. C.To expose the horrors of war.
    4. D.To symbolise Fina's inner rebellion and uniqueness.
    Show answer

    Answer: D To symbolise Fina's inner rebellion and uniqueness.

  49. 49.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Which action by Amadu is viewed as a cultural sacrilege?
    1. A.Allowing his daughter to go to school.
    2. B.Marrying a woman from another tribe.
    3. C.Becoming a construction worker.
    4. D.Entering the Fafei to stop Fina's circumcision.
    Show answer

    Answer: D Entering the Fafei to stop Fina's circumcision.

  50. 50.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Which element best classifies So the Path Does Not Die as a postcolonial feminist novel?
    1. A.Its use of supernatural elements
    2. B.Its satire of Western education
    3. C.Its critique of both colonial legacies and patriarchal customs
    4. D.Its glorification of male dominance
    Show answer

    Answer: C Its critique of both colonial legacies and patriarchal customs

  51. 51.
    From the novel; So the Path Does Not Die This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Which of the following characters consistently defends African traditions?
    1. A.Edna
    2. B.Fina
    3. C.Baramusu
    4. D.Nabou
    Show answer

    Answer: C Baramusu

  52. 52.
    From the novel; The Lion and the Jewel This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel I was there when it happened to your father The line above is in reference to
    1. A.the wrestler's impotency
    2. B.Lakunle's impotency
    3. C.the traveler's impotency
    4. D.Baroka's impotency
    Show answer

    Answer: D Baroka's impotency

  53. 53.
    From the novel; The Lion and the Jewel This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel Lakunle is portrayed as the foil of
    1. A.the stranger
    2. B.Sidi
    3. C.Baroka
    4. D.Sadiku
    Show answer

    Answer: C Baroka

  54. 54.
    From the novel; The Lion and the Jewel This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. No one? Do you mean there was no one To bar unwanted strangers from my privacy? Who made this statement?
    1. A.Lakunle
    2. B.Baroka
    3. C.Sidi
    4. D.Sadiku
    Show answer

    Answer: B Baroka

  55. 55.
    From the novel; The Lion and the Jewel This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. The chief of Ilujinle village is
    1. A.Lakunle
    2. B.Baroka
    3. C.Sadiku
    4. D.Sidi
    Show answer

    Answer: B Baroka

  56. 56.
    From the novel; The Lion and the Jewel This question is based on Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel. The division of the play into morning, noon and night signifies unity of
    1. A.action
    2. B.space
    3. C.place
    4. D.time
    Show answer

    Answer: B space

  57. 57.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. What style of performance influences the structure of the play?
    1. A.Classical tragedy
    2. B.Realism
    3. C.Anansesem
    4. D.Epic theatre
    Show answer

    Answer: C Anansesem

  58. 58.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. What theme is emphasised when bride prices are accepted from multiple chiefs?
    1. A.Heroism
    2. B.Colonial resistance
    3. C.Greed
    4. D.National unity
    Show answer

    Answer: C Greed

  59. 59.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. Where is the play primarily set?
    1. A.Ananse's home and its surroundings
    2. B.Kumasi
    3. C.A palace in the North
    4. D.Accra
    Show answer

    Answer: A Ananse's home and its surroundings

  60. 60.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. Which of these best describes Ananse?
    1. A.Naive and kind
    2. B.Generous and selfless
    3. C.Wise but poor
    4. D.Trickster and manipulator
    Show answer

    Answer: D Trickster and manipulator

  61. 61.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. Who is Aya in relation to Ananse?
    1. A.His neighbour
    2. B.His sister
    3. C.His mother
    4. D.His aunt
    Show answer

    Answer: C His mother

  62. 62.
    From the novel; The Marriage of Anansewa This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. Who serves as a moral voice and critic of Ananse's schemes?
    1. A.Christie
    2. B.Ekuwa
    3. C.Chief-Who-Is-Chief
    4. D.The Messenger
    Show answer

    Answer: B Ekuwa

  63. 63.
    From the novel; Unexpected Joy at Dawn This question is based on Alex Agyei-Agyiri Unexpected Joy at Dawn. The main conflict in the novel is
    1. A.love
    2. B.greed
    3. C.health
    4. D.corruption
    Show answer

    Answer: D corruption

  64. 64.
    From the novel; Unexpected Joy at Dawn This question is based on Alex Agyei-Agyiri's Unexpected Joy at Dawn The narrative technique employed in the novel is
    1. A.second person point of view
    2. B.third-person point of view
    3. C.first-person narrative point of view
    4. D.first and second person point of view
    Show answer

