Ernest Hemingway: Biography, Works, Quotes, and 151 MCQs for Competitive Exams
Ernest Hemingway: Biography, Works, Quotes, and 151 MCQs for Competitive Exams: Discover the life, minimalist style, and adventurous spirit of Ernest Hemingway, an American novelist known for works like The Old Man and the Sea. Celebrated for his Iceberg Theory and vivid prose, Hemingway’s literature captures courage and loss. This guide covers his biography, major works, quotes, themes, awards, and 151 MCQs tailored for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, and SSC CGL exams.
Exam Tip: Focus on Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory and war themes for UGC NET and JNUET success!
Biography of Ernest Hemingway
Full Name: Ernest Miller Hemingway
Date of Birth: July 21, 1899
Place of Birth: Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Date of Death: July 2, 1961
Place of Death: Ketchum, Idaho, USA
Parents: Clarence Edmonds Hemingway (father, physician) and Grace Hall Hemingway (mother, musician)
Siblings: Five siblings
Spouses: Hadley Richardson (1921–1927), Pauline Pfeiffer (1927–1940), Martha Gellhorn (1940–1945), Mary Welsh (1946–1961)
Education: High school graduate; no college
Profession: Novelist, short story writer, journalist
Literary Age: Modernism (early–mid 20th century, 1920–1961)
Contemporaries: William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce
Major Movements: Modernism, Lost Generation
Notable Achievements: Nobel Prize in Literature (1954), Pulitzer Prize (1953), Bronze Star (1947)
Social Causes: Anti-fascism, veterans’ issues
Influences: World War I, Spanish Civil War, Gertrude Stein’s style
Legacy: Iceberg Theory, influence on minimalist prose, Hemingway Foundation
Ernest Hemingway, born in Illinois to a physician father and musician mother, grew up in a middle-class family. A high school graduate, he worked as a journalist before serving as an ambulance driver in World War I. Married four times, his adventurous life included big-game hunting and war correspondence. A Nobel laureate, he died in 1961, leaving a legacy vital for UPSC and NET aspirants.
Major Works of Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway’s novels and stories, known for their concise prose and vivid settings, include:
- The Sun Also Rises (1926): Depicts the Lost Generation in post-World War I Europe.
- A Farewell to Arms (1929): A semi-autobiographical war and love story.
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940): Explores the Spanish Civil War.
- The Old Man and the Sea (1952): Chronicles an old fisherman’s struggle.
- In Our Time (1925): Short stories introducing Nick Adams.
- Men Without Women (1927): Short stories on masculinity and loss.
- Winner Take Nothing (1933): Short stories reflecting hardship.
- To Have and Have Not (1937): A tale of smuggling in the Caribbean.
- Across the River and Into the Trees (1950): A love story set in post-World War II Venice.
- Islands in the Stream (1970): Posthumous novel about an artist’s life.
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” – Ernest Hemingway
Quotes by Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway’s quotes reflect his views on courage, writing, and life. Here are 11 notable quotes:
- “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” (Attributed)
- “Courage is grace under pressure.” (Interview)
- “All you have to do is write one true sentence.” (A Moveable Feast)
- “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” (A Farewell to Arms)
- “Never confuse movement with action.” (Attributed)
- “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” (Attributed)
- “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” (Attributed)
- “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details that distinguish it.” (For Whom the Bell Tolls)
- “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” (The Old Man and the Sea)
- “All thinking men are atheists.” (A Farewell to Arms)
- “The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it.” (The Old Man and the Sea)
Themes in Ernest Hemingway’s Works
Hemingway’s literature explores universal themes, crucial for exams like NET and SET. Major themes include:
- Courage and Resilience: Depicted in The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
- War and Loss: Explored in A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises.
- Masculinity: Central to Men Without Women and The Sun Also Rises.
- Love and Betrayal: Addressed in A Farewell to Arms and Across the River and Into the Trees.
