50+ MCQs on Alexander Pope with Answers for UGC NET / SET /PHD Preparation
1. What is the title of Alexander Pope’s famous satirical poem?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. The Dunciad
c. An Essay on Man
d. Windsor Forest
2. Which literary period is Alexander Pope associated with?
a. Romanticism
b. Enlightenment
c. Victorian
d. Elizabethan
3. What is the central theme of “The Rape of the Lock”?
a. Political satire
b. Courtly love
c. Satire on social customs
d. Religious allegory
4. Alexander Pope is known for his mastery of which poetic form?
a. Blank verse
b. Sonnet
c. Heroic couplet
d. Free verse
5. Which mock-heroic poem by Alexander Pope features the cutting off of a lock of hair?
a. The Dunciad
b. The Rape of the Lock
c. Windsor Forest
d. Eloisa to Abelard
6. What is the subtitle of “The Rape of the Lock”?
a. A Mock-Epic Poem
b. A Satire on Society
c. A Poetic Odyssey
d. An Ode to Beauty
7. Which famous satirical work by Alexander Pope attacks dullness and mediocrity in literature?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. The Dunciad
c. An Essay on Criticism
d. Eloisa to Abelard
8. In “An Essay on Man,” what is the famous philosophical phrase coined by Pope?
a. “Ignorance is bliss”
b. “To err is human, to forgive divine”
c. “Knowledge is power”
d. “The pursuit of happiness”
9. Which Pope poem is a moral essay written in the form of a heroic couplet and is an exploration of human nature and its place in the universe?
a. An Essay on Criticism
b. An Essay on Man
c. The Dunciad
d. The Rape of the Lock
10. What is the primary target of satire in “The Dunciad”?
a. Religious institutions
b. Political figures
c. Literary mediocrity and dullness
d. Courtly love
11. What is Alexander Pope’s famous line about “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” from?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. An Essay on Criticism
c. The Dunciad
d. Eloisa to Abelard
12. Which literary form is “Eloisa to Abelard” written in?
a. Epic poem
b. Sonnet
c. Lyric poem
d. Satirical poem
13. Who was Eloisa?
a. A historical figureMCQs on Alexander Pope
b. A fictional character
c. Pope’s lover
d. A religious figure
14. What is the central theme of “Windsor Forest”?
a. Nature and the beauty of the landscape
b. Social satire
c. Political commentary
d. Romantic loveMCQs on Alexander Pope
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15. What is the significance of the term “Dunciad” in Alexander Pope’s poem of the same name?
a. It means “Dullness”
b. It is a reference to a mythical city
c. It represents the height of witMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. It symbolizes political power
16. Which Pope poem serves as a manual for aspiring poets and is famous for its critical maxims?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. The Dunciad
c. An Essay on Criticism
d. An Essay on Man
17. What is the primary theme of “The First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace, Imitated” (commonly known as “Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot”)?
a. Religious devotion
b. Friendship
c. Satirical self-portrait
d. Nature and landscape
18. What is the famous opening line of “The Rape of the Lock”?
a. “What dire offense from amorous causes springs”
b. “Of all the causes which conspire to blind Man’s erring judgment and misguide the mind”
c. “Say, why are beauties praised and honored most”
d. “What dire offshoots from vain wit arise”
19. Which term describes Pope’s technique of condensing meaning into the shortest possible space, often using antithesis and paradox?
a. Epigram
b. Euphony
c. Epistle
d. Ellipsis
20. What is the primary message of the poem “Eloisa to Abelard”?
a. The beauty of nature
b. The consequences of forbidden love
c. A satire on societyMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. A celebration of courtly love
21. What does Pope mean by “Universal Prayer” in his poem “An Essay on Man”?
a. A prayer for personal desires
b. A prayer for world peaceMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. A prayer for wisdom and virtue
d. A prayer for political power
22. In “The Rape of the Lock,” what does Belinda lose that becomes the central focus of the poem?
a. A diamond necklace
b. A lock of hair
c. A valuable ring
d. A love letter
23. In “An Essay on Man,” what is Pope’s view on the nature of human beings?
a. Essentially good
b. Essentially evil
c. Blank slates
d. Primarily spiritual
24. What is the primary theme of “An Epistle to a Lady” (commonly known as “EPISTLE II: To a Lady”)?
a. Romantic love
b. Friendship
c. Satirical self-portrait
d. Nature and landscape
25. Which literary term describes the intentional exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis that is often used in Pope’s satirical works?
