50+ MCQs on Aristotle with Answers for UGC NET / SET /PHD Prepration
1. Who is considered the father of literary criticism?
a. Plato
b. Aristotle
c. Socrates
d. Homer
2. Aristotle’s work on literary criticism is found in which treatise?
a. The Republic
b. The Poetics
c. The Symposium
d. The Nicomachean Ethics
3. According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of art and literature?
a. Entertainment only
b. To imitate nature
c. To criticize societyMCQs on Aristotle
d. To convey moral lessons
4. Aristotle’s concept of “mimesis” refers to:
a. Imitation or representation
b. Originality in artMCQs on Aristotle
c. Creation ex nihilo
d. Abstract expressionism
5. In “The Poetics,” Aristotle discusses primarily which form of literature?
a. Epic poetry
b. Tragedy
c. Comedy
d. Lyric poetry
6. According to Aristotle, what is the key component of a tragic hero?
a. Wisdom
b. Hubris
c. Wealth
d. HumilityMCQs on Aristotle
7. What does Aristotle consider the highest form of poetry?
a. Epic poetry
b. Tragedy
c. Comedy
d. SatireMCQs on Aristotle
8. According to Aristotle, what role does catharsis play in tragedy?
a. It is the protagonist’s journey.
b. It is the emotional purgation of the audience.
c. It is the climax of the plot.
d. It is the resolution of conflicts.
9. Aristotle believes that poetry is more philosophical than history because:
a. Poetry is more imaginative.
b. Poetry deals with universal truths.
c. History is based on facts.MCQs on Aristotle
d. Poetry is less structured.
10. Which term does Aristotle use to describe the plot’s turning point in a tragedy?
a. Peripeteia
b. Anagnorisis
c. Hamartia
d. Katharsis
11. Aristotle considers the “unity of action” as an essential element of:
a. Epic poetry
b. Tragedy
c. ComedyMCQs on Aristotle
d. Satire
12. What is Aristotle’s term for the flaw or error that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero?
a. Hubris
b. HamartiaMCQs on Aristotle
c. Anagnorisis
d. Catharsis
13. Aristotle’s concept of “hamartia” can be best described as:
a. A tragic flaw
b. A comic element
c. An unexpected twist
d. A moral lesson
14. According to Aristotle, which element is crucial for the success of a tragic plot?
a. The use of humor
b. The element of surprise
c. The unity of time, place, and action
d. A happy endingMCQs on Aristotle
15. Aristotle’s views on the role of emotions in literature can be summarized as:
a. Emotions should be avoided in literature.
b. Emotions should be heightened to evoke catharsis.
c. Emotions are irrelevant in literary analysis.
d. Emotions should only be portrayed in comedy.
16. What does Aristotle mean by “peripeteia” in a tragic plot?
a. Recognition or discovery
b. A sudden reversal of fortune
c. A tragic flaw
d. The climax of the plot
17. Aristotle’s idea of “magnanimity” is associated with:
a. A tragic hero’s humility
b. A tragic hero’s pride
c. Comic characters
d. TragicomedyMCQs on Aristotle
18. Aristotle argues that the best tragic plots involve characters of a certain moral character known as:
a. The virtuous
b. The wicked
c. The tragicMCQs on Aristotle
d. The mediocre
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19. In Aristotle’s view, which of the following is crucial for creating a sense of reality in literature?
a. Exaggeration
b. Imitation of nature
c. Symbolism
d. Metaphor
20. According to Aristotle, what is the primary function of the chorus in a tragedy?
a. To provide comic relief
b. To interact with the audience
c. To express the author’s opinions
d. To heighten the emotional impact
21. Aristotle believes that the ideal tragic plot should have a beginning, middle, and end and exhibit:
a. Unity of time, place, and action
b. Divergent subplots
c. Frequent flashbacks
d. Multiple climaxes
22. Aristotle’s views on comedy can be summarized as:
a. Comedy should focus on the divine.
b. Comedy should imitate everyday people.
c. Comedy should avoid laughter.
d. Comedy should be didactic.
