Post UTME English Literature Past Questions and Answers

Post UTME English Literature tests a candidate’s understanding of literary works, comprehension skills, and ability to analyze themes, characters, and literary devices. Practicing past questions is an effective way to prepare for the exam, enhance your confidence, and improve your chances of scoring high. Below are 50 carefully compiled objective questions and answers for Post UTME English Literature.

Post UTME English Literature Past Questions (Objective) – 1 100

Here are Post UTME English Literature Past Questions and Answers:

1. Who wrote Things Fall Apart?
   a. Wole Soyinka
   b. Chinua Achebe
   c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
   d. Ama Ata Aidoo
   Answer: b
2. The main theme of Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka is:
   a. Love
   b. Colonialism and Tradition
   c. War
   d. Friendship
   Answer: b
3. The Lion and the Jewel is a play by:
   a. Chinua Achebe
   b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
   c. Wole Soyinka
   d. Ama Ata Aidoo
   Answer: c
4. Which of the following is a poem by Christopher Okigbo?
   a. Labyrinths
   b. Arrow of God
   c. No Longer at Ease
   d. The Palm-Wine Drinkard
   Answer: a
5. The literary device used in “The sun smiled down on us” is:
   a. Simile
   b. Metaphor
   c. Personification
   d. Hyperbole
   Answer: c
6. Who wrote A Grain of Wheat?
   a. Chinua Achebe
   b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
   c. Wole Soyinka
   d. Ken Saro-Wiwa
   Answer: b
7. The main character in Things Fall Apart is:
   a. Obierika
   b. Okonkwo
   c. Nwoye
   d. Ikemefuna
   Answer: b
8. In literature, the term “protagonist” refers to:
   a. The villain
   b. The main character
   c. A minor character
   d. The narrator
   Answer: b
9. No Longer at Ease is written by:
   a. Wole Soyinka
   b. Chinua Achebe
   c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
   d. Femi Osofisan
   Answer: b
10. The use of exaggeration in literature is called:
    a. Metaphor
    b. Hyperbole
    c. Irony
    d. Alliteration
    Answer: b
11. Who wrote Petals of Blood?
    a. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ama Ata Aidoo
    Answer: a
12. Which literary period is Chinua Achebe associated with?
    a. Victorian
    b. Postcolonial
    c. Romantic
    d. Renaissance
    Answer: b
13. The character Ikemefuna in Things Fall Apart is:
    a. Okonkwo’s son
    b. Okonkwo’s adopted son
    c. Okonkwo’s brother
    d. Okonkwo’s friend
    Answer: b
14. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words is called:
    a. Assonance
    b. Alliteration
    c. Consonance
    d. Onomatopoeia
    Answer: b
15. The Palm-Wine Drinkard is a work by:
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Amos Tutuola
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Chinua Achebe
    Answer: b
16. A narrative told from the “I” perspective is called:
    a. First-person
    b. Third-person
    c. Omniscient
    d. Objective
    Answer: a
17. Who wrote Arrow of God?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Wole Soyinka
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: a
18. The central theme of Petals of Blood is:
    a. Love and Betrayal
    b. Social injustice and corruption
    c. War and peace
    d. Colonial exploration
    Answer: b
19. Which of the following is a play by Wole Soyinka?
    a. A Man of the People
    b. Death and the King’s Horseman
    c. Things Fall Apart
    d. Petals of Blood
    Answer: b
20. The main conflict in Things Fall Apart is:
    a. Man vs. Nature
    b. Man vs. Man
    c. Man vs. Society
    d. Man vs. Technology
    Answer: c
21. In literature, “foreshadowing” refers to:
    a. Hinting at future events
    b. Repetition of ideas
    c. Character development
    d. Narration in past tense
    Answer: a
22. Who is the author of A Man of the People?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Femi Osofisan
    Answer: a
23. Which of the following is an epic poem?
    a. Labyrinths
    b. Iliad
    c. Arrow of God
