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• January 27, 2025
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Questions related to the Bible are often asked in the UGC-NET English Literature. You must be thinking why? Because it has had a profound influence on Western language, literature, and culture. These Biblical questions typically focus on its literary, cultural, and symbolic significance. Here are some common types of questions that might appear:

In this blog, you will learn some basic tips to crack the UGC-NET English literature exam in your first attempt. 

General Knowledge about the Bible

Key Points:

• The Bible is divided into two parts:
  • Old Testament: Contains the sacred scriptures of Judaism.
  • New Testament: Focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Original languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
• Literary importance: The Bible is considered one of the greatest literary works due to its poetic, narrative, and allegorical elements.

Example Question:
In which languages was the Bible originally written?
Answer: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

In which year Miles Coverdale translated the Old Testament of Bible?

Answer: Miles Coverdale translated the Old Testament and published the first complete printed English Bible in 1535.

This Bible is known as the Coverdale Bible and was significant because it included translations of both the Old and New Testaments, as well as the Apocrypha.

Literary Significance

Key Points:

• The Bible is not only a religious text but also a literary masterpiece influencing genres such as epic, drama, lyric poetry, and allegory.
• Authors like John Milton, T.S. Eliot, and William Blake heavily drew upon Biblical themes.
• Biblical stories such as The Fall, The Flood, and The Crucifixion have inspired numerous literary works.

Example Question:
How does John Milton’s Paradise Lost reflect Biblical themes?
Answer: It draws on the story of Adam and Eve, portraying the fall of man and the consequences of disobedience, as described in the Book of Genesis.

Biblical Allusions in Literature

Key Points:

• Writers use Biblical allusions to convey universal themes like sin, redemption, morality, and divine justice.
• Shakespeare’s works (e.g., Hamlet and Macbeth) contain frequent references to Biblical concepts.
• Titles of many literary works are derived from the Bible (e.g., East of Eden, Absalom, Absalom!).

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Example Question:
*Explain the Biblical allusion in the title of Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
Answer: The title refers to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel in Genesis, symbolizing human jealousy, sin, and the quest for redemption.

Name a Shakespearean play that contains Biblical allusions.
(Hamlet, Macbeth, Measure for Measure)

Key Themes and Symbols

• What does the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” symbolize in Biblical literature? Ans: Human free will and the consequences of sin
• Explain the significance of the “Prodigal Son” parable in literature.
  Ans: Themes of forgiveness, redemption, and familial love

Influence on Major Authors

• How has the Bible influenced the works of T.S. Eliot?

Ans: The Waste Land contains references to the Bible, such as Ecclesiastes and Isaiah.

• Which Biblical figure is referenced in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick?
  Ans: Jonah, from the story of Jonah and the Whale

Biblical Poetry and Style

• Which book of the Bible is known for its poetic structure and themes of love and devotion?
  Ans: The Song of Songs or The Song of Solomon
• What is the significance of the King James Bible (1611) in English literature?
  Ans: It set a benchmark for English prose and influenced many writers like John Milton and William Wordsworth.

Interpretations and Criticism

• Who wrote The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, which critically examines Biblical narratives?
  Ans: José Saramago
• How do postmodernist authors reinterpret Biblical stories?
  Ans: The Gospel According to Jesus Christ or Salman Rushdie’s works may reinterpret Biblical themes with irony and critique.

Apocrypha and Canonical Texts

• What are the Apocryphal books, and why are they significant in literature?

Ans: These are texts not included in the Protestant Bible but influential in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.

• Which English poet references the Apocrypha in his work?
  Ans: John Milton in Paradise Lost

Key Events and Figures

• Which Biblical story is the inspiration for William Golding’s The Inheritors?
  Ans: The story of Cain and Abel
• Who was the first king of Israel according to the Bible?
  Ans: Saul

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