In This Article We Have “Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson : Complete MCQ Questions & Answers for Class 12 WBCHSE 2025”
Introduction to Ulysses MCQ Class 12 WBCHSE – Unlock Your Exam Success
“Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson is one of the most inspiring and timeless poems in English literature. For Class 12 WBCHSE students, mastering this poem through MCQs is crucial for scoring high in the 2025 exams. This guide provides comprehensive Ulysses MCQ Class 12 WBCHSE questions and answers, designed to help students understand key themes, characters, and literary devices. Whether you are revising for semester exams or preparing for competitive assessments, this complete MCQ guide ensures you are exam-ready with confidence.
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Mcq questions and answers from “Ulysses” written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. [ SET – 1 ]
1. When was the poem “Ulysses” written and by whom?
a) 1830, Robert Browning
b) 1900, Charles Dickens
c) 🟢 1833, Alfred, Lord Tennyson
d) 1933, Rainer Maria Rilke
2. Which age did the English poet, Tennyson belong to?
a) 🟢 The Victorian Age
b) The Romantic Age
3. Which genre of poem is “Ulysses”?
a) 🟢 Dramatic monologue
b) Soliloquy
c) Sonnet
d) Epic drama
4. What is the setting of “Ulysses”?
a) Atlantis
b) Island of Blefuscu
c) 🟢 Greek island of Ithaca
d) Elysium
5. According to mythology, Ulysses is the king of—
a) 🟢 Ithaca
b) Illyria
c) Troy
d) Elysium
6. In which form is “Ulysses” written?
a) 🟢 Blank or free verse
b) Triplet
c) Couplet
d) Rhymed lines
7. The poem’s title “Ulysses” refers to the Roman name of—
a) Achilles
b) 🟢 Odysseus
c) Hector
d) Ajax
8. Which poet’s portrayal of Ulysses is similar to Tennyson’s?
a) 🟢 Dante’s Inferno
b) Euripides’ Medea
c) James Joyce’s Ulysses
d) Homer’s Iliad
9. How many lines are there in the poem?
a) 60
b) 65
c) 🟢 70
d) 72
10. Who is the speaker/central character of the poem?
a) Telemachus
b) Penelope
c) Achilles
d) 🟢 Ulysses
11. Ulysses is—
a) a lover of attaining knowledge
b) a person who loves adventure
c) an aspirant for the unattainable
d) 🟢 all of these
12. From the poem, it can be understood that Ulysses is—
a) growing old
b) a hero
c) the King of Ithaca
d) 🟢 all of these
13. Who is referred to as the “idle king” in the poem?
a) Dante
b) Tennyson
c) 🟢 Ulysses
d) Telemachus
14. What is meant by an idle king?
a) A king who actively rules his country
b) A king who travels frequently
c) A king who is young and inexperienced
d) 🟢 A king who is inactive and not engaged in adventures
15. What does Ulysses express dissatisfaction for at the beginning?
a) His adventurous past
b) 🟢 His current life of inactivity as king of Ithaca
c) His son’s inabilities
d) The state of his kingdom
16. How does Ulysses view his current role as king?
a) He finds great fulfilment
b) 🟢 He feels discontented and bored
c) He believes it is crucial
d) He is focused on law and order
17. In the poem, what metaphor does Ulysses use for his present life?
a) 🟢 The still hearth
b) A faded flower
c) A raging storm
d) A wandering star
18. “By this still hearth…” – Here ‘still hearth’ symbolizes—
a) 🟢 Uneventful life at home
b) An island with few people
c) Extinguished fire
d) A cold silent night
19. The phrase ‘this still hearth’ signifies—
a) A place of comfort
b) Desire to keep travelling
c) 🟢 Stagnation and inactivity
d) Prosperity of kingdom
20. What is referred to as ‘barren crags’?
a) 🟢 The rocky island of Ithaca
b) The valley of Greece
c) Battlefield of Troy
d) Barren islands of England
21. The ‘barren crags’ in the second line can be interpreted as—
a) 🟢 Ulysses’ uneventful life
b) The rugged landscape of Ithaca
c) The challenges of ruling a kingdom
d) The serenity Ulysses feels
22. Why does Ulysses refer to the barren crags?
a) To highlight fertility
b) 🟢 To emphasize the isolation and harshness of Ithaca
c) To show his love for nature
d) To describe beauty of his kingdom
23. How does Ulysses feel about life in “By this still hearth, among these barren crags”?
a) He feels peaceful
b) 🟢 He feels restless and trapped in monotony
c) He has achieved everything
d) He is proud of his peaceful life
24. What is the name of Ulysses’ ‘aged wife’?
a) 🟢 Penelope
b) Cleopatra
c) Victoria
d) Charlotte
25. What does Ulysses think of his wife, Penelope?
a) Inspiring
b) Suitable wife
c) Companion in adventures
d) 🟢 Barely mentions her, showing distance
26. What is implied by Ulysses’ description of his wife as “aged”?
a) Wise and experienced
b) 🟢 No longer desirable to Ulysses
c) Shares his restlessness
d) Frail and dependent
27. “I mete and dole” – This phrase means—
a) Acquires money
b) 🟢 Governs or rules over his subjects
c) Punishes offenders
d) Takes care of family
28. “Unequal laws unto a savage race” – Here “unequal laws” mean—
a) Unproductive laws
b) Uncultured laws
c) 🟢 Laws not equal for all
d) Reliable laws
29. What does Ulysses mean by “I mete and dole / Unequal laws unto a savage race”?
