Literary Theory post World War II MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Literary Theory post World War II - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is: 'Nuclear Bombs'

Key Points

• Little Boy and Fat Man were nuclear bombs used during World War II.
  • Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945.
  • Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945.
  • These bombings led to Japan's unconditional surrender and the end of World War II.

Incorrect Statements

• Code name of AI research
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • AI research involves the development of algorithms and technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.
  • Common examples include machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics.
• Super Computers
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • Supercomputers are highly advanced computing machines designed to perform complex calculations at extremely high speeds.
  • They are used in fields like scientific research, weather forecasting, and simulations.
• Digital Softwares
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • Digital software refers to computer programs designed to perform specific tasks, such as word processing, graphic design, or data analysis.
  • Examples include Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Excel.

Hence, the correct answer is that Little Boy and Fat Man were nuclear bombs.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• Jamaica Kincaid’s use of second-person narration in "A Small Place" is a powerful literary technique that directly addresses the reader, making them an active participant in the narrative.
• This narrative style creates a confrontational tone, as it forces the reader to acknowledge their own role in the systemic issues being critiqued, such as the exploitation inherent in tourism and neocolonialism.
• The direct address serves to break the fourth wall, implicating the reader in the ongoing colonial exploitation and making them reflect on their own actions and complicity.
• By using "you," Kincaid ensures that the critique is personal and immediate, rather than detached and theoretical.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Second-person narration is less commonly used in literature, making its application in "A Small Place" notable and impactful.
• It can create a more immersive and engaging experience for the reader, as they are addressed directly and cannot easily distance themselves from the narrative.
• This technique can be particularly effective in works that seek to challenge and provoke thought about social and political issues.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• In V.S. Naipaul's "The Mimic Men," the figure of the "trickster" or "rogue" serves to critique the nature of postcolonial leadership and identity formation.
• This figure highlights the fluid and often inauthentic construction of postcolonial identities and authority.
• The portrayal of these characters underscores the complexities and challenges that arise in the postcolonial context.
• Naipaul uses the trickster or rogue to reveal the instability and moral ambiguity of postcolonial leaders.
• This critique extends to the broader societal and political structures in postcolonial nations, questioning the legitimacy and authenticity of their governance.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• V.S. Naipaul is a Nobel Prize-winning author whose works often explore themes of postcolonial identity and displacement.
• "The Mimic Men" is one of his notable works, offering a critical perspective on the aftermath of colonialism in the Caribbean.
• Naipaul's complex characters and nuanced narratives contribute to a deeper understanding of postcolonial experiences and challenges.

The correct answer is By juxtaposing personal and political histories, thereby questioning the constructed nature of boundaries.

Key Points

• Amitav Ghosh's "The Shadow Lines" uses a non-linear narrative structure that intertwines personal and political histories.
• This narrative approach highlights the fluidity and constructed nature of national boundaries and identities.
• The novel juxtaposes events and perspectives from different time periods and geographical locations to challenge the traditional, fixed notions of nationhood.
• By doing so, Ghosh emphasizes the permeability and artificiality of borders, both literal and metaphorical.
• His portrayal of characters' interconnected lives across countries underlines the shared human experience beyond nationalistic divisions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• In "The Shadow Lines," Ghosh also delves into the impact of historical events such as the Partition of India and the Bangladesh Liberation War on individual lives.
• The novel sheds light on the trauma and displacement caused by such events, further questioning the validity of rigid national boundaries.
• Ghosh’s work is a profound exploration of memory, identity, and the interconnectedness of human experiences across borders.

The correct answer is It subverts colonial rationalism by merging the magical with the real to reassert local cultural narratives.

Key Points

• Magical realism in "One Hundred Years of Solitude" serves as a tool to blend the magical with the real, creating a narrative style that challenges the dominant colonial rationalist discourse.
• Gabriel García Márquez uses this technique to emphasize the richness and complexity of local cultural narratives, which were often marginalized or dismissed by colonial powers.
• By intertwining the magical with everyday life, the novel reclaims and celebrates the indigenous and local traditions, myths, and histories that colonialism sought to suppress.
• This approach allows the novel to critique the colonial mindset and highlight the resilience and vibrancy of postcolonial societies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Other notable authors who have used magical realism to explore postcolonial themes include Salman Rushdie in "Midnight's Children" and Isabel Allende in "The House of the Spirits."
• Magical realism is a significant literary technique in Latin American literature, often used to address complex social and political issues in a nuanced manner.

The correct answer is Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak.

