All 50 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Literature in English 2012 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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A story which explains a natural phenomenon is a
Myth is a story which explains a natural phenomenon. Myths are imaginative or untrue stories of how certain phenomena came into being. Myth is a traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings, often explaining the origin of natural phenomena or aspects of human behavior.
A narrative in which characters and events are invented is
Fiction is a narrative in which characters and events are invented. A fiction is a type of prose in which the characters and events are products of the writer's imagination. A fiction can either be realistic or idealistic. Examples of fiction are novel, novella and short story.
Lines and stanzas are to poetry as
Dialogue and action are essential features of drama. Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. Monologue is a long speech by one character.
The performers in a play constitute the
The performers in a play constitute the cast. Cast is the list of performers in a play.
Use the following lines to answer questions 5 and 6. "Truth may bend but will never break: / It will ever rise above falsehood and oil above water." The alliteration in the first line
The alliteration in the first line draws attention to the key ideas by the words 'bend' and 'break'.
(Using the same lines as Q5) The simile in the second line
The simile in the second line expresses the idea more vividly. The expression 'rise above falsehood as oil above water' makes the idea of truth becoming very vivid with the image of oil rising above water.
The types of literary work are
Types of literary work are also known as genres of literature. These genres are drama, poetry and prose.
The choice of words to create special effects is called
The choice of words to create special effects is diction. Diction is the choice of words. Diction refers to the register or vocabulary of a particular work of art. A writer's choice of words helps in understanding the writer's perspective and the writer's audience.
A long narrative chronicling a family's heroic deeds is a/an
Saga is a long narrative that chronicles a family's heroic deeds. Saga in other words is a long story or novel, or a series of stories or novels, often following the lives of a family or community over several generations.
"Those that I fight do not hate, those that I guard I do not love". The above lines illustrate
The expression 'Those that I fight do not hate / those that I guard I do not love' is an example of paradox. Paradox is a statement that contradicts itself on the surface but is laden with meaning.
________ in drama operates against a character who is unaware of a situation which is known to the audience.
In dramatic irony, the characters are unaware of the situations which the audience know about. An example is Othello in the tragic hero, Othello does not know about the evils of Iago whom he thinks to be a good friend. The truth is Iago is Othello's arch enemy.
The use of dialogue creates a/an ________ effect.
The use of dialogue creates dramatic feature. Dialogue is an essential feature of drama. Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. Monologue is a long speech by one character.
One of the following is not a form of poetry.
Sonnet, ode and lyric are all forms of poetry. Suspense is a literary device, in prose, poetry and drama, that sustains reader's interest. Through the creation of interesting scenes and instances of dramatic irony, suspense is increased in a literary work. A reader is eager to know what is the next course of action, especially in a situation where vengeance is expected to be involved. Suspense increases when a literary work is at the climax.
Read the following line and answer questions 14-16. "But since, alas! frail beauty must decay; Curled or uncurled, since looks will turn to gray; since painted or unpainted, all shall fade." A literary device used in the first line is
The literary device used is a metaphor. The extract is a metaphor for time, ageing and death.
The device used in the second and third lines is
In the second and third lines of the extract, pun is used. Pun is a play on words for rhetorical effects. The word 'curled' is played upon on line two while the word 'painted' is played upon in line three.
The use of the word 'since' illustrates
The use of the word 'since' in the extract illustrates repetition. Repetition is the recurrence of word or phrase for emphasis.
Identify the odd item.
Poetry, prose and drama are genres of literature. Melodrama is a type of drama. Melodrama is a dramatic or other literary work characterized by the use of stereotyped characters, exaggerated emotions and language, simplistic morality and conflict. A melodrama does not compulsorily need to be a drama, it can be any other literary work. The Castle of Otranto, a Gothic novel by Horace Walpole, is also considered as an example of melodrama.
The clash of interest that originates from opposing forces in literature is a
Conflict is a clash of interest between the opposing forces (protagonist and antagonist) in a literary work. Conflict is the struggle between the protagonist (main character and sometimes hero or heroine) and the antagonist (the opposing character). The conflict could also be a struggle between the protagonist and nature or animal character as the case may be.
A major character whose flaws combine with external forces that lead to his downfall is a/an
A tragic hero has tragic flaws or weaknesses. Those weaknesses are acted upon by the external force and they lead to his or her own downfall. A tragic hero manifests in tragic plays. An example is Othello in William Shakespeare's Othello. Othello's tragic flaw is jealousy and that leads to his downfall in the play.
Which of the following is not a drama?
Resolution is the concluding part of a literary work where conflicts are resolved. Resolution is otherwise known as denouement. Burlesque, pantomime and opera are types of drama.
