6. Practice MCQs for Anita Desai

This section contains 100 multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge of Anita Desai. Click on “Answer” to reveal the correct choice.

1. Anita Desai is celebrated for her sensitive portrayal of the inner lives of: a) Men in power b) Children c) Middle-class women d) Rural farmers

2. In which year was Anita Desai born? a) 1930 b) 1937 c) 1945 d) 1950

3. What was the title of Anita Desai’s debut novel, published in 1963? a) Fire on the Mountain b) Clear Light of Day c) Cry, the Peacock d) In Custody

4. For which novel did Anita Desai win the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978? a) Cry, the Peacock b) Voices in the City c) Fire on the Mountain d) Clear Light of Day

5. How many times has Anita Desai been shortlisted for the Booker Prize? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Four

6. The protagonist of Cry, the Peacock, a young and neurotic woman, is named: a) Nanda Kaul b) Ila Das c) Maya d) Susila

7. Fire on the Mountain is set in the serene yet subtly unsettling landscape of: a) Delhi b) Calcutta c) Kasauli d) Mumbai

8. Clear Light of Day is considered by Desai herself to be her most: a) Experimental work b) Autobiographical work c) Political work d) Humorous work

9. In Custody explores the decline of which art form? a) Classical Indian dance b) Indian classical music c) Urdu poetry d) Traditional Indian painting

10. Fasting, Feasting contrasts life in India with life in which other country? a) England b) America c) Canada d) Australia

11. Anita Desai’s daughter, Kiran Desai, is also a celebrated novelist and a: a) Pulitzer Prize winner b) Booker Prize winner c) Sahitya Akademi Award winner d) National Book Award winner

12. The novel Cry, the Peacock delves into Maya’s anxieties, particularly a childhood prophecy from an astrologer about: a) Her marriage b) Her career c) Her husband’s death d) Her children’s future

13. Nanda Kaul in Fire on the Mountain seeks absolute: a) Power b) Wealth c) Solitude d) Fame

14. Clear Light of Day primarily revolves around the complex bond between two sisters, Bim and: a) Raja b) Baba c) Tara d) Mira-Masi

15. The protagonist of In Custody, a timid Hindi lecturer, is named: a) Nur b) Murad c) Deven Sharma d) Jagan

16. In Fasting, Feasting, Uma’s life in India is characterized by a form of emotional and intellectual: a) Feasting b) Celebration c) Fasting (deprivation) d) Rebellion

17. Desai’s literary style is distinctive for its: a) Social realism b) Psychological depth c) Historical accuracy d) Political commentary

18. The theme of “Alienation and Isolation” is a pervasive theme in Desai’s work, particularly for: a) Men b) Children c) Women d) Elderly

19. Which of these is a children’s novel by Anita Desai that won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize? a) The Peacock Garden b) Cat on a Houseboat c) The Village by the Sea d) Where Shall We Go This Summer?

20. Desai received the Padma Bhushan in which year? a) 1978 b) 1983 c) 1999 d) 2014

21. Anita Desai was born in which place? a) Delhi b) Mussoorie c) Calcutta d) Mumbai

22. Her mother was of which nationality? a) Indian b) British c) German d) American

23. The novel Cry, the Peacock delves into Maya’s anxieties, particularly a childhood prophecy from an astrologer about: a) Her marriage b) Her career c) Her husband’s death d) Her children’s future

24. The intrusion of Ila Das in Fire on the Mountain forces Nanda Kaul to confront: a) Her future plans b) Suppressed memories and disturbing realities c) Her financial problems d) Her political views

25. Clear Light of Day is set in which part of Delhi? a) New Delhi b) Old Delhi c) South Delhi d) East Delhi

26. The revered Urdu poet in In Custody is: a) Ghalib b) Mir Taqi Mir c) Nur Shahjahanabadi d) Faiz Ahmed Faiz

27. In Fasting, Feasting, Arun lives with the Patton family in: a) A bustling city b) A remote village c) American suburbia d) A university dormitory

28. Desai’s novels are characterized by their deep psychological insight and exploration of: a) Historical events b) The emotional landscapes of her protagonists c) Political movements d) Economic theories

29. The theme of “Inner World vs. Outer Reality” is a key aspect of Desai’s work, where characters often retreat into their minds as a: a) Form of escape b) Coping mechanism c) Source of inspiration d) Way to connect with others

30. Which of these novels by Anita Desai was shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times? a) Cry, the Peacock b) Fire on the Mountain c) Clear Light of Day d) Fasting, Feasting

31. Anita Desai’s debut novel, Cry, the Peacock, was published in: a) 1959 b) 1963 c) 1968 d) 1972

32. Maya’s husband in Cry, the Peacock, who is much older and emotionally detached, is named: a) Gautama b) Nikhilesh c) Sandip d) Raju

33. The tragic climax of Fire on the Mountain involves the murder of Ila Das and a fire on the: a) Village b) Mountain c) Forest d) House

