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How to Answer Essay Type Questions in Literature Examinations

Last Updated: November 14, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci . Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 142,529 times.

Answering essay questions on literature exams can be daunting, especially with timed exams. Before the test, you should have a full understanding of how the different parts of a classical argument fit together to make a whole. The best way to quickly write an organized essay is to outline your argument before you begin your answer. With a little bit of preparation, you can ensure a good grade on your exam.

Writing Your Essay

• Create a bullet point for each point you choose to make in your paper.
• Your first point should include the introduction, statement of facts, and thesis.
• You should break up the “proof” or body paragraphs into however many points you laid out in your thesis. If you promised three points, create three bullet points. If you promised four points, create four bullet points. Remember that the body paragraphs must follow the exact order of the thesis.
• Create a point for the statement of the counterargument. You can either create a new point/paragraph for your refutation of it, or keep it all in one paragraph by making the refutation a subpoint.
• Create a point for the conclusion.

• If you're using external sources, you should include them in your outline. You don't want to accidentally leave out a great source because you got caught up in the writing and forgot about it.

• Use transition words like furthermore, similarly, or indeed to transition between agreeing ideas. [4] X Research source
• Use "conflict" transition words and phrases to transition between conflicting ideas — like the counterargument and your refutation of it. Examples include however, in contrast, on the other hand, or conversely.

• Make sure to refer back to your outline repeatedly during the writing process. This is the roadmap of your answer. Don't wander away from it and get off-course.

• If you're being graded primarily on the content of your argument, leave grammar and spelling editing for your last step.
• If you're being graded primarily on your grammar and spelling, by all means, correct your errors as you go!
• In most cases, you won't be graded on one or the other. Keep your specific teacher or standardized test in mind. Have a strategy for when you plan to correct your errors before you take the test.

• If you're in an isolated room, read the essay aloud to yourself to look for grammar errors that sound wrong. It's easier to hear mistakes than see them on the page.
• Read your sentences backwards to look for spelling errors you might skim over if you were reading the sentences normally. [5] X Research source

Structuring Your Argument

• Introduction (exordium)
• Statement of Facts (narratio)
• Thesis (partitio)
• Proof (confirmatio)
• Refutation (refutatio)
• Conclusion (peroratio)
• The introduction, statement of facts, and thesis are often grouped together in the first paragraph of the answer.

• Another way to think of the exordium is to consider where the word "introduction" comes from. The prefix "intro" means "inward," as in introspection (looking inward). "Duction" comes from the Latin root "ducere," which means "to lead." This is where we get the modern words duke (one who leads) and orchestra conductor (one who leads together). [7] X Research source [8] X Research source
• In the introduction, you want to intro + duce, or lead the reader inward, further into your argument.

• If your reader already knows the background information, you may be able to skip this section.
• In Cicero's Latin, this section was called the "narratio," which is where we get the modern word "narrator." The narrator is the voice in a book that gives readers information that can't be delivered through dialogue or action.
• The word "knowledge" itself shares a root with narration : gnoscere. [10] X Research source In this section, you give the readers the knowledge they need to follow your argument.

• Cicero's Latin word, partitio, shares a root with the modern word "partition," which means division or separation. When Beyonce sings "Driver roll up the partition, please," she's asking the driver to roll up the window that separates him from the passengers in the back.
• So the thesis is where you list out the different parts of your argument — your X, Y, and Z — in list form, separately.

• Note that it's not enough to just list a bunch of quotes and statistics from sources. That's not making an argument — it's restating someone else's information or argument.

• Don't include a counterargument without refuting it. To refute means to "beat back." [13] X Research source The only reason you include the opposing point of view is to beat it back and strengthen your own position.

• Do not transition into your conclusion with a signal phrase like "in conclusion" or "in summary." Find a less obvious, more sophisticated transition.

Expert Q&A

• Never plagiarize another author's words or ideas. You can fail the assignment or even the entire course, or get suspended or expelled from school Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Tristen Bonacci. Licensed English Teacher. Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.
• ↑ https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/sites/default/files/global/documents/library/essay_outline_worksheet.pdf
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/1/29/
• ↑ https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/135/transw.html
• ↑ http://www.stlcc.edu/Student_Resources/Academic_Resources/Writing_Resources/Writing_Handouts/proofreading.pdf
• ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=exhort
• ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=duke&searchmode=none
• ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=conductor&searchmode=none
• ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=narration&allowed_in_frame=0
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
• ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=refute

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, every ap literature practice test available: free and official.

Advanced Placement (AP)

When you're studying for your AP Literature Exam, you're going to want to use practice tests and questions to hone your skills. But where can you find AP literature practice tests? And are all practice exams equally useful for you?

The real exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions, but there are practice tests with every conceivable number and combination of question types.

In this article, you'll learn where to find every official College Board AP English Literature and Composition practice exam, free unofficial tests, and paid practice test resources. You'll also find out which tests are high-quality and how you can best use different practice exams to fulfill your studying needs.

Official Free AP Literature Practice Tests

The gold standard of AP English Literature practice tests and AP English Literature practice exam questions are College Board released materials . That's because the College Board administers the AP exams, so their practice questions are most like the actual AP questions you'll see on the test.

