WAEC Literature in English 2022 Objective Past Questions
All 48 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Literature in English 2022 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
A novel that features spiritual apparitions as major characters is a
A. gothicCorrect
B. epistolary
C. historical
D. sociological
Explanation
Gothic novels are known for featuring supernatural characters. Apart from that, gothic novels are scary in nature. They are also known as ghost novels or novels of horror. Features of gothic novels include: supernatural characters, fear and horror, tyrannical hero, vengeance, passion and emotionality. Examples of gothic novels include The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole and Wuthering Heights by Emile Bronte.
The literary term describing individuals in a work of literature is a
A. characterCorrect
B. protagonist
C. narrator
D. villain
Explanation
The literary term describing individuals in a work of literature is character. Character is the description of individuals in a literary work based on their roles. The two types of character are round character (the one that changes in the course of events in a literary work) and flat character (the one that does not change in the course of events in a literary work).
Several hands stretched out for free meals at the refugee camp illustrates
A. antithesis
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. synecdocheCorrect
Explanation
The expression 'several hands stretched out for free meals at the refugee camp' illustrates synecdoche. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which the part is used to represent the whole.
A short play performed between the acts of a bigger play for entertainment is
A. an in media res
B. an interludeCorrect
C. an incantation
D. a deus-ex-machina
Explanation
A short play performed between the acts of a bigger play for entertainment is known as interlude. In other words, interlude can be a form of a play within a bigger play. Examples of plays where we have play-within-a-play are The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
In literature, the two components of diction are vocabulary and syntax. Diction is the choice of words used in a literary work — the vocabulary used. Syntax is the structural arrangement of words in a sentence comprising the elements such as subject, verb, object, adjunct etc.
A story with elements that have both literal and figurative meanings is an
A. allegoryCorrect
B. fable
C. novela
D. epistle
Explanation
A story with elements that have both literal and figurative meanings is an allegory. Allegory is a literary work (particularly a story) in which characters and events are used to represent certain symbolic meanings. An example is Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.
'My bounty is as boundless as the sea / My love as deep.' The above lines illustrate
A. apostrophe
B. epigram
C. hyperboleCorrect
D. euphemism
Explanation
The expression 'My bounty is as boundless as the sea/ My love as deep' illustrates hyperbole. Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used.
In drama, catharsis is the purgation of emotions from tension. According to Aristotle, catharsis is that quality of a tragic play that makes the audience sympathize with the tragic hero or heroine often leading to the purgation of emotion of intense fear and pity.
Read the extract below and answer questions 9 to 11.
'A little learning is a dangerous thing: Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring / The shallow droughts intoxicate the brain / And drinking largely sobers us again.'
The poem is
A. allegoric
B. didacticCorrect
C. metaphysical
D. romantic
Explanation
The poem is didactic (it teaches moral). The moral of the poem is that everything should be done in moderation.
Lines 3 and 4 of the poem illustrate antithesis. Antithesis is the juxtaposition of contradictory or opposite statements as in the lines: 'The shallow droughts intoxicate the brain / And drinking largely sobers us again.'
A word or a phrase that is repeated at regular intervals in a poem or a play is a
A. dirge
B. refrainCorrect
C. lullaby
D. verse
Explanation
A word or phrase that is repeated at regular intervals in a poem or a play is a refrain. In other words, refrain is a line or group of lines that recurs at regular intervals in a poem, especially at the ends of verses.
'The warriors conquered my men and my country' illustrates the use of
A. paradox
B. litotes
C. parallelism
D. zeugmaCorrect
Explanation
The expression 'The warriors conquered my men and my country' illustrates zeugma. Zeugma is a figure of speech known as yoking together. It is the use of one verb to control two nouns in a sentence.
Disguise in drama mostly portrays the theme of mistaken identity. In most cases, disguise is employed in comedy. Disguise is a situation where one character impersonates another character or appears to be someone else in drama. An example is She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith where Miss Kate Hardcastle disguises to be a maid in order to deceive Young Marlow.