    Answer: B third-person point of view

  65. 65.
    From the novel; Unexpected Joy at Dawn This question is based on Alex Agyei-Agyiri's Unexpected Joy at Dawn The temporal setting of the novel is in
    1. A.1980s Ghana and 1960s Nigeria
    2. B.1960s Nigeria and 1980s Ghana
    3. C.1960s Ghana and 1980s Nigeria
    4. D.1940s Ghana and 1960s Nigeria
    Show answer

    Answer: B 1960s Nigeria and 1980s Ghana

  66. 66.
    From the novel; Wuthering Heights This question is based on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights Take my colt, gipsy, then! said young Earnshaw...and wheedle my father out of all he has The statement above exemplifies
    1. A.premonition
    2. B.point of view
    3. C.flashack
    4. D.epistolary
    Show answer

    Answer: C flashack

  67. 67.
    From the novel; Wuthering Heights This question is based on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. From the events in the novel, one can conclude that Joseph is
    1. A.straightforward
    2. B.hypocritical
    3. C.amiable
    4. D.unserious
    Show answer

    Answer: B hypocritical

  68. 68.
    From the novel; Wuthering Heights This question is based on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. I'm trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don't care how long I will wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do! Who made the statement?
    1. A.Heathcliff
    2. B.Edgar
    3. C.Lockwood
    4. D.Isabella
    Show answer

    Answer: A Heathcliff

  69. 69.
    From the novel; Wuthering Heights This question is based on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights. The overriding depiction of mystery and terror in the novel accounts for its classification as a
    1. A.neo-classical novel
    2. B.gothic novel
    3. C.satiric fiction
    4. D.science fiction
    Show answer

    Answer: B gothic novel

  70. 70.
    He lifted his head from his drinking as cattles do, And looked at me vaguely, as drinking cattles do, And flickered his two-forked tongue from his lips, and mused a moment (D.H. Lawrence) The poetic object in the extract above is
    1. A.an elephant
    2. B.a bird
    3. C.a man
    4. D.a snake
    Show answer

    Answer: D a snake

  71. 71.
    This question is based on ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. In Act III, Scene II, Antony blames Cleopatra for:
    1. A.Betraying him to Octavius
    2. B.Marrying Caesar in secret
    3. C.Encouraging war with Lepidus
    4. D.Causing the loss at Actium by fleeing
    Show answer

    Answer: D Causing the loss at Actium by fleeing

  72. 72.
    This question is based on General Literary Principles A multifaceted character in literature is regarded as
    1. A.flat character
    2. B.round character
    3. C.comic character
    4. D.lucid character
    Show answer

    Answer: B round character

  73. 73.
    This question is based on General Literary Principles. Repetition is a literary device employed for the purpose of
    1. A.satire
    2. B.melody
    3. C.emphasis
    4. D.rhyme
    Show answer

    Answer: C emphasis

  74. 74.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation ...Akosua Nowa has touched my manhood; Tell her, red ant upon the tree; If she passes this way, I am gone, I am gone to load my gun No matter how hidden deep her treasure, By my father's coffin I swear I'll shoot my way to it this day; Son of the hunter King There is liquid fire in my gun! 'Akosua Nowa' by Joe de Graft The beauty of this poem is built upon its
    1. A.the arrangement of the lines
    2. B.extended images of treasure and gun
    3. C.the protagonist's boastfulness
    4. D.rhythm
    Show answer

    Answer: C the protagonist's boastfulness

  75. 75.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation 'SINCE I am coming to that Holy roome, Where, with thy Quire of Saints for evermore I shall be made thy Musique; As I come I tune the Instrument here at the dore, And what I must doe then, thinke here before.' John Donne, 'Hymn to God my God' In the stanza above, the poet recognizes that
    1. A.there is music in heaven
    2. B.God is his creator
    3. C.he is near his death
    4. D.he is a choir master
    Show answer

    Answer: C he is near his death

  76. 76.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation Comic relief is
    1. A.a device used in the theatre where a play ends in marriage
    2. B.the use of humorous characters speeches or scenes in a tragic work
    3. C.the use of hearty and wholesome laughter in plays
    4. D.a figure of speech used in comic theatre
    Show answer

    Answer: B the use of humorous characters speeches or scenes in a tragic work

  77. 77.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. 'A slight breeze murmured in the air. Grasses swayed as if in resentment. Over in the horizon, just beneath the spectrum of the ascending sun, horizontal brands of red cloud hung menacingly above the tips of the trees and morning air smelled of burnt clay.' The Victims by Isidore Okpewho Effect in the above passage is achieved through the use of
    1. A.detailed description
    2. B.adequate punctuation
    3. C.visual images
    4. D.subdued tone
    Show answer