a) Proud of his role
b) His people are civilized
c) 🟢 He finds ruling tedious and unrewarding
d) He enjoys power
30. Who are regarded as ‘savage race’?
a) Mariners
b) Greeks
c) 🟢 People of Ithaca
d) People of Sparta
31. What does Ulysses imply by calling his subjects a ‘savage race’?
a) 🟢 He sees them as uncivilized
b) He respects them
c) He feels close to them
d) He is proud of them
32. “Unequal laws unto a savage race” reveals Ulysses’ view of leadership—
a) Leading fairly
b) 🟢 Critical of his own rule
c) Proud of his laws
d) Respectful of subjects
33. “That hoard, and sleep, and feed…” means—
a) 🟢 Subjects live simple, mundane lives without adventures
b) Subjects close but misunderstand him
c) Subjects reject his rule
d) Subjects prosperous
34. The subjects of Ulysses are—
a) Well-aware of him
b) 🟢 Ignorant about him
c) His true companions
d) Eager to explore with him
35. “Know not me” indicates—
a) Close bond
b) Deep respect
c) 🟢 He feels unknown and unappreciated
d) Indifferent to people’s view
36. Contrast in “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me”—
a) People more aware of life
b) 🟢 People live simply, while he feels intellectually above them
c) Feels closer than ever
d) Envies their life
37. “I cannot rest from travel” means—
a) He is tired of travelling
b) 🟢 He is restless and unwilling to stop exploring
c) He wants to stay home
d) He never travelled before
38. What does Ulysses suggest in “I cannot rest from travel”?
a) Remain an idle king
b) 🟢 Leave current life, seek adventure again
c) Improve relationship with subjects
d) Devote to kingdom
39. The speaker in Ulysses is longing for—
a) Peaceful retirement
b) 🟢 New adventures and experiences
c) Comfort of family
d) Forgiveness
40. Ulysses compares life to—
a) 🟢 A journey
b) A dream
c) A battle
d) A treasure hunt
41. What does the word ‘lees’ refer to?
a) The surface of the ocean
b) 🟢 The sediment at the bottom of a drink
c) A type of wine
d) A vessel for drinking
42. In “I will drink / Life to the lees,” Ulysses means—
a) 🟢 He wants to live life to the fullest
b) He wants to avoid challenges
c) He is ready to stop adventuring
d) He wants to return to his family
43. What does the speaker say about his past experiences?
a) Only peace and comfort
b) 🟢 Enjoyed and suffered both in company and alone
c) Monotonous life without events
d) Only pleasure, no suffering
44. How does Ulysses view his past experiences?
a) Unimportant
b) 🟢 Essential to his identity
c) Regrettable
d) Trivial compared to ruling
45. By “those / That loved me,” Ulysses refers to—
a) His family
b) 🟢 His fellow warriors and companions
c) His subjects
d) His enemies
46. “Both with those / That loved me, and alone” implies—
a) Travelled only with family
b) 🟢 Experienced both companionship and solitude
c) Always surrounded by people
d) Disliked travelling with others
47. The significance of ‘scudding drifts’ is—
a) 🟢 Obstacles and challenges at sea
b) Calm and ease of journey
c) Peaceful weather
d) Calmness of sea
48. Hyades is a group of stars of—
a) ‘O’ shape
b) ‘U’ shape
c) 🟢 ‘V’ shape
d) ‘W’ shape
49. The ‘rainy Hyades’ effect on sea is—
a) Calm the sea
b) 🟢 Cause rain and storms, disturbing the sea
c) Lead Ulysses to safety
d) Provide light over the sea
50. The significance of ‘rainy Hyades’ is—
a) Peaceful and serene sea
b) 🟢 Difficulties and challenges in journeys
c) Period of rest and calm
d) Festival reference
51. ‘Rainy Hyades’ and ‘scudding drifts’ symbolize—
a) Seeking shelter
b) 🟢 Endurance and perseverance
c) Willingness to give up
d) Avoiding conflict
52. Why does Tennyson include ‘scudding drifts’ and ‘rainy Hyades’?
a) For love of peaceful voyages
b) 🟢 To highlight dangers and struggles of journeys
c) To show longing for home
d) To show inexperience at sea
53. “Vext the dim sea” refers to—
a) Clear skies
b) Calm seas
c) 🟢 Stormy weather
d) Sunrise
54. “I am become a name” means—
a) No longer relevant
b) 🟢 Famous and well known
c) Forgotten his identity
d) Satisfied with anonymity
55. Ulysses’ ‘hungry heart’ symbolizes—
a) Desire for food
b) 🟢 Thirst for adventure and knowledge
c) Longing to return home
d) Regret for mistakes
56. “Much have I seen and known” means—
a) Seen few cities
b) 🟢 Travelled extensively and learned a lot
c) Remained at homeland
d) Regrets not staying at home
57. “Much have I seen and known” is an example of—
a) 🟢 Inversion or hyperbaton
b) Personification
c) Metaphor
d) Metonymy
58. “Cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments” suggests—
a) Only wars and battles
b) 🟢 Experience of diverse cultures and customs
c) Focused on nature only
d) Uninterested in societies
59. “Myself not least, but honour’d of them all” means—
a) Disrespected only by family
b) 🟢 Regarded with highest respect everywhere
c) Not recognized during travels
d) Overlooked by others
60. “And drunk delight of battle with my peers” implies—
a) Reluctant in battles
b) 🟢 Enjoyed thrill of battles with equals
c) Forced to fight
