Alexander’s Feast MCQs and Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 19, 2025

Summary:

Alexander’s Feast; or, The Power of Music (1697) is an ode written by John Dryden to celebrate Saint Cecilia’s Day. The poem portrays a grand banquet held by Alexander the Great after his victory over Persia. During the feast, the musician Timotheus plays his lyre, evoking different emotions in Alexander—ranging from pride and triumph to sorrow and rage. The poem explores the transformative power of music, showing how it can manipulate human emotions and actions. Dryden’s work is a masterful example of lyrical poetry, blending grandeur, musicality, and dramatic intensity.

MCQs:

1. Who is the central figure in Alexander’s Feast?
   a) Julius Caesar
   b) Alexander the Great
   c) Napoleon Bonaparte
   d) Augustus Caesar
   Answer: b) Alexander the Great
2. What is the primary theme of the poem?
   a) The downfall of empires
   b) The power of music over human emotions
   c) The importance of war strategy
   d) The divine right of kings
   Answer: b) The power of music over human emotions
3. Who plays music for Alexander in the poem?
   a) Orpheus
   b) Apollo
   c) Timotheus
   d) Homer
   Answer: c) Timotheus

   

4. What does Timotheus’ music make Alexander feel?
   a) Pride and triumph
   b) Sorrow and regret
   c) Rage and destruction
   d) All of the above
   Answer: d) All of the above
5. Which occasion was Alexander’s Feast written for?
   a) The coronation of Charles II
   b) Saint Cecilia’s Day
   c) The anniversary of the English Civil War
   d) A victory celebration
   Answer: b) Saint Cecilia’s Day
6. What literary form is Alexander’s Feast?
   a) Epic
   b) Ode
   c) Sonnet
   d) Ballad
   Answer: b) Ode
7. How does the poem depict music?
   a) As a source of entertainment only
   b) As a divine and transformative force
   c) As a tool of war
   d) As an instrument of deception
   Answer: b) As a divine and transformative force
8. What happens when Timotheus sings about Bacchus?
   a) Alexander falls into a deep sleep
   b) Alexander is inspired to burn Persepolis
   c) The guests leave the feast
   d) The heavens open up
   Answer: b) Alexander is inspired to burn Persepolis
9. Which famous composer later adapted Alexander’s Feast into a musical work?
   a) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
   b) Ludwig van Beethoven
   c) George Frideric Handel
   d) Johann Sebastian Bach
   Answer: c) George Frideric Handel
10. What does the poem suggest about art’s influence on power?
    a) Art has no real impact on rulers
    b) Music can shape the emotions and decisions of even the most powerful leaders
    c) Only religion can influence political power
    d) Poetry is more powerful than music
    Answer: b) Music can shape the emotions and decisions of even the most powerful leaders