- Nature and Struggle: Examined in The Old Man and the Sea and Islands in the Stream.
Pro Tip: Study Hemingway’s minimalist style and war experiences for UPSC and CTET essay questions!
151 MCQs on Ernest Hemingway for Competitive Exams
Test your knowledge with these 151 MCQs, categorized for UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, UPSC, and SSC CGL preparation. Each question includes an answer and explanation.
Biography (30 Questions)
- What is Ernest Hemingway’s full name?
A) Ernest Miller Hemingway B) Ernest James Hemingway C) Ernest Edward Hemingway D) Ernest John Hemingway
Answer: A) Ernest Miller Hemingway
Explanation: His full name, tested in NET. - Where was Ernest Hemingway born?
A) Oak Park, Illinois B) Chicago, Illinois C) Key West, Florida D) Paris, France
Answer: A) Oak Park, Illinois
Explanation: Born in 1899, relevant for SET. - In which year was Hemingway born?
A) 1897 B) 1899 C) 1901 D) 1903
Answer: B) 1899
Explanation: Born July 21, 1899, tested in SSC CGL. - Who was Hemingway’s father?
A) Clarence Edmonds Hemingway B) James Hemingway C) Thomas Hemingway D) Edward Hemingway
Answer: A) Clarence Edmonds Hemingway
Explanation: A physician, noted in CTET. - What was Hemingway’s father’s profession?
A) Lawyer B) Physician C) Journalist D) Teacher
Answer: B) Physician
Explanation: Practiced medicine, tested in NET. - Who was Hemingway’s mother?
A) Grace Hall Hemingway B) Mary Hemingway C) Emily Hall D) Sarah Hemingway
Answer: A) Grace Hall Hemingway
Explanation: A musician, relevant for PGT. - How many siblings did Hemingway have?
A) Three B) Four C) Five D) Six
Answer: C) Five
Explanation: Five siblings, tested in JNUET. - Who was Hemingway’s first wife?
A) Hadley Richardson B) Pauline Pfeiffer C) Martha Gellhorn D) Mary Welsh
Answer: A) Hadley Richardson
Explanation: Married in 1921, tested in NET. - What was Hemingway’s education level?
A) College graduate B) High school graduate C) PhD D) No formal education
Answer: B) High school graduate
Explanation: No college, tested in JNUET. - Which profession did Hemingway not pursue?
A) Novelist B) Lawyer C) Journalist D) Short story writer
Answer: B) Lawyer
Explanation: Worked as a journalist, tested in PGT. - When did Hemingway die?
A) 1959 B) 1961 C) 1963 D) 1965
Answer: B) 1961
Explanation: Died July 2, 1961, tested in NET. - Where did Hemingway die?
A) Ketchum, Idaho B) Key West, Florida C) Paris, France D) Havana, Cuba
Answer: A) Ketchum, Idaho
Explanation: Died in 1961, relevant for SET. - What was the cause of Hemingway’s death?
A) Suicide B) Heart attack C) Cancer D) Stroke
Answer: A) Suicide
Explanation: By gunshot, tested in JNUET. - In which literary age did Hemingway write?
A) Romanticism B) Modernism C) Postmodernism D) Victorian
Answer: B) Modernism
Explanation: Early–mid 20th century, noted in NET. - Which writer was Hemingway’s contemporary?
A) William Faulkner B) Charles Dickens C) Walt Whitman D) Geoffrey Chaucer
Answer: A) William Faulkner
Explanation: Shared Modernist era, tested in SET. - What role did Hemingway play in World War I?
A) Soldier B) Ambulance driver C) General D) Journalist
Answer: B) Ambulance driver
Explanation: Red Cross service, tested in PGT. - In which year did Hemingway win the Nobel Prize?
A) 1952 B) 1954 C) 1956 D) 1958
Answer: B) 1954
Explanation: For literature, relevant for UPSC. - Which social cause did Hemingway support?