'Men swift to see things done, do not run their commanding.' The underlined words exemplify a
A. punCorrect
B. end rhyme
C. paradox
D. internal rhyme
Explanation
In the expression 'Men shift to see things done, do not run their commanding,' there is pun because the two words 'done' and 'run' are played upon to achieve some significant effects.
Read the following lines and answer question 18.
'Poetry gets bored of being alone / It wants to go outdoors to chew the winds.'
The mental picture evoked in the above lines is that of
A. smell and touch
B. sight and hearing
C. taste and touch
D. sight and tasteCorrect
Explanation
The mental pictures evoked in the given expression or lines are those of sight and taste. Imagery is the use of words to create mental pictures by appealing to the senses. The sense of sight is achieved through the expression 'poetry gets bored' while the sense of taste is achieved through the expression 'chew the wind'.
A novel that recounts the adventures of a likeable rogue is a
A. panegyric
B. gothic
C. picaresqueCorrect
D. grotesque
Explanation
A novel that recounts the adventures of a likeable rogue is picaresque. A picaresque is a novel whose hero/heroine or protagonist is a rogue (thief) with admirable quality. The character finds himself or herself in the habit of stealing because that is the only alternative to surviving the hardship of the time. Picaresque novels include Moll Flanders and Robinson Crusoe, both written by Daniel Defoe.
At the fall of their house, the widow lost her husband, her sewing machine and her ear-rings illustrates
A. bathosCorrect
B. epigram
C. pathos
D. Oxymoron
Explanation
The expression illustrates bathos (from the sublime to the ridiculous). Bathos, in writing or speech, is a sudden descent in style or manner from the elevated, producing a ridiculous or ludicrous effect. The expression assumes a descent from the serious and important 'house' to the unserious and unimportant 'ear-rings'.
The narrative technique used is third person. In third person point of view, the narrator assumes the role of an observer and there is use of third person pronouns such as 'he' and 'she'.
The reference to 'mountain' in the given excerpt illustrates allusion (Biblical allusion to be precise). Allusion is the art of making reference in writing. This is when reference is made to events outside the text but which are related thematically to the text.
The expression 'Flood waters met in a mocking kiss' illustrates personification. Personification is the attribution of animate qualities to inanimate objects.
The overall feeling evoked by the passage is one of
A. anger
B. empathyCorrect
C. love
D. relief
Explanation
The overall feeling evoked by the passage is one of empathy (the ability to identify and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties). The passage evokes the feeling of empathy as readers are made to understand what the protagonist Akpatse feels.
Read the poem below and answer questions 26 to 30.
'Your lies are the withering strokes still, they come from the inner recesses of your dungeoned heart. And though venomous than the venom, they inspire our once docile minds to disorders even as your angels of death pass us by with messages of hopeless hope.'
The main theme of the poem is A. evil of lying.
A. hopeless hopeCorrect
B. message of peace
C. message of war
Explanation
The main theme of the poem is the evil of lying. In the poem, lying is seen as 'venomous' and 'angels of death with messages of hopeless hope'.
The tone of the speaker shows helplessness. Tone is the attitude of the poet which finds expression in the language of the poem. The speaker's tone of hopelessness is shown in the line 'with messages of hopeless hope'.
'Did you read our minds in your lies?' Exemplifies
A. personification
B. oxymoron
C. pathetic fallacy
D. rhetorical questionCorrect
Explanation
The expression 'Did you read our minds in your lies?' exemplifies rhetorical question. A rhetorical question is a question that does not anticipate an answer. It is asked to accentuate the message being passed across in a poem or to create more interest in the minds of the readers.
'But they have soothed us calmly, your lies' illustrates
A. paradox
B. ironyCorrect
C. synecdoche
D. zeugma
Explanation
The expression 'But they have soothed us calmly, your lies' is an irony. Irony is an expression that states the opposite of what is expected. In the given expression, it is ironical that 'lies' which are meant to produce unpleasant effects in the people now 'soothed' them 'calmly'.
