Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third Term

You’re welcome to our school exams series where we provide you with termly examination questions in different subjects. In today’s post, we will focus on Literature in English exam questions. We will cover Literature in English exam questions for SS2 Third term with answers. This means that we’ll be providing you with answers to the questions at the end. Also, you will get a few success tips on how to pass Literature in English examinations with flying colors. Remember to use the comments sections if you have questions, and don’t forget to join our Free Online Tutorial Classes on Facebook. (Like and Follow Page)

Introduction to Literature in English as a School Subject

Literature in English is a school subject that exposes students to the study of written works like poetry, prose, and drama. Through these works, students learn about human experiences, cultures, emotions, and moral lessons. It helps them to develop their imagination, critical thinking, and language skills. Literature also teaches students how to appreciate creative writing and understand deeper meanings in stories and poems. It is a subject that builds empathy and sharpens communication.

Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third Term

Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third Term are divided into two sections:

• Section A
• Section B

The first section, namely, Section A is the objective test, and students are expected to attempt all questions in the section. Section B is the theory part, and students are expected to follow specific instruction and answer the required number of questions.

Note that what you have below are SS2 Literature in English Third Term Exam Past Questions made available to assist students in their revision for 3rd term examinations and also teachers in structuring standard examinations.

SECTION A: Objectives

Instruction: Answer all questions in this section by choosing from the options lettered A—D. Each question carries equal marks.

1. The dominant theme of an epic is
A. cowardice       B. heroism
C. sorrow            D. victory

2. The cat attempted to kill the mouse by stepping on my mouse is an example of
A. chiasmus        B. pun
C. rhyme             D. zeugma

3. In a literary work, the speaker’s attitude towards the subject is inferred from the
A. plot           B. rhythm
C. setting      D. tone

4. The repetition of vowel sounds in poetry is
A. alliteration
B. assonance
C. onomatopoeia
D. pun

5. The part of the theatre in front of the curtain is the
A. backstage
B. balcony
C. centre stage
D. proscenium

6. When the king was murdered, the wind rose with a great violence exemplifies
A. hyperbole
B. pathetic fallacy
C. synecdoche
D. transferred epithet

Read the extract below and answer questions 7 to 10.

Amponsah’s residence

Kwaku: Adwoa, A-dwo-aa! Where are you that you aren’t answering, Adwoa? [Plants for breath]
Adwoa: Right here; just a minute and I’ll be with you! [Muttering to herself] I wonder why the man doesn’t drop dead.

7. Amponsah’s residence is the
A. curtain raiser
B. dramatic monologue
C. interlude
D. setting

8. Kwaku and Adwoa are ________ in the extract
A. actors           B. asides
C. directors       D. props

9. ‘I wonder why the man doesn’t drop dead’ exemplifies a/an
A. aside       B. dialogue
C. ode         D. soliloquy

10. Muttering to herself is a ____________
A. curtain call
B. Dress rehearsal
C. Musical interlude
D. Stage direction

11. A character who serves as a contrast to another character in a literary work is known as the_______
A. antagonist          B. clown
C. protagonist        D. foil

12. The weather is not unpleasant illustrates
A. limerick        B. litotes
C. paradox        D. parody

13. A collection of literary works which are widely accepted is considered as a
A. canon          B. compilation
C. database     D. period

Read the extract below and answer questions 14 to 16.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees

14. The speaker
A. Adores men
B. disrespects men
C. exhibits impunity
D. exudes self confidence

15. Just as cool as you please illustrates
A. exaggeration
B. metaphor
C. personification
D. simile

16. The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees exemplify
A. apostrophe        B. contrast
C. metonymy         D. parallelism

17. Chapter is to prose as _______ is to poetry
A. act          B. line
C. scene      D. stanza

Read the extract below and answer questions 18 and 19.

Oh Peter, why?
Why have you left so soon?
You should have waited,
For, we love you.

18. The lines exemplify
A. apostrophe      B. ballad
C. epistle              D. panegyric

19. The extract evokes the feeling of
A. excitement       B. hope
C. inspiration        D. sorrow

20. The Sea Eats the Land of Home illustrates
A. chiasmus       B. epithet
C. fallacy            D. personification

PART 2

UNSEEN PROSE AND POETRY

Read the passage and answer questions 21 to 25.

