History of British Literature Exam Guide

Which of the following are examples of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) literature?

Alliteration is a poetic device that is uniquely characteristic of oral literature.

What is a kenning?

The ______ is a type of medieval romance that often features themes of courtly love, chivalry, and adventure.

Match the following literary works with their corresponding period:

Mystery plays were primarily focused on teaching moral lessons and the consequences of sin.

What is the significance of the framing story in The Canterbury Tales?

Which of the following best describes the significance of the Norman Invasion for the history of English literature?

Which of these authors is NOT associated with the rise of the novel in Britain?

The "heroic couplet" was a popular form of poetry during the Age of Reason because of its strict rhyme scheme and formal structure.

What is the name of the novel by Samuel Richardson that tells the story of a virtuous young woman named Pamela?

The novel, as a genre, emerged in the ______ century.

Match the following authors with their respective novels:

What is the main concept behind "sentimentalism" in 18th-century literature?

The "Gothic Novel" is characterized by dark, mysterious settings, supernatural elements, and a focus on the grotesque.

Which of the following authors wrote "The Castle of Otranto", a novel often cited as the first Gothic novel?

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of metaphysical poetry, as exemplified in John Donne's works?

John Milton's Paradise Lost is considered a traditional epic poem, following the conventions of classical epic poetry.

What is a metaphysical conceit? Explain the term with an example from John Donne's 'The Flea'.

The dominant poetic form used by Alexander Pope, often found in his An Essay on Criticism, is known as the _________.

Match the literary figures with their major works:

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of John Donne's sonnet 'Batter my heart...'?

Dryden, Pope, and Johnson are all figures who praised the metaphysical poets for their intellectual and unconventional style.

What is the significance of the 'run-on lines' technique in Milton's Paradise Lost? How does it contribute to the poem's stylistic impact?

The Romantic period in literature roughly encompassed the late 18th century to the early 1830s.

Which of these authors is NOT associated with the Romantic poetry movement?

The "______" to Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth became a foundational text in the Romantic movement.

Match the Romantic poets with their iconic poems:

Briefly describe two key differences between the Age of Reason and Romanticism.

What is a central theme explored in William Wordsworth's "We Are Seven"?

According to Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads, what should be the subject matter of poetry?

How does Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" exemplify the Romantic approach to nature?

What is the primary difference between the Italian/Petrarchan sonnet and the English/Shakespearean sonnet in terms of rhyme scheme?

Which of these plays is NOT written by William Shakespeare?

University Wits were a group of playwrights who were educated at Oxford or Cambridge.

The Renaissance theatre emphasized the ______ of time, place, and action.

Match the following Renaissance playwrights with their most famous work.

What is 'comic relief' in a Renaissance tragedy, and what purpose does it serve?

Which of the following features is NOT characteristic of the Renaissance public theatre stage?

The audiences in the Renaissance public theatre were homogeneous, meaning they were all of the same social class and background.

Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the Victorian novel?

Realist fiction typically features omniscient narrators who provide an objective and unbiased perspective on the characters and events.

What is a Bildungsroman?

Virginia Woolf's essay, "Modern Fiction", criticizes the traditional novel for its focus on _______ and its neglect of the inner lives of characters.

Match the following literary techniques with their corresponding definitions: