2020 WAEC (WASSCE) Literature in English Past Questions and Answers
The 2020 WAEC (WASSCE) Literature in English past questions with answers: 48 objective questions from the 2020 paper in the DeeepSolve question bank, each with its answer behind "Show answer". Try each question before you check, then practise the paper as a timed WAEC-style CBT.
Past questions © the examination body (JAMB/WAEC/NECO). DeeepSolve is not affiliated with them. Rights holders: see /copyright.
Questions
- 1.
The underlined expression implies an attitude of __________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.callousness
- B.hypocrisy
- C.racism
- D.tribalism
Show answer
Answer: D. tribalism
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- 2.
Speaker Y has just ______
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.discovered lago's plan
- B.killed, Desdemona
- C.ordered the arrest of lago
- D.promoted Cassio
Show answer
Answer: A. discovered lago's plan
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- 3.
The expression million voices is used as _________
- A.conceit
- B.euphemism
- C.hyperbole
- D.metonymy
Show answer
Answer: C. hyperbole
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- 4.
The mood is that of
- A.deceit
- B.envy
- C.hatred
- D.regret
Show answer
Answer: A. deceit
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- 5.
His pen was like the breath of life exemplifies ________
- A.bathos
- B.pathos
- C.satire
- D.simile
Show answer
Answer: D. simile
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question We are given the sentence "His pen was like the breath of life" and asked which literary device it shows.
Step 2: Explain the concepts
- Bathos: a sudden, often unintentional drop from a serious or elevated tone to a trivial or ridiculous one.
- Pathos: language or a situation that arouses pity, sorrow, or sympathy.
- Satire: the use of ridicule, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticise human folly or vices.
- Simile: a direct comparison between two different things using "like" or "as."
Step 3: Apply to the sentence "His pen was like the breath of life" compares two unlike things, a pen and the breath of life. The comparison uses the word "like", which is the clear signal of a simile.
- There is no sudden fall from the serious to the silly, so it is not bathos.
- The line does not try to evoke pity, so it is not pathos.
- It does not mock or criticise anyone, so it is not satire.
Step 4: Answer The sentence is a simile, which is option D.
Exam tip: In Literature in English, look for the connecting words first.
- "Like" or "as" means simile.
- A direct statement such as "His pen was the breath of life" (no "like" or "as") means metaphor.
This quick check will help you win easy marks on figures-of-speech questions.
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- 6.
Comic relief occurs in ________
- A.comedies
- B.pastorals
- C.romance
- D.tragedies
Show answer
Answer: D. tragedies
AI explanation
Analyze the question: Comic relief is a literary device. The question asks in which type of work it occurs.
Explain the concept: Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous scene, character, or speech in a serious or tragic work. Its purpose is to ease the tension built up by heavy events, and sometimes to heighten the tragedy by contrast. The device is most closely associated with serious drama.
Work through the options:
- A. Comedies: The whole play is already humorous, so there is nothing to "relieve." Comic relief is not needed here.
- B. Pastorals: These are idealized poems or plays about rural life. They are mostly calm and gentle, not tense, so they do not depend on comic relief.
- C. Romance: These are adventure or love stories. They may include humor, but comic relief is not their defining feature.
- D. Tragedies: Serious works with intense emotion and suffering. Writers insert light moments to give the audience a break from the gloom.
Examples from your texts:
- The Porter scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth (right after Duncan's murder).
- The gravediggers in Hamlet.
- The Fool in King Lear.
Answer: Comic relief occurs in tragedies, which is option D.
Exam tip: Remember "relief" means relief from something heavy. If you see "comic relief," think "tragedy" or serious drama.
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- 7.
Just after this dialogue __________
- A.Cassio is killed
- B.Emilia realises her culpability
- C.lago gloats over his success
- D.Roderigo fights Cassio
Show answer
Answer: C. lago gloats over his success
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- 8.
The speaker is
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.cassio
- B.Iago
- C.Duke
- D.Roderigo
Show answer
Answer: A. cassio
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- 9.
A ship in the last line symbolises _________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.despair.
- B.hope
- C.pirates
- D.sailors
Show answer
Answer: C. pirates
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- 10.