A) Anti-fascism B) Prohibition C) Women’s suffrage D) Labor reform
Answer: A) Anti-fascism
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in NET. - Which movement influenced Hemingway?
A) Romanticism B) Modernism C) Realism D) Symbolism
Answer: B) Modernism
Explanation: Gertrude Stein’s influence, tested in SET. - What was Hemingway’s family’s social status?
A) Middle class B) Working class C) Upper class D) Aristocracy
Answer: A) Middle class
Explanation: Illinois upbringing, tested in JNUET. - Which city was central to Hemingway’s early career?
A) Paris B) New York C) Chicago D) Havana
Answer: A) Paris
Explanation: Expatriate life, tested in NET. - Which job did Hemingway hold early in life?
A) Journalist B) Lawyer C) Doctor D) Farmer
Answer: A) Journalist
Explanation: Kansas City Star, tested in SET. - Which war influenced Hemingway’s early life?
A) World War I B) Civil War C) World War II D) Korean War
Answer: A) World War I
Explanation: Ambulance driver, tested in JNUET. - What was Hemingway’s first published novel?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) A Farewell to Arms C) In Our Time D) Torrents of Spring
Answer: D) Torrents of Spring
Explanation: Published in 1926, tested in NET. - Which region influenced Hemingway’s works?
A) Europe, Africa, Cuba B) American South C) New England D) Midwest
Answer: A) Europe, Africa
Explanation: Expatriate settings, tested in SET. - Which writer influenced Hemingway?
A) Gertrude Stein B) Walt Whitman C) Robert Frost D) Charles Dickens
Answer: A) Gertrude Stein
Explanation: Minimalist prose, tested in JNUET. - What was Hemingway’s nationality?
A) British B) American C) Canadian D) Irish
Answer: B) American
Explanation: Born in the U.S., tested in SCC CGL. - Which award did Hemingway win in 1953?
Answer:A) Pulitzer Prize B) Nobel Prize C) Booker Prize D) Hugo Award
PAnswer: A) Pulitzer Prize - Which literary group was Hemingway part of?
A) Lost Generation B) Beat Generation C) Harlem Renaissance D) Transcendentalists
Answer: A) Lost Generation
Explanation: Expatriates, tested in SET. - Which activity was Hemingway known for?
A) Big-game hunting B) Strong A) C) Painting D) Music
Answer: A) Big-game hunting
Explanation: African safaris, tested in JNUET.
Explanation: For The Old Man and the Sea, tested in NET.
Major Works and Quotes (45 Questions)
- Which is Hemingway’s most famous novel?
A) The Old Man and the Sea B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: Pulitzer winner, tested in NET. - Which novel features Jake Barnes?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) A Farewell to Arms C) For Whom the Bell Tolls D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) The Sun Also Rises
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - What is Hemingway’s first major novel?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) Torrents of Spring C) In Our Time D) A Farewell to Arms
Answer: A) The Sun Also Rises
Explanation: Published in 1926, tested in SET. - Which novel is set during World War I?
A) A Farewell to Arms B) The Sun Also Rises C) For Whom the Bell Tolls D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) A Farewell to Arms
Explanation: Love and war, tested in NET. - Which work explores the Spanish Civil War?
A) For Whom the Bell Tolls B) A Farewell to Arms C) The Sun Also Rises D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Explanation: Published in 1940, tested in JNUET. - Which novel features Santiago?
A) The Old Man and the Sea B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: Fisherman’s struggle, tested in SET. - Which work is a short story collection?
A) In Our Time B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) In Our Time
Explanation: Nick Adams stories, tested in NET. - Which novel is about smuggling?
A) To Have and Have Not B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) To Have and Have Not
Explanation: Caribbean setting, tested in JNUET. - In which year was The Sun Also Rises published?
A) 1924 B) 1926 C) 1928 D) 1930
Answer: B) 1926
Explanation: Major work, tested in SET. - Which quote is from The Old Man and the Sea?
A) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” B) “All you have to do is write one true sentence” C) “The world breaks everyone” D) “Courage is grace under pressure”
Answer: A) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated”
Explanation: Santiago’s resilience, tested in JNUET. - Which novel explores expatriate life?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) A Farewell to Arms C) For Whom the Bell Tolls D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) The Sun Also Rises
Explanation: Paris and Spain, tested in NET. - Which work is set in Venice?
A) Across the River and Into the Trees B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) Across the River and Into the Trees
Explanation: Post-World War II, tested in PGT. - What is the setting of The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Cuba B) Paris C) Spain D) Italy
Answer: A) Cuba
Explanation: Fisherman’s village, tested in NET. - Which novel won a Pulitzer Prize?
A) The Old Man and the Sea B) For Whom the Bell Tolls C) A Farewell to Arms D) The Sun Also Rises
Answer: A) The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: Won in 1953, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is from A Farewell to Arms?
A) “The world breaks everyone” B) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” C) “Courage is grace under pressure” D) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Answer: A) “The world breaks everyone”
Explanation: War’s impact, tested in SET. - Which work features Nick Adams?
A) In Our Time B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) In Our Time
Explanation: Short stories, tested in NET. - What is the main theme of The Sun Also Rises?
A) Disillusionment B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Disillusionment
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is from For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) “Every man’s life ends the same way” B) “The world breaks everyone” C) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” D) “Courage is grace under pressure”
Answer: A) “Every man’s life ends the same way”
Explanation: Mortality theme, tested in SET. - Which novel explores love and war?
A) A Farewell to Arms B) The Old Man and the Sea C) The Sun Also Rises D) To Have and Have Not
Answer: A) A Farewell to Arms
Explanation: Frederic and Catherine, tested in NET. - What is the main theme of The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Resilience B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Resilience
Explanation: Santiago’s struggle, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is from A Moveable Feast?
A) “All you have to do is write one true sentence” B) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” C) “The world breaks everyone” D) “Courage is grace under pressure”
Answer: A) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Explanation: Writing advice, tested in NET. - In which year was A Farewell to Arms published?
A) 1927 B) 1929 C) 1931 D) 1933
Answer: B) 1929
Explanation: Major work, tested in SET. - Which novel is set during a fishing trip?
A) Islands in the Stream B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) Islands in the Stream
Explanation: Posthumous, tested in NET. - Who is the protagonist of For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Robert Jordan B) Jake Barnes C) Frederic Henry D) Santiago
Answer: A) Robert Jordan
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is attributed to Hemingway?
A) “There is no friend as loyal as a book” B) “The world breaks everyone” C) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” D) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Answer: A) “There is no friend as loyal as a book”
Explanation: Love for reading, tested in SET. - Which novel explores masculinity?
A) Men Without Women B) The Old Man and the Sea C) A Farewell to Arms D) Across the River and Into the Trees
Answer: A) Men Without Women
Explanation: Short stories, tested in NET. - What is the narrative style of The Sun Also Rises?
A) Minimalist B) Stream-of-consciousness C) Epistolary D) Third-person omniscient
Answer: A) Minimalist
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in JNUET. - Which novel features multiple narrators?
A) In Our Time B) For Whom the Bell Tolls C) The Old Man and the Sea D) A Farewell to Arms
Answer: A) In Our Time
Explanation: Short story collection, tested in NET. - Which novel is a love story?
A) Across the River and Into the Trees B) The Sun Also Rises C) The Old Man and the Sea D) To Have and Have Not
Answer: A) Across the River and Into the Trees
Explanation: Venice setting, tested in SET. - What is the theme of In Our Time?
A) Loss and trauma B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Loss and trauma
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is from an interview?
A) “Courage is grace under pressure” B) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” C) “The world breaks everyone” D) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Answer: A) “Courage is grace under pressure”
Explanation: Defining courage, tested in NET. - Which novel is set in the Caribbean?
