literature Past Questions And Answers

Literature Past Questions And Answers

1891

This question is based on William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Claudius, though a murderer, is presented as a character

A. who has a superlative administrative style
B. with a living conscience that torments him
C. to whom past events have no significance
D. with an admirable physical appearance

View Discussion (0)JAMB 2005

1892

This question is based on General Literary Principles.

The theme of a literary work is the

A. dominant pre-occupation of the work
B. interesting issues raised in the work
C. different views on a particular topic
D. psychological issues in the work

View Discussion (0)JAMB 1999

1893

This question is based on Camara Laye's The African Child

The friendship between Laye and Marie lasted because

A. they were schoolmates
B. they had mutual respect for each other
C. his uncle approved of her
D. Marie was a beautiful girl

View Discussion (0)JAMB 2000

1894

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Hamlet

Read the extract below and answer the question

A : What, hasthis thing appeared again tonight?

B : I have seen nothing

(Act I, Scene one, lines 21-22)

Speaker B is

A. Hamlet
B. Francisco
C. Marcellus
D. Bernado

View Discussion (0)WAEC 2007 OBJ

1895

This question is based on General Literary Principles.

A play that tells a single story, has one setting and takes place within a specified period is said to

A. be heavilymoralistic
B. be clearly cohesive
C. possess the unities
D. have tragic elements

View Discussion (0)JAMB 1993

1896

In poetry _ is made up of stressed and unstressed syllables

A. an anapaest
B. trochee
C. dacty 11
D. an iambus

View Discussion (0)WAEC 2013 OBJ

1897

This question is based on Ayi Kwei Armah's Fragments.

The setting of the novel is the

A. traditional Nigerian society
B. post-independence Ghanaian society
C. pre-independence Ghanaian society
D. modern Nigerian society

View Discussion (0)JAMB 2005

1898

This question is based on selected poems from Johnson, R. et all (eds.): New Poetry from Africa; Soyinka, W. (ed.):Poems of Black Africa; Senanu, K.E. and Vincent, T. (eds.): A Selection of African Poetry; Maduka C.T et al: Exam Focus: Literature in English; Eruvbetine, A.E et al (eds)_: Longman Examination Guides: Nwoga, D.I. (ed.): West African Verse and Adeoti G.: Neked Soles.

The language used in Eliot's The Journey of the Magi is generally

A. difficult
B. complex
C. simple
D. complicated

View Discussion (0)JAMB 2008

1899

AFRICAN PROSE

ASARE KONADU: A Woman In Her Prime

Comment on the significance of the search for Yaw Boakye

Explanation

Yaw Boakye is an important member of the Brenhoma community. He leaves on a Monday to go hunting and does not return home. In keeping with the practice of the community, a search party is organized. The search for Yaw Boakye highlights the gregarious nature of the society. It shows that people are concerned about the welfare of others. The young men of the village do not need any prompting: they turn up in their numbers to take part in the search as soon as Boakye's disappearance is announced. Their commitment to seeking each other's welfare is not in doubt. They drop all that they are engaged in and concentrate on finding their kinsman, dead or alive. Pokuwaa's concern for the welfare of her husband `Kwadwo' comes out during the search for Boakye. She does not want him to be the first to come upon the hideous sight of Boakye's corpse. She has seen it and does not want to subject her husband to the horror which it holds, if she can prevent it. She therefore directs him to conduct his search far away from where she knows the corpse is.

The search also demonstrates the highly organized structure of Brenhoma's society. The men are divided into several groups, each group led by a captain whose authority is undisputed. Further, the search heightens suspense in the novel. As the men move slowly in groups toward the corpse of Boakye, the narrator captures their every movement. The suddenness of the end of the search surprises even the reader. As vultures whirl overhead, the reader suspects that the men are approaching Boakye's corpse. But the end comes suddenly, encoded in traditional register: "Wasps! Wasps! Take care!". Soon the drums are relaying the message "We mourn Yaw Baokye. Condolences".

Finally, the search highlights the belief in superstition which plays an important role in the lives of the people. Even though there is as yet no evidence that Yaw Boakye is dead, the searchers have come to the conclusion that what Pokuwaa has reportedly seen a couple of days earlier has been Boakye's ghost. Thus as they proceed in their search for him, the fear of encountering his ghost lingers in their minds.

View Discussion (0)WAEC 2012 THEORY

1900

Read the extract and answer the question

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 111, scene one lines 78 - 83)

The character addressed is

A. prospoero
B. Ferdinand
C. Alonso
D. Juno

View Discussion (0)WAEC 2012 OBJ

Literature Past Questions And Answers

Correct Answer: B. with a living conscience that torments him

Correct Answer: D. psychological issues in the work

Correct Answer: B. they had mutual respect for each other

Correct Answer: D. Bernado

Correct Answer: C. possess the unities

Correct Answer: D. an iambus

Correct Answer: B. post-independence Ghanaian society

Correct Answer: C. simple

Explanation

Correct Answer: B. Ferdinand