Percy Bysshe Shelley: Biography, Works, Quotes, and 150 MCQs for Competitive Exams
Posted on June 10, 2025 by [Hargyan Singh]
Percy Bysshe Shelley: Biography, Works, Quotes, and 150 MCQs for Competitive Exams: Preparing for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, SSC CGL, or State PSC exams? Dive into Percy Bysshe Shelley, the Romantic poet, with this comprehensive guide! Explore his biography, iconic works like Ode to the West Wind, famous quotes such as “O wild West Wind,” and 150 MCQs to ace your English literature prep. Perfect for exam success!
Portrait of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic poet (Public Domain)
Introduction to Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822), a leading Romantic poet, is celebrated for his lyrical masterpieces like Ode to the West Wind and lines such as “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” His works, including Prometheus Unbound, Adonais, and Ozymandias, are essential for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, and SSC CGL. This guide, with his biography, major works, 11 iconic quotes, and 150 MCQs, is tailored for exam success.
Biographical Details
- Full Name: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Pen Name: None
- Age of Literature: Romantic (1780–1830)
- Birth and Death: August 4, 1792 – July 8, 1822
- Birthplace: Horsham, Sussex, England
- Parents: Timothy Shelley and Elizabeth Pilfold
- Parents’ Profession: Timothy Shelley (landowner, Member of Parliament); Elizabeth Pilfold (homemaker)
- Spouses: Harriet Westbrook, Mary Godwin (Wollstonecraft)
- Children: Clara, William, Percy Florence (with Mary); others with Harriet died young
Born into wealth in Sussex, Shelley’s father, Timothy Shelley, was a landowner and MP, while his mother, Elizabeth Pilford, was a homemaker, details tested in JNUET. Expelled from Oxford for atheism, he eloped with Harriet Westbrook, then Mary Godwin. Shelley drowned at 29 in Italy, leaving a revolutionary legacy, relevant for NET.
Literary Journey
Shelley’s career began with *Queen Mab* (1813). His lyrical genius in Ode to the West Wind (1819) and *Prometheus Unbound* (1820) defined Romanticism, studied for NET.
- First Work: Zastrozzi (1810, novel)
- First Published Poem: Queen Mab (1813)
- Major Milestone: Prometheus Unbound (1820)
- Last Major Work: Adonais (1821)
- Last Work: The Triumph of Life (1822, unfinished)
Exam Tip: Memorize Ode to the West Wind (1819) and Shelley’s atheism for UGC NET and SET.
Major Works, Themes, and Famous Quotes
Shelley’s works span poetry and prose, exploring liberty, nature, and revolution, as in “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!” Essential for TGT, PGT, and MA English entrance.
- Main Themes:
- Liberty: Revolution in Prometheus Unbound.
- Nature: Sublime in Ode to the West Wind.
- Love: Idealism in Hymn to Intellectual Beauty.
- Mortality: Elegy in Adonais.
- All Famous Works with Themes:
- Ode to the West Wind (1819): Ode; nature, revolution, regeneration.
- To a Skylark (1820): Ode; nature, transcendence, joy.
- Prometheus Unbound (1820): Lyrical drama; liberty, defiance, hope.
- Adonais (1821): Elegy; mortality, Keats’ legacy, immortality.
- The Revolt of Islam (1818): Epic; revolution, love, idealism.
- Queen Mab (1813): Philosophical poem; atheism, social reform.
- Ozymandias (1818): Sonnet; transience, hubris, time.
- The Mask of Anarchy (1819): Political poem; protest, nonviolence.
- Alastor (1816): Narrative poem; solitude, imagination, quest.
- Hymn to Intellectual Beauty (1817): Lyric; idealism, beauty, spirituality.
- Famous Quotes for Exams:
- “O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being.” – Ode to the West Wind (NET, UPSC)
- “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” – Ode to the West Wind (SET, PGT)
- “The life of man is of no more duration than the breath of his nostrils.” – Adonais (NET, JNUET)
- “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.” – To a Skylark (CTET, TGT)
- “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!” – To a Skylark (DUET, SET)
- “I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!” – Ode to the West Wind (NET, PGT)
- “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” – Ozymandias (UPSC, CTET)
- “Music, when soft voices die, / Vibrates in the memory.” – Music, When Soft Voices Die (NET, DUET)
- “A poet is a nightingale who sits in darkness and sings.” – A Defence of Poetry (SET)
- “The flower that smiles today / Tomorrow dies.” – Mutability (JNUET)
- “We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature…” – Hellas (NET, TGT)
- Work That Brought Fame: Ozymandias (1818) and Prometheus Unbound (1820).