a. Paradox
b. Hyperbole
c. Irony
d. Allusion
26. What is the meaning of “The Rape of the Lock” subtitle “The Second Book”?
a. It signifies a sequel
b. It references a previous workMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. It symbolizes a continuation of the first canto
d. It is a misprint
27. What is the main characteristic of the “mock-heroic” style employed by Pope in “The Rape of the Lock”?
a. Elevated language and grand themes
b. Serious treatment of the subject matterMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. Ironic and humorous treatment of trivial subjectsMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. Lack of satire
28. In “An Essay on Man,” what does Pope assert about the limits of human knowledge?
a. Humans can know everythingMCQs on Alexander Pope
b. Humans can know nothing
c. Humans have limited knowledge
d. Knowledge is irrelevant
29. What is the name of the satirical poem by Pope that attacks the abuse of authority and the
misuse of literary power?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. The Dunciad
c. An Essay on Criticism
d. Windsor Forest
30. What is the significance of “The Rape of the Lock” being called a “heroi-comical poem” by Pope?
a. It is a tragedy with a comic ending
b. It combines serious and humorous elements
c. It is a comedy with tragic undertones
d. It is a parody of heroic poetry
31. In “The Rape of the Lock,” what role does the sylph Ariel play?
a. He is a guardian spirit
b. He is the antagonist
c. He is the narrator
d. He is the romantic interest
32. Which of the following is a recurring theme in Pope’s satirical works?
a. Religious piety
b. Courtly love
c. Critique of human folly and prideMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. Celebration of nature
33. What is the central idea behind Pope’s line “Know then thyself, presume not God to scan” from “An Essay on Man”?
a. Humility and acceptance of human limitations
b. The pursuit of knowledge at all costsMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. Rejection of religious beliefs
d. The desire for divine wisdom
34. What is the significance of the term “Dunciad Variorum” in Pope’s work?
a. A version with various alterations and notes
b. A sequel to “The Dunciad”
c. A critical commentary on “The Dunciad”
d. An unfinished manuscript
35. What is the main focus of “The Dunciad”?
a. Romantic love
b. Satire on political figures
c. Satire on mediocrity in literatureMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. Nature and landscape
36. What is the primary target of satire in “An Essay on Criticism”?
a. Literary critics
b. Religious leadersMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. Political figures
d. Courtly lovers
37. In “The Rape of the Lock,” what is the significance of the card game played by Belinda and her friends?
a. It symbolizes courtly love
b. It represents political intrigue
c. It serves as a metaphor for life’s uncertainties
d. It has no symbolic significance
38. What is the purpose of Pope’s satire in “The Dunciad”?
a. To celebrate mediocrity
b. To critique the abuse of political power
c. To attack dullness and literary incompetence
d. To promote religious ideals
39. In “An Essay on Criticism,” what advice does Pope give to aspiring poets?
a. To imitate the classics
b. To avoid satire
c. To write only in blank verse
d. To follow established rules and models
40. What is the significance of the term “Augustan Age” in relation to Alexander Pope?
a. It refers to Pope’s birth month
b. It is a reference to the reign of Augustus Caesar and the literary style of the time
c. It signifies Pope’s association with the Romantic movement
d. It is a term for Pope’s satirical works
41. What is the central message of “The First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace, Imitated” (commonly known as “Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot”)?