A) To Have and Have Not B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) To Have and Have Not
Explanation: Smuggling, tested in SET. - What is the tone of The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Resilient B) Comedic C) Satirical D) Cynical
Answer: A) Resilient
Explanation: Santiago’s struggle, tested in JNUET. - Which novel uses the Iceberg Theory?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) Islands in the Stream C) Across the River and Into the Trees D) To Have and Have Not
Answer: A) The Sun Also Rises
Explanation: Minimalist prose, tested in NET. - Which novel features Catherine Barkley?
A) A Farewell to Arms B) The Sun Also Rises C) For Whom the Bell Tolls D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) A Farewell to Arms
Explanation: Love story, tested in SET. - Which quote is attributed to Hemingway?
A) “Never confuse movement with action” B) “The world breaks everyone” C) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” D) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Explanation: Action vs. motion, tested in JNUET. - Which novel explores post-war trauma?
A) In Our Time B) The Old Man and the Sea C) Across the River and Into the Trees D) To Have and Have Not
Answer: A) In Our Time
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in NET. - What is the form of Men Without Women?
A) Short story collection B) Novel C) Essay D) Poetry
Answer: A) Short story collection
Explanation: Masculinity themes, tested in SET. - Which novel is about a fisherman’s struggle?
A) The Old Man and the Sea B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Answer: A) The Old Man and the Sea
Explanation: Santiago, tested in JNUET. - Which quote is from A Farewell to Arms?
A) “All thinking men are atheists” B) “A man can be destroyed but not defeated” C) “Courage is grace under pressure” D) “All you have to do is write one true sentence”
Answer: A) “All thinking men are atheists”
Explanation: War’s impact, tested in NET. - Which novel features Robert Jordan?
A) For Whom the Bell Tolls B) The Sun Also Rises C) A Farewell to Arms D) The Old Man and the Sea
Answer: A) For Whom the Bell Tolls
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in SET. - Which work critiques post-war society?
A) The Sun Also Rises B) Islands in the Stream C) To Have and Have Not D) Across the River
Answer: A) The Sun Also Rises
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET.
Themes/Style (30 Questions)
- What is a major theme in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Resilience B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Resilience
Explanation: Santiago’s struggle, tested in NET. - Which theme is prominent in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Disillusionment B) Prison reform C) Class prejudice D) Materialism
Answer: A) Disillusionment
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - What is Hemingway’s writing style?
A) Minimalist B) Ornate C) Stream-of-consciousness D) Epistolary
Answer: A) Minimalist
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in SET. - Which theme is explored in A Farewell to Arms?
A) Love and loss B) Labor disputes C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Love and loss
Explanation: Frederic and Catherine, tested in NET. - What is a key theme in For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Sacrifice B) Class inequality C) Prison reform D) Materialism
Answer: A) Sacrifice
Explanation: Robert Jordan, tested in JNUET. - Which style characterizes Hemingway’s novels?
A) Concise prose B) Flowery language C) Abstract D) Ornate
Answer: A) Concise prose
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in SET. - What theme is central to In Our Time?
A) Trauma B) Class prejudice C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Trauma
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in NET. - Which theme is in Men Without Women?
A) Masculinity B) Labor disputes C) Prison reform D) Class inequality
Answer: A) Masculinity
Explanation: Short stories, tested in JNUET. - What is a theme in To Have and Have Not?
A) Survival B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) Materialism
Answer: A) Survival
Explanation: Smuggling, tested in SET. - Which theme is in Across the River and Into the Trees?
A) Love B) Class prejudice C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) Love
Explanation: Venice setting, tested in NET. - What is Hemingway’s approach to dialogue?
A) Realistic B) Poetic C) Abstract D) Exaggerated
Answer: A) Realistic
Explanation: Natural speech, tested in JNUET. - Which theme is in Islands in the Stream?
A) Isolation B) Class prejudice C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) Isolation
Explanation: Artist’s life, tested in NET. - What is a feature of Hemingway’s style?
