MCQs on Thomas De Quincey
1. What is Thomas De Quincey primarily known for?
a. Poetry
b. Fiction
c. Essays
d. Playwriting
2. In which century did Thomas De Quincey live?
a. 16th century
b. 17th century
c. 18th century
d. 19th century
3. De Quincey’s most famous work, “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” is categorized as:
a. Autobiography
b. Travelogue
c. Fiction
d. Political commentary
4. Where was Thomas De Quincey born?
a. London
b. Edinburgh
c. Dublin
d. Manchester
5. De Quincey was associated with which literary movement?
a. Romanticism
b. Victorianism
c. Realism
d. Modernism
6. Which influential literary figure was a contemporary of Thomas De Quincey?
a. William Wordsworth
b. Charles Dickens
c. Jane Austen
d. Oscar Wilde
7. What is the subtitle of De Quincey’s “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”?
a. A Tale of Despair
b. An Autobiographical Romance
c. The Pains and Pleasures of Opium
d. A Journey into the Abyss
8. De Quincey’s essay “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth” is an example of his:
a. Literary criticism
b. Political commentary
c. Satirical writing
d. Historical analysis
9. Which publication was the first to serialize “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”?
a. The Times
b. The London Magazine
c. The Spectator
d. The Quarterly Review
10. De Quincey was a close friend and admirer of which Romantic poet?
a. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
b. John Keats
c. Lord Byron
d. Percy Bysshe Shelley
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11. What was the impact of opium on De Quincey’s life and writing?
a. It enhanced his creativity
b. It had no significant impact
c. It led to physical and mental struggles
d. It made him more productive
12. De Quincey’s essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts” explores:
a. Aestheticization of violence
b. Legal perspectives on murder
c. Social consequences of crime
d. Psychological aspects of criminal behavior
13. In which literary form did De Quincey often express his ideas?
a. Poetry
b. Drama
c. Essay
d. Novel
14. De Quincey’s work “Suspiria de Profundis” is subtitled as:
a. Confessions of an English Opium-Eater II
b. Dreams and Shadows
c. The Lamentations of the Deep
d. Reflections on the Sublime
15. What is the central theme of De Quincey’s essay “The English Mail-Coach”?
a. Industrialization
b. Transportation
c. Communication
d. Nature
16. De Quincey’s autobiographical works often delve into the theme of:
a. Love and Romance
b. Childhood Memories
c. The Sublime and Supernatural
d. Political Activism
17. What is the significance of De Quincey’s essay “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth”?
a. It analyzes the symbolism of the gate in Macbeth
b. It explores the impact of Shakespearean drama on the audience
c. It discusses the literary technique of suspense
d. It interprets a specific scene from Macbeth in a philosophical context
18. De Quincey’s essay “The Vision of Sudden Death” reflects his fascination with:
a. Criminal psychology
b. Supernatural visions
c. Political conspiracy
d. The beauty of nature
19. Which of De Quincey’s works is considered a precursor to the detective fiction genre?
a. “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”
b. “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts”
c. “The English Mail-Coach”
d. “The Vision of Sudden Death”
20. What was the impact of De Quincey’s opium use on his financial stability?
a. It had no effect on his finances
b. It led to wealth and prosperity
c. It contributed to financial struggles
d. It made him indifferent to financial matters
21. De Quincey’s essay “The English Mail-Coach” reflects his admiration for:
a. Modern transportation
b. Natural landscapes
c. Postal services
d. Industrial progress
22. In “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” what role does the city of London play in De Quincey’s narrative?
a. It is a place of inspiration and creativity
b. It is a symbol of opulence and wealth
c. It is associated with darkness and despair
d. It is a setting for romantic encounters
23. De Quincey’s writing often includes elements of:
a. Realism
b. Symbolism
c. Allegory
d. Absurdism
24. What is the literary style of De Quincey’s “Suspiria de Profundis”?
a. Satire
b. Gothic
c. Romantic
d. Realist
25. What is the recurring motif in De Quincey’s essay “The English Mail-Coach”?
a. The sound of bells
b. The image of a horse
c. The color red
d. The scent of opium
26. In “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” what effect does opium have on De Quincey’s perception of time?
a. It accelerates time
b. It slows down time
c. It distorts the sense of time
d. It has no impact on his perception of time
27. De Quincey’s essay “The Last Days of Immanuel Kant” reflects his interest in:
a. German philosophy
b. Literary criticism
c. Political philosophy
d. The history of science
28. Which of De Quincey’s essays reflects his critique of the education system?
a. “The English Mail-Coach”
b. “The Vision of Sudden Death”
c. “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts”
d. “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth”
29. De Quincey’s essay “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth” is a response to a lecture by whom?
a. William Wordsworth
b. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
c. Charles Lamb
d. John Keats
30. What is the role of dreams in De Quincey’s “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”?
a. They represent a form of escapism
b. They serve as a means of self-discovery
c. They are a reflection of opium-induced hallucinations
d. They symbolize the subconscious mind
31. De Quincey’s essay “The Pains of Opium” focuses on:
a. The physical effects of opium
b. The psychological effects of opium
c. The cultural history of opium
d. The legal consequences of opium use
32. Which literary figure does De Quincey refer to as the “greatest of prose-writers” in his essay “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth”?
