Riders to the Sea MCQS

 Riders to the Sea MCQS

What is the full name of J.M Synge? 

A. John Michael Synge

B. Joseph Millington Synge

C. John Millington Synge 

D. James Millington Synge 

Synge was associated with 

A. Globe Theatre 

B. Irish National Theatre Society 

C. Dublin Theatre Society 

D. Royal Court Theatre 

 Riders to the sea is a/ an 

A. Comedy 

B. Tragedy

C. Poetic drama

D. Both B and C 

Riders to the Sea is called poetic drama because 

A. The colloquial language of the Aran Island with an intensely serious theme creates a poetic tone  

B. The symbolic language to reflect the emotions of the characters

C. Use of myth and the persistence of a Universal theme 

D. All of the above 

The author-friend who advised Synge to visit Aran Islands that inspired this play was 

A. G. B. Shaw

B. James Joyce

C. W.B. Yeats

D. Seamus Heaney

Riders to Sea was written in the year 

A. 1901

B. 1902

C. 1904

D. 1905

Riders to Sea is first performed on

A.25th Feb, 1904

B. 25th Jan, 1904

C. 25th Feb, 1905

D. 25th Jan, 1905

Riders to Sea is first performed

A. Drury Lane, London 

B. Globe Theatre, London 

C. Molesworth Hall, Dublin 

D. Molesworth Hall,London

Riders to Sea is first performed by 

A. Royal Court Theatre

B. Irish National Theatre Society 

C. Dublin Theatre Society 

D. Globe Theatre

Riders to the Sea is first published in the year

A. 1904

B. 1903

C. 1906

D. 1901

Riders to the Sea is the _____ play of Synge 

A. First 

B. Second

C. Third 

D. Last

Riders to the Sea is a/ an  _____ act play

A. One 

B. Two 

C. Three

D. Five 

The time of action that Riders to the Sea covers is 

A. One week

B. One month 

C. One year

D. One single day

Riders to the Sea is an example of 

A. Shakespearean Comedy

B. Greek tragedy

C. Modern tragedy 

D. Both B & C

The Greek element to be found in Riders to the Sea is/ are

A. Man's helplessness against fate/ Fate is destiny

B. Catharsis and Universal Suffering

C. The belief in rituals and the observation of Three Unities of Time, Place and Action

D. All of the above 

The Modern tragedy aspects to be found in Riders to the Sea is/ are

A. "Unheroic" protagonist & Characters belonging to a lower social status 

B. Use of non-verbal gestures and  symbols 

C. The belief in rituals and practices and use of native/ local language and elaborate stage description 

D. All of the above 

The preposition 'to' in the title is used to signify 

A. Destination 

B. Identity 

C. Relation with the sea

D. Habit of the Aran Islanders

The "riders" in the title refer to 

A. Maurya's sons

B. Maurya's children 

C. Maurya's husband and father-in-law and her Sons

D. Maurya  

The "Sea" in the title signify

A. Man's helplessness against fate and ultimate journey to death

B. Both life and death 

C. The timeless macrocosm 

D. All of the above 

What syntax is followed in the language of the characters' speech ? 

A. Irish syntax 

B. Native Gaelic syntax

C. Celtic syntax

D. Anglo-Irish syntax

" Curragh", "hooker","kelp", "Samhain" are the examples of / Riders to the Sea is written in

A. Hiberno-English dialect/ Irish dialect

B. Spanish dialect 

C. Anglo-Irish dialect

D. French dialect 

The setting of the play  "Riders to the Sea" is

A. One of the Aran Islands off the east coast of Ireland 

B. One of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland 

C.One of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland

D. One the Aran Islands off the west coast of Galway 

Aran Island is situated in

A. Alamitos Bay 

B. Connemara Bay

C. Dublin Bay

D. Galway Bay

The distance between Aran

 Islands and Galway is 

A. 30 yards

B. 30 miles

C. 30 kms

D. 30 feet

The real name of Aran Island is 

A. Inishmaan

B. Inisheer

C. Inishmore

D. All of the above 

The number of Children Maurya had was 

A. Eight 

B. Six

C. Five

D. Nine 

The number of male member in the family Maurya lost 

A. Eight 

B. Six

C. Five

D. Nine 

Which of the following was not found on stage at the beginning of the play ? 

A. Net and oilskins

B. Spinning wheels

C. Rope 

D. Boards

Oilskins are 

A. Heavy cotton cloth treated with oil and pigments to make it waterproof 

B. A linen cloth with oily surface

C. A garment made of plastic

D. Flannel 

Oilskins symbolize 

A. Entrapment 

B. Man's effort to escape death

C. The cyclic motion of life

D. The evitability of death

The spinning wheels are the archetype symbol of 

A. Man's effort to escape death

B. The cycle of seasons 

C. The cyclic motion of life, here the repetition of death

D. The evitability of death

The spinning wheels are 

A. Roman Motif 

B. Greek motif

B. French motif

D. Gaelic motif 

The net is a symbol of 

A.  The evitability of death

B. Man's effort to escape death

C. The cyclic motion of life

D. Entrapment

What was the age of Cathleen ? 

A. 18

B. 19

C. 20

D. Not specified 

What Cathleen was doing at the opening scene 

A. Kneading a cake for Bartley

B. Washing cloths

C. Stitching 

D. Keening 

"A Young girl puts her head in at the door" Who is the young girl ? 

A. Maurya

B. Nora

C. Cathleen

D. Bartley

The age of Nora is 

A. 18

B. 19

C. 20

D. Not specified 

The new boards on the stage were 

A. for making boats for fishing 

B. for making spinning wheels 

C. for making coffins, suggesting death 

D. for making wooden cottages 

"Where is she?" Here she refers to? / After entering the cottage Nora asked about ? 

A. Maurya

B. Cathleen 

C. Nora

D. the boat 

"Where is she?" Who asked this to whom

A. Maurya to Cathleen 

B. Nora to Cathleen 

C. Cathleen to Nora

D. Maurya to Nora

What "she" / Maurya was doing at the opening scene ?

A.  Kneading the cake

B. Lying down 

C. Stitching flannel

D.Peeping through the door

At the opening scene Nora is found 

A. Kneading the cake

B. Stitching flannel

C. Peeping through the door

D.Peeping through the window 

Why did Nora peep through the door 

A. To be cautious 

B. To look around if Maurya was there

C. She doesn't want to reveal to Maurya about the bundle 

D. All of the above 

" Nora comes in softly, and takes a bundle from under the shawl" the bundle contains 

A. A shirt and a pant

B. A shirt and a plain stocking

C. A pair of shirts 

D. A pair of stockings 

Who gave the shirt and stocking to Nora ? 

A. Michael

B. Bartley 

C. Young priest 

D. Patch 

To whom did the priest entrust the duty of identifying the stocking? 

A. Nora 

B. Cathleen 

C. Maurya 

D. A & B 

The belonging of a drowned man was got off / The stocking and shirt were recovered from 

A. Galway Bay 

B. Connemara 

C. Donegal 

D. Aron 

What did the priest ask Nora to do if the shirt and stocking were identified as Michael's? 

A. They should not say anything to Maurya

B. They should say this to Maurya after nine days 

C.They should ask Maurya to arrange for Bartley's burial

D. They should tell Maurya that Michael got a clean burial 

What did the priest ask Nora to do if the shirt and stocking were not identified as Michael's?

A. They should not say anything to Maurya

B. They should say this to Maurya after nine days 

C.They should ask Maurya to arrange for Bartley's burial

D. They should tell Maurya that Michael got a clean burial 

The gust of wind suggests 

A. The premonition of death

B. The ruthless presence of sea as a character 

C. The rough weather of Aran Island 

D. Both A & B 

Who was asked to stop Bartley from going to the fair ? 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. Young priest 

D. Maurya

Bartley was going to 

A. Irish fair in Dublin

B. Galway fair in Connemara 

C. Aran Island in Ireland 

D. All of the above 

" Herself does be saying prayers half through the night and the Almighty God won't leave her destitute"  This is said by whom and about whom ? 

A. Maury,Young priest

B.Young priest, Maury

C. Young priest, Cathleen 

D. Cathleen, Maury 

According to Nora there was a great roaring in the 

A. East

B. Noth

C. West

D. South

When will the big storm be worse 

A. At night 

B. After the flow tide

C. When the tide faces the wind

D. At full moon night 

Where did Cathleen  first hide the bundle from Maurya?

A. In the turf loft

B. Under the turf loft

C. Behind the door

D. Behind the oven 

Who hides the bundle ? 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. Maurya

D. Young priest 

" He won't go this day with the wind rising from ______ and ______"

A. Noth, West

B.Noth, East

C. South, East

D. South, West

" He won't go this day with the wind rising from south and west"suggests

A.  Life and vitality

B. Ominous foreboding of foul weather 

C. The possibility of vegetation

D. Death

Who told Nora that Bartley was going to Connemara that day ? 

