Lesson T1.1.3

T1.1.3 Contemporary English literature: prose, poetry and drama Quiz: KS3 English, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.1.3, Contemporary English literature: prose, poetry and drama: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 English (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Reading, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Who wrote the fantasy novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings?

    • Thomas Hardy
    • C.S. Lewis
    • Charles Dickens
    • J.R.R. Tolkien

  2. Which contemporary novel features a boy sent to dig holes at Camp Green Lake?

    • Skellig
    • Boy
    • Holes
    • Coraline

  3. What term describes literature written in or near the present day?

    • Contemporary
    • Classical
    • Archaic
    • Medieval

  4. Which American poet wrote the inspirational poem 'Still I Rise'?

    • Sylvia Plath
    • Maya Angelou
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Carol Ann Duffy

  5. Who was appointed as the UK Poet Laureate in the year 2009?

    • Carol Ann Duffy
    • Ted Hughes
    • Simon Armitage
    • John Betjeman

  6. Which term describes a story set in modern times dealing with current social issues?

    • Epic poetry
    • Classical drama
    • Contemporary fiction
    • Historical fiction

  7. Why might a contemporary text be studied alongside a pre-1914 text?

    • Copying styles
    • Avoiding grammar
    • Memorising dates
    • Comparing themes

  8. What key narrative element is shaped most by a child narrator in a war story?

    • Stage directions
    • Stanza length
    • Rhyme scheme
    • Point of view

  9. What is a poem with short lines, no rhyme and everyday speech called?

    • An epic
    • Free verse
    • A ballad
    • A sonnet

  10. Which source gives the most reliable background context for a modern novel?

    • A fictional review
    • A spelling guide
    • An author interview
    • A film trailer

  11. Which setting is most typical for a contemporary novel reflecting modern social change?

    • A multicultural city
    • An ancient kingdom
    • A medieval castle
    • A Victorian workhouse

  12. What term describes a narrator who cannot be fully trusted by the reader?

    • Unreliable narrator
    • Stage manager
    • Objective observer
    • Omniscient voice

  13. What makes contemporary literary texts particularly valuable for personal evaluation?

    • Present-day relevance
    • Historical distance
    • Archaic language
    • Traditional themes

  14. Which literary technique involves moving non-linearly between present and past timelines?

    • Metre
    • Structure
    • Alliteration
    • Rhyme scheme

  15. What is the primary narrative purpose of including a flashback in a story?

    • Revealing earlier events
    • Ending the narrative
    • Introducing future plots
    • Speeding up time

  16. What term refers to the speaker's voice created by a poet within a poem?

    • Antagonist
    • Narrator
    • Persona
    • Protagonist

  17. What does the literary term 'dystopian' mean in contemporary fiction?

    • Magical fantasy realm
    • Flawed imagined society
    • Perfect utopian future
    • Historical period setting

  18. What does informal shorthand in character dialogue usually indicate in a modern novel?

    • A Victorian setting
    • A futuristic setting
    • A medieval setting
    • A contemporary setting

  19. What is the main advantage of a third-person omniscient narrator over a child narrator?

    • Greater emotional bias
    • Strict personal viewpoint
    • Access to multiple minds
    • Limited plot knowledge

  20. Which famous children's novel by Michael Morpurgo features a horse named Joey?

    • Private Peaceful
    • War Horse
    • The Butterfly Lion
    • Kensuke's Kingdom

All KS3 English quizzes