Our lives are miserable, laborious and short. We are born, we are given just as much food as will keep the breath in our bodies and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength: and the very instant our usefulness has come to an end, we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery

Why then do we continue in these miserable conditions? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. This, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. Man is the only real enemy that we have. Remove man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever.

21. The tone shows that the narrator is
A. abusive             B. angry
C. moralistic          D. guilty

22. to work to the last atom of our strength illustrate
A. antithesis          B. hyperbole
C. irony                 D. metonymy

23. Why then do we continue in these miserable conditions? is
A. an adage
B. an inference question
C. a rhetorical question
D. a sarcasm

24. The narrator’s voice is
A. colloquial         B. comical
C. didactic            D. metaphoric

25. ‘Remove man from the scene and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever’ evokes the
feeling of
A. expectancy         B. fear
C. hopelessness      D. spits

Read the poem and answer questions 26 to 30.

I know not, my Alberta
When again on your brightness of smile My eyes will rest awhile
Nor when again of your softness of voice My ears will drink by eager choice
When again into the silver moonshine You early tonight or late venture As is your wont in weather fine
Awake in bed astute as lovers are
I’ll, dreaming, hold and fondle the delusions Of your velvety texture’s mirage

26. The poem is best described as
A. a dirge        B. an epic
C. a lyric          D. an ode

27. The intense emotion is one of
A. anger         B. devotion
C. desire        D. gratitude

28. My eyes will rest… My ears will drink… illustrates
A. alliteration      B. metaphor
C. parallelism     D. simile

29. The poem is dominated by images associated with
A. hearing       B. sight
C. smell           D. taste

30. I’ll, dreaming, hold and fondle the delusions of your velvety texture’s mirage are ______ in tone.
A. didactic       B. dramatic
C. pedantic      D. pessimistic

31. A short and witty poem is known as
A. ballad        B. an epigram
C. an epic      D. a lyric

32. A literary work which extols one’s virtues and accomplishments is
A. an eulogy
B. a pastoral
C. an elegy
D. an allegory

33. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an example of a
A. farce        B. burlesque
C. satire       D. lampoon

34. A poem of lamentation on death is
A. Lyrics        B. a ballad
C. an ode      D. an elegy

35. The misuse of words that sound somewhat similar is______
A. malapropism
B. metonymy
C. onomatopoeia

36. The main character in a literary work is the
A. Antagonist      B. Protagonist
C. Narrator          D. Villain

37. A speech delivered by a character who is alone on the stage is
A. soliloquy       B. a chorus
C. a dialogue    D. an aside

38. A sonnet may be divided into an octave and a_______
A. tercet      B. quatrain
C. sestet      D. couplet

39. “All hands on deck” is an example of
A. personification
B. metonymy
C. oxymoron
D. synecdoche

40. In Poetry, _______ consist of four lines.
A. a sestet       B. a quatrain
C. an octave    D. a tercet

Read the poem and answer questions 41 to 43.

The weeping skies begin to flow,
As grieving winds put on a show.

41. The dominant device used in the lines above is
A. oxymoron
B. mock-heroic
C. pathetic fallacy
D. satire

42. In the above lines, “flow”, and “show”________
A. alliterate    B. contrast
C. rhyme        D. parallel

43. The above lines constitute a_______
A. a couplet    B. rhythm
C. tercet          D. quatrain

44. “I have read Shakespeare” is an example of
A. litotes        B. paradox
C. parody       D. metonymy

45. Twelfth Night is an example of
A. farce
B. comedy
D. tragic-comedy
D. metonymy

46. In “the fair breeze blew; the white foam flew, the furrow followed free”, the dominant device used is
A. metaphor
B. personification
C. alliteration
D. assonance

47. An address to an object or person not present is
A. apostrophe
B. synecdoche
C. paradox
D. oxymoron

48. The expression “poisonous pleasure of wine” illustrates the use of
A. metonymy     B. synecdoche
C. paradox         D. epigram

49. A non-verbal story-telling by a character on stage is
A. imitation       B. farce
C. noise             D. comedy

50. A character that develops with events and situations in a novel is ________ character.
A. Flat        B. round
C. minor    D. main

SECTION B: Essay

INSTRUCTION – Answer all questions in this section.

