Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

Etima Harrison March 1, 2026

1,451 7 minutes read

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

Below is a Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions (1–100). It covers Drama, Prose, Poetry, Literary Appreciation, and African/Non-African texts in standard JAMB structure.

PART I (Questions 1–50)

Choose the correct option A–D.

1. Literature is best defined as

A. Scientific writing
B. Imaginative and creative expression
C. Historical record
D. Political commentary

2. A tragedy typically ends with

A. Marriage
B. Celebration
C. Downfall of the protagonist
D. Victory of hero

3. A novel is a work of

A. Poetry
B. Drama
C. Prose fiction
D. Epic

4. The main character in a literary work is the

A. Antagonist
B. Protagonist
C. Narrator
D. Foil

5. The character who opposes the protagonist is the

A. Chorus
B. Protagonist
C. Antagonist
D. Narrator

6. A play meant to be performed on stage is

A. Prose
B. Drama
C. Ballad
D. Ode

7. A soliloquy is

A. A group discussion
B. A speech delivered alone on stage
C. A poem with rhyme
D. A stage direction

8. In drama, stage directions are usually written in

A. Bold
B. Italics or brackets
C. Capital letters only
D. Dialogue form

9. The repetition of initial consonant sounds is

A. Assonance
B. Alliteration
C. Irony
D. Metaphor

10. A comparison using “like” or “as” is

A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Irony
D. Euphemism

11. A metaphor differs from a simile because it

A. Uses “like”
B. Uses “as”
C. Makes direct comparison
D. Uses rhyme

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

12. The pattern of rhymes in a poem is

A. Meter
B. Rhyme scheme
C. Stanza
D. Couplet

13. A fourteen-line poem is a

A. Ode
B. Epic
C. Sonnet
D. Ballad

14. A narrative poem that tells a story is

A. Lyric
B. Ballad
C. Ode
D. Elegy

15. An elegy is written to

A. Praise love
B. Celebrate war
C. Mourn the dead
D. Criticize society

16. Comic relief is used to

A. Increase tension
B. Provide humour in serious work
C. End a tragedy
D. Introduce villain

17. The turning point in a plot is called

A. Exposition
B. Climax
C. Resolution
D. Conflict

18. The introduction of background information is

A. Rising action
B. Exposition
C. Climax
D. Denouement

19. Dramatic irony occurs when

A. Actor forgets lines
B. Audience knows more than characters
C. Characters know everything
D. Author speaks directly

20. A foil is a character who

A. Kills protagonist
B. Contrasts with another character
C. Narrates story
D. Writes poem

21. A satire is intended to

A. Entertain only
B. Praise leaders
C. Criticize societal vices
D. Narrate history

22. The mood of a literary work refers to

A. Author’s biography
B. Emotional atmosphere
C. Character’s name
D. Setting location

23. Setting includes

A. Plot only
B. Characters only
C. Time and place
D. Dialogue only

24. A first-person narrator uses

A. He/She
B. They
C. I/We
D. You

25. A story with animal characters teaching moral lessons is

A. Epic
B. Fable
C. Ode
D. Tragedy

26. “The Lion and the Jewel” was written by

A. Chinua Achebe
B. Wole Soyinka
C. Ola Rotimi
D. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

27. “Things Fall Apart” was written by

A. Wole Soyinka
B. Chinua Achebe
C. Ngũgĩ
D. Soyinka

28. Okonkwo is the tragic hero in

A. The Gods Are Not to Blame
B. The Lion and the Jewel
C. Things Fall Apart
D. A Man of the People

29. “The Gods Are Not to Blame” is an adaptation of

A. Hamlet
B. Oedipus Rex
C. Macbeth
D. King Lear

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

30. “The Gods Are Not to Blame” was written by

A. Ola Rotimi
B. Soyinka
C. Achebe
D. Ngũgĩ

31. A clash between two characters is

A. Theme
B. Conflict
C. Setting
D. Tone

32. The central message of a literary work is

A. Plot
B. Theme
C. Style
D. Setting

33. Hyperbole is

A. Exaggeration
B. Understatement
C. Comparison
D. Question

34. Onomatopoeia refers to

A. Sound imitation
B. Comparison
C. Exaggeration
D. Symbolism

35. A stanza of four lines is

A. Couplet
B. Triplet
C. Quatrain
D. Octave

36. The villain in a story is usually the

A. Protagonist
B. Antagonist
C. Narrator
D. Foil

37. Catharsis refers to

A. Emotional purification
B. Conflict
C. Setting
D. Plot

38. Blank verse is

A. Unrhymed iambic pentameter
B. Rhymed couplets
C. Free verse
D. Ballad form

39. A monologue differs from a soliloquy because it

A. Is always private
B. Is addressed to others
C. Is poetic
D. Has rhyme

40. The structure of events in a story is

A. Theme
B. Plot
C. Style
D. Tone

41. Personification gives

A. Human qualities to objects
B. Animal qualities to humans
C. Exaggeration
D. Comparison

42. “He is as brave as a lion” is

A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Irony
D. Euphemism

43. A narrative told by an all-knowing narrator is

A. First-person
B. Objective
C. Omniscient
D. Limited

44. An epic is

A. Short poem
B. Long narrative poem
C. Tragedy
D. Comedy

45. A comedy usually ends in

A. Death
B. War
C. Happiness
D. Betrayal

46. The study of literature is primarily concerned with

A. Scientific analysis
B. Creative imagination and criticism
C. Political law
D. Economic theory

47. A pun is based on

A. Sound imitation
B. Word play
C. Exaggeration
D. Conflict

48. Imagery appeals to

A. Government
B. Senses
C. Laws
D. Politics

49. Suspense creates

A. Relaxation
B. Tension
C. Resolution
D. Theme

50. The resolution of a plot is also known as

A. Exposition
B. Denouement
C. Conflict
D. Rising action

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

ANSWER KEY (1–50)

51. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is best described as

A. Passive and timid
B. Proud and tragic
C. Comic and playful
D. Weak and fearful

52. The Week of Peace in Things Fall Apart symbolizes

A. War
B. Cultural discipline
C. Political power
D. Colonial rule

53. The District Commissioner in Things Fall Apart represents

A. Traditional authority
B. Colonial administration
C. Religious priesthood
D. African nationalism

54. In The Lion and the Jewel, Baroka represents

A. Western modernity
B. Traditional cunning
C. Colonial rule
D. Christianity

55. Lakunle in The Lion and the Jewel symbolizes

A. African tradition
B. Cultural pride
C. Western influence
D. Military authority

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

56. The central conflict in The Lion and the Jewel is between

A. Youth and age
B. Tradition and modernity
C. Religion and politics
D. Wealth and poverty

57. In The Gods Are Not to Blame, Odewale’s tragedy results mainly from

A. Poverty
B. Political ambition
C. Fate and ignorance
D. Colonial invasion

58. Odewale unknowingly kills

A. His brother
B. His father
C. His friend
D. The king’s guard

59. The theme of fate is central to

A. Comedy
B. Satire
C. Tragedy
D. Farce

60. In prose fiction, flashback is used to

A. Predict future events
B. Reveal past events
C. End the story
D. Introduce villain

61. The mood created by dark and gloomy imagery is usually

A. Joyful
B. Suspenseful
C. Peaceful
D. Romantic

62. A character that does not change throughout a story is

A. Dynamic
B. Round
C. Static
D. Protagonist

63. A dynamic character is one who

A. Remains the same
B. Changes during the story
C. Narrates story
D. Creates conflict only

64. Dramatic irony intensifies

A. Humor only
B. Suspense
C. Setting
D. Dialogue

65. The metre of a poem refers to

A. Rhyme
B. Rhythm pattern
C. Theme
D. Setting

66. A Shakespearean sonnet contains

A. 12 lines
B. 10 lines
C. 14 lines
D. 16 lines

67. The octave in a sonnet consists of

A. 6 lines
B. 8 lines
C. 10 lines
D. 12 lines

68. An aside in drama is

A. Speech to audience unheard by others
B. Long narration
C. Song performance
D. Stage direction

69. The climax of a tragedy occurs

A. At the beginning
B. Before exposition
C. At turning point
D. After resolution

70. In literature, symbolism means

A. Literal meaning
B. Hidden or deeper meaning
C. Dialogue
D. Rhyme

71. The setting of Things Fall Apart is mainly

A. Lagos
B. Umuofia
C. Ibadan
D. Enugu

72. Ekwefi is the wife of

A. Obierika
B. Nwoye
C. Okonkwo
D. Ikemefuna

73. Ikemefuna’s death primarily develops the theme of

A. Love
B. Betrayal of tradition
C. Colonialism
D. Friendship

74. In The Gods Are Not to Blame, the oracle is called

A. Ogun
B. Ifa
C. Orunmila
D. Amadioha

75. The dramatic structure of beginning, middle and end was outlined by

A. Plato
B. Aristotle
