1.
Who wrote "Pride and Prejudice"?
Correct Answer
A. Jane Austen
Explanation
Jane Austen wrote "Pride and Prejudice," a novel published in 1813 that explores themes of love, reputation, and class in the 19th-century British gentry. Austen's sharp wit and insightful social commentary have made her works, including this novel, enduring classics in English literature. "Pride and Prejudice" particularly focuses on the emotional development of its protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, who learns the error of making hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.
2.
Who is the author of "1984"?
Correct Answer
B. George Orwell
Explanation
George Orwell authored "1984," a dystopian novel published in 1949 that delves into the dangers of totalitarianism. Orwell's grim depiction of a future where government overreach invades personal autonomy and surveillance becomes ubiquitous serves as a powerful warning against the abuse of power. His use of stark, foreboding imagery and the manipulation of language in the novel highlights the potential for political systems to manipulate truth and influence thought.
3.
Who penned "One Hundred Years of Solitude"?
Correct Answer
A. Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Explanation
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a Nobel Prize-winning author from Colombia, wrote "One Hundred Years of Solitude." This novel is a cornerstone of magical realism and tells the story of the BuendÃa family over several generations in the fictional town of Macondo. Marquez's use of magical elements and rich, imaginative storytelling blends fantastical elements with real issues like love, death, and family, making it a seminal work in global literature.
4.
Who created "The Great Gatsby"?
Correct Answer
A. F. Scott Fitzgerald
Explanation
F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author of "The Great Gatsby," published in 1925. The novel is one of the most celebrated examples of the American Jazz Age and is critically acclaimed for its exploration of themes such as decadence, idealism, resistance to change, and excess. Fitzgerald's complex characters, particularly Jay Gatsby, and his expressive, poetic writing style vividly capture the American spirit and dreams in the face of reality.
5.
Who authored "To Kill a Mockingbird"?
Correct Answer
A. Harper Lee
Explanation
Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird," published in 1960. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is renowned for its warm and humorous yet stark examination of racial injustice and the loss of innocence in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Through the perspective of the young protagonist, Scout Finch, Lee explores profound themes of morality and human goodness.
6.
Who wrote "Crime and Punishment"?
Correct Answer
C. Fyodor Dostoevsky
Explanation
Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of Russia's most profound literary figures, wrote "Crime and Punishment." This psychological novel, first published in 1866, delves into the mind of Raskolnikov, a desperate and impoverished student who conceives and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash. Dostoevsky masterfully explores the moral dilemmas of guilt, redemption, and existential torment.
7.
Who is the author of "Beloved"?
Correct Answer
D. Toni Morrison
Explanation
Toni Morrison, a Nobel laureate, authored "Beloved," a novel inspired by the African-American experience and rich in cultural and historical essence. Published in 1987, the story is set after the American Civil War and follows Sethe, a former slave haunted by the ghost of her dead child. Morrison's powerful narrative probes themes of identity, freedom, and the scars of a painful heritage.
8.
Who penned "Moby-Dick"?
Correct Answer
B. Herman Melville
Explanation
Herman Melville wrote "Moby-Dick," first published in 1851. This epic tale of obsession details the voyage of the whaling ship Pequod, led by the vengeful Captain Ahab, in pursuit of the white whale, Moby-Dick. Melville's complex narrative and explorations of good and evil, fate, and existentialism, have made this novel a fundamental part of American literature.
9.
Who created "The Catcher in the Rye"?
Correct Answer
A. J.D. Salinger
Explanation
J.D. Salinger penned "The Catcher in the Rye," a novel that has become an icon of teenage angst and alienation. Published in 1951, it introduces readers to the cynical and disillusioned teenage protagonist, Holden Caulfield, who struggles with the phoniness of the adult world while grappling with his own adolescence.
10.
Who authored "The Bell Jar"?
Correct Answer
B. Sylvia Plath
Explanation
Sylvia Plath authored "The Bell Jar," a semi-autobiographical novel published in 1963 that details the decline of the main character, Esther Greenwood, into mental illness while aiming to succeed professionally as a young woman in the 1950s. Plath’s honest portrayal of mental health and the pressures of societal expectations provides profound insights into the struggles faced by women during that era.