UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 56

In which year was Edmund Burke's Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful published?

Answer: 4. 1757

List of Major Works by Edmund Burke:

  • A Vindication of Natural Society (1756)
  • A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757)
  • Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents (1770)
  • On American Taxation (1774)
  • Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
  • Letter to a Member of the National Assembly (1791)
  • An Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs (1791)
  • Thoughts and Details on Scarcity (1795)
  • Letters on a Regicide Peace (1795–97)
  • Letter to a Noble Lord (1796)
UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 57

Who among the following acknowledged that poetry is formed from the same elements as prose; the difference lies in the different combination of these elements and the difference of purpose?

Answer: 2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

β€œA poem contains the same elements as a prose composition; the difference therefore must consist in a different combination of them, in consequence of a different object proposed. According to the difference of the object will be the difference of the combination...” β€” BIOGRAPHIA LITERARIA VOLUME 2 CHAPTER 14

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic, and philosopher who lived from 1772 to 1834. He was a key figure in the Romantic movement in literature and is best known for his poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and his collection of poems called "Lyrical Ballads" co-authored with William Wordsworth.

Coleridge acknowledged that poetry is formed from the same elements as prose but believed that the difference lies in the different combination of these elements and the difference of purpose. He emphasised the imaginative and creative aspects of poetry, highlighting its ability to evoke emotions and transcend ordinary language.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 58

Arrange the chronological sequence in which the following works of T. S. Eliot were first published:

A. The Sacred Wood
B. Notes towards the Definition of Culture
C. The Metaphysical Poets
D. The Function of Criticism
E. The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 3. A. C, D, E, B

A. "The Sacred Wood": "The Sacred Wood" is a collection of essays by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1920. In this collection, Eliot explores various aspects of literature, poetry, and criticism.

C. "The Metaphysical Poets": "The Metaphysical Poets" is an essay by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1921. In this influential essay, Eliot examines the work of 17th-century poets such as John Donne, George Herbert, and Andrew Marvell.

D. "The Function of Criticism": "The Function of Criticism" is an essay by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1923. In this essay, Eliot reflects on the role and purpose of literary criticism in the context of the modern world.

E. "The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism": "The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism" is a collection of lectures by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1933. In these lectures, Eliot explores the relationship between poetry and criticism, emphasising the mutual benefits and interplay between the two.

B. "Notes towards the Definition of Culture": "Notes towards the Definition of Culture" is a book by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1948. In this work, Eliot explores the concept of culture and its significance in society.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 59

Match List I with List II

List I (Concept) List II (Theorist)
A. Deconstruction I. Jacques Derrida
B. Hegemony II. Antonio Gramsci
C. Habitus III. Louis Althusser
D. Interpellation IV. Pierre Bordieu

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 1. A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III

A. Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a philosophical and critical theory approach associated with the work of Jacques Derrida. It challenges traditional assumptions about language, meaning, and binary oppositions by emphasising the instability and ambiguity of texts.

B. Hegemony: Hegemony, a concept popularised by Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci, refers to the dominant influence or control exerted by a social or political group over others.

C. Habitus: The concept of habitus, developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, refers to the ingrained dispositions, habits, and behaviours that individuals acquire through socialisation.

D. Interpellation: Interpellation, a concept introduced by French philosopher Louis Althusser, refers to the process by which individuals are hailed or addressed as subjects by ideological systems, particularly through institutions like family, education, and media.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 60

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Poststructuralism is unthinkable without structuralism.

Reason (R): Poststructuralism continues structuralism's strongly humanist perspective and it closely follows structuralism in its belief that language is not the key to our understanding of ourselves and the world.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Answer: 3. (A) is correct, but (R) is incorrect.

The assertion states that poststructuralism is unthinkable without structuralism, which is true. Poststructuralism emerged as a response and critique of structuralism, building upon its concepts and methods while challenging and expanding them.

In fact, poststructuralism critiques and challenges the humanist assumptions of structuralism, including its belief in a stable, fixed subject and the idea that language is not the key to our understanding of ourselves and the world. Poststructuralism emphasises the limitations and instabilities of language and challenges the notion of a singular, coherent meaning. Therefore, the reason provided does not accurately describe the relationship between poststructuralism and structuralism.

UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 61

Who enunciated the idea of myth as depoliticised speech in bourgeois society?

Answer: 4. Roland Barthes

"Mythologies" is a book written by Roland Barthes in 1957. It is a collection of essays originally published in Les Lettres nouvelles, which explores how contemporary social systems create modern myths. Barthes analyses the process of myth-making, building upon Ferdinand de Saussure's sign analysis by introducing a second level where signs are elevated to the status of myths.

Barthes presents a list of rhetorical devices found in bourgeois myths, including:

  • The inoculation: Admitting a small evil protects against the risk of widespread subversion.
  • The privation of History: The historical context behind a myth is erased.
  • Identification: The bourgeoisie ideology seeks conformity and rejects ideas that do not align with its system.
  • Tautology: Bourgeois myths define concepts using the same concepts, resulting in circular reasoning.
  • Neither-Norism (le ninisme): Two inconsistent concepts are defined in relation to each other.
  • The quantification of quality: Myths measure reality based on quantity rather than quality.
  • The statement of fact: Myths present a certain view of the world without providing explanations.
UGC NET English 2023 June Shift II

Question 62

Which of the following does Roland Barthes contend in "From Work to Text"?

A. The work is a methodological field
B. The text must be understood as a computable object
C. The Text is plural
D. The work is never caught up in a process of filiation
E. The work is ordinarily the object of consumption

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer: 3. C and E

"The Death of the Author" is an essay written in 1967 by Roland Barthes, a prominent French literary critic. Barthes challenges the traditional approach of literary criticism, which relies on the author's intentions and biography to establish the definitive meaning of a text. Instead, he emphasises the significance of each individual reader's interpretation. It later appeared in the anthology Image-Music-Text (1977), which also included Barthes's "From Work to Text."

In "From Work to Text," Roland Barthes contends that the correct answers are C and E. Specifically, Barthes argues that the Text is plural, suggesting that it has multiple meanings and interpretations. Additionally, he states that the work is ordinarily the object of consumption, implying that it is typically consumed or experienced by the audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Edmund Burke's Enquiry published and what is its full title?

It was published in 1757, and its full title is "A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful". It is considered a foundational text in literary aesthetics.

How did Samuel Taylor Coleridge differentiate poetry from prose?

In his Biographia Literaria, Coleridge argued that a poem contains the exact same elements as a prose composition; the difference lies strictly in the combination of those elements and the differing purpose or object proposed by the author.

What does Louis Althusser mean by "interpellation"?

Interpellation is a Marxist concept introduced by Althusser to describe the process by which individuals are 'hailed' or addressed as subjects by ideological state apparatuses (like media, family, or education), shaping their identities and social positions.

What are the key concepts of Roland Barthes's Mythologies?

In "Mythologies" (1957), Barthes explores how contemporary social systems create modern myths. He enunciated the idea of myth as "depoliticised speech" in bourgeois society, using rhetorical devices like inoculation, tautology, and the privation of History.

Tags: UGC NET English, Literary Criticism, Previous Year Questions, Literary Theory, Poststructuralism, June 2023 | Published: May 11, 2026

About the Authors

Ankit Sharma

Ankit Sharma

Founder & Author. Dedicated to simplifying English Literature for JRF aspirants.

View Books →
Aswathy V P

Aswathy V P

Lead Mentor. Specialized in active recall techniques and student mentorship.

YouTube →

πŸ›οΈ Premium Academic Arsenal

BESTSELLER
Complete PDF Notes Archive
β‚Ή999
Buy Notes Now
AUDIO LIBRARY
500+ Podcasts (All 20 Books)
β‚Ή1999
Get Audio Access
PREMIUM APP
Full UGC NET Complete Course
Download App
Start Learning
FULL CATALOG
Explore All Study Materials
View Collection
Explore More

πŸ›οΈ Essential Student Resources

Missing the Cutoff by a Few Marks?

Book a 1-on-1 Brain System Diagnostic Session with Ankit Sharma to completely recalibrate your strategy.

Book 1-on-1 Consultation β†’

Start Your Journey Today

Experience our proven pedagogy. Try the 3-Day Free Trial Course β€” 100% Complete Syllabus.

Start Learning Now