A. Eamon Simon

B. Stephen Pheety 

C. Colum Shawn 

D. All of the above 

Nora: "... the tide's turning at the

______ head, and the hooker's tacking from the _____".

A. Green, West

B. Green, East

C. Red, East

D. Red, West

What does "green head" mean ? 

A. The sea demon

B. The grass

C. Sea cliff with green vegetation

D.A seaweed 

"I hear someone passing the stones" who said this? 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. Maurya

D. Bartley 

"I hear someone passing the stones" who was passing the stones? 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. Maurya

D. Bartley 

The new rope that Bartley was asking for was bought from 

A. Donegal

B. Dublin

C. Connemara

D. Galway 

The rope was kept 

A. On a nail by the white boards

B. On the white board

C. In the turf-loft

D. On the kitchen floor

Cathleen hung up the rope because

A. It was getting wet with water

B. To support the white board stand against the wall

C. The pig with black feet was eating it 

D. To save it from being stolen 

"....the pig with black feet was eating it " suggests 

A. The chaos in the cottage 

B. The hunger and poverty of the aron islanders

C. The grief sticken condition of the family

D. The ominous foreboding 

Why Maurya did not want Bartley to go ? 

A. The wind was rising from the south and the west

B. There was star up against the moon 

C. She wants him stay at home to make coffin for Michael 

D. All of the above 

" ...there's no man in it to make the coffin" This line suggests

A. Ironical hint to Bartley's death 

B. The ominous foreboding 

C. Both A & B 

D. Catharsis of the play

According to Maurya why will the rope be needed? 

A. To dig a deep grave for Michael

B. To bind the pig with black feet

C. To halter

D. To make the coffins for Bartley 

Bartley wanted the rope for 

A. A halter

B. Coffin

C. The white board

D. The well 

"... Michael is washed up tomorrow morning, or the next morning, or any morning in the week" this line suggests 

A. The inevitable death 

B. The repeated motion of death in Aran Island

C. Maurya's only hope to give her son atleast a clean  burial 

D. All of the above 

Michael's dead body was missing for _______ days

A. Seven

B. Nine

C. Eleven

D. Thirteen 

How many days Maurya was mourning for Michael ? 

A. Seven days 

B. A month

C. Nine days 

D. Fortnight 

What price did Maurya pay for the white boards? 

A. The life of her sons 

B. The life of her husband and father-in-law 

C. The life of all of her children 

D. Her own life 

Maurya bought the white boards  for 

A. Michael

B. Bartley 

C. Patch

D. Stephen 

Which of the following Bartley did NOT ask Cathleen to do? 

A. See the sheep not jump on the rye

B. Sell the pig with black feet if she gets a good price

C. Get up enough weed for another cock for the kelp along with Nora

D. Give Michael a clean burial 

The word ' kelp' means 

A. Calcined ashes of seaweed or algae used in glass or iodine manufacture

B. Food for the cattle

C. A kind of sea fish to consume 

D. Sea-insect used for fuel

The word 'cock' means

A. Rooster

B. Half Moon

C. Cone shaped mound or pile

D. A kind of Sea weed

"It's little like of him knows of the sea" this is said by ______ about ______

A. Nora, Young Priest

B. Maurya, Young Priest

C. Cathleen, Maurya

D. Cathleen, Bartley

Which of the following did Bartley take with him ? 

A. Purse

B. Tobacco 

C. Rope

D. All of the above 

Bartley put Michael's shirt on him because 

A. His own shirt was heavy with salt on it

B. He wants to carry it as a token of Michael's memory 

C. His own shirt was not fitting him well

D. Michael's shirt was warm. 

Bartley's putting on new cloths of the same flannel signifies

A. The symbol of his approaching death

B. The rituals of burial as new cloths are given to the dead bodies for burial 

C. "The same flannel" suggests the similar fate of Bartley like the other male members of his family

D. All of the above 

" Is she coming to the pier?" 'she' refers to 

A. Maurya 

B. Cathleen 

C. Nora

D. the boat

" Is she coming to the pier?" 'pier' means 

A. The jetty

B. The boat

C. The ship

D. The shore 

What lies in the sea according to Maurya? 

A. Adventure 

B. Fortune 

C. Wisdom

D. Danger

Who addresses Bartley a hard and cruel man ? 

A. Cathleen as Bartley instructs her what to do in his absence 

B. Maurya as Bartley is not listening to her and is going to sea

C. Nora as Bartley instructs her what to do in his absence 

D. Both B & C

" Its the life of a young man to be going on the sea, and who would listen to an old woman with one thing and she is saying it over ?" The speaker is 

A. Cathleen 

B. Maurya 

C. Bartley 

D. Nora 

" Its the life of a young man to be going on the sea,..." This line suggests 

A. The dependence of Aran Islanders on sea for their livelihood 

B. The inevitable death of a man yet he is bound to go to sea

C. Both A & B

D. The adventurous spirit of Bartley

 

Bartley was riding on 

A. Red pony

B. Grey mare

C. Red mare

D. Grey pony

What will be behind Bartley ? 

A. Red pony

B. Grey mare

C. Red mare

D. Grey pony

The colour red symbolizes 

A. Life

B. Warning

C. Mourning 

D. Death 

The colours grey and black symbolize

A. Life

B. Warning

C. Mourning 

D. Ominous foreboding of Death 

Bartley's riding on a red mare symbolizes

A. His attempt to be the rider of the sea 

B. His adventures on sea

C. His death

D. His courage and fortitude 

The grey pony behind Bartley symbolizes 

A. The poverty of the family

B. Death is chasing him  

C. The hope of his survival 

D. His practical idea of selling horses

Why was Bartley going to the Galway fair ?

A. To sell sheeps with black feet 

B. To buy boards for coffins 

C. To sell horses

D. To sell rye 

Bartley's parting words are

A. God spare us

B. We'll not see him again

C. The Blessing of God on you 

D. God speed you 

What was Maurya's first word after Bartley had gone 

A. God spare us

B. We'll not see him again

C. The Blessing of God on you 

D. God speed you 

Who takes up the tongs and begin to rake the fire aimlessly after Bartley's departure? 

A. Nora

B. Maurya

C. Cathleen 

D. Both A and C

What was the attitude of the girls towards their mother when she was trying to persuade Bartley for not going to the sea? 

A. Sympathetic 

B. Apologetic 

C. Hostile 

D. Obedient 

Cathleen and Nora forgot to give Barley 

A. Rope 

B. Rye

C. Bread/ cake 

D. Halter 

Cathleen's forgetting to give Bartley the cake symbolizes

A. Her carelessness 

B. Bartley's approaching death as food is the symbol of life and sustenance 

C. Bartley's going away from home 

All of the above 

Maurya was asked by Cathleen to meet Bartley on his way to 

A. Give him the cake

B. To utter the words of blessing "God speed you"

C. Both A & B 

D. To see him for one last time 

Why did Cathleen want her mother to take the stick ? 

A. So that the she would maintain her balance over the big stones 

B. To hand it over to Bartley

C. To terrify Bartley

D. All of the above 

What words of prayer Maurya was supposed to say to Bartley? 

A. God speed you 

B. God bless you 

C. God spare us

D. God forgive us

Maurya wanted to meet Bartley on his way to 

A. Green head

B. Spring well

C. Green rock 

D. Black cliff 

What does spring well symbolize?

A. Mourning 

B. Life

C. Death 

D. Rebirth 

The stick Maurya uses while going to meet Bartley was brought by _______ from ________

A. Michael, Connemara 

B. Bartley, Galway fair 

C. Michael, Galway fair 

D.Bartley, Connemara

Maury: "In the big world people do be living things after for their sons and children but in this place it is the young men do be leaving things behind for them that fo be old"  What do these lines suggest here? 

A. The contrast between the world in general and that of Aran island 

B. The plight of the loss of life of all the young men 

C. The young men die leaving their belongings for the old people to use it. 

D. All of the above 

 "In the big world people do be living things after for their sons and children but in this place it is the young men do be leaving things behind for them that do be old"  Maurya said these words while 

A. Taking the stick brought by dead Michael 

B. Going to meet Bartley 

C. Warning Bartley for not going to sea

D. All of the above 

" Throw it down quickly" what does 'it' refer to? /"They look at them eagerly" what does 'them' refer to?

