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Thomas Hardy: Biography, Works, Quotes, and 150 MCQs for Competitive Exams

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Objective English MCQs

Thomas Hardy: 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 Thomas Hardy, the Victorian novelist and poet, with this comprehensive guide! Explore his biography, iconic works like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, famous quotes such as “If way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst,” and 150 MCQs to ace your English literature prep. Perfect for exam success!

Thomas Hardy portrait for UGC NET English literature

Portrait of Thomas Hardy, Victorian novelist and poet (Public Domain)

Introduction to Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy (1840–1928), a towering figure of Victorian and early modernist literature, is renowned for novels like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and Far from the Madding Crowd, and poems like The Darkling Thrush. His tragic vision and critique of social norms 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: Thomas Hardy
Age of Literature: Victorian and Early Modernist (1837–1928)
Birth and Death: June 2, 1840 – January 11, 1928
Birthplace: Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England
Parents: Thomas Hardy Sr. and Jemima Hand
Parents’ Profession: Thomas Hardy Sr. (stonemason/builder); Jemima Hand (homemaker/former servant)
Spouses: Emma Gifford (m. 1874–1912), Florence Dugdale (m. 1914–1928)
Children: None
Siblings: 3, including Mary Hardy

Born in Dorset, Hardy’s father, Thomas Hardy Sr., was a stonemason and builder, and his mother, Jemima Hand, a homemaker and former servant, details tested in JNUET. His rural upbringing and architectural training shaped his Wessex settings, relevant for NET.

Literary Journey

Hardy began as an architect before turning to literature, gaining fame with Far from the Madding Crowd (1874). His controversial novels, like Tess and Jude, led him to poetry after 1895, including Wessex Poems. His works reflect a tragic vision, studied for NET.

First Work: Desperate Remedies (1871)
First Major Work: Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)
Major Milestone: Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891)
Last Major Work: Winter Words (1928)
Literary Circle: Leslie Stephen, George Meredith

Exam Tip: Memorize Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891) and Hardy’s Wessex setting for UGC NET and SET.

Major Works, Themes, and Famous Quotes

Hardy’s works explore fate, social injustice, and human struggle, as in “If way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst.” Essential for TGT, PGT, and MA English entrance.

Main Themes:
- Fate and Chance: Tragedy in Tess of the d’Urbervilles.
- Social Criticism: Class in Jude the Obscure.
- Nature: Wessex in Far from the Madding Crowd.
- Pessimism: Despair in The Darkling Thrush.
All Famous Works with Themes:
- Far from the Madding Crowd (1874): Novel; love, nature, rural life.
- The Return of the Native (1878): Novel; fate, passion, Egdon Heath.
- The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886): Novel; fate, guilt, redemption.
- The Woodlanders (1887): Novel; love, class, nature.
- Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891): Novel; fate, morality, tragedy.
- Jude the Obscure (1895): Novel; ambition, class, religion.
- Under the Greenwood Tree (1872): Novel; rural life, love, community.
- Wessex Poems (1898): Poetry; pessimism, nature, history.
- The Darkling Thrush (1900): Poem; hope, despair, transition.
Famous Quotes for Exams:
- “If way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst.” – Hap (NET, UPSC)
- “Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain.” – The Mayor of Casterbridge (SET, PGT)
- “The business of the poet and novelist is to show the sorriness underlying the grandest things.” – Tess of the d’Urbervilles (NET, JNUET)
- “We are all in the hands of chance.” – Far from the Madding Crowd (CTET, TGT)
- “Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness.” – Jude the Obscure (DUET, SET)
- “The value of a man is not in his skin.” – Neutral Tones (NET, PGT)
- “I leant upon a coppice gate / When Frost was spectre-grey.” – The Darkling Thrush (UPSC, CTET)
- “Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn.” – The Man He Killed (NET, DUET)
- “The iceberg’s awful grace.” – The Convergence of the Twain (SET)
- “That the guns disturbed the dead.” – Channel Firing (JNUET)
- “When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay.” – Afterwards (NET, TGT)
Work That Brought Fame: Far from the Madding Crowd (1874).

Hardy’s Wessex settings and tragic plots are tested for narrative techniques in NET. His poetry’s pessimism is central to CTET.