    d. The Palm-Wine Drinkard
    Answer: b
24. The literary term for a character who contrasts the protagonist is:
    a. Antagonist
    b. Foil
    c. Mentor
    d. Confidant
    Answer: b
25. Death and the King’s Horseman deals primarily with:
    a. Love
    b. Duty and cultural clash
    c. Adventure
    d. Comedy
    Answer: b
26. The term “theme” in literature refers to:
    a. The moral or message of a work
    b. The setting of a story
    c. The main character
    d. The plot
    Answer: a
27. Who wrote The Trial of Brother Jero?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: c
28. Which of these is a short story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie?
    a. The Thing Around Your Neck
    b. Things Fall Apart
    c. Petals of Blood
    d. Arrow of God
    Answer: a
29. The central theme of Arrow of God is:
    a. Religion and colonialism
    b. Love and betrayal
    c. Family and friendship
    d. War and peace
    Answer: a
30. A literary work written to be performed by actors is called:
    a. Novel
    b. Poem
    c. Play
    d. Short story
    Answer: c
31. Who is the author of The Thing Around Your Neck?
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: c
32. The character Okonkwo is best described as:
    a. Weak and cowardly
    b. Strong but inflexible
    c. Gentle and kind
    d. Lazy and careless
    Answer: b
33. The main idea expressed in a literary work is known as:
    a. Plot
    b. Theme
    c. Setting
    d. Character
    Answer: b
34. Who wrote Girls at War?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    Answer: a
35. A story set in the future or alternate reality is called:
    a. Historical fiction
    b. Science fiction
    c. Realistic fiction
    d. Folktale
    Answer: b
36. No Longer at Ease deals mainly with:
    a. Corruption and moral dilemmas
    b. Love and marriage
    c. War and politics
    d. Adventure and exploration
    Answer: a
37. Who wrote The Interpreters?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Wole Soyinka
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: a
38. The literary term for a narrator who knows all thoughts and feelings is:
    a. First-person
    b. Third-person omniscient
    c. Third-person limited
    d. Objective narrator
    Answer: b
39. The play A Dance of the Forests was written by:
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Amos Tutuola
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: c
40. Which is an example of oral literature?
    a. Novels
    b. Folktales
    c. Plays
    d. Essays
    Answer: b
41. The character of Nwoye in Things Fall Apart is:
    a. Okonkwo’s father
    b. Okonkwo’s son
    c. Okonkwo’s friend
    d. Village elder
    Answer: b
42. The term “climax” in a story refers to:
    a. The introduction
    b. The turning point or highest tension
    c. The conclusion
    d. The background
    Answer: b
43. Who wrote The Trials of Brother Jero?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Wole Soyinka
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Femi Osofisan
    Answer: b
44. The repetition of vowel sounds is called:
    a. Alliteration
    b. Assonance
    c. Consonance
    d. Rhyme
    Answer: b
45. Petals of Blood is set in:
    a. Kenya
    b. Nigeria
    c. Ghana
    d. Uganda
    Answer: a
46. A story’s sequence of events is called:
    a. Theme
    b. Plot
    c. Setting
    d. Conflict
    Answer: b
47. Which author is known for Nigerian folktales in prose?
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Amos Tutuola
    c. Chinua Achebe
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: b
48. The Man Died: Prison Notes is a work by:
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Ama Ata Aidoo
    Answer: a
49. The setting of a literary work refers to:
    a. Characters’ traits
    b. Time and place
    c. Plot twists
    d. Moral lessons
    Answer: b
50. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna because:
    a. He wanted to
    b. The village elders commanded it
    c. He was angry with Ikemefuna
    d. Ikemefuna betrayed him
    Answer: b

