20th-Century French Literature: Explore Existentialism, Surrealism, and Nouveau Roman

Question 1

In literature, which defining characteristic is associated with Existentialism?

Accepted Answer

Prioritizing individual freedom and decision-making

Answer

Embracing the idea of a higher power or divine realm

Answer

Relying solely on logical reasoning and rationality

Answer

Maintaining an optimistic outlook on human nature

Question 2

Identify the predominant theme explored in Existentialist literature:

Accepted Answer

The inherent meaninglessness and profound isolation of human existence

Answer

The unwavering importance of religious faith

Answer

The inherent beauty and tranquility of nature

Question 3

Which prominent figure is widely regarded as the pioneer and leading theorist of the Surrealist movement?

Accepted Answer

André Breton

Answer

Marcel Proust

Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre

Answer

Albert Camus

Question 4

Identify a defining characteristic of the Nouveau Roman literary movement:

Accepted Answer

A deliberate departure from traditional narrative structures and conventions

Answer

A preoccupation with historical events and their impact

Answer

An emphasis on lyrical and poetic language

Answer

A focus on intricate psychological realism

Question 5

What is the significance of Albert Camus's novel, 'L'Étranger' ('The Outsider')?

Accepted Answer

It is a seminal work of Existentialist literature that delves into themes of absurdity, alienation, and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe.

Answer

It is a highly romantic novel that celebrates the power of human relationships

Answer

It is a historical account that provides a detailed portrayal of 20th-century France

Question 6

Which of the following factors played a significant role in shaping the development of French literature during the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

Profound shifts in the social, political, philosophical, and artistic realms

Answer

Advancements in technology

Answer

Primarily economic factors

Question 7

Which literary technique is commonly employed in Surrealist poetry?

Accepted Answer

Automatic writing, which involves composing text without conscious control or censorship

Answer

Stream of consciousness, which presents the uninterrupted flow of thoughts and perceptions

Answer

Allegory, which uses symbolic figures and events to convey a deeper meaning

Answer

Symbolism, which uses symbols to represent abstract ideas or emotions

Question 8

What is a key characteristic of Nathalie Sarraute's literary works?

Accepted Answer

An exploration of the complex dynamics of interpersonal relationships and the subconscious through introspective analysis

Answer

A focus on grand historical events and their impact on individuals

Answer

A use of traditional storytelling techniques and linear narratives

Question 9

Which of the following themes is central to the works of Samuel Beckett?

Accepted Answer

Existential angst, the futility of human existence, and the search for meaning in a meaningless universe

Answer

The importance of social justice and the struggle for equality

Answer

The power of love and redemption

Question 10

Which literary movement is characterized by its focus on ambiguity, fragmentation, and an exploration of language itself?

Accepted Answer

Nouveau Roman

Answer

Existentialism

Answer

Surrealism

Answer

Romanticism

Question 11

In what ways did the political and social events of the 20th century impact French literature?

Accepted Answer

They prompted a questioning of traditional values, a search for new forms of expression, and an engagement with social and political issues

Answer

They had no significant impact on French literature

Question 12

In Existentialism, how are freedom and responsibility interconnected?

Accepted Answer

Freedom arises from responsibility, and individuals are ultimately accountable for their actions.

Answer

Freedom and responsibility are opposing forces, with freedom being more important.

Answer

Responsibility is an illusion, and individuals are not truly free to make choices.

Answer

Freedom implies that individuals are not subject to any moral or ethical obligations.

Question 13

Which characteristic is a defining feature of Absurdist literature?

