Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 1
___ refers to the structure of a work of art.
- A. A. FormCorrect
- B. B. Plot
- C. C. Setting
- D. D. Style
Explanation
Form refers to a literary work's structure, as distinct from its content.
WAEC Literature in English 2016 Objective Past Questions
All 55 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Literature in English 2016 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 2
Conflict in a literary work begins to unfold with a climax.
- A. A. climax
- B. B. episode
- C. C. expositionCorrect
- D. D. resolution
Explanation
Conflict begins to unfold from the exposition stage, before rising action and climax.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 3
The character assumed by the author in his writing is a ___.
- A. A. protagonist
- B. B. chores
- C. C. personaCorrect
- D. D. pseudonym
Explanation
A persona is the character/voice through which an author speaks in a literary work.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 4
Oral literature is part of ___.
- A. A. drama
- B. B. folkloreCorrect
- C. C. poetry
- D. D. music
Explanation
Oral literature (traditional stories, myths, etc.) is part of folklore.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 5
Poetry is written in ___.
- A. A. chapters
- B. B. paragraphs
- C. C. scenes
- D. D. linesCorrect
Explanation
Poetry is written in lines and stanzas, unlike prose (paragraphs) or drama (acts/scenes).
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 6
Soliloquy is a ___ technique.
- A. A. descriptive
- B. B. dramaticCorrect
- C. C. narrative
- D. D. poetic
Explanation
Soliloquy is a dramatic device/technique used on stage.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 7
The ___ produces comic relief in drama.
- A. A. chorus
- B. B. protagonist
- C. C. antagonist
- D. D. clownCorrect
Explanation
The clown (or comic characters) produces comic relief in drama.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 8
A short play is also called a ___.
- A. A. farce
- B. B. novelette
- C. C. playletCorrect
- D. D. slapstick
Explanation
A short play is known as a playlet.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 9
Read the stanza (For days I wept and felt depressed / The one and all I loved had left / But then on me our Bill impressed / 'Your love is where she looks bereft') and answer: The rhyme scheme is
- A. A. ababCorrect
- B. B. aaba
- C. C. abcc
- D. D. abbc
Explanation
The end rhymes follow an abab pattern: depressed/left/impressed/bereft.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 10
The lines (from the given stanza) are ___.
- A. A. iambic pentameter
- B. B. trimeter
- C. C. tetrameterCorrect
- D. D. hexameter
Explanation
Each line contains four (tetrameter) metrical feet.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 11
The lines constitute a ___.
- A. A. an epic
- B. B. a quatrainCorrect
- C. C. an ode
- D. D. a sestet
Explanation
A four-line stanza is a quatrain.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 12
'The sun smiled gently on the scene' illustrates ___.
- A. A. paradox
- B. B. euphemism
- C. C. hyperbole
- D. D. personificationCorrect
Explanation
Attributing the human action 'smiled' to the sun is personification.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 13
The major part of the Petrarchan sonnet is the ___.
- A. A. quintet
- B. B. sestet
- C. C. tercet
- D. D. octaveCorrect
Explanation
The octave (first 8 lines) introduces the subject in a Petrarchan sonnet, and is considered the major introductory part.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 14
A poem that celebrates an object, person or event is ___.
- A. A. a sonnet
- B. B. a dirge
- C. C. an odeCorrect
- D. D. a ballad
Explanation
An ode is a poem written in celebration/praise of an object, person or event.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 15
'That it will rain is not unlikely' illustrates ___.
- A. A. irony
- B. B. litotesCorrect
- C. C. metaphor
- D. D. metonymy
Explanation
Litotes uses double negatives ('not unlikely') to affirm something with understatement.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 16
An ___ is an indirect and usually unfavourable remark.
- A. A. allusion
- B. B. irony
- C. C. aside
- D. D. innuendoCorrect
Explanation
Innuendo is an indirect, often unfavourable, hint or remark.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 17
'Many hands make light work' illustrates ___.
- A. A. zeugma
- B. B. hyperbole
- C. C. metonymy
- D. D. synecdocheCorrect
Explanation
'Hands' representing whole people is synecdoche, using a part to represent the whole.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 18
Through ___ the ills of society are criticized with the objective of having them corrected.
- A. A. dramatic irony
- B. B. comic relief
- C. C. satireCorrect
- D. D. farce
Explanation
Satire criticises society's ills with the aim of reform.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 19
Read the lines (The livid waters roared and snarled and flapped / At the poor battered and weeping yacht) and answer: The dominant literary device used in the lines is ___.