A) Omission B) Exaggeration C) Ornate prose D) Abstract imagery
Answer: A) Omission
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in SET. - Which theme is in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Nature B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Nature
Explanation: Man vs. sea, tested in NET. - What is Hemingway’s tone in A Farewell to Arms?
A) Tragic B) Satirical C) Comedic D) Optimistic
Answer: A) Tragic
Explanation: Love and loss, tested in JNUET. - Which theme is in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Alienation B) Prison reform C) Labor disputes D) Class inequality
Answer: A) Alienation
Explanation: Expatriates, tested in NET. - What is a stylistic feature of For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Minimalist prose B) Sonnet C) Linear plot D) Blank verse
Answer: A) Minimalist prose
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in SET. - Which theme is in In Our Time?
A) War’s impact B) Love C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) War’s impact
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in JNUET. - What is Hemingway’s view on war?
A) Destructive B) Glorious C) Romantic D) Cynical
Answer: A) Destructive
Explanation: Seen in A Farewell to Arms, tested in NET. - Which theme is in Men Without Women?
A) Loss B) Class prejudice C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Loss
Explanation: Short stories, tested in SET. - What is a theme in To Have and Have Not?
A) Morality B) Class inequality C) Prison reform D) Materialism
Answer: A) Morality
Explanation: Smuggling, tested in JNUET. - Which theme is in Islands in the Stream?
A) Family B) Class prejudice C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Family
Explanation: Artist’s life, tested in NET. - What is Hemingway’s narrative style?
A) Understated B) Ornate C) Omniscient D) Epistolary
Answer: A) Understated
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in SET. - Which theme is in Across the River and Into the Trees?
A) Aging B) Class prejudice C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) Aging
Explanation: Colonel Cantwell, tested in JNUET. - What is a theme in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Courage B) Class inequality C) Legal reform D) War
Answer: A) Courage
Explanation: Santiago, tested in NET. - Which theme is in A Farewell to Arms?
A) Betrayal B) Class prejudice C) Prison reform D) Materialism
Answer: A) Betrayal
Explanation: Love story, tested in SET. - What is Hemingway’s tone in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Melancholic B) Satirical C) Comedic D) Optimistic
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - Which theme is in For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Duty B) Love C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) Duty
Explanation: Robert Jordan, tested in NET. - What is a feature of Hemingway’s imagery?
A) Vivid and sparse B) Ornate C) Abstract D) Comedic
Answer: A) Vivid and sparse
Explanation: Minimalist style, tested in SET. - Which theme is in In Our Time?
A) Alienation B) Class inequality C) Prison reform D) War
Answer: A) Alienation
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in JNUET.
Historical Context (25 Questions)
- In which era was Hemingway born?
A) Modernist B) Victorian C) Romantic D) Postmodern
Answer: A) Modernist
Explanation: Born in 1899, tested in NET. - Which event influenced Hemingway’s works?
A) World War I B) Revolutionary War C) Vietnam War D) Cold War
Answer: A) World War I
Explanation: Ambulance driver, tested in JNUET. - In which century did Hemingway write?
A) 19th B) 20th C) Both A and B D) 21st
Answer: B) 20th
Explanation: Early–mid 20th century, tested in SET. - Which social issue was prominent in Hemingway’s time?
A) Fascism B) Digital divide C) Climate change D) Globalization
Answer: A) Fascism
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in NET. - Which movement influenced Hemingway?
A) Modernism B) Romanticism C) Postmodernism D) Classicism
Answer: A) Modernism
Explanation: Gertrude Stein, tested in JNUET. - Which war impacted For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Spanish Civil War B) World War I C) World War II D) Korean War
Answer: A) Spanish Civil War
Explanation: Robert Jordan, tested in NET. - In which era is The Sun Also Rises set?
A) Modernist B) Romantic C) Victorian D) Postmodern
Answer: A) Modernist
Explanation: Post-World War I, tested in SET. - Which issue did Hemingway address in A Farewell to Arms?
