John Dryden MCQs [English Literature & Famous Authors]

Collection of important MCQs on John Dryden

Dryden said in one of his critical treatises:

“Our numbers (Versification) were in their nonage till these two appeared.” Whom does

Dryden refer to in this observation?

(A) Samuel Butler and Cowley

(B) Milton and Donne

(C) Herrick and Taylor

(D) Waller and Denham

Question’s Answer: Waller and Denham


Between which sets of years did Dryden live ?

(A) 1625-1700

(B) 1628-1700

(C) 1635-1700

(D) 1631-1700

Question’s Answer: 1631-1700


Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy in

(A) A long poetical work

(B) A play in Five Acts

(C) A critical treatise on dramatic art developed through dialogues

(D) A long essay on the art and craft of English dramatists

Question’s Answer: A critical treatise on dramatic art developed through dialogues


Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy develops through dialogues amongst four interlocutors. One of the following is not one of those interlocutors. Identify him:

(A) Eugenius

(B) Crites

(C) Neander

(D) Leslie

Question’s Answer: Leslie


One of the following interlocutors in Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy respresents

Dryden himself. Identify him:

(A) Eugenius

(B) Crites

(C) Lisidelus

(D) Neander

Question’s Answer:  Neander


Which plays is not created and written by  Dryden?

(A) All For Love

(B) Conquest of Granada

(C) Love’s Labour’s Lost

(D) Tyrannic Love

Question’s Answer: Love’s Labour’s Lost


“Here is God’s plenty ” Who is Dryden referring to in this remark?

(A) Chaucer

(B) Marlowe

(C) Shakespeare

(D) Spenser

Question’s Answer: Chaucer


Dryden’s All For Love is based on:

(A) Samson Agonistes.

(B) Antony and Cleopatra

(C) Caesar and Cleopatra

(D) Romeo and Juliet

Question’s Answer: Antony and Cleopatra


The central idea/theme  of Dryden’s The Hind and the Panther is:

(A) Defence of Puritanism

(B) Defence of Protestantism

(C) Defence of Roman Catholicism

(D) Defence of Anglicanism

Question’s Answer: Defence of Roman Catholicism


Dryden’s The Medal is a personal satire on:

(A) Charles 1

(B) James II

(C) Shaftesbury

(D) John Bunyan

Question’s Answer: Shaftesbury


“Here lies my wife, here let her rest!

Now she is at rest, and so am I.”

This was a proposed epitaph to be engraved on the tomb of his wife. Who was this poet?

(A) John Dryden

(B) Ben Jonson

(C) Alexander Pope

(D) Samuel Butler

Question’s Answer: John Dryden


Dryden was hailed as “The Father of English criticism.” Who hailed him thus ?

(A) Coleridge

(B) Pope

(C) Addison

(D) Dr.Johnson

Question’s Answer: Dr.Johnson


What special epithet is given to Dryden’s plays in general?

(A) Horror plays

(B) Historical Tragedy

(C) Revenge plays

(D) Heroic plays

Question’s Answer: Heroic plays


Zimri, Duke of Buckingham, is a character

that appears in Dryden’s:

(A) MacFlecknoe

(B) The Rehearsal

(C) The Medal

(D) Absolem and Achitophel

Question’s Answer: Absolem and Achitophel


Dryden’s Alexander’s Feast is:

(A) A play

(B) A satire

(C) A narrative poem

(D) An ode

Question’s Answer:  An ode


One of the following odes is written by Dryden. Which one?

(A) A Hymn to God the Father

(B) Anne Killigrew

(C) On the Nativity of Christ

(D) None of these

Question’s Answer: Anne Killigrew


Dryden has written an elegy on the death of Cromwell. What is its title?

(A) In Memory of Cromwell

(B) Cromwell

(C) Heroic Stanzas on the Death of Cromwell

(D) A Tribute to Cromwell

Question’s Answer: Heroic Stanzas on the Death of Cromwell


Whom does Dryden satirise in MacFlecknoe?

(A) Thomas Shadwell

(B) Pope

(C) Duke of Buckingham

(D) Shaftesbury

Question’s Answer: Thomas Shadwell


Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel is a very powerful:

(A) Personal satire

(B) Social satire

(C) Religious satire

(D) Political satire

Question’s Answer: Political satire


Dryden’s The Wife of Bath Her Tale is:

(A) A mock-poem

(B) A verse tale

(C) A satirical poem

(D) A Fable

Question’s Answer: A Fable


Dryden’s elegy On the Death of Amyntas is a:

(A) Pastoral elegy

(B) Conventional elegy

(C) Non-serious elegy

(D) An elegy of personal grief

Question’s Answer: Pastoral elegy


In Dryden’s Essay of Dramatic Poesy Neander speaks for:

(A) French Dramatists

(B) Modern English Dramatists

(C) Ancient Dramatists

(D) Greek Dramatists

Question’s Answer: Modern English Dramatists


Dryden has written a play on a Mughal Emperor. On Which Emperors?

(A) Shahjahan

(B) Aurang-Zebe

(C) Bahadur Shah

(D) Akbar

Question’s Answer: Aurang-Zebe


Which plays is written by Dryden?

(A) The Traitor

(B) The Maid’s Revenge

(C) Revenge

(D) The Rival Ladies

Question’s Answer: The Rival Ladie


Dryden’s Love Triumphant is a:

(A) Heroic play

(B) Tragi-comedy

(C) Comedy

(D) Satircal plays

Question’s Answer: Heroic play

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