Accepted Answer

Exploration of existential themes

Answer

Conventional plot structures

Answer

Emphasis on rational thinking

Answer

Characters with clear motivations

Question 14

**Which of the following is a central theme in Existentialist literature?**

Accepted Answer

**The meaninglessness and absurdity of human existence**

Answer

**The power of love and human relationships**

Answer

**The beauty and wonder of the natural world**

Answer

**The importance of reason and logical thinking**

Question 15

**Who is the author of 'The Stranger', a seminal work of Existentialist literature?**

Accepted Answer

**Albert Camus**

Answer

**Jean-Paul Sartre**

Answer

**André Breton**

Answer

**Simone de Beauvoir**

Question 16

**Which artistic movement emphasized the liberation of the unconscious mind and automatic writing?**

Accepted Answer

**Surrealism**

Answer

**Expressionism**

Answer

**Cubism**

Answer

**Impressionism**

Question 17

**Who is considered the founder and leading theorist of the Surrealism movement?**

Accepted Answer

**André Breton**

Answer

**René Magritte**

Answer

**Salvador Dalí**

Answer

**Marcel Duchamp**

Question 18

**What is a defining characteristic of the Nouveau Roman literary movement?**

Accepted Answer

**Rejection of traditional narrative structures and focus on subjective interiority**

Answer

**Emphasis on realism and meticulous observation of everyday life**

Answer

**Use of stream-of-consciousness and interior monologue**

Question 19

**Who is an influential author associated with the Nouveau Roman?**

Accepted Answer

**Alain Robbe-Grillet**

Answer

**Jean-Paul Sartre**

Answer

**Albert Camus**

Question 20

**Which of the following is a key concept in Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophy of Existentialism?**

Accepted Answer

**Human freedom and responsibility for one's actions**

Answer

**The importance of tradition and societal norms**

Answer

**The power of beauty and aesthetics to transcend existence**

Answer

**The unconscious mind and its influence on behavior**

Question 21

**What is the title of Simone de Beauvoir's groundbreaking work on feminist theory?**

Accepted Answer

**The Second Sex**

Answer

**The Misogyny Myth**

Answer

**A Woman's Journey**

Answer

**The Simone de Beauvoir Reader**

Question 22

**What is a characteristic of the works of Samuel Beckett?**

Accepted Answer

**Exploration of existential themes through minimalism and absurdist elements**

Answer

**Optimistic and hopeful tone**

Answer

**Use of complex symbolism and allegorical references**

Question 23

Which of the following is a key characteristic of Existentialism?

Accepted Answer

Freedom and responsibility

Answer

Dogmatic religious beliefs

Answer

Certainty of human existence

Answer

Objective truth

Question 24

Who is widely recognized as the founder and leading theorist of Surrealism?

Accepted Answer

André Breton

Answer

Jean Cocteau

Answer

René Magritte

Answer

Salvador Dalí

Question 25

Which novel by Alain Robbe-Grillet is considered a seminal work of the Nouveau Roman movement?

Accepted Answer

La Jalousie

Answer

Le Voyeur

Answer

La Modification

Answer

L'Année dernière à Marienbad

Question 26

What is a central theme explored in Jean-Paul Sartre's play, 'No Exit'?

Accepted Answer

The nature of hell and human relationships

Answer

The importance of individual freedom

Answer

The futility of human existence

Answer

The power of existential choice

Question 27

Which technique is commonly employed by Surrealists to access and express the subconscious mind?

Accepted Answer

Automatic writing

Answer

Free verse

Answer

Stream of consciousness

Answer

Interior monologue

Question 28

Who authored the influential novel, 'Les Faux-Monnayeurs'?

Accepted Answer

André Gide

Answer

Marcel Proust

Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre

Answer

Albert Camus

Question 29

Which narrative technique involves presenting events without a single, reliable narrator?

Accepted Answer

Multiple perspectives

Answer

Flashback

Answer

Foreshadowing

Answer

Symbolism

Question 30

In Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time,' what is the significance of the 'madeleine'?

Accepted Answer

It evokes involuntary memories and the passage of time

Answer

It symbolizes the narrator's childhood

Answer

It represents the narrator's search for meaning

Answer

It foreshadows the narrator's death

Question 31

Which literary movement places a strong emphasis on exploring the subconscious mind and dream imagery?

Accepted Answer

Surrealism

Answer

Naturalism

Answer

Existentialism

Answer

Romanticism

Question 32

Who is the main character in Albert Camus's novel, 'The Stranger'?

Accepted Answer

Meursault

Answer

Rieux

Answer

Antoine Roquentin

Answer

Jacques Cormery

Question 33

Who is widely regarded as the founder of the Existentialist movement in philosophy and literature?

Accepted Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre

Answer

Simone de Beauvoir

Answer

Albert Camus

Answer

Gabriel Marcel

Question 34

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of Surrealist writing?