There are three different kinds of resources offered by the College Board: complete released exams from past years, released free-response questions from past years, and sample questions from the "AP Course And Exam Description."

Official Released College Board Exams

There are three official released College Board Exams. However, only the most recent one (from 2012) is complete. The 1999 and 1987 exams have the standard 55 multiple-choice questions, but both are missing parts of the three question free-response section. You can still use them as complete exams if you supplement them with released free-response questions from past years which we recommend since official multiple-choice problems are hard to come by.

2012 AP English Literature and Composition Exam

This is the best AP Lit practice test available. It's the most recent exam released by the College Board, and it follows the format of the current test with 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions. Definitely make use of this test!

1999 AP English Literature and Composition Exam

This test excludes the poetry and prose analysis questions of the free-response section and only has the student choice question. So, to take it as a complete exam, you'd need to supplement it with questions 1 and 2 from the released free-response questions below . You can actually get question 2 for the 1999 test from the official free-response questions bank, but the excerpt for question 1 can't be reprinted, so you'll need to supplement with another poetry analysis question.

1987 AP English Literature and Composition Exam For reasons that are not totally clear, this exam excludes the third essay question, the poetry analysis. If you want to take this as "complete" exam practice, use a free-response poetry analysis prompt from the bank of free response questions linked below.

Or supplement with this tree-poem.

Official Free-Response Questions

There may not be very many complete released exams, but there are tons of free-response questions available from previous administrations of the test. These are great practice, not just for writing complete essays, but for practicing writing thesis statements, outlines, and so on.

What's also great about these is that most of them come with sample response and scoring guidelines, so you'll be able to see exactly what makes a high-quality AP essay by College Board standards. Be aware, though, that some of the prose and poetry excerpts can't be reprinted due to copyright concerns.

Below is the link to all the free-response questions available. The questions go all the way back to 1999, and since there haven't been many changes to the free-response part of the exam, all of these questions can be useful during your studying.

AP English Lit Free Response Questions 1999-2021

Sample Questions From the Course and Exam Description

The 2019 AP English Literature Course and Exam Description has practice multiple-choice questions and free-response questions.They don't add up to a complete test--there are only 19 multiple-choice questions instead of 55–but there are three free response questions (enough for a full test). Even though there aren’t many multiple-choice questions, they are great for simple practice.

If you're looking for more questions like these, you can revisit the old exam description booklets as well . (Just keep in mind that some of the other information in the booklet may be out of date!)

Your Teacher

Your AP teacher may have access to copies of old AP exams that you can use for practice. They probably can't let you take them out of the classroom, but they may be allowed to loan them to you in a supervised setting. This is because teachers can purchase resources directly from the College Board that students can't. Asking your teacher may not bear fruit, but it's worth a try.

Why are you asking me for AP Lit practice tests? I'm your Econ teacher!

Free Unofficial AP Literature Practice Tests

In addition to the free College Board resources, there are also several places online where you can get free, unofficial practice tests. Be aware that, because these resources aren't College-Board created or approved, they are of variable quality. For each of these resources we'll describe what's offered and how it compares to official College Board tests.

Varsity Tutors AP Literature Practice Tests

This site has multiple-choice practice quizzes divided by concept--things like "interpreting the passage," "claims and argument," and "interpreting excerpts." The questions aren't worded exactly the same way as AP test questions, but they are still okay for testing your passage-interpretation skills. Basically, the questions test for similar skills, but don't necessarily mimic AP test questions in style.

Also, the site provides the date, title, and author of each work, which is not something you'll receive on the AP exam. You can make a free account at the site to track your scores, but it's not necessary to be able to take the tests.

Kittens not included with free practice tests, unfortunately.

Albert AP English Literature Quizzes

Albert offers multiple-choice quizzes divided into prose, poetry, and drama categories. You are given the title, date, and author of the work--which you will not receive on the real AP exam. Like the Varsity Tutors quizzes, Albert offers questions that test similar skills as the AP exam, but the questions are worded differently.

High School Test Prep Tests

This site offers three short multiple-choice practice tests. You're given the title and author of the work. The questions for these tests are fairly surface-level, so I would only use these if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.

CrackAP English Literature Quizzes

CrackAP has over 40 short AP Lit quizzes. Each quiz gives a passage then has 15 multiple-choice questions on it. The questions are somewhat easier than you'll find on the real AP exam, but if you need some quick practice, this can do the trick. This resource also has examples of past free response questions, which can be useful study tools, too!

Practice Quiz AP English Literature

This site offers a 20-question multiple-choice quiz on two passages--one poetry, and one prose. The passages are extremely basic, however, so I would only use this resource if you are working on your reading comprehension skills.

Looking for help studying for your AP exam?

Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

The queens of AP Lit practice give you their blessing.

Paid Unofficial Practice Tests

There are also several paid resources that offer unofficial practice questions.

This is a subscription service with questions for tons of different tests—SAT, ACT, and AP exams.They also have videos and other review resources. We can't really speak to the quality of the questions because the entire service is behind a paywall of about $25 a month.

