Table of Contents
Question 71
“A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Which of the following texts glorifies this as its predominant theme?
"But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated." This is one of the most famous quotes from Ernest Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize-winning novella, The Old Man and the Sea (1952).
The quote embodies Hemingway's "Code Hero" ideal—demonstrating grace, courage, and endurance under extreme pressure. It reflects Santiago's relentless struggle against the giant marlin and the sharks, showing that physical destruction does not equate to spiritual defeat.
Question 72
Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion A, and the other is labelled as Reason R,
Assertion (A): In the 19th century, Charlotte Perkins Gilman asserted economic independence over voting rights.
Reason (R): The representation of women as power-seekers was not socially acceptable in 19th century America.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
Assertion (A) is True: Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a prominent American feminist and sociologist, heavily emphasized economic independence for women. In her influential 1898 treatise Women and Economics, she argued that women's subjugation was primarily economic, and changing the home/family economic structure was more critical than mere political suffrage.
Reason (R) is True and Explains (A): During the 19th century, society frowned upon women engaging directly in raw political power struggles (suffrage). Emphasizing structural economic and social reform (professionalizing housekeeping and childcare) was Gilman's way of circumventing the social unacceptability of women as direct political power-seekers, making economic independence the foundational step to true freedom.
Question 73
Choose the right chronological sequence of publication of the following novels by Margaret Atwood:
A. Lady Oracle
B. The Blind Assassin
C. The Handmaid's Tale
D. The Testaments
E. Alias Grace
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :
The correct chronological sequence for these major novels by the acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Atwood is:
- (A) Lady Oracle (1976): A comic, gothic romance novel.
- (C) The Handmaid's Tale (1985): Her landmark dystopian speculative fiction.
- (E) Alias Grace (1996): Historical fiction based on the notorious 1843 murders in Upper Canada.
- (B) The Blind Assassin (2000): Winner of the Booker Prize.
- (D) The Testaments (2019): The highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which also won the Booker Prize.
Question 74
Canadian Multiculturalism Act was passed in the year:
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was officially passed in 1988.
Canada was the first country in the world to adopt a national multiculturalism policy (initially introduced in 1971 by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau). The formal Act was passed in 1988 to enshrine into law the preservation, enhancement, and sharing of cultural diversity as a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian identity and heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the quote "A man can be destroyed but not defeated"?
From Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, this quote embodies the "Hemingway Code." It asserts that while a human body might be broken or physically fail, human dignity, courage, and willpower can remain completely intact and undefeated.
Who was Charlotte Perkins Gilman?
She was a major 19th-century American feminist, sociologist, and author. Aside from her influential economic treatise Women and Economics (1898), she is most famous for her semi-autobiographical short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," which critiques the oppressive, patriarchal medical treatment of women's mental health.
What is the timeline of Margaret Atwood's most famous works?
Atwood is a prolific Canadian author. Key novels to remember for chronological questions include The Edible Woman (1969), Lady Oracle (1976), The Handmaid's Tale (1985), Cat's Eye (1988), Alias Grace (1996), The Blind Assassin (2000), Oryx and Crake (2003), and The Testaments (2019).
How does the Canadian Multiculturalism Act affect Canadian Literature?
Passed in 1988, the Act fundamentally shifted the Canadian cultural landscape by legally validating a "cultural mosaic" rather than a "melting pot." This paved the way for the immense success and institutional support of diasporic and immigrant Canadian writers like Michael Ondaatje, Rohinton Mistry, and Madeleine Thien.
