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One Liner – Augustan Age: 18th Century Literature

About the Author: Abirlal Mukherjee

Assistant Professor (Amity University), Digital Humanist
Ph.D in English (GITAM, India), M.A. and B.A. in English (B.C.C., B.K.U, India), P.G.D.E. -I by Research (B.C.U, UK), TESOL Prof. Certification (Arizona State University, USA)

Founder, Chair of the Secretaries of University Learner, India School on Internet Governance Fellow 2024, IIM-B, Member of Internet Society, Bangalore, Internal Complaints Committee Member, GITAM Deemed to be University, Bengaluru, Teach for India Fellow 2023 and Fellowship Recruitment Committee, Delhi

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  1. Seasons and The Castle of Indolence are written by: James Thomson.
  2. The Elegy in a Country Churchyard appeared in: 1751.
  3. Who composed The Task and One Receipt of Mother’s Picture? William Cowper.
  4. Which poet died at the age of 18? Thomas Chatterton.
  5. “Full many a gem of purest ray serene / The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear; / Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air” – lines from: Gray’s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.
  6. The transitional poets replaced the neo-classical heroic couplet by the – Spenserian Stanza, The Octosyllabic Quatrain, The Heroic Quatrain, The four line Stanza
  7. What is meant by “the Churchyard School of Poets”? The poetry is characterised by melancholy and suffering.
  8. Which poet composed The Cotter’s Saturday Night and Tom O’Shanter? Robert Burns.
  9. Which poems are written by William Blake: Poetical Sketches – The Book of Thel – The Song of Innocence – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – The Gates of Paradise – The Vision of the Daughters of Albian – The Songs of Experience.
  10. Blake’s Songs of Innocence is about: the glorification and joys of childhood.
  11. Blake denounced the subordination of women in: Vision of the Daughters of Albian.
  12. The periodical essay is  called ‘periodical’ because: it was published in magazines and journals which appeared periodically.
  13. The periodical essay “makes us familiar with world of men and women, records their actions, assigns their motives, exhibits their whims, characterizes their pursuits in all their singular and endless variety, ridicules their absurdities., exposes their inconsistencies”, “holds the mirror up to Nature”, “and shows the very age and body of the time.” – Identify the critic who said these lines: William Hazlitt.
  14. Which section of Danel Defoe’s review contained a “weekly history of Nonsense. Impertinence, Vice and Debauchery”? Advice from the Scandalous Club.
  15. Which writer’s club was organised by Jonathan Swift in 1741 with a viw to satirising literary  incompetence? Scriblerus Club.
  16. name the paper to which Steele refers in the extract, “The general purpose of this paper is to express the false arts of life, to pull off the disguises of cunning, vanity and affectations and to recommend general simplicity in our dress, discourse and our behaviour”: The Tatler.
  17. Which journal was first published on April 12, 1709 and was discontinued on Jan 2, 1711? The Tatler.
  18. Who is the central character in The Spectator? Sir Roger de Coverley.
  19. Who said, “ I have brought philosophy out of closets and libraries, schools and colleges to dwell in clubs and assemblies, at tea tables and coffee houses.”? Joseph Addison.
  20. Who remarked, “Addison may be said to have alomost created and wholly perfected English prose as an instrument for the expression of the social throght”? Courthope.
  21. Who is best known as the founder of The Tatler? Sir Robert Steele
  22. Jonathan Swift warned Alexander Pope, “Take care that the bad poets do not outwit you”, on his writing of: The Dunciad.
  23. Who bears a resemblance to the character to Mr. Spectator? Joseph Andrew.
  24. “What’ver men do, or say, or think or dream our motley paper seizes for its theme.” the motto was adopted for: The Tatler.
  25. Name the famous writer whom his biography described as a “hardened and shameless tea drinker”, whose “Kettle had Scarcely time to cool”, who with tea “amused the evening, solaced the midnight and welcomed the morning.” Dr Samuel Johnson
  26. Who contributed papers to The Rambler and The Idler? Dr. Samuel Johnson.
  27. Dr. Johnson’s famous work The Dictionary of the English Language was published on: April 15, 1755.
  28. To whom Dr. Samuel Johnson wrote his famous letter which gave death blow to literary patronage? Lord Chesterfield.
  29. Dr. Johnson’s work in chronology: The Vanity of Human Wishes – The Dictionary of English language – Rasselas, Prince Abyssinia – Shakespeare – Lives of poets.