Key Points

• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is an Indian scholar, literary theorist, and feminist critic known for her significant contributions to postcolonial theory and feminist theory.
• She is best known for her essay "Can the Subaltern Speak?", which addresses the silencing of marginalized groups in colonial and postcolonial contexts.
• The concept of "strategic essentialism" was articulated by Spivak as a way for marginalized groups to present a simplified and unified collective identity in order to achieve political goals.
• Spivak's work often deals with the intersections of race, gender, and class, and she is a prominent figure in the field of postcolonial studies.
• Her contributions have significantly influenced contemporary discussions on identity, representation, and power dynamics in global contexts.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

Additional Information

• Bell Hooks: An influential cultural critic, feminist theorist, and author known for her works on the intersectionality of race, capitalism, and gender.
• Judith Butler: A prominent philosopher and gender theorist best known for her work on gender performativity and her book "Gender Trouble."
• Édouard Glissant: A Martinican writer and philosopher known for his contributions to postcolonial theory and his concept of "Relation" as an alternative to Western notions of identity.

The correct answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Key Points

• Roland Barthes' essay "The Death of the Author" challenges the traditional literary criticism's focus on authorial intent, emphasizing the text itself as the space of meaning.
• Statement I reflects Barthes' belief that the author does not bring the ultimate meaning to the text; rather, the text exists independently of the author's intentions.
• Statement II correctly captures Barthes' view that the act of writing is anonymous and not tied to the personal or historical context of the author.
• By proclaiming the author's "death," Barthes asserts that the reader becomes the space where multiple writings blend and clash, thus the reader plays a critical role in interpreting texts.
• The liberation of the scriptor from traditional constraints allows for a multiplicity of meanings, highlighting the plurality and interpretative nature of texts.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• The idea of 'meme' was originally coined by Richard Dawkins.
• The term 'The culture industry' was coined by Adorno and Horkheimer.
• The term 'Womanism' was coined by Alice Walker.
• The term 'performativity' was coined by J.L. Austin, not Derrida.
• The term 'Ideological State Apparatus' was coined by Louis Althusser, not Bakhtin.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• J.L. Austin introduced the concept of performativity in his work "How to Do Things with Words".
• Louis Althusser introduced the term 'Ideological State Apparatus' in his essay "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses".
• Jacques Derrida is known for his work on deconstruction and post-structuralism.
• Mikhail Bakhtin is known for his work on dialogism and literary theory.

The correct answer is Judith Butler.

Key Points

• Judith Butler is renowned for her theory of gender performativity, which she introduces in her 1990 book "Gender Trouble."
• Butler's theory challenges the notion of gender as a stable identity, positing instead that gender is constructed through repeated performances.
• According to Butler, these performances are governed by societal norms and expectations, which enforce and reproduce the gender binary.
• Butler’s concept has been pivotal in feminist theory and queer theory, influencing discussions about gender identity, the body, and sexuality.
• Her work argues that gender identity is not a fixed attribute in individuals, but rather a shifting and negotiated aspect of social life.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

 Additional Information

• Option 2, Michel Foucault, primarily focused on power and knowledge, not specifically on gender performativity.
• Option 3, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, is known for her contributions to queer theory but not specifically for gender performativity.
• Option 4, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, focuses on postcolonial theory and does not delve into gender performativity as extensively as Butler.

The correct answer is A, B, and D only.

Key Points

• "The Dialogic Imagination" contains essays on the theory of literature and language as Bakhtin explores different aspects of the novel, which supports statement A.
• "Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics" explores the polyphonic nature of Dostoevsky’s novels and is a key text in understanding Bakhtin's theories of dialogism, supporting statement B.
• "Rabelais and His World" examines the work of François Rabelais through the lens of carnival and the grotesque, which is foundational to Bakhtin’s notion of carnival, supporting statement D.
• "Marxism and the Philosophy of Language" is not listed but is another significant work by Bakhtin that explores the relationship between language, society, and individual, which might lead to confusion but isn't a part of the correct answers here.
• "Morphology of the Folktale" was actually written by Vladimir Propp, not Bakhtin, which invalidates option E.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because it omits "Rabelais and His World".
• Option 2 is incorrect because it omits "The Dialogic Imagination".
• Option 4 is incorrect because it incorrectly includes "Marxism and the Philosophy of Language" and "Morphology of the Folktale", neither of which were written by Bakhtin.

The correct answer is The fluidity and relativity of time and experience.

