WAEC Past Questions

WAEC Literature In English 2022
Questions & Answers

39 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 39 with explanations

39 Total Questions
2022 Exam Year
39 With Explanations
Ready to test yourself? Take the full WAEC Literature In English 2022 CBT quiz — timed, just like the real exam.
Start Quiz
1
Question 1 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

A novel that features spiritual apparitions as major characters is

A. epistolary
B. gothic
C. historical
D. sociological
Explanation

Gothic novels often include supernatural elements like spiritual apparitions as major characters.

2
Question 2 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The literary term describing individuals in a work of literature is

A. character
B. protagonist
C. narrator
D. villain
Explanation

Characters are the individuals in a literary work, encompassing protagonists, narrators, and villains.

3
Question 3 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

Several hands stretched out for free meals at the refugee camp illustrates

A. antithesis
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. synecdoche
Explanation

Synecdoche uses a part (hands) to represent the whole (people) seeking meals.

4
Question 4 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

A short play performed between the acts of a bigger play for entertainment is

A. in medias res
B. interlude
C. incantation
D. deus ex machina
Explanation

An interlude is a short performance presented between acts of a larger play.

5
Question 5 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In literature, the two components of diction are

A. sentence construction and punctuation
B. vocabulary and punctuation
C. syntax and sentence construction
D. vocabulary and syntax
Explanation

Diction refers to word choice (vocabulary) and sentence structure (syntax).

6
Question 6 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

A story with elements that have both literal and figurative meaning is

A. allegory
B. fable
C. novella
D. epistle
Explanation

An allegory conveys a deeper figurative meaning alongside its literal narrative.

7
Question 7 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the lines 'My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep' illustrate

A. simile
B. metaphor
C. personification
D. hyperbole
Explanation

The lines compare love to the sea using 'as,' indicating a simile.

8
Question 8 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'known identity mistaken identity' illustrates

A. paradox
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. oxymoron
Explanation

A paradox presents seemingly contradictory ideas that may reveal a truth.

9
Question 9 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'a plain inner recesses' illustrates

A. synecdoche
B. metonymy
C. zeugma
D. paradox
Explanation

The phrase contrasts 'plain' and 'inner recesses,' creating a paradoxical effect.

10
Question 10 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'the spring drought' illustrates

A. oxymoron
B. antithesis
C. litotes
D. euphemism
Explanation

An oxymoron combines contradictory terms like 'spring' (wet season) and 'drought' (dryness).

11
Question 11 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'shallow deep' illustrates

A. paradox
B. antithesis
C. metonymy
D. oxymoron
Explanation

An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms like 'shallow' and 'deep' for effect.

12
Question 12 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism, the line 'A little learning is a dangerous thing' is an example of

A. aphorism
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. oxymoron
Explanation

An aphorism is a concise statement of a general truth or principle.

13
Question 13 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'drinking thing' illustrates

A. zeugma
B. synecdoche
C. metonymy
D. paradox
Explanation

'Drinking thing' uses 'thing' to represent a drink, a form of metonymy.

14
Question 14 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'the men conquered' illustrates

A. personification
B. euphemism
C. irony
D. synecdoche
Explanation

'Men' represents the entire group or army, a use of synecdoche.

15
Question 15 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'flood waters' illustrates

A. antithesis
B. irony
C. metonymy
D. synecdoche
Explanation

'Flood waters' refers to the flood as a whole, using a part for the whole (synecdoche).

16
Question 16 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The use of irony in a mocking phrase is called

A. paradox
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. sarcasm
Explanation

Sarcasm is irony used to mock or convey contempt.

17
Question 17 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

A word or phrase repeated at intervals is called

A. anaphora
B. irony
C. metonymy
D. paradox
Explanation

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

18
Question 18 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'the winds that blow' illustrates

A. alliteration
B. assonance
C. consonance
D. onomatopoeia
Explanation

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds, like 'winds' and 'blow.'

19
Question 19 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'it gets bored' illustrates

A. personification
B. euphemism
C. irony
D. paradox
Explanation

Personification attributes human emotions, like boredom, to an inanimate object.

20
Question 20 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In the poem 'Akpase looked from the mountain / Where the Lord does help and see,' the use of 'Akpase' illustrates

A. anaphora
B. irony
C. metonymy
D. paradox
Explanation

The repetition of 'Akpase' at the start of lines is an example of anaphora.

21
Question 21 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In the poem, the use of 'the mountain' in 'Akpase looked from the mountain' illustrates

A. allusion
B. irony
C. metonymy
D. paradox
Explanation

'The mountain' alludes to a place of divine observation or reflection.