- A. A. simile
- B. B. alliteration
- C. C. assonance
- D. D. personificationCorrect
Explanation
Giving the waters/yacht human qualities (roared, snarled, weeping) is personification.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 20
The picture presented is one of ___.
- A. A. quiet sea
- B. B. dark sky
- C. C. stormy weatherCorrect
- D. D. calm season
Explanation
Roaring, snarling, flapping waters battering a yacht depicts stormy weather.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 21
[Unseen prose] The attitude of the writer towards the president is one of ___.
- A. A. contemptCorrect
- B. B. disdain
- C. C. disinterest
- D. D. approval
Explanation
The writer's tone (executive members hurling harsh words, tearing the paper) shows contempt.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 22
The prevailing atmosphere of the passage is ___.
- A. A. tenseCorrect
- B. B. sad
- C. C. cordial
- D. D. warm
Explanation
The scene of a president being pressured and confronted creates a tense atmosphere.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 23
The expression 'plastered on each of their faces like a death mask' illustrates ___.
- A. A. alliteration and metaphor
- B. B. simile and personification
- C. C. personification and alliteration
- D. D. metaphor and simileCorrect
Explanation
'Plastered' is a metaphor while 'like a death mask' is a simile.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 24
'...screaming anger' is an example of ___.
- A. A. allusion
- B. B. personificationCorrect
- C. C. simile
- D. D. euphemism
Explanation
Giving 'anger' the human quality of screaming is personification.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 25
The last paragraph illustrates ___.
- A. A. foreshadow
- B. B. pathos
- C. C. bathos
- D. D. climaxCorrect
Explanation
The peak of tension between the president and executives is the climax.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 26
[Unseen poem] The theme of the poem is ___.
- A. A. indecision
- B. B. separation
- C. C. rejected love
- D. D. requited loveCorrect
Explanation
The persona sees reason to love the person in return, showing requited love.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 27
The speaker is ___.
- A. A. decisiveCorrect
- B. B. frustrated
- C. C. disappointed
- D. D. angry
Explanation
The speaker makes a firm last decision ('the road that I should take'), showing decisiveness.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 28
The dominant literary device used in the poem is ___.
- A. A. paradox
- B. B. parody
- C. C. metaphorCorrect
- D. D. oxymoron
Explanation
Expressions like 'the crossroads' and 'the lamp of love' are metaphors.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 29
The mood of the poem is ___.
- A. A. jubilant
- B. B. sad
- C. C. gloomy
- D. D. romanticCorrect
Explanation
The message is conveyed through romantic words such as 'the lamp of love'.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 30
The poem can be described as ___.
- A. A. an epitaph
- B. B. a lyricCorrect
- C. C. a lullaby
- D. D. an elegy
Explanation
A lyric poem expresses the poet's personal feelings/emotions, as this poem does.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 31
[Othello extract] The speaker is addressing ___.
- A. A. Cassio
- B. B. Duke
- C. C. herself
- D. D. himselfCorrect
Explanation
The speech in question is an aside/soliloquy directed at himself (Iago).
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 32
Just before this speech, Othello ___.
- A. A. falls into a tranceCorrect
- B. B. Bianca flings a handkerchief at Cassio
- C. C. Montage fights with Cassio
- D. D. Roderigo is killed
Explanation
Othello falls into a trance (fit) just before this speech, overwhelmed by jealousy.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 33
'medicine' in the extract refers to the speaker's ___.
- A. A. hatred
- B. B. passion
- C. C. liesCorrect
- D. D. loyalty
Explanation
Iago refers to his lies/deceit as the 'medicine' working on Othello.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 34
The character that enters immediately after is ___.
- A. A. Iago
- B. B. Emilia
- C. C. Othello
- D. D. CassioCorrect
Explanation
Cassio enters immediately after this point in the scene.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 35
The speaker is ___ (napkin extract).
- A. A. Bianca
- B. B. EmiliaCorrect
- C. C. Clown
- D. D. Desdemona
Explanation
Emilia speaks these lines, having just found Desdemona's handkerchief.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 36
The characters that just left the scene are ___.
- A. A. Othello and Iago
- B. B. Montano and Cassio
- C. C. Othello, Cassio and DesdemonaCorrect
- D. D. Gratiano and Desdemona
Explanation
Othello, Cassio and Desdemona had just left the scene before Emilia's speech.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 37
'She' in the extract refers to ___.
- A. A. Bianca
- B. B. DesdemonaCorrect
- C. C. Emilia
- D. D. a musician
Explanation
'She' refers to Desdemona, whose handkerchief Emilia has found.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 38
'My wayward husband' refers to ___.