d) Regretted wars
61. The phrase “drunk delight of battle” means—
a) He hated war
b) 🟢 He enjoyed the thrill and excitement of battles
c) He avoided fighting
d) He regretted his past
62. Who were Ulysses’ peers in battle?
a) Ordinary citizens
b) 🟢 Fellow warriors and commanders
c) His family members
d) Poets and philosophers
63. “Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy” refers to—
a) The Trojan War
b) A hunting expedition
c) A voyage to Ithaca
d) A diplomatic meeting
🟢 Correct Answer: The Trojan War
64. The ‘ringing plains’ symbolize—
a) 🟢 The sound of weapons clashing in battle
b) The singing of poets
c) The music of celebrations
d) Calm nature
65. The Trojan War is significant because—
a) Ulysses avoided it
b) 🟢 It was his greatest adventure and source of fame
c) It brought peace to Ithaca
d) It was fought for land, not love
66. What does Ulysses suggest by recalling Troy?
a) He regrets fighting there
b) 🟢 He values the adventurous and glorious past
c) He prefers peace over war
d) He felt unnoticed in the war
67. The tone of “drunk delight of battle” is—
a) Regretful
b) Neutral
c) 🟢 Passionate and celebratory
d) Sarcastic
68. “I am a part of all that I have met” means—
a) He is separated from experiences
b) 🟢 His identity is shaped by his experiences and encounters
c) He lost himself in journeys
d) He is unchanged by his travels
69. The line “I am a part of all that I have met” emphasizes—
a) Isolation
b) 🟢 Unity with his experiences
c) Detachment from the world
d) Return to Ithaca
70. “Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ / Gleams that untravell’d world” means—
a) 🟢 Each experience opens the way to new possibilities
b) Experiences close the door to future
c) He regrets having too many experiences
d) Experiences are meaningless
71. The ‘arch’ in the poem symbolizes—
a) A gateway to death
b) 🟢 Passage to new knowledge and exploration
c) A temple of Ithaca
d) The walls of Troy
72. “Whose margin fades for ever and for ever” suggests—
a) 🟢 Human knowledge is limitless and always expanding
b) Boundaries are fixed
c) Experience has an end
d) There is no unknown world left
73. What is Ulysses’ attitude towards knowledge?
a) Satisfied with what he knows
b) 🟢 Always hungry for more knowledge
c) Feels regret for learning
d) Rejects intellectual pursuits
74. What does Ulysses mean by “I am become a name”?
a) 🟢 He has gained fame and recognition
b) He has become anonymous
c) He feels forgotten
d) He regrets popularity
75. Ulysses considers knowledge as—
a) 🟢 Infinite, always stretching beyond limits
b) Boring and repetitive
c) A burden of age
d) A threat to power
76. The metaphor of life as “an arch” indicates—
a) Stability
b) 🟢 A gateway to endless discovery
c) Closure
d) A prison
77. “To follow knowledge like a sinking star” means—
a) Knowledge is unattainable
b) 🟢 Pursuing knowledge endlessly, even to death
c) Knowledge is meaningless
d) Stars guide him home
78. The phrase “sinking star” suggests—
a) End of fame
b) 🟢 Infinite pursuit, as stars sink beyond reach
c) Death of a hero
d) Loss of direction
79. What is the main theme of Ulysses?
a) Domestic happiness
b) 🟢 Restlessness and pursuit of adventure and knowledge
c) Regret and nostalgia
d) Power and wealth
80. Ulysses feels that retirement is—
a) Rewarding
b) 🟢 Wasteful and unworthy for a man like him
c) Peaceful
d) Satisfying
81. “To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use” means—
a) Life should be kept safe
b) 🟢 Life without use becomes dull and meaningless
c) Rest brings glory
d) Rust is a symbol of wisdom
82. The metaphor of ‘rust’ symbolizes—
a) Peace and happiness
b) 🟢 Idleness and decay
c) Strength of age
d) Honour of old warriors
83. “As tho’ to breathe were life” means—
a) Breathing is not necessary
b) 🟢 Mere existence is not real life
c) Life is only physical
d) Life ends with breath
84. The phrase “Life piled on life” suggests—
a) Immortality
b) 🟢 Even multiple lives are not enough to satisfy Ulysses’ quest
c) Endless suffering
d) Only repetition
85. “Were all too little, and of one to me / Little remains” means—
a) He has a long life ahead
b) 🟢 Even many lives would be too short, but his own has very little left
c) He regrets immortality
d) He is tired of living
86. “But every hour is saved / From that eternal silence” – Here ‘eternal silence’ means—
a) 🟢 Death
b) Peace
c) Ignorance
d) Sleep
87. “Something more, a bringer of new things” refers to—
a) 🟢 Each passing hour brings new opportunities for discovery
b) His longing for rest
c) His acceptance of death
d) Memories of the past
88. “Vile it were / For some three suns to store and hoard myself” – Here ‘three suns’ means—
a) 🟢 Three years
b) Three months
c) Three days
d) Three decades
89. “And this gray spirit yearning in desire” – ‘Gray spirit’ refers to—
a) His wife
b) Old age
c) 🟢 Ulysses himself, aged but still passionate
d) A ghostly figure
90. “To follow knowledge like a sinking star / Beyond the utmost bound of human thought” means—