The Princeton Review AP Literature Study Guide 2021

Published study guides are an excellent way to practice for the AP Literature exam. These books are put together by experts who have inside knowledge of the test, and The Princeton Review is one of the best out there.

This study guide has three practice tests, along with other types of sample questions and expert explanations to help you improve your analytical skills.

Barron's AP English Literature and Composition, 7th Edition

Like The Princeton Review study guide, the Barron's AP Literature study guide is another great resource for students looking for extra exam prep. This guide has four practice tests and sample essay questions , along with an expert walk-through of the AP Literature exam itself.

If you're looking for a guide that gives you practice and provides tips for mastering the exam, this would be a good pick!

This subscription service offers access to tons of test prep, including the SAT, ACT and lots of AP courses. Their AP Literature resources include two full-length practice tests, three sets of flashcards to help you study, and several instructional videos.

Prices for subscriptions start at $39 dollars per month, and some plans include live tutoring and writing instruction . If you choose to subscribe, you get access to all of their course and test-prep materials, so if you’re taking several AP classes, this could be a good source.

I definitely advise paying for all of these resources with whatever loose foreign change you have lying around.

How to Use AP Literature Practice Tests

How to use a given practice test depends somewhat on the resource itself. We'll offer some recommendations here on how to best use different resources.

Complete Official Released Tests

The best way to use a complete official practice test is to do a practice-run for the exam . So find a quiet room, bring a timer or watch so you can time sections, and get to work! This will help you get familiar with the exam experience so you'll feel more comfortable on exam day!

Since there are two complete AP Lit practice tests, it makes sense to take one early on in your studying time, and one later. You can get a parent, tutor or teacher to grade the exams. The early test will help you figure out what you need to work on, and the later test will show you how you've improved! Since the AP English Literature test is more skills-heavy than content-heavy, you shouldn't feel totally lost taking a practice test even in the middle of the school year.

Official Released Free-Response and Sample Questions

Official resources that aren't complete tests are best for practicing individual sections of the test. The sample multiple-choice questions in the "Course and Exam Description" make for great AP English Literature multiple-choice practice--they'll help you get familiar with the style of the questions and practice close-reading.

The wealth of released free-response questions are great resources for building your timed essay-writing skills. You can practice complete essays or develop essay outlines.

Unofficial Practice Tests and Resources

Since unofficial practice tests aren't going to be quite as similar to the real AP exam as official College Board materials, they won't be quite as useful for preparing for the format of the exam or its questions. However, they can be very valuable close-reading practice. And since that's a critical skill for the exam, it's still worth it to use unofficial resources.

Be very quiet. She's close-reading.

Key Takeaways

Practice tests and questions are a hugely important resource as you prep for the AP Lit exam. The gold standard of practice resources are those that come from the College Board, but there are many other places where you can get practice questions that will help you hone your close-reading skills for the exam. Most of the resources listed in this article are free, but a few are paid.

Remember: official College Board practice tests are best for simulating the exam experience. Actual College Board questions are good for focused preparation for individual sections of the exam--especially the essays. Unofficial resources are best used for further honing your close-reading skills after you’ve practiced with the official materials.

Now that you know where to find these resources, you're ready to start studying for your AP Literature exam!

What's Next?

Wondering what you should be reading for AP Lit? Check out our list of 127 great books to help you prepare for the AP Literature exam.

Need more study guidance for your APs? See my five-step AP prep plan. Or see our guide on when to start studying for your APs.

If you're looking for practice tests for other AP exams, see our assembled practice tests for AP US History , AP Chemistry , AP Biology , AP World History , and AP Psychology .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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How to Answer Literature Questions

Do these seven simple things to answer Literature questions correctly:

• Identify exactly what the Literature question you are about to answer requires from you.
• Have a brief outline or plan for your Literature answer.
• Begin your Literature essay with a direct reference to the main point of the Literature question.
• State and develop each point of your answer in separate paragraphs.
• For each point, quickly give evidence from the novel, drama or poem to support it.
• Make brief, occasional general comments about how a point relates to real-life situations.
• Finally, close your Literature essay with a brief but compelling concluding paragraph.

The above is just a summary of the necessary steps to take to answer Literature questions correctly. If you need further explanation on these points about how to answer the WAEC Literature question, for example, then continue reading. Because in the coming paragraphs, I will show you the details of all the tips and tricks you can use to answer Literature questions.

So whether you are a high school student or an adult learner looking for how to answer the WAEC/WASSCE Literature essay questions on prose, drama and poetry, I’ve got you covered.

The same applies to you if you are an undergraduate student studying for a college degree in Literature and English. It does not really matter the particular degree-awarding institution you are attending because Literature questions and the way to answer them are generally the same everywhere.

A Special Note to My Colleague Teachers of Literature

I trust that you will find something useful in this post to add to the guidelines you will be giving to your students regarding what they need to do to answer Literature questions correctly.

Access Sample Literature Essay Templates

Do you want a practical demonstration of the tips in this post? Well, you can have as many as over 200 Literature essay templates or plans right here at Cegast Academy.

