Here are some MCQs based on Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

1. What is the main theme of Ulysses?
a) The inevitability of death
b) The yearning for adventure and purpose
c) The struggles of old age
d) The joys of domestic life

Answer:
b) The yearning for adventure and purpose

2. Who is the speaker in Ulysses?
a) A sailor
b) The narrator
c) Ulysses (Odysseus)
d) Telemachus

Answer:
c) Ulysses (Odysseus)

3. What is Ulysses' attitude towards his life as a king in Ithaca?
a) He finds it fulfilling and peaceful.
b) He feels restless and bored.
c) He is content and enjoys ruling his people.
d) He is determined to expand his kingdom.

Answer:
b) He feels restless and bored.

4. What phrase does Ulysses use to describe his people in Ithaca?
a) "Savage race"
b) "Noble race"
c) "Faithful followers"
d) "Adventurous souls"

Answer:
a) "Savage race"

5. Who does Ulysses plan to leave the responsibilities of ruling Ithaca to?
a) His wife, Penelope
b) His son, Telemachus
c) His sailors
d) A council of elders

Answer:
b) His son, Telemachus

6. What qualities does Ulysses attribute to Telemachus?
a) Strength and bravery
b) Wisdom and patience
c) Ambition and curiosity
d) Loyalty and adventurousness

Answer:
b) Wisdom and patience

7. Which line in the poem reflects Ulysses’ desire for adventure and exploration?
a) “I mete and dole unequal laws unto a savage race.”
b) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
c) “This is my son, mine own Telemachus.”
d) “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs.”

Answer:
b) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

8. What does Ulysses compare himself to in the poem?
a) A rusty sword
b) A caged bird
c) A ship lost at sea
d) A lion

Answer:
a) A rusty sword

9. What motivates Ulysses to leave Ithaca and sail again?
a) The pursuit of wealth and power
b) A desire to escape his responsibilities
c) A yearning for new experiences and knowledge
d) Revenge against his enemies

Answer:
c) A yearning for new experiences and knowledge

10. What does Ulysses say about death in the poem?
a) It should be faced with courage and dignity.
b) It is a tragic end to life.
c) It can be avoided through adventure.
d) It is irrelevant to those who seek knowledge.

Answer:
a) It should be faced with courage and dignity.

11. What does Ulysses mean by the phrase “It little profits that an idle king”?
a) A king gains nothing from idleness.
b) A king should enjoy the comforts of life.
c) A king should always stay at home.
d) A king should rule with strict discipline.

Answer:
a) A king gains nothing from idleness.

12. Which line suggests Ulysses’ dissatisfaction with a life of inactivity?
a) “Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole.”
b) “Life piled on life were all too little.”
c) “As though to breathe were life.”
d) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”

Answer:
d) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”

13. What does Ulysses mean by “I am a part of all that I have met”?
a) His identity is shaped by his past experiences.
b) He feels disconnected from his past adventures.
c) He regrets the mistakes of his past.
d) He sees himself as separate from others.

Answer:
a) His identity is shaped by his past experiences.

14. What does Ulysses refer to as “the Happy Isles”?
a) A mythical destination of eternal rest
b) The islands of Ithaca
c) A metaphor for personal fulfillment
d) The lands he has conquered

Answer:
a) A mythical destination of eternal rest

15. What is the tone of Ulysses?
a) Defeated and mournful
b) Joyful and celebratory
c) Determined and inspirational
d) Reflective and nostalgic

Answer:
c) Determined and inspirational

16. How does the poem Ulysses end?
a) With Ulysses bidding farewell to his son.
b) With Ulysses preparing for his final voyage.
c) With Ulysses expressing regret for his actions.
d) With Ulysses deciding to stay in Ithaca.

Answer:
b) With Ulysses preparing for his final voyage.