a) Knowledge is limited
b) 🟢 Knowledge is infinite and should be pursued endlessly
c) Knowledge is impossible
d) Knowledge ends with death
91. Who is Telemachus?
a) Brother of Ulysses
b) 🟢 Son of Ulysses
c) King of Sparta
d) Trojan warrior
92. What responsibility does Ulysses leave for Telemachus?
a) To travel the seas
b) 🟢 To rule Ithaca wisely and govern the people
c) To fight new wars
d) To bring him fame
93. How does Ulysses describe Telemachus’ character?
a) 🟢 Blameless, centred in duties, mild, devoted to household gods
b) Restless and adventurous
c) Weak and careless
d) Proud and arrogant
94. Why does Ulysses entrust Ithaca to Telemachus?
a) 🟢 Telemachus is suited for governance, while Ulysses seeks adventure
b) He fears Telemachus will rebel
c) Telemachus begged for kingship
d) Ulysses no longer cares for Ithaca
95. “He works his work, I mine” shows—
a) 🟢 Division of roles between father and son
b) Ulysses’ dislike for Telemachus
c) They share identical passions
d) Both want to travel together
96. The phrase “slow prudence” applied to Telemachus means—
a) 🟢 He is patient, wise, and careful in ruling
b) He is lazy and inactive
c) He is adventurous
d) He is cowardly
97. What does Ulysses think of Telemachus’ way of ruling?
a) Harsh and cruel
b) 🟢 Gentle and suitable for subjects
c) Too adventurous
d) Disrespectful to the gods
98. The “household gods” in the poem symbolize—
a) 🟢 Traditional values, family duties, and piety
b) Statues in Ithaca
c) Temples in Troy
d) Spirits of dead warriors
99. What contrast is drawn between Ulysses and Telemachus?
a) Both are identical in spirit
b) 🟢 Ulysses is restless and adventurous, Telemachus is calm and prudent
c) Ulysses is weak, Telemachus is strong
d) Both reject governance
100. What decision does Ulysses make at the end of the poem?
a) To stay in Ithaca
b) 🟢 To set sail again with his old companions
c) To retire with Penelope
d) To surrender power to his subjects
101. Who are referred to as “souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me”?
a) Ulysses’ subjects
b) 🟢 His old mariners and companions
c) His family members
d) The gods of Olympus
102. What quality of the mariners does Ulysses praise?
a) Laziness and comfort-seeking
b) 🟢 Loyalty, endurance, and bravery
c) Desire for ruling Ithaca
d) Love for domestic life
103. “Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me” highlights—
a) The ignorance of subjects
b) 🟢 The unity and companionship in hardships
c) The loneliness of Ulysses
d) The wisdom of philosophers
104. Why does Ulysses want to join the mariners again?
a) 🟢 They share his spirit of adventure and exploration
b) He wants them to rule Ithaca
c) They can comfort his wife
d) They remind him of Telemachus
105. “Free hearts, free foreheads” symbolize—
a) Rebellion against Ulysses
b) 🟢 Courage, dignity, and independence of mariners
c) Restlessness of the subjects
d) Ignorance of rulers
106. “You and I are old” indicates—
a) Weakness and uselessness
b) 🟢 Old age has come, but the spirit is still strong
c) Fear of death
d) Hatred of life
107. What does Ulysses suggest about old age?
a) 🟢 Old age can still achieve noble and honourable deeds
b) It must stay idle
c) It is shameful
d) It is peaceful retirement
108. “Old age hath yet his honour and his toil” means—
a) Old men should rest
b) 🟢 Old age brings dignity but also work to do
c) Old men should not act
d) Old men lose all value
109. “Death closes all” refers to—
a) 🟢 Inevitability of death
b) Endless life
c) Death as a reward
d) Rebirth
110. “Something ere the end, / Some work of noble note, may yet be done” means—
a) 🟢 Even before death, one can attempt great deeds
b) Death prevents achievements
c) Nothing is possible in old age
d) Life loses all meaning
111. “Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods” refers to—
a) 🟢 Past struggles of Ulysses and his men against divine powers
b) Defeat of Ithaca by gods
c) Hatred toward the gods
d) Ulysses’ worship of household gods
112. What is the significance of “strove with Gods”?
a) Humans never fought gods
b) 🟢 Ulysses and his men showed heroic resistance against fate and divine will
c) They were punished eternally
d) They became gods themselves
113. “The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks” describes—
a) Fires in the city
b) 🟢 Evening stars appearing in the sky
c) Lamps of Ithaca
d) Fire of Troy
114. “The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs” suggests—
a) 🟢 Passage of time from day to night
b) Eternal day
c) Morning atmosphere
d) Festival evening
115. “The deep moans round with many voices” refers to—
a) The people of Ithaca crying
b) 🟢 The sea making sounds at night
c) Gods speaking from Olympus
d) His mariners singing
116. “Come, my friends, / ’Tis not too late to seek a newer world” means—