Exam Tip: Study Tess of the d’Urbervilles and The Darkling Thrush for NET themes and memorize quotes like “If way to the Better” for UPSC.

Pull Quote: “If way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst.” – Thomas Hardy, Hap

Awards and Recognition

Hardy received no major literary awards but was honored with:

Order of Merit (1910): For contributions to literature (NET)
Honorary Doctorates: Cambridge (1913), Oxford (1920) (SET)
Legacy: Hardy Society, Wessex museums (JNUET)

Key Facts for Competitive Exams

Tested in UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, UPSC, DUET, JNUET, SSC CGL:

Narrative Style: Tragic in Tess (NET)
Wessex: Fictional Dorset (SET)
Pessimism: Philosophical in Jude (JNUET)
Architecture: Early career (GATE)
Imagery: Rural and natural (CTET)
Influences: Shakespeare, Wordsworth (NET)
Poetry Shift: Post-1895 (UPSC)

Critical Analysis and Lesser-Known Works

Hardy’s novels are analyzed for tragic determinism in The Mayor of Casterbridge, tested in NET. Lesser-known works like The Woodlanders explore class, studied in JNUET. His poetry, like Hap, is debated in SET.

Pull Quote: “Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain.” – Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge

Historical Context and Modern Relevance

Hardy wrote during the late Victorian era, amidst industrialization and social reform, reflected in Jude the Obscure, studied for UPSC. His themes of fate and inequality resonate today, relevant for JNUET. His style is taught in CTET.

Pull Quote: “The business of the poet and novelist is to show the sorriness underlying the grandest things.” – Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d’Urbervilles