  30. Name the critic who commented that Johnson’s The Lives of Poets “is the only monumental collection of critical studies of English poets, which gives coherence, as well as amplitude, which no other criticism can claim.” T.S. Eliot.
  31. Bean Tibbes and the man in Black, two famous characters of Oliver Goldsmith, appear in: The Citizen of the World.
  32. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire was: written by Edward Gibbon in 1776.
  33. The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) was written by: James Boswell
  34. Goldsmith and Sheridan pioneered the movement against comedy.
  35. Hard castle and Tony Lumpkin are characters in: Oliver Goldsmith’s The Good Natured Man.
  36. Which is Sheridan’s first play: The Rivals.
  37. “ A circulatory liberty in a town is an evergreen tree of diabolical knowledge.” – Who utters the words in Sheridan’s The Rivals? Sir Antony Absolute.
  38. Who are the poets known as “The four wheels of novel”? Samuel richardson, Henry Fielding, Tobias Smollett, Lawrence Sterne.
  39. Whose works are known as ‘fictional biographies”? Daniel Defoe.
  40. Chronology of Daniel Defoe’s work: Robinson Crusoe – Captain Singleton – Moll Flanders – Colonel Jack – Journal of the Plague Year
  41. Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels appeared in: 1726 – 27.
  42. Who are creatures of impulse, without reason or common sense in Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels? Yahoos
  43. Richardson’s Pamela is a novel in the: Epistolary form.
  44. Who  expressed the opinion that Samuel Richardson “taught the passions to move at the command of virtue”? Dr. Johnson
  45. Who is called “The father of English novel”/ Henry Fielding
  46. Fielding Joseph Andrews emerges as the pioneer of the: novel of manners.
  47. Who propounded the theory of novel writing? Henry Fielding in the prefaces of Tom Jones and Joseph Andrews.
  48. Who defined the novel as “a comic epic in prose”? Henry Fielding
  49. The meaning of “widsith” in Old English is wanderer.
  50. The name of William Golding’s first novel is: Lord of the Flies”
  51. In this “Progress and Poverty”. Henry George is influenced by: The Marxian System.
  52. The author of Erewhon is: Samuel Butler.
  53. The Way of the World is a Comedy of manners.
  54. Pessimists: Gissing, Hardy, Thomson.
  55. Charles Reade’s drama “Drink” was adapted from a work of: Zola.
  56. Correct arrangement of knowledge: Pamela – Joseph Andrews – Jonathan Wild – clarissa or The History of A lady – Tom Jones – Amelia.
  57. Adventure novels in chronology: Adventures of Roderick Random – Adventures of Peregrine Pickle – Tristram Shandy – A Sentimental Journey – Expeditions of Humphry Clinker
  58. Dr. Primprose is a character in: Oliver Goldsmith’s The Vicar of Wakefield.
  59. Which is one of the longest novels ever written in English? Clarissa Harlowe
  60. Jonathan Swift’s collection of letters which contains the story of his love an unknown, mysterious girl is known as: The Journal to Stella
  61. The Gothic Romance arouses interest in: emotions of awe, mystery and terror.
  62. The character Manfred appears in: Horace Walpole’s The castle of Otranto.
  63. Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrew is a burlesque of: Lawrence Sterne’s The Sentimental Journey.
  64. Which novel is the biography of the famous thief and thief taker who was hanged as Newgate? Henry Fielding’s Jonathan Wild.
  65. Who was made the poet laureate in 1730 and was bitterly criticized by other writers? Colley Cibber
  66. Kipling was born in: 865
  67. The monk Augustine came to England in 597
  68. The Battle of Maldon was fopught in: 993
  69. “When Adam delved and Eve span who was then gentleman?” The line ascribed to: John Ball
  70. “The Praise of Folly” was written by: Thomas Moore.
  71. Who wrote: “In Praise of Idleness”? Bertrand Russell
  72. Which is followed by one accented syllable followed by one unaccented syllable? A trochee.
  73. In which work the line occurs: “That with no middle flight intends to soar”? Paradise Lost 
  74. The trial scene in ‘the Merchant of Venice’ was presided over by: The Duke.
  75. The real name of Saki is: H.H. Munro
  76. Who started The Tatler: Steele.
  77. The poem ‘The Song of the Shirt’ was written by: Thomas Hood.
  78. Sir Roger was originally the creation of: Steele.
  79. Who wrote: ‘Areopagitica”? Milton
  80. Mary Lamb killed her: mother.
  81. ‘The Selfish Giant’ is a story written by: Oscar Wild.
