Prometheus Unbound (Excerpts) MCQs & Summary

Summary:

Prometheus Unbound is a lyrical drama written by Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1820, inspired by Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. The play tells the story of Prometheus, a Titan who defied Zeus (Jupiter) by giving fire and knowledge to humanity. As punishment, he was chained to a rock where an eagle continually ate his liver. Unlike Aeschylus’ version, where Prometheus remains bound, Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound envisions his liberation.

The play explores themes of resistance against tyranny, human enlightenment, and the power of love and intellectual freedom. In Shelley’s version, Prometheus is freed not by Hercules but by Demogorgon, who symbolizes the overthrow of oppressive rulers. Once Prometheus is liberated, Jupiter’s power collapses, ushering in an era of peace, love, and harmony.

Shelley uses Prometheus Unbound as an allegory for political revolution, reflecting his hope for the fall of oppressive governments and the rise of an enlightened society. The play ends on an optimistic note, emphasizing the potential for human progress and freedom.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote Prometheus Unbound?
   a) John Keats
   b) Percy Bysshe Shelley
   c) Lord Byron
   d) William Wordsworth
   Answer: b) Percy Bysshe Shelley
2. Prometheus Unbound is a response to which classical work?
   a) Iliad by Homer
   b) Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
   c) Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus
   d) The Aeneid by Virgil
   Answer: c) Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus
3. What does Prometheus symbolize in Shelley’s work?
   a) Tyranny and oppression
   b) Rebellion and intellectual freedom
   c) Divine authority
   d) Fate and destiny
   Answer: b) Rebellion and intellectual freedom
4. Who is the main antagonist in Prometheus Unbound?
   a) Zeus (Jupiter)
   b) Prometheus
   c) Apollo
   d) Hermes
   Answer: a) Zeus (Jupiter)
5. What punishment does Prometheus suffer at the beginning of the play?
   a) Eternal sleep
   b) Chained to a rock with an eagle eating his liver
   c) Exile from Mount Olympus
   d) Transformation into an animal
   Answer: b) Chained to a rock with an eagle eating his liver
6. What is the central theme of Prometheus Unbound?
   a) The inevitability of fate
   b) The struggle against oppression and the triumph of the human spirit
   c) The importance of tradition
   d) The dangers of ambition
   Answer: b) The struggle against oppression and the triumph of the human spirit
7. Who helps free Prometheus in Prometheus Unbound?
   a) Hercules
   b) Mercury
   c) Demogorgon
   d) Athena
   Answer: c) Demogorgon
8. What literary form does Prometheus Unbound take?
   a) Epic poem
   b) Lyric poem
   c) Verse drama
   d) Prose novel
   Answer: c) Verse drama
9. How does Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound differ from Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound?
   a) Shelley’s version focuses on Prometheus’ suffering
   b) Shelley’s version completes the story with Prometheus’ liberation
   c) Shelley’s version portrays Zeus as a just ruler
   d) Shelley’s version ends with Prometheus’ death
   Answer: b) Shelley’s version completes the story with Prometheus’ liberation
10. What is the final outcome for humanity in Prometheus Unbound?
    a) Humanity is destroyed
    b) Humanity gains freedom and enlightenment
    c) Humanity becomes subservient to the gods
    d) Humanity is punished by Zeus
    Answer: b) Humanity gains freedom and enlightenment