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 Thomas Hardy’s full name?
A) Thomas Edward Hardy B) Thomas Hardy C) Thomas James Hardy D) Thomas William Hardy
Answer: B) Thomas Hardy
Explanation: Basic fact for SSC CGL.
In which literary era did Hardy write?
A) Victorian and Early Modernist B) Romantic C) Elizabethan D) Modern
Answer: A) Victorian and Early Modernist
Explanation: 1837–1928 for NET.
Where was Hardy born?
A) Higher Bockhampton B) London C) Oxford D) Manchester
Answer: A) Higher Bockhampton
Explanation: Dorset, 1840 for TGT.
Who was Hardy’s first wife?
A) Emma Gifford B) Florence Dugdale C) Jemima Hand D) Mary Hardy
Answer: A) Emma Gifford
Explanation: Married 1874 for DUET.
When did Hardy begin writing?
A) 1850s B) 1860s C) 1870s D) 1880s
Answer: B) 1860s
Explanation: Early novels for SET.
Who was Hardy’s father?
A) Thomas Hardy Sr. B) William Hardy C) James Hardy D) John Hardy
Answer: A) Thomas Hardy Sr.
Explanation: Stonemason for JNUET.
What was Hardy’s mother’s profession?
A) Homemaker/former servant B) Teacher C) Writer D) Nurse
Answer: A) Homemaker/former servant
Explanation: Jemima Hand for DUET.
What was Hardy’s early profession?
A) Architect B) Journalist C) Teacher D) Lawyer
Answer: A) Architect
Explanation: Trained in London for NET.
How many children did Hardy have?
A) None B) 2 C) 4 D) 6
Answer: A) None
Explanation: No offspring for UPSC.
How old was Hardy when he died?
A) 78 B) 88 C) 98 D) 68
Answer: B) 88
Explanation: Died 1928 for JNUET.
In which year was Hardy born?
A) 1830 B) 1840 C) 1850 D) 1860
Answer: B) 1840
Explanation: Birth record for SSC CGL.
When did Hardy die?
A) 1918 B) 1928 C) 1938 D) 1948
Answer: B) 1928
Explanation: Heart failure for TGT.
What was Hardy’s father’s profession?
A) Stonemason/builder B) Lawyer C) Merchant D) Teacher
Answer: A) Stonemason/builder
Explanation: Thomas Hardy Sr. for SET.
Who influenced Hardy’s writing?
A) Shakespeare B) Wordsworth C) Both A and B D) None
Answer: C) Both A and B
Explanation: Literary sources for NET.
What was Hardy’s political stance?
A) Liberal B) Conservative C) Radical D) Apolitical
Answer: A) Liberal
Explanation: Social reform for GATE.
Where did Hardy train as an architect?
A) London B) Dorset C) Oxford D) Cambridge
Answer: A) London
Explanation: Early career for DUET.
Who was Hardy’s literary mentor?
A) Leslie Stephen B) Tennyson C) Dickens D) Arnold
Answer: A) Leslie Stephen
Explanation: Editor for NET.
What caused Hardy’s death?
A) Heart failure B) Accident C) Illness D) Stroke
Answer: A) Heart failure
Explanation: 1928 for SET.
Who was Hardy’s mother?
A) Jemima Hand B) Emma Gifford C) Florence Dugdale D) Mary Hardy
Answer: A) Jemima Hand
Explanation: Homemaker for DUET.
How many siblings did Hardy have?
A) 1 B) 3 C) 5 D) None
Answer: B) 3
Explanation: Including Mary for JNUET.
What was Hardy’s religious stance?
A) Agnostic B) Anglican C) Catholic D) Atheist
Answer: A) Agnostic
Explanation: Influenced works for SSC CGL.
Where was Hardy educated?
A) Local schools B) Oxford C) Cambridge D) Eton
Answer: A) Local schools
Explanation: Dorset for SET.
What inspired Hardy’s novels?
A) Rural life B) Urbanization C) War D) Religion
Answer: A) Rural life
Explanation: Wessex for NET.
Who was Hardy’s second wife?
A) Florence Dugdale B) Emma Gifford C) Jemima Hand D) Mary Hardy
Answer: A) Florence Dugdale
Explanation: Married 1914 for UPSC.
Where did Hardy live most of his life?
A) Dorset B) London C) Paris D) New York
Answer: A) Dorset
Explanation: Max Gate for DUET.
What was Hardy’s nationality?
A) British B) French C) American D) Irish
Answer: A) British
Explanation: Basic fact for SSC CGL.
What was Hardy’s occupation?
A) Novelist B) Poet C) Architect D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Multirole for NET.
What was Hardy’s education level?
A) Self-taught B) University C) Private tutor D) None
Answer: A) Self-taught
Explanation: Limited formal education for JNUET.
Where was Hardy buried?
A) Westminster Abbey B) Stinsford C) Both A and B D) London
Answer: C) Both A and B
Explanation: Ashes in Abbey, heart in Stinsford for SET.
What was Hardy’s family’s social status?
A) Working class B) Aristocracy C) Middle class D) Royalty
Answer: A) Working class
Explanation: Rural roots for DUET.
What was Hardy’s first major published novel?
A) Desperate Remedies B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Return of the Native
Answer: B) Far from the Madding Crowd
Explanation: 1874 for NET.
Which work launched Hardy’s fame?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) The Darkling Thrush D) Both A and B
Answer: A) Far from the Madding Crowd
Explanation: 1874 for UPSC.
What is the theme of Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Fate B) Comedy C) Politics D) War
Answer: A) Fate
Explanation: Tess’s tragedy for SET.
Which work features the quote “If way to the Better there be”?
A) Hap B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Answer: A) Hap
Explanation: Pessimism for CTET.
Which work is a pastoral novel?
A) Under the Greenwood Tree B) Jude the Obscure C) The Mayor of Casterbridge D) Wessex Poems
Answer: A) Under the Greenwood Tree