a) 🟢 Even in old age, one can search for new experiences and adventures
b) They should retire
c) They should remain in Ithaca
d) Death is the only option
117. The ‘newer world’ symbolizes—
a) 🟢 Unknown adventures, new knowledge, and fresh experiences
b) Ithaca’s prosperity
c) The afterlife in heaven
d) The memory of Troy
118. “Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows” describes—
a) Celebration in palace
b) 🟢 Rowing together into the sea
c) Preparing for war on land
d) Offering prayers
119. “For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset” means—
a) 🟢 Ulysses’ determination to explore till death
b) His wish to return to Troy
c) His longing to meet Telemachus
d) His fear of death
120. “Until I die” indicates—
a) 🟢 His adventures will continue till death comes
b) He is afraid of death
c) He wants early death
d) He regrets the past
121. “The baths / Of all the western stars” refers to—
a) The gods of Olympus
b) 🟢 The place where the sun sets, symbolizing the ends of the world
c) The rivers of Ithaca
d) The stars in the morning sky
122. What does Ulysses want to achieve by sailing beyond the sunset?
a) 🟢 To discover new horizons and experiences before death
b) To conquer new kingdoms
c) To escape from Penelope
d) To leave Telemachus alone
123. “It may be that the gulfs will wash us down” implies—
a) 🟢 There is a possibility of death at sea
b) The mariners will be saved
c) Ulysses will return victorious
d) Gods will guide them safely
124. What does Ulysses mean by “It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles”?
a) He will return to Ithaca
b) 🟢 He hopes to reach paradise or heaven after death
c) He will conquer Troy again
d) He will reunite with his wife
125. “Happy Isles” in mythology symbolizes—
a) 🟢 A mythical paradise for great heroes
b) The island of Ithaca
c) The battlefield of Troy
d) The palace of Odysseus
126. “And see the great Achilles, whom we knew” refers to—
a) Meeting Telemachus in future
b) 🟢 Hope of meeting dead heroes in the afterlife
c) Remembering his enemies
d) Meeting Penelope again
127. The reference to Achilles symbolizes—
a) Fear of death
b) 🟢 Immortality of heroic fame
c) Hatred for warriors
d) War against Troy
128. “Tho’ much is taken, much abides” means—
a) 🟢 Though youth and strength are gone, courage and spirit remain
b) Everything is lost
c) Nothing remains in old age
d) Wealth has been preserved
129. What is Ulysses’ view on human spirit in old age?
a) It becomes weak
b) 🟢 It still retains strength and willpower
c) It is useless
d) It fades completely
130. “And tho’ we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven” refers to—
a) The weakness of Ithaca
b) 🟢 Loss of physical power of youth
c) The weakness of Telemachus
d) The strength of gods
131. What does Ulysses still believe about himself and his companions despite old age?
a) They are powerless
b) 🟢 They are strong in will and determination
c) They must retire peacefully
d) They are defeated by destiny
132. “That which we are, we are” emphasizes—
a) 🟢 Acceptance of present limitations with courage
b) Regret for the past
c) Pride in the kingdom
d) Hatred for Ithaca
133. “One equal temper of heroic hearts” means—
a) 🟢 All companions share the same spirit of courage and heroism
b) Everyone is different in courage
c) Heroes must retire
d) The gods’ blessing on them
134. “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will” suggests—
a) Old men cannot fight
b) 🟢 Though physically weak, mentally determined
c) Fate controls everything
d) Willpower is meaningless
135. What does Ulysses finally resolve to do?
a) Stay at Ithaca with Penelope
b) Hand over kingdom to Telemachus and sail again
c) Die peacefully
d) 🟢 Both (b) and (d) – leave Ithaca and seek adventure till death
136. What is the central theme of “Ulysses”?
a) Domestic life and peace
b) 🟢 Adventure, exploration, and undying quest for knowledge
c) Love and romance
d) War and victory
137. Which quality best defines Ulysses in the poem?
a) Fear of death
b) 🟢 Restless spirit of adventure
c) Love for wealth
d) Hatred for people
138. “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” emphasizes—
a) 🟢 Perseverance and never giving up despite hardships
b) Rest and peace at old age
c) Obedience to the gods
d) Respect for subjects
139. What does the famous line “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” symbolize?
a) 🟢 Human courage, determination, and undying spirit
b) End of human journey
c) Peaceful family life
d) Death and silence
140. Which of the following is the concluding message of “Ulysses”?
a) Kingship is more important than adventure
b) Death should be avoided
c) 🟢 Life should be lived actively with courage till the very end
d) Home is the only destination
Ulysses – MCQ Question and Answer – Alfred Lord Tennyson – Class 12 Semester 3 [ Set – 2 ]