23. Aristotle identifies two main types of comedy. One involves improbable and extravagant situations, and the other involves ordinary people. What are they called?
a. High comedy and low comedy
b. Slapstick comedy and verbal comedy
c. Satirical comedy and romantic comedy
d. Tragicomedy and farce
24. Aristotle argues that comedy should primarily achieve which of the following?
a. Evoke fear and pity
b. Imitate idealized characters
c. Ridicule and correct human faults
d. Challenge social norms
25. Aristotle’s term “anagnorisis” refers to:
a. A moment of recognition or discovery
b. A tragic flaw in a character
c. The climax of a comedy
d. The resolution of conflicts
26. According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of the prologue in a tragedy?
a. To introduce the main characters
b. To establish the setting
c. To present the central conflict
d. To engage the audience emotionally
27. Which of the following best describes Aristotle’s stance on the use of poetic language?
a. Poetry should use simple and everyday language.
b. Poetry should be complex and difficult to understand.
c. Poetry should use elevated and metaphorical language.
d. Poetry should avoid figurative language.MCQs on Aristotle
28. Aristotle argues that the tragic hero should evoke both fear and pity in the audience. What is the term he uses to describe this emotional response?
a. Tragic irony
b. Catharsis
c. PathosMCQs on Aristotle
d. Hubris
29. According to Aristotle, what is the role of the “complication” in a tragic plot?
a. To resolve conflicts
b. To create suspense
c. To introduce the main characters
d. To establish the setting
30. Aristotle’s concept of “catharsis” can be best described as:
a. A purgation of emotions in the audience
b. A moral lesson in literature
c. A sudden reversal of fortune
d. A tragic flaw in a character
31. Aristotle’s views on the use of meter and
rhythm in poetry can be summarized as:
a. Meter is essential for poetry; rhythm is optional.
b. Rhythm is essential for poetry; meter is optional.
c. Both meter and rhythm are optional.
d. Neither meter nor rhythm is important in poetry.
32. According to Aristotle, what is the role of the “agon” in a tragedy?
a. The final resolution of conflicts
b. The central conflict or struggle
c. The humorous element
d. The chorus’s commentary
33. Aristotle’s views on the ideal length of a tragedy suggest that it should be:
a. As short as possible to maintain audience interest
b. As long as necessary to fully develop the plot
c. Limited to a single act
d. A series of short episodes
34. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of character in literature. According to him, character is:
a. Secondary to plot
b. Secondary to theme
c. The most important element
d. Unimportant in literature
35. What does Aristotle mean by the “unity of time” in a tragedy?
a. The time it takes to perform the play
b. The chronological time span of the plot
c. The time of day when the events occur
d. The pacing of the narrative
36. Aristotle’s term “mythos” refers to:
a. The plot or structure of the story
b. The character’s internal conflict
c. The moral lessons conveyed in literature
d. The chorus’s role in a tragedy
37. According to Aristotle, which element is essential for a tragic plot’s unity of action?
a. The resolution of conflicts
b. The development of subplots
c. The elimination of minor characters
d. The arrangement of events in a cause-and-effect chain
38. Aristotle argues that the ideal tragic hero should be:
a. Morally flawless
b. A common person
c. Neither entirely good nor entirely bad
d. An embodiment of evil
39. What is Aristotle’s term for the emotional quality that should be present in a tragic plot?
a. Catharsis
b. Pathos
c. EthosMCQs on Aristotle
d. Logos
40. According to Aristotle, what distinguishes poetry from history?
a. Poetry is based on facts; history is imaginative.
b. Poetry is didactic; history is entertaining.
c. Poetry deals with universals; history deals with particulars.
d. Poetry is objective; history is subjective.