Explanation: Rural life for TGT.
What is the theme of Jude the Obscure?
A) Class struggle B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Class struggle
Explanation: Jude’s ambition for NET.
Which work is semi-autobiographical?
A) Jude the Obscure B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) The Return of the Native D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Hardy’s aspirations for DUET.
Which work critiques social morality?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) The Darkling Thrush D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Tess’s purity for PGT.
What is the theme of The Mayor of Casterbridge?
A) Guilt B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Guilt
Explanation: Henchard’s downfall for TGT.
Which work is set on Egdon Heath?
A) The Return of the Native B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles D) Jude the Obscure
Answer: A) The Return of the Native
Explanation: Nature for SET.
In which year was Tess of the d’Urbervilles published?
A) 1891 B) 1874 C) 1886 D) 1895
Answer: A) 1891
Explanation: Major work for NET.
Which work is a tragedy?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) Under the Greenwood Tree C) The Darkling Thrush D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Henchard’s fate for PGT.
What is the theme of The Return of the Native?
A) Passion B) War C) Politics D) Religion
Answer: A) Passion
Explanation: Clym and Eustacia for TGT.
Which work features “Happiness was but the occasional episode”?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) Far from the Madding Crowd
Answer: A) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Pessimism for NET.
What is the theme of The Woodlanders?
A) Class B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Class
Explanation: Social divides for SET.
Which work is a poetry collection?
A) Wessex Poems B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) The Mayor of Casterbridge D) Far from the Madding Crowd
Answer: A) Wessex Poems
Explanation: 1898 for DUET.
What is the theme of The Darkling Thrush?
A) Hope and despair B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Answer: A) Hope and despair
Explanation: Transition for NET.
Which work is serialized?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) The Darkling Thrush C) Both A and B D) None
Answer: A) Far from the Madding Crowd
Explanation: Publication style for PGT.
What is the setting of Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Wessex B) London C) Paris D) New York
Answer: A) Wessex
Explanation: Rural Dorset for SET.
Which work was published in 1874?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Answer: A) Far from the Madding Crowd
Explanation: Early success for NET.
What is the theme of Under the Greenwood Tree?
A) Community B) War C) Politics D) Religion
Explanation: Rural harmony for TGT.
Which work is a social critique?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Class and religion for SET.
Which quote is from Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) The business of the poet B) Happiness was but C) If way to the Better D) Love is a possible
Explanation: Tragedy for UPSC.
Which work features “I leant upon a coppice gate”?
A) The Darkling Thrush B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) Far from the Madding Crowd
Explanation: Despair for CTET.
Which quote is from Jude the Obscure?
A) Love is a possible B) If way to the Better C) Happiness was but D) The business of the poet
Explanation: Weakness for NET.
Which work features “We are all in the hands of chance”?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Fate for SET.
Which quote is from Neutral Tones?
A) The value of a man B) If way to the Better C) Happiness was but D) The business of the poet
Explanation: Love’s end for CTET.
Which work is a tragedy of ambition?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Jude’s dreams for JNUET.
Which quote is from The Man He Killed?
A) Had he and I but met B) If way to the Better there be C) Happiness was but D) The business of the poet
Explanation: War’s futility for DUET.
Which work is a rural drama?
A) The Woodlanders B) The Darkling Thrush C) Jude the Obscure D) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Class and love for NET.
Which quote is from The Convergence of the Twain?
A) The iceberg’s awful grace B) If way to the Better there be C) Happiness was but D) The business of the poet
Explanation: Titanic’s fate for PGT.
Which work was published in 1895?
A) Jude the Obscure B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Controversial for NET.
Which quote is from Channel Firing?
A) That the guns disturbed B) If way to the Better there be C) Happiness was but D) The business of the poet
Explanation: War’s irony for TGT.
Which work is a historical reflection?
A) Wessex Poems B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Dorset’s past for SET.
Which work critiques marriage laws?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Sue and Jude for NET.