34. Clear Light of Day is structured in how many parts? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five

35. Deven Sharma in In Custody is a timid and uninspired: a) English teacher b) Hindi lecturer c) Urdu poet d) Journalist

36. In Fasting, Feasting, Uma’s parents are referred to as: a) MotherFather b) MamaPapa c) MaBaba d) AmmaAppa

37. Desai’s prose is often described as: a) Simple and direct b) Lyrical and evocative c) Harsh and realistic d) Humorous and lighthearted

38. The theme of “Search for Identity and Self-Fulfillment” in Desai’s work often involves characters challenging: a) Political systems b) Traditional roles and expectations c) Economic structures d) Religious beliefs

39. Which of these is a collection of short stories by Anita Desai? a) The Zigzag Way b) Baumgartner’s Bombay c) Games at Twilight and Other Stories d) Journey to Ithaca

40. Anita Desai received the Literary Lion Award in which year? a) 1978 b) 1983 c) 1993 d) 1999

41. Anita Desai’s father was of which descent? a) German b) Bengali c) British d) American

42. The novel Cry, the Peacock is a pioneering work in Indian English literature for its exploration of: a) Social realism b) Historical events c) Psychological realism d) Political satire

43. Nanda Kaul in Fire on the Mountain has retired to a secluded house called: a) Shantiniketan b) Carignano c) Malgudi d) Kanthapura

44. Clear Light of Day explores the enduring impact of the ________ on the present. a) Future b) Past c) Society d) Politics

45. Deven Sharma in In Custody is drawn to Nur by the allure of: a) Financial gain b) Political power c) Meeting his idol and preserving Urdu poetry d) Social status

46. In Fasting, Feasting, Arun lives with the Patton family in: a) A bustling city b) A remote village c) American suburbia d) A university dormitory

47. Desai’s novels are characterized by their deep psychological insight and exploration of: a) Historical events b) The emotional landscapes of her protagonists c) Political movements d) Economic theories

48. The theme of “Madness and Neurosis” is explored in some of Desai’s novels as a result of characters’ inability to cope with: a) Success b) Circumstances or societal pressures c) Happiness d) Freedom

49. Which of these novels by Anita Desai was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1984? a) Cry, the Peacock b) Fire on the Mountain c) In Custody d) Fasting, Feasting

50. The novel The Village by the Sea won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in: a) 1978 b) 1982 c) 1983 d) 1999

51. Anita Desai’s debut novel, Cry, the Peacock, focuses on the inner turmoil of its protagonist: a) Nanda Kaul b) Ila Das c) Maya d) Susila

52. The novel Fire on the Mountain explores themes of isolation, memory, and the burden of: a) Wealth b) Power c) Relationships d) Knowledge

53. Clear Light of Day is a poignant and introspective exploration of family relationships and the passage of: a) Seasons b) Time c) Generations d) Eras

54. In In Custody, Deven becomes burdened by Nur’s life and legacy, effectively taking him: a) To court b) In custody c) On a journey d) To a hospital

55. In Fasting, Feasting, Uma’s life is one of quiet resignation, marked by the demands of her: a) Friends b) Parents c) Teachers d) Colleagues

56. Desai’s novels are characterized by their focus on: a) External social realities b) The inner lives of her characters c) Historical events d) Political movements

57. The theme of “Alienation and Isolation” in Desai’s work often stems from characters’ feelings of: a) Superiority b) Confinement and lack of understanding c) Freedom d) Connection

58. Which of these novels by Anita Desai contrasts life in India with life in America? a) Cry, the Peacock b) Fire on the Mountain c) In Custody d) Fasting, Feasting

59. The novel Voices in the City explores the lives of a Bengali family in: a) Delhi b) Calcutta c) Mumbai d) Madras

60. Anita Desai is often categorized as a ________ novelist. a) Historical b) Social c) Psychological d) Political

61. Anita Desai’s mixed heritage exposed her to a rich linguistic and cultural environment, as her mother was German and her father was: a) British b) Bengali c) Punjabi d) Gujarati

62. Maya’s descent into madness in Cry, the Peacock is triggered by the death of her: a) Father b) Husband c) Pet dog d) Child

63. The tragic climax of Fire on the Mountain involves the brutal murder of: a) Nanda Kaul b) Ila Das c) Raka d) The Vice-Chancellor

64. Clear Light of Day delves into the lives of the Das family, particularly the complex bond between two sisters, Bim and: a) Raja b) Baba c) Tara d) Mira-Masi

65. The novel In Custody is a poignant and often humorous exploration of the clash between idealism and: a) Ambition b) Reality c) Spirituality d) Tradition

66. In Fasting, Feasting, Arun discovers a different kind of emptiness and dysfunction beneath the apparent freedom and material abundance of: a) Indian society b) American suburbia c) European cities d) Rural life

67. Desai’s novels are characterized by their lyrical and evocative prose, creating a strong: a) Plot b) Character development c) Atmosphere and emotional nuances d) Dialogue

