Jamb Literature in English 1987 Past Questions and Answers

Question 36:

• JAMB 1987

'A dungeon horrible, one all sides round'
As one great furnace flamed, yet for those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible'.
The phrase 'darkness visible' in the above lines is an example of

A. Metaphor
B. Hyperbole
C. Oxymoron
D. Litotes.

Question 37:

• JAMB 1987

'Olu hissed, slammed the door and dash out screaming'.
The dominant figure of speech in the above sentence is

A. Zeugma
B. Oxymoron
C. Hyperbole
D. Onomotopoeia

Question 38:

• JAMB 1987

'For i have known them all already, known them all.
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons'.
The tone in these lines suggest

A. The authors desire to accomplish more in life
B. Anxiety and tension
C. Tediousness and boredom
D. Anger and exasperation.

Question 39:

• JAMB 1987

''...her vesper done of all its wreathed pearls her hair she fees. Unclasps her warmed jewels one by one; Loosens her fragrant bodice; by degrees
Her rich attire creeps rustling to her knees''.
The passage gives ample evidence of the poet''s

A. Sensuous description
B. Meticulous attension to matters concerning women
C. Mastery of the Spenserian stanza
D. Sensual feelings and emotions.

Question 40:

• JAMB 1987

'what happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-
And then run?'
In the above lines, the poet achieves special effect by the use of

A. Transferred epithet
B. Synecdoche
C. Alliteration
D. Simile.