A. The shirt and the stocking given by the young priest 

B. White boards

C. The cake that Cathleen baked 

D. The rope which was eaten by the pig with black feet 

Michael's belongings were found by

A. A boatman in their neighborhood 

B. One of the two poteen traders

C. Young priest 

D. Bartley 

Michael's belongings were found at 

A. Donegal 

B. Connemara

C. Galway

D. Inishman 

When Michael's belongings were found the two men were passing 

A. Green head 

B. Spinning well

C. Black cliff of the north 

D. Black cliff of the east 

Poteen is 

A. A type of whisky made by potatoes 

B. Wine made by grapes

C. Nicotine 

D. Heath drink 

How many days it takes to reach Donegal from Aran Island by walking 

A. 7 days 

B. 9 days

C. 3 days

D. 5 days 

The man who told Cathleen about the distance between Donegal and Aran Island sold them 

A. Stick

B. Knife

C. White board

D. Rope 

Donegal is situated far ______

A. West

B. East

C. North 

D. South

" ....and they rowing with the poteen before the cocks crowed.." suggests that Poteen is 

A. An illicit liquor 

B. Seaweed

C. Health drink 

D. Both  A & B 

Michael's body was found 

A. In evening 

B. At night

C. At dawn

D. At dusk 

Cathleen opens the bundle with a 

A. Knife 

B. Dagger 

C. Pin 

D. Nail 

The plain stocking that helped Cathleen and Nora to identify the dead body as Michael's was

A. First of the second pair

B. First of the third pair

C. Second of the second 

D. Second one of the third pair

The recovered  stocking of Michael was knitted by 

A. Cathleen 

B. Maurya

C. Nora

D. Bartley 

How many stitches were there in the stocking that confirms it belong to Michael? 

A. 50

B. 60 

C. 70

D. 80

How many stitches were dropped? 

A. Four

B. Five

C. Six

D. Seven 

Michael was a great ______&______

A. Sailor, fisher

B. Rower, fisher

C. Rower, sailor 

D. Fisher , tailor

"Black hags" are 

A. Sea birds 

B. Cliffs

C. Seaweed

D. Vegetation 

Where did Nora and Cathleen put the bundle in the second time?

A. In the turf loft 

B. Into a whole in the chimney corner

C. Behind the spinning wheel

D. Beside the white board

"They crouch down in front of the old woman at the fire" who are 'they'? 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. Both A and B 

D. Maurya

What did Maurya say first after returning? 

A. My heart is broken from this day 

B. I have seen the fearfulest thing

C. God speed us

D. God spare us

"I have seen the fearfulest thing" what is the "fearfulest thing" that Maurya saw? 

A. Michael galloping on the grey pony behind Bartley riding on the red mare 

B. Bride dara 

C. Bartley drowning 

D. Michael's belongings 

What is the myth of Bride Dara ? 

A. Bride Dara saw a child in the hands of a dead man 

B. Bride Dara saw a dead child in the hands of a man 

C. Bride Dara saw a dead man  in the hands of fate 

D. Bride Dara saw a dead child in the hands of fate

" It's destroyed" What is destroyed? 

A. Maurya's family 

B. The white boards

C. The spinning wheel

D. The oilskins 

The number that recurs in the play is _______

A. Seven

B. Eight 

C. Nine 

D. Ten 

What does number nine symbolize? 

A. Fate 

B. Death

C. Mourning 

D. Triple trinity 

Who among the following was not found after being lost in the sea ? 

A. Sheamus

B. Patch

C. Stephen 

D. Shawn 

Who among the following was in Maurya's lap when Patch's body was carried in 

A. Patch

B. Bartley 

C. Stephen 

D. Shawn 

The death of Bartley is reminiscent of 

A. Patch 

B. Sheamus

C. Stephen 

D. Shawn 

The bodies of Stephen and Shawn were found in 

A. Bay of Gregory of Golden mouth 

B. Donegal

C. Connemara 

D. Galway 

How did Bartley die ? 

A. The grey pony knocked him into the sea and he was washed out where there is a great surf on the white rocks

B.  The red pony knocked him into the sea and be was washed out where there is a great surf on the white rocks

C. The red mare knocked him into the sea and be was washed out where there is a great surf on the white rocks

D. The grey mare knocked him into the sea and be was washed out where there is a great surf on the white rocks

Bartley's body was carried on 

A. Whiteboard

B. Coffin 

C. Shoulders of the local men 

D. A plank 

"The grey pony knocked him into the sea and he was washed out where there is a great surf on the white rocks"  Who is the speaker here ? 

A. Maurya 

B. One of the local men 

C. One of the mourning women 

D. Nora 

What do the old women do after they come in 

A. They cross themself at the threshold 

B. The kneel down in front of the stage

C. Both A and  B 

D. They came to inform about Bartley  

What did the old women have over their heads ? 

A. Black petticoats 

B. Red petticoats 

C. Red scarfs 

D. Black scarfs

What is Maurya's first speech after Bartley's body in carried in ? 

A. They're all gone now

B. There isn't anything that the sea can't do to me

C. It isn't that I have n't prayed for you

D. It's a great rest I' ll have now

Maurya used to carry holy water 

A. During samhain

B. In the dark nights of samhain

C. In the dark nights after samhain

D. Before to the samhain 

Samhain is 

A. Celtic festival 

B. Roman festival

C. Greek festival

D. British festival

Samhain is held on 

A. 1st April 

B. 31st December 

C. 1st November 

D. 1st January 

Samhain is known as 

A. Easter of Ireland 

B. All Souls' Day

C. All fools' day

D. Black Monday 

It is believed that on Samhain 

A. God is visible to mankind 

B. Dead persons become alive 

C. Resurrection of Jesus 

D. Dead souls become angry

Who were/ was asked to make the coffins  ? 

A. Eamon 

B. Old man Colum 

C. Both A & B 

D. Stephen 

" I have a new cake you can eat while you'll be working" This is said by _____to ______ and _____

A. Nora, Eamon , Colum

B. Cathleen,Eamon , Colum

C. Maurya, ,Eamon , Colum

D. Bartley, Eamon , Colum

" Its a wonder she wouldn't think of the nails and the coffins she's seen already" This is said by ____? 

A. Eamon 

B. Colum

C. Both A & B 

D. Stephen 

Who asked about the nails of the coffins?

A. Eamon 

B. Colum

C. Both A & B 

D. Stephen 

" She is quite now and easy; but the day Michael was drowned you could hear her crying out from this to the spring well"  who is the speaker and who is spoken about ? 

A.Nora, Maurya

B.Cathleen , Maurya

C. Eamon, Maurya

D. Old Women, Maurya

Nora thinks that Maurya was more fond of ______

A. Stephen 

B. Shawn 

C. Seamus 

D. Michael

Who died by drowning ? 

A. Patch

B. Michael

C. Shawn 

D. Bartley 

Who was lost in the great wind and found in the Bay of Gregory? 

A. Stephen 

B. Shawn

C. Both A & B  

D. Patch 

Who was/ were lost in a dark night leaving no stick nor sign ? 

A. Sheamus

B. Maurya's husband 

C. Maurya's father in law

D.  All of the above 

Who was drowned out of a curragh that turned over ? 

A. Stephen 

B. Patch 

C. Sheamus

D. Michael

Curragh is _____

A. A boat with a high prow & low stern 

B. Small sized horse

C. The hanger to stick ropes

D. Violent surge of waves

Hooker is a______

A. A rope to manage horses

B. A boat to catch fish

C. The hanger to stick ropes

D. Violent surge of waves

Crouched down means 

A. Bend down 

B. Tremble in fear

C.turn over

D. Knoch down

'Bay' means 

A. Inlet of seas

B. Turn of seas

C. Canal

D. Ocean

Keening suggests 

A. A gesture of sorrow

B. A ritual act

C. A substitute ceremony of speech to soothe battered soul

D. All of the above 

The source of Maurya's vision of Michael's phantom is 

A. Book of Exodus

B. Book of Revelation 

C. Fate of the Apostles 

D. Divine Comedy 

The idea of Bartley's death is adapted from 

A. Book of Exodus

B. Book of Revelation 

C. Fate of the Apostles 

D. Divine Comedy 

The empty cup suggests 

A. No hope left for Maurya

B. A symbol that Maurya's woe is complete

C. No more cause of mourning left as she lost all of her sons

D. All of the above 

Maurya's last speech " Mercy on the soul of everyone..." allude to 

A. Book of Exodus

B. Book of Revelation 

C. Fate of the Apostles 

D. Divine Comedy

"..... and may He have mercy on my soul, Nora, and on the soul of everyone left living in the world" He we find Maurya as 

A. The mother of her sons

B. Universal motherhood 

C. An escapist 

D. A priest 

The final speech of Maurya is / The drama ends with the speech ...