.. he ..., referred to by Speaker X, is __________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.Brabantio
- B.Gratiano
- C.Montano
- D.Lodovico
Show answer
Answer: B. Gratiano
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- 11.
The predominant use of long vowels in the first sentence heightens the ______ of the waves
- A.anger
- B.expanse
- C.great noise
- D.endless movement
Show answer
Answer: A. anger
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- 12.
Students rarely read Julius Caesar these days illustrates ________
- A.caesura
- B.eponym
- C.oxymoron
- D.zeugma
Show answer
Answer: B. eponym
AI explanation
Analyzing the question
The sentence is "Students rarely read Julius Caesar these days." The question asks which literary term it illustrates. The key is the phrase "Julius Caesar," which here doesn't refer to the Roman man but to the play named after him.
Explaining the concepts
- Caesura: a pause or break within a line of verse, often marked by punctuation. It has nothing to do with this sentence.
- Eponym: a person (real or fictional) after whom something is named. For example, Julius Caesar is the eponymous title character of Shakespeare's play, and Macbeth, Hamlet and Othello are eponymous titles too.
- Oxymoron: two contradictory terms placed together, such as "deafening silence" or "cruel kindness".
- Zeugma: one word governing two or more others in different senses, such as "She broke his car and his heart."
Working through the solution
- The sentence has no pause in verse, so it is not caesura (A).
- It has no contradictory pair of words, so it is not oxymoron (C).
- One verb ("read") is not being used in two different senses, so it is not zeugma (D).
- "Julius Caesar" is the name of a character that also gives its name to the play. This is the idea of an eponym (B).
Answer: B. eponym
Exam tip: Remember that "eponym" comes from Greek epi (upon) + onyma (name), so it means "the name given to something." When a title is the name of its main character (Hamlet, Oliver Twist, Things Fall Apart is not one, but Jane Eyre is), think eponym!
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- 13.
The speaker has just been threatened by ________
- A.Cassio
- B.lago
- C.Lodovico
- D.Othello
Show answer
Answer: A. Cassio
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- 14.
hands and feet in line 4 illustrate _________
- A.contrast
- B.litotes
- C.personification
- D.synecdoche
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Answer: C. personification
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- 15.
The end of a performance is followed by ________
- A.a curtain call
- B.a curtain raiser
- C.epilogue
- D.interlude
Show answer
Answer: A. a curtain call
AI explanation
Analyze the question: It asks what comes at the end of a performance (a play, concert, etc.). So we need the term that describes something that happens after the performance finishes.
Explain the concepts:
- Curtain call: The moment after a performance ends when the actors come back onto the stage to receive applause from the audience and take a bow.
- Curtain raiser: A short play or act performed before the main play. It comes at the beginning, not the end.
- Epilogue: A concluding speech or section at the end of a play or literary work. It is part of the work itself, so it comes at the end of the play and is not what follows the end of the performance.
- Interlude: A short break or entertainment between acts or scenes, so it comes in the middle.
Step-by-step solution:
- The question says "the end of a performance is followed by..." so we are looking for something that happens after everything, including any epilogue, is finished.
- B (curtain raiser) is at the start, so it is eliminated.
- D (interlude) is in the middle, so it is eliminated.
- C (epilogue) is a close contender, but it is the final part of the play's content and is performed as part of the performance.
- A (curtain call) happens once the performance is over, when the cast comes out to be applauded. It fits "followed by" best.
Answer: A. a curtain call
Tip: Remember the order: Curtain raiser (before) → Interlude (during) → Epilogue (end of the play) → Curtain call (after the play, cast takes a bow). Link "call" with the audience calling the actors back to applaud them.
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- 16.
The meaning of the expression, Ere slumber's chain has bound me is
- A.after i wake up
- B.before i sleep
- C.before i dream
- D.since i cannot sleep
Show answer
Answer: B. before i sleep
AI explanation
Analyze the question: You are asked for the meaning of the line "Ere slumber's chain has bound me." This is from the poem "Ere slumber's chain has bound me" (a hymn-like poem often cited in WASSCE literature).
Explain the concept: The key word is "ere." It is an archaic (old-fashioned) English word meaning "before." Poets often use words like ere, thee, thou, and hath, so learning them helps in the poetry section.