a. John Milton
b. William Shakespeare
c. Jonathan Swift
d. Samuel Johnson
33. De Quincey’s “Suspiria de Profundis” is dedicated to:
a. William Wordsworth
b. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
c. Charles Lamb
d. John Keats
34. De Quincey’s essay “The Spanish Military Nun” explores the theme of:
a. Religious persecution
b. Gender roles
c. Nationalism
d. The supernatural
35. What is the significance of the term “Suspiria de Profundis”?
a. Dreams of the Deep
b. Confessions of Profundity
c. Sighs from the Depths
d. Visions of the Abyss
36. De Quincey’s essay “The Vision of Sudden Death” is a reflection on the death of:
a. A famous philosopher
b. A political leader
c. A literary figure
d. A personal acquaintance
37. What is the central theme of De Quincey’s essay “Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow”?
a. Motherhood
b. Grief and sorrow
c. Education and upbringing
d. Social justice
38. In “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” De Quincey compares opium to:
a. A dangerous poison
b. A comforting friend
c. A mystical elixir
d. A philosophical doctrine
39. De Quincey’s essay “The English Mail-Coach” explores the theme of:
a. Travel and communication
b. Industrialization
c. Political reform
d. Nature and landscapes
40. What is De Quincey’s view on the relationship between dreams and reality in “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”?
a. Dreams have no connection to reality
b. Dreams are more real than waking life
c. Dreams offer insights into reality
d. Reality is an illusion created by dreams
41. In “The English Mail-Coach,” De Quincey describes the coach as a symbol of:
a. Industrial progress
b. Human mortality
c. Political authority
d. Nature’s beauty
42. De Quincey’s essay “On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth” suggests that art has the power to:
a. Evoke emotional responses
b. Transform reality
c. Convey moral lessons
d. Challenge political authority
43. What role does nature play in De Quincey’s essay “The English Mail-Coach”?
a. It is a source of inspiration
b. It is a symbol of chaos
c. It is a backdrop to human activities
d. It is irrelevant to the narrative
44. De Quincey’s essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts” is a satirical take on:
a. Art criticism
b. Criminal justice
c. Aestheticism
d. Political activism
45. In “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” how does De Quincey describe the sensation of opium withdrawal?
a. Excruciating pain
b. Intense pleasure
c. Profound sadness
d. Utter confusion
46. De Quincey’s essay “The Pains of Opium” suggests that the pleasures of opium are accompanied by:
a. Physical pain
b. Emotional ecstasy
c. Intellectual enlightenment
d. Spiritual awakening
47. What does De Quincey compare opium to in “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”?
a. A serpent
b. A river
c. A flower
d. A cloud
48. In “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts,” De Quincey argues that murder can be:
a. Aestheticized
b. Justified
c. Eradicated
d. Legalized
49. De Quincey’s essay “Suspiria de Profundis” includes reflections on the death of his:
a. Father
b. Mother
c. Sister
d. Brother
50. De Quincey’s writings often combine elements of:
a. Realism and Romanticism
b. Satire and Tragedy
c. Mystery and Comedy
d. Allegory and History
Answer
1. c. Essays
2. d. 19th century
3. a. Autobiography
4. d. Manchester
5. a. Romanticism
6. a. William Wordsworth
7. b. An Autobiographical Romance
8. a. Literary criticism
9. b. The London Magazine
10. a. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
11. c. It led to physical and mental struggles
12. a. Aestheticization of violence
13. c. Essay
14. c. The Lamentations of the Deep
15. c. Communication
16. c. The Sublime and Supernatural
17. d. It interprets a specific scene from Macbeth in a philosophical context
18. b. Supernatural visions
19. b. “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts”
20. c. It contributed to financial struggles
21. b. Natural landscapes
22. c. It is associated with darkness and despair
23. b. Symbolism
24. b. Gothic
25. a. The sound of bells
26. c. It distorts the sense of time
27. a. German philosophy
28. a. “The English Mail-Coach”
29. b. Samuel Taylor Coleridge
30. c. They are a reflection of opium-induced hallucinations
31. a. The physical effects of opium
32. b. William Shakespeare
33. c. Charles Lamb
34. b. Gender roles
35. c. Sighs from the Depths
36. c. A literary figure
37. c. Education and upbringing
38. c. A mystical elixir
39. a. Travel and communication
40. c. Dreams offer insights into reality
41. b. Human mortality
42. b. Transform reality
43. a. It is a source of inspiration
44. c. Aestheticism
45. a. Excruciating pain
46. a. Physical pain
47. a. A serpent
48. a. Aestheticized
49. c. Sister
50. a. Realism and Romanticism