A. may He have mercy on my soul, Nora, and on the soul of everyone left living in the world

B. They're all gone now 

C. No man at all can be living forever and we must be satisfied 

D. What more than the sea do to me? 

"No man at all can be living forever and we must be satisfied" Here the tragedy reaches the point of 

A. Hubris

B.Catharsis

C. Hamartia

D. Peripeteia 

"No man at all can be living forever and we must be satisfied" Here the tone of Maurya is 

A. Escapist 

B. Stoic 

C. Resilient 

D. Both B and C 

The sea plays the role of 

A. Chorus in Greek tragedy

B. Protagonist 

C. Supernatural 

D. Fate/ Nemesis/ Destiny 

Nora and Cathleen's role in the play is similar to that of 

A. Fate/ Nemesis/ Destiny 

B. Protagonist 

C. Supernatural 

D. Chorus in Greek tragedy

The antagonist of the play is 

A. Nora

B. Cathleen 

C. The sea 

D. Bartley 

The colour black is used to describe 

A. Pig with black feet

B. Black cliff

C. Black knot and rope 

D. All of the above 

Characters of Ulysses and Telemachus in the context if imperialist masculinity.

 Theme of Masculinity and Imperialism in “Ulysses” 

Or, Characters of Ulysses and Telemachus in the context if imperialist masculinity.

Or, How is Ulysses and Telemachus antithetical to each other in the social context of imperialism. 

 Literature, since time immemorial, played a pivotal role in the construction or in the representation of contemporary socio- political ideologies. Consequently, literature becomes both the reflection and the critique of certain social paradigms. Tennyson's Ulysses was remarkable for being the mouthpiece of “high Victorianism”, a time of growing state and economy, and its inclination to imperialism simply to look upon the colonies as both the sources of raw materials and a promising market of circulating the production of their growing industries. 

British historian Andrew S. Thompson wrote in 1997 that in colonial Britain, the terms “empire” and “imperialism” were “like empty boxes that were continuously being filled up and emptied of their meanings”.These meanings, influenced by the changing cultural discourses used to define, locate and sometimes, stiffen social roles and gender representations in accordance with the need of the hour. This resulted in forming certain socio-moral perspective and religious obligations for sustenance. On one hand, there was an urgent need for exploration and stabilization of governance in colonies that required multiple ‘men’, on the other hand, the state also required law-abiding citizens to preserve and execute certain cultural practices. 

In this regard, Alfred Tennyson’s “Ulysses” moulds manhood to equate masculinity with imperialist work, serving to secure men’s place in the public sphere, engaging in acts like extensive travel, seeking unknown realms of human world and “civilizing” the so called “primitive” cultures. The narrative that age is not a restriction, rather, an experience, a determination to carry forward and become immortal through deeds__was made popular. Tennyson’s Ulysses, further extends the narrative of heroism by equating it through Achilles and a promising “reward” of “happy isles” once the hero strives, seeks, finds and never yields. Thus, Ulysses becomes the literary logo of the Victorian urge for growth through voyage and exploration by inaugurating a notion of masculinity that may have been significant with regards to the growth of imperialistic desire and the ruthlessness deemed necessary for colonial success. "Ulysses" explores the ways in which these constructions of masculinity pervade all aspects of Victorian social life—from fantasy and entertainment to tangible and grounded foreign policy debate. 

Now the question is, then why did Ulysses talk so high of Telemachus? The answer is, probably, the ‘hero’ Ulysses needs his antithesis—--- a common “blameless”(signifying innocent and simple, unlike him) man upon whom he can thrust his domestic duties, as in the socio-economic phenomena of imperialistic zeal, it is imperative to ground and typify the discourse surrounding gender roles. Thus, Telemachus was given the “sceptre and the isle”___ he was made an official incharge to look over the acts of “storing and hoarding” through “soft degrees”. This is how Telemachus preserves what Ulysses is leaving behind. This juxtaposed notion of masculinity sometimes seems critical as often we may feel that Telemachus, by being the ruler of the “savage race” or “rugged” people, proves to be unworthy of Ulysses' magnanimity, but the simplicity of Telemachus might be a deliberate project to generate the narrative of sustenance to “perform” well in offices of tenderness and paying “meet adoration” to the household deities. Thus, Telemachus’s stasis compliments Ulysses' restless urge to move and “become a name”.  

Tennyson's “Ulysses”,in the process of creating the notions of masculinity through exploration and preservation, also equated femininity with mundane and barren because of their incapability to “produce” something which is meaningful to Ulysses. The poem begins as the speaker attempts to separate himself from any effeminate qualities, asserting that to possess them would be a detriment to his happiness and personal pleasure. The opening lines, 

It little profits that an idle king

By this still hearth, among these barren crags

Match’d with an aged wife, I mete and dole

Unequal laws unto a savage race.

make this intent clear: Searching for success and prestige on a more grand and glorious scale, Ulysses finds homebound labour dull and unfulfilling for a man with a “hungry heart” like him. This type of “idle” labour—labour that was often depicted as globally insignificant and small in scale—such as chores, child-rearing, and providing overall care for local communities—was often marketed towards women via conduct books such as Sara Stickney Ellis’s The Women of England and Samuel Beeton’s Complete Etiquette for Ladies. Furthermore, Ulysses reveals his aversion to domestic life by lamenting the routine he would adopt if he chose to remain 

in Ithaca with his “aged” wife instead of spending his life travelling and conquering new lands. In doing so, he reveals his most pressing fear: that he will grow old (signifying “unproductivity”) and become haunted by feelings of failure and disappointment. From the way he discusses domesticity, we can come to understand that Ulysses’s attitude towards domestic work is not that it is useless, but rather that it is not suitable for an impassioned and tempestuous man like him.

The restless, and aggressive “New Man,” depicted in “Ulysses” was, for Victorians, a relatively new construction___ refering to the cultural shift that replaced the “entrepreneur, the missionary, and the affectionate family man” with the “untamed frontiersman, the impetuous boy, and the unapologetically violent soldier”. This is a clear shift between principles of community and philanthropy to absolute individualism and fierce competition. Women, then, were left to embody the humanitarianism and selflessness that Victorian men began to oppose: Literary critic Mary Poovey notes that in the Victorian era, so-called “female nature” was deemed to be intrinsically “noncompetitive, nonaggressive, and self-sacrificing” exactly what is hinted in the “aged wife” of Ulysses who considers it a “little profit” to spend few words on her. Her entire identity is reduced to “an aged wife”, suggesting her “unproductivity” in terms of the heroic notion of masculinity that Ulysses endorses. The expression like “offices of tenderness” aligning the affections of motherhood is deemed as domestic, echoing the typical Victorian ideology of the woman as “the angel of the house”. While the poem’s male characters, with “One equal temper of heroic hearts” seem to separate themselves from larger society—namely, their families and friends in Ithaca, to realize their primary intentions__ “to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”. This brotherhood of the athletic, ambitious, and blessed men with competitive spirit, was contingent to a time when the British empire was competing against other emerging empires for resources and prestige. Ulysses’s strong desire to “seek a newer world” and to “not … yield”.  

 

But, it is noteworthy that Tennyson also credits traditionally feminine work done at home as important as his own hyper-masculinized labour, done for the prosperous development of society for a larger goal of preserving what one is achieving. On this account, Kipling and Tennyson both argue for a similar type of violent and restless hegemonic masculinity but differ in how they believe that this concept exerts its influence over society at large.

Ulysses - MCQs

Ulysses - MCQs

1. Which classical text is the poem "Ulysses" based on ?

 A. The Odyssey.

 B. The Aeneid.

 C. The Iliad.

 D. Oedipus Rex.

2. Which mythical figure serves as the central character in Ulysses?

A. Hercules

B. Ulysses (Odysseus)

C. Achilles

D.  Prometheus

3. What is the genre/type of poem  "Ulysses?" 

 A.Sonnet.

 B. Soliloquy.

 C. Epic poem.

 D. Dramatic monologue

4. When was the poem "Ulysses" composed ? 

A. 20th October, 1833

B. 1834

C.1840

D. 1842

5. When was the poem "Ulysses" first published?

A.1842.

 B.1833.

 C.1809.