We have over 80 essay questions and answer templates on Second Class Citizen. Additionally, there are more than 70 questions and answers templates on both African and Non-African Poetry.

Then also, you can access more sample Literature essay plans and templates on The Lion and the Jewel, The Invisible Man, Fences as well as Look Back In Anger.

With that out of the way, allow me to walk you through the simple steps to take to answer Literature questions correctly. We shall begin with the first point above.

You Really Need This

First of all, I assume that any student of Literature who is looking for tips on how to answer Literature questions must have already read, thoroughly, the prescribed Literature prescribed books. At the very least, such a student should have read a detailed plot summary and analysis of the Literature texts.

It is also advisable to have a chapter-by-chapter summary of the novel or a scene-by-scene summary of the prescribed drama text.

Such a student must have as well gone through the set poems for the examination already.

For WAEC/WASSCE, NECO/SSCE and JAMB Literature candidates up to the year 2025, I strongly recommend that you take a look at the following tutorials. They will help you to have a good feel of the various Literature textbooks as well as other related topics you need to study.

Plot Summary and Analysis of Second Class Citizen

Chapter by Chapter Summary of Second Class Citizen

Analysis of Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

The Grieved Lands of Africa Analyzed

17 Reasons Why Students Fail Literature

The Lion and the Jewel Plot Summary and Analysis

Harvest of Corruption Summarized – Themes, Characters and Dramatic Techniques

Summary of Scene 4 of Harvest of Corruption

A Brief Summary of Faceless by Amma Darko

Summary and Analysis of Chapter 4 of Faceless by Amma Darko

You need to know the stories, plays and poems well enough. It makes enough sense to say that you cannot say anything meaningful about what you know nothing about.

So let’s take it that you’ve got your stuff all set and ready to roll.  Now you’re looking for how to use it to answer any Literature question that might come your way.

1. Know what the questions require from you

Look at it this way. When someone asked you a question, you would only give the right answer if you heard and understood it well enough. This is why we ask for a repeat of a question when we didn’t hear it well the first time.

How to Get A WAEC/WASSCE Certificate Without Attending Senior High School

The Shortest Plot Summary of Fences

A Short Summary of Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

The same goes for examination questions. You can only get the marks you need if you provide the right answer to the Literature question. And the starting point is knowing exactly what you are being asked to do. Take some time to get your understanding of the question right.

Let me explain a bit further. Look at this question.

Comment on the use of repetition in D.H. Lawrence’s poem, Bat.

The above question requires just one simple thing from you. That is, write an essay on the use of REPETITION in the poem BAT.

Almost every Literature essay question tries to make the student’s work as easy as possible. In this case, all you need to focus on is the literary technique known as REPETITION and nothing more. And the poem is ‘Bat’ , please.

This is where you need to convince yourself that you can truly say as much as possible about REPETITION in D.H. Lawrence’s poem called ‘Bat’.

Quite frankly, it is easy to write an essay on just one literary technique in a poem. The same goes for a question about a theme or a character in the text in question.

Knowing what the question requires from you will help you to limit the scope of your essay to only what is needed to carry a very high mark. You will not have to go on writing about unnecessary stuff that takes you nowhere.

2. Have a brief outline for your Literature answer.

A good essay plan is an essay half-written. Take a small fraction of your time to list the key points and stages of your essay.

Let’s take another example.

Examine Senghor’s Black Woman as a negritude poem.

A simple but effective answer plan for the above Literature question could be this.

• Introduction – what negritude literature/poetry is about
• Brief subject matter/meaning of ‘Black Woman’
• Elements of negritude poetry found in Black Woman

-Subject Matter

-Some relevant poetic techniques – 2 or 3

• Conclusion – restatement of elements of negritude and how effective they are.

About six to eight paragraphs should be enough for this essay on Black Woman as a negritude poem.

The moment you have a rough outline of what you will be writing about in the essay, the writing process itself becomes much easier.

3. Begin with a direct reference to the main point.

As you can see in the essay plan example I gave you a moment ago, the introductory paragraph is about the main point in the question – negritude poetry.

Every other thing you know about the poem, novel or drama is irrelevant if it is not mentioned in the question you want to answer.

Just learn to start answering all Literature questions with a quick reference to the main point. Life gets easier this way. And your examiner will reward you for knowing what to say and what not to say.

4. State and develop each point of your answer in separate paragraphs.

Another key step to take to correctly answer Literature questions is to organize your essay in an orderly manner.

Simplify everything by devoting each point to a separate paragraph. And do not waste time in doing so.

For example, in the ‘Black Woman’ essay plan above, the point about the theme can be in a single paragraph. Then you can share the two or three poetic devices among two or three paragraphs as the case may be.

Remember that all your points must have something to do with the main point of the Literature question.

5. Give evidence from the text to support each point.

Do not just make a point and leave it hanging there. Prop it up with concrete evidence from the novel, play or poem.

For example, if you say the poet has used personification in ‘Black Woman’ , go ahead and quickly cite an example or two.

Quote a line or just a couple of words to prove what you have just said. Then explain how this evidence relates to the main point in the question.