17. What is the primary literary device used in Ulysses?
a) Metaphor
b) Simile
c) Dramatic monologue
d) Allegory

Answer:
c) Dramatic monologue

18. Ulysses’ famous declaration “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” reflects which of the following?
a) His resignation to the inevitability of old age
b) His determination to live life fully despite challenges
c) His belief in the power of fate
d) His desire to return to Ithaca

Answer:
b) His determination to live life fully despite challenges

19. In Ulysses, what does the phrase “the ringing plains of windy Troy” signify?
a) The peace and stillness of Troy
b) Ulysses’ nostalgic memory of the Trojan War
c) The desolation of Troy after the war
d) The harshness of life at sea

Answer:
b) Ulysses’ nostalgic memory of the Trojan War

20. What is Ulysses’ opinion of his “aged wife” in the poem?
a) He respects her wisdom.
b) He finds her companionship fulfilling.
c) He views her with indifference.
d) He resents her for his lack of freedom.

Answer:
c) He views her with indifference.

21. What does Ulysses mean by the line “Life piled on life were all too little”?
a) He regrets his past decisions.
b) He feels life is too short to achieve everything.
c) He wishes for a simpler life.
d) He believes in reincarnation.

Answer:
b) He feels life is too short to achieve everything.

22. Ulysses refers to himself and his companions as “One equal temper of heroic hearts.” What does this imply?
a) They share the same courage and resolve.
b) They are equals in age and experience.
c) They are indifferent to heroism.
d) They are united by their loyalty to Ithaca.

Answer:
a) They share the same courage and resolve.

23. What does Ulysses mean when he says, “To follow knowledge like a sinking star”?
a) He seeks knowledge even if it is unattainable.
b) He wants to avoid the pursuit of knowledge.
c) He believes knowledge is fleeting.
d) He wishes to explore the mysteries of the cosmos.

Answer:
a) He seeks knowledge even if it is unattainable.

24. In the poem, what is Ulysses' view of death?
a) It is a great adventure.
b) It is to be feared and avoided.
c) It is an unnatural end.
d) It should be embraced passively.

Answer:
a) It is a great adventure.

25. What does Ulysses refer to as “this gray spirit yearning in desire”?
a) His old age limiting his ambitions
b) His soul longing for exploration and adventure
c) His desire for eternal youth
d) His nostalgia for the past

Answer:
b) His soul longing for exploration and adventure

26. How does Ulysses describe old age in the poem?
a) As a time for rest and peace
b) As a period of inactivity and decay
c) As a phase of continuous striving
d) As a reward for past achievements

Answer:
c) As a phase of continuous striving

27. What does the “untraveled world” symbolize for Ulysses?
a) A source of fear and uncertainty
b) New opportunities and unknown experiences
c) A metaphor for the afterlife
d) A longing for his homecoming

Answer:
b) New opportunities and unknown experiences

28. In which literary period was Ulysses written?
a) Romantic
b) Victorian
c) Modernist
d) Renaissance

Answer:
b) Victorian

29. Which line best conveys Ulysses' disdain for an idle life?
a) “Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole.”
b) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”
c) “Life piled on life were all too little.”
d) “I cannot rest from travel.”

Answer:
b) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”

30. Why does Ulysses describe his people as a “savage race”?
a) They are uncivilized and ignorant.
b) They are unworthy of his rule.
c) They lack the adventurous spirit he values.
d) They are hostile towards him.

Answer:
c) They lack the adventurous spirit he values.

31. How does Ulysses describe his past adventures?
a) As dull and uneventful
b) As noble and inspiring
c) As difficult and tragic
d) As ordinary and mundane

Answer:
b) As noble and inspiring

32. What is the poetic structure of Ulysses?
a) Sonnet
b) Dramatic monologue in blank verse
c) Ballad
d) Free verse

Answer:
b) Dramatic monologue in blank verse

33. Which mythical figure serves as the central character in Ulysses?
a) Hercules
b) Ulysses (Odysseus)
c) Achilles
d) Prometheus

Answer:
b) Ulysses (Odysseus)

34. What does Ulysses believe about his own potential in the face of old age?
a) It is diminished and irrelevant.
b) It can still lead to meaningful endeavors.
c) It has been fulfilled entirely.
d) It is wasted on mundane duties.

