English Literature MCQs

What do most critics believe the “rose” of The Romance of the Rose symbolizes ?

A. Justice
B. Piety
C. Sexuality
D. Education

What was “courtly love” ?

A. A type of literature concerned with the behavior of anchorites
B. A type of early literature produced solely by medieval women writers
C. A literary convention based on the code of behavior associated with chivalrous romance
D. A method of oral transmission

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Why did Catherine of Siena refuse to marry a husband ?

A. She said that the institution was too flawed
B. She claimed she was already married to god
C. She wanted to make a political statement against the church
D. She was concerned about loss of property

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What was a virago ?

A. A heroine who used female attributes to become a saint
B. A saint who was not the humble, pious, and chaste figure she was expected to be
C. An asexual female saint
D. An anchorite

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Which of the following themes/motifs was/were often found in literature of “courtly love” ?

A. Nobility
B. Adultery
C. Chastity
D. All of the above

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What do most critics find notable about the virtues that Pizan highlights in her work ?

A. She values reason and activity instead of silence
B. She emphasizes practical rather than theological virtues
C. She does not mention traditional virtues like piety
D. All of the above

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According to most historians, why was it so important for a man to marry a virgin wife ?

A. It assured him that his children were his own
B. It assured him that his wife would carry a dowry with her
C. It assured him that his wife was not a sinner
D. It assured him that her wife would never commit adultery

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What is “the gender fallacy” ?

A. The problem of a “MAN writing as a woman”
B. The idea that woman cannot be as educated as men
C. The idea that noble women are more similar to men than peasant women are
D. The notion that chastity is impossible for men

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Which best summarizes Christine de Pizan’s reaction to The Romance of the Rose ?

A. She objected to the treatment of secularism as evil
B. She applauded its promotion of female education
C. She attacked it as misogynistic
D. She praised the objectification of women

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Which speaker said that “God is more nearer to us than our own soul ?”

A. Julian of norwich
B. Margery kempe
C. Catherine of siena
D. Catherine de pizan

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