Other important words in the line:
- Slumber = sleep
- Chain has bound me = sleep has tied me down, that is, I have fallen asleep
Step-by-step solution:
- "Ere" = before
- "Slumber's chain has bound me" = sleep has taken hold of me, so I am asleep
- Put together: "Before sleep has taken hold of me" = before I sleep
Checking the options:
- A. After I wake up: wrong, since "ere" means before, not after, and the line is about falling asleep, not waking.
- B. Before I sleep: correct.
- C. Before I dream: dreaming is not mentioned.
- D. Since I cannot sleep: "ere" does not mean "since," and the line does not say sleep is impossible.
**Answer: B. Before I sleep.
Tip: In archaic poetry, remember that ere = before. Whenever you see "ere," replace it with "before" and the line usually becomes clear. Also notice "chain" is a metaphor, so sleep is pictured as something that holds a person.
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- 17.
The underlined words illustrate ________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.hyperbole
- B.irony
- C.metonymy
- D.paradox
Show answer
Answer: C. metonymy
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- 18.
Condensed use of language is a dominant feature of ___________
- A.comedy
- B.poetry
- C.prose
- D.tragedy
Show answer
Answer: B. poetry
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which literary form is mainly known for "condensed use of language." That means saying a lot using very few words.
Step 2: Explain the concept Condensed language (also called compression or economy of language) means packing deep meaning, emotion, and imagery into a limited number of words. Poets achieve this with:
- Figures of speech (metaphor, simile, personification, symbolism)
- Imagery, where a single image carries many ideas
- Ellipsis, leaving out unnecessary words
- Line and stanza structure, where every word must earn its place
Step 3: Evaluate the options
- A. Comedy: a type of drama that is humorous and has a happy ending. It is defined by plot and mood, not by compressed language.
- B. Poetry: a genre that depends on brevity, intensity, and carefully chosen words. Compression is one of its key features.
- C. Prose: ordinary written language in sentences and paragraphs (novels, short stories). It is expansive and detailed, so it is the opposite of condensed.
- D. Tragedy: a type of drama that ends in disaster or downfall. Like comedy, it is defined by plot and theme, not by compressed language.
Step 4: Answer Poetry is the form in which condensed use of language is a dominant feature.
Exam tip: Remember "Poetry = Packed". Poems pack much meaning into few words. When a question mentions compression, brevity, or economy of words, think poetry. When it mentions plot, ending, or mood, think drama (comedy or tragedy). When it mentions narrative or paragraphs, think prose.
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- 19.
The dominant literary device used in the lines is ________
- A.euphemism
- B.hyperbole
- C.paradox
- D.understatement
Show answer
Answer: A. euphemism
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20.This question needs a diagram, table or passage that we don't have yet, so it isn't shown.
- 21.
Ascribing human moods to nature, as in a playful-breeze illustrates _________
- A.humour
- B.pathetic fallacy
- C.symbolism
- D.zeugma
Show answer
Answer: B. pathetic fallacy
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- 22.
The theme of the poem is presented essentially through ________
- A.assonance
- B.contrast.
- C.paradox
- D.repetition
Show answer
Answer: A. assonance
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- 23.
..do a desperate turn means _______
- A.commit suicide
- B.confront Duke
- C.disown Desdemona
- D.kill Othello
Show answer
Answer: B. confront Duke
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- 24.
The listener's initial reaction to the speech is one of _________
- A.anger
- B.defiance
- C.disbelief
- D.regret
Show answer
Answer: C. disbelief
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- 25.
The two words that give hint of the poet's unhappiness are?
- A.light and night
- B.light and shone
- C.night and dimm'd
- D.Shone and dimm'd
Show answer
Answer: A. light and night
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- 26.
The underlined expression exemplifies __________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.antithesis
- B.apostrophe
- C.chiasmus
- D.euphemism
Show answer
Answer: B. apostrophe
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- 27.
In Literature, the term poetic justice applies to __________
- A.a story that ends well
- B.characters that are spared death
- C.the development of a good plot
- D.the rewarding of good characters and the punishing of bad ones.
Show answer
Answer: D. the rewarding of good characters and the punishing of bad ones.
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the meaning of the literary term poetic justice.