Accepted Answer

Automatic writing

Answer

Free verse

Answer

Imagism

Answer

Stream of consciousness

Question 35

Who is the author of the Existentialist novel 'The Stranger'?

Accepted Answer

Albert Camus

Answer

Gabriel Marcel

Answer

Simone de Beauvoir

Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre

Question 36

Which of the following is a significant feature of the Nouveau Roman literary movement?

Accepted Answer

Anti-narrative structure

Answer

Figurative language

Answer

Traditional character development

Answer

Linear plot

Question 37

Which of the following is a prominent theme in the works of Simone de Beauvoir?

Accepted Answer

Feminism

Answer

Absurdism

Answer

Existentialism

Answer

Symbolism

Question 38

What is a key principle of Structuralism in literature?

Accepted Answer

Emphasis on language and structure

Answer

Rejection of traditional forms

Answer

Focus on autobiography

Answer

Exploration of the unconscious

Question 39

Which of the following is a prominent theme in the works of Albert Camus?

Accepted Answer

The meaninglessness of existence

Answer

The importance of tradition

Answer

The beauty of nature

Answer

The power of reason

Question 40

Which of the following is a characteristic of the works of the Nouveau Roman?

Accepted Answer

Objective and impersonal narration

Answer

Linear and chronological plot structure

Answer

Extensive use of flashbacks

Answer

Subjective and emotional narration

Question 41

Who is considered a major literary critic and theorist of the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

Roland Barthes

Answer

Victor Hugo

Answer

Charles Baudelaire

Answer

Émile Zola

Question 42

Which 20th-century French literary movement emphasized the inherent meaninglessness and absurdity of human existence?

Accepted Answer

Existentialism

Answer

Naturalism

Answer

Parnassianism

Answer

Symbolism

Question 43

Who is considered the leading figure of Surrealism, a movement that delved into the subconscious mind and embraced irrationality?

Accepted Answer

André Breton

Answer

Marcel Proust

Answer

Albert Camus

Answer

Jean-Paul Sartre

Question 44

Which novel by Albert Camus explores the themes of existentialism, individual rebellion, and the search for meaning in an indifferent world?

Accepted Answer

The Stranger

Answer

Waiting for Godot

Answer

Nausea

Answer

In Search of Lost Time

Question 45

What was a defining characteristic of the Nouveau Roman movement in French literature?

Accepted Answer

An emphasis on fragmented narratives, non-linear storytelling, and the rejection of traditional plot structures

Answer

Focus on historical realism and social critique

Answer

Exploration of the psychological interiority of characters

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a common theme explored in 20th-century French literature?

Accepted Answer

The glorification of war and military conquest

Answer

The impact of technology and modernization

Answer

Alienation and existential angst

Answer

The search for identity and meaning

Question 47

Identify the author of the experimental novel 'Jealousy', which explores themes of voyeurism, jealousy, and the nature of reality.

Accepted Answer

Alain Robbe-Grillet

Answer

Samuel Beckett

Answer

Jean Genet

Question 48

Which 20th-century French writer is known for his extensive use of stream-of-consciousness in his novels, capturing the inner thoughts and emotions of his characters?

Accepted Answer

Marcel Proust

Answer

André Gide

Answer

François Mauriac

Question 49

What is a fundamental difference between Existentialism and Surrealism in French literature?

Accepted Answer

Existentialism emphasizes the significance of individual choice and responsibility, while Surrealism focuses on the exploration of the irrational and the subconscious.

Answer

Existentialism rejects objective reality, while Surrealism embraces it.

Question 50

Which of the following is a major theme in the works of Jean-Paul Sartre, a prominent existentialist philosopher and writer?

Accepted Answer

Freedom and moral responsibility

Answer

The power of the subconscious

Answer

The beauty of nature

Answer

The importance of social conformity

Question 51

How did the devastating impact of World War I influence the development of 20th-century French literature?

Accepted Answer

It led to a profound sense of disillusionment, fragmentation, and a profound questioning of traditional values and beliefs.

Answer

It had no significant impact on French literature.

Answer

It inspired a surge of patriotic and optimistic writing.