A Christmas Gift from Santa Claus
For Students Preparing for UGC NET Folk Literature. Jan 3, 2026 | Code 71
Syllabus of UGC NET Folk Literature (Paper 2)
Unit-wise MCQs
UNIT 1: FOLKLORE: DEFINITION, CONCEPT AND CLASSIFICATION
Q1. The term “folklore” was introduced to replace the earlier concept of
(A) Oral literature
(B) Popular antiquities
(C) Primitive culture
(D) Ethnic traditions
Correct Answer: B
Q2. William John Thoms coined the term “folklore” in
(A) 1835
(B) 1846
(C) 1857
(D) 1872
Correct Answer: B
Q3. In folkloristics, the term “folk” refers to
(A) Rural and illiterate people
(B) Primitive communities only
(C) Any group sharing common traditions
(D) Peasant societies alone
Correct Answer: C
Q4. Folklore is best defined as
(A) Written literature of the masses
(B) Traditional beliefs and practices shared within a group
(C) Ancient myths only
(D) Classical cultural texts
Correct Answer: B
Q5. Which of the following is a key feature of folklore?
(A) Individual authorship
(B) Written transmission
(C) Oral transmission
(D) Canonical authority
Correct Answer: C
Q6. Folklore is primarily transmitted through
(A) Schools
(B) Printing press
(C) Oral tradition
(D) Digital archives
Correct Answer: C
Q7. Which scholar is considered the father of folklore studies in England?
(A) Andrew Lang
(B) Edward Tylor
(C) William John Thoms
(D) James Frazer
Correct Answer: C
Q8. Folklore differs from literature mainly because folklore is
(A) Written
(B) Anonymous and communal
(C) Fixed in form
(D) Elite-oriented
Correct Answer: B
Q9. Which of the following is NOT a form of folklore?
(A) Folk tale
(B) Folk song
(C) Folk ritual
(D) Modern novel
Correct Answer: D
Q10. The communal nature of folklore implies
(A) Authorial ownership
(B) Collective creation and transmission
(C) Institutional control
(D) Literary canonization
Correct Answer: B
Q11. Folklore exists primarily in
(A) Archives
(B) Performance and practice
(C) Books
(D) Libraries
Correct Answer: B
Q12. The study of folklore focuses mainly on
(A) Written texts
(B) Living traditions
(C) Classical history
(D) Literary criticism
Correct Answer: B
Q13. Variation is an important feature of folklore because
(A) Folklore lacks structure
(B) Each performance adapts to context
(C) Folklore is poorly remembered
(D) Folklore has no rules
Correct Answer: B
Q14. Which term refers to the repeated retelling of folklore with changes?
(A) Fixity
(B) Variation
(C) Canonization
(D) Translation
Correct Answer: B
Q15. Folk narratives are typically
(A) Fixed and written
(B) Performed and variable
(C) Legally protected
(D) Authored by individuals
Correct Answer: B
Q16. Which of the following best distinguishes folklore from myth?
(A) Myth is always false
(B) Folklore includes everyday practices
(C) Folklore is religious only
(D) Myth is modern
Correct Answer: B
Q17. The oral nature of folklore allows it to
(A) Remain unchanged
(B) Adapt to social contexts
(C) Lose meaning
(D) Become standardized
Correct Answer: B
Q18. Folklore is studied as
(A) Static heritage
(B) Living cultural process
(C) Written literature
(D) Historical artifact only
Correct Answer: B
Q19. Which of the following is a characteristic of folk tradition?
(A) Formal education
(B) Informal transmission
(C) Written syllabus
(D) Institutional authority
Correct Answer: B
Q20. Folk traditions are usually learned through
(A) Classroom teaching
(B) Observation and participation
(C) Reading texts
(D) Formal training
Correct Answer: B
Q21. Folklore includes
(A) Only ancient traditions
(B) Only rural traditions
(C) Both old and new traditions
(D) Only religious beliefs
Correct Answer: C
Q22. Which of the following best explains the dynamic nature of folklore?
(A) Oral transmission
(B) Canonical texts
(C) Authorial control
(D) Institutional preservation
Correct Answer: A
Q23. Folk culture is best understood as
(A) Inferior culture
(B) Residual culture
(C) Lived everyday culture
(D) Written tradition
Correct Answer: C
Q24. The anonymity of folklore suggests that
(A) The creator is unknown or unimportant
(B) Folklore has no value
(C) Folklore lacks creativity
(D) Folklore is recent
Correct Answer: A
Q25. Folklore survives because it is
(A) Archived
(B) Performed repeatedly
(C) Written down
(D) Legally protected
Correct Answer: B
Q26. Which of the following scholars emphasized folklore as “tradition”?
(A) William Bascom
(B) Alan Dundes
(C) Franz Boas
(D) Bronislaw Malinowski
Correct Answer: B
Q27. Folklore is closely connected with
(A) Elite ideology
(B) Community identity
(C) State power
(D) Literary canon
Correct Answer: B
Q28. Which feature allows folklore to remain relevant?