Shelley’s use of terza rima and vivid imagery is tested for poetic devices in NET. His revolutionary themes are central to CTET.
Exam Tip: Study Ode to the West Wind and Prometheus Unbound for NET themes and memorize quotes like “If Winter comes” for UPSC.
Pull Quote: “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” – Percy Bysshe Shelley, Ode to the West Wind
Awards and Recognition
Shelley’s accolades include:
- Posthumous Fame: Influenced Victorian poets and Gandhi’s nonviolence (NET)
- Literary Circles: Admired by Byron and Keats (SET)
- Global Legacy: Shelley Societies, academic studies (JNUET)
Key Facts for Competitive Exams
Tested in UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, UPSC, DUET, JNUET, SSC CGL:
- Terza Rima: Used in Ode to the West Wind (NET)
- Atheism: Expelled from Oxford (SET)
- Romanticism: Second-generation poet (JNUET)
- Italy: Wrote major works there (GATE)
- Imagery: Sublime nature (CTET)
- Influences: Plato, Godwin, Rousseau (NET)
- Nonviolence: Inspired Gandhi via The Mask of Anarchy (UPSC)
Critical Analysis and Lesser-Known Works
Shelley’s odes are analyzed for their lyrical intensity in Ode to the West Wind, tested in NET. Lesser-known works like Alastor explore solitude, studied in JNUET. His prose, A Defence of Poetry, is debated in SET.
Pull Quote: “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!” – Percy Bysshe Shelley, To a Skylark
Historical Context and Modern Relevance
Shelley wrote during the Napoleonic Wars and industrial unrest, reflected in The Mask of Anarchy, studied for UPSC. His themes of liberty and nature inspire modern activism, relevant for JNUET. His language is taught in CTET.
Pull Quote: “A poet is a nightingale who sits in darkness and sings.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley, A Defence of Poetry
150 MCQs for Competitive Exams
Test your knowledge with these 150 MCQs, designed for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, SSC CGL:
- What is Percy Bysshe Shelley’s full name?
A) Percy Shelley B) Percy Bysshe Shelley C) Percy John Shelley D) Percy William Shelley
Answer: B) Percy Bysshe Shelley
Explanation: Basic fact for SSC CGL. - In which literary era did Shelley write?
A) Victorian B) Romantic C) Modern D) Elizabethan
Answer: B) Romantic
Explanation: 1790–1830 for NET. - Where was Shelley born?
A) London B) Horsham C) Oxford D) Rome
Answer: B) Horsham
Explanation: Sussex, 1792 for TGT. - Who was Shelley’s first wife?
A) Mary Godwin B) Harriet Westbrook C) Elizabeth Pilfold D) Claire Clairmont
Answer: B) Harriet Westbrook
Explanation: Married 1811 for DUET. - When did Shelley begin writing poetry?
A) 1800s B) 1810s C) 1820s D) 1830s
Answer: B) 1810s
Explanation: Early career for SET. - Who was Shelley’s father?
A) Timothy Shelley B) William Shelley C) John Shelley D) Thomas Shelley
Answer: A) Timothy Shelley
Explanation: Landowner for JNUET. - What was Shelley’s mother’s profession?
A) Homemaker B) Teacher C) Writer D) Actress
Answer: A) Homemaker
Explanation: Elizabeth Pilfold for DUET. - Where did Shelley study?
A) Cambridge B) Oxford C) Eton D) Both B and C
Answer: D) Both B and C
Explanation: Expelled from Oxford for NET. - What led to Shelley’s expulsion from Oxford?
A) Atheism B) Plagiarism C) Debt D) Violence
Answer: A) Atheism
Explanation: The Necessity of Atheism for UPSC. - How old was Shelley when he died?
A) 25 B) 30 C) 35 D) 40
Answer: B) 30
Explanation: Died 1822 for JNUET. - In which year was Shelley born?
A) 1782 B) 1792 C) 1802 D) 1812
Answer: B) 1792
Explanation: Birth record for SSC CGL. - When did Shelley die?