PART II — UNSEEN PROSE AND POETRY. Read the poem and answer questions 21-25. "I wonder how long, you awful parasite / Shall share with me this little bed / And make me, from sweet dreams be lost / By sucking blood from my poor head... I should but say man has much Blood, which you and your families do feed on; for supper, dinner and lunch, and besides, you do in my bed breed. Clever thou art, tiny creature, You attend me when I am deep asleep; When thou art sure, I can't you capture, just as the time I sleep deep. 'Tis so strange that before twilight, The bed clear of you would seem, For not one of you is in my sight, As if your presence was in a dream." The poem is about a
The poem is about a raid of bugs. The bugs are described as 'awful parasites' that share the little bed with the persona and deny him 'sweet dreams' by 'sucking blood' from his 'poor head'.
The poem is generally made up of
The poem is generally made up of run-on lines. The idea from one line is carried to another. For instance, in stanza one, the idea of bed being awful parasite is carried on to two through four and there is no full stop until line four.
The poem is a/an
The poem is a monologue. Monologue is a long speech by a character. The poem takes a form of dramatic monologue in which a character is employed to speak in a poem, in a dramatic manner.
The poet's mood is one of
The mood of the poet is that of despair. The poet wonders how long he will continue being a victim of bed parasite (bug). This mood of despair runs through the poem as the poet finds himself in a helpless situation.
The dominant attitude of the poet is one of
The dominant attitude of the poet is that of amazement. The poet wonders on the ever increasing number of the bugs, the way they breed, the way they feed and the way they hide themselves before 'twilight'.
Read the passage and answer questions 26-30. "The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. A drew in particular the Pen an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school coupled with the physical misfortune which he suffered when a stock fish machine severed his left middle finger, constituted a serious setback but Andrew did not despair. The courage to fail is very cheap, every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling in the end is resounding success. And so, it was for Andrew ever since he finished his university education; it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good. His prospects seemed bright seemed bright. The habitual Thomases in his family found it very hard to believe. At forty he had a good car and had already built a house of his own. The world was at his feet." The expression 'Orphan of storm' implies that Andrew A. had a good life
The expression 'Orphan of storm' implies that Andrew had a difficult early life. His father had died during his third year in the secondary school and he had suffered a misfortune in which his middle finger was severed by a stockfish machine.
The passage is an example of a/an
Like a biography, the passage is a narration of Andrew's story by the author. Biography is one's true life story written by another person.
The mood of the extract is one of
The mood of the passage is that of admiration. The passage is an adulation and admiration of Andrew's success.
"The world was at its feet" implies
The expression 'The world was at his feet' implies that Andrew achieved results easily.
"Habitual Thomases" is an example of a/an
The expression 'habitual Thomases' is a biblical allusion. The expression brings to mind the doubting Thomas in the bible.
SECTION B — WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: The Tempest. Read the extract and answer questions 31-35. "P: Mark his condition, and the event; then tell r. If this might be a brother. Q: I should sin To think but nobly of my grandmother: Good wombs have borne bad sons." (Act 1, Scene Two, lines 116-120) Speaker P is
The speaker P in this extract is Prospero.
Speaker Q is
Speaker Q in this extract is Miranda.
The dialogue recalls
The dialogue recalls their exile to the island.
Speaker Q wants
Speaker Q (Miranda, per the extract) wants her partner (Prospero) to pity his condition.
The speakers are
The speakers are father and daughter (Prospero and Miranda).
Read the extract and answer questions 36-40. "At mine unworthiness, that dare not offer What I desire to give; and much less take What I shall die to want. But this is trifling; And all the more it seeks to hide itself, The bigger bulk it shows. Hence, bashful cunning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!" (Act 1, Scene One, lines 78-83) The speaker is
The speaker is Ferdinand.
The character addressed is
The character addressed is Prospero.
The speaker is expressing
The speaker is expressing his love (per the printed answer key the labelled correct option is A).
After this speech, the character addressed
After this speech, the character addressed expresses love.
The character who secretly watches and listens is
The character who secretly watches and listens is Prospero.
Read the extract and answer questions 41-45. "M: No, as I am a man. N: There's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple. If the ill spirit have so fair a house Good things will strive to dwell with't." (Act 1, Scene Two, lines 459-462) The speakers are
The speakers are arguing.
Speaker N A. attracted to the temple
Speaker N admires speaker M.
Speaker M means to
Speaker M means to defend himself.
The other character present is
The other character present is Prospero.
Speaker M is a
Speaker M is a king (per the printed answer key the labelled correct option is C).
Read the extract and answer questions 46-50. "X: come on then; down, and swear. Y: I shall laugh myself to death at this puppy-headed monster! A most scurvy monster! I could find in my heart to beat him" (Act II, Scene Two, lines 139-143) Speaker X is
Speaker X is Stephano.
Speaker Y is
Speaker Y is Trinculo.
Another character present is
Another character present is Caliban.
Speaker Y is a
Speaker Y is a jester (per the printed answer key the labelled correct option is D).
The setting is
The setting is in front of Prospero's cell.
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