Again, in the case of Senghor’s ‘Black Woman’, say how what you have quoted supports the assertion that truly, the poem belongs to the negritude tradition.

Please note that you can paraphrase areas of the original text as your evidence.

The truth is it is not always easy to quote exactly what you want to use as proof of a point you have made in your Literature essay. This is why you are free to use paraphrasing instead of quoting wrongly.

6. Relate your points to real-life situations.

Literature mirrors life. One of the best ways to answer Literature questions, whether in a WAEC exam or similar high school exams, is to occasionally relate what you have observed to practical life situations.

This works best when your Literature answer is about a character and their role in a play or novel. It is equally good for Literature questions that ask the candidate to discuss a particular theme in the text.

A quick warning, though. Do not overdo this. Always remain focused on the core demands of the question.

Also, any brief general commentary can be part of the explanation of your points in the respective paragraphs. You do not need to give them their own separate paragraphs.

7. Write a concluding paragraph.

Here are some quick tips to consider when you are writing your conclusion

• Make it short
• Summarize what you consider to be your most important points in the body of the essay.
• Give an assessment especially when the question contains words like, ‘examine’ and ‘assess’. How do you do this?

All you need to do here is to state the extent to which you think (based on all that you’ve been saying in the essay) the author has been able to effectively deal with whatever literary device or theme or character you are looking at.

In most cases, you will be on the safer side to give credit to the author even if you do not agree with everything.

Final Thoughts

Now you know the key steps to take to answer Literature questions in the most acceptable manner. Make sure to check out additional tutorials on characters and themes that will give you more practical examples of how to answer all types of WAEC Literature questions. And don’t hesitate to leave a comment if something is still not clear to you.

Did you find this information helpful? Then share it on your favourite social media platform for the benefit of others you care about. Thank you!

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Wow…this was very enlightening and educative. Thank you very much sir. Please sir i am writing JAMB this year and i am an art student. I am not very certain on the prescribed texts, poems and anthologies for Literature in English and i have checked JAMB site for the syllabus but i’m not sure if they’ve updated their literature syllabus. Sir, if you kindly know the texts and poems for this year, it would be really helpful. Thank you sir.

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The Lumber Room

by Saki (H.H. Munro)

The lumber room essay questions.

What role does defiance play in "The Lumber Room"?

As one of the story's dominant themes, defiance plays a major role in "The Lumber Room." From the beginning of the story, Nicholas defies his aunt's wishes for good behavior and a deferential attitude toward her authority. While the other children obey her authority and calmly eat their breakfasts of bread and milk, Nicholas brings a frog in from the garden and complains about it being in his bowl. Nicholas continues to defy his aunt when she expects him to cry as the other children make their way to the beach. Instead of crying, Nicholas chuckles at the sound of his cousin weeping in the carriage. Defiance arises next when the aunt increases his punishment by not letting him access the gooseberry garden. Nicholas knows she expects him to defy her, and he uses that expectation of defiance to his benefit, fooling her into staying outside to prevent him from getting into the garden. While she is distracted, Nicholas enjoys the delights of the lumber room, defying his aunt's restriction against children entering the room. At the end of the story, Nicholas continues to use defiance to undermine his aunt's authority, refusing to help her out of the rain-water tank. Because she told him earlier that he was not allowed into the gooseberry garden, he argues, he cannot fetch a ladder to help her escape. By pretending to adhere to the initial rule, Nicholas manages to defy her wishes yet again.

In what ways does "The Lumber Room" suggest that children can be more intelligent than adults?

"The Lumber Room" shows how adults insecure about their own authority can misunderstand a child's mentality and needs. In the story, Saki depicts Nicholas as a mischievous and shrewd boy who excels in annoying his aunt, largely through predicting her actions and feelings. When Nicholas's brother and cousins are taken to Jagborough, Nicholas does not cry, because he is perfectly aware that him being upset is the very thing that his aunt wants. Although a child in such as situation is expected to react by weeping, Nicholas refrains from such behavior because he is mature enough to understand the circumstances of the punishment. Similarly, Nicholas's entry into the lumber room is a carefully planned mission, which shows that he is organized and is capable of devising a strategic plan—qualities an adult would possess. Nicholas had even practiced turning a key in a keyhole of a door prior to entering the lumber room. When Nicholas gains access to the room, he makes sure to sprinkle some dust on the old books after going through them so they do not appear to have been disturbed. Ultimately, Nicholas's intelligence makes it possible for him to subvert his aunt's authority and have a thoroughly enjoyable day despite being grounded.

What does the lumber room symbolize?

The lumber room at the center of the story is a symbol of Nicholas's imagination. Although lumber rooms would have been common enough in Edwardian homes—little more than a storeroom of furniture and possessions not currently in use in the rest of the home—the lumber room takes on mythical proportions in Nicholas's imagination. Because children are not allowed to see what is in the lumber room, Nicholas assumes it is a repository of treasures, and, once he gains entry, he finds the room meets his expectations. He marvels at the delicate and beautiful objects that lie within, such as a fire-screen tapestry, candlesticks shaped like snakes, a teapot in the shape of a duck, and a book of illustrated birds. Ensconced in the magic of the lumber room, Nicholas uses his imagination to think about what fate will befall the huntsman on the fire screen. He also invents a life story for the colorful mandarin duck in the picture book. The imaginative potential of the lumber room stays with Nicholas until the end of the story. While everyone else sits miserably at the table, Nicholas imagines further outcomes for the huntsman, believing the man and his dogs might escape the approaching wolves.

