Waec Literature in English Past Questions and Answers

Question 171:

• WAEC 1999

Read the extract below and answer the question:
......O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Me thought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was, I turned into a hert,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
The figure of speech used in the underlined expression is

A. Personification
B. Paradox
C. Metaphor
D. Irony

Question 172:

• WAEC 1999

Read the extract below and answer the question:
......O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Me thought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was, I turned into a hert,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
The effect of the figure of speech is to highlight Olivia's

A. Glittering eyes
B. State of mind
C. Determination and hope
D. Beauty and purity

Question 173:

• WAEC 1999

Read the extract below and answer the question:
......O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Me thought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was, I turned into a hert,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
In lines 3 to 5 the dominant image is taken from

A. A hart
B. Hunting
C. Cruel hounds
D. A desire

Question 174:

• WAEC 1999

Read the extract below and answer the question:
......O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Me thought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was, I turned into a hert,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
The image is itself based on

A. Pun
B. Alliteration
C. Allusion
D. Wit

Question 175:

• WAEC 1999

Read the extract below and answer the question:
......O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Me thought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was, I turned into a hart,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since pursue me.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
The lines mean that the speaker

A. Is being pursued by cruel hounds
B. Has been turn into a hart
C. Is a victim of his desires
D. Does not understand himself.