Read the extract below and answer questions 31 to 35.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: A Midsummer Night's Dream
'Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments; Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth; Turn melancholy forth to funerals; The pale companion is not for our pomp.' (Act I, Scene One, Lines 12–20)
Who is the speaker?
A. Demetrius
B. Egeus
C. Hermia
D. TheseusCorrect
Explanation
The speaker is Theseus, the Duke of Athens. The extract is the preparation for the wedding between Theseus and Hippolyta while Philostrate who is the master of the revels is expected to spread the news of the wedding to the Athenians and see to its ceremonies.
Philostrate is the Duke's entertainer. Philostrate sees to the ceremonies of the wedding between the Duke and his Duchess Hippolyta. He also chooses the play to be acted on the day of the wedding between the two.
The speaker's attitude towards melancholy is dislike. The speaker (Duke) hates melancholy and tells Philostrate to 'turn melancholy forth to funerals' because such sadness is not expected in a wedding ceremony. It is meant for those who mourn.
To win Hippolyta's love, the speaker A. disowned his friends.
A. had to fight against her
B. killed her fatherCorrect
C. sent Puck away
Explanation
To win Hippolyta's love, the speaker (Duke) had to fight against her. Hippolyta was the Queen of the Amazons. Amazons were women warriors in the Greek mythology.
Read the extract below and answer questions 36 to 40.
Speaker X: 'Thou runaway, thou coward, art thou fled? Speak! In some bush? Where dost thou hide thy head?'
Speaker Y: 'Thou coward, art thou bragging to the stars, Telling the bushes that thou look'st for wars, And wilt not come? Come, recreant, come, thou child; I'll whip thee with a rod. He is defiled That draws a sword on thee.' (Act II, Scene Two, Lines 405–411)
Speakers X and Y are
A. Demetrius and Puck
B. Lysander and DemetriusCorrect
C. Hermia and Helena
D. Lysander and Puck
Explanation
Speakers X and Y are Demetrius and Puck. To undo the mistake of Puck by mistaking Lysander for Demetrius, he has to look for an avenue to make the two 'fight'. Puck speaks in Lysander's voice, taunting Demetrius while he uses that occasion to draw them apart. Lysander sleeps and Puck removes the magical power from his eyes and Demetrius is left to loving Helena while Lysander's love for Hermia comes back.
Speaker Y's (Puck's) intention is to stop a fight over Helena. As a result of Puck's mistake, Demetrius and Lysander now love Helena while Hermia is left alone. Demetrius and Lysander fight over Helena; Helena and Hermia also fight.
Read the extract below and answer questions 41 to 45.
'...seest thou this sweet sight? Her dotage now I do begin to pity; For meeting her of late behind the wood, Seeking sweet favours for this hateful fool, I did upbraid her, and fall out with her, For she is hairy temples then had rounded...' (Act IV, Scene One, Lines 24-48)
The speaker is
The expression 'this sweet sight' refers to Bottom and Titania. Titania has been induced to fall in love with anything she sees be it animal or beast after waking up. Unfortunately, she falls in love with Bottom whose head has been turned to that of an ass by Puck.
Read the extract below and answer Questions 46 to 50.
'... Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream. Methought I was there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had - but man is but a patched fool, if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was.' (Act IV, Scene One, Lines 201-207)
The speaker is
The speaker (Bottom) has just come out of an induced sleep. Bottom, one of the actors and artisans in the play, has been made to be loved by Titania. This happened immediately Puck turned his head into that of an ass.
The architect of the speaker's current state is Oberon. To get the changeling boy whom Titania has denied him, Oberon orders Puck to get a flower whose juice is to make one fall in love if squeezed on one's eyes. Puck gets the flower and Oberon uses it on Titania's eyes causing her to fall in love with Puck (the first person she sees on waking up). During this period of illusion, Oberon gets the changeling boy from Titania.
The speaker's language is best described as comical (funny). This is evident in the repetition of 'me thought' and the expression that follows: 'The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report, what my dream was.'
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