A) War’s futility B) Women’s rights C) Voting rights D) Education reform
Answer: A) War’s futility
Explanation: World War I, tested in JNUET. - Which region did Hemingway depict?
A) Europe and Cuba B) American South C) Midwest D) West Coast
Answer: A) Europe and Cuba
Explanation: Expatriate settings, tested in NET. - Which cause did Hemingway support?
A) Anti-fascism B) Temperance C) Suffrage D) Education
Answer: A) Anti-fascism
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in SET. - In which year was The Old Man and the Sea published?
A) 1950 B) 1952 C) 1954 D) 1956
Answer: B) 1952
Explanation: Pulitzer winner, tested in NET. - Which social issue is in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Post-war disillusionment B) Prison reform C) Women’s rights D) Class prejudice
Answer: A) Post-war disillusionment
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - Which era influenced Across the River and Into the Trees?
A) Modernist B) Romantic C) Victorian D) Postmodern
Answer: A) Modernist
Explanation: Post-World War II, tested in NET. - Which issue did Hemingway address in In Our Time?
A) War trauma B) Digital divide C) Climate change D) Globalization
Answer: A) War trauma
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in SET. - Which movement shaped Hemingway’s novels?
A) Lost Generation B) Realism C) Symbolism D) Romanticism
Explanation: Expatriate themes, tested in JNUET. - In which year was A Farewell to Arms published?
A) 1927 B) 1929 C) 1931 D) 1933
Answer: B) 1929
Explanation: Major novel, tested in NET. - Which issue is in Men Without Women?
A) Masculinity B) Prison reform C) Labor disputes D) Women’s rights
Answer: A) Masculinity
Explanation: Short stories, tested in SET. - Which era is The Old Man and the Sea set in?
A) Modernist B) Romantic C) Victorian D) Postmodern
Answer: A) Modernist
Explanation: Mid-20th century, tested in NET. - Which issue did Hemingway address in To Have and Have Not?
A) Economic struggle B) Prison reform C) Women’s rights D) Class prejudice
Answer: A) Economic struggle
Explanation: Smuggling, tested in JNUET. - Which war influenced Hemingway’s early works?
A) World War I B) World War II C) Civil War D) Korean War
Answer: A) World War I
Explanation: Ambulance driver, tested in NET. - In which year was For Whom the Bell Tolls published?
A) 1938 B) 1940 C) 1942 D) 1944
Answer: B) 1940
Explanation: Major novel, tested in SET. - Which issue is in A Farewell to Arms?
A) War’s futility B) Prison reform C) Labor disputes D) Women’s rights
Answer: A) War’s futility
Explanation: Frederic Henry, tested in JNUET. - Which era influenced The Sun Also Rises?
A) Modernist B) Romantic C) Victorian D) Postmodern
Answer: A) Modernist
Explanation: Post-World War I, tested in NET. - Which issue did Hemingway address in In Our Time?
A) Post-war trauma B) Prison reform C) Labor disputes D) Class prejudice
Answer: A) Post-war trauma
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in SET. - In which year was In Our Time published?
A) 1923 B) 1925 C) 1927 D) 1929
Answer: B) 1925
Explanation: Short stories, tested in NET.
Critical Analysis (21 Questions)
- How does Hemingway use narrative in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Minimalist prose B) Stream-of-consciousness C) Epistolary form D) Omniscient narrator
Answer: A) Minimalist prose
Explanation: Iceberg Theory, tested in NET. - What is the role of Jake Barnes in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Symbol of disillusionment B) Comic element C) Legal metaphor D) Romantic hero
Answer: A) Symbol of disillusionment
Explanation: Lost Generation, tested in JNUET. - How does Hemingway depict war in A Farewell to Arms?
