BNSC Contemporary Literature - PRELIM 8/15/2025

What is the primary goal of literary interpretation?

• To memorize plot points

• To enjoy reading

• To find deeper meaning in a text

• To critique the author's lifestyle

Evaluating a literary text involves:

• Ignoring the writer's style

• Analyzing only the plot

• Judging its effectiveness and impact

• Counting its literary devices

Which of the following best describes a theme?

• The place where the story happens

• The central idea or message of a text

• The number of characters

• The tone of voice used by the narrator

When analyzing poetry, what does the term "tone" refer to?

• The author's biography

• The type of rhyme used

• The speaker's attitude

• The poem's length

Which method is most effective in interpreting symbolism in fiction?

• Counting how often a word is used

• Looking for hidden or deeper meanings in objects or actions

• Reading the story backwards

• Focusing on character names only

When evaluating a drama, which of the following is most crucial?

• The number of acts

• Stage directions and dialogue effectiveness

• Costumes

• The nationality of the playwright

Which of the following is NOT a valid criterion in evaluating a story?

• Clarity of theme

• Coherence of plot

• Number of pages

• Development of characters

What does it mean to evaluate a poem's structure?

• To rewrite the poem in your own words

• To examine the poem's form, stanza, and rhyme

• To read it out loud

• To ask the poet what they meant

In literary criticism, the term "close reading" refers to:

• Speed reading a text

• Skimming for keywords

• Analyzing text details deeply

• Reading the summary only

The best way to interpret the ending of a short story is to:

• Ignore the last paragraph

• Compare it to the beginning

• Consider how it resolves the central conflict

• Focus only on setting details