    Answer: C visual images

  78. 78.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. 'Beautiful Kareendi, flower of my heart. No one but you can type them. For I want to send them care of the address of your heart, by the post of your heart, to be read by the eye of your heart, thereafter to be kept within your heart, sealed there forever and ever.' The dominant device in this extract is
    1. A.progressive amplification
    2. B.bold contrast
    3. C.progressive repetition
    4. D.rhetorical emphasis
    Show answer

    Answer: C progressive repetition

  79. 79.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. 'You amble on we can no longer wait for nature's course we must deliver you with force' Amelia House, 'Our Sun Rises' The mood in the lines above is one of
    1. A.fear
    2. B.indignation
    3. C.joy
    4. D.sorrow
    Show answer

    Answer: C joy

  80. 80.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. A melodramatic play is based on:
    1. A.sensational plot and characters
    2. B.a melodious manipulation of events
    3. C.ingredients that mllow down events
    4. D.the playwright's didactic overtones
    Show answer

    Answer: A sensational plot and characters

  81. 81.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. Ocol rejects the old type. He is in love with a modern woman He is in love with a beautiful girl Who speaks English.' Okot p'Bitek, 'Song of Lawino' The writer of the lines above
    1. A.appraises people who speak English
    2. B.shuns the old type of woman
    3. C.ridicules Ocol's value judgment
    4. D.is critical of the modern woman
    Show answer

    Answer: B shuns the old type of woman

  82. 82.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. The technique used in bringing the plot of a play to an abrupt end is called:
    1. A.denouement
    2. B.deus ex machina
    3. C.startnote
    4. D.endnote
    Show answer

    Answer: B deus ex machina

  83. 83.
    This question is based on General Literature Principles and Literary Appreciation. When a story is told in a song and passed down by word of mouth, it is called:
    1. A.a singer's story
    2. B.an epic
    3. C.a ballad
    4. D.a sonnet
    Show answer

    Answer: C a ballad

  84. 84.
    This question is based on HEARTY GARLANDS. "Flights of vanquished steps" conveys:
    1. A.Steps toward failure
    2. B.Escaping from duty
    3. C.Ascension through conquered challenges
    4. D.Backward movement
    Show answer

    Answer: C Ascension through conquered challenges

  85. 85.
    This question is based on HEARTY GARLANDS. What is the occasion that inspires the poem?
    1. A.A retirement send-off
    2. B.A political victory
    3. C.A birthday celebration
    4. D.A funeral tribute
    Show answer

    Answer: C A birthday celebration

  86. 86.
    This question is based on Literary Appreciation A thousand explosions in the belly of the earth Bleeding rigs, bursting pipes The oil flows From the earth's sickbed Because The oil only flows When the earth bleeds The subject matter of the excerpt above is
    1. A.despoliation
    2. B.contestation
    3. C.unification
    4. D.revolution
    Show answer

    Answer: A despoliation

  87. 87.
    This question is based on Literary Appreciation The sunset steals our youth We must depart We must follow the trail of the killer-bird Or else sleep the sleep of terror The excerpt above portrays the theme of
    1. A.mortality
    2. B.nature
    3. C.nurture
    4. D.affection
    Show answer

    Answer: A mortality

  88. 88.
    This question is based on Literary Principles The choice of words used by a writer in a literary work is called
    1. A.cliche
    2. B.idiom
    3. C.diction
    4. D.tone
    Show answer

    Answer: C diction

  89. 89.
    This question is based on MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA. Which character is Ananse's daughter?
    1. A.Aya
    2. B.Esi
    3. C.Anansewa
    4. D.Ekuwa
    Show answer

    Answer: B Esi

  90. 90.
    This question is based on NEW TONGUE. What does the poem suggest about memory and the past?
    1. A.That the past should be rewritten
    2. B.That the past is a burden
    3. C.That the past holds identity and should not be erased
    4. D.That memory is irrelevant to progress
    Show answer

    Answer: C That the past holds identity and should not be erased

  91. 91.
    This question is based on NEW TONGUE. What literary device is most prominent in the following lines? bathing at the back of the house On a rainy July day
    1. A.Simile
    2. B.Allegory
    3. C.Imagery
    4. D.Alliteration
    Show answer

    Answer: B Allegory

  92. 92.
    This question is based on NIGHT. "Faceless, silent as night thieves" contributes to which theme in the poem?
    1. A.Celebration of community
    2. B.Justice and truth
    3. C.Vulnerability and fear
    4. D.Freedom and self-expression
    Show answer

    Answer: C Vulnerability and fear

  93. 93.
    This question is based on NIGHT. The sea in the poem is presented as:
    1. A.A place of joyful celebration
    2. B.A symbol of natural vitality subdued by Night
    3. C.A metaphor for human struggle
    4. D.A neutral force in the world
    Show answer

