A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day
by
John Dryden
(Questions
& Answers)
Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given below each
question:
1.
In the Elizabethan Age, literature
flourished:
a)
without sustaining influence of other arts,
b)
with combination of other arts
c)
in association with finer arts
2.
When in England literature was at the center
of national life, the literature:
a)
was aloof from people
b)
failed to command the attention of people
c)
attracted attention of people
3.
The balance and amplitude of the Latin
sentences was used by:
a)
John Dryden
b)
Samuel Johnson
c)
Ben Jonson
4.
John Dryden’s contemporary writers
developed a style which was simpler than Dryden and had more:
a)
power
b)
elegance
c)
clarity
5.
Wars against Holland took place from:
a)
1660-1664
b)
1664-1674
c)
1660-1668
6.
Neo-classical School was established:
a)
after restoration
b)
after reformation
c)
after renaissance
7.
The neo-classical poetry is particularly
rich in:
a)
wit
b)
imagery
c)
plain statement
8.
John Dryden remained Poet-Laureate for:
a)
sixteen years
b)
ten years
c)
twenty years
9.
Dryden wrote plays for:
a)
twenty years
b)
before restoration
c)
eight years
10.
Dryden is considered as the father of:
a)
English Criticism
b)
translations
c)
historical plays
11.
'A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day' was
designed to be performed in:
a)
1631
b)
230 A.D.
c)
1687
12.
What according to Dryden would be
responsible for making this cosmos a crumbling pageant?
a)
music of organ
b)
divine music
c)
music of trumpet
13.
The heavenly music gradually passed
through:
a)
the whole range of the universal frame
b)
the crumbling pageants
c)
heavenly bodies
14.
The world was created when:
a)
harmony and order was being established
b)
Gabriel sings
c)
sound of chorus is heard
15.
The structure of this ode is:
a)
Pindaric
b)
Strophic
c)
Musical
16.
The record of good and bad deeds of human
being is presented on:
a)
the dias
b)
the Dooms Day
c)
musical instruments
17.
In this ode Dryden discusses the effect
produced by:
a)
different musical instruments
b)
intensity of music
c)
heavenly bodies
18.
‘A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day’ has a
chorus attached to it in order to adopt to:
a)
order on universe
b)
musical qualities
c)
the true strophic structure
19.
Dryden’s diction is in tune with:
a)
his ideas
b)
musical instruments
c)
structure of the poem
20.
Dryden makes use in this ode of:
a)
precise words
b)
words at random
c)
classical words
21.
This universe was created by:
a)
heaven
b)
power of music
c)
God
22.
Under the heap was:
a)
atoms
b)
nature
c)
music
23.
The command of music was obeyed by:
a)
nature
b)
atoms
c)
universe
24.
What excites us to Arms?
a)
music of organ
b)
sound of trumpets
c)
music of shell
25.
The world would come to an end through:
a)
disaster
b)
music
c)
God
26.
St. Cecilia died in:
a)
230 A.D.
b)
Greek
c)
Monastery
27.
God created man:
a)
in the end
b)
first of all
c)
with animals
28.
St. Cecilia invented the:
a)
Flute
b)
Lyre
c)
Organ
29.
Orpheus was:
a)
a great musician
b)
Greek God of music
c)
a singer
30.
The universe is described as having
begun from:
a)
music
b)
harmony
c)
song
Answer the following questions:
31.
What did Dryden do during the plague in
England?
-
Dryden went to live at his fathers-in-law
house at Charlton with his wife. Here he wrote his first great poem. ‘Annus
Mirabilis’ (1667).
32.
Why did Dryden change his religion?
-
In 1686 Dryden became a Roman Catholic,
whether from inner conviction or time-serving motives. Some say that he did so
because King Charles II was a Roman Catholic.
33.
What did Dryden do as a practicing poet?
-
Dryden wrote essays on literary techniques,
structure, characterization, diction and literary taste as a practicing poet.
34.
What did Dryden do with the restoration?
-
Dryden changed sides with the restoration. He
immediately put himself on the winner’s side and wrote ‘Astraea Redux’, a poem
of welcome to King Charles
35.
Whom did Dryden follow as a poet?
-
As a young poet Dryden followed Cowley.
36.
Discuss Neo-classical school.
-
With the accession of Charles II, there was
return of old way of life in England. In the field of literature neo-classical
school developed. This school brought back respect for classical rules, stress
on reason and good sense.
37.
Where did Charles II go after his
father’s death?
-
Charles II went to France, where he was
granted asylum, after his father’s death.
38.
Which husband-wife team ruled over
England?
-
Mary II and her husband William III ascended
to the throne of England in 1687.
39.
Comment on the literature during the
Elizabethan period?
-
In Elizabethan age, the art of words in England
flourished without the sustaining influence of the other arts.
40.
Discuss the events of Restoration
period.
-
The notable events that influenced the
writers of the age include the wars against Holland from 1664 to 1674, the
Great Plague of London, The Great Fire of London and the rise of the two
political parties, Whigs (Libera’s) and Tories (Conservatives) on England’s
political scene.
41.
How did the universe come into being?
-
The nature lay under the heap of atoms. God’s
music commanded them to arise. On hearing the command. All the cold, moist, hot
and dry atoms arose and occupied their proper positions. Thus, universe was
created.
42.
Who was St. Cecilia?
-
St. Cecilia was a pious Christian lady who
was martyred at Rome in 230 A.D. Afterwards she was canonized as the patron
saint of music. She is said to have invented the Organ and to have drawn an
angel from heaven through her music.
43.
How did life begin on this universe?
-
When the universe was formed through the
power of music, the heavenly music passed through the whole range of universe
and created first the little and then the big creatures. In the end man was
created.
44.
What did Jubal do?
-
When Jubal, the father of music, sounded
strings of his instrument, a very sweet music was at once produced. His
brothers and sisters stood around him wondering at the sweet music.
45.
Discuss the impact of the trumpet’s
sound.
-
The sound of sound would disrupt the orderly
positions of atoms and thus crumble down the universe.
46.
What does the repeated beating of drums
do?
-
The repeated beating of drum raises the
feeling of anger and fear.
47.
Discuss the human feelings aroused by
music.
-
All types of feelings like happiness, love,
anger, pain, fear and hope are aroused through music.
48.
What do you know about Orpheus?
-
In Greek mythology Orpheus was a very great
singer. The trees and rocks followed his lyre.
49.
Why did the Angel come to Earth?
-
On listening the sound of music produced by
St. Cecilia an angel came down to earth mistaking it for heaven.
50.
What does Dryden mean by harmony?
-
Dryden means orderly arrangement through
music by the word harmony.
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