MCQs on first and last work of English authors, perfect for UGC NET, SET, UP PGT, DSSSB PGT, KVS TGT, NVS TGT, UP LT grade and other competitive exams. Test your knowledge with answers and explanations to master English literature quizzes.
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- What was the earliest known work attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer, often considered his first major poetic endeavor?
A) The Canterbury Tales
B) The Book of the Duchess
C) Troilus and Criseyde
D) The Parliament of Fowls
Answer: B) The Book of the Duchess
Explanation: Written around 1368–1370, The Book of the Duchess is Chaucer’s earliest major work, an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster. It predates his more famous Canterbury Tales (1387–1400). - Which work is considered Geoffrey Chaucer’s final major composition, left incomplete at his death?
A) The Legend of Good Women
B) The Canterbury Tales
C) The House of Fame
D) The Romaunt of the Rose
Answer: B) The Canterbury Tales
Explanation: The Canterbury Tales (1387–1400) was Chaucer’s last major work, unfinished with only 24 tales completed out of a planned 120. It’s a cornerstone of Middle English literature. - What is the earliest surviving work of Old English literature, often attributed to an anonymous poet?
A) Beowulf
B) The Wanderer
C) The Seafarer
D) Caedmon’s Hymn
Answer: D) Caedmon’s Hymn
Explanation: Caedmon’s Hymn (c. 657–680) is the earliest known Old English poem, a short religious praise poem recorded by Bede. Beowulf (c. 700–1000) is later and longer. - Which work is considered the last major epic poem in Old English literature, preserved in the Nowell Codex?
A) The Dream of the Rood
B) Beowulf
C) The Battle of Maldon
D) Judith
Answer: B) Beowulf
Explanation: Beowulf (c. 700–1000), preserved in the Nowell Codex, is the last major Old English epic, focusing on heroic deeds. Its manuscript dates to around 1000 CE, marking the end of the Old English epic tradition. - Which poem by an anonymous Middle English poet is considered one of the earliest examples of the alliterative revival?
A) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
B) Piers Plowman
C) The Pearl
D) Winner and Waster
Answer: D) Winner and Waster
Explanation: Winner and Waster (c. 1350) is one of the earliest works of the 14th-century alliterative revival, predating Sir Gawain and Piers Plowman (c. 1360–1387). - What was William Shakespeare’s first published work, a narrative poem from 1593?
A) The Rape of Lucrece
B) Venus and Adonis
C) Sonnets
D) A Lover’s Complaint
Answer: B) Venus and Adonis
Explanation: Venus and Adonis (1593) was Shakespeare’s first published work, a narrative poem dedicated to the Earl of Southampton. It was followed by The Rape of Lucrece (1594). - Which play is considered William Shakespeare’s final solo-authored work, performed around 1611?
A) The Tempest
B) The Winter’s Tale
C) Cymbeline
D) Henry VIII
Answer: A) The Tempest
Explanation: The Tempest (1611) is widely regarded as Shakespeare’s last solo-authored play, a romance exploring themes of magic and reconciliation. Later plays like Henry VIII were co-authored. - What was Edmund Spenser’s first major published work, a pastoral poem collection?
A) The Faerie Queene
B) The Shepheardes Calender
C) Amoretti
D) Epithalamion
Answer: B) The Shepheardes Calender
Explanation: The Shepheardes Calender (1579) was Spenser’s debut, a series of 12 eclogues. It established his reputation before The Faerie Queene (1590–1596). - Which work is considered Edmund Spenser’s last published during his lifetime?
A) Colin Clouts Come Home Againe
B) The Faerie Queene (Books IV–VI)
C) Mutabilitie Cantos
D) Fowre Hymnes
Answer: B) The Faerie Queene (Books IV–VI)
Explanation: The Faerie Queene (Books IV–VI, 1596) was Spenser’s last major work published in his lifetime. The Mutabilitie Cantos appeared posthumously in 1609. - What was Christopher Marlowe’s first known dramatic work, performed around 1587?
A) Doctor Faustus
B) Tamburlaine the Great
C) The Jew of Malta
D) Edward II
Answer: B) Tamburlaine the Great
Explanation: Tamburlaine the Great (1587) was Marlowe’s first play, introducing his powerful blank verse style. It preceded Doctor Faustus (c. 1589). - Which play is considered Christopher Marlowe’s last work, left incomplete at his death in 1593?