The Lumber Room Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Lumber Room is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Mischief is the dominant theme in "The Lumber Room." From the beginning to the end of the story, Saki delights the reader with Nicholas's persistent playful misbehavior. In the opening scene, the narrator details how Nicholas complains of a frog...

'Nicholas is not at fault for his conduct in the short story 'The Lumber Room'.

Nicholas is just a precocious child who uses his intelligence to outsmart his domineering aunt. Ultimately, Nicholas's penchant for mischief makes the boredom of living under his aunt's rigid control bearable.

What are the similarities between aunt and Nicholas?

I don't see many similarities between Nicholas and his aunt. He is mischievious, smart, and imaginative, and disobedient. His aunt is short-sighted and without imagination. Her moments of deceit aren't good natured. The only time I really see a...

Study Guide for The Lumber Room

The Lumber Room study guide contains a biography of Saki (H.H. Munro), literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Lumber Room
• The Lumber Room Summary
• Character List

50 Literature Quiz Questions and Answers

Is curling up with a good book your idea of heaven? Do you marvel at the literary greats and love finding a new classic?

If you answered an enthusiastic yes to the above, we’ve put together the perfect rainy day activity for you (apart from reading, of course!), with our 50 literature quiz questions and answers.

Through our literature quiz, we’ll test your knowledge of all the classics – both modern and old-school – as well as quiz you on all the hottest books right now. We take a look at authors, sagas and all the good stuff that makes reading so magical.

There’s something for everyone in our literature quiz questions and answers, and who knows, maybe you’ll even find some new inspiration for your reading bucket list while you’re at it…

Literature Quiz Questions and Answers

• Who wrote the classic novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye’?
• Winston Smith is the protagonist of which George Orwell novel?
• What magazine does Stieg Larsson’s character Mikael Blomkvist work at, and part own in ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ and its subsequent novels?
• Which small Yorkshire town inspired the setting for Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’?
• Where does Connell move to in the conclusion of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’?
• Jacob Marley and Bob Cratchit are characters from which Charles Dickens novel?
• In ‘Gone Girl’, what type of “girl” does Amy pretend to be when she first meets Nick?
• Answering to the nearest 100, how many pages long is Stephen King’s ‘IT’?
• James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ is loosely based on which epic poem?
• What job does Louisa take on a whim after being fired as a waitress in ‘Me Before You’?
• Who wrote the critically acclaimed 2015 novel ‘A Little Life’?
• In which mythical land are the ‘Lord of the Rings’ books set?
• In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, what is the full name of Elizabeth Bennet’s love interest?
• Co-written with John Fletcher, what is the last surviving play written by William Shakespeare, before his subsequent retirement and death two years later?
• How many books are there in the Harry Potter series?
• In whose thriller series do we follow Oslo detective Harry Hole, as he investigates violent crimes in the Norwegian capital?
• In ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, which of the Pevensie siblings first enters Narnia?
• On which African river is Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel set?
• What is the name of Harper Lee’s debut novel?
• Who controversially won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, making him one of only two songwriters to ever win the prestigious literary award?
• Natasha Rostov is the heroine of which classic Russian novel?
• In ‘The Great Gatsby’, what is located at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock?
• Which astronomically popular series of books, released in the 2000s, begins with a teenage girl moving to the small town of Forks, Washington?
• Where in Spain is ‘Don Quixote’ set?
• What do George Eliot, George Sand and Acton Bell all have in common?
• ‘Good Omens’, ‘American Gods’ and ‘Coraline’ are all books written by which author?
• What is the title of the first book to feature the character Sherlock Holmes?
• ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ was written by which British author?
• In ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’, who does Alex fall in love with?
• In ‘The Kite Runner’, how are Amir and Hassan related?
• What genre of book does Danielle Steel primarily write?
• Anastacia Steele is the main protagonist in which series of books?
• As of August 2023, whose autobiography was the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever?
• Humbert Humbert is the unreliable narrator and main character of which book by Vladimir Nabokov?
• What is the main character and narrator called in Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’?
• What literary movement does Ryū Murakami belong to?
• Which Bronte sister wrote the novel ‘Villette’?
• How many books are there in ‘The Hunger Games’ series of novels?
• The Republic of Gilead is a totalitarian and theocratic state in which dystopian novel published in 1985?
• Who wrote the novel ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’?
• Which book by Mary Shelley is often regarded as the first science fiction novel?
• What kind of ‘phile’ is somebody who loves to read regularly?
• Which of the following is NOT a book by John Green; ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, ‘Paper Towns’, or ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’?
• Who is attributed to the following quote: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one”?
• How many husbands did Evelyn Hugo have?
• Which of the following pieces of literature was NOT a book in its original format; ‘Gone with the Wind’, ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’ or ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’?
• Elio and Oliver are the main characters in which LGBTQ book?
• Answering to the nearest five, what year was ‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath originally published?
• Which of the following detective characters features in Jefferey Deaver’s novels; Alex Cross, Lincoln Rhyme, or Myron Bolitar?
• What is the most printed book of all time?