Post UTME English Literature Past Questions (Objective) – Questions 51–100

Here are commonly repeated Post UTME English Literature Past Questions and Answers to study ahead of exam:

51. Who wrote The African Child?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Camara Laye
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: b
52. The term “irony” in literature means:
    a. A comparison using “like” or “as”
    b. A contrast between expectation and reality
    c. The main message of a story
    d. A type of character
    Answer: b
53. Things Fall Apart is set in which country?
    a. Kenya
    b. Ghana
    c. Nigeria
    d. Uganda
    Answer: c
54. Who wrote The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Ayi Kwei Armah
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: b
55. The conflict between man and society is called:
    a. Internal conflict
    b. External conflict
    c. Man vs. Nature
    d. Man vs. Self
    Answer: b
56. A Grain of Wheat deals with:
    a. Love and Marriage
    b. Kenyan independence and betrayal
    c. Colonial adventure
    d. Family rivalry
    Answer: b
57. The literary device that compares two unlike things directly is:
    a. Simile
    b. Metaphor
    c. Personification
    d. Hyperbole
    Answer: b
58. Who wrote The Concubine?
    a. Elechi Amadi
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: a
59. In The Lion and the Jewel, Sidi represents:
    a. Tradition
    b. Modernity
    c. Colonialism
    d. Nature
    Answer: b
60. The term “symbolism” refers to:
    a. Repetition of consonant sounds
    b. Use of objects to represent ideas
    c. Exaggeration for effect
    d. The main plot
    Answer: b
61. Who is the author of Sunset at Dawn?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Elechi Amadi
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Wole Soyinka
    Answer: b
62. The narrative perspective “omniscient” allows the narrator to:
    a. Know all thoughts and feelings
    b. Only tell one character’s thoughts
    c. Only describe actions
    d. Speak directly to the reader
    Answer: a
63. Which work is a satire on African politics?
    a. A Man of the People
    b. Things Fall Apart
    c. Petals of Blood
    d. Arrow of God
    Answer: a
64. The use of “he” or “she” in narration is called:
    a. First-person
    b. Second-person
    c. Third-person
    d. Omniscient
    Answer: c
65. The Interpreters explores:
    a. Post-independence corruption in Nigeria
    b. Colonial exploration
    c. Folktales and myths
    d. Village life in Kenya
    Answer: a
66. Which of these is a work by Femi Osofisan?
    a. Morountodun
    b. Things Fall Apart
    c. Arrow of God
    d. The Palm-Wine Drinkard
    Answer: a
67. The “antagonist” in a story refers to:
    a. The main character
    b. The character opposing the protagonist
    c. The narrator
    d. A minor character
    Answer: b
68. Who wrote The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives?
    a. Lola Shoneyin
    b. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Chinua Achebe
    Answer: a
69. The literary term “motif” refers to:
    a. The main character
    b. A recurring element or idea
    c. The climax of the story
    d. The setting
    Answer: b
70. The Palm-Wine Drinkard belongs to which genre?
    a. Novel
    b. Folktale/Fantasy
    c. Poetry
    d. Play
    Answer: b
71. Who wrote The Trials of Brother Jero?
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Femi Osofisan
    Answer: a
72. The character of Okonkwo’s father is:
    a. A successful farmer
    b. Weak and indebted
    c. Brave warrior
    d. Village chief
    Answer: b
73. The central conflict in Death and the King’s Horseman is:
    a. Man vs. Nature
    b. Duty vs. Law
    c. Love vs. Hate
    d. Man vs. Technology
    Answer: b
74. A work of literature that ridicules human folly is called:
    a. Tragedy
    b. Satire
    c. Comedy
    d. Epic
    Answer: b
75. Who wrote Changes: A Love Story?
    a. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    b. Wole Soyinka
    c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    d. Elechi Amadi
    Answer: a
76. The term “prologue” refers to:
    a. The climax
    b. The introduction to a literary work
    c. The main conflict
    d. The conclusion
    Answer: b
77. The Lion and the Jewel is set in:
    a. Nigeria
    b. Kenya
    c. Ghana
    d. South Africa
    Answer: a
78. Who wrote Morountodun?
    a. Wole Soyinka
    b. Femi Osofisan
    c. Chinua Achebe
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: b
79. The act of giving human qualities to non-human things is:
    a. Metaphor
    b. Personification
    c. Hyperbole
    d. Simile
    Answer: b
80. Who wrote Purple Hibiscus?
    a. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: a
81. The main theme of A Man of the People is:
    a. Corruption and political satire
    b. Love and friendship
    c. Colonialism
    d. Adventure and exploration
    Answer: a
82. Which work deals with the impact of colonialism on African society?
    a. Things Fall Apart
    b. Petals of Blood
    c. Arrow of God
    d. All of the above
    Answer: d
83. A story told in chronological order is called:
    a. Non-linear narrative
    b. Linear narrative
    c. Flashback
    d. Stream of consciousness
    Answer: b
84. Girls at War focuses on:
    a. Post-independence Nigeria
    b. Colonial Kenya
    c. Village folktales
    d. Traditional rituals
    Answer: a
85. Who wrote A Grain of Wheat?
    a. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: a
86. The term “climax” refers to:
    a. The introduction
    b. The turning point of highest tension
    c. The setting
    d. Character development
    Answer: b
87. Petals of Blood was written by:
    a. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: a
88. The narrative technique that captures a character’s stream of thoughts is:
    a. First-person narration
    b. Third-person omniscient
    c. Stream of consciousness
    d. Objective narration
    Answer: c
89. Who wrote The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives?
    a. Lola Shoneyin
    b. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: a
90. The central theme of Purple Hibiscus is:
    a. Love and betrayal
    b. Family oppression and freedom
    c. Adventure and war
    d. Political satire
    Answer: b
91. The term “denouement” refers to:
    a. The introduction
    b. The resolution or conclusion of a story
    c. The climax
    d. Character development
    Answer: b
92. Who is the author of Arrow of God?
    a. Chinua Achebe
    b. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Amos Tutuola
    Answer: a
93. The main idea or lesson in a literary work is called:
    a. Theme
    b. Plot
    c. Character
    d. Setting
    Answer: a
94. The Man Died: Prison Notes explores:
    a. Political imprisonment and activism
    b. Love and betrayal
    c. Colonial adventures
    d. Traditional folktales
    Answer: a
95. A work meant to be performed by actors is called:
    a. Novel
    b. Play
    c. Poem
    d. Short story
    Answer: b
96. Who wrote Labyrinths?
    a. Christopher Okigbo
    b. Chinua Achebe
    c. Wole Soyinka
    d. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
    Answer: a
97. The character of Nwoye represents:
    a. Rebellion and internal conflict
    b. Strength and tradition
    c. Wisdom
    d. Humor
    Answer: a
98. The Palm-Wine Drinkard explores:
    a. Folktales and fantasy
    b. Political satire
    c. Colonial oppression
    d. Family drama
    Answer: a
99. The literary term “foreshadowing” refers to:
    a. Hinting at future events
    b. Describing the setting
    c. Developing characters
    d. Writing dialogue
    Answer: a
100. Who wrote Death and the King’s Horseman?
     a. Chinua Achebe
     b. Wole Soyinka
     c. Ngugi wa Thiong’o
     d. Femi Osofisan
     Answer: b