 D. 1892.

6. Tennyson wrote Ulysses after the death of 

A. His father

B. His friend Arthur Henry Hallam 

C. His brother

D. His wife

7. What is the uniqueness in the poetic form of Ulysses?

A. Use of couplet

B. Enjambment

C. Archaic words

D. Colloquial language 

8. Ulysses is written in 

A. Free verse

B. Heroic couplet

C. Blank verse 

D. Rhyme Royal  

9. How many lines are there in the poem Ulysses ? 

A. 70

B. 65

C. 68

D. 72

10. What is the main theme of Ulysses?

A. The inevitability of death

B. The yearning for adventure and purpose

C.The struggles of old age

D.The joys of domestic life

 11. What is the tone of Ulysses?

A. Defeated and mournful

B. Joyful and celebratory

C. Determined and inspirational

D. Reflective and nostalgic

12. What passions do the poem Ulysses reflect?

A. Endurance 

B. Knowledge 

C. Adventure 

D. Both B &C 

13. In which famous literary text does the character of Ulysses/Odysseus NOT appear?

 A. The Iliad (Homer)

 B. The Aeneid (Virgil)

 C. Hamlet (Shakespeare)

 D. The Inferno (Dante)

14. Whose voice is heard throughout the poem ?/ Who is the only speaker of this poem ? 

A. Achilles 

B. Telemachus 

C. Ulysses 

D. Mariners

15. Who is the silent audience  addressed to in this poem ?

A. Achilles 

B. Telemachus 

C. Ulysses 

D. Mariners

16. The idea of Ulysses taking a final voyage is taken from 

A. Homer's Odyssey 

B. Virgil's Aeneid

C. Dante's Inferno

D. Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida 

17. The spirit and the the sentiment of Ulysses is taken from 

A. Homer's Odyssey 

B. Virgil's Aeneid

C. Dante's Inferno( Canto 26)

D. Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida 

18. Tennyson's portrayal of Ulysses who finds a comfortable, sedate life boring is found in 

A. Dante's Inferno( Canto 26) 

B. Virgil's Aeneid

C. Homer's Odyssey

D. Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage 

19. The idea of Ulysses as a figure of melancholy and disillusionment who yearns for adventure and transcends the mundane is from 

A.Dante's Inferno( Canto 26) 

B. Virgil's Aeneid

C. Homer's Odyssey

D. Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

20. What does Ulysses mean by the phrase “It little profits that an idle king”?

A. A king gains nothing from idleness.

B. A king should enjoy the comforts of life.

C. A king should always stay at home.

D. A king should rule with strict discipline.

21. “It little profits that an idle king”... The 'king' here refers to 

A. Telemachus 

B. Ulysses

C. Achilles

D. Hector

22. The word 'profits' here suggests

A. The per capita income of Ihaca

B. British Imperialism 

C. Growth of Industrialization in Victorian age

D. Both B &C 

23. What phrase does Ulysses use to describe his people in Ithaca?

A. "Savage race"

B. "Noble race"

C. "Faithful followers"

D. "Adventurous souls"

24. Why does Ulysses describe his people as a “savage race”?

A. They are ignorant.

B.They lack the adventurous spirit  and yearning for knowledge he values.

C. They prefer to leave a mundane life and are unworthy of his rule

 D. All of the above 

 25. What is Ulysses' tone when he describes his people as a "savage race"?

A. Respectful

B.Critical and dismissive

C. Grateful

D. Envious

26. What is Ulysses' attitude towards his life as a king in Ithaca?

A. He finds it fulfilling and peaceful.

B. He feels restless and bored.

C. He is content and enjoys ruling his people.

D.He is determined to expand his kingdom.

27. What motivates Ulysses to leave Ithaca and sail again?

A.The pursuit of wealth and power

B.A desire to escape his responsibilities

C. A yearning for new experiences and knowledge

D. Revenge against his enemies

28. Ithaca is an island kingdom on the coast of which of the following seas? 

A. Aegian sea

B. Red sea

C. Ionian sea

D.Bay of Leghorn 

29. "....still hearth" refers to-

A. Extinguished fire

B. Infertile aged wife 

C. Silent household 

D. All of the above 

30. The phrase "...still hearth" is used to represent 

A. Infertility of Ulysses' 'aged' wife

B. The unproductivity of Ithaca

C. Lack of energy and enthusiasm left in dull kingdom of Ithaca 

D. All of the above 

31. The phrase "barren crags" refer to the people of

A. Troy

B. Ithaca

C. Happy Isles

D. All of the above 

32. The phrases "still hearth" and  "barren crags" are symbolic of 

A. The mental and moral infertility of Ithaca

B. The sexual infertility of Penelope due to old age 

C. Both A & B

D. The homesickness of Telemachus

 

33. The name of Ulysses' 'aged' wife is

A. Bianca

B. Laura

C. Clytemnestra

D. Penelope 

34. What is Ulysses’ opinion of his “aged wife” in the poem?

A. He respects her wisdom. 

B.He finds her companionship fulfilling.

C. He views her with indifference.

D. He resents her for his lack of freedom.

35. What is the similarity between Ulysses and his wife? 

A. Both are courageous

B. Both seek a life of adventure and knowledge

C. Both of them participated in the war of Troy

D. Both of them are aged. 

36. What does "mete and dole" mean?

A. To measure out in small amounts

B. To weigh and consider

C. To justify the action

D. To govern a kingdom 

37. "Unequal laws" refer to ----

A. Unfair laws

B. Variable laws meant for the ruler and the ruled

C. Laws that were unethical 

D. Laws that create division between men and women 

38. "That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me" echoes /alludes to-

A. Hamlet's soliloquy

B. Macbeth's soliloquy

C. Troilus' soliloquy

D. King Lear's soliloquy

39. "That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me" this line indicates 

A. The mundane life of Ithaca

B.  The lacking of the intellectual energy of the Ithacans

C. The inability of the Ithacans to recognise the noble spirit of Ulysses 

D. All of the above 

40. "I cannot rest from travel" this line symbolizes---

A.The Victorian spirit of Imperialism 

B. The monotony of the Victorian age

C. The gloom of Ulysses

D. The gloom of Telemachus 

41. "I will drink/Life to the lees" ...what does 'lees' mean? 

A. Property

B.Dregs/ sediment of a drink 

C. Duration

D. The garnish of a drink 

42. "I will drink/Life to the lees" is an example of 

A. Metaphor 

B. Personification 

C. Simile

D. Hyperbole

43. "I will drink/Life to the lees" echos 

A. Hellenism of Greek culture

B. Utiliterianism of Victorian Age

C. Scientific Inventions of Victorian age

D. Moral obligation of Greek culture

 

44. "I will drink/Life to the lees reflects Ulysses desire--

A. To celebrate with his fellow mariners

B. To live with his family 

C. To live his utmost till the very end of his life

D. To be immortal 

45. "I will drink/Life to the lees reflects which aspect of Ulysses' character?

A. Courage 

B. Energy and enthusiasm 

C. Gloom

D. Wisdom 

46. The adventures of Ulysses caused him 

A. Joy

B. Harm

C. Suffering 

D. Both A & C 

47. " ..with those/That loved me," Here "those" refer to ? 

A. Penelope and Telemachus 

B. People of Ithaca 

C. His fellow mariners 

D. Achilles and other warriors of Trojan war

48. "Thro' scudding drifts..." Here 'scudding drifts' refer to ----

A. The floating mists

B. The fierce wind

C. The flying cloudlets

D. The roaring sea

49. "...the rainy Hyades"  Hydes here means 

A. A constellation of seven stars in spring with the sun indicating rain

B. The worshippers of Greek Gods

C. The scattered clouds before rainfall

F. The monsoon of Greece 

50. Mythologically 'Hydes' are believed to be the daughters of 

A. Hector

B. Achilles

C. Hellicon 

D. Atlas 

51. Hydes is a constellation of stars in the shape of the alphabet 

A.X 

B. V

C. Z

D. R

52. Mythologically 'Hydes' belongs to the sign of 

A. Aries

B.Leo

C. Taurus

D. Gemini

53. The presence of 'Hydes' in the sky predicts 

A. Storm

B. Thunder

C. Earthquake

D. Rain 

54. "...the rainy Hyades" Why the adjective 'rainy' is used before Hydes? 

A. It comes after rain

B. It ends rain

C. Hydes come with rainbow

D. Because it foretells rain

55. "Vext the dim sea"... means

A. Agitated the dark sea

B. Calms the blue sea

C. Creates tornedo

D. The wind of the seashore 

56. "Vext the dim sea" alludes to 

A. Shelley's Ode to the West Wind( "Angels of rain and lightning: there are spread"

B. Keats' Ode to Autumn("Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness")

C.Shelley 's The Revolt of Islam(" The starry giant dips/ His zone in the dim sea")

D. All of the above 

 57. "I am become a name;" This line is an example of 

A. Metaphor 

B. Simile

C. Both A & B

D. Symbol

58. "I am become a name;" Here the speaker means

A. He becomes immortal 

B. He becomes infamous

C. He becomes a legend

D. Nobody knows his name

 59. The phrase "hungry heart" is an example of 

I. Personification 

II. Metaphor

III. Symbol

IV. Hyperbole 

A. I &II are correct 

B. I, II, III are correct 

C. II &  IV are correct 

D. Only IV is correct 

60. "Much have I seen and known;" Which of the following have not been seen and known by Ulysses?

I. men and manners

II. climates and councils 

III. governments

IV. Culture and beliefs

A. I &II are correct 

B. I, II, III are correct 

C. II & IV are correct 

D. Only IV is correct 

61. "And drunk delight of battle with my peers,.." This line alludes to

A. Odyssey 

B. Aeneid 

C. Inferno 

D. Iliad 

62. "And drunk delight of battle with my peers,.." which battle is referred to here ? 

A. War of the Roses

B. Hundred Years War

C. War of Troy/ Trojan War

D. Trafalgar War

63. Troy was a city in 

A. Greece

B. Mesopotamia, now Iraq

C. Asia Minor, now Turkey

D. Persia, now Iran 

64. "Windy" Troy refers to the 

A. Climate of Troy

B. Battle of Troy

C. History of Troy

D. Culture of Troy

65. "Windy Troy" alludes to 

A. Child Harold's Pilgrimage 

B. Aeneid 

C. Inferno 

D. Iliad 

 66. Why do the plains of Troy is "ringing"? 

A. With the sound of thunder

B. With the sound of Swords

C. With the sound of horses

D. With the sound of shields

67. In Ulysses, what does the phrase “the ringing plains of windy Troy” signify?

A. The sound of Swords in the battle of Troy 

B. The turbulent weather of Troy

C. The musical army retreat in Troy

D. Both B and C 

 68. How many times did Ulysses use the pronoun I in the poem 

A. 14

B.13

C. 12

D. 11

 69. "I am a part of all that I have met"--- this line recalls "I live not in myself but I become/Portion of that around me" from

A. Child Harold's Pilgrimage 

B. Aeneid 

C. Inferno 

D. Troilus and Creseida

70. Which line best conveys Ulysses' disdain for an idle life?

A. “Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole.”

B. “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”

C. “Life piled on life were all too little.”

D. “I cannot rest from travel."

71. "I am a part of all that I have met"--- this line means

A. Ulysses' personality is made from his experiences and encounters

B. Ulysses left his footprints everywhere he went

C. Both A & B 

D.Ulysses conquered a major portion of earth and became famous

 72. "Yet all experience is an arch" metaphorizes that

A. Experience shows the true face of a man

B. Experience makes a man perfect 

C. Experience is like a vault, the more one near to it, the furthur it moves

D. All of the above 

73. What does Ulysses mean by “Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ / Gleams that untravel’d world”?

A. Experience limits one’s potential.

B. Experience opens doors to new adventures.

C. Experience is a barrier to exploration.

D. Experience only reflects the past.

74. "Yet all experience is an arch" is an example of 

A. Metaphor 

B. Simile

C. Symbol

D. Image 

75. "Gleams that untravell'd world" is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Metaphor 

C. Simile

D. Symbol

76. "Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'

Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades" These two lines means

A. Much Ulysses travels, he realizes how much world remains untravelled. 

B. His experiences make him a travel hero

C. Both A & B

D. He plans to set sail for the untravelled world 

77. For Ulysses it is dull to ______

A. Move

B. Travel

C. Rest

D. Pause 

78. What does Ulysses imply by “To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use”?

A. A tool (or person) loses value when unused.

B. Aging gracefully requires no effort.

C.  Retirement is a peaceful state.

D. Life is meaningless without responsibilities.

79. "To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!" This line alludes to 

A. Ulisse' speech to Achilles in Shakespeare's Troilus and Creseida 

B. Iago's speech to Othello in Shakespeare's Othello

C. Antonio's speech to Basanio in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice 

D. Antony's speech to Cleopatra in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra 

80. "To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!" This is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Metaphor 

C. Symbol

D. Image 

81. "Life piled on life/Were all too little," What do these lines mean ? 

A. Multiple lives are not sufficient enough to gather knowledge and for enterprises 

B. Life means struggle 

C. To live till the end of life

D. Every moment adds newness to life

82. "of one to me/Little remains" What does the poet mean by "Little remains"?

A. Little portion of the world remains for Ulysses to travel

B. Without travel no other othings remain for Ulysses 

C. The remaining few days of  Ulysses' life as he is old

D. Ulysses had a very small amount of his remaining wealth

83. "....but every hour is saved/From that eternal silence," What does "eternal silence " mean? 

A. Inactivity 

B. Death

C. Rest 

D. Pause

84. "....but every hour is saved/From that eternal silence,"... "eternal silence " is an example of 

A. Metaphor 

B. Personification 

C.Periphrasis

D. Symbol 

85. "....but every hour is saved/From that eternal silence,"... How "every hour" can be saved "eternal silence " ? 

A. Through heroic enterprise and gathering knowledge 

B. By embracing death

C. By worshipping household deities

D. Through family duties

86. "....but every hour is saved/From that eternal silence,"What is the tone of this line ?

A.Pessimistic

B. Inactive 

C. Ironic

D. Optimistic 

87. "and vile it were"... What does the word 'vile' mean here? 

A. Insignificant, unworthy

B. Tricky

C. Smart

D. Religious 

88. "and vile it were"... What does Ulysses consider as vile? 

A. To take action 

B. To go for adventure 

C. To store and hoard

D. To gather knowledge 

89. "For some three suns to store and hoard myself"...What do 'three suns' refer to here?

A. The three remaining years of his life

B. Twenty years of his toil

C. Thirty years of his life 

D. Hope of conquering new world

90.  'three suns' is an example of 

A. Metonymy 

B. Synecdoche 

C. Metaphor 

D. Simile 

91. What does the phrase "store and hoard myself" suggest here?

A. Ulysses' desire to rest

B. To sit, rest and save for future 

C. Ulysses' plans to put his kingdom at the hand of his son

D. Ulysses' duty to pay homage to the deities

92. What does Ulysses refer to as “this gray spirit yearning in desire”?

A.His old age limiting his ambitions

B.His soul longing for exploration and adventure despite his old age 

C. His desire for eternal youth

D. His nostalgia for the past

93. "And this gray spirit yearning in desire". The phrase "gray spirit" means

A. Desolation 

B. Monotony

C. Old age

D. Adventurous 

94. What does Ulysses mean when he says, “To follow knowledge like a sinking star”?

A. He wants to avoid the pursuit of knowledge

B. He seeks knowledge even if it is unattainable.

C. He believes knowledge is fleeting.

D. He wishes to explore the mysteries of the cosmos.

95. " Sinking Star" refers to the Greek belief that

A. Sun and stars do sink into sea after sunset

B. The stars drinking the sea water 

C. The stars bathing in moonlight

D. All of the above 

96. " To follow knowledge like a Sinking Star" is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Metaphor 

C. Simile

D. Symbol

97. The philosophy that underline the phrase "sinking Star" is 

A. Hellenism (love for Greek art, culture and mythological)

B. Pantheism (A belief that God and the universe are one and the same)

C. Utilitarianism (A moral theory that judges actions by their consequences)

D. All of the above 

98. The phrase "sinking Star" alludes to 

A. Dante's Inferno 

B. Shakespeare Troilus and Creseida

C. Homer's Odyssey 

D. Byron' Childe Harold' s Pilgrimage 

99. "Beyond the utmost bound of human thought" What does this line suggest ? 

A. The discovery of new territories 

B. Exploring new domains of knowledge

C. To seek for life after death

D. All of the above 

100. "Beyond the utmost bound of human thought" What aspect of Ulysses is reflected here ? 

A. Renaissance spirit that seeks to go beyond all the limits of human beings

B. His greed for wealth 

C. His desire for death

D. Wisdom and gratitude 

101. Upon Whom does Ulysses plan to leave the responsibilities of ruling Ithaca ?

A. His wife, Penelope

B.His son, Telemachus

C. His sailors

D. A council of elders

102. The word 'sceptre' symbolizes 

A. Responsibility 

B. Power

C. Tyranny

D. Gratitude 

103. The 'isle' refers to

A. Ithaca

B. Happy Isle

C. Africa 

D. Asia Minor

104. "....discerning to fulfil/This labour". "This labour" refers to 

A. Going for adventure

B. Rule the rugged people of Ithaca

C. Paying homage to the deities

D. Taking care of Ulysses' aged wife

105. What qualities does Ulysses attribute to Telemachus?

A. Strength and bravery

B.Wisdom and patience

C. Ambition and curiosity

D. Loyalty and adventurousness

106. Ithacans are called 'rugged' because 

A. They are headstrong 

B. They are idle

C. It is tough to civilize them 

D. All of the above 

107. "and thro' soft degrees/Subdue them to the useful and the good"... What does "soft degrees" mean by which Telemachus will make Ithacans useful? 

A. A gradual and subtle way 

B. Through education and negotiation

C.  Setting a good example.

D. All of the above 

108. "Subdue them to the useful and the good" . Here "useful and good"  denote

A. Make them productive and civilized

B. Make them noble minded

C. Make them adventurous 

D. Make them courageous 

109. "Most blameless is he," who is referred to as 'he'? 

A. Ulysses

B. Achilles

C. Telemachus 

D. All of the above 

110. How does Ulysses describe Telemachus’ future role?

A.A ruler who will bring adventure to Ithaca

B. A leader who will guide the people with patience

C. A warrior like his father

D. A poet and philosopher

111. "Most blameless is he," . What light does this line focus Telemachus ? 

A. He is not guilty of any crime

B. He is innocent and gentle

C. He is free from any addiction 

D. He is stable and dutiful

112. "...centred in the sphere/Of common duties," What light does this line focus Telemachus ? 

A. He is not guilty of any crime

B. He is innocent and gentle

C. He is free from any addiction 

D. He is stable and dutiful

113. "...decent not to fail/In offices of tenderness," what does "offices of tenderness" mean here ? 

A. Telemachus's tender care for Ithacans 

B. Telemachus's love for his father

C. Telemachus's unfaltering love and duty for his mother

D. All of the above 

114. "offices of tenderness" is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Simile

C. Metaphor

D. Periphrasis

115. "Meet adoration to my household gods"... What does this phrase "meet adoration" mean ? 

A. Proper homage

B. Confront

C. Execute something with indifference 

D. Execute something with love 

116. "He works his work, I mine" This line suggests the conflict between 

A. Religion and duty vs adventure, knowledge and exploration 

B. Good vs Evil

C. Science vs religion 

D. Conservatism vs Modernity 

117. In Ulysses, what does the phrase “There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail” indicate?

A.Ulysses' readiness to embark on a new journey

B. A metaphor for his acceptance of death

C. His longing to remain in Ithaca

D. The arrival of foreign traders

118. "There gloom the dark, broad seas"  What time is referred to here ? 

A. Dawn

B. Twilight /Evening 

C. Morning 

D. Night

119. "There gloom the dark, broad seas" . Here "gloom" is an example of 

A. Noun

B. Adjective 

C. Adverb

D. Verb

120. The word 'frolic' means 

A. Frozen

B. Warm

C. Lighthearted or playful

D. Sombre 

121. "Souls that have toil'd, and wrought" How were the souls toiled and wrought ? 

A. Through rest and pause

B. Through savage ruling 

C. Through the adventurous and war 

D. All of the above 

122. What does the word 'wrought' mean ? 

A. Shaped by effort 

B. Write

C. Destined

D. Thought

123. "The thunder and the Sunshine" signify 

A. The challanges and joys of adventures/ The experiences and honours that journey brought to them 

B. The climate changes during sea journey 

C. The horrors of war

D. The experiences of the war

124. "The thunder and the Sunshine" is an example of 

A. Metaphor

B. Metonymy(symbol for the things symbolize)

C. Personification 

D. Simile 

125. "Free hearts, free foreheads". Here "free" denotes

A. Freedom

B. Valueless

C. Free of responsibility 

D. Bold and frank

126. "Free hearts, free foreheads" is an example of 

A. Metonymy (symbol for the things symbolize)

B. Metaphor 

C. Synecdoche (part for the whole)

D. Vision

127. How does Ulysses describe old age in the poem?

A.As a time for rest and peace

B.As a period of inactivity and decay

C. As a phase of continuous striving

D. As a reward for past achievements

128. What does old age have ? 

A. Honour

B. Toil

C. Both a & b

D. Responsibility 

129. What does Ulysses believe about his own potential in the face of old age?

A. It is diminished and irrelevant.

B. It can still lead to meaningful endeavors.

C. It has been fulfilled entirely.

D. It is wasted on mundane duties.

130. The line “Old age hath yet his honour and his toil” suggests that Ulysses believes:

A. Aging is a time of rest and and peace.

B. Old age brings both dignity and continued effort.

C. Aging is a burden and without value.

D. Old age offers little to those who once lived boldly.

131. What does Ulysses say about death in the poem?

A. It is a tragic end to life.

B. It can be avoided through adventure.

C. It should be faced with courage and dignity.

D. It is irrelevant to those who seek knowledge.

132. In the poem, what is Ulysses' view of death?

A. An opportunity to reunite with great souls in Happy Isles

B. It is a great adventure.

C. It should be embraced with heroism.

D. All of the above

133. What does Ulysses imply when he says, “Death closes all; but something ere the end”?

A. Life is meaningless because of death.

B.  People should strive to achieve something before they die.

C. Death marks the beginning of a new journey.

D. Death should not be feared

134. “Death closes all" This line originally appears in which of the following texts ? 

A. Odyssey Book 11

B. Iliad Book 4

C. Paradise Lost Book 9

D. Rape of the Lock Canto 3

135. “Death closes all" is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Metaphor

C. Metonymy 

D. Synecdoche 

136. What is the significance of the phrase “Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods”?

A. Ulysses and his mariners have divine qualities.

B. They are mortals who lived lives of heroic courage.

C. They aim to surpass the power of gods.

D. They regret their defiance of the gods.

137. “Not unbecoming men" what does it mean ? 

A. Fate of Man

B. Worthy of Man 

C. The courage of Man

D. The duty of Man 

 138. “Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods” This lines refers to 

A. Iliad where gods like venus and Mars took the side of the Trojans 

B. Iliad where Ulysses being a human fought with the God Poseidon 

C. Both A & B 

D. Paradise Lost that justifies of ways of God to Man 

139. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:" What time us referred to here? 

A. Evening 

B. Morning 

C. Night

D. Dawn 

140. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:" mean 

A. Night is coming 

B. The nearby locality lights lamp

C. Ulysses is enlightened

D. There was lightening and thunder

141. While describing Ulysses' voyage Tennyson resorts to 

A. Homer

B. Dante

C. Virgil

D. Byron

142. The Ulysses of Dante began his voyage 

A. In the morning

B. At night

C. At dawn

D. In the evening 

143. Which literary device is most evident in the line “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs”?

A. Simile

B. Personification 

C.Metaphor

D. Both B & C

144. “The long day wanes:" This metaphorically suggests

A. The approaching death in the life of Ulysses as he was aged 

B. The night of challenges 

C. His monotony of staying at home

D. All of the above 

145. "the deep/Moans round with many voices". Here "the deep" means 

A. Knowledge 

B. Twilight sky

C. The ocean/sea

D. Old age 

146. "the deep" is an example of 

A. Periphrasis 

B. Synecdoche 

C. Metonymy 

D. Symbol

147. "the deep/Moans round with many voices"is an example of 

A. Personification 

B. Metaphor 

C. Metonymy 

D. Synecdoche 

148. "many voices" suggests 

A. The voices of the mariners

B. The various sound of the ocean/sea

C. The clamour of the swords in the battlefield 

D. Both B and C 

149. What is the effect of the "many voices" of the ocean/sea? 

A. It both enchants and intimidates

B. It calls the mariners to travel

C. It intimidates Ulysses so that he decides to stay home.

D. It intimidates mariners so that they decide to stay home.

150. What does the line “Come, my friends, / 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world” signify?

A.  A desire to start fresh and explore the unknown

B. An admission of defeat in Ithaca

C. A longing to reconnect with his youth

D. A farewell to his family

151. What does the sea symbolize in Ulysses?

A. The dangers of the unknown

B. freedom and adventure

C. Mystery and Uncertainty 

D. All of the above 

152. Why does Ulysses say, “Some work of noble note, may yet be done”?

A. He believes his life is incomplete without further accomplishments.

B. He wants to prove his worth to the people of Ithaca.

C. He feels Telemachus cannot succeed without his guidance.

D. He desires to reclaim his youth.

153. What does Ulysses describe as his “unquenched thirst”?

A. His desire for immortality

B. His longing for knowledge and adventure

C.  His wish to expand his kingdom

D. His love for his family

154. "Furrows" mean 

A. The hollow between the waves

B. Fury

C. Follow

D. Fear

155. "The sounding furrows" is an example of 

A. A visual image

B. The audio-visual image

C. The tactile image

D. The auditory image

156. "The sounding furrows" create the image of 

A. The deep moaning of the sea

B. a ship carving its way through the sea,

C. Ulysses' affirmation to set for a new voyage

D. The mariners effort to set sail again

157. What does "The sounding furrows" represent in Ulysses? 

A. The determination of the mariners over the sea

B. The determination of Ulysses to stay at home 

C. The forceful and determined nature of Ulysses' quest for new experiences

D. The futile efforts of Ulysses to motivate his mariners

158. "for my purpose holds" What is the purpose of Ulysses ? 