22
Question 22 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In the poem, 'the flood was mournful' illustrates

A. antithesis
B. irony
C. metonymy
D. synecdoche
Explanation

'Flood' represents the entire event using a part, a form of synecdoche.

23
Question 23 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The poem, with lines like 'Akpase looked from the mountain' and 'the flood was mournful,' primarily uses

A. contrast
B. euphemism
C. litotes
D. paradox
Explanation

The poem contrasts settings like the mountain and valley, emphasizing difference.

24
Question 24 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In the poem, the last line 'Akpase felt the harsh tone of physical romantic prose' conveys

A. anxiety
B. empathy
C. love
D. nonchalance
Explanation

The 'harsh tone' suggests unease or anxiety in the speaker.

25
Question 25 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The main theme of the poem, with lines like 'Akpase looked from the mountain' and 'the flood was mournful,' is

A. evil of lying
B. hopeless hope
C. message of peace
D. message of war
Explanation

The poem reflects a futile search for meaning, suggesting hopeless hope.

26
Question 26 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In the poem, the tone of the speaker in lines like 'Akpase looked from the mountain' shows

A. contentment
B. helplessness
C. patience
D. resilience
Explanation

The speaker's focus on mournful imagery suggests a tone of helplessness.

27
Question 27 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'Did you read our minds in your lies?' exemplifies

A. personification
B. oxymoron
C. pathetic fallacy
D. rhetorical question
Explanation

The phrase is a question posed for effect, not requiring an answer.

28
Question 28 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'But they have soothed us calmly, your lies' illustrates

A. paradox
B. irony
C. synecdoche
D. zeugma
Explanation

The phrase juxtaposes soothing with lies, creating a paradoxical effect.

29
Question 29 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

The phrase 'But they have soothed us calmly, your lies'. The last lines of both stanzas in the poem present

A. negative but similar ideas
B. opposite ideas
C. positive but opposite ideas
D. similar ideas
Explanation

The last lines convey negative tones, like mourning and harshness, with similar themes.

30
Question 30 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, who is the speaker of 'Go, Philostrate, Stir up the Athenian youth to merriments'?

A. Demetrius
B. Egeus
C. Hermia
D. Theseus
Explanation

Theseus, the Duke, speaks these lines to organize festivities.

31
Question 31 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Philostrate is the

A. clown of Hippolyta
B. Duke's entertainer
C. fairy king's servant
D. rival of Puck
Explanation

Philostrate is the Duke's master of revels, organizing entertainments.

32
Question 32 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the speaker's attitude towards melancholy in 'Turn melancholy forth to funerals' is

A. cowardly
B. solemn
C. dismissive
D. silly
Explanation

Theseus rejects melancholy as unfit for celebration, showing a dismissive attitude.

33
Question 33 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the speaker of 'Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword' is

A. Demetrius
B. Egeus
C. Puck
D. Theseus
Explanation

Theseus speaks these lines to Hippolyta, reflecting on their past.

34
Question 34 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the relationship between the speaker and 'thou' in 'Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword' is one of

A. companionship
B. friendship
C. betrothed lovers
D. master and servant
Explanation

Theseus and Hippolyta are engaged, indicating a romantic relationship.

35
Question 35 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Speakers X and Y in the context of the provided extracts in question 34 and 35 are

A. Demetrius and Puck
B. Lysander and Demetrius
C. Hermia and Helena
D. Theseus and Hippolyta
Explanation

The extracts feature Theseus speaking to Hippolyta and Philostrate.

36
Question 36 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Speaker Y, responding to Theseus, speaks in the voice of

A. Bottom
B. Philostrate
C. Oberon
D. Lysander
Explanation

Philostrate responds to Theseus’s command to organize merriments.

37
Question 37 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Speaker Y's intention is to organize a

A. plan
B. fight
C. celebration
D. flight
Explanation

Philostrate is tasked with arranging festivities, indicating a celebration.

38
Question 38 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the character addressed in 'The wars are over' is

A. Helena
B. Titania
C. Hermia
D. Hippolyta
Explanation

Theseus addresses Hippolyta, referencing their past conflict.

39
Question 39 of 39
WAEC · Literature In English · 2022

In William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Speaker Y's speech in response to Theseus can be described as

A. cowardly
B. dutiful
C. taunting
D. silly
Explanation

Philostrate’s response is dutiful, as he follows Theseus’s orders.

Now practice in exam mode

You've studied the answers — now test yourself under real exam conditions with the timer running.

Start WAEC Literature In English 2022 Quiz
Back to 2022 Start Page