Which work was published in 1886?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) Far from the Madding Crowd C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles D) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Henchard’s story for DUET.
Which work explores rural decline?
A) The Woodlanders B) The Darkling Thrush C) Jude the Obscure D) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Nature vs. society for SET.
Which work features Bathsheba?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) Tess of the d’Urbervilles C) Jude the Obscure D) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Protagonist for PGT.
What is the main theme of Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Fate B) Politics C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Tragedy for TGT.
What is Hardy’s narrative style in Jude the Obscure?
A) Third-person B) First-person C) Omniscient D) Epistolary
Explanation: Omniscient narration for GATE.
What is a feature of Hardy’s style?
A) Pessimism B) Optimism C) Minimalism D) Romanticism
Explanation: Tragic vision for NET.
Which theme is central to The Darkling Thrush?
A) Hope and despair B) Love C) Politics D) War
Explanation: Transition for DUET.
What is the tone of The Mayor of Casterbridge?
A) Tragic B) Comedic C) Heroic D) Joyful
Explanation: Henchard’s fall for CTET.
Which work uses rural imagery?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) The Darkling Thrush C) The Return of the Native D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex for NET.
What is the form of Hap?
A) Sonnet B) Novel C) Play D) Essay
Explanation: Poetic form for SET.
Which theme is prominent in The Return of the Native?
A) Passion B) Love C) Politics D) War
Explanation: Eustacia’s desire for PGT.
What is the tone of Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Tragic B) Comedic C) Heroic D) Satirical
Explanation: Tess’s suffering for NET.
Which work uses natural imagery?
A) The Woodlanders B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex landscapes for DUET.
What is the main theme of Under the Greenwood Tree?
A) Community B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Rural life for JNUET.
Which work employs tragic themes?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) Under the Greenwood Tree C) The Darkling Thrush D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Guilt for CTET.
What is the style of Wessex Poems?
A) Pessimistic B) Comedic C) Formal D) Lyrical
Explanation: Dark tone for SET.
Which theme is prominent in Far from the Madding Crowd?
A) Love B) War C) Politics D) Religion
Explanation: Bathsheba’s relationships for PGT.
What is the theme of Jude the Obscure?
A) Class struggle B) Love C) War D) Comedy
Explanation: Social barriers for NET.
Which work uses serialized narration?
A) The Return of the Native B) The Darkling Thrush C) Both A and B D) None
Explanation: Publication style for SET.
What is the tone of The Return of the Native?
A) Tragic B) Comedic C) Joyful D) Satirical
Explanation: Passion and fate for DUET.
Which theme is central to Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Morality B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Tess’s purity for TGT.
Which work uses tragic imagery?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) The Mayor of Casterbridge D) All of the above
Explanation: Suffering for NET.
Which work explores social reform?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) All of the above
Explanation: Class critique for SET.
Which work uses natural allusions?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) The Darkling Thrush C) The Return of the Native D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex for CTET.
Which theme is central to The Woodlanders?
A) Class B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Social divides for JNUET.
Which work uses pastoral imagery?
A) Under the Greenwood Tree B) The Darkling Thrush C) Jude the Obscure D) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Rural harmony for NET.
Which theme is prominent in The Darkling Thrush?
A) Hope B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Amid despair for PGT.
Which work uses ironic imagery?
A) The Convergence of the Twain B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Titanic’s fate for SET.
Which work critiques religion?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Jude’s struggles for DUET.
Which theme is central to The Mayor of Casterbridge?
A) Redemption B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Henchard’s guilt for TGT.
Which work uses reflective narration?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Explanation: Tess’s tragedy for NET.
What is the tone of The Woodlanders?
A) Tragic B) Comedic C) Joyful D) Satirical
Explanation: Class conflicts for SET.
Which work features vivid landscapes?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) The Return of the Native C) Tess of the d’Urbervilles D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex for NET.
Which era shaped Hardy’s works?
A) Victorian B) Romantic C) Elizabethan D) Modern
Explanation: 1837–1901 for UPSC.
What was the primary context of Jude the Obscure?
A) Social reform B) Napoleonic Wars C) English Civil War D) World War I