Answer:
b) It can still lead to meaningful endeavors.

35. The line “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will” reflects Ulysses' belief in what?
a) The inevitability of human weakness
b) The power of the human spirit to endure
c) The futility of resisting fate
d) The strength of his physical abilities

Answer:
b) The power of the human spirit to endure

36. What does the phrase “the quiet life” symbolize in Ulysses?
a) Peace and contentment
b) Rest after a life of hard work
c) Boredom and lack of adventure
d) The rewards of kingship

Answer:
c) Boredom and lack of adventure

37. What does Ulysses mean by “Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ / Gleams that untravel’d world”?
a) Experience limits one’s potential.
b) Experience opens doors to new adventures.
c) Experience is a barrier to exploration.
d) Experience only reflects the past.

Answer:
b) Experience opens doors to new adventures.

38. Which quality does Ulysses admire most in his mariners?
a) Loyalty and obedience
b) Their willingness to follow him into danger
c) Their strength and youth
d) Their ability to adapt to change

Answer:
b) Their willingness to follow him into danger

39. What does Ulysses imply by “To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use”?
a) A tool (or person) loses value when unused.
b) Aging gracefully requires no effort.
c) Retirement is a peaceful state.
d) Life is meaningless without responsibilities.

Answer:
a) A tool (or person) loses value when unused.

40. How does Ulysses describe Telemachus’ future role?
a) A ruler who will bring adventure to Ithaca
b) A leader who will guide the people with patience
c) A warrior like his father
d) A poet and philosopher

Answer:
b) A leader who will guide the people with patience

41. Which line best expresses Ulysses' refusal to succumb to old age?
a) “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs.”
b) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
c) “I cannot rest from travel.”
d) “There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail.”

Answer:
b) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

42. In Ulysses, how does the speaker view his previous adventures?
a) As the most fulfilling part of his life
b) As a waste of time and energy
c) As something he wishes to forget
d) As unimportant compared to his current role

Answer:
a) As the most fulfilling part of his life

43. What does Ulysses mean by “the lights begin to twinkle from the rocks”?
a) The fading of daylight
b) The arrival of ships
c) A metaphor for his fading youth
d) The peaceful nature of Ithaca

Answer:
a) The fading of daylight

44. The line “Old age hath yet his honour and his toil” suggests that Ulysses believes:
a) Aging is a time of rest and peace.
b) Old age brings both dignity and continued effort.
c) Aging is a burden and without value.
d) Old age offers little to those who once lived boldly.

Answer:
b) Old age brings both dignity and continued effort.

45. What does Ulysses consider the “noblest toil” in life?
a) Ruling his people
b) Facing challenges and seeking adventure
c) Honoring his family legacy
d) Living peacefully in old age

Answer:
b) Facing challenges and seeking adventure

46. What is the significance of the phrase “Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods”?
a) Ulysses and his mariners have divine qualities.
b) They are mortals who lived lives of heroic courage.
c) They aim to surpass the power of gods.
d) They regret their defiance of the gods.

Answer:
b) They are mortals who lived lives of heroic courage.

47. Which literary device is most evident in the line “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs”?
a) Simile
b) Imagery
c) Hyperbole
d) Alliteration

Answer:
b) Imagery

48. What does Ulysses imply when he says, “Death closes all; but something ere the end”?
a) Life is meaningless because of death.
b) People should strive to achieve something before they die.
c) Death marks the beginning of a new journey.
d) Death should not be feared.

Answer:
b) People should strive to achieve something before they die.

