400+ Likely WAEC Literature Questions PDF

This is your number one collection of very likely WAEC Literature questions for the next WAEC/WASSCE Literature-in-English test paper. You may as well download the PDF version of this post.

Are you a senior high school Literature student or teacher? Maybe you are thinking of sitting for the exam as a private candidate in the Nov/Dec WASSCE. No matter your status, you must not joke with these highly likely WAEC Literature questions for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Please, refer to the complete list of WAEC WASSCE Literature books for the period 2021 – 2025.

But before you start jumping for joy on seeing this post (which I’m sure you will), I would like you to know something equally important about WAEC’s WASSCE questions.

The Way WAEC Set Their Essay Questions

The guys at WAEC are very much aware of the kind of questions students and teachers are likely to prepare for each year. You see, we’ve all been there before. When you take Literature, for instance, no teacher or student is going to ignore preparing for questions on themes and the major characters.

So what do the examiners at WAEC do? They don’t want you to become a parrot who only memorizes a certain set of points just to go there and start reciting on the answer sheet, so to speak. For that matter, they twist the same questions a bit, changing the wording here and there.

Yes, WAEC wants you to be a thinking, analytical student and not a robot. So yes, the ideas are the same, but the wording changes. And if you’re not the kind of candidate who loves to get creative and think out of the box, you will be found wanting. The good news is that any WAEC candidate can do what I’m talking about. All you need is the desire to make it happen. Nothing more.

My point is this. The WAEC Literature questions you will meet in the examination are right here in this post. But never expect to meet all of them printed word for word on your Literature question paper. If you’re lucky, the majority of your exam questions will just be a photocopied version of the likely WASSCE Literature questions in this collection.

But be sure to have at least some of these questions presented in a slightly different form. What this means is simply this. The Literature essay questions you will be preparing for will most likely appear. You must do justice to your questions in whichever form they come.

For further details regarding the secrets behind WAEC questions, I urge you to read my post on how WAEC set their WASSCE questions.

WAEC Literature Essay Questions

You will have your most likely WAEC Literature questions shortly. Here is how the questions for WAEC Literature for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 are grouped and presented in this post.

• WAEC Literature Questions on African Prose
• Literature Questions on Non-African Prose
• Likely Questions on African Drama
• Literature Questions on Non-African Drama
• Questions on African Poetry
• Likely Questions on Non-African Poetry

The main focus of this post is to point out the most likely essay questions based on the prescribed Literature-in-English texts in the WAEC WASSCE. Now if you’re looking for likely objective test questions on these texts for your JAMB or similar exams, you can find them in a different post on this site.

We can now dive in to identify the most likely WAEC Literature questions.

Likely Questions on African Prose – Second Class Citizen

Our chosen Literature text for African prose is Second Class Citizen. The author is Buchi Emecheta, one of the foremost female writers to have come out of Africa. Make sure to frequently go through this list of highly probable essay questions on WAEC Literature African Prose.

1. Assess the character and role of Mr Cole in the novel.

2. Discuss the theme of migration in Second Class Citizen.

3. Recount Adah’s personal setbacks and show how they contribute to the development of the plot.

4. Describe the family life of the Ofilis’ bringing out its significance.

5. What disadvantages do women face in Second Class Citizen?

6. Second Class Citizen is about the fight for the dignity of womanhood. Comment.

7. Consider Second Class Citizen as a novel of women’s liberation.

8. Comment on the theme of unequal opportunities in the novel.

9. Emecheta places a high premium on girl-child education. To what extent is this observation true?

10. Discuss the theme of racial prejudice in the novel.

11. What three incidents portray the theme of male chauvinism in Second Class Citizen?

12. Is Adah truly a second class citizen in the UK? Support your answer with close reference to at least two incidents in the novel.

13. Examine the significance of the title of the novel, Second Class Citizen

14. Discuss the theme of domestic violence in Second Class Citizen

15. Comment on the theme of marriage in Second Class Citizen

16. Discuss the theme of motherhood in the novel.

17. Who are the second class citizens in Buchi Emecheta’s novel?

18. Discuss the theme of female exploitation in the novel.

ANALYSIS OF THE GRIEVED LANDS BY AGOSTINHO NETO

19. Examine the theme of ambition in Second Class Citizen.

20. Comment on the theme of gender discrimination in the novel.

21. Compare and contrast Mrs Ofili’s two marriages in the novel.

22. What is the significance of Ma’s second marriage in Second Class Citizen?

23. With close reference to Adah’s experiences, discuss the theme of gender inequality in Second Class Citizen.

24. Discuss the theme of cultural shock in Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

25. Comment on the role of Mr Devlin in the novel.

26. What role do the personal dreams of the various characters play in the novel?

27. All Nigerian male immigrants in the novel are failures. To what extent is this assertion true?

28. Examine the theme of education in the novel.

29. What makes Francis such an unattractive character?

30. Assess the character and role of Adah Ofili.

31. Assess the character and role of Francis.

32. Adah is a woman of perseverance. Comment.

33. Assess the character and role of Mr Ofili

34. Adah had an eventful childhood. Comment.

35. What personal qualities of Adah’s do you find admirable?

36. Assess the character and role of Mr Noble in Second Class Citizen

37. Assess the character and role of Miss Stirling in Buchi Emecheta’s Second Class Citizen

38. Describe the character and role of Janet in the novel.

39. Describe the love story of Babalola and Janet. What is its significance in the novel?

40. Consider Adah as a fighter/overcomer in Second Class Citizen

41. Compare and contrast the characters of Pa Noble and Babalola.

42. Compare and contrast the characters of Francis Obi and Mr. Noble

43. What is the significance of Victor in Adah’s life?

44. Compare and contrast the love lives of Babalola and Mr Noble.

45. Describe the transformation of the character called Francis in the novel.

46. Consider Francis Obi as a frustrated husband.

47. What marital problems does Adah have to deal with in the novel, Second Class Citizen?

48. Adah Ofili is a dreamer. Comment

ANALYSIS OF THE GOOD MORROW BY JOHN DONNE

49. Francis is inherently a good man. Comment

50. Compare and contrast the characters of Adah and Francis.

Our next set of WAEC Literature questions is about Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man.

Likely Questions on Non-African Prose – Invisible Man

Summary of Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

A Simplified Summary of Faceless by Amma Darko

Summary of Fences by August Wilson

See below your likely WAEC Literature questions from the Non-African Prose section of the WAEC Literature Syllabus. These are essay questions on Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

