TRB PG Assistant - Carlyle - The Hero as a Man of Letters, Mathew Arnold - The Study of Poetry, T S Eliot - Tradition and Individual Talent, Dickens - Great Expectations, George Eliot - Middlemarch, Hardy - Jude the Obscure, Virginia Woolf - To the Lighthouse, Graham Greene - The Power and the Glory One Line Questions & Answers

1. What does the lighthouse symbolize in Virginia Woolf's novel? — A symbol of stability, permanence, and the elusive nature of truth or reality.

2. Who is the protagonist of 'The Power and the Glory,' and what is his precarious position? — A fugitive priest trying to minister to his flock while evading authorities.

3. Arnold's concept of 'disinterestedness' in literary criticism implies: — An objective approach free from personal bias or ulterior motives.

4. What event separates the first and second parts of 'To the Lighthouse,' signifying the passage of time and loss? — Mrs. Ramsay's death.

5. What is the central conflict in 'The Power and the Glory'? — A conflict between religious faith and political persecution.

6. George Eliot's 'Middlemarch' is subtitled: — A Study of Provincial Life

7. The character of Estella in 'Great Expectations' serves as: — A symbol of Pip's idealized love and social aspiration, ultimately unattainable.

8. Carlyle's concept of the 'hero' is most closely aligned with: — Charismatic authority and spiritual guidance

9. In George Eliot's 'Middlemarch,' who is the protagonist around whom much of the narrative initially revolves? — Dorothea Brooke

10. In Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations,' what is the social and economic background of the protagonist, Pip, at the beginning of the novel? — He is an orphan raised by his harsh sister and her gentle blacksmith husband.

11. In 'Jude the Obscure,' Jude's first wife, Arabella Donn, represents: — Sensual gratification and traditional, earthbound desires.

12. The novel 'Middlemarch' is often described as a 'study of provincial life.' What does this imply about its focus? — It examines the complex social, economic, and intellectual landscape of a provincial town.

13. What is the significance of the 'Redemption' theme in 'The Power and the Glory'? — It is explored through the priest's suffering and the possibility of divine grace, even in a flawed individual.

14. T.S. Eliot's emphasis on 'tradition' suggests that a poet's work gains meaning through: — Its relationship to the entire body of literature that preceded it.

15. Dr. Tertius Lydgate's ambition in 'Middlemarch' is to make a significant contribution to which field? — Medicine

16. Which character in 'Great Expectations' is the source of Pip's initial fortune, though Pip mistakenly believes it is Miss Havisham? — Abel Magwitch

17. Which character in 'To the Lighthouse' embodies the traditional, nurturing maternal figure? — Mrs. Ramsay

18. Which character in 'To the Lighthouse' is an artist, and what is their primary concern? — Lily Briscoe, concerned with capturing her vision on canvas.

19. Carlyle's 'The Hero as Man of Letters' is part of which larger work? — On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History

20. What does Matthew Arnold mean by 'the best in their prose' when discussing poetry in 'The Study of Poetry'? — Poetry that has the seriousness and depth of great prose.

21. In Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse,' the narrative is structured around a series of what? — Visits to the lighthouse and the passage of time.

22. Woolf's use of 'stream of consciousness' in 'To the Lighthouse' aims to: — Depict the inner thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of characters.

23. In Graham Greene's 'The Power and the Glory,' what is the setting of the novel? — Post-revolution Mexico

24. Who is Sue Bridehead, and what is her complex relationship with Jude? — She is his cousin, with whom he shares a deep intellectual and emotional bond, challenging conventional marriage.

25. Who is Miss Havisham, and what is her significance in Pip's life in 'Great Expectations'? — She is a wealthy, eccentric recluse who hires Pip as a companion for her adopted daughter, Estella.

26. In 'Great Expectations,' the character of Joe Gargery represents: — Genuine kindness, loyalty, and simple integrity.

27. In 'The Power and the Glory,' the whiskey priest is pursued by: — The police and anti-clerical government agents.

28. What societal institution does Jude Fawley repeatedly confront and ultimately fail to conquer in 'Jude the Obscure'? — The University system (Oxbridge)

29. What is the name of the idealistic but ultimately failed project that Mr. Casaubon is engrossed in within 'Middlemarch'? — The Key to All Mythologies

30. T.S. Eliot's 'Tradition and the Individual Talent' was first published in: — The Egoist

31. What is a prominent theme explored in 'Jude the Obscure' regarding marriage and social conventions? — The rigid and often destructive nature of societal expectations surrounding marriage and gender roles.

32. What is the primary social critique embedded in George Eliot's 'Middlemarch'? — The constraints placed upon intelligent and capable women in a patriarchal society.

33. In T.S. Eliot's 'Tradition and the Individual Talent,' what is the relationship Eliot posits between the poet, tradition, and the individual talent? — The poet must engage with tradition, using their individual talent to contribute to it.

34. Arnold's critique in 'The Study of Poetry' is primarily directed at: — The decline of poetic standards and the proliferation of inferior verse.

35. Which character in 'The Power and the Glory' represents blind faith and unwavering devotion, contrasting with the priest's doubt? — The pious woman who shelters him

36. Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse' is divided into three parts. What are they called? — The Window, The Lighthouse, The Season

37. Eliot uses the analogy of a 'dissolving into an agent' in 'Tradition and the Individual Talent.' What does this metaphor represent? — The poet's personal emotions and experiences being transmuted into art.

38. The title 'The Power and the Glory' refers to: — The power of the Church and the glory of God (often experienced indirectly by the priest).

39. What is the central theme explored through Pip's journey and his 'great expectations' in Dickens' novel? — The corrupting influence of wealth and social ambition.

40. What historical period is specifically referenced by Matthew Arnold as a time when poetry's role became more crucial? — The Victorian era, with its decline of religious faith

41. According to Carlyle, what distinguishes a 'Man of Letters' hero from other types of heroes? — Their mastery of language and thought, influencing minds.

42. What tragic event befalls Jude and Sue's children in 'Jude the Obscure'? — Their eldest son, Little Father Time, murders his half-siblings and hangs himself.

43. In Thomas Hardy's 'Jude the Obscure,' what is Jude Fawley's greatest ambition? — To gain access to higher education and intellectual pursuits.

44. Matthew Arnold's 'The Study of Poetry' argues for poetry's vital role in a secularizing society. What does he propose as poetry's primary function? — To provide moral instruction and solace, replacing religion.

45. Arnold emphasizes the importance of the 'touchstone method' in 'The Study of Poetry.' What is the purpose of this method? — To evaluate the quality and power of poetry by comparing it to recognized great works.

46. What is Dorothea Brooke's primary aspiration at the beginning of 'Middlemarch'? — To find intellectual fulfillment and make a meaningful contribution to the world.

47. In Thomas Carlyle's 'The Hero as a Man of Letters,' what fundamental role does Carlyle assign to the hero in shaping society and culture? — To inspire and guide humanity through their intellect and actions.

48. According to T.S. Eliot, what is the primary function of literary criticism? — To help the reader understand and appreciate the poem within the context of tradition.

49. What moral dilemma does the protagonist priest face throughout the novel? — Whether to uphold his vows and divine duties despite personal failings and persecution.