A) 1812 B) 1822 C) 1832 D) 1842
Answer: B) 1822
Explanation: Drowning for TGT. - What was Shelley’s father’s profession?
A) Poet B) Landowner and MP C) Lawyer D) Merchant
Answer: B) Landowner and MP
Explanation: Timothy Shelley for SET. - Who influenced Shelley’s writing?
A) Plato B) Godwin C) Rousseau D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Philosophical sources for NET. - What was Shelley’s political stance?
A) Conservative B) Radical C) Monarchist D) Neutral
Answer: B) Radical
Explanation: Revolutionary for GATE. - Where did Shelley settle in 1818?
A) France B) Italy C) Switzerland D) Germany
Answer: B) Italy
Explanation: Major works written there for DUET. - Who was Shelley’s literary contemporary?
A) Keats B) Milton C) Shakespeare D) Donne
Answer: A) Keats
Explanation: Romantic poet for NET. - What caused Shelley’s death?
A) Illness B) Drowning C) Duel D) Accident
Answer: B) Drowning
Explanation: Gulf of Spezia for SET. - Who was Shelley’s mother?
A) Elizabeth Pilfold B) Harriet Westbrook C) Mary Godwin D) Claire Clairmont
Answer: A) Elizabeth Pilfold
Explanation: Homemaker for DUET. - Which child of Shelley survived to adulthood?
A) Percy Florence B) Clara C) William D) All died young
Answer: A) Percy Florence
Explanation: With Mary for JNUET. - What was Shelley’s religious stance?
A) Christian B) Atheist C) Agnostic D) Deist
Answer: B) Atheist
Explanation: Influenced works for SSC CGL. - In which year was Shelley expelled from Oxford?
A) 1810 B) 1811 C) 1812 D) 1813
Answer: B) 1811
Explanation: Atheism pamphlet for SET. - What inspired Shelley’s radicalism?
A) French Revolution B) Industrial Revolution C) American Revolution D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Political ideals for NET. - Where did Shelley meet Mary Godwin?
A) London B) Switzerland C) Italy D) France
Answer: A) London
Explanation: Godwin’s home for UPSC. - Who was Shelley’s second wife?
A) Harriet Westbrook B) Mary Godwin C) Elizabeth Pilfold D) Claire Clairmont
Answer: B) Mary Godwin
Explanation: Married 1816 for DUET. - What was Shelley’s nationality?
A) British B) French C) Italian D) Swiss
Answer: A) British
Explanation: Basic fact for SSC CGL. - Which poet collaborated with Shelley?
A) Lord Byron B) Coleridge C) Milton D) Dryden
Answer: A) Lord Byron
Explanation: Switzerland for NET. - What was Shelley’s education?
A) Self-taught B) Oxford C) Eton D) Both B and C
Answer: D) Both B and C
Explanation: Formal schooling for JNUET. - Where did Shelley die?
A) London B) Italy C) France D) Switzerland
Answer: B) Italy
Explanation: Gulf of Spezia for SET. - What was Shelley’s family’s social status?
A) Aristocracy B) Middle Class C) Working Class D) Royalty
Answer: A) Aristocracy
Explanation: Wealthy family for DUET. - What was Shelley’s first published poem?
A) Queen Mab B) Ozymandias C) Ode to the West Wind D) Alastor
Answer: A) Queen Mab
Explanation: 1813 for NET. - Which work launched Shelley’s fame?
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) Prometheus Unbound D) Both B and C
Answer: D) Both B and C
Explanation: 1818–1820 for UPSC. - What is the theme of Ode to the West Wind?
A) Revolution B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Revolution
Explanation: “O wild West Wind” for SET. - Which work features the quote “Hail to thee”?
A) To a Skylark B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) To a Skylark
Explanation: Joyful imagery for CTET. - Which work is an elegy?
A) Adonais B) Prometheus Unbound C) Ode to the West Wind D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: For Keats for TGT. - What is the full title of Ozymandias?
A) Sonnet B) Ozymandias C) Ode to Power D) Sonnet on Power
Answer: B) Sonnet
Explanation “Look on my Works” for NET. - Which work explores liberation?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Adonais C) Ode to the West Wind D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Defiance for DUET. - Which work is a political poem?
A) The Mask of Anarchy B) Adonais C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) The Mask of Anarchy
Explanation: Protest for PGT. - What is the theme of Alastor?