Step 2: Explain the concept Poetic justice is a literary device in which virtue is eventually rewarded and vice is punished, usually in a way that fits the deeds of the characters. The outcome feels morally fair, as if the story itself "corrects" wrongdoing.
Step 3: Evaluate the options
- A. A story that ends well: A happy ending alone is not poetic justice. A story can end happily without anyone being rewarded or punished according to their deeds. ❌
- B. Characters that are spared death: Survival has nothing to do with moral fairness. In fact, a wicked character may die as part of poetic justice. ❌
- C. The development of a good plot: This describes plot structure, not moral outcomes. ❌
- D. The rewarding of good characters and the punishing of bad ones: This is exactly the definition of poetic justice. ✅
Step 4: Example In many folktales and in plays like Shakespeare's Macbeth, the wicked Macbeth meets a downfall that matches his crimes, while the rightful order is restored under Malcolm. That is poetic justice at work.
Step 5: Exam tip Think of "poetic justice" as "fair payback": good gets rewarded, evil gets punished. If an option mentions both rewards and punishments tied to moral behavior, it is probably the answer. Don't be misled by options that only mention "happy endings" or "survival."
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- 28.
What has just happened is that _______
- A.Emilia has confirmed her mistress's guilt
- B.lago has openly confessed his crime
- C.Othello has murdered his wife
- D.Roderigo has realised lago is a fraud
Show answer
Answer: C. Othello has murdered his wife
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29.This question needs a diagram, table or passage that we don't have yet, so it isn't shown.
- 30.
This stage of the play is known as the _________
- A.climax
- B.conflict
- C.dennouement
- D.exposition
Show answer
Answer: A. climax
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- 31.
.... so good a commander refers to
- A.Brabantio
- B.Duke
- C.Othelo
- D.Roderigo
Show answer
Answer: A. Brabantio
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- 32.
Which of the following is written by a Non-African poet?
- A.Piano and Drums
- B.The Dining Table
- C.The Schoolboy
- D.The Panic of Growing Older
Show answer
Answer: C. The Schoolboy
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- 33.
The sudden reversal of a character's fortune in a literary work is _________
- A.denouement
- B.hamartia
- C.hubris
- D.peripeteia
Show answer
Answer: D. peripeteia
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term for a sudden reversal of a character's fortune in a literary work.
Step 2: Explain the key terms
- Denouement (A): The final resolution or untangling of the plot, where loose ends are tied up after the climax. It is not a reversal.
- Hamartia (B): The tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to a hero's downfall.
- Hubris (C): Excessive pride or arrogance, which often causes the hero's downfall.
- Peripeteia (D): A term from Aristotle's Poetics meaning a sudden reversal of fortune, where events turn from good to bad (or bad to good) for the protagonist.
Step 3: Match the definition "Sudden reversal of fortune" is the textbook definition of peripeteia. For example, in Oedipus Rex, the messenger arrives to bring Oedipus good news, but his words reveal the truth about Oedipus's birth, and Oedipus's fortunes collapse.
Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. peripeteia.
Tip: Remember the "P" link: Peripeteia = Plot Pivot (a sudden turn). Also, link the other terms like this:
- Hamartia = flaw
- Hubris = pride
- Denouement = ending/resolution
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- 34.
The writer's attitude to the scene is one of _________
- A.anxiety
- B.awe
- C.contempt
- D.indiference
Show answer
Answer: D. indiference
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- 35.
Speaker Y's speech shows that _________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.Cassio is to blame
- B.Emilia is to blame
- C.he is unrepentant
- D.she is regretful
Show answer
Answer: B. Emilia is to blame
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- 36.
The speaker is ________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.at the citadel of Cyprus
- B.In front of Brabantio's house
- C.In the council chamber
- D.outside the sagittary
Show answer
Answer: A. at the citadel of Cyprus
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- 37.
Read the lines and answer the question: The underlined words illustrate: Marching along fifty score strong Great hearted gentlemen singing this song
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.assonance
- B.consonance
- C.onomatopoeia
- D.repetition
Show answer
Answer: D. repetition
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- 38.
The speaker is _________
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.Cassio
- B.Iago
- C.Lodovico
- D.Roderigo
Show answer
Answer: A. Cassio
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- 39.
Which of the following is written by an African playwright?