1. Discuss the theme of Oppression in ‘Still I Rise’.
2. Examine the use of irony in “Telephone call”.
3. Discuss the theme of flattery in “The Nun Priest Tale”.

Read Also: Literature in English Exam Questions for SS1 Third Term.

Answers to Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third Term

Answers to Section A (Objective Test)

The following table gives the correct answers to the objective section of Literature in English exam questions for SS2 Third term. If you are using a mobile device, hold the table and scroll to the right or left for a complete view.

So here you have the answers to the objective section of Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third term. Use the comments section to let me know if you have any questions you would want me to clarify or discuss further.

Answers to Section B (Theory)

1. Discuss the theme of Oppression in ‘Still I Rise’.

The theme of oppression in Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” is central to the poem’s message. The speaker confronts and challenges the forces that have tried to suppress her, particularly racial and gender-based oppression. Through powerful and defiant language, Angelou highlights how Black people have been historically oppressed, humiliated, and marginalized. Despite this, the speaker continues to “rise” above every form of oppression. The repeated phrase “I rise” serves as a powerful declaration of resilience and resistance. The poem’s tone moves from confrontational to triumphant, emphasizing self-worth, hope, and an unbreakable spirit in the face of injustice.

2. Examine the use of irony in “Telephone Call”.

In Fleur Adcock’s poem “Telephone Call,” irony plays a vital role in conveying the speaker’s disappointment and emotional disconnect. The poem begins with the speaker receiving a call, and there is an expectation of something urgent or affectionate. However, it turns out to be a cold and distant call about a matter that seems unimportant to the speaker. The irony lies in the contrast between the speaker’s emotional anticipation and the actual content of the call. This situation highlights themes of emotional neglect, miscommunication, and unmet expectations. The title itself adds to the irony, as a “telephone call” is often associated with warmth or concern, but in this case, it only emphasizes the emotional gap.

3. Discuss the theme of flattery in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”.

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” the theme of flattery is central to the story’s moral. The tale revolves around a rooster named Chanticleer who is flattered by a cunning fox. The fox uses praise and admiration of Chanticleer’s voice to deceive him into letting down his guard. As a result, Chanticleer is caught but later escapes by using his own wit. The tale shows how dangerous it is to be swayed by flattery, especially when it clouds judgment. Through humor and animal characters, Chaucer teaches that one must be careful of those who flatter excessively, as they may have hidden motives. The story ends with a clear lesson: do not trust flatterers.

How to Pass Literature in English Exam Questions for SS2 Third Term

Passing your Literature in English exam questions for SS2 Third term requires a combination of preparation, understanding, and strategy. Here are actionable tips to help you excel:

1. Read the Prescribed Texts Thoroughly: Make sure you read all the prose, drama, and poetry texts recommended for your class. Pay attention to characters, settings, themes, and literary devices.

2. Understand Literary Terms: Learn key literary terms like metaphor, irony, satire, imagery, personification, etc. You will need them to analyze poems and other texts.

3. Practice Essay Writing: Most Literature questions are essay-based. Practice writing well-structured answers that begin with an introduction, have a clear body, and end with a conclusion.

4. Memorize Key Quotes: For each text, try to memorize a few short quotes that can support your arguments in essays. Quoting directly shows deeper understanding.

5. Study Past Questions: Go through past exam questions to get familiar with the style and focus areas. Practice answering them within a set time limit.

6. Join Study Groups: Discussing themes, characters, and plots with classmates can deepen your understanding and help you remember more.

7. Ask Your Teacher for Help: If there’s a poem or text you don’t understand, ask your teacher to explain it in simpler terms.

8. Revise Regularly: Don’t wait until exam week. Start early and revise every week to keep everything fresh in your memory.

It’s a wrap!

If you need more clarification on SS2 Third Term Questions on Literature in English, you can use the comments box below. We’ll be there to answer you asap.

Best wishes.