C. Sophocles
D. Shakespeare

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

76. A parody imitates a work in order to

A. Praise it
B. Criticize humorously
C. Rewrite seriously
D. Summarize it

77. An anti-hero differs from a hero because he

A. Is villain
B. Lacks conventional heroic qualities
C. Wins always
D. Is narrator

78. The tone of a literary work reflects the

A. Author’s attitude
B. Setting
C. Character’s speech
D. Plot order

79. Free verse poetry lacks

A. Theme
B. Imagery
C. Regular rhyme and metre
D. Meaning

80. A bildungsroman is a novel about

A. War
B. Growth of a character
C. Marriage
D. Politics

81. Conflict between a character and society is

A. Internal conflict
B. External conflict
C. Psychological conflict
D. Emotional conflict

82. A tragic flaw is known as

A. Catharsis
B. Hamartia
C. Peripeteia
D. Hubris

83. Peripeteia means

A. Recognition
B. Reversal of fortune
C. Exposition
D. Ending

84. Anagnorisis refers to

A. Conflict
B. Recognition or discovery
C. Climax
D. Irony

85. A farce depends heavily on

A. Serious themes
B. Exaggerated comedy
C. Tragic death
D. Political issues

86. In poetry, enjambment occurs when

A. Line ends with full stop
B. Sentence continues to next line
C. Poem ends
D. Rhyme repeats

87. A chorus in Greek drama

A. Fights villain
B. Comments on action
C. Ends play
D. Acts as hero

88. The author’s distinctive way of writing is called

A. Plot
B. Style
C. Theme
D. Setting

89. Suspense is heightened by

A. Predictability
B. Surprise and uncertainty
C. Resolution
D. Conclusion

90. The major theme of colonial impact is evident in

A. The Lion and the Jewel
B. Things Fall Apart
C. The Gods Are Not to Blame
D. Hamlet

91. Tragic irony is strongest when

A. Audience anticipates doom
B. Plot is simple
C. Ending is comic
D. Hero wins

92. A pastoral poem deals with

A. City life
B. War
C. Rural life
D. Politics

93. In drama, props are

A. Actors
B. Stage properties
C. Themes
D. Dialogues

94. A didactic work is intended to

A. Entertain only
B. Teach moral lesson
C. Create suspense
D. Develop imagery

95. The falling action occurs

A. Before climax
B. After climax
C. At exposition
D. At conflict

96. A tragic hero evokes

A. Hatred
B. Laughter
C. Pity and fear
D. Indifference

97. In literature, allegory conveys

A. Surface meaning only
B. Multiple symbolic meanings
C. No meaning
D. Rhyme only

98. The resolution resolves

A. Rising action
B. Central conflict
C. Exposition
D. Mood

Proposed JAMB 2026 Literature-in-English Questions and Answers

99. A narrative perspective limited to one character is

A. Omniscient
B. First-person limited
C. Objective
D. Dramatic

100. The ultimate aim of literature is to

A. Entertain only
B. Educate only
C. Combine pleasure and instruction
D. Promote politics

ANSWER KEY (51–100)

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