- A.She Stoops to Conquer
- B.A Raisin in the Sun
- C.Lonely Days
- D.The Blood of a stranger
Show answer
Answer: D. The Blood of a stranger
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- 40.
The speaker is addressing
This question refers to an extract from the original paper, which isn't shown here.
- A.Cassio
- B.Iago
- C.Othelo
- D.Roderigo
Show answer
Answer: B. Iago
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- 41.
The big boulder blasted the house illustrates _________
- A.alliteration
- B.contrast
- C.irony
- D.paradox
Show answer
Answer: A. alliteration
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question The sentence is "The big boulder blasted the house." We need to identify which figure of speech or sound device it shows.
Step 2: Recall the concepts
- Alliteration: repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words (e.g., "Peter Piper picked...").
- Contrast: placing opposite ideas side by side (e.g., "hot and cold").
- Irony: saying or showing the opposite of what is expected or meant.
- Paradox: a statement that seems self-contradictory but contains truth (e.g., "less is more").
Step 3: Apply to the sentence Look at the words: big, boulder, blasted. Three words close together begin with the same consonant sound /b/. There is no opposition of ideas (contrast), no reversal of meaning (irony), and no seeming self-contradiction (paradox).
The repeated /b/ sound is also a plosive sound, which suggests the force and noise of an explosion, giving the line a sound effect that matches its meaning.
Step 4: Answer The sentence illustrates alliteration, which is option A.
Exam tip: For sound-device questions, read the sentence aloud and look at the first sounds of the words. If the same consonant sound keeps repeating (b-b-b), it is alliteration. If the repeated sound is a vowel sound inside words, it is assonance instead.
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- 42.
The theme is about the poet's _________
- A.broken love affairs.
- B.fee the stilly night.
- C.sleepless night.
- D.yearning for happier times gone
Show answer
Answer: D. yearning for happier times gone
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- 43.
The poet refers to memory as being 'fond' and 'sad' because it brings?
- A.cheers and smiles
- B.love and joy
- C.sorrow and pity
- D.smiles and tears
Show answer
Answer: D. smiles and tears
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- 44.
A short poem with a witty or sarcastic ending is a/an __________
- A.ballad
- B.allegory
- C.epigram
- D.panegyric
Show answer
Answer: C. epigram
AI explanation
Step 1: Analyze the question We need the literary term for a short poem that ends in a witty or sarcastic way.
Step 2: Explain each option
- A. Ballad: a narrative poem or song that tells a story, usually in short stanzas. It is not necessarily short or witty.
- B. Allegory: a story, poem, or picture with a hidden moral or political meaning, such as Animal Farm. It is usually long, not short.
- C. Epigram: a brief, clever, often satirical poem or saying that ends with a witty or sarcastic twist. The word comes from the Greek epigramma, meaning "inscription".
- D. Panegyric: a poem or speech of high praise for a person or achievement. It is not sarcastic.
Step 3: Match the definition "Short" plus "witty or sarcastic ending" matches epigram. An example is Alexander Pope's couplet: "I am his Highness' dog at Kew; Pray tell me sir, whose dog are you?" It is short, and the final line delivers the sharp, witty jab.
Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. epigram.
Tip: Link the terms to key words:
- Ballad → story
- Allegory → hidden meaning
- Epigram → brief and witty
- Panegyric → praise
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- 45.
... y' are robbed! refers to
- A.Brabantio's r-ejection of Othello
- B.Desdemona's stout defense of Othello
- C.Iago's stealing of Rodrigo's purse
- D.Othello's elopement with Desdemona
Show answer
Answer: D. Othello's elopement with Desdemona
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- 46.
A situation where an audience is aware of an action a character is ignorant of is ________
- A.dramatic irony
- B.comic relief
- C.aside
- D.satire
Show answer
Answer: A. dramatic irony
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- 47.
Soon after this, the Speaker ________
- A.attempts to run away
- B.is arrested by Lodovico
- C.is killed by lago
- D.shows remorse
Show answer
Answer: A. attempts to run away
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- 48.
A fictional prose which is neither a novel nor a short story is a/an __________
- A.allegory
- B.fable
- C.novella
- D.novelette
Show answer
Answer: C. novella
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