Explanation: Class and religion for NET.
Which monarch ruled during Hardy’s career?
A) Victoria I B) George III C) Edward VII D) James I
Explanation: Victorian era for SET.
What social issue influenced Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Gender morality B) Industrial Revolution C) Napoleonic Wars D) Reform Act
Explanation: Women’s rights for DUET.
Which event shaped The Return of the Native?
A) Rural decline B) Industrial Revolution C) French Revolution D) World War I
Explanation: Agrarian changes for NET.
What social movement influenced Hardy?
A) Women’s rights B) Puritanism C) Imperialism D) Chartism
Explanation: Gender issues for UPSC.
Which social issue affected Hardy’s era?
A) Class inequality B) Religious wars C) Colonial wars D) None
Explanation: Social divides for JNUET.
What social issue is reflected in Jude the Obscure?
A) Education access B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Class barriers for SET.
Which reform influenced Far from the Madding Crowd?
A) Agrarian reform B) Poor Law C) Factory Act D) None
Explanation: Rural life for PGT.
What political structure shaped Hardy’s works?
A) Monarchy B) Republic C) Democracy D) Feudalism
Explanation: Victorian era for NET.
Which source inspired The Darkling Thrush?
A) Century’s end B) French Revolution C) Bible D) Dante
Explanation: 1900 transition for SET.
What social issue is reflected in The Woodlanders?
A) Class divides B) Love C) War D) Religion
Explanation: Social hierarchy for JNUET.
Which event affected Hardy’s era?
A) Industrial Revolution B) Black Death C) Great Fire D) None
Explanation: Urbanization for NET.
What influenced Hardy’s social views?
A) Rural upbringing B) French Revolution C) Roman law D) All of the above
Answer: A) Rural upbringing
Explanation: Dorset life for DUET.
Which event shaped Tess of the d’Urbervilles?
A) Women’s rights B) French Revolution C) Reform Act D) Napoleonic Wars
Answer: A) Women’s rights
Explanation: Gender morality for TGT.
What was the role of the press in Hardy’s era?
A) Public opinion B) Censorship C) Military D) Trade
Answer: A) Public opinion
Explanation: Serialization for NET.
Which monarch followed Victoria I?
A) Edward VII B) George III C) Charles II D) James II
Answer: A) Edward VII
Explanation: Hardy’s later career for SET.
What economic change shaped The Return of the Native?
A) Agrarian decline B) Mercantilism C) Enclosures D) None
Answer: A) Agrarian decline
Explanation: Rural shifts for UPSC.
Which event promoted Hardy’s works?
A) Serialization B) Illness C) Death D) All of the above
Answer: A) Serialization
Explanation: Cornhill Magazine for NET.
What was the impact of industrialization?
A) Rural decline in Tess B) Education reform C) Wealth increase D) None
Answer: A) Rural decline in Tess
Explanation: Social critique for SET.
Which institution shaped Hardy’s childhood?
A) Local schools B) Oxford C) Eton D) None
Answer: A) Local schools
Explanation: Dorset education for JNUET.
What was the role of Wessex in Hardy’s works?
A) Setting B) Censorship C) Military D) Education
Answer: A) Setting
Explanation: Fictional Dorset for NET.
Which trade influenced Hardy’s works?
A) Agricultural trade B) Silk Road C) Spice trade D) None
Answer: A) Agricultural trade
Explanation: Rural economy for SET.
Which event shaped Jude the Obscure?
A) Education reform B) Industrial Revolution C) French Revolution D) All of the above
Answer: A) Education reform
Explanation: Class barriers for JNUET.
Which event influenced Far from the Madding Crowd?
A) Rural life B) Napoleonic Wars C) Industrial Revolution D) French Revolution
Answer: A) Rural life
Explanation: Agrarian society for NET.
Which work is analyzed for its tragic determinism?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Henchard’s fate for NET.
Which work is studied for its feminist themes?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Tess’s morality for SET.
Which work is analyzed for its class critique?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Social barriers for JNUET.
Which work is studied for its natural symbolism?
A) The Return of the Native B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex landscapes for NET.
Which work is analyzed for its pessimism?
A) The Darkling Thrush B) Under the Greenwood Tree C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Darkling Thrush
Explanation: Despair vs. hope for JNUET.
Which work is studied for its tragic romance?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Tess and Angel for SET.
Which work is analyzed for its use of irony?
A) The Convergence of the Twain B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Convergence of the Twain
Explanation: Titanic’s fate for NET.
Which work explores psychological depth?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Jude’s inner conflict for DUET.
Which work is analyzed for its social satire?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Religion and class for UPSC.
Which work is studied for its narrative voice?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Omniscient for NET.
Which work is analyzed for its war critique?