A) The Massacre at Paris
B) Edward II
C) Doctor Faustus
D) Dido, Queen of Carthage
Answer: A) The Massacre at Paris
Explanation: The Massacre at Paris (1593) is Marlowe’s last known work, likely incomplete due to his untimely death. It was performed shortly before his murder. - What was Sir Philip Sidney’s first major work, a pastoral romance written in the 1580s?
A) Astrophil and Stella
B) Arcadia
C) The Defence of Poesy
D) An Apology for Poetry
Answer: B) Arcadia
Explanation: Arcadia (c. 1580, published 1590) was Sidney’s first major work, a prose romance. Astrophil and Stella (c. 1582) followed later. - Which work is considered Sir Philip Sidney’s final literary contribution, published posthumously?
A) The New Arcadia
B) Astrophil and Stella
C) The Defence of Poesy
D) The Old Arcadia
Answer: C) The Defence of Poesy
Explanation: The Defence of Poesy (written c. 1580, published 1595) was Sidney’s last major work, published after his death in 1586. It defends poetry’s moral and artistic value. - What was Thomas Wyatt’s first significant contribution to English poetry, introducing the sonnet form?
A) Certain Psalms
B) The Court of Venus
C) Songs and Sonnets
D) Eglogs
Answer: B) The Court of Venus
Explanation: The Court of Venus (c. 1537) contains Wyatt’s early sonnets, marking his introduction of the form to English poetry. Songs and Sonnets was published later (1557). - Which work is considered Thomas Wyatt’s last poetic collection, published posthumously in 1557?
A) Tottel’s Miscellany
B) The Court of Venus
C) Certain Psalms
D) Devonshire Manuscript
Answer: A) Tottel’s Miscellany
Explanation: Tottel’s Miscellany (1557) includes Wyatt’s final poems, published after his death in 1542. It’s a key anthology of early English poetry. - What was John Donne’s first published work, a satirical prose piece from the 1590s?
A) Pseudo-Martyr
B) Paradoxes and Problems
C) Songs and Sonnets
D) The Anniversaries
Answer: B) Paradoxes and Problems
Explanation: Paradoxes and Problems (c. 1590s, published 1602) was Donne’s first work, showcasing his wit. His poetry, like Songs and Sonnets, was published later. - Which work is considered John Donne’s last major publication, a sermon delivered in 1631?
A) Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions
B) Death’s Duel
C) Biathanatos
D) Ignatius His Conclave
Answer: B) Death’s Duel
Explanation: Death’s Duel (1632), Donne’s final sermon, was preached in 1631 and published posthumously. It reflects his preoccupation with mortality. - What was Ben Jonson’s first major dramatic work, a comedy performed in 1598?
A) Volpone
B) Every Man in His Humour
C) The Alchemist
D) Bartholomew Fair
Answer: B) Every Man in His Humour
Explanation: Every Man in His Humour (1598) was Jonson’s first successful play, establishing his reputation. Volpone followed in 1606. - Which play is considered Ben Jonson’s last completed work, performed in 1633?
A) The Magnetic Lady
B) The Sad Shepherd
C) A Tale of a Tub
D) The New Inn
Answer: C) A Tale of a Tub
Explanation: A Tale of a Tub (1633) was Jonson’s last completed play, performed late in his career. The Sad Shepherd remained unfinished. - What was the first major work by Sir Thomas More, a Latin prose piece?
A) Utopia
B) The History of King Richard III
C) A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation
D) Life of Pico della Mirandola
Answer: D) Life of Pico della Mirandola
Explanation: Life of Pico della Mirandola (c. 1510) was More’s first significant work, a translation and biography. Utopia (1516) came later. - What was John Milton’s first published poem, included in a 1645 collection?
A) Lycidas
B) On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity
C) Comus
D) L’Allegro
Answer: B) On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity
Explanation: On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity (1629, published 1645) was Milton’s first major poem, written at age 21. It appeared in his Poems (1645). - Which work is considered John Milton’s last major poetic publication during his lifetime?
A) Paradise Lost
B) Paradise Regained
C) Samson Agonistes
D) Areopagitica
Answer: C) Samson Agonistes
Explanation: Samson Agonistes (1671), published with Paradise Regained, was Milton’s last poetic work, a dramatic poem. Paradise Lost (1667) came earlier. - What was John Dryden’s first major published work, a poem from 1660?