- A. A. Othello
- B. B. IagoCorrect
- C. C. Cassio
- D. D. Roderigo
Explanation
Emilia refers to her own husband, Iago, as 'my wayward husband'.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 39
In the extract, 'this napkin' is 'the token' of love between ___.
- A. A. Iago and Emilia
- B. B. Cassio and Desdemona
- C. C. Bianca and Cassio
- D. D. Desdemona and OthelloCorrect
Explanation
The handkerchief (napkin) is the token of love from Othello to Desdemona.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 40
[Othello extract] So opposite to marriage that she shunned... The speaker is ___.
- A. A. BrabantioCorrect
- B. B. Cassio
- C. C. Roderigo
- D. D. Othello
Explanation
Brabantio speaks these lines, surprised his daughter fell in love with Othello.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 41
The speaker is addressing ___.
- A. A. Cassio
- B. B. Brabantio
- C. C. Roderigo
- D. D. OthelloCorrect
Explanation
Brabantio addresses Othello, whom he doesn't deem fit to marry his daughter.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 42
'Sooty bosom' is a metaphor for ___.
- A. A. a black coat
- B. B. OthelloCorrect
- C. C. a breastplate
- D. D. Iago
Explanation
'Sooty bosom' metaphorically refers to Othello, a black-skinned North African.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 43
'Run from her guardage' refers to ___.
- A. A. Emilia
- B. B. DesdemonaCorrect
- C. C. Bianca
- D. D. Cassio's mistress
Explanation
Desdemona is said to have run from her father's guard/protection.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 44
The setting is ___.
- A. A. another street outside the SagittaryCorrect
- B. B. a council chamber
- C. C. a seaport in Cyprus
- D. D. the citadel
Explanation
The scene is set on a street outside the Sagittary.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 45
[Othello extract] For when my outward action doth demonstrate... The speaker is ___.
- A. A. Brabantio
- B. B. IagoCorrect
- C. C. Roderigo
- D. D. Montano
Explanation
Iago speaks these lines about his true intentions being hidden.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 46
The addressee is ___.
- A. A. Othello
- B. B. the Duke
- C. C. RoderigoCorrect
- D. D. Montano
Explanation
Iago is speaking to Roderigo about his plans.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 47
What has happened to the speaker? He has been denied promotion.
- A. A. He has been fined
- B. B. He has fallen out of favour
- C. C. He has been denied promotionCorrect
- D. D. He has lost his job
Explanation
Iago has been passed over for the lieutenant post, i.e. denied promotion.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 48
The underlined expression shows that the speaker is ___.
- A. A. jovial
- B. B. insincereCorrect
- C. C. polite
- D. D. unfriendly
Explanation
Iago's professed loyalty is insincere, masking his true scheming intentions.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 49
The setting is ___.
- A. A. a street in VeniceCorrect
- B. B. a street in Cyprus
- C. C. outside the citadel
- D. D. a court chamber in the citadel
Explanation
This scene is set on a street in Venice.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 50
[Othello extract] Work on, my medicine works!... The speaker is ___.
- A. A. Othello
- B. B. IagoCorrect
- C. C. Lodovico
- D. D. Bianca
Explanation
Iago gloats over the success of his deceit ('my medicine works').
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 51
The speaker is addressing ___.
- A. A. Cassio
- B. B. Duke
- C. C. herself
- D. D. himselfCorrect
Explanation
This is another soliloquy/aside where Iago addresses himself.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 52
Just before this speech, Othello falls into a trance.
- A. A. Othello falls into a tranceCorrect
- B. B. Bianca flings a handkerchief at Cassio
- C. C. Montano fights with Cassio
- D. D. Roderigo is killed
Explanation
Othello's trance/epileptic fit precedes this speech, showing his jealousy's intensity.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 53
The character that enters immediately after is ___.
- A. A. Iago
- B. B. Desdemona
- C. C. Othello
- D. D. CassioCorrect
Explanation
Cassio enters the scene right after this point.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 54
[Othello] The characters that just left the scene are ___.
- A. A. Othello and Iago
- B. B. Montano and Cassio
- C. C. Othello and DesdemonaCorrect
- D. D. Gratiano and Desdemona
Explanation
Othello and Desdemona had just left the scene together.
Literature in English 2016 Objective — Question 55
In the extract 'this napkin' is 'the token' of love between ___.
- A. A. Iago and Emilia
- B. B. Cassio and Desdemona
- C. C. Bianca and Cassio
- D. D. Desdemona and OthelloCorrect
Explanation
The handkerchief symbolises the love token between Desdemona and Othello.
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