41. Aristotle argues that the best tragedies should focus on:
a. The divine and mythical
b. Historical events
c. Everyday life
d. Far-fetched fantasies
42. According to Aristotle, what is the purpose of the “catharsis” experienced by the audience?
a. To evoke laughter
b. To purify and purgate emotions
c. To provide a moral lesson
d. To create suspense
43. Aristotle believes that a tragedy should be a complete whole with a unity of:
a. Plot, character, and thought
b. Time, place, and action
c. Emotion, intellect, and humor
d. Poetry, history, and philosophy
44. Aristotle’s term “kairos” refers to:
a. The appropriate moment or timingMCQs on Aristotle
b. The tragic flaw in a character
c. The climax of the plot
d. The chorus’s role in a comedy
45. According to Aristotle, what is the role of “dianoia” in a tragedy?
a. The emotional impact on the audience
b. The moral lesson conveyed
c. The intellectual or thought element
d. The development of character
46. Aristotle’s views on the use of metaphor and simile in poetry can be summarized as:
a. They should be avoided.
b. They are essential for poetic language.
c. They are optional and depend on the genre.
d. They are only suitable for comedy.
47. Aristotle’s concept of “ethos” in literature refers to:
a. The ethical and moral character of the author
b. The setting and atmosphere of the story
c. The audience’s emotional response
d. The tragic hero’s internal conflict
48. According to Aristotle, what is the role of “spectacle” in a tragedy?
a. It is the central conflict.
b. It provides visual and sensory appeal.
c. It is the moral lesson.
d. It is the climax of the plot.
49. Aristotle believes that the ideal tragic plot should be:
a. Simple and straightforward
b. Complex with multiple subplots
c. Lacking a clear resolution
d. A series of disconnected events
50. Aristotle’s views on the role of philosophy in literature can be summarized as:
a. Literature should avoid philosophical elements.
b. Philosophy should be the central focus of literature.
c. Literature and philosophy should be separate.
d. Literature should convey moral lessons through philosophy.
Answer
1. b. Aristotle
2. b. The Poetics
3. b. To imitate nature
4. a. Imitation or representation
5. b. Tragedy
6. b. Hubris
7. a. Epic poetry
8. b. It is the emotional purgation of the audience.
9. b. Poetry deals with universal truths.
10. a. PeripeteiaMCQs on Aristotle
11. a. Unity of actionMCQs on Aristotle
12. b. Hamartia
13. a. A tragic flaw
14. c. The unity of time, place, and action
15. b. Emotions should be heightened to evoke catharsis.
16. b. A sudden reversal of fortune
17. b. A tragic hero’s pride
18. a. The virtuous
19. b. Imitation of nature
20. d. To heighten the emotional impact
21. a. Unity of time, place, and action
22. b. Comedy should imitate everyday people.
23. a. High comedy and low comedy
24. c. Ridicule and correct human faults
25. a. A moment of recognition or discovery
26. c. To present the central conflict
27. c. Poetry should use elevated and metaphorical language.
28. c. Pathos
29. b. To create suspense
30. a. A purgation of emotions in the audience
31. a. Meter is essential for poetry; rhythm is optional.
32. b. The central conflict or struggle
33. b. As long as necessary to fully develop the plotMCQs on Aristotle
34. c. The most important element
35. b. The chronological time span of the plot
36. a. The plot or structure of the story
37. a. The resolution of conflicts
38. c. Neither entirely good nor entirely badMCQs on Aristotle
39. b. Pathos
40. c. Poetry deals with universals; history deals with particulars.
41. a. The divine and mythical
42. b. To purify and purgate emotions
43. b. Time, place, and action
44. a. The appropriate moment or timing
45. c. The intellectual or thought element
46. c. They are optional and depend on the genre.
47. a. The ethical and moral character of the author
48. b. It provides visual and sensory appeal.
49. a. Simple and straightforward
50. c. Literature and philosophy should be separate.
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