A) Annus Mirabilis
B) Astraea Redux
C) Absalom and Achitophel
D) The Hind and the Panther
Answer: B) Astraea Redux
Explanation: Astraea Redux (1660) was Dryden’s first significant poem, celebrating Charles II’s restoration. Annus Mirabilis followed in 1667. - Which work is considered John Dryden’s last major literary contribution, published in 1700?
A) Fables Ancient and Modern
B) Mac Flecknoe
C) All for Love
D) The Medal
Answer: A) Fables Ancient and Modern
Explanation: Fables Ancient and Modern (1700), a collection of translations and original poems, was Dryden’s final work, published shortly before his death. - What was Jonathan Swift’s first major published work, a satirical prose piece from 1704?
A) A Tale of a Tub
B) Gulliver’s Travels
C) The Battle of the Books
D) A Modest Proposal
Answer: A) A Tale of a Tub
Explanation: A Tale of a Tub (1704), paired with The Battle of the Books, was Swift’s first major satire, critiquing religion and learning. Gulliver’s Travels came in 1726. - Which work is considered Jonathan Swift’s last significant publication during his lifetime?
A) A Modest Proposal
B) Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift
C) Gulliver’s Travels
D) The Drapier’s Letters
Answer: B) Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift
Explanation: Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift (1739) was Swift’s last major work, a satirical poem reflecting on his legacy. A Modest Proposal was published in 1729. - What was Alexander Pope’s first major published work, a poetic collection from 1711?
A) The Rape of the Lock
B) An Essay on Criticism
C) Pastorals
D) Windsor-Forest
Answer: C) Pastorals
Explanation: Pastorals (1709, published in Tonson’s Miscellany 1711) was Pope’s first major work, showcasing his early poetic talent. An Essay on Criticism followed in 1711. - Which work is considered Alexander Pope’s last major publication, a philosophical poem?
A) The Dunciad
B) An Essay on Man
C) Moral Essays
D) Imitations of Horace
Answer: A) The Dunciad
Explanation: The Dunciad (final version, 1743) was Pope’s last major work, a satirical epic. Its final form included Book IV, published just before his death in 1744. - What was Samuel Johnson’s first major published work, a poem from 1738?
A) London
B) A Dictionary of the English Language
C) The Vanity of Human Wishes
D) An Essay on Poetry
Answer: A) London
Explanation: London (1738), a poem imitating Juvenal’s satires, was Johnson’s first significant work, earning him early fame. The Vanity of Human Wishes came in 1749. - Which work is considered Samuel Johnson’s last major literary contribution, published in 1781?
A) Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets
B) Rasselas
C) The Rambler
D) A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland
Answer: A) Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets
Explanation: Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779–1781) was Johnson’s final major work, a critical biography series. It capped his literary career. - What was William Wordsworth’s first published work, a collection co-authored with Coleridge?
A) The Prelude
B) Lyrical Ballads
C) The Excursion
D) An Evening Walk
Answer: D) An Evening Walk
Explanation: An Evening Walk (1793) was Wordsworth’s first published poem, predating Lyrical Ballads (1798), which he co-authored with Coleridge. - Which work is considered William Wordsworth’s last major poetic publication during his lifetime?
A) The Prelude
B) Yarrow Revisited
C) The White Doe of Rylstone
D) Ecclesiastical Sonnets
Answer: B) Yarrow Revisited
Explanation: Yarrow Revisited (1835) was Wordsworth’s last significant collection published before his death in 1850. The Prelude was published posthumously in 1850. - What was Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s first major published work, a poetry collection?
A) Kubla Khan
B) Poems on Various Subjects
C) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
D) Christabel
Answer: B) Poems on Various Subjects
Explanation: Poems on Various Subjects (1796) was Coleridge’s first collection, including early works like “Monody on the Death of Chatterton.” The Rime appeared in Lyrical Ballads (1798). - Which work is considered Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s last major publication during his lifetime?
A) Biographia Literaria
B) Aids to Reflection
C) Sibylline Leaves
D) On the Constitution of the Church and State
Answer: D) On the Constitution of the Church and State
Explanation: On the Constitution of the Church and State (1830) was Coleridge’s last major work, a philosophical treatise. It reflects his later focus on theology and politics. - What was Lord Byron’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1807?
A) Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
B) Hours of Idleness
C) Don Juan
D) English Bards and Scotch Reviewers
Answer: B) Hours of Idleness
Explanation: Hours of Idleness (1807) was Byron’s debut collection, published at age 19. It was criticized, leading to his satirical English Bards (1809). - Which work is considered Lord Byron’s last major poetic work, left incomplete at his death?
A) Don Juan
B) The Giaour
C) Manfred
D) Cain
Answer: A) Don Juan
Explanation: Don Juan (1819–1824), an epic satire, was Byron’s last work, incomplete at 17 cantos when he died in 1824. It’s his masterpiece. - What was Percy Bysshe Shelley’s first major published work, a Gothic novel?
A) Queen Mab
B) Zastrozzi
C) Prometheus Unbound
D) The Revolt of Islam
Answer: B) Zastrozzi
Explanation: Zastrozzi (1810), a Gothic novel, was Shelley’s first published work at age 18. His poetry, like Queen Mab (1813), followed later. - Which work is considered Percy Bysshe Shelley’s last major poetic publication during his lifetime?
A) Adonais
B) Hellas
C) The Triumph of Life
D) Epipsychidion
Answer: B) Hellas
Explanation: Hellas (1822), a lyrical drama, was Shelley’s last work published before his death in 1822. The Triumph of Life remained unfinished and was published posthumously. - What was John Keats’s first published poem, appearing in a magazine in 1816?
A) Ode to a Nightingale
B) To Solitude
C) Endymion
D) Hyperion
Answer: B) To Solitude
Explanation: To Solitude (1816), published in The Examiner, was Keats’s first poem. His first book, Poems (1817), came later. - Which work is considered John Keats’s last major poetic work, published in 1820?
A) Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems
B) Endymion
C) Hyperion
D) To Autumn
Answer: A) Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems
Explanation: Lamia, Isabella, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems (1820), including “To Autumn,” was Keats’s final collection before his death in 1821. - What was William Blake’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1783?
A) Songs of Innocence
B) Poetical Sketches
C) The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
D) Songs of Experience
Answer: B) Poetical Sketches
Explanation: Poetical Sketches (1783) was Blake’s first collection, privately printed. Songs of Innocence (1789) followed later. - Which work is considered William Blake’s last major engraved work, completed around 1827?
A) Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion
B) The Book of Urizen
C) Milton: A Poem
D) The Everlasting Gospel
Answer: A) Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion
Explanation: Jerusalem (1804–1827), a prophetic book, was Blake’s last major engraved work, completed near his death in 1827. - What was Mary Shelley’s first published work, a novel from 1818?
A) The Last Man
B) Frankenstein
C) Valperga
D) Mathilda
Answer: B) Frankenstein
Explanation: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) was Mary Shelley’s debut novel, written at age 19. It’s a Gothic masterpiece. - Which novel is considered Mary Shelley’s last published work during her lifetime?
A) Lodore
B) Falkner
C) The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck
D) Valperga
Answer: B) Falkner
Explanation: Falkner (1837) was Mary Shelley’s final novel, published before her death in 1851. It explores family and loyalty. - What was Sir Walter Scott’s first published work, a translation of German ballads?
A) The Lay of the Last Minstrel
B) The Chase, and William and Helen
C) Waverley
D) Marmion
Answer: B) The Chase, and William and Helen
Explanation: The Chase, and William and Helen (1796), translations of Bürger’s ballads, was Scott’s first publication. Waverley (1814) came later. - Which novel is considered Sir Walter Scott’s last completed work, published in 1832?
A) Castle Dangerous
B) Ivanhoe
C) Rob Roy
D) The Talisman
Answer: A) Castle Dangerous
Explanation: Castle Dangerous (1832), part of the Tales of My Landlord series, was Scott’s last novel, published shortly before his death. - What was Jane Austen’s first published novel, released in 1811?
A) Pride and Prejudice
B) Sense and Sensibility
C) Mansfield Park
D) Emma
Answer: B) Sense and Sensibility
Explanation: Sense and Sensibility (1811) was Austen’s debut novel, published anonymously. Pride and Prejudice followed in 1813. - Which novel is considered Jane Austen’s last completed work, published posthumously in 1818?
A) Northanger Abbey
B) Persuasion
C) Lady Susan
D) Sanditon
Answer: B) Persuasion
Explanation: Persuasion (1818), published with Northanger Abbey after Austen’s death in 1817, was her last completed novel. Sanditon remained unfinished. - What was Robert Burns’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1786?
A) Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
B) The Kilmarnock Edition
C) Tam o’ Shanter
D) A Red, Red Rose
Answer: A) Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
Explanation: Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (1786), also called the Kilmarnock Edition, was Burns’s debut, launching his fame. - Which work is considered Robert Burns’s last major poetic contribution, published in 1796?
A) The Jolly Beggars
B) Songs of Innocence
C) Auld Lang Syne
D) The Scots Musical Museum (Vol. V)
Answer: D) The Scots Musical Museum (Vol. V)
Explanation: The Scots Musical Museum (Vol. V, 1796) included Burns’s final songs, like “Auld Lang Syne,” published just before his death. - What was Charles Dickens’s first published work, a collection of sketches from 1836?
A) The Pickwick Papers
B) Sketches by Boz
C) Oliver Twist
D) A Christmas Carol
Answer: B) Sketches by Boz
Explanation: Sketches by Boz (1836) was Dickens’s first collection of journalistic sketches, published under his pseudonym. The Pickwick Papers followed in 1837. - Which novel is considered Charles Dickens’s last completed work, published in 1865?
A) Our Mutual Friend
B) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
C) Great Expectations
D) Bleak House
Answer: A) Our Mutual Friend
Explanation: Our Mutual Friend (1864–1865) was Dickens’s last completed novel. The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1870) was unfinished at his death. - What was Charlotte Brontë’s first published novel, released in 1847?
A) Jane Eyre
B) Shirley
C) Villette
D) The Professor
Answer: A) Jane Eyre
Explanation: Jane Eyre (1847), published as “Currer Bell,” was Charlotte Brontë’s debut novel, a Gothic romance. The Professor was published posthumously. - Which novel is considered Charlotte Brontë’s last published work during her lifetime?
A) Villette
B) Shirley
C) Emma
D) The Professor
Answer: A) Villette
Explanation: Villette (1853) was Charlotte Brontë’s final novel, published before her death in 1855. It draws on her experiences in Brussels. - What was Emily Brontë’s first and only published novel, released in 1847?
A) Wuthering Heights
B) Agnes Grey
C) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
D) Shirley
Answer: A) Wuthering Heights
Explanation: Wuthering Heights (1847), published as “Ellis Bell,” was Emily Brontë’s sole novel, a passionate Gothic tale. She died in 1848. - What was Alfred Tennyson’s first major published work, a poetry collection from 1830?
A) Poems, Chiefly Lyrical
B) In Memoriam A.H.H.
C) The Princess
D) Maud
Answer: A) Poems, Chiefly Lyrical
Explanation: Poems, Chiefly Lyrical (1830) was Tennyson’s debut collection, including “Mariana.” In Memoriam came in 1850. - Which work is considered Alfred Tennyson’s last major poetic publication during his lifetime?
A) Idylls of the King
B) The Death of Oenone
C) Enoch Arden
D) Ballads and Other Poems
Answer: B) The Death of Oenone
Explanation: The Death of Oenone (1892) was Tennyson’s final collection, published just before his death. Idylls of the King was completed earlier (1859–1885). - What was Robert Browning’s first published work, a narrative poem from 1833?
A) Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession
B) Paracelsus
C) Sordello
D) Men and Women
Answer: A) Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession
Explanation: Pauline (1833) was Browning’s debut, an introspective poem. Paracelsus followed in 1835. - Which work is considered Robert Browning’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) Asolando
B) The Ring and the Book
C) Dramatis Personae
D) Ferishtah’s Fancies
Answer: A) Asolando
Explanation: Asolando (1889) was Browning’s final collection, published the day he died. It includes “Summum Bonum.” - What was Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s first published work, a poem from 1820?
A) The Battle of Marathon
B) Sonnets from the Portuguese
C) Aurora Leigh
D) Poems
Answer: A) The Battle of Marathon
Explanation: The Battle of Marathon (1820), written at age 12, was Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s first published poem, privately printed. - Which work is considered Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s last published collection during her lifetime?