A. To sail beyond the sunset

B. To sail beyond the baths of all the western stars

C. To sail until he dies

D. All of the above 

159. "for my purpose holds". Here "purpose" denotes

A. Destiny 

B. Intention

C. Both A & B

D. Duty

160. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:" The gulf here refers to 

A. The gulf of Gibraltar 

B. The gulf of  Corinth 

C. The gulf of Galway

D. A & B are true

161. What does Ulysses refer to as “the Happy Isles”?

A. an isle of the blessed also known as Elysium 

B.a pre-hellenic concept of a paradise where virtuous heroes and demigods went after death

C. a mythical destination of eternal rest, situated at the bank of river Lethe

D. All of the above 

162. What does the “Happy Isles” symbolize in the poem?

A. The blessed afterlife or paradise

B.  Ithaca’s neighboring islands

C. A place of rest for sailors

D. The Greek islands of myth

163. Which of the following is Not true about "happy Isles" 

A. Happy Isles mythologically refers to the West pillars of Hercules in the Atlantic Ocean.

B. The modern name of it is Canary Isles

C. an isle of the blessed also known as Elysium 

D. None of the above 

164. Who was Achilles?

A. The hero of Iliad 

B. The strongest warrior of the Greek Army

C. Achilles' heel was his weakest point 

D. All of the above 

165. "Tho' much is taken, much abides;" The tone is

A. Optimistic 

B.Pessimistic 

C. Stoic 

D. Introspective 

166. "Tho' much is taken, much abides;" What does this line mean? 

A. The choice of leaving Ithace will financially affect Ulysses 

B. Though Ulysses and his mariners lost their youthful vivacity due to old age, but still they can have great things to do with their courage and desire. 

C. Though Ulysses is on the sea, but Telemachus is there to take care of his kingdom

D. All of the above 

167. Ulysses refers to himself and his companions as “One equal temper of heroic hearts.” What does this imply?

A. They share the same courage and resolve.

B. They are equals in age and experience.

C. They are indifferent to heroism.

D. They are united by their loyalty to Ithaca.

168. Ulysses refers to his mariners as:

A.  Faithful servants

B. Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me

C.One equal temper with heroic hearts

D. Both B and C 

169. What does Ulysses mean by “We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven”?

A. He regrets his lost youth and strength.

B.He acknowledges the limitations of old age.

C. He believes his achievements are insignificant.

D. He wishes to relive his past glory

170. The line “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will” reflects Ulysses' belief in what?

A. The inevitability of human weakness

B.The power of the human spirit to endure

C.The futility of resisting fate

D. The strength of his physical abilities

171. Ulysses’ famous declaration “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” reflects which of the following?

A. An advice to his son to remain stick to his duty

B. His determination to live life fully despite challenges and oddities of old age

C. His belief in the power of fate and his past memories 

D.  His desire to return to Ithaca

172. Which line in the poem reflects Ulysses’ desire for adventure and exploration?

A. “I mete and dole unequal laws unto a savage race.”

B. “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

C . “This is my son, mine own Telemachus.”

D. “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs.”

173. What does Ulysses compare himself to in the poem?

 A. A caged bird

 B. A rusty sword

C. A ship lost at sea

D. An arch

174. Which line suggests Ulysses’ dissatisfaction with a life of inactivity?

A.“Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole.”

B. “How dull it is to pause, to make an end."

C. “Life piled on life were all too little.”

D.  “As though to breathe were life.”

175. How does the poem Ulysses end?

A. With Ulysses reunited with Achilles 

B. With Ulysses bidding farewell to his son.

C. With Ulysses preparing for his final voyage.

D. With Ulysses deciding to stay in Ithaca.

176. What does the “untraveled world” symbolize for Ulysses?

A. A source of fear and uncertainty

B. New opportunities and unknown experiences

C. A metaphor for the afterlife

D.  A longing for his homecoming

177. How does Ulysses describe his past adventures?

A. As dull and uneventful

B. As noble and inspiring

C. As difficult and tragic

D. As ordinary and mundane

178. What does the phrase “the quiet life” symbolize in Ulysses?

A. Peace and contentment

B. Rest after a life of hard work

C.  Boredom and lack of adventure

D. The rewards of kingship

179. Which quality does Ulysses admire most in his mariners?

A. Loyalty and obedience

B.Their willingness to follow him into danger and never yield

C. Their urge to strive, find and seek

D. All of the above 

180. Which line best expresses Ulysses' refusal to succumb to old age?

A. “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs.”

B. “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

C.“I cannot rest from travel.”

D. “There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail.”

181. In Ulysses, how does the speaker view his previous adventures?

A. As the most fulfilling part of his life

B.As a waste of time and energy

C.As something he wishes to forget

D.As unimportant compared to his current role

182. How does Ulysses describe his experiences of travel and exploration?

A. As monotonous and repetitive

B. As enriching and enlightening

C.  As dangerous and regretful

D. As a means to escape responsibility

183. What does Ulysses suggest about the nature of heroism in the poem?

A. It fades with age.

B. It is rooted in constant striving and adventure.

C. It is defined by ruling one’s kingdom.

D.  It is achieved through personal sacrifice.

184. Which characteristic best describes Ulysses in the poem?

A. Resigned and nostalgic

B. Restless and ambitious

C. Content and wise

D. Regretful and apologetic

185. Which of the following poem has a  similar tone of  Ulysses, that is an aged man contemplating his life's end ?

A. T.S. Eliot's Gerontion

B. W.H. Auden's The Shield of Achilles

C. G.M. Hopkins' A Pied Beauty

D. T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland 

Fill in the blanks Type Questions 

186. It little ______ that an idle king,

A. benefits

B. yields

C. means 

D.profits

187. By this _____ hearth, among these _____ crags

A. Barren, still

B. Still, Barren 

C. Hoard, store

D. Mete, dole

188. For always roaming with a ______ heart

A. happy

B. honoured

C. hungry

D. humble 

189. Ulysses does not want to rest from ______

A. War

B. Voyage 

C. Travel

D. His duty as a king

190. "Much have I seen and known; cities of men

And manners,________councils, governments"

A. Climates

B. Customs

C. Conventions

D. Communication 

191. And drunk _____ of battle with my______

A. delight, peers

B. delicacy, companions

C. dullness, opponents 

D. deliciousness, peers 

192. "scudding drifts" means ______

A. Lazy movements 

B. Hurried/ speedy movements

C. Scatter silently 

D. Struggling movements 

193. Far on the ______ plains of______ Troy.

A. Windy, ringing 

B. Savage, rugged 

C. ringing, windy

D. rugged, savage

194. All experiences are compared to ______

A. Art

B. Mirror

C. Arch 

D. Wealth 

195. Ulysses wants to follow ______like a sinking star

A. Adventure 

B. Heroism

C. Happy Isles

D. Knowledge 

196. Gleams that ______world whose _____

 fades

A.untravell'd,margin

B. Margin, untravell'd

C. Savage, knowledge 

D. Happy, border

197. To Ulysses it is ______ to pause

A. dumb

B. useless

C. meaningless

D. dull

198. unburnish'd means ________

A. Unpolished surface of a metal

B. Burnt 

C. Sticky surface 

D. Unfurnished 

199. Life piled on life/Were all too_______

A. light

B. little

C. mean

D. low

200. For some _____ suns to _____ and _____ myself,

A. two, hoard, store

B. three, store, hoard

C.  three, hoard, store

D. three, hold, store

201. And this _______ spirit yearning in desire

A. blue

b. white

C. gray

D. purple

202. To follow ________ like a sinking star,

A. Voyage

B. Travel

C. Wisdom

D.knowledge

203. To whom I leave the ______ and the _______

A. sceptre, isle

B. isle, sceptre 

C. kingdom, sceptre

D. Sceptre, crown 

204. Match Column A with Column B 

A                                  B

I.Achilles    1. Became a name

II. Aged wife     2. Penelope

III. Ulysses          3. Happy Isles

1. I-2, II- 1, III-3 

2. I-1 II- 2, III-3

3. I-3, II- 2, III-1

4. I-2, II- 3, III-1 

205. Match column A with B

A                                  B

I. Most blameless    1. Ithaca

II. Savage race     2. Achilles

III. Trojan war     3. Telemachus

1. I-2, II- 1, III-3 

2. I-1 II- 2, III-3

3. I-3, II- 1, III-2

4. I-2, II- 3, III-1

206. Match column A with B

A                                  B

I. Telemachus.  1. People of Ithaca

II. Barren crags. 2Constellation of stars

III. Hydes 3.Soft degrees

1. I-2, II- 1, III-3 

2. I-3 II- 1, III-2

3. I-1, II- 2, III-3

4. I-2, II- 3, III-1

207. Match Column A with Column B 

A                                  B

I.Scudding drift 1.souls that have toiled

II. Sinking star    2.Knowledge

III.Mariners       3. Rainy Hydes

1. I-2, II- 1, III-3 

2. I-1 II- 2, III-3

3. I-3, II- 2, III-1

4. I-2, II- 3, III-1 

208. Match Column A with Column B 

A                                  B

I.free hearts. 1. Old age

II. Meet adoration   2. Household gods

III.Honour and toil 3. Ulysses

1. I-2, II- 1, III-3 

2. I-1 II- 2, III-3

3. I-3, II- 2, III-1

4. I-2, II- 3, III-1