England in 1819 MCQs & Summary

Summary:

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s England in 1819 is a powerful political sonnet that criticizes the state of England under the rule of King George III and the corrupt ruling class. The poem was inspired by the oppressive political climate of the time, particularly the Peterloo Massacre, where peaceful protesters demanding reforms were violently suppressed by the government.

Shelley describes England as a nation suffering under a decayed and corrupt monarchy. The king is portrayed as “old, mad, blind, despised, and dying,” while the ruling elite are “leech-like” figures who drain the life from the people. The army and church are also depicted as corrupt institutions that contribute to the suffering of the common people.

Despite the grim picture painted in the poem, Shelley hints at the possibility of revolution and change, suggesting that something new and powerful may emerge from this period of decay. His vision aligns with the Romantic belief in the power of the people to overthrow oppression and create a better future.

England in 1819 remains a significant poem in the history of political literature, serving as a critique of tyranny and a call for reform.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote England in 1819?
   a) William Wordsworth
   b) John Keats
   c) Percy Bysshe Shelley
   d) Lord Byron
   Answer: c) Percy Bysshe Shelley
2. What type of poem is England in 1819?
   a) Sonnet
   b) Ode
   c) Ballad
   d) Epic
   Answer: a) Sonnet
3. What historical event heavily influenced England in 1819?
   a) The French Revolution
   b) The Industrial Revolution
   c) The Peterloo Massacre
   d) The American Revolution
   Answer: c) The Peterloo Massacre

   

4. Who is criticized in England in 1819?
   a) The common people
   b) The English monarchy and ruling class
   c) The working class
   d) The French government
   Answer: b) The English monarchy and ruling class
5. Which king is specifically mentioned in England in 1819?
   a) King George III
   b) King George IV
   c) King William IV
   d) King Henry VIII
   Answer: a) King George III
6. What does Shelley call the rulers in the poem?
   a) “Angels of mercy”
   b) “An old and dying lion”
   c) “A drowsy and dull race”
   d) “Leech-like tyrants”
   Answer: d) “Leech-like tyrants”
7. How does Shelley describe the state of England in 1819?
   a) A land of peace and prosperity
   b) A nation in decay and suffering
   c) A powerful and respected empire
   d) A land untouched by corruption
   Answer: b) A nation in decay and suffering
8. What does Shelley suggest might happen after this period of suffering?
   a) The country will fall into permanent ruin
   b) The people will revolt and bring change
   c) The monarchy will become stronger
   d) England will invade another country
   Answer: b) The people will revolt and bring change
9. What literary devices are used in England in 1819?
   a) Personification, imagery, metaphor
   b) Alliteration and rhyme
   c) Onomatopoeia and symbolism
   d) Hyperbole and irony
   Answer: a) Personification, imagery, metaphor
10. What is the tone of England in 1819?
    a) Hopeful and optimistic
    b) Joyful and celebratory
    c) Angry and critical
    d) Indifferent and neutral
    Answer: c) Angry and critical