American Literature - Short Questions and Their Answers (From Sargodha University Past Papers) MA English Literature Part 1

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2022 IIA

Q1: Why doesn't Proctor want Mary to go back to court?

Because a) he wants to protect Mary from getting charged with the accusation of witchcraft b) To save himself from getting his affair with Abigail getting exposed and c) to expose girls feigning witchcraft. 

Q2: Explain the significance of the needle in the "Poppet".

The needle in Elizabeth's poppet is used as an "evidence" by Abigail that signifies accusers utilizing hysteria to achieve their goals. 

Q3: Why does Lavinia retreat into the house forever at the end of the play?

Lavinia retreats into the house to punish herself of the guilt for what she and her family did. 

Q4: Why does Christine hate her husband?

Christine hates her husband because she thinks Ezra rejected her. 

Q5: What is the significance of the Jazz music in the novel 'Jazz'?

Jazz in "Jazz" is used as a symbol of expression as an identity for the fusion of African American Culture and races. 

Q6: Who is Violet?

Violet is Joe's wife. She is a 56-year-old woman who doesn't quite mix up with other women. She is also known as "violent". 

Q7: The soldiers tease the priest in A Farewell to Arms. What does it suggest?

It's suggests soldiers' escapism from religion and "responsibility". 

Q8: Why do Henry and Catherine decide to go to Switzerland?

To escape from war. 

Q9: Explain the term Diction.

The words and language used in a literary work. 

Q10: What is Irony?

A literary device in which the written words mean the opposite of what is implied. 

2021

Q1: Why does Mrs. Putnam believe that there are witches in Salem?

After the death of her seven babies and her daughter suffering from illness, she believes that the reason behind her misfortune is the presence of witches. 

Q2: What "confession" did Elizabeth make to John?

She confessed that she was a little bit responsible for the affair of John with Abigail. 

Q3: What is the physical appearance of Christine, the mother of Lavinia?

By age, Christine Mannon is forty years old but she appears as if she were younger than her age, because of her tall but straight stature, dark velvet blue eyes, a handsome face with partly copper brown partly bronze hold hair. 

Q4: What does Seth Beckwith tell Lavinia about Captain Adam Brant?

Seth tells Lavinia that Adam Brant might be the illegitimate child of her uncle who was disowned for having an affair with a nursemaid and expelling her, pregnant. 

Q5: Who is called Wild in the novel Jazz?

A lady who wanders in the woods is called Wild for biting Golden Gray, who helped her deliver the child. The lady is linked as a mother to Joe Trace, though it is not confirmed. 

Q6: What do you know about Golden Gray?

Already answered in Q6 of 2016. 

Q7: What is the opinion of Miss Van Campen on the cause of Henry's suffering from jaundice?

She thinks Henry's habit of drinking liquor is the reason behind the cause of Henry's suffering from jaundice. She even goes as far to assume that Henry may have self-inflicted the particular illness to avoid going into the fierce battlefield. 

Q8: Who is an Antagonist?

An Antagonist is a character in fiction or play who stands against the protagonist, and tries to win over the protagonist. 

Q9: Describe the first meeting of Henry with Catherine. 

The first initial meeting between Henry and Catherine goes well, though, much struck by Catherine's beauty, he tries to kiss her which is answered by a slap. But Catherine apologies and asks him, "Will you be good? " Thus, their first meeting sets the seeds for their deep rooted love to flourish and then to crumble under the heavy rain. 

Q10: Define Personification.

A literary device in which attributing the qualities of humans to non-living and inanimate objects is called Personification.

2020

Q1: Who calls Reverend Hale for the treatment of Betty?

Mr. Parris summons Reverend Hale for the treatment of bewitched 

Q2: How does John Proctor accuse Parris when he accuses him of poor church attendance?

When Parris accuses John of attending Church poorly, Proctor then accuses him of practising witchcraft. 

Q3: Why does Captain Adam Brant want to avenge on the Mannon's family?

Captain Adam Brant wants to avenge on the Mannon family because Ezra's brother, David Mannon had an illicit relation with his mother and when he was born, David threw out Brant's mother from David's home. 

Q4: On what grounds does Lavinia refuse to marry Peter?

Lavinia refuses to marry Peter because she thinks that her father needs her care and love more than Peter. 

Q5: Where did Joe Violet get married? 

Joe and Violet get got married in Virginia. View Source

Q6: Does Morrison use the phrase "The City" for Harlem? 

No, she uses the particular phrase for New York. 

Q7: How did military officers make fun of the priest?

Military officers used to make fun of the priest by provoking him 

Q8: Who is Miss Ferguson?

Already answered

Q9: What is personification?

Already answered in Classical Poetry

Q10: Define dramatic monologue. 

