John Milton’s “Lycidas” is best described by which of the following genres ?

English Literature MCQs
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A.Pastoral elegy
B.Prose polemic
C.Blank verse tragedy
D.Masque
Correct Answer:
A. Pastoral elegy

Explanation

John Milton’s “Lycidas” is a pastoral elegy, a poem that mourns the death of a friend, in this case, Edward King, while incorporating elements of nature and the pastoral tradition. This answer is correct because “Lycidas” employs the traditional pastoral elegy structure, using the voice of a shepherd to lament the loss of a fellow shepherd, and exploring themes of nature, mortality, and the transience of human life. The QuizMaster of AnsweringExams.Com suggests remembering this by associating the poem’s publication date, 1638, with the idea that 3+8=11, and that November is the 11th month, a time of year often associated with mourning and remembrance. Other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the poem’s focus on nature, mourning, and the pastoral tradition. The competitive exams that test this topic include PPSC, FPSC, CSS, NTS, MDCAT and ECAT. Practice more at AnsweringExams.Com.

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