49. What does the sea symbolize in Ulysses?
a) The dangers of the unknown
b) A desire for freedom and adventure
c) A barrier between Ulysses and his people
d) A peaceful resting place

Answer:
b) A desire for freedom and adventure

50. Why does Ulysses say, “Some work of noble note, may yet be done”?
a) He believes his life is incomplete without further accomplishments.
b) He wants to prove his worth to the people of Ithaca.
c) He feels Telemachus cannot succeed without his guidance.
d) He desires to reclaim his youth.

Answer:
a) He believes his life is incomplete without further accomplishments.

51. In Ulysses, what does the phrase “There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail” indicate?
a) Ulysses' readiness to embark on a new journey
b) A metaphor for his acceptance of death
c) His longing to remain in Ithaca
d) The arrival of foreign traders

Answer:
a) Ulysses' readiness to embark on a new journey

52. What is Ulysses' tone when he describes his people as a "savage race"?
a) Respectful
b) Critical and dismissive
c) Grateful
d) Envious

Answer:
b) Critical and dismissive

53. What literary device is used in the line “To rust unburnished, not to shine in use”?
a) Metaphor
b) Hyperbole
c) Simile
d) Personification

Answer:
a) Metaphor

54. Ulysses refers to his mariners as:
a) Faithful servants
b) Adventurous souls
c) Fellow travelers with heroic hearts
d) Warriors of Ithaca

Answer:
c) Fellow travelers with heroic hearts

55. What does Ulysses mean by “We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven”?
a) He regrets his lost youth and strength.
b) He acknowledges the limitations of old age.
c) He believes his achievements are insignificant.
d) He wishes to relive his past glory.

Answer:
b) He acknowledges the limitations of old age.

56. What does Ulysses describe as his “unquenched thirst”?
a) His desire for immortality
b) His longing for knowledge and adventure
c) His wish to expand his kingdom
d) His love for his family

Answer:
b) His longing for knowledge and adventure

57. How does Ulysses describe his experiences of travel and exploration?
a) As monotonous and repetitive
b) As enriching and enlightening
c) As dangerous and regretful
d) As a means to escape responsibility

Answer:
b) As enriching and enlightening

58. What does the “Happy Isles” symbolize in the poem?
a) The afterlife or paradise
b) Ithaca’s neighboring islands
c) A place of rest for sailors
d) The Greek islands of myth

Answer:
a) The afterlife or paradise

59. Why does Ulysses call life “a dull and idle king”?
a) He feels life has no purpose without action.
b) He believes all rulers must stay active.
c) He views life as a monotonous existence.
d) He equates life with his own dissatisfaction.

Answer:
a) He feels life has no purpose without action.

60. What does the line “Come, my friends, / 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world” signify?
a) A desire to start fresh and explore the unknown
b) An admission of defeat in Ithaca
c) A longing to reconnect with his youth
d) A farewell to his family

Answer:
a) A desire to start fresh and explore the unknown

61. How does Ulysses portray his past battles and achievements?
a) As insignificant in the grand scheme of life
b) As the pinnacle of his existence
c) As stepping stones to future greatness
d) As burdens he wishes to forget

Answer:
b) As the pinnacle of his existence

62. What does Ulysses suggest about the nature of heroism in the poem?
a) It fades with age.
b) It is rooted in constant striving and adventure.
c) It is defined by ruling one’s kingdom.
d) It is achieved through personal sacrifice.

Answer:
b) It is rooted in constant striving and adventure.

63. Why does Ulysses want to leave Ithaca?
a) To relive his past adventures
b) To escape his responsibilities as king
c) To pursue a sense of purpose and discovery
d) To find immortality

Answer:
c) To pursue a sense of purpose and discovery

64. Which characteristic best describes Ulysses in the poem?
a) Resigned and nostalgic
b) Restless and ambitious
c) Content and wise
d) Regretful and apologetic

Answer:
b) Restless and ambitious

65. What does Ulysses believe is the most important aspect of life?
a) Conquering lands
b) Seeking knowledge and adventure
c) Ruling with fairness
d) Leaving a legacy for one’s family

Answer:
b) Seeking knowledge and adventure