a. Romantic love
b. Friendship
c. Satirical self-portraitMCQs on MCQs on Alexander PopeAlexander Pope
d. Nature and landscape
42. In “An Essay on Criticism,” what is the famous line about “A little learning is a dangerous thing”?
a. “To err is human, to forgive divine”
b. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”
c. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”
d. “The proper study of mankind is man”MCQs on Alexander Pope
43. What is the significance of the term “Mock-heroic” in relation to “The Rape of the Lock”?
a. It mocks the heroic tradition by treating trivial subjects with grandeur
b. It imitates the style of heroic epics
c. It satirizes the heroic idealsMCQs on Alexander Pope
d. It celebrates heroic figures
44. In “Eloisa to Abelard,” what is the tragic fate of Abelard and Eloisa’s love?
a. They live happily ever after
b. They are separated by external forcesMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. They experience unrequited love
d. They both die
45. What is the meaning of the term “Horatian satire” in relation to Pope’s works?
a. Satire that is biting and harsh
b. Satire that is light-hearted and witty
c. Satire that focuses on political figures
d. Satire that promotes moral values
46. What is the primary focus of “Epistle to Miss Blount, on her Leaving the Town after the Coronation”?
a. Courtly love
b. FriendshipMCQs on Alexander Pope
c. Satirical self-portrait
d. Nature and landscape
47. What is the meaning of the term “Horatian” in the context of Pope’s satire?
a. A reference to a specific character in his works
b. A style of satire that is mild, witty, and urbane
c. A literary term for epic poetry
d. A symbol of political power
48. In “The Rape of the Lock,” what is the significance of the sylphs and gnomes?
a. They represent political figures
b. They serve as guardians of Belinda’s virtue
c. They symbolize religious ideals
d. They are characters in a play within the poem
49. Which work by Pope satirizes the Grub Street literary scene and its low standards?
a. The Rape of the Lock
b. The Dunciad
c. An Essay on Man
d. An Essay on Criticism
50. What is the significance of the term “Popean” in literary criticism?
a. A term for heroic poetry
b. A style of sonnet writing
c. Relating to or characteristic of Pope
d. A type of pastoral romance
Answer
1. a. The Rape of the Lock
2. b. EnlightenmentMCQs on Alexander Pope
3. c. Satire on social customs
4. c. Heroic coupletMCQs on Alexander Pope
5. b. The Rape of the Lock
6. a. A Mock-Epic Poem
7. b. The DunciadMCQs on Alexander Pope
8. b. “To err is human, to forgive divine”
9. b. An Essay on Man
10. c. Literary mediocrity and dullness
11. b. An Essay on CriticismMCQs on Alexander Pope
12. c. Lyric poem
13. b. A fictional characterMCQs on Alexander Pope
14. a. Nature and the beauty of the landscape
15. a. It means “Dullness”
16. c. An Essay on Criticism
17. c. Satirical self-portrait
18. a. “What dire offense from amorous causes springs”
19. b. Hyperbole
20. b. The consequences of forbidden love
21. c. A prayer for wisdom and virtue
22. b. A lock of hair
23. a. Essentially good
24. c. Satirical self-portrait
25. b. Hyperbole
26. a. It signifies a sequel
27. c. Ironic and humorous treatment of trivial subjects
28. a. Humans can know nothing
29. b. The Dunciad
30. b. It combines serious and humorous elements
31. a. He is a guardian spirit
32. c. Critique of human folly and pride
33. a. Humility and acceptance of human limitations
34. a. A version with various alterations and notes
35. c. Satire on mediocrity in literature
36. a. Literary critics
37. c. It serves as a metaphor for life’s uncertainties
38. c. To attack dullness and literary incompetence
39. d. To follow established rules and models
40. b. It is a reference to the reign of Augustus Caesar and the literary style of the time
41. c. Satirical self-portrait
42. c. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”
43. a. It mocks the heroic traditioMCQs on Alexander Popen by treating trivial subjects with grandeur
44. d. They both dieMCQs on Alexander Pope
45. b. Satire that is light-hearted and witty
46. d. Nature and landscape
47. b. A style of satire that is mild, witty, and urbane
48. b. They serve as guardians of Belinda’s virtue
49. b. The DunciadMCQs on Alexander Pope
50. c. Relating to or characteristic of Pope