A) Last Poems
B) Aurora Leigh
C) Poems Before Congress
D) Casa Guidi Windows
Answer: C) Poems Before Congress
Explanation: Poems Before Congress (1860) was Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s final collection, published before her death in 1861. Last Poems was posthumous (1862). - What was Thomas Hardy’s first published novel, released in 1871?
A) Desperate Remedies
B) Under the Greenwood Tree
C) Far from the Madding Crowd
D) The Return of the Native
Answer: A) Desperate Remedies
Explanation: Desperate Remedies (1871) was Hardy’s debut novel, a sensation story. Under the Greenwood Tree followed in 1872. - Which work is considered Thomas Hardy’s last published novel during his lifetime?
A) Jude the Obscure
B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
C) The Well-Beloved
D) The Dynasts
Answer: C) The Well-Beloved
Explanation: The Well-Beloved (1897) was Hardy’s final novel, published after Jude the Obscure (1895). He focused on poetry thereafter. - What was George Eliot’s first published work, a collection of novellas from 1858?
A) Adam Bede
B) Scenes of Clerical Life
C) The Mill on the Floss
D) Silas Marner
Answer: B) Scenes of Clerical Life
Explanation: Scenes of Clerical Life (1858) was George Eliot’s debut, published as “George Eliot.” Adam Bede followed in 1859. - Which novel is considered George Eliot’s last published work during her lifetime?
A) Daniel Deronda
B) Middlemarch
C) Impressions of Theophrastus Such
D) Felix Holt
Answer: C) Impressions of Theophrastus Such
Explanation: Impressions of Theophrastus Such (1879), a collection of essays, was George Eliot’s final work, published before her death in 1880. - What was Christina Rossetti’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1862?
A) Goblin Market and Other Poems
B) The Prince’s Progress
C) A Pageant and Other Poems
D) Verses
Answer: A) Goblin Market and Other Poems
Explanation: Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862) was Rossetti’s debut, featuring her famous title poem. - Which work is considered Christina Rossetti’s last published poetry collection during her lifetime?
A) Verses
B) A Pageant and Other Poems
C) Sing-Song
D) New Poems
Answer: B) A Pageant and Other Poems
Explanation: A Pageant and Other Poems (1881) was Rossetti’s final collection, published before her death in 1894. New Poems was posthumous. - What was Oscar Wilde’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1881?
A) Poems
B) The Happy Prince and Other Tales
C) The Picture of Dorian Gray
D) Salome
Answer: A) Poems
Explanation: Poems (1881) was Wilde’s debut, a collection of lyrical and aesthetic poetry. The Happy Prince followed in 1888. - Which work is considered Oscar Wilde’s last published work during his lifetime?
A) The Ballad of Reading Gaol
B) De Profundis
C) The Importance of Being Earnest
D) An Ideal Husband
Answer: A) The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Explanation: The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898) was Wilde’s final work, a poem written after his imprisonment. De Profundis was published posthumously. - What was Rudyard Kipling’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1886?
A) Departmental Ditties
B) The Jungle Book
C) Barrack-Room Ballads
D) Plain Tales from the Hills
Answer: A) Departmental Ditties
Explanation: Departmental Ditties (1886) was Kipling’s debut, satirical poems about British India. Plain Tales followed in 1888. - What was W.B. Yeats’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1889?
A) The Wanderings of Oisin
B) The Wind Among the Reeds
C) In the Seven Woods
D) The Celtic Twilight
Answer: A) The Wanderings of Oisin
Explanation: The Wanderings of Oisin (1889) was Yeats’s debut, a narrative poem rooted in Irish mythology. The Celtic Twilight (1893) was prose. - Which work is considered W.B. Yeats’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) Last Poems and Plays
B) The Tower
C) The Winding Stair
D) New Poems
Answer: D) New Poems
Explanation: New Poems (1938) was Yeats’s final collection, published before his death in 1939. Last Poems and Plays was posthumous (1940). - What was Joseph Conrad’s first published novel, released in 1895?
A) Heart of Darkness
B) Almayer’s Folly
C) Lord Jim
D) Nostromo
Answer: B) Almayer’s Folly
Explanation: Almayer’s Folly (1895) was Conrad’s debut novel, set in Malaysia. Heart of Darkness followed in 1899. - Which novel is considered Joseph Conrad’s last completed work, published in 1925?