• D. Salinger
• A Christmas Carol
• A cool girl
• The Odyssey
• Carer/Caretaker
• Hanya Yanagihara
• Middle-earth
• Fitzwilliam Darcy
• The Two Noble Kinsmen
• River Nile (for ‘Death on the Nile’)
• To Kill A Mockingbird
• War and Peace
• The Green Light
• They are male pseudonyms used by female authors
• Neil Gaiman
• A Study in Scarlet
• Mark Haddon
• Prince Henry
• They are half-brothers
• Fifty Shades of Grey
• Prince Harry
• We never learn her name
• Postmodernism
• Charlotte Bronte
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• John le Carré
• Frankenstein
• Bibliophile
• The Sun Is Also a Star
• George R. R. Martin
• Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
• Call Me By Your Name
• Lincoln Rhyme

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Grade 10 English Literature

Download Grade 10 English Literature Past Papers, Model Papers, Term Test Papers, Grade 10 English Literature Short notes in Sinhala, English, and Tamil Medium.

Subject –    Grade 10 English Literature

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Term Test Papers

1st term papers.

• 2023 Paper – Jaffna Hindu College| English Medium
• 2022 Paper – Kannanagrara Central College | English Medium
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It would be better if you have western province papers too

I also have the same opinion

Your service is wonderful. But it’s better to upload all of the papers from all of the provinces. Thank you so much.

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Where is the Place for Black Atlantic Literature and Authorship?

• Sophia Jahadhmy Cornell University

In the wake of Black Atlantic terror, enslavement, colonialism and violence, is there a place for literature? Where is there a place for the author? In other words, to rethink poet Muriel Rukeyser’s question, where is there a place for Black Atlantic literature and authorship? Proposing Paul Gilroy’s The Black Atlantic as the window through which to answer these questions, this essay focuses on the place for/of literature and authorship as Gilroy thinks them through an engagement with Richard Wright’s life and work, and also through the work of other Black Atlantic authors, primarily C.L.R. James, Toni Morrison, Aimé Césaire and Édouard Glissant. These figures show that the Black Atlantic author must persist in tenaciously writing through and within the violence that defines their experiences, revealing the necessity of such literature and the importance of producing such a literary practice. This essay poses that there is no place for Black Atlantic authorship if the author is not grappling, writing, and “living with,” as Toni Morrison would suggest, the unspeakable violence and absolute terrors of experience—scenes of horror must be (re)made through cultural production or there can be no poesis. This process of transformation amid (dis)location is grounded in the Black Atlantic experience of terror and diaspora, about which Gilroy writes, concluding his final chapter with an analysis of the Jewish diasporic experience. Because this essay engages a Jewish poet’s provocation in order to think the Black Atlantic, it is crucial to interrogate both the significance of this invocation and Gilroy’s assessment of the intimate interconnection and solidarity between the Black and Jewish experiences.  

Adorno, Theodor. “Cultural Criticism and Society.” In The Holocaust: Theoretical Readings, edited by Levi, Neil and Rothberg, Michael. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003.

Césaire, Aimé. Notebook of a Return to the Native Land. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press (2001).

Deleuze, Gilles. Difference and Repetition. Translated by Paul Patton. London: Athlone Press (1994).

Derrida, Jacques. “Signature Event Context” (1971). Translated by Alan Bass. In Margins of Philosophy, 307-330. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press (1982).

Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt). The Souls of Black Folk; Essays and Sketches. Chicago, A. G. McClurg, 1903. New York: Johnson Reprint Corp. (1968).

Farred, Grant. The Burden of Over-representation. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press (2018).

Farred, Grant. “Theoretical Futures: The Creation of a Concept.” In Africana Studies: Theoretical Futures, edited by Farred, Grant, 1-15. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press (2022).

Gilroy, Paul. The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press (1993).

James, C. L. R. The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution Second edition revised ed. New York: Vintage Books (1963).

Glissant, Édouard and J. Michael Dash. Caribbean Discourse: Selected Essays. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia (1992).

Glissant, Édouard and Betsy Wing. Poetics of Relation. Ann Arbor Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1997.

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. London, England: Vintage Classics (2007).

Newton, Melanie J. “‘The Race Leapt at Sauteurs’: Genocide, Narrative, and Indigenous Exile from the Caribbean Archipelago.” Caribbean Quarterly 60, no. 2 (2014): 5–28.

Nietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil. Vintage. Edited by Translator: Hollingdale & J. R. (1886).

Rukeyser, Muriel. The Life of Poetry. Current Books (1949).

Sharpe, Christina Elizabeth. In the Wake: On Blackness and Being. Durham: Duke University Press (2016).

Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. “Unthinkable History: The Haitian Revolution as a Non-Event.” In Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History, Michel-Rolph Truillot and Hazel V Carby, 70-107. Boston Massachusetts: Beacon Press (2015).