Post UTME English Literature Past Questions (Theory)

Here are common repeating Post UTME English Literature Past Questions and Answers theory section:

1. Discuss the main themes in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.
   Answer: The main themes include the clash between tradition and change, colonialism and its impact on Igbo society, masculinity and pride, fate versus free will, and family relationships.
2. Explain the significance of the character Ikemefuna in Things Fall Apart.
   Answer: Ikemefuna represents the effects of tribal customs, the conflict between individual emotions and societal expectations, and serves as a catalyst for Okonkwo’s eventual tragic downfall.
3. Analyze how Wole Soyinka explores duty and cultural conflict in Death and the King’s Horseman.
   Answer: Soyinka portrays duty as adherence to cultural traditions versus colonial law, showing how Pilkings’ interference disrupts the ritual, creating tragedy and emphasizing cultural misunderstandings.
4. Examine the role of women in Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s A Grain of Wheat.
   Answer: Women play crucial roles as nurturers, victims, and symbols of resilience. Characters like Mumbi demonstrate loyalty, courage, and the social consequences of colonial oppression.
5. Discuss the use of symbolism in Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard.
   Answer: Tutuola uses fantastical elements and symbolism to depict moral lessons, the spiritual journey of man, and the interplay between human desires and supernatural forces.
6. Analyze the theme of corruption in Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People.
   Answer: Achebe highlights political corruption and moral decay post-independence, emphasizing the consequences of selfish leadership and the erosion of traditional values.
7. Explain the significance of the title Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
   Answer: The title symbolizes the loss of innocence, the suffering caused by social injustice, and the bloodshed associated with exploitation and betrayal in post-colonial Kenya.
8. Examine the use of irony in Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel.
   Answer: Soyinka uses irony to contrast characters’ intentions versus outcomes, highlight social contradictions between tradition and modernity, and provide humorous yet critical commentary on cultural changes.
9. Discuss the narrative technique in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus.
   Answer: The novel uses first-person narration by Kambili, allowing readers to intimately experience family oppression, political tension, and the protagonist’s personal growth.
10. Analyze how Elechi Amadi portrays traditional beliefs in The Concubine.
    Answer: Amadi presents traditional beliefs as integral to social order and morality, showing how customs, rituals, and spiritual practices influence characters’ decisions and the community’s cohesion.