A) The Rover
B) Suspense
C) Victory
D) The Rescue
Answer: A) The Rover
Explanation: The Rover (1923) was Conrad’s last completed novel, published before his death in 1924. Suspense (1925) was unfinished. - What was D.H. Lawrence’s first published novel, released in 1911?
A) Sons and Lovers
B) The White Peacock
C) The Rainbow
D) Women in Love
Answer: B) The White Peacock
Explanation: The White Peacock (1911) was Lawrence’s debut novel, exploring rural life. Sons and Lovers followed in 1913. - Which work is considered D.H. Lawrence’s last major publication during his lifetime?
A) Lady Chatterley’s Lover
B) Apocalypse
C) The Plumed Serpent
D) The Virgin and the Gypsy
Answer: B) Apocalypse
Explanation: Apocalypse (1931), a philosophical essay, was Lawrence’s final work, published posthumously shortly after his death in 1930. Lady Chatterley’s Lover was 1928. - What was Virginia Woolf’s first published novel, released in 1915?
A) Mrs. Dalloway
B) The Voyage Out
C) To the Lighthouse
D) Jacob’s Room
Answer: B) The Voyage Out
Explanation: The Voyage Out (1915) was Woolf’s debut novel, a traditional narrative. Mrs. Dalloway followed in 1925. - Which work is considered Virginia Woolf’s last published novel during her lifetime?
A) Between the Acts
B) The Waves
C) The Years
D) Orlando
Answer: C) The Years
Explanation: The Years (1937) was Woolf’s last novel published in her lifetime. Between the Acts was published posthumously in 1941. - What was James Joyce’s first published work, a poetry collection from 1907?
A) Chamber Music
B) Dubliners
C) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
D) Ulysses
Answer: A) Chamber Music
Explanation: Chamber Music (1907) was Joyce’s debut, a collection of 36 poems. Dubliners followed in 1914. - Which work is considered James Joyce’s last major publication during his lifetime?
A) Finnegans Wake
B) Ulysses
C) Exiles
D) Pomes Penyeach
Answer: A) Finnegans Wake
Explanation: Finnegans Wake (1939) was Joyce’s final work, a complex experimental novel. It was published just before his death in 1941. - What was T.S. Eliot’s first published poetry collection, released in 1917?
A) Prufrock and Other Observations
B) The Waste Land
C) Poems
D) Ash-Wednesday
Answer: A) Prufrock and Other Observations
Explanation: Prufrock and Other Observations (1917), including “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” was Eliot’s debut. The Waste Land came in 1922. - Which work is considered T.S. Eliot’s last major poetic publication during his lifetime?
A) Four Quartets
B) Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats
C) The Cocktail Party
D) The Confidential Clerk
Answer: A) Four Quartets
Explanation: Four Quartets (1935–1942) was Eliot’s final major poetic work, a meditative sequence. Later works like Cats (1939) were lighter. - What was E.M. Forster’s first published novel, released in 1905?
A) Where Angels Fear to Tread
B) A Room with a View
C) Howards End
D) A Passage to India
Answer: A) Where Angels Fear to Tread
Explanation: Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905) was Forster’s debut novel, exploring cultural clashes. A Room with a View followed in 1908. - Which novel is considered E.M. Forster’s last published work during his lifetime?
A) A Passage to India
B) Maurice
C) The Longest Journey
D) Aspects of the Novel
Answer: A) A Passage to India
Explanation: A Passage to India (1924) was Forster’s final novel published in his lifetime. Maurice was published posthumously in 1971. - What was Dylan Thomas’s first published poetry collection, released in 1934?
A) 18 Poems
B) Deaths and Entrances
C) The Map of Love
D) Twenty-Five Poems
Answer: A) 18 Poems
Explanation: 18 Poems (1934) was Thomas’s debut, showcasing his lyrical style. Twenty-Five Poems followed in 1936. - Which work is considered Dylan Thomas’s last major publication during his lifetime?
A) Collected Poems, 1934–1952
B) Under Milk Wood
C) In Country Sleep
D) The Doctor and the Devils
Answer: A) Collected Poems, 1934–1952
Explanation: Collected Poems, 1934–1952 (1952) was Thomas’s final major work, published before his death in 1953. Under Milk Wood was broadcast posthumously. - What was George Orwell’s first published work, a memoir from 1933?