  82. The Proverbial Unities: Unity of Time, Place and Action.
  83. Which letter is not most often pronounced before a consonant?r
  84. The setting of Walpole’s novel ‘The Castle of Ptranto’ is: medieval Italy.
  85. Who wrote “Four Quartets”? T.S. Eliot.
  86. Who wrote “The Devil of Loundun”? Aldous Huxley
  87. Iris Murdoch was born in: 1919
  88. In the “Heart of Darkness’ Conrad has explored: Congo.
  89. Virginia Woolf died in: 1941
  90. Who wrote “ Principles of Human Knowledge”? George Berkeley.
  91. Who Wrote “Liber Amoris”? Hazlitt.
  92. Fielding wrote Joseph Andrews in reaction against – Pamela.
  93. Fielding was a realist.
  94. “A Railway Clerk” is a poem by: Nissim Ezekiel
  95. Raju is the hero of: Guide
  96. The Indian novelist who won the Booker Prize in 997 was: Arundhati Roy.
  97. Who won The Booker of Bookers? Samlamn Rushdie
  98. Who are the pre Romantic Poets? William Mason, Beattie, Bowles.
  99. Disraeli was influenced by: Burke
  100. Dickens died in: 1870
  101. Who were novelists besides being a poet? Shiv K. Kumar, Kamala Das, Tagore
  102. The favorite poet of Jawharlal Nehru was: Frost
  103. Who wrote The Battle of Books: Swift
  104. Queen Anne’s accession took place in: 1702.
  105. In English literature the term “Augustan” denotes: a refined and classical style of 17th century literature.
  106. The transitional period in the 18th century stretches from 1750 to: 1798.
  107. The Flyer Post was the first newspaper which came into being in 1702: The Flying Post
  108. Identify the critic who calls the 18th century “an age of prose”: Matthew Arnold.
  109. “The hallmark of ancient classical literature is a harmonious balance between form and substance. This harmonious balance between form and substance was disturbed in the age of Pope and Johnson. The writers of this period cared for form, not for substance and weight of matter. They cared only for manners, for artistic finish and polish, but not for genuine poetic inspiration.” – Name the critic who expressed the opinion: Grierson
  110. “With and fine writing” consists not so much “in advancing things that are new”, as in giving, “an agreeable turn” to things that are known. These famous words were written by: Joseph Addison.
  111. The 18th Century literature was, with a few exceptions a: Party literature.
  112. The Age of Pope is known as the era of: tolerance, commonsense, moderation and balance.
  113. The proper study of mankind is man” This famous line is extracted from: Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man.
  114. Pope’s The Rape of the Lock is a: Mock-heroic poem
  115. An application of high style to a trivial subject results in: A mock epic.
  116. “Is Pope or a Poet?” “If Pope be not a poet, where is poetry to be found?” Dr Samuel Johnson.
  117. Belongs to Pope: The Essay on Man, The Rape of The Lock, The Dunciad.
  118. Arrangement of Pope’s works: Pastorals – An Essay on Criticism – The Rape of The Lock – The Dunciad – The Essay on Man.
  119. Douglas Steward complemented Pope’s The Essay on Man as “the noblest specimen of philosophical poetry which our language affords.” 
  120. “A little learning is a dangerous thing / This oft-quoted line is extracted from: Pope’s The Essay on Criticism.
  121. The Transitional poets of the 8th century are the: Pioneers of the Splendid outburst of the romantic poetry of the 9th century.
  122. The movement “Return to Nature” is concerned with: The Pre-Romantic Period.
  123. “God made the country and man made the town.” This oft-quoted line is written by: William Cowper.
  124. Which deals with Jonathan Swift’s affection for Esther Vanhomrigh? Cadenus and Vanessa.
  125. Jonathan Swift’s The Battle of The Books deals with dispute between ancient and Modern authors.
  126. Jonathan Swift was supporting the Modern authors in The Battle of the Books. Who was engaged in the controversy on the behalf of the ancients? Sir William Temple.