A) The Man He Killed B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Man He Killed
Explanation: Futility of war for PGT.
Which work is studied for its elegiac tone?
A) Afterwards B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Afterwards
Explanation: Reflection on death for JNUET.
Which work is analyzed for its rural themes?
A) Far from the Madding Crowd B) The Darkling Thrush C) Under the Greenwood Tree D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Wessex life for SET.
Which work is analyzed for its pastoral themes?
A) Under the Greenwood Tree B) The Darkling Thrush C) Jude the Obscure D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Under the Greenwood Tree
Explanation: Rural harmony for CTET.
Which work is studied for its empathetic tone?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Tess’s plight for PGT.
Which work is analyzed for its naturalistic themes?
A) The Return of the Native B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Nature’s indifference for NET.
Which work is studied for its narrative structure?
A) The Mayor of Casterbridge B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) The Mayor of Casterbridge
Explanation: Tragic arc for JNUET.
Which work is analyzed for its moral themes?
A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Explanation: Purity debate for SET.
Which work is studied for its use of symbolism?
A) The Darkling Thrush B) The Return of the Native C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Nature symbols for NET.
Which work is analyzed for its autobiographical elements?
A) Jude the Obscure B) The Darkling Thrush C) Far from the Madding Crowd D) The Woodlanders
Answer: A) Jude the Obscure
Explanation: Hardy’s ambitions for SET.
How does Hardy use the character of Angel Clare in Tess of the d’Urbervilles to critique Victorian hypocrisy?
A) By portraying him as a villain B) By highlighting his inconsistent moral standards C) By making him a symbol of fate D) By depicting him as a pastoral hero
Answer: B) By highlighting his inconsistent moral standards
Explanation: Angel’s idealized view of Tess clashes with his rejection of her past, critiquing Victorian double standards, tested in NET.
What role does the heath play in the narrative structure of The Return of the Native?
A) A backdrop for romance B) A symbol of human isolation C) A setting for comedy D) A metaphor for progress
Answer: B) A symbol of human isolation
Explanation: Egdon Heath’s bleakness mirrors the characters’ emotional and existential struggles, analyzed in JNUET.
How does Hardy’s use of coincidence in The Mayor of Casterbridge contribute to its tragic effect?
A) By resolving conflicts B) By emphasizing fate’s cruelty C) By promoting optimism D) By simplifying the plot
Answer: B) By emphasizing fate’s cruelty
Explanation: Coincidences, like Henchard’s encounters, underscore the inevitability of his downfall, studied in SET.
What is the significance of the thrush’s song in The Darkling Thrush?
A) A symbol of despair B) A critique of religion C) A glimmer of hope D) A call to action
Answer: C) A glimmer of hope
Explanation: The thrush’s song contrasts the poem’s bleakness, suggesting faint hope, tested in CTET.
How does Hardy portray the conflict between tradition and modernity in Far from the Madding Crowd?
A) Through Bathsheba’s marriages B) Through urban settings C) Through religious debates D) Through war imagery
Answer: A) Through Bathsheba’s marriages
Explanation: Bathsheba’s choices between Boldwood (tradition) and Troy (modernity) reflect societal shifts, analyzed in PGT.
What philosophical perspective is evident in Hardy’s poem Hap?
A) Optimism B) Existentialism C) Romanticism D) Utilitarianism
Answer: B) Existentialism
Explanation: The poem’s focus on chance and indifferent fate reflects existential themes, relevant for NET.
How does Hardy use the Titanic disaster in The Convergence of the Twain to critique human hubris?
A) By celebrating technology B) By showing nature’s indifference C) By promoting faith D) By depicting human triumph
Answer: B) By showing nature’s indifference
Explanation: The collision symbolizes nature’s power over human ambition, studied in SET.

Conclusion

Thomas Hardy, the Victorian novelist and poet, with timeless lines like “If way to the Better there be, it exacts a full look at the Worst” and “Happiness was but the occasional episode,” remains a cornerstone of English literature. His exploration of fate, social injustice, and nature in works like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, Far from the Madding Crowd, and The Darkling Thrush is essential for UPSC, UGC NET, SET, TGT, PGT, CTET, DUET, JNUET, and SSC CGL aspirants. With 11 iconic quotes, including new ones like “The iceberg’s awful grace,” and 150 MCQs covering biography, works, themes, context, and critical analysis, this guide is your key to mastering Hardy for exam success. Study Hardy to excel in your English literature exams!

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THOMAS HARDY: BIOGRAPHY, WORKS, QUOTES, AND 150 MCQS FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS