Literature – Medium Level – GK Questions

Published in 1899, 'Resurrection' explores the guilt of a nobleman and harshly criticizes the hypocrisy of the state and church.

'Sei Somoy' covers the cultural and social awakening in Bengal during the 19th century, featuring figures like Vidyasagar and Ishwar Chandra.

Published in 1942, 'Lihaaf' explored female sexuality and homosexuality, leading to an obscenity trial in Lahore which Chughtai successfully fought.

'The Golden Gate' (1986) is composed of 590 14-line stanzas based on the Pushkin sonnet form.

The Vayalar Award is given annually for the best literary work in Malayalam.

Instituted in 1991, the first Saraswati Samman was awarded to Harivansh Rai Bachchan for his four-volume autobiography.

Quasimodo is the deformed bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral who falls in love with Esmeralda.

'Bleak House' (1853) centers around a long-running Chancery court case that consumes the lives and fortunes of those involved.

Hardy set most of his major novels in Wessex, a semi-fictionalized representation of the south and west of England.

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, amuses herself by attempting to arrange marriages for her acquaintances.

'Devi Chaudhurani' (1884) explores the role of women in society and the Sannyasi Rebellion.

'Bang-e-Dara' was written primarily in Persian, though Iqbal is famous for his Urdu poetry as well. His later works like 'Bal-e-Jibril' are in Urdu/Persian.

Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, known as Rashtrakavi, published 'Rashmirathi' in 1952.

Haiku often focuses on nature and a specific moment in time. Matsuo Basho is one of its most famous practitioners.

Haruki Murakami published 'Norwegian Wood' in 1987. It is a nostalgic story of loss and sexuality.

Published in 1985, 'Love in the Time of Cholera' explores enduring love and aging.

'The Trial' (1925) is a hallmark of surrealism and bureaucratic nightmare, where Josef K. navigates an incomprehensible legal system.

Albert Camus published 'The Stranger' in 1942. It explores themes of absurdity and alienation through its protagonist, Meursault.

'Aparajito' (The Unvanquished) continues the story of Apu, the protagonist of 'Pather Panchali'.

'Toba Tek Singh' uses the setting of a lunatic asylum to highlight the madness of the Partition and the arbitrary drawing of borders.