  127. For which book Swift said, “Good God! What a genius I had when I wrote that book!” – A Tale of a Tub.
  128. Swift’s A Tale of a Tub is a religious allegory.
  129. A Tale of A Tube is suggested by the work of: Bunyan
  130. Swift wrote political tract for a Tory Journal called – The Examiner.
  131. Which are the political tract of Jonathan Swift: The Idea of a Patricet King.
  132. Swift’s Journal to Stella, which is a kind of informational private log-book, was written for – Esther Johnson.
  133. Which work supported the Irish in their revolt? The Drapier’s Letters.
  134. Issac Bickerstaff was the pen name of: Jonathan Swift.
  135. Who wrote Discourse to prove the Antiquity of the English Tongue? Swift.
  136. Which is a poem by Jonathan Addison? The Campaign.
  137. Joseph Addison’s Cato (713) is a tragic play.
  138. Joseph Addison’s Rosmond (1707) is an opera.
  139. The Drummer is a prose comedy of Joseph Addison.
  140. Who began the periodical paper The Tatler on April 12, 709? Richard Steele.
  141. The Tatler appeared three times in a week.
  142. The Tatler was finished in January 1711. Who was the first contributor in The Tatler? Joseph Addison.
  143. Sir Richard Steele began his second periodical paper The Spectator, which was issued daily in: March 1711
  144. The Spectator was finished in December 1712. In March 1713, Steele began his third periodical paper – The Guardian.
  145. Who wrote Coverley Paper? Joseph Addison.
  146. Which is a political allegory of Addison? Public Credit.
  147. Sir Richard Steele’s first prose comedy is: The Funeral.
  148. Steele’s four periodicals chronicle orders in correct chronology? The Guardian, The Englishman, The Reader, The Plebeian.
  149. Who began The Review, a journal. Which issued in 1704? Daniel Defoe.
  150. Which caused Daniel Defoe to fine? The Shortest Way with the Dissenters.
  151. Daniel Defoe’s fiction is known for it’s realism.
  152. Political work of Daniel Defoe? The True-Born Englishman.
  153. Whose fiction is described as The novel of incident? Daniel Defoe.
  154. Which is a well known work of Daniel defoe? Robinson Cruse
  155. Pope’s An Essay on Criticism (1711) is a poetic work. It was written in: heroic couplet.
  156. Pope’s The Rape of The Lock was published in: 1712.
  157. Pope added machinery of sylphs to the original version of The Rape of the Lock. It was reissued in: 714.
  158. Who wrote Shakespeare Restored (726)? Alexander Pope 
  159. Which poem contains the portraits of Addison? Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot.
  160. Which poem of the Pope discusses man’s place in the universe? An Essay on Man.
  161. Which poem of Pope is known by it’s other title Prologue to the Satires? Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot
  162. Who wrote Windsor Forest (1713)? Alexander Pope.
  163. Which is the best known work of John Gay? The Begger’s Opera.
  164. Who wrote London? Samuel Johnson
  165. Samuel Johnson’s Irene is a: Play.
  166. Samuel Johnson’s imaginary parliamentary debates appeared in: The Gentleman’s Magazine
  167. How many years Johnson devoted to Dictionary of the English Language, which is a greatest contribution to English? 8
  168. Which Johnson wrote on his friend’s death? The Life of Savage.
  169. Johnson wrote periodical essays for The Rambler.
  170. The Rambler appeared twice in a week.
  171. Which work of Johnson is written to pay his mother’s funeral? Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia.
  172. Johnson’s papers under the title of Idler published in: Universal Chronicle.
  173. Who said “There is always an appeal open from criticism to nature”? Samuel Johnson.
  174. Johnson’s preface to Shakespeare (1765) is considered a piece of: criticism.
  175. Who considered Shakespeare the poet of nature? Johnson.
  176. The discussion of metaphysical poets appears in ‘Life of Cowley’ published in: The Lives of the Poets.
  177. James Thomson’s Winter brought him recognition. It was published in: The Seasons
  178. Which poem of Oliver Goldsmith contains criticism of the places and peoples? The Traveller.
  179. Goldsmith’s The Hermit is a ballad.
  180. Which contains a series of imaginary letters from a Chinaman? The Citizen of The World.
  181. Oliver Goldsmith contributed his essays in a magazine entitled: The Public Ledger.
  182. Which work of Goldsmith published posthumously? An History of Earth and Animated Nature
  183. Which is not the prose comedy of Goldsmith? The Vicar of Wakefield.
  184. Who wrote Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1747)? Thomas Gray.
  185. Gray’s famous elegy “The Elegy written in a Country Churchyard” published in: 1751.
  186. Which poem derived the title of Hardy’s novel Far From Madding Crowd?  Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.