1. Examine the theme of social invisibility in Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man.

2. Discuss the theme of racism in Invisible Man.

3. Race and identity are inseparable in Invisible Man. Comment.

4. Discuss the themes of oppression and resistance in the novel.

5. Comment on the concept of Black Nationalism in Invisible Man.

6. Discuss the theme of liberation in the novel.

7. The narrator in Invisible Man is more than just an individual. Comment.

8. Consider Invisible Man as a protest novel.

9. Discuss the issues of crime and violence in Invisible Man.

10. Invisible Man is all about man’s struggle for survival in a hostile world. Do you agree?

11. Discuss the themes of loyalty and betrayal in the novel.

12. With close reference to two incidents, describe the social impediments facing blacks in the novel?

13. Comment on the significance of Liberty Paint Factory in the novel.

14. Harlem is more than just a symbol of black nationalism in the novel. Comment.

15. Comment on the author’s use of symbols in Invisible Man.

16. Describe the character and role of Mrs Rambo in Invisible Man.

17. Examine Dr Bledsoe’s contribution to the development of the plot of Invisible Man.

18. Compare and contrast the characters of Mr Norton and Dr Bledsoe.

19. What role does the all-blacks college play in the novel?

20. Comment on the role of the Brotherhood in Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man.

21. Assess the character and role of Brother Jack.

22. What is the main role of Jim Trueblood in Invisible Man?

23. Assess the character and role of Lucius Brockway.

24. Discuss the theme of infighting in Invisible Man.

25. Describe the character and role of Tod Clifton in the novel.

26. Compare and contrast the characters of Brother Jack and Ras the Exhorter.

27. Examine the narrator’s role in the novel.

28. Compare and contrast life in the South and the North.

29. Describe the narrator’s journey to New York bringing out its significance.

30. Outline the factors that make the Brotherhood an ineffective nationalist movement.

31. What goals does the narrator hope to achieve by telling his story in Invisible Man?

32. Describe the various methods of resistance to oppression adopted by blacks in Invisible Man.

33. What makes Invisible Man a realistic novel?

34. Comment on the setting of Invisible Man.

35. Discuss the theme of social insecurity in the novel.

36. What is the significance of the incident at the bar?

37. Comment on the use of the flashback technique in Invisible Man.

38. Describe the relationship between Brockway and the narrator bringing out its significance in the novel.

39. What role does mental illness play in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man?

40. Would you say ‘Invisible Man’ is an appropriate title for Ralph Ellison’s novel?

Likely Questions on African Drama – The Lion and the Jewel

1. Discuss the theme of resistance to change in The Lion and the Jewel.

2. Examine the use of symbols in The Lion and the Jewel.

3. How significant is the wrestling match in The Lion and the Jewel?

4. Consider the importance of Baroka’s bedroom in the play.

5. Compare and contrast the characters of Sidi and Sadiku.

6. Discuss the contribution of The Dance of the Lost Stranger to the development of the plot.

7. Assess the character and role of Sidi in the play.

8. Discuss the theme of conflict between tradition and modernity in the play.

9. Highlight the admirable qualities of Sidi, the belle of Ilunjile village.

10. Would you consider Lakunle as an attractive character?

11. Comment on the appropriateness of the title of the play, The Lion and the Jewel.

12. Assess the character and role of Baroka in The Lion and the Jewel.

13. Compare and contrast the characters of Baroka and Lakunle.

14. Compare and contrast the characters of Lakunle and Sidi.

15. Evaluate Baroka’s attitude to change in the play.

16. Comment on the importance of the school in The Lion and the Jewel.

18. Discuss the themes of change and development in the play.

19. Comment on the playwright’s use of dramatic irony.

20. Discuss the significance of the Magazine in The Lion and the Jewel.

21. What is the role of Baroka’s statue in the play?

22. Discuss the significance of the arrival of the stranger in Ilunjile village.

23. Assess the character and role of Sadiku in the play.

24. Discuss the theme of vanity in Soyinka’s play, The Lion and the Jewel.

25. Consider the effectiveness of the playwright’s use of language in The Lion and the Jewel.

26. Assess Lakunle’s character and role as a teacher.

27. What role do women play in The Lion and the Jewel?

28. What elements of comedy are found in The Lion and the Jewel?

29. Comment on the use of the flashback technique in The Lion and the Jewel.

30. The Lion and the Jewel is about the struggle over power and influence. Comment.

31. What sources of power are available to the women of Ilujinle village?

32. Examine the significance of firewood in The Lion and the Jewel.

33. Discuss the theme of progress in Soyinka’s play, The Lion and the Jewel.

34. What is the significance of the marriage between Baroka and Sidi?

35. Comment on the theme of power in The Lion and the Jewel.

36. Describe Sadiku’s attitude toward polygamy in the play.

37. What is the significance of Scene 1 in The Lion and the Jewel?

38. Comment on Baroka’s relationship with his wives.

39. Examine Baroka’s attitude toward women.

40. Both Lakunle and Sidi are naive characters. Do you agree?

41. How does Lakunle view women in Wole Soyinka’s play, The Lion and the Jewel?

44. Assess the relationship between Baroka and Ailatu.

45. Comment on the relationship between Baroka and his wives.

46. Examine the significance of images in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka.

47. What do fame and power mean to Sidi in Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel?

48. Comment on the symbolic role of postage stamps in the play.

49. What does the stranger’s camera symbolize in The Lion and the Jewel?

50. Comment on the rape of the village belle in Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel.

WAEC Literature Questions on Non-African Drama – Fences

You can use the below essay questions on Fences as study guides. They are also suitable for use as reference points in Literature class discussions on this novel. Teachers can use them to test students’ understanding of the various aspects of the text.