1. The poem ‘Ulysses’ was composed by –
(A) T.S. Eliot
(B) W.B. Yeats
(C) Thomas Hardy
(D) 🟢 Alfred Lord Tennyson
2. The poem ‘Ulysses’ is a/an –
(A) Ode
(B) Ballad
(C) 🟢 Dramatic monologue
(D) Epic
3. Ulysses, the hero, refers to himself as an idle king of –
(A) Ecuador
(B) Egypt
(C) Ethiopia
(D) 🟢 Ithaca
4. The speaker of the poem ‘Ulysses’ is –
(A) Telemachus
(B) Achilles
(C) 🟢 Ulysses
(D) Theseus
5. In which war did Ulysses fight ?
(A) 🟢 The Trojan war
(B) The Persian war
(C) The Corinthian war
(D) The Cretan war
6. Ulysses compares life to a –
(A) 🟢 Journey
(B) Hill
(C) Sea
(D) Ship
7. Ulysses describes the people of Ithaca as –
(A) Polite and submissive
(B) 🟢 Savage and rugged
(C) Civilized and sober
(D) Strong and cooperative
8. Ulysses is always roaming with –
(A) 🟢 Hungry heart
(B) Hungry
(C) Hungry mariners
(D) Hungry desires
9. The name of Ulysses’s son was –
(A) 🟢 Telemachus
(B) Achilles
(C) Ulysses
(D) Theseus
10. The king of Ithaca was –
(A) Theseus
(B) Achilles
(C) 🟢 Ulysses
(D) Tennyson
11. Ulysses transferred his kingship of Ithaca to his –
(A) Mariners
(B) 🟢 Son
(C) Wife
(D) Minister
12. Whom does Ulysses call ‘most blameless’?
(A) Theseus
(B) Achilles
(C) 🟢 Telemachus
(D) Tennyson
13. Ulysses was acting as the king of Ithaca for –
(A) Two years
(B) 🟢 Three years
(C) Four years
(D) Five years
14. ‘You and I are old’ – here ‘You and I’ refers to –
(A) Ulysses and his wife
(B) 🟢 Ulysses and his co-mariners
(C) Ulysses and Telemachus
(D) Ulysses and the great Roman heroes
15. Ulysses called upon his mariners to –
(A) Help his son Telemachus rule Ithaca
(B) Join the feast to celebrate his homecoming
(C) 🟢 Get ready for another perilous journey
(D) Sleep and rest well
16. Ulysses embodies the concept of heroism through –
(A) Duty and loyalty
(B) Conquest and victory
(C) 🟢 Discovery and exploration
(D) Domesticity and stability
17. Ulysses’s attitude to his heroic past experiences is –
(A) Sorrowful
(B) Proud
(C) Casual
(D) 🟢 Nostalgic
18. How does Ulysses view old age in the poem “Ulysses”?
(A) As a time of regret
(B) As a time of peace
(C) 🟢 As an opportunity to show his courage and determination
(D) As a time of contemplation
19. Ulysses cannot rest from –
(A) 🟢 Travel
(B) Dreaming
(C) War
(D) Discharging duties to his family
20. Ulysses has suffered greatly and also –
(A) 🟢 Enjoyed greatly
(B) Revelled in feast
(C) Assisted his mariners
(D) Experienced the bitter experiences of life
21. According to Ulysses, all experience is –
(A) 🟢 Unattainable
(B) Achievable
(C) Disgusting
(D) Distinguishable
22. Ulysses drank delight of battles with his –
(A) foes
(B) Son
(C) 🟢 Peers
(D) Opponents
23. According to Ulysses, every hour of life is saved from –
(A) Domestic life
(B) 🟢 Eternal silence
(C) Leisure
(D) Pursuit of pleasure
24. Ulysses hopes that his son Telemachus will pay to meet adoration to his –
(A) Subjects
(B) Wife
(C) 🟢 Household gods
(D) Trusted friends
25. Like himself Ulysses’s wife was also –
(A) Young
(B) 🟢 Old
(C) Weak
(D) Queen
26. Ulysses on his adventures had been to –
(A) One country
(B) Two countries
(C) Three countries
(D) 🟢 Various countries
27. The adventures of Ulysses have made him –
(A) Satisfied
(B) Unsatisfied
(C) 🟢 Well-known
(D) Hunger
28. The position of Hyades in the sky predicts –
(A) 🟢 Rain
(B) Adventures
(C) Sailing
(D) Kingdom
29. In the poem Ulysses’s experience is compared to –
(A) Hill
(B) Hungry heart
(C) Household gods
(D) 🟢 An Arch
30. The adventures have caused Ulysses –
(A) Joy
(B) Suffering
(C) 🟢 Both joy and suffering
(D) Unfaithful
31. Ulysses acknowledges that he and his mariners are –
(A) 🟢 Old
(B) Young
(C) Companions
(D) Adventurers
32. The kingdom of Ulysses referred to in the poem is –
(A) Rough
(B) 🟢 Barren and rugged
(C) Joy and suffering
(D) Well-known
33. By travelling with a hungry heart Ulysses has known –
(A) Himself
(B) His kingdom
(C) 🟢 Himself and the outside world
(D) The kings of other countries
34. In the poem ‘Ulysses’ the word ‘gulfs’ refers to –
(A) The kingdom
(B) 🟢 The sea
(C) The queen
(D) The mariners
35. Ulysses describes the island of Ithaca as –
(A) 🟢 Barren crags
(B) Barren island
(C) Beauty of nature
(D) Adventures
36. Who will take over Ulysses’s kingdom while he embarks on his journey? –
(A) The poet himself
(B) The mariners
(C) 🟢 His son, Telemachus
(D) People of his kingdom
37. Why does Ulysses want to leave Ithaca?
(A) To go for sailing
(B) 🟢 To continue exploring and seeking knowledge
(C) To live alone
(D) To live with his mariners
38. Whom does Ulysses call by expression ‘Come, my friends’?
(A) His followers
(B) 🟢 His mariners
(C) The people of his kingdom
(D) His wife and son
39. Which famous Greek epic hero is Ulysses based on –
(A) 🟢 Odysseus
(B) Ethiopia
(C) Ithaca
(D) Egypt
40. “This is my son, mine own Telemachus,/To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle” – In this line ‘sceptre’ stands for –
(A) The spirit of adventure
(B) 🟢 The royal power
(C) A deadly weapon
(D) His love for son
41. ‘He works his work, I mine.’ Who are ‘he’ and ‘I’ referring to in the line?