Key Points

• In "Slaughterhouse-Five," Kurt Vonnegut employs a nonlinear narrative to reflect the postmodern idea of the fluidity and relativity of time and experience.
• This narrative technique disrupts the traditional chronological structure, emphasizing that time is not fixed but rather subjective and variable.
• The protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, experiences moments from his life out of order, which highlights the postmodern notion that experiences and memories are not linear but interconnected in complex ways.
• Vonnegut's use of this narrative style challenges the conventional understanding of time and history, suggesting that our perceptions of these concepts are influenced by our individual experiences and perspectives.
• This approach aligns with postmodern themes that question absolute truths and embrace the ambiguity and multiplicity of human experience.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Kurt Vonnegut's narrative style in "Slaughterhouse-Five" is emblematic of postmodern literature, which often employs unconventional storytelling techniques to explore complex themes.
• Other postmodern works that utilize nonlinear narratives include "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller and "Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace.
• Postmodern literature frequently challenges readers to question their assumptions about reality, time, and the nature of storytelling itself.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

• The concept of the "double" or "doppelgänger" in psychoanalytic criticism is crucial for understanding the internal conflicts of a protagonist in Romantic literature.
• In psychoanalytic terms, the double often represents the protagonist's repressed desires and fears.
• This leads to a fragmented sense of self, where the protagonist is in conflict with an aspect of their own identity.
• Such a representation allows for a deeper exploration of the protagonist's psyche and internal struggles, revealing the complexities of their character and motivations.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• The double can also be seen as a literary device used to externalize the protagonist's inner turmoil.
• In Romantic literature, the exploration of the self and the individual's emotional and psychological depth is a common theme.
• Through the use of a double, authors can illustrate the internal battles and contradictions that define their protagonists.

The correct answer is J.L. Austin.

Key Points

• J.L. Austin was a British philosopher of language and a leading figure in the development of ordinary language philosophy.
• He introduced the concept of "performative utterance" in his seminal work "How to Do Things with Words" published in 1962.
• A performative utterance is a type of statement that performs an action merely by being spoken, such as saying "I apologize" or "I promise".
• Austin's work challenges the traditional distinction between constative language (statements that describe reality) and performative language (statements that perform an action).
• His theories have had a significant impact on the fields of linguistics, philosophy, and literary theory, particularly in the study of speech acts.
• Austin's emphasis on the performative nature of language highlights the ways in which language can shape and constitute reality.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

• Noam Chomsky: An American linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist known for his theory of generative grammar and contributions to the field of linguistics.
• Jacques Derrida: A French philosopher known for developing a form of semiotic analysis known as deconstruction, which challenges the relationship between text and meaning.
• Paul de Man: A Belgian-born literary critic and theorist known for his work in deconstruction and his influence on literary theory and criticism.

The correct answer is Adrienne Rich.

Key Points

• Adrienne Rich was an influential American poet, essayist, and feminist who made significant contributions to feminist theory and literary criticism.
• She introduced the concept of "compulsory heterosexuality" in her essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence," published in 1980.
• Rich argued that heterosexuality is a political institution that reinforces and maintains patriarchal power structures.
• Her work challenged the assumption that heterosexuality is natural and universal, highlighting the marginalization of lesbian existence.
• Adrienne Rich's writings have had a profound impact on feminist thought, encouraging a re-examination of social norms and the dynamics of power in personal and public life.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Additional Information

• Monique Wittig: A French feminist theorist and writer known for her work on gender and sexuality, including her critique of the category of "woman."
• Luce Irigaray: A Belgian-born French feminist, philosopher, and linguist known for her theories on sexual difference and language.
• Simone de Beauvoir: A French existentialist philosopher, feminist, and social theorist best known for her book "The Second Sex," which is a foundational text in feminist philosophy.

The correct answer is Schizoanalysis.

Key Points

• Schizoanalysis is a theory elaborated by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in their works, particularly in "Anti-Oedipus" and "A Thousand Plateaus."
• It conceptualizes literature and culture in terms of "rhizomatic" structures that defy linear, hierarchical modes of organization.
• The rhizome is a metaphor for a mode of thinking that is non-hierarchical, interconnected, and multiplicity-driven, contrasting with traditional tree-like structures of knowledge.
• Deleuze and Guattari argue that this approach allows for a more dynamic and fluid understanding of cultural phenomena.
• Schizoanalysis seeks to dismantle conventional structures and open up new ways of understanding and interpreting cultural and social systems.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Additional Information

• Psychoanalysis: A theory developed by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the role of unconscious processes in shaping human behavior and culture.
• Post-structuralism: A movement in literary theory and philosophy that critiques and deconstructs traditional structures of meaning and knowledge.
• New Historicism: A method of literary criticism that examines literary texts in the context of historical and cultural forces.