Already answered in Classical Poetry

2019

Q1: What is the relation of Abigail Williams with Reverend Parris?

Abigail Williams is Reverend Parris' niece.

Q2: Which one of the Ten commandments does John Proctor forget when he is called upon to recall Ten Commandments?

John Proctor ironically forgets the Commandment of Adultery, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.", when he is asked to recall the Ten Commandments in Christianity.

Q3: Which war-front does Erza Mannon come back from?

Ezra Mannon, who is Brigadier General in the army, comes back from the  civil war, prevailing in New England to his unhappy wife Christine and loving daughter, Lavinia.

Q4: For how long does Joe and Dorcas' love affair last?

Joe and Dorcas' love affair lasts for three months.

Q5: On what pretext does Christine go to New York and there she meets her paramour Adam Brant?

Christine goes to New York on the pretext of seeing her ailing father but actually, she meets her lover Adam Brant. View Source

Q6: Who called Joe's mother as wild?

Henry called Joe's mother as wild when she was suffering from the intense pain in labor. He leaned over the woman to tend her but she bit his cheek and hand. So he named her wild. View Source

Q7: Where does Catherine Barkley serve as a nurse?

Catherine Barkley serves as a nurse in the Italian war fronts. Later, she serves the wounded-in-war Henry in Milan.

Q8: Who introduced Frederic Henry to Miss Barkley?

Surgeon Rinaldi introduced the lieutenant Henry to Catherine Barkley.

Q9: What is a simile?

Already answered in Classical Poetry.

Q10: Define Alliteration.

Already defined in Classical Poetry.

2018

Q1: Why does Abigail run away in the end?

Abigail Williams runs away from Salem to the town of Andover in order to save herself from the possible punishment which might be inflicted upon her by the court for having an illicit relation with John Proctor and for a possible accusation of witchcraft. View Source

Q2: What is the significance of the title The Crucible?

Arthur Miller has implied the title to illustrate metaphorically the sudden plights of John and his wife Elizabeth Proctor who are thrown in the crucible made of feign witch trials instead of ceramic. View Source

Q3: Why does Adam hate the Mannon family?

Adam Brant hates the Mannon family because his father (and brother of Ezra Mannon) David Mannon send his mother away after she got pregnant with David's child. View Source

Q4: How does O'Neill symbolize hair and eyes in his play Mourning Becomes Electra?

If male characters' masks are taken for being Puritans, then women's hair and eyes symbolize physical beauty and grace which is interlinked with the islands Christine and Lavinia have visited. More Short Questions

Q5: What is the effect of the City on African Americans?

The City effects African Americans significantly, positively and negatively. They find ample livelihood and satisfaction of sexual gratification which leads to many other problems caused by the intermingling of the white and black people.

Q6: What is the sad memory of Dorcas?

The sad memory of Dorcas is the burning of wooden dolls in her house in riots between black and white people. View Source

Q7: Who is Rinaldi in A Farewell to Arms?

Rinaldi is a skilled surgeon who plays a key role in creating a sense of the relation between Henry and Catherine Barkley for he is Henry's roommate. He is loyal towards Henry but he is disloyal towards the women he showers his sensuous love. View Source

Q8: What is the Priest's definition of love in A Farewell to Arms?

Mr. Priest is the only one who prefers spiritual love to sensuous love and he defines love to Henry as thus: "When you love, you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve. "

Q9: What is a sonnet?

Already answered in Classical Poetry.

Q10: What is modernism?

Modernism is a self-conscious break from adopting traditional paths in writing prose and poetry. The movement flourished in 19th and 20th century in Europe and North America under the slogan of Ezra Pound, "Make it new". View Source

2017

Q1: Why is Betty lying unconscious?

Betty might be lying unconscious for her father caught her red handed in the woods "dancing like heathen". Or she is pretending to be unconscious for she wants to save herself from being caught in The Crucible of witchcraft and die in the end. View Source

Q2: Why did ABIGAIL accuse Proctor’s wife?

Abigail accused John Proctor's wife, Elizabeth Proctor for two reasons. Firstly, Abigail had an affair with John and she was "deeply" in love with him. So, accusing his wife would clear up the way for her. Secondly, John would stop condemning other women of witchcraft when he would find his wife practising the same thing. View Source

Q3: What is the meaning of Mourning Becomes Electra?

The play's title holds its roots to a historic level, spanning way back to 2500 years BC when Aeschylus wrote a tragedy named Oresteia, describing the destruction of the whole family in which only Electra (Orestes' sister) is left to mourn. Similarly, on the destruction of the Mannon family, only Lavinia is left who locks herself in Mannon house to mourn until her life ends because she is "not bound away". View Source

Q4: Why does Lavinia hate her mother?