(A) Ulysses, Telemachus
(B) 🟢 Telemachus, Ulysses
(C) God, Telemachus
(D) Ulysses, the poet
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Ulysses by Lord Tennyson – MCQ, Class 12, Semester III, WBCHSE [ Set -3]
Q1. 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
—
Q2. Who is the speaker in Ulysses?
a) A sailor
b) The narrator
🟢 c) Ulysses (Odysseus)
d) Telemachus
—
Q3. 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.
—
Q4. What phrase does Ulysses use to describe his people in Ithaca?
🟢 a) “Savage race”
b) “Noble race”
c) “Faithful followers”
d) “Adventurous souls”
—
Q5. 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
—
Q6. What qualities does Ulysses attribute to Telemachus?
a) Strength and bravery
🟢 b) Wisdom and patience
c) Ambition and curiosity
d) Loyalty and adventurousness
—
Q7. 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.”
—
Q8. 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
—
Q9. 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
—
Q10. 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.
—
Q11. 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.
—
Q12. 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.”
—
Q13. 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.
—
Q14. 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
—
Q15. What is the tone of Ulysses?
a) Defeated and mournful
b) Joyful and celebratory
🟢 c) Determined and inspirational
d) Reflective and nostalgic
—
Q16. 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.
—
Q17. What is the primary literary device used in Ulysses?
a) Metaphor
b) Simile
🟢 c) Dramatic monologue
d) Allegory
—
Q18. 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
—
Q19. 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
—
Q20. 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.
Q21. What does Ulysses mean by “I will drink life to the lees”?
a) He wants to live a moderate life.
🟢 b) He wants to experience life to the fullest.
c) He is tired of life’s struggles.
d) He accepts life’s limitations.
—
Q22. How does Ulysses describe his people in Ithaca?
a) Brave and adventurous
🟢 b) Savage and uncultured
c) Loyal and faithful
d) Wise and disciplined
—
Q23. Why does Ulysses consider his life in Ithaca dull?
a) Because of war and conflict
🟢 b) Because it lacks adventure and discovery
c) Because his people disobey him
d) Because Telemachus is too ambitious
—
Q24. What literary form is Ulysses written in?
a) Narrative poem
b) Ode
c) Elegy
🟢 d) Dramatic monologue
—
Q25. “I cannot rest from travel” reveals –
a) Ulysses’ hatred for Ithaca
b) Ulysses’ love for Penelope
🟢 c) Ulysses’ passion for exploration
d) Ulysses’ weakness in old age
—
Q26. What does Ulysses mean by “an idle king”?
a) A lazy ruler who sleeps all day
b) A king who rules with peace
🟢 c) A useless ruler without action
d) A generous and kind king
—
Q27. What is Ulysses’ view of knowledge?
a) It is limited and should be ignored.
b) It is dangerous for old men.
🟢 c) It is boundless and worth pursuing.
d) It is only for the young.
—
Q28. The phrase “as though to breathe were life” implies –
a) Breathing is the most important part of life.
b) Physical survival is enough.
🟢 c) Mere existence without purpose is meaningless.
d) Life should be spent in comfort.
—
Q29. What does Ulysses compare life without adventure to?
a) A caged lion
🟢 b) A rusty sword
c) A sinking ship
d) A fading star
—
Q30. What does Ulysses mean by “Life piled on life were all too little”?
a) Life is too long and boring.
b) A single life is enough for knowledge.
🟢 c) Even many lifetimes are not enough for adventure.
d) He wants to live a peaceful family life.
—
Q31. How does Ulysses view old age?
a) As a curse
b) As a time for rest
🟢 c) As a stage for noble action
d) As a reason to stop travelling
—
Q32. What does Ulysses value more than ruling?
a) Wealth
b) Marriage
🟢 c) Knowledge and adventure
d) Friendship
—
Q33. Who does Ulysses describe as “slow prudence”?
a) Himself
🟢 b) Telemachus
c) His mariners
d) His wife Penelope
—
Q34. Why does Ulysses admire Telemachus?
a) For his strength in battle
b) For his desire for adventure
🟢 c) For his patience and wisdom in ruling
d) For his wealth and fame
—
Q35. What does Ulysses assign to Telemachus?
a) To lead the mariners
b) To join him in voyages
🟢 c) To govern and civilize Ithaca
d) To fight in wars
—
Q36. Which line shows Ulysses’ faith in his mariners?
a) “This is my son, mine own Telemachus.”
b) “Matched with an aged wife.”
🟢 c) “My mariners, souls that have toiled, and wrought.”
d) “I mete and dole unequal laws.”