A) Down and Out in Paris and London
B) Burmese Days
C) Animal Farm
D) Homage to Catalonia
Answer: A) Down and Out in Paris and London
Explanation: Down and Out in Paris and London (1933) was Orwell’s debut, a memoir of poverty. Burmese Days followed in 1934. - Which novel is considered George Orwell’s last published work during his lifetime?
A) Nineteen Eighty-Four
B) Animal Farm
C) Coming Up for Air
D) The Road to Wigan Pier
Answer: A) Nineteen Eighty-Four
Explanation: Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) was Orwell’s final novel, a dystopian masterpiece. He died in 1950. - What was W.H. Auden’s first published poetry collection, released in 1930?
A) Poems
B) The Orators
C) Look, Stranger!
D) Another Time
Answer: A) Poems
Explanation: Poems (1930) was Auden’s debut, published by Faber. The Orators followed in 1932. - Which work is considered W.H. Auden’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) Thank You, Fog
B) Epistle to a Godson
C) About the House
D) City Without Walls
Answer: B) Epistle to a Godson
Explanation: Epistle to a Godson (1972) was Auden’s final collection, published before his death in 1973. Thank You, Fog was posthumous. - What was Ted Hughes’s first published poetry collection, released in 1957?
A) The Hawk in the Rain
B) Lupercal
C) Crow
D) Wodwo
Answer: A) The Hawk in the Rain
Explanation: The Hawk in the Rain (1957) was Hughes’s debut, winning critical acclaim. Lupercal followed in 1960. - Which work is considered Ted Hughes’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) Birthday Letters
B) Tales from Ovid
C) Wolfwatching
D) Moortown Diary
Answer: A) Birthday Letters
Explanation: Birthday Letters (1998), poems about his relationship with Sylvia Plath, was Hughes’s final collection, published before his death in 1998. - What was Sylvia Plath’s first published poetry collection, released in 1960?
A) The Colossus and Other Poems
B) Ariel
C) Crossing the Water
D) Winter Trees
Answer: A) The Colossus and Other Poems
Explanation: The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) was Plath’s debut collection. Ariel was published in 1965, after her death. - Which work is considered Sylvia Plath’s last major poetry collection, published posthumously in 1965?
A) Ariel
B) The Bell Jar
C) Crossing the Water
D) Winter Trees
Answer: A) Ariel
Explanation: Ariel (1965), published after Plath’s death in 1963, contains her final poems, like “Lady Lazarus.” It’s her most famous work. - What was Philip Larkin’s first published poetry collection, released in 1945?
A) The North Ship
B) The Less Deceived
C) The Whitsun Weddings
D) High Windows
Answer: A) The North Ship
Explanation: The North Ship (1945) was Larkin’s debut, influenced by Yeats. The Less Deceived (1955) marked his mature style. - Which work is considered Philip Larkin’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) High Windows
B) The Whitsun Weddings
C) Aubade
D) Collected Poems
Answer: A) High Windows
Explanation: High Windows (1974) was Larkin’s final collection, including “Aubade.” Collected Poems (1988) was posthumous. - What was Seamus Heaney’s first published poetry collection, released in 1966?
A) Death of a Naturalist
B) Door into the Dark
C) North
D) Field Work
Answer: A) Death of a Naturalist
Explanation: Death of a Naturalist (1966) was Heaney’s debut, featuring poems like “Digging.” Door into the Dark followed in 1969. - Which work is considered Seamus Heaney’s last published poetry collection during his lifetime?
A) Human Chain
B) District and Circle
C) The Spirit Level
D) Beowulf (translation)
Answer: A) Human Chain
Explanation: Human Chain (2010) was Heaney’s final collection, published before his death in 2013. It reflects on mortality and memory. - What was Salman Rushdie’s first published novel, released in 1975?
A) Midnight’s Children
B) Grimus
C) Shame
D) The Satanic Verses
Answer: B) Grimus
Explanation: Grimus (1975), a sci-fi fantasy, was Rushdie’s debut novel. Midnight’s Children (1981) brought him fame. - Which novel is considered Salman Rushdie’s last published work as of 2023?
A) The Golden House
B) Victory City
C) Quichotte
D) The Moor’s Last Sigh
Answer: B) Victory City
Explanation: Victory City (2023) is Rushdie’s most recent novel, a historical fantasy. It’s his last work as of the latest available data.