A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed MCQs & Summary

Summary:

“A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed” is a satirical poem by Jonathan Swift, written in 1731. The poem offers a harshly realistic and unromantic portrayal of a prostitute named Corinna as she prepares for bed. Unlike the traditional poetic idealization of beauty, Swift presents a stark and grotesque reality, exposing the artificiality of physical attractiveness and the grim realities of lower-class women in 18th-century society.

The poem describes how Corinna removes her false teeth, wigs, pads, and cosmetics, revealing her true, aged, and weary appearance. Swift uses biting satire and dark humor to criticize society’s obsession with superficial beauty and the harsh conditions faced by women in such professions. The poem highlights themes of deception, aging, social hypocrisy, and the contrast between illusion and reality.

Through vivid imagery and irony, Swift mocks not just Corinna’s fading beauty but also the unrealistic expectations that society imposes on women. The poem remains a powerful critique of vanity, prostitution, and the treatment of women in Swift’s time.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed?
   A) Alexander Pope
   B) Jonathan Swift
   C) John Milton
   D) Samuel Johnson
   Answer: B) Jonathan Swift
2. What is the main subject of the poem?
   A) A princess preparing for a royal ceremony
   B) A prostitute removing her beauty enhancements before bed
   C) A romantic night under the stars
   D) A fairy tale transformation
   Answer: B) A prostitute removing her beauty enhancements before bed
3. What literary technique does Swift use in the poem?
   A) Epic similes
   B) Satire and dark humor
   C) Romantic imagery
   D) Religious allegory
   Answer: B) Satire and dark humor

   

4. What does Corinna remove as she prepares for bed?
   A) Her expensive jewelry
   B) Her makeup, false teeth, wig, and padding
   C) Her royal garments
   D) A mask that hides her identity
   Answer: B) Her makeup, false teeth, wig, and padding
5. What does the poem criticize?
   A) Political corruption
   B) The idealization of beauty and society’s treatment of women
   C) The monarchy’s influence on literature
   D) Religious hypocrisy
   Answer: B) The idealization of beauty and society’s treatment of women
6. How does Swift describe Corinna’s true appearance?
   A) As a hidden angel beneath her disguise
   B) As grotesque and aged after removing artificial enhancements
   C) As still beautiful despite her aging
   D) As a ghostly figure haunting the night
   Answer: B) As grotesque and aged after removing artificial enhancements
7. What is the tone of the poem?
   A) Romantic and affectionate
   B) Sarcastic and mocking
   C) Fearful and suspenseful
   D) Joyful and celebratory
   Answer: B) Sarcastic and mocking
8. What theme is central to the poem?
   A) The glory of nature
   B) The contrast between illusion and reality
   C) The power of love
   D) The decline of aristocracy
   Answer: B) The contrast between illusion and reality
9. How does Swift portray Corinna’s lifestyle?
   A) As glamorous and enviable
   B) As tragic and pitiful
   C) As empowering and liberating
   D) As a religious devotion
   Answer: B) As tragic and pitiful
10. What social issue does the poem address?
    A) The struggles of the working class
    B) The mistreatment of women and the obsession with artificial beauty
    C) The impact of war on civilians
    D) The rise of industrialization
    Answer: B) The mistreatment of women and the obsession with artificial beauty