—
Q37. What does Ulysses call his mariners?
a) Servants
b) Slaves
c) Subjects
🟢 d) Companions in adventure
—
Q38. “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will” refers to –
a) Telemachus
🟢 b) Ulysses and his mariners
c) Penelope
d) The people of Ithaca
—
Q39. How does Ulysses describe death?
a) As an enemy to be defeated
b) As a punishment for the weak
🟢 c) As inevitable but not to be feared
d) As something to be avoided forever
—
Q40. What does Ulysses expect from his mariners in old age?
a) To retire peacefully
🟢 b) To join him in one last voyage
c) To rule Ithaca
d) To train Telemachus
—
Q41. What is suggested by “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs”?
a) The beginning of life
b) The glory of youth
🟢 c) The approach of death and old age
d) The joy of travel
—
Q42. The phrase “Match’d with an aged wife” suggests –
a) Ulysses’s love for Penelope
b) Ulysses’s hatred for marriage
🟢 c) Ulysses’s boredom in domestic life
d) Ulysses’s plan to remarry
—
Q43. Ulysses refers to his mariners as –
a) Weak and old men
b) Slaves of Ithaca
c) Strangers to him
🟢 d) His companions in adventure
—
Q44. “I am a part of all that I have met” means –
a) Ulysses forgets all his journeys
b) Ulysses has changed nothing
c) Ulysses admires only Ithaca
🟢 d) Every experience has shaped Ulysses’s identity
—
Q45. “To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use” expresses –
a) The glory of kingship
b) Ulysses’s love for Ithaca
c) The value of material wealth
🟢 d) A wasted life without action
—
Q46. Who does Ulysses call “savage race”?
a) His mariners
b) His enemies
🟢 c) His subjects in Ithaca
d) The people of Troy
—
Q47. What is Ulysses’ view of mere breathing and existence?
a) It is the purpose of life.
🟢 b) It is meaningless without action.
c) It is a gift from gods.
d) It is more valuable than adventure.
—
Q48. Why does Ulysses want to sail beyond the sunset?
a) To find Ithaca again
b) To escape from Telemachus
🟢 c) To seek new knowledge and adventure
d) To avoid death
—
Q49. What is symbolized by “the arch” in the poem?
a) The palace of Ithaca
b) His wife Penelope
🟢 c) The gateway to new experiences
d) The end of his life
—
Q50. What does Ulysses hope to achieve by travelling again?
a) Wealth and power
b) Youth and strength
🟢 c) Fulfillment through exploration
d) Fame in Ithaca
—
Q51. The phrase “that which we are, we are” means –
a) Ulysses and his men are weak
b) Ulysses and his men regret their past
🟢 c) They accept their limitations but remain strong in will
d) They want to forget their past
—
Q52. Why does Ulysses not want to rest in Ithaca?
a) Because he dislikes Telemachus
b) Because he has no subjects
🟢 c) Because rest means wasting life
d) Because his wife forces him to leave
—
Q53. What does Ulysses consider the true purpose of life?
a) Domestic duties
b) Wealth and power
🟢 c) Seeking knowledge and adventure
d) Family care
—
Q54. Which best describes the structure of the poem?
a) 3 stanzas in blank verse
b) 4 stanzas in rhyme
🟢 c) A single continuous dramatic monologue in blank verse
d) A free verse elegy
—
Q55. What is meant by “Death closes all”?
a) Death is a choice
🟢 b) Death is inevitable
c) Death can be avoided
d) Death is an illusion
—
Q56. How does Ulysses inspire his mariners at the end?
a) By promising them wealth
b) By warning them of danger
c) By praising Telemachus
🟢 d) By reminding them of their willpower
—
Q57. Why does Ulysses admire his mariners?
a) For their wealth
b) For their loyalty to Telemachus
🟢 c) For sharing adventures and struggles with him
d) For ruling Ithaca
—
Q58. Which line shows Ulysses’ rejection of passivity?
a) “This is my son, mine own Telemachus.”
🟢 b) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end.”
c) “Matched with an aged wife.”
d) “The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks.”
—
Q59. What image does Ulysses use for life’s end?
a) A setting sun
🟢 b) A sinking star
c) A broken sword
d) A deserted palace
—
Q60. What is the rhyme scheme of Ulysses?
a) Couplet rhyme
🟢 b) Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)
c) Free verse
d) Heroic couplets
—
Q61. What does Ulysses say about “old age”?
a) It should be spent in comfort.
b) It makes men useless.
🟢 c) It has yet honour and heroic work to do.
d) It is a punishment of gods.
—
Q62. Which line reflects Ulysses’ belief in facing challenges?
a) “Death closes all.”
b) “I cannot rest from travel.”
c) “I am a part of all that I have met.”
🟢 d) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
—
Q63. Who does Ulysses think will be better at ruling Ithaca?
a) His wife
b) His mariners
🟢 c) Telemachus
d) Himself
—
Q64. What does Ulysses compare the world of knowledge to?
a) A battlefield
b) A sea voyage
🟢 c) An arch through which new lands can be seen
d) A closed door
—
Q65. What is the central message of Ulysses?
a) Life is meant for comfort and rest.
b) A ruler must always stay with his people.
c) Age makes men weak and useless.
🟢 d) Life must be lived in pursuit of adventure, knowledge, and purpose.
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Conclusion – Master Ulysses MCQs for Top Scores in Class 12 WBCHSE
By thoroughly practicing the Ulysses MCQ Class 12 WBCHSE, students can gain a strong understanding of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poetry. This comprehensive MCQ guide not only enhances knowledge of the poem but also strengthens analytical and critical thinking skills. Regular practice using this guide ensures top performance in exams and builds lasting confidence in English literature. Start today and master every question to achieve academic excellence!
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