A) Solitude and Imagination B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Solitude and Imagination
Explanation: Quest for TGT. - Which work is a philosophical poem?
A) Queen Mab B) Ozymandias C) Ode to the West Wind D) Adonais
Answer: A) Queen Mab
Explanation: Atheism for SET. - In which year was Ozymandias published?
A) 1813 B) 1818 C) 1820 D) 1821
Answer: B) 1818
Explanation: Sonnet milestone for NET>. - Which work is an ode?
A) Ode to the Skylark B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) Prometheus Unbound
Answer: A) To a Skylark
Explanation: Lyrical for PGT. - What is the theme of The Revolt of Islam?
A) Revolution and Love B) War C) Nature D) Comedy
Answer: A) Revolution and Love
Explanation: Idealism for TGT. - Which work begins “O wild West Wind”?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) To a Skylark C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Terza rima for NET. - What is the theme of Hymn to Intellectual Beauty?
A) Idealism B) War C) Love D) Death
Answer: A) Idealism
Explanation: Spirituality for SET. - Which work critiques tyranny?
A) The Mask of Anarchy B) Adonais C) Ode to the West Wind D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) The Mask of Anarchy
Explanation: Peterloo for DUET. - What is the theme of Prometheus Unbound?
A) Liberty B) Love C) Death D) Comedy
Answer: A) Liberty
Explanation: Defiance for NET. - Which work is a sonnet?
A) Ozymandias B) Adonais C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: Transience for PGT. - What is the setting of Adonais?
A) Pastoral Rome B) London C) Italy D) Greece
Answer: A) Pastoral Rome
Explanation: Keats’ elegy for SET. - Which work was published in 1820?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Queen Mab C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Lyrical drama for NET. - What is the theme of Queen Mab?
A) Social Reform B) Love C) War D) Nature
Explanation: Atheism for TGT. - Which work was a lyrical drama?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Adonais C) Ode to the West Wind D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Mythological for SET. - Which work is a narrative poem?
A) Alastor B) Ozymandias C) To a Skylark D) Ode to the West Wind
Answer: A) Alastor
Explanation: Solitude for NET. - Which quote is from Ode to the West Wind?
A) If Winter comes B) Hail to thee C) Look on my Works D) Music, when soft voices die
Answer: A) If Winter comes
Explanation: Hopeful close for UPSC. - Which work begins “Hail to thee”?
A) To a Skylark B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) To a Skylark
Explanation: Joyful address for CTET. - Which quote is from Adonais?
A) The life of man B) If Winter comes C) A poet is a nightingale D) We are all Greeks
Answer: A) The life of man
Explanation: Mortality for NET. - Which work begins “Look on my Works”?
A) Ozymandias B) Prometheus Unbound C) Ode to the West Wind D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: Hubris for SET. - Which quote is from To a Skylark?
A) Our sweetest songs B) If Winter comes C) The life of man D) Music, when soft voices die
Answer: A) Our sweetest songs
Explanation: Sublime joy for CTET. - Which work honors Keats??
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Elegy for JNUET. - Which quote is from Music, When Soft Voices Die?
A) Music, when soft voices die B) If Winter comes C) Hail to thee D) The life of man
Answer: A) Music, when soft voices die
Explanation: Memory for DUET. - Which work is a sonnet?
A) Ozymandias B) Prometheus Unbound C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Sonnet
Explanation: Structure for NET. - Which quote is from A Defence of Poetry?
A) A poet is a nightingale B) If Winter comes C) Look on my Works D) Hail to thee
Answer: A) A poet is a nightingale
Explanation: Poetic role for PGT. - Which work was written in 1819?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Queen Mab C) Adonais D) Alastor
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Lyric milestone for NET. - Which quote is from Mutability?
A) The flower that smiles B) If Winter comes C) Hail to thee D) Look on my Works
Answer: A) The flower that smiles
Explanation: Transience for TGT. - Which work is an unfinished poem?
A) The Triumph of Life B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Prometheus Unbound
Answer: A) The unfinished poem
Explanation: 1822 for SET. - Which work features Prometheus?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Mythical hero for NET. - Which work is a prose essay?
A) A Defence of Poetry B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) A Defence of Poetry
Explanation: Literary theory for DUET.
Which work was published in 1816? - Which work is a hymn?
A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty
Explanation: Idealism for SET. - Which work features revolutionary imagery?