  187. Pinderic Odes, The Progress of Poesy are written by: The Task.
  188. William Collins Persian Ecologues (1742) was written in the style of: Pope.
  189. Collins elegy In Yonder Grave a Drvid Lies is written for: Thomson.
  190. Collins best poem is: Ode to Evening.
  191. Who composed Ballad of John Gilpin? William Cowper
  192. Which contains the best known English hymns of Cowper? Olney Hymns.
  193. Robert Burn’s Poem: Chiefly in Scottish dialect published in: 1786.
  194. Which poems are written by Robert Burns? Poems (1786), Tom O’Shanter, The Cotter’s Saturday Night 
  195. Burn did not contribute his poems to – The Gentleman’s Magazines
  196. Burns contributed his poems to: Select Collection of Original Scottish Dire, The Scots Musical Museum
  197. Which is the first poem of William Blake? Poetical Sketches.
  198. In his Poetical Sketches Blake composed some verses in the form of: Shakespeare, Milton, and Spencer.
  199. Blake represented contemporary political conflict in The French Revolution.
  200. Which poem of Blake is written in the defense of the satisfaction of physical desire? The French Revolution.
  201. Which describe the struggle of Urizen? The Book of Los, The Song of Los, The Book of Ahania
  202. The Tyger is the finest lyric of: William Blake.
  203. Who wrote The marriage of Heaven and Hell? William Blake.
  204. Which is written by Thomas Chatterton? The Rowley Poems.
  205. Chatterton poisoned himself at the gae of: 25.
  206. Richardson, at the age of thirteen wrote: love poems.
  207. Richardson wrote his novel in: letter form.
  208. Which is masterpiece of Samuel Richardson? Sir Charles Grandison.
  209. Whose fiction is known for its sentimentality? Samuel Richardson.
  210. Who is called the father of English novels? Henry Fielding.
  211. Who defined the novel as “comic epic poem in prose”? Fielding.
  212. The hero of Fielding’s Joseph Andrews (1742) is the brother of Pamela, Pamela first appeared in: Pamela and Virtue Rewarded.
  213. Which is the best novel by Fielding? Tom Jones (749)
  214. For which novel Coleridge said the best constructed work? Tom Jones.
  215. Which novel’s heroine is based upon Fielding’s wife? Amelia.
  216. Fielding’s Voyage to Lisbon is a diary.
  217. Which novel by Tobias Smollet is an example of a picaresque novel? The Expedition of Humphry Clinker.
  218. Who got immediate recognition for The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gent? Laurence Sterne.
  219. Who produced the most famous characters ‘mu uncle Toby’ and ‘Corporal Trim’ in his fiction? Richardson.
  220. Who wrote The Castle of Otranto? George Walpole.
  221. William Beckford’s Vathek is largely based upon: The Arabian nights.
  222. Which is the best known work of Mrs. Ann Ridcliffe? The Mysteries of Udalpho.
  223. Terror novelists: Mathew Gregory Lewis, William Beckford, Mrs. Ann Redcliffe.
  224. Who wrote the greatest historical book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire? Edward Gibbon.
  225. Who wrote A Treatise of Human Nature? David Humme.
  226. James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson is a: biography.
  227. Who made powerful parliamentary speeches for the trial of Warren Hastings? Edmund Burke
  228. Edmund Burke’s best work appears in: political pamphlets
  229. Which is the best work of Edmund Burke? Reflections on the Revolution in France.
  230. Who wrote The Wealth of Nations? Adam Smith
  231. Who wrote Letters to his Son (1774) which was published posthumously? The Earl of Chesterfield.
  232. William Godwin’s Political Justice (1793) influenced: Shelley.
  233. Best play of Sheridan? The School Scandal.
  234. The Scheming Lieutenant is the subtitle of: St. Patrick’s Day
  235. Which play attacks on the popular sentimental drama? The Critic or a Tragedy Rehearsed.
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