Question 1

Shakespeare's drama reflects
A)life
B)nature
C)chaos
D)order

Accepted Answer

Shakespeare's drama reflects life because it explores the human condition and the complexities of human relationships.

Question 2

The object of all criticism according to Johnson is to make the obscure and the confused
A)clear and understood
B)focused and precise
C)unobscured
D)orderly

Accepted Answer

The object of criticism, according to Johnson, is to clarify what is obscure and to make understandable what is confused, hence "clear and understood" aligns with this objective.

Question 3

Johnson tries Shakespeare by the test of
A)Coherence and cogence
B)relevance and contemporariness
C)relativity, clarity and imaginativity
D)time, Nature and Universality

Accepted Answer

Johnson evaluates Shakespeare based on timelessness, natural human behavior, and universal themes, which are enduring and relevant across different eras and cultures.

Question 4

Shakespeare's characters portrays
A)humanity
B)nature
C)art
D)truth

Accepted Answer

Shakespeare's characters are renowned for their deep exploration of human nature and emotions, reflecting the complexities and nuances of humanity.

Question 5

Who is the 'father of English poetry', the well of English undefiled according to Arnold?
A)Milton
B)Dante
C)Shakespeare
D)Chaucer

Accepted Answer

Geoffrey Chaucer is often referred to as the "Father of English Poetry" and is credited with making the vernacular English popular in literature at a time when Latin and French were the dominant literary languages. Matthew Arnold praised him for his pure and natural English, referring to it as "the well of English undefiled."

Question 6

Samuel Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of the
A)comedy
B)tragedy
C)tragi-comedy
D)none of the above

Accepted Answer

Samuel Johnson, in his preface to Shakespeare, defended Shakespeare's use of tragi-comedy, appreciating his ability to blend elements of both tragedy and comedy in his plays, which reflected the complexity of real life.

Question 7

The defect or fault in Shakespeare according to Johnson is that
A)He sacrifices virtue to convenience
B)He is so much more careful to please than to instruct
C)He seems to write without any moral purpose.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of The defect or fault in Shakespeare according...

Question 8

Johnson said that Shakespeare showed no regard to
A)The unity of time and place
B)The unity of action
C)Characterization
D)Poetic language

Accepted Answer

Johnson criticized Shakespeare for not adhering to the classical unities of time and place, which were considered important in classical drama.

Question 9

According to Johnson what type of drama did Shakespeare write with much labour?
A)Comedy
B)Tragedy
C)Tragi-comedy
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Johnson what type of drama...

Question 10

Samuel Johnson was a writer of the A)17^th Century B)18^th Century C)19^th Century D)20^th Century

Accepted Answer

Samuel Johnson, often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was a prominent figure in English literature during the 18th century, best known for his dictionary, "A Dictionary of the English Language," published in 1755.

Question 11

Johnson said that Shakespeare often surpassed expectation or desire when he wrote
A)Comedy
B)tragedy
C)Tragi-comedy
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Johnson said that Shakespeare often surpassed expectation...

Question 12

Samuel Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare was published in _________.
A)1756
B)1770
C)1800
D)1765

Accepted Answer

Samuel Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare was published in 1765, as part of his edition of Shakespeare's plays.

Question 13

In Preface to Shakespeare, Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of _________.
A)tragic-comedy
B)tragedy
C)comedy
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

In Preface to Shakespeare, Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of tragic-comedy, highlighting Shakespeare's skill in blending elements of both tragedy and comedy within his plays.

Question 14

"Shakespeare was the man, who, of all modern and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul" was said by ___________
A)Samuel Johnson
B)Matthew Arnold
C)John Dryden
D)Boyle

Accepted Answer

John Dryden made this statement about Shakespeare, praising his unparalleled poetic genius and depth.

Question 15

Johnson is of the opinion that Shakespeare writes without moral purpose and is more careful to please than to ___________.
A)dictate
B)instruct
C)sacrifice
D)inform

Accepted Answer

Shakespeare's focus on pleasing his audience rather than instructing or imparting moral lessons aligns with Johnson's observation, making "instruct" the term that fits the context of writing with a purpose beyond mere entertainment.

Question 16

Johnson praises Shakespeare and comments that his drama is the mirror of __________.
A)himself
B)nature
C)life
D)his family members

Accepted Answer

The answer of Johnson praises Shakespeare and comments that his...

Question 17

The two modes of imitation according to Dr. Johnson are
A)Tragedy and comedy
B)Tragedy and tragicomedy
C)Tragicomedy and Comedy
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of The two modes of imitation according to...

Question 18

Johnson insists that Shakespeare's mode of composition
A)Was inconsistent
B)Lacked seriousness
C)Remained the same
D)Changed constantly

Accepted Answer

Johnson believed that Shakespeare's mode of composition remained consistent throughout his works, maintaining a similar style and approach.

Question 19

Shakespeare's first defect according to Johnson was that Shakespeare
A)Sacrifices virtue to convenience
B)He disregarded the distinction of time and place
C)His plots are loose
D)His declamations are cold and weak

Accepted Answer

The answer of Shakespeare's first defect according to Johnson was...

Question 20

According to Johnson, the plays of Shakespeare were originally classified into
A)Comedies and tragedies
B)Comedies, tragedies and histories
C)Comedies, tragedies and love stories
D)None of the above

Accepted Answer

Samuel Johnson, in his preface to The Plays of William Shakespeare (1765), adhered to the classification of Shakespeare's plays into comedies, tragedies, and histories. This categorization reflects the division found in the First Folio of Shakespeare's works, published in 1623.

Quiz 1: Preface to the Plays of Shakespeare

Shakespeare's drama reflects

The object of all criticism according to Johnson is to make the obscure and the confused

Johnson tries Shakespeare by the test of

Shakespeare's characters portrays

Who is the 'father of English poetry', the well of English undefiled according to Arnold?

Samuel Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of the

The defect or fault in Shakespeare according to Johnson is that

Johnson said that Shakespeare showed no regard to

According to Johnson what type of drama did Shakespeare write with much labour?

Samuel Johnson was a writer of the

Johnson said that Shakespeare often surpassed expectation or desire when he wrote

Samuel Johnson's Preface to Shakespeare was published in _________.

In Preface to Shakespeare, Johnson defended Shakespeare's use of _________.

"Shakespeare was the man, who, of all modern and perhaps ancient poets, had the largest and most comprehensive soul" was said by ___________

Johnson is of the opinion that Shakespeare writes without moral purpose and is more careful to please than to ___________.

Johnson praises Shakespeare and comments that his drama is the mirror of __________.

The two modes of imitation according to Dr. Johnson are

Johnson insists that Shakespeare's mode of composition

Shakespeare's first defect according to Johnson was that Shakespeare

According to Johnson, the plays of Shakespeare were originally classified into