1. Why is the setting of Fences significant?

2. Compare and contrast the characters of Lyons and Cory

3. Compare and contrast the characters of Troy Maxson and Jim Bono.

4. Compare and contrast the characters of Troy and Gabe (Gabriel).

5. Who is Mr Rand in Fences? Highlight his contribution to the development of the plot.

6. Compare and contrast the characters of Rose and Alberta.

7. What is the symbolic role of the garbage truck in the play?

8. Describe the role of Bono in Fences.

9. Highlight the circumstances surrounding the birth of Raynell, showing its significance in the play.

10. Assess the character and role of Rose.

11. Illustrate the playwright’s use of symbols in Fences.

12. What is the significance of the fence in the play, Fences?

13. Examine the relationship between Troy Maxson and Cory.

14. Comment on the theme of ambition in the play.

15. Discuss the theme of disappointment in the play.

16. Explain the use of “strike” as a metaphor in August Wilson’s Fences.

17. Discuss the theme of unfulfilled dreams in Fences.

18. Comment on the themes of hope and despair in Fences.

19. Discuss the theme of infidelity in August Wilson’s Fences.

20. Describe the relationship between Troy and his family.

21. Comment on the theme of racial inequality in Fences.

22. Describe the relationship between Troy and Rose.

23. Evaluate the significance of Troy’s extra-marital affair.

24. What is the importance of the A & P Store in the play?

25. Assess the characters and roles of Alberta and Raynell.

26. Discuss the theme of death in Fences.

27. How does Alberta’s death contribute to the development of the plot?

28. Give an assessment of the role of Gabriel in the play.

29.. Discuss the theme of friendship in Fences.

30. What do the tensions in the Maxson family reveal about the lives of African-Americans?

31. Would you consider Bono a good friend?

32. Troy is a failed family man. To what extent is this statement a true reflection of the character of Troy?

33. Examine the playwright’s use of two dramatic techniques.

34. Consider the theme of crime in Fences.

35. Comment on the significance of Troy’s funeral.

36. Discuss the theme of poverty in Fences.

37. Assess the character and role of Cory.

38. Discuss the theme of lost opportunities in the play.

39. Why does Troy Maxson quarrel with his family?

40. Examine the theme of the father-son relationship in Fences.

41. Discuss the role of women in the play.

42. What is the role of the blues songs in the play?

43. Comment on the baseball symbol in Wilson’s play, Fences.

44. Metaphor is central to Wilson’s play, Fences. Comment.

45. Consider the playwright’s treatment of time in the play.

46. What is the role of sport in Fences?

47. Discuss the symbolic significance of the asylum in the play.

48. What is the role of Gabriel’s trumpet in Fences?

49. Examine Fences as a realistic drama.

50. Discuss the theme of racism in August Wilson’s play, Fences.

WAEC Literature Questions on African Poetry

Your next special collection of WAEC Literature-in-English questions will focus on likely exam questions on the prescribed poems for WASSCE 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. We will start with African Poetry and then finish it all with WAEC Literature questions on Non-African Poetry.

Here is a quick look at the African poems for WAEC/WASSCE 2021 – 2025.

• A Government Driver on His Retirement by Onu Chibuike
• Black Woman by Leopold Senghor
• Raider of the Treasure Trove by Lade Wosorny
• The Grieved Lands of Africa by Agostinho Neto
• The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare
• The Song of the Women of My Land by Oumar Farouk Sesay

It is now time to identify the most likely WASSCE Literature essay questions on the above African poems.

A Government Driver on His Retirement

Here are the WAEC exam focus questions on Onu Chibuike’s poem, A Government Driver on His Retirement.

