21st Century World Literature Quiz

Literature showcasing the best qualities of national literatures, accessible to various cultures.

Literature specific to a particular country or time period.

Common themes in contemporary world literature, like vampires, sorcery, science fiction.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a pilot, writer, and poet.

Literature from various Asian countries, often reflecting the ideologies of its era.

A calligraphic script type, used for official documents and correspondence.

Themes common in stories that attract a wide range of audiences.

Writers whose work is confined to a specific region or nation.

A four-line Chinese poem with each line having 5 or 7 syllables.

A three-line Japanese poem with 5-7-5 syllables.

A Japanese poem with 31 syllables, structured in five lines (5-7-5-7-7).

A long Sanskrit epic poem with about 100,000 couplets, considered a significant Hindu text.

A shorter Sanskrit epic poem (approx. 2400 couplets) with significant themes of family.

Major collection of literary works in Japan, comparable in scope and importance to English literature.

Two famous Indian epics, known for their family dramas, conflicts over land and dharma, and tragic consequences.

A collection of Indian animal fables, written in Sanskrit, using a mixture of prose and verse. Fables offer humorous and wise advice.

Phrases or compound words used to name persons, places, or things indirectly in Old English poetry. Used to enhance poetic expression and create visual imagery.

The earliest form of the English language, characterized by extensive use of case endings, a mix of pagan and Christian beliefs, and the use of kennings.

The longest and oldest known Old English epic poem, known for its use of kennings and themes of heroism and loyalty.

The event in 1066 when William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England. This significantly influenced the English language, adding French influences and ushering in the Middle English period.

The English language spoken from around 1100 to 1500, an intermediary stage between Old English and Modern English.

The impact of French on English during the Middle English period, including vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation changes.

A literary and philosophical movement celebrating Black identity and culture. It emphasizes the values and traditions of African civilizations, challenging European colonialism.

A type of poem that celebrates an object's outstanding qualities and achievements.

Traditional stories that explain the origins of the world, the relationship between humans and nature, and the cultural beliefs of a people.

Long poems or narratives that recount the heroic deeds of legendary figures or the history of a nation, usually performed on special occasions.

A short, witty, or ironic statement that offers advice, communicates a response, or persuades.

Songs or poems chanted at funerals, lamenting the death of a loved one, praising their memory, and seeking their protection.

Written works, often novels, plays, and poems, produced in the 1950s and 60s that documented personal experiences and perspectives on African society.

Works written by African authors in European languages that challenged colonial rule and expressed African identities.

A system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1991, denying basic rights to people of color.

A focus on the challenges, experiences, and perspectives of women in African societies, highlighting struggles for equality and challenging traditional gender roles.

A critical reading strategy that involves skimming a text to get a sense of its overall content and organization.

A critical reading strategy that considers the historical and cultural context in which a text was written.

A critical reading strategy that involves condensing a text's main ideas into a concise overview.

A critical reading strategy that involves assessing the validity of a text's claims and supporting evidence.

An English author often called the "father of English literature." He is known for writing "The Canterbury Tales," a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury.

A long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero and their heroic deeds, often involving mythical or legendary figures.

A long prose narrative that tells a story about fictional characters and events, typically presented in a chronological order.

A literary style that blends elements of fantasy and the supernatural into everyday life, often found in Latin American literature.

Oral and written literature from Latin America, encompassing Spanish, Portuguese, indigenous languages, and US literature in Spanish. It gained prominence in the 20th century due to the success of magical realism.

Novels produced in the 19th century in Latin America that aimed to establish a sense of national identity, often focusing on indigenous themes and the clash between 'civilization' and 'barbarism.'

A poetic movement in Latin America that emerged in the late 19th century, with Rubén Darío's "Azul" being a defining text.