68. The theme of “Family Relationships” in Desai’s work often explores: a) Perfect harmony b) Strained dynamics and unspoken resentments c) Idealized bonds d) Simple joys

69. Which of these novels by Anita Desai explores the world of Urdu poetry and a struggling academic? a) Cry, the Peacock b) Fire on the Mountain c) In Custody d) Fasting, Feasting

70. The novel The Village by the Sea won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in: a) 1978 b) 1982 c) 1983 d) 1999

71. Anita Desai graduated from which university? a) University of Calcutta b) University of Delhi c) University of Mumbai d) Jawaharlal Nehru University

72. The novel Cry, the Peacock is a study of a fragile psyche grappling with: a) Political power b) Existential fears c) Economic challenges d) Social acceptance

73. Nanda Kaul in Fire on the Mountain has spent a lifetime managing a large household as the wife of a: a) Businessman b) Politician c) Vice-Chancellor d) Doctor

74. Clear Light of Day is set in which city? a) Mumbai b) Kolkata c) Delhi d) Chennai

75. The novel In Custody explores the struggles of an individual trapped between his aspirations and his: a) Political beliefs b) Mundane existence c) Artistic talent d) Financial success

76. In Fasting, Feasting, food serves as a powerful: a) Plot device b) Character c) Metaphor d) Setting

77. Desai’s novels are characterized by their focus on: a) External social realities b) The inner lives of her characters c) Historical events d) Political movements

78. The theme of “Tradition vs. Modernity” in Desai’s work is subtly explored, particularly its impact on: a) Men b) Children c) Women d) The elderly

79. Which of these novels by Anita Desai is set in 20th-century Mexico? a) Baumgartner’s Bombay b) Journey to Ithaca c) The Zigzag Way d) Where Shall We Go This Summer?

80. Anita Desai’s contribution to Indian English literature includes her pioneering role in: a) Historical fiction b) Social realism c) Psychological fiction d) Political satire

81. Anita Desai’s debut novel, Cry, the Peacock, is a seminal work for its exploration of: a) Social issues b) Psychological realism c) Historical events d) Political movements

82. The novel Fire on the Mountain explores themes of isolation, memory, and the elusive nature of: a) Happiness b) Peace c) Success d) Love

83. Clear Light of Day delves into the lives of the Das family, particularly the complex bond between: a) Parents and children b) Siblings c) Spouses d) Grandparents and grandchildren

84. The novel In Custody highlights the bittersweet nature of pursuing a: a) Political career b) Financial goal c) Artistic dream d) Social cause

85. In Fasting, Feasting, Uma’s life is one of quiet resignation, marked by the demands of her: a) Friends b) Parents c) Teachers d) Colleagues

86. Desai’s prose is often described as: a) Simple and direct b) Lyrical and evocative c) Harsh and realistic d) Humorous and lighthearted

87. The theme of “Alienation and Isolation” in Desai’s work often leads characters to: a) Seek social connections b) Retreat into their inner worlds c) Engage in political activism d) Pursue material wealth

88. The novel Baumgartner’s Bombay recounts the tragic life of a German Jew in: a) England b) America c) India d) Germany

89. Which of these novels by Anita Desai explores a couple’s spiritual quest in India? a) Where Shall We Go This Summer? b) Journey to Ithaca c) The Zigzag Way d) Voices in the City

90. Anita Desai’s contribution to Indian English literature includes giving voice to the complex inner lives of: a) Indian men b) Indian children c) Indian women d) Indian elderly

91. Anita Desai’s debut novel, Cry, the Peacock, is a study of a fragile psyche grappling with: a) Political power b) Existential fears c) Economic challenges d) Social acceptance

92. The novel Fire on the Mountain explores themes of isolation, memory, and the elusive nature of: a) Happiness b) Peace c) Success d) Love

93. Clear Light of Day delves into the lives of the Das family, particularly the complex bond between: a) Parents and children b) Siblings c) Spouses d) Grandparents and grandchildren

94. The novel In Custody highlights the bittersweet nature of pursuing a: a) Political career b) Financial goal c) Artistic dream d) Social cause

95. In Fasting, Feasting, Uma’s life is one of quiet resignation, marked by the demands of her: a) Friends b) Parents c) Teachers d) Colleagues

96. Desai’s prose is often described as: a) Simple and direct b) Lyrical and evocative c) Harsh and realistic d) Humorous and lighthearted

97. The theme of “Alienation and Isolation” in Desai’s work often leads characters to: a) Seek social connections b) Retreat into their inner worlds c) Engage in political activism d) Pursue material wealth

98. The novel Baumgartner’s Bombay recounts the tragic life of a German Jew in: a) England b) America c) India d) Germany

99. Which of these novels by Anita Desai explores a couple’s spiritual quest in India? a) Where Shall We Go This Summer? b) Journey to Ithaca c) The Zigzag Way d) Voices in the City

100. Anita Desai’s contribution to Indian English literature includes giving voice to the complex inner lives of: a) Indian men b) Indian children c) Indian women d) Indian elderly