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JAMB Literature Past Questions 2019

10 questions from the JAMB 2019 Literature paper, with answers and explanations. Tap "Show answer" under each one when you are ready.

JAMB 2019Question 1 · Drama Set Texts
Iago's hatred for Othello is deep rooted because__________
  1. A.he accused Othello of stealing
  2. B.he loves Desdemona who is married to Othello
  3. C.Othello is a better warrior that he is
  4. D.Othello didn't make him the Lieutenant
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Answer: D. Othello didn't make him the Lieutenant

Iago's deep hatred stems from Othello passing him over for the Lieutenant position in favour of Cassio.

JAMB 2019Question 2 · Drama Set Texts
The setting of Shakespeare's Othello is____________
  1. A.Verona
  2. B.Venice
  3. C.the Faroe Islands
  4. D.Bulgaria
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Answer: B. Venice

The play is set primarily in Venice (and later Cyprus).

JAMB 2019Question 3 · General Literary Principles
_____ is used to describe the predetermination of a future event in a literary piece
  1. A.Analepsis
  2. B.Prolepsis
  3. C.Interlude
  4. D.Fatalism
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Answer: B. Prolepsis

Prolepsis describes the foreshadowing/predetermination of a future event in a narrative.

JAMB 2019Question 4 · General Literary Principles
A poem is said to be good if it________
  1. A.has elevated style
  2. B.has rhyme and reason
  3. C.is difficult to understand
  4. D.has a regular rhythm
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Answer: B. has rhyme and reason

A good poem is generally said to have both rhyme and reason -- form and coherent meaning.

JAMB 2019Question 5 · General Literary Principles
A novel written in form of a letter is said to be_______
  1. A.gothic
  2. B.biographical
  3. C.epistolary
  4. D.autobiographical
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Answer: C. epistolary

An epistolary novel is written in the form of letters.

JAMB 2019Question 6 · Literary Appreciation
"Nightfall! Nightfall!! You are my mortal enemy". The dominant figure of speech above is a/an________
  1. A.Ode
  2. B.Apostrophe
  3. C.Allusion
  4. D.Metaphor
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Answer: B. Apostrophe

Directly addressing 'Nightfall' is an apostrophe.

JAMB 2019Question 7 · Literary Appreciation
"A time to sow, A time to reap, A time to born, A time to die" This exemplies the use of ...
  1. A.anadiplosis
  2. B.chiasmus
  3. C.anaphora
  4. D.hendiadys
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Answer: C. anaphora

The repeated phrase 'A time to...' at the start of each line is anaphora.

JAMB 2019Question 8 · Poetry Set Texts
The most dominant poetic device used in Okara's 'Panio and Drums' is_______
  1. A.Metaphor
  2. B.Symbolism
  3. C.Pathetic Fallacy
  4. D.Analogy
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Answer: B. Symbolism

Symbolism (piano and drums representing two cultures) is the most dominant device in Okara's poem.

JAMB 2019Question 9 · Poetry Set Texts
Which one of the following is most influential to the substance of Hallowell's "The Dinning Table"?
  1. A.the structure of the poem
  2. B.the atmosphere of the poem
  3. C.the poetic style
  4. D.the setting of the poem
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Answer: B. the atmosphere of the poem

The atmosphere of the poem is most influential to the substance of Hallowell's 'The Dining Table'.

JAMB 2019Question 10 · Poetry Set Texts
One of the following is not significant to Morris' "The Proud King"
  1. A.didacticism
  2. B.allusion
  3. C.parable
  4. D.allegory
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Answer: B. allusion

Allusion is the least significant device to Morris's parable-like, allegorical 'The Proud King'.

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