Žižek, Slavoj. Tarrying with the Negative: Kant Hegel and the Critique of Ideology. Durham: Duke University Press (1993).

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WAEC Literature in English Questions and Answers 2023: Full Guide

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is responsible for conducting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) across West African countries. Preparing for this exam can be challenging, especially for the Literature in English paper. In this comprehensive guide, we provide you with a detailed overview of WAEC Literature in English Questions and Answers 2023, including sample questions, tips for success, and additional resources to help you ace the exam.

Understanding the WAEC Literature in English Exam

The WAEC Literature in English exam is designed to test candidates’ knowledge of literary works, their ability to analyze and interpret texts, and their understanding of various literary devices and techniques. The exam covers four major areas: prose, poetry, drama, and general literary appreciation.

This exam is crucial for students who wish to study literature or related fields at the university level or pursue careers in writing, journalism, or education. Therefore, it is essential to be well-prepared for the WAEC Literature in English examination to achieve success.

Exam Format and Structure

The WAEC Literature in English exam consists of three papers: Paper 1 (Objective), Paper 2 (Prose), and Paper 3 (Drama and Poetry). Each paper is structured differently, with varying question types and formats. Here is a brief overview of each paper:

Paper 1 (Objective)

This paper contains multiple-choice questions covering general knowledge of literature, literary devices, and techniques. Candidates are required to answer all questions in this section.

Paper 2 (Prose)

In this paper, candidates are required to answer one question from each section. The sections are divided into African Prose and Non-African Prose, with questions based on specific novels and authors.

Paper 3 (Drama and Poetry)

Similar to Paper 2, candidates must answer one question from each section. The sections are divided into African Drama, Non-African Drama, African Poetry, and Non-African Poetry, with questions focusing on specific plays, poems, and authors.

Sample Questions and Answers

The following are sample questions and answers for the WAEC Literature in English Questions and Answers 2023. These questions are designed to give you an idea of the types of questions you may encounter in the exam.

Paper 1 (Objective) Sample Questions

• The primary purpose of satire in literature is to:A. entertain B. criticize C. educate D. inform

Answer: B. criticize

Paper 2 (Prose) Sample Questions

African prose.

• In Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart,” discuss the role of tradition in the lives of the characters.

Non-African Prose

• In Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations,” examine the theme of social class and its impact on the characters’ lives.

Paper 3 (Drama and Poetry) Sample Questions

African drama.

• In Wole Soyinka’s “Death and the King’s Horseman,” analyze the conflict between tradition and modernity.

Non-African Drama

• In Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” discuss the role of the American Dream in the play.

African Poetry

• Examine the theme of cultural identity in Wole Soyinka’s “Telephone Conversation.”

Non-African Poetry

• Analyze the theme of love in William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18.”

Preparation Tips and Techniques

• Read widely: Familiarize yourself with the set texts, authors, and literary periods covered in the exam. Read both the primary texts and secondary sources, such as critical essays, to gain a deeper understanding of the works.
• Identify themes and motifs: Look for recurring themes, motifs, and symbols in the texts, as these are likely to appear in the exam questions.
• Understand literary devices: Make sure you can identify and analyze various literary devices, such as irony, foreshadowing, imagery, and symbolism.
• Practice past questions: Work through past exams to understand the format, structure, and types of questions.
• Develop essay-writing skills: Practice writing essays within a set time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.

Revision Strategies

• Create a study schedule: Allocate specific time slots for each text, topic, or literary device, and stick to your schedule.
• Use flashcards: Create flashcards for key terms, literary devices, and important quotes.
• Join a study group: Collaborate with classmates to discuss texts, share ideas, and test each other’s knowledge.
• Seek feedback: Ask your teachers or classmates to review your essays and provide constructive feedback.
• Stay organized: Keep all your notes, essays, and study materials in one place for easy access.

Important Themes and Topics

Some important themes and topics to focus on while preparing for the WAEC Literature in English exam include:

• Culture and tradition
• Social class and hierarchy
• Gender roles and expectations
• Love and relationships
• Power and authority
• Conflict and resolution

Literary Devices and Techniques

Familiarize yourself with the following literary devices and techniques, as they are likely to appear in the exam:

• Foreshadowing

Recommended Texts and Resources

• Set texts and authors for the WAEC Literature in English exam (consult the syllabus)
• Literary criticism and analysis on the set texts
• Past WAEC Literature in English exams and marking schemes
• Study guides and textbooks on literature

Building Confidence for Exam Day

• Stay positive: Believe in your ability to succeed and maintain a positive attitude throughout your preparation.
• Stay healthy: Eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep to ensure your body and mind are in peak condition.
• Manage stress: Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help you stay calm and focused.
• Stay organized: Keep track of your progress and review your study materials regularly to ensure you’re on track.
• Ask for help: If you’re struggling with a particular topic or concept, don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or classmates for assistance.

Preparing for the WAEC Literature in English Questions and Answers 2023 exam may seem daunting, but with dedication, thorough preparation, and the right resources, you can achieve success. Follow the tips and strategies outlined in this comprehensive guide, and you’ll be well on your way to acing the exam. Good luck!

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