A) The Revolt of Islam B) Adonais C) Ozymandias D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) The Revolt of Islam
Explanation: Epic reform for PGT. - What is the main theme of Ode to the West Wind?
A) Regeneration B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Regeneration
Explanation: Nature’s cycle for TGT. - What is Shelley’s poetic meter in Ode to the West Wind?
A) Terza rima B) Iambic Pentameter C) Free Verse D) Spondaic Meter
Answer: A) Terza rima
Explanation: Italian form for GATE. - What is a feature of Shelley’s style?
A) Vivid Imagery B) Minimalism C) Satirical Prose D) Rhymed Couplets
Answer: A) Vivid Imagery
Explanation: Sublime nature for NET. - Which theme is central to Prometheus Unbound?
A) Liberty B) Love C) War D) Nature
Answer: A) Liberty
Explanation: Defiance for DUET. - What is the tone of To a Skylark?
A) Joyful B) Tragic C) Satirical D) Heroic
Answer: A) Joyful
Explanation: Transcendence for CTET. - Which work uses sublime nature imagery?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) The Mask of Anarchy C) Ozymandias D) All of the above
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Wind’s power for NET. - What is the form of Ozymandias?
A) Sonnet B) Ode C) Elegy D) Epic
Answer: A) Sonnet
Explanation: Petrarchan structure for SET. - Which theme is prominent in Adonais?
A) Mortality B) Love C) Comedy D) War
Answer: A) Mortality
Explanation: Keats’ elegy for PGT. - What is the tone of The Mask of Anarchy?
A) Protest B) Romantic C) Comedic D) Pastoral
Answer: A) Protest
Explanation: Peterloo for NET. - Which work uses mythological elements?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) All of the above
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Greek myth for DUET. - What is the main theme of Alastor?
A) Solitude B) Love C) War D) Nature
Answer: A) Solitude
Explanation: Poetic quest for JNUET. - Which work employs philosophical idealism?
A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty B) Ozymandias C) The Mask of Anarchy D) Adonais
Answer: A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty
Explanation: Spirituality for CTET. - What is the style of A Defence of Poetry?
A) Prose Essay B) Epic Poetry C) Sonnet D) Ode
Answer: A) Prose Essay
Explanation: Literary theory for SET. - Which theme is prominent in Queen Mab?
A) Social Reform B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Social Reform
Explanation: Atheism for PGT. - What is the theme of The Revolt of Islam?
A) Revolution B) Love C) Nature D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Epic idealism for NET. - Which work uses terza rima?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Dante’s influence for SET. - What is the tone of Adonais?
-
A) Elegiac B) Heroic C) Comedic D) Satirical
Answer: A) Elegiac
Explanation: Mourning for DUET. - Which theme is central to The Mask of Anarchy?
A) Nonviolence B) Love C) War D) Nature
Answer: A) Nonviolence
Explanation: Protest for TGT. - Which work uses pastoral settings?
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Rome’s ruins for NET. - Which work explores transience?
A) Ozymandias B) Adonais C) Ode to the West Wind D) All of the above
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: Time’s decay for SET. - Which work uses classical allusions?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Adonais C) Ode to the West Wind D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Greek influence for CTET. - Which theme is central to Hymn to Intellectual Beauty?
A) Spirituality B) War C) Love D) Comedy
Answer: A) Spirituality
Explanation: Idealism for JNUET. - Which work explores revolutionary hope?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Regeneration for NET. - Which theme is prominent in To a Skylark?
A) Transcendence B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Transcendence
Explanation: Joyful spirit for PGT. - Which work uses political satire?
A) The Mask of Anarchy B) Adonais C) Ozymandias D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) The Mask of Anarchy
Explanation: Peterloo critique for SET. - Which work critiques hubris?
A) Ozymandias B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Explanation: King’s fall for DUET. - Which theme is central to A Defence of Poetry?
A) Poetic Power B) Love C) War D) Nature
Answer: A) Poetic Power
Explanation: Art’s role for TGT. - Which work uses elegiac imagery?
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Keats’ tribute for NET. - What is the tone of Prometheus Unbound?
A) Hopeful B) Tragic C) Comedic D) Satirical
Answer: A) Hopeful
Explanation: Liberation for SET. - Which work features sublime nature?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) All of the above
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Wind’s force for NET. - Which era shaped Shelley’s works?
A) Romantic B) Victorian C) Elizabethan D) Modern
Answer: A) Romantic
Explanation: 1790–1830 for UPSC. - What was the primary context of The Mask of Anarchy?
A) Peterloo Massacre B) French Revolution C) Napoleonic Wars D) Industrial Revolution
Answer: A) Peterloo Massacre
Explanation: 1819 protest for NET. - Which monarch ruled during Shelley’s life?
A) George III B) Victoria I C) Charles II D) James I
Answer: A) George III
Explanation: Regency era for SET. - What historical event influenced Prometheus Unbound?
A) French Revolution B) Industrial Revolution C) Napoleonic Wars D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Revolutionary ideals for DUET. - Which event shaped The Mask of Anarchy?
A) Peterloo Massacre B) French Revolution C) Napoleonic Wars D) Reform Act
Answer: A) Peterloo Massacre
Explanation: Nonviolence for NET. - What political movement influenced Shelley?
A) Radicalism B) Conservatism C) Feudalism D) Imperialism
Answer: A) Radicalism
Explanation: Social reform for UPSC. - Which social conflict affected Shelley’s era?
A) Class struggle B) Religious wars C) Colonial wars D) None
Answer: A) Class struggle
Explanation: Industrial unrest for JNUET. - What social issue is reflected in Queen Mab?
A) Atheism B) Love C) War D) Poverty
Answer: A) Atheism
Explanation: Social critique for SET. - Which war influenced Shelley’s poetry?
A) Napoleonic Wars B) English Civil War C) World War I D) None
Answer: A) Napoleonic Wars
Explanation: Revolutionary ideals for PGT. - What political structure shaped Shelley’s works?
A) Monarchy B) Republic C) Democracy D) Feudalism
Answer: A) Monarchy
Explanation: Regency era for NET. - Which source inspired Prometheus Unbound?
A) Aeschylus B) Ovid C) Bible D) Dante
Answer: A) Aeschylus
Explanation: Greek drama for SET. - What social issue is reflected in The Mask of Anarchy?
A) Oppression B) Love C) War D) Religion
Answer: A) Oppression
Explanation: Peterloo for JNUET. - Which event affected Shelley’s era?
A) Industrial Revolution B) Black Death C) Great Fire D) None
Answer: A) Industrial Revolution
Explanation: Social change for NET. - What influenced Shelley’s radical views?
A) French Revolution B) Greek myths C) Roman law D) All of the above
Answer: A) French Revolution
Explanation: Liberty for DUET. - Which event shaped Adonais?
A) Keats’ death B) Peterloo Massacre C) Napoleonic Wars D) Industrial Revolution
Answer: A) Keats’ death
Explanation: Elegy for TGT. - What was the role of the Regency press in Shelley’s era?
A) Censorship B) Education C) Military D) Trade
Answer: A) Censorship
Explanation: Suppressed works for NET. - Which monarch succeeded George III?
A) George IV B) Victoria I C) Charles II D) James I
Answer: A) George IV
Explanation: Regency for SET. - What economic change affected Shelley’s audience?
A) Industrial Revolution B) Mercantilism C) Enclosure D) None
Answer: A) Industrial Revolution
Explanation: Labor unrest for UPSC. - Which event delayed Shelley’s publications?
A) Censorship B) Illness C) Death D) All of the above
Explanation: Radical works banned for NET. - What was the impact of the French Revolution on Shelley?
A) Radical Ideals B) Exile C) Wealth D) None
Answer: A) Radical Ideals
Explanation: Inspired liberty for SET. - Which institution shaped Shelley’s education?
A) Oxford B) Cambridge C) Eton College D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Formal schooling for JNU. - What was the role of the Luddites in Shelley’s era?
A) Labor Protest B) Censorship C) Military D) Education
Answer: A) Labor Protest
Explanation: Industrial unrest for NET. - Which trade influenced Shelley’s works?
A) Colonial trade B) Silk Road C) Spice trade D) None
Answer: A) Colonial trade
Explanation: Global ideas for SET. - Which event shaped Shelley’s prose?
A) French Revolution B) Industrial Revolution C) Napoleonic Wars D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Political ideals for JNU. - Which event influenced Hellas?