(A) Fixity
(B) Adaptability
(C) Written authority
(D) Standardization
Correct Answer: B
Q29. Folklore is primarily created and sustained by
(A) Scholars
(B) Communities
(C) Institutions
(D) Publishers
Correct Answer: B
Q30. The study of folklore requires attention to
(A) Text only
(B) Context and performance
(C) Written grammar
(D) Canon formation
Correct Answer: B
Q31. Folk belief refers to
(A) Scientific knowledge
(B) Traditional ways of understanding the world
(C) Religious doctrine only
(D) Literary symbolism
Correct Answer: B
Q32. Folk customs usually regulate
(A) State laws
(B) Everyday social behavior
(C) Written contracts
(D) Political authority
Correct Answer: B
Q33. Folk knowledge is often
(A) Written and formal
(B) Experiential and practical
(C) Theoretical
(D) Institutional
Correct Answer: B
Q34. Folklore plays an important role in
(A) Maintaining social continuity
(B) Eliminating tradition
(C) Enforcing uniformity
(D) Canonizing culture
Correct Answer: A
Q35. Which of the following best describes folklore performance?
(A) Silent reading
(B) Live and interactive
(C) Fixed and written
(D) Institutional
Correct Answer: B
Q36. Folk narratives often function to
(A) Entertain and instruct
(B) Enforce laws
(C) Record history exactly
(D) Teach grammar
Correct Answer: A
Q37. Which term refers to shared cultural expressions?
(A) Individual creativity
(B) Communal tradition
(C) Authorial literature
(D) Canonical text
Correct Answer: B
Q38. Folklore exists most strongly in
(A) Literate societies only
(B) Both literate and non-literate societies
(C) Urban elites
(D) Academic institutions
Correct Answer: B
Q39. Folklore studies emerged as a discipline in the
(A) 17th century
(B) 18th century
(C) 19th century
(D) 20th century
Correct Answer: C
Q40. The term “lore” in folklore refers to
(A) Law
(B) Learning or knowledge
(C) Literature
(D) Language
Correct Answer: B
Q41. Folk traditions are often linked to
(A) Daily life and social practices
(B) Court culture
(C) Written literature
(D) Classical education
Correct Answer: A
Q42. Folklore differs from popular culture because folklore is
(A) Mass-produced
(B) Community-based
(C) Commercial
(D) Media-driven
Correct Answer: B
Q43. Folklore is best preserved through
(A) Museums only
(B) Continued practice
(C) Written documentation
(D) Digital storage
Correct Answer: B
Q44. The collective nature of folklore emphasizes
(A) Individual genius
(B) Shared creativity
(C) Authorial ownership
(D) Literary hierarchy
Correct Answer: B
Q45. Folklore reflects
(A) Elite worldview
(B) Community values and beliefs
(C) State ideology
(D) Canonical authority
Correct Answer: B
Q46. Folk traditions often change because of
(A) Forgetfulness
(B) Social and cultural change
(C) Lack of discipline
(D) Poor memory
Correct Answer: B
Q47. The survival of folklore depends on
(A) Institutional support
(B) Community participation
(C) Written records
(D) Legal protection
Correct Answer: B
Q48. Folklore is best studied using
(A) Literary criticism alone
(B) Interdisciplinary approaches
(C) Structural linguistics only
(D) Archival research only
Correct Answer: B
Q49. Folk narratives are usually shaped by
(A) Official ideology
(B) Collective experience
(C) Individual authorship
(D) Written law
Correct Answer: B
Q50. The continuing relevance of folklore shows that it is
(A) Obsolete
(B) Dynamic and adaptive
(C) Fixed and static
(D) Declining
Correct Answer: B
Q51. Folklore often serves as
(A) Legal record
(B) Cultural memory
(C) Scientific explanation
(D) Written archive
Correct Answer: B
Q52. Folk traditions are usually passed down through
(A) Formal institutions
(B) Generations
(C) Schools
(D) Libraries
Correct Answer: B
Q53. Folklore allows communities to
(A) Preserve identity
(B) Eliminate difference
(C) Standardize culture
(D) Reject tradition
Correct Answer: A
Q54. Folk practices are usually
(A) Codified
(B) Informal and flexible
(C) Legally binding
(D) Written
Correct Answer: B
Q55. Folklore helps people make sense of
(A) Abstract theory
(B) Everyday life
(C) Scientific data
(D) Legal systems
Correct Answer: B
Q56. The adaptability of folklore indicates
(A) Weakness
(B) Cultural vitality
(C) Lack of structure
(D) Decline
Correct Answer: B
Q57. Folk traditions are often associated with
(A) Ritual and performance
(B) Written examination
(C) Institutional authority
(D) Canon formation
Correct Answer: A
Q58. Folklore is most accurately described as
(A) Written heritage
(B) Living tradition
(C) Static culture
(D) Elite literature
Correct Answer: B
Q59. The study of folklore values
(A) Fixity
(B) Variation and context
(C) Standardization
(D) Canonization
Correct Answer: B
Q60. Folklore is created and sustained through
(A) Performance
(B) Publication
(C) Archiving
(D) Translation
Correct Answer: A
Q61. Folk traditions often carry
(A) Scientific knowledge
(B) Moral and social values
(C) Legal authority
(D) Political ideology
Correct Answer: B
Q62. Folklore contributes to social cohesion by
(A) Enforcing rules
(B) Sharing common meanings
(C) Eliminating diversity
(D) Creating hierarchy
Correct Answer: B
Q63. Folk culture includes
(A) Only verbal forms
(B) Verbal, material, and customary forms
(C) Written texts only
(D) Classical arts
Correct Answer: B
Q64. The flexibility of folklore allows it to
(A) Become obsolete
(B) Remain meaningful
(C) Lose authenticity
(D) Be standardized
Correct Answer: B
Q65. Folklore is best understood as
(A) Inferior culture
(B) Community knowledge system
(C) Written literature
(D) Elite discourse