Summary and Analysis of A Government Driver on His Retirement

Analysis of Piano and Drums by Gabriel Okpara

1. Discuss A Government Driver on His Retirement as a satire.

2. The choices we make determine our destiny. With close reference to the retired driver’s face, comment on this statement.

3. Comment on the poet’s use of suspense in A Government Driver on His Retirement.

4. Discuss the use of irony in the poem.

5. Comment on the poet’s use of sound devices in A Government Driver on His Retirement

6. Discuss the theme of celebration in the poem.

7. Comment on the use of irony in A Government Driver on His Retirement

8. How effectively has the poet employed contrast in A Government Driver on His Retirement?

9. Describe the tragedy that befalls the government driver.

10. Comment on the poet’s use of diction and imagery.

11. Describe the contrasting moods in the poem.

12. How well is the poet able to handle repetition and euphemism?

13. To what extent is the Government Driver responsible for his demise?

14. Discuss the theme of the uncertainties in life.

15. Examine the various meanings of “home” in the poem.

16. Discuss the theme of patience in Onu Kingsley Chibuike’s poem, A Government Driver on His Retirement.

17. Compare and contrast the use of contrast in A Government Driver on His Retirement and The Grieved Lands

18. Assess the character of the retired government driver.

19. Discuss the themes of freedom and personal responsibility in the poem.

20. Comment on the significance of the car as a reward in the poem.

21. A Government Driver on His Retirement criticizes African leaders for their terrible handling of political independence. Comment.

22. Would you say that A Government Driver on His Retirement is an example of narrative poetry?

23. Examine the poem as a form of didactic literature.

24. Onu Kingsley Chibuike stresses the importance of self-discipline in his poem. Comment.

25. What has the poem taught you about reckless behaviour?

Black Woman

Let’s have some likely WAEC Literature questions on the poem Black Woman by Leopold Senghor.

1. What is the poet’s attitude to blackness in Black Woman?

2. Senghor’s Black Woman is a poem of celebration. Comment.

3. Examine the poet’s tone in Black Woman.

4. Discuss the theme of exile in the poem.

5. Comment on the poet’s use of contrast in Black Woman by Leopold Senghor.

6. Explain how metaphor and personification contribute to your understanding of the poem.

7. Discuss the themes of pride and dignity in Black Woman.

8. Comment on the theme of nationalism in the poem.

9. Consider Leopold Senghor’s Black Woman as a praise song.

10. Discuss the theme of beauty in Black Woman

11. Highlight the various images of black Africa in Senghor’s poem, Black Woman.

12. Discuss the poet’s use of diction and imagery in Black Woman

13. What is the poet’s attitude to colonial rule in Black Woman?

14. Comment on the use of repetition and hyperbole in the poem.

15. Discuss the themes of love and attachment in Black Woman.

16. Examine Black Woman as a descriptive poem.

17. Discuss the theme of mortality in Leopold Senghor’s Black Woman.

18. What strikes you about the image of the black woman?

19. Discuss the theme of African rebirth in Black Woman by Leopold Senghor

20. Highlight the elements of Negritude Literature in the poem, Black Woman.

21. Comment on the poet’s attitude to the woman in the poem.

22. Describe the encounter between the poet and the black woman.

23. Comment on the appropriateness of the title of Senghor’s poem, Black Woman

24. What elements of nostalgia can you identify in Black Woman?

25. The poem Black Woman is about the revival of black consciousness. Comment.

26. Describe the different identities of the woman in the poem.

27. Comment on the theme of romantic love in Black Woman.

28. Discuss the poet’s use of apostrophe as a poetic device in the poem.

29. Comment on the theme of the inevitability of death in Senghor’s Black Woman.

30. Examine the theme of mortality in Leopold Senghor’s Black Woman.

31. How does the poet treat colour in Black Woman?

32. Comment on the significance of nakedness in the poem.

33. Describe the qualities of the beloved in Senghor’s Black Woman.

34. What role do sound and rhythm play in Leopold Sedar Senghor’s poem, Black Woman?

35. Comment on the poet’s treatment of womanhood in Black Woman.

WAEC Literature Questions on The Grieved Lands

The below set of WAEC Literature-in-English questions focuses on The Grieved Lands of Africa.

1. Comment on the poet’s mood in The Grieved Lands.

2. Discuss the theme of suffering in The Grieved Lands.

3. Comment on the theme of hope in Neto’s poem, The Grieved Lands of Africa.

4. What images of Africa come up in The Grieved Lands?

5. Examine the poet’s use of repetition in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

6. Comment on the poet’s use of diction and imagery in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

7. Discuss the theme of defiance in Agostinho Neto’s poem, The Grieved Lands of Africa.

8. Consider Agostinho Neto’s The Grieved Lands of Africa as protest poetry.

9. Examine the effectiveness of alliteration in the poem.

10. The Grieved Lands of Africa is a poem of lamentation. Comment.

11. Comment on the use of contrast in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

12. What makes The Grieved Lands of Africa a poem of struggle and resistance?

13. What do you like or dislike about The Grieved Lands of Africa?

14. Examine the theme of oppression in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

15. Discuss the theme of injustice in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

16. How does the poet portray Africa in The Grieved Lands of Africa?

17. The Grieved Lands of Africa is purely a poem of lost dreams. To what extent is this observation true?

18. Examine the poet’s use of sound devices in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

19. What is the significance of the Atlantic in the poem?

20. Comment on the poet’s use of nature imagery in The Grieved Lands of Africa.

The Leader and the Led Essay Questions

1. Discuss the theme of leadership failure or failed leadership in the poem, The Leader and the Led

2. What are the criticisms against the led in Niyi Osundare’s The Leader and the Led?

3. Why is it difficult for the led to appoint a leader?

4. Describe the role of the Forest Sage in Niyi Osundare’s The Leader and the Led.

5. Consider The Leader and the Led as an attack on foreign interference in domestic politics in Africa.

6. Why would you consider The Leader and the Led as an allegory?

7. The Leader and the Led is nothing more than a fable. Do you agree?

8. Examine the poet’s call for dynamic leadership in The Leader and the Led.

9. What aspects of Narrative poetry are present in Niyi Osundare’s poem, The Leader and the Led?

10. Comment on the theme of politics in The Leader and the Led.

11. Consider The Leader and the Led as a critique against discrimination against women in politics.

12. Examine the theme of gender inequality in Niyi Osundare’s The Leader and the Led.

13. Comment on the poet’s attitude to political misunderstanding in The Leader and the Led.

14. African people must bear part of the blame for failed leadership on the continent. Is this a fair assessment of the poet’s message in The Leader and the Led?

15. Discuss the theme of ethnicity or group interest in The Leader and the Led.

16. Comment on the speech (address) delivered by the Forest Sage in The Leader and the Led

17. Discuss the theme of compromise in The Leader and the Led.

18. What desirable leadership qualities have you identified in your study of Niyi Osundare’s poem, The Leader and the Led?

19. Comment on the use of diction and imagery in The Leader and the Led.

20. Examine the wisdom in the Forest Sage’s recommendations in The Leader and the Led.

21. Who or what is the Forest Sage in The Leader and the Led?

22. Discuss the theme of dynamic leadership in The Leader and the Led

23. What concerns the poet most in The Leader and the Led?

24. Comment on the theme of the dearth of good leaders in Niyi Osundare’s The Leader and the Led.

25. Consider The Leader and the Led as a Poem of social criticism.

26 .Is The Leader and the Led a satire? Explain with examples from the poem.