Lavinia hates her mother (Christine) because she committed the act of adultery with Adam Brant, a ship captain. Who, according to Christine, looked like the younger portrait of Ezra Mannon (her husband).

Q5: What is Harlem Renaissance in Jazz?

Harlem Renaissance is an artistic and social movement, which took place in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City in the years of 1925. Its prime focus was to showcase "black is beautiful". This movement was an answer to the racism found in white people. Harlem Renaissance in Jazz is the prosperity which the novel's characters attained after migrating from the South. View Source

Q6: Why is Vera Louise Gray thrown out of her home?

Vera Louise Gray is thrown out of her home on account of giving birth to a golden coloured child by taking liberties with a slave. View Character Stats

Q7: What is the meaning of the title a Farewell to ARMS?

A Farewell to Arms has a duality of meaning. One for bidding a farewell to the arms which hold the beloved and other for saying a farewell to weapons used in the war.

Q8: Why does HENRY Jump into the river TAGLIAMENTO?

Henry jumps into the river Tagliamento to save himself from the crucible of military police who is killing every officer who is responsible for the giant retreat.

Q9: Define poetry.

Poetry is rhythmical form of words, which express imaginative, emotional and intellectual experience of a writer.

Q10: What is ASHBERY’s wish in the Painter?

John Ashbery wishes to paint the sea's portrait. Which means he wants to paint life in a modern manner. But the people living in buildings stop him from doing so. View More Short Questions

2016

Q1: Why does Abigail run away in the end?

Already answered

Q2: What do you know about Tituba?

Tituba is Reverend Perris' slave brought from Barbados. She is confesses of practicing witchcraft under the pressure of Abigail Williams. But she has fallen a victim to racism. View Source

Q3: Why does Lavinia say, “I hate love”?

Lavinia says "I hate love" over the inquiry of Peter because she was brought up by her parents with no love and after seeing the Brant-Christine triangle, she strictly disbelieves in love. View More Questions

Q4: Why does Adam Brant take revenge on Ezra Mannon?

Adam Brant takes revenge on Ezra Mannon because he hates Mannon family. [Rest of the answer is already answered]

Q5: Why is there a tension between Joe and Violet?

Joe and Violet are each other's life partner. Both are brought up motherless and the presence of another person creates tension among the two which results in the murder of the "other" person. View Source

Q6: Who is Golden Gray and why is he named so?

Golden Gray is the son of Vera Louise Gray who gave birth to him by taking liberties with a black slave. Golden Gray is named so because of his golden colour.

Q7: Who is Rinaldi?

Already answered.

Q8: What does rain symbolize in A farewell to Arms?

Rain in literature symbolizes for fertility and growth but Ernest Hemingway treats rain differently in A Farewell to Arms. Rain, in this novel, symbolizes for destruction and disease which is brought on both the protagonists and minor characters as well.

Q9: What does the sea symbolize in The Painter?

The sea symbolizes for new horizons, ideas and life in The Painter.

Q10: What is the theme of O Captain! My Captain.

The major theme of this poem revolves around Abraham Lincoln who was killed during the Civil War. The poet says that the captain (the president) has safely anchored the ship (the country of the United States) at the cost of his life. View Source

2015

Q1: Why does John Proctor confess his act of adultery?

John Proctor confesses his act of adultery with Abigail in order to defend his wife, Elizabeth and to remove the gentle veil of Abigail. View Source

Q2: What does Hale mean when he says, “Cleave to no faith brings blood”?

Here Reverend Hale possibly wants to convey his message to Elizabeth that she and her husband must tell "lies" in order to save their lives as the court is pillared with lies and God will forgive them as these acts were not originally accomplished by them.

Q3: Why does Adam hate Mannon family?

Already answered

Q4: How does Ezra Mannon meet his tragic death?

Ezra Mannon meets his tragic death through his wife Christine as she gives him poison in place of his heart medicine, which is brought by Adam Brant.

Q5: Why are relations estranged between Joe and Violet?

Already answered

Q6: Name the parents of Joe Trace.

It is hard for us to name the parents of Joe for they left him without a trace. (I will change the answer once I find them out)

Q7: Who is Ferguson in A Farewell to Arms?

Helen Ferguson is a Scottish nurse and a close friend of Catherine Barkley. In the beginning, she befriends with Frederic Henry but Catherine comes in the scene. When she learns that Catherine is having a child of Henry without marriage, she bluntly rebukes Henry and calls him "a snake" in Italian uniform.

Q8: How does Henry save his life from Italian Military Police?

Henry saves his life from the Italian Military Police by being baptized in river Tagliamanto.

Q9: What is a Sonnet?

Already answered

Q10: What is the theme of The Road Not Taken?

The theme of The Road Not Taken is no matter how successful a person might be in his life, he still wants to run on the opposite road when he was only presented with two roads to ride on.