The character assumed by the author in his writing is

Analyze the question: It asks for the term for the character or voice an author adopts when writing, that is, the "mask" through which the author speaks.

Explain the concepts:

• Protagonist: the main character in a story or play (for example, Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart). It is not a role the author assumes.
• Chorus: in Greek drama, a group of performers who comment on the action. It can also mean a repeated part of a song.
• Persona: from the Latin word for "mask". It is the character, voice, or identity an author adopts in a work, so the speaker is not necessarily the author. In poetry this is often called the "speaker" or "poetic persona".
• Pseudonym: a false name an author uses instead of their real name (a pen name). It concerns the author's name, not a character or voice within the writing.

Step-by-step solution:

1. The question says "the character assumed by the author in his writing". This points to a voice or role taken on within the text.
2. A protagonist is a character in the story, not something the author assumes.
3. A chorus is a group or a dramatic device, which does not fit.
4. A pseudonym is a false name on the book's cover, not a character in the writing.
5. Persona is the voice or character the author adopts to tell the story or deliver the poem.

Answer: C. persona

Exam tip: Remember "persona = mask". Persona is about the voice inside the work, while pseudonym is about the name on the cover. WASSCE often tests these two together.