The Song of the Women of My Land

1. Comment on the significance of the song in The Song of the Women of My Land

2. Discuss the theme of music in the poem

3. Comment on the title of the poem, The Song of the Women of My Land

4. Comment on the poet’s use of time imagery

5. Discuss the imagery of death in the poem

6. Consider the poet’s attitude to forgetfulness

7. Comment on the theme of mortality in the poem

8. Discuss the poet’s use of diction in The Song of the Women of My Land

9. Examine the use of diction and imagery in Oumar Farouk’s Sesay’s poem, The Song of the Women of My Land.

10. Describe the changing moods of the poet in The Song of the Women of My Land.

11. With specific examples, comment on the effectiveness of two poetic devices in the Song of the Women of My Land.

12. Examine the poet’s attitude to the women of his land.

13. What role does time play in Oumar Farouk Sesay’s The Song of the Women of My Land?

14. Comment on the musical elements in The Song of the Women of My Land.

15. Discuss the theme of heroism in the poem.

16. Comment on the theme of endurance in Sesay’s The Song of the Women of My Land.

17. Discuss the use of repetition and personification in the poem.

18. The Song of the Women of My Land is a poem of lamentation. Comment.

19. Assess the poet’s attitude toward death in The Song of the Women of My Land.

Questions on WAEC Non-African Poetry

These most likely WAEC questions on Non-African Poetry for WASSCE candidates are equally useful for other students of poetry who must study any one of the below poems.

• Bat by D.H. Lawrence
• Binsey Poplars by G.M. Hopkins
• Caged Bird by Maya Angelou
• Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot
• The Good Morrow by John Donne
• Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Essay Questions on Binsey Poplars

1. Discuss the theme of nature in Binsey Poplars.

2. What is the poet’s attitude toward nature in G.M. Hopkins’ Binsey Poplars?

3. How does nature influence the poet in Binsey Poplars?

4. Comment on the poet’s use of sound effects in Binsey Poplars.

5. What features of romantic poetry are present in Binsey Poplars?

6. Highlight two major concerns the poet raises in Binsey Poplars.

7. What is the poet’s mood in Binsey Poplars?

8. Describe the poet’s tone in Hopkins’ Binsey Poplars.’

9. How effectively has the poet employed analogy in Binsey Poplars?

10. Binsey Poplars is a poem of lamentation. Comment.

11. Discuss the poet’s use of diction and imagery in Binsey Poplars.

12. Discuss the theme of nostalgia in Binsey Poplars.

13. Comment on Binsey Poplars as a realistic poem.

14. How effective is the use of contrast in the poem Binsey Poplars?

15. What aspects of public life are portrayed in Binsey Poplars?

16. Highlight G.M. Hopkins’ use of metaphor in Binsey Poplars

17. How has the poet’s use of alliteration and repetition helped in your understanding of Binsey Poplars?

Bat: Likely Exam Essay Questions

1. Comment on the structure of the poem, Bat

2. What is the significance of the title of the poem, Bat?

3. Comment on D.H. Lawrence’s poem, Bat as an exposition on the conflict between traditional life and modernization.

4. What do you like about the swallows in the poem, Bat?

5. Consider D.H. Lawrence’s Bat as a narrative poem.

6. Discuss the poet’s use of diction and imagery in Bat

7. Identify two symbols in Bat and show their effectiveness.

8. Examine the view that Bat belongs to the romantic tradition in Literature.

9. What aspects of modern life are portrayed in Bat?

10. Examine the poet’s nostalgic mood in Bat by D.H. Lawrence.

11. Comment on the theme of cultural revival in Bat

12. Discuss the use of contrast in the poem Bat.

13. Highlight the descriptive style found in Bat.

14. What images of nature are present in the poem, Bat?

15. Comment on the role of bats in the poem Bat by D.H. Lawrence

16. What is your assessment of the Bats?

17. Give your impressions of the swallows in D.H. Lawrence’s Bat?

18. Consider the poet’s reaction to change in Bat.

19. Would you say that Bat is simply a poem of resistance to inevitable change?

20. What do you find most interesting about the poem Bat?

21. Comment on the use of foreign words in Bat.

22. Discuss the poet’s use of repetition and simile in Bat.

23. Comment on the poet’s attitude.