A) Greek War of Independence B) Peterloo Massacre C) Napoleonic Wars D) Industrial Revolution
Answer: A) Greek War of Independence
Explanation: “We are all Greeks” for NET. - Which work is analyzed for its lyrical structure?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) The Mask of Anarchy D) Adonais
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Terza rima for NET. - Which work is studied for its revolutionary themes?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) To a Skylark C) Ozymandias D) Adonais
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Liberty for SET. - Which work is analyzed for its elegiac depth?
A) Adonais B) Ode to the West Wind C) Ozymandias D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Keats’ tribute for JNUET. - Which work is studied for its sonnet form?
A) Ozymandias B) Prometheus Unbound C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: Petrarchan for NET. - Which work is analyzed for its nonviolent protest?
A) The Mask of Anarchy B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) The Mask of Anarchy
Explanation: Peterloo for JNUET. - Which work is studied for its feminist readings?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Gender roles for SET. - Which work is analyzed for its sublime imagery?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) All of the above
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Nature’s power for NET. - Which work explores transcendental themes?
A) To a Skylark B) Ozymandias C) The Mask of Anarchy D) Adonais
Answer: A) To a Skylark
Explanation: Joyful spirit for DUET. - Which work is analyzed for its philosophical idealism?
A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) The Mask of Anarchy
Answer: A) Hymn to Intellectual Beauty
Explanation: Spirituality for UPSC. - Which work is studied for its narrative quest?
A) Alastor B) Ode to the West Wind C) Ozymandias D) Adonais
Answer: A) Alastor
Explanation: Solitude for NET. - Which work is analyzed for its political themes?
A) The Mask of Anarchy B) Ode to the West Wind C) Ozymandias D) Adonais
Answer: A) The Mask of Anarchy
Explanation: Protest for PGT. - Which work uses mythological allegory?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Liberation for JNUET. - Which work explores human transience?
A) Ozymandias B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: Time’s decay for SET. - Which work is analyzed for its pastoral imagery?
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) The Mask of Anarchy D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Rome’s ruins for CTET. - Which work is studied for its revolutionary hope?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Regeneration for PGT. - Which work is analyzed for its prose style?
A) A Defence of Poetry B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Ozymandias
Answer: A) A Defence of Poetry
Explanation: Literary theory for NET. - Which work is studied for its elegiac tone?
A) Adonais B) Ozymandias C) Prometheus Unbound D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Adonais
Explanation: Keats’ elegy for SET. - Which work is analyzed for its use of nature?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above Explanation: Romantic theme for TGT. - Which work is analyzed for its classical influences?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Greek allusions for NET. - Which work is analyzed for its moral complexity?
A) Prometheus Unbound B) Ozymandias C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Prometheus Unbound
Explanation: Defiance vs. ethics for JNUET. - Which work is analyzed for its use of irony?
A) Ozymandias B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) Ozymandias
Explanation: The contrast between the inscription and the ruined statue highlights irony for NET. - Which work is studied for its ecological themes?
A) Ode to the West Wind B) The Mask of Anarchy C) Ozymandias D) Alastor
Answer: A) Ode to the West Wind
Explanation: Nature’s regenerative cycle reflects ecological awareness for JNUET. - Which work is analyzed for its autobiographical elements?
A) Alastor B) Prometheus Unbound C) To a Skylark D) Adonais
Answer: A) Alastor
Explanation: The poet’s quest mirrors Shelley’s own ideals for SET. - Which work is studied for its influence on modern poetry?
A) A Defence of Poetry B) Ozymandias C) The Mask of Anarchy D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) A Defence of Poetry
Explanation: Its views on poetry’s transformative power inspired poets for DUET. - Which work is analyzed for its anti-imperialist themes?
A) The Revolt of Islam B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) To a Skylark
Answer: A) The Revolt of Islam
Explanation: Critiques oppressive systems for NET.
A) Alastor B) Ode to the West Wind C) Adonais D) Prometheus Unbound
Answer: A) Alastor
Explanation: Early narrative for NET.
Conclusion
Percy Bysshe Shelley, with timeless lines like “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” and “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit,” remains a cornerstone of Romanticism. His exploration of liberty, nature, and mortality in works like Ode to the West Wind, Prometheus Unbound, and Ozymandias is essential for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, and SSC CGL aspirants. With 11 iconic quotes, including new ones like “A poet is a nightingale,” and 150 MCQs covering biography, works, themes, context, and critical analysis, this guide is your key to mastering Shelley for exam success. Study Shelley to excel in your English literature exams!
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