    Answer: B A symbol of natural vitality subdued by Night

  94. 94.
    This question is based on NOT MY BUSINESS. Which literary technique dominates the poem?
    1. A.Allegory
    2. B.Limerick
    3. C.Hyperbole
    4. D.Free verse
    Show answer

    Answer: D Free verse

  95. 95.
    This question is based on ONCE UPON A TIME. "I have learned to wear many faces / like dresses..." uses which poetic device?
    1. A.Hyperbole
    2. B.Simile
    3. C.Irony
    4. D.Metonymy
    Show answer

    Answer: B Simile

  96. 96.
    This question is based on ONCE UPON A TIME. The line "like a fixed portrait smile" suggests that the speaker's smile is—
    1. A.Rigid and artificial
    2. B.Genuine and emotional
    3. C.Artistic and creative
    4. D.Changing constantly
    Show answer

    Answer: A Rigid and artificial

  97. 97.
    This question is based on SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY. The expression "one shade the more, one ray the less" underscores
    1. A.The woman's dual nature
    2. B.Her exaggerated features
    3. C.The speaker's confusion
    4. D.The precision and delicacy of her beauty
    Show answer

    Answer: D The precision and delicacy of her beauty

  98. 98.
    This question is based on SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY. What does the poet mean by "all that's best of dark and bright"?
    1. A.The woman is both good and evil
    2. B.She is indecisive in character
    3. C.She reflects a perfect balance of opposites
    4. D.Her personality is confusing
    Show answer

    Answer: B She is indecisive in character

  99. 99.
    This question is based on SO THE PATH DOES NOT DIE. Which of the following is NOT a reason why Fina struggles in America?
    1. A.Language barrier
    2. B.Financial hardship
    3. C.Racism
    4. D.Cultural isolation
    Show answer

    Answer: A Language barrier

  100. 100.
    This question is based on THE BREASTS OF THE SEA. "Fractured chela" refers to:
    1. A.A delicate remnant of the past
    2. B.A part of the coelacanth
    3. C.An extinct marine species
    4. D.A broken memory
    Show answer

    Answer: C An extinct marine species

  101. 101.
    This question is based on THE BREASTS OF THE SEA. The image "coelacanth was recaptured" suggests:
    1. A.A mythological event
    2. B.Humanity's domination of all species
    3. C.The rediscovery of something ancient and resilient
    4. D.A failed military operation
    Show answer

    Answer: C The rediscovery of something ancient and resilient

  102. 102.
    This question is based on THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE. The final escape of Chanticleer is due to—
    1. A.The widow's intervention
    2. B.The hens' distraction
    3. C.His flying ability
    4. D.His clever use of flattery
    Show answer

    Answer: B The hens' distraction

  103. 103.
    This question is based on THE NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE. What is the fox's primary strategy in catching Chanticleer?
    1. A.Magic
    2. B.Threat
    3. C.Bribery
    4. D.Flattery
    Show answer

    Answer: D Flattery

  104. 104.
    This question is based on THE STONE. The stone in the poem is primarily a symbol of:
    1. A.Emotional detachment
    2. B.Industrial progress
    3. C.Wealth and prestige
    4. D.Memory and permanence
    Show answer

    Answer: C Wealth and prestige

  105. 105.
    This question is based on THE STONE. The woman's final sigh symbolises:
    1. A.The end of the carving process
    2. B.The release of her lover's spirit
    3. C.Her readiness to remarry
    4. D.The release of pent-up sorrow
    Show answer

    Answer: D The release of pent-up sorrow

  106. 106.
    This question is based on THE TELEPHONE CALL. The term "Ultra-Super Global Special" is an example of:
    1. A.Paradox
    2. B.Litotes
    3. C.Synecdoche
    4. D.Hyperbole
    Show answer

    Answer: D Hyperbole

  107. 107.
    This question is based on THE TELEPHONE CALL. What does the phrase "We don't deal in money. Experiences are what we deal in" represent?
    1. A.A contradiction
    2. B.A tautology
    3. C.A euphemism
    4. D.A metaphor
    Show answer

    Answer: C A euphemism

  108. 108.
    When two statements or comparisons are apparently contradictory, we have an example of:
    1. A.irony
    2. B.paradox
    3. C.parallelism
    4. D.contrast
    Show answer

    Answer: B paradox

Printing is turned off here to protect the question bank. Get the SmarTest app to study offline.

More free Literature-in-English papers

JAMB Literature-in-English 1978–2019 is in the app

The latest five years of each paper are free here. The SmarTest app has every year we hold, a worked explanation for each answer, and timed mock exams. It works offline.

Get the app

Android, Windows, Mac and Linux