A) As futile B) As heroic C) As legal D) As comedic
Answer: A) As futile
Explanation: Frederic Henry, tested in NET. - What is the significance of the sea in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Symbol of struggle B) Comic setting C) Legal metaphor D) Materialistic icon
Answer: A) Symbol of struggle
Explanation: Santiago’s battle, tested in JNUET. - How does Hemingway use dialogue in For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Realistically B) Poetically C) Abstractly D) Exaggeratedly
Answer: A) Realistically
Explanation: Natural speech, tested in SET. - What is the narrative style of In Our Time?
A) Fragmented B) Linear C) Stream-of-consciousness D) Epistolary
Answer: A) Fragmented
Explanation: Short stories, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway depict masculinity in Men Without Women?
A) As complex B) As comedic C) As legalistic D) As materialistic
Answer: A) As complex
Explanation: Short stories, tested in JNUET. - What is the role of Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) Symbol of resilience B) Comic element C) Legal symbol D) Materialistic icon
Answer: A) Symbol of resilience
Explanation: Fisherman’s struggle, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway use setting in The Sun Also Rises?
A) To depict alienation B) To explore war C) To critique law D) To promote comedy
Answer: A) To depict alienation
Explanation: Expatriates, tested in JNUET. - What is the tone of A Farewell to Arms?
A) Tragic B) Satirical C) Optimistic D) Comedic
Answer: A) Tragic
Explanation: Love and loss, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway depict morality in To Have and Have Not?
A) Through struggle B) Through comedy C) Through romance D) Through war
Answer: A) Through struggle
Explanation: Smuggling, tested in JNUET. - What is the role of Robert Jordan in For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) Symbol of duty B) Romantic hero C) Legal advocate D) Comic relief
Answer: A) Symbol of duty
Explanation: Sacrifice, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway use imagery in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) To depict nature B) To explore war C) To promote comedy D) To critique society
Answer: A) To depict nature
Explanation: Sea and struggle, tested in SET. - What is the significance of Paris in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Symbol of alienation B) Comic setting C) Legal metaphor D) Romantic icon
Answer: A) Symbol of alienation
Explanation: Expatriates, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway depict resilience in In Our Time?
A) Through survival B) As comedic C) As legalistic D) As materialistic
Answer: A) Through survival
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in JNUET. - What is the role of love in A Farewell to Arms?
A) Symbol of hope B) Comic element C) Legal metaphor D) Materialistic symbol
Answer: A) Symbol of hope
Explanation: Frederic and Catherine, tested in SET. - How does Hemingway use structure in For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A) To reflect tension B) To depict comedy C) To critique law D) To promote war
Answer: A) To reflect tension
Explanation: Spanish Civil War, tested in NET. - What is the significance of the bullfight in The Sun Also Rises?
A) Symbol of courage B) Comic setting C) Legal metaphor D) Romantic icon
Answer: A) Symbol of courage
Explanation: Spanish culture, tested in JNUET. - How does Hemingway depict conflict in The Old Man and the Sea?
A) As man vs. nature B) As comedic C) As legalistic D) As materialistic
Answer: A) As man vs. nature
Explanation: Santiago’s struggle, tested in SET. - What is the role of war in A Farewell to Arms?
A) Symbol of futility B) Comic setting C) Legal metaphor D) Romantic icon
Explanation: World War I, tested in NET. - How does Hemingway use symbolism in In Our Time?
A) To depict trauma B) To explore comedy C) To critique law D) To promote war
Answer: A) To depict trauma
Explanation: Nick Adams, tested in JNUET.
Conclusion
Ernest Hemingway’s novels, with their minimalist prose and vivid themes, offer insights into courage, war, and loss. From The Old Man and the Sea to A Farewell to Arms, his work resonates globally. These 151 MCQs cover his biography, works, quotes, themes, and critical analysis, equipping you for success in UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, and SSC CGL exams.
Next Steps: Revise quotes like “Courage is grace under pressure” and focus on The Old Man and the Sea for UGC NET and JNUET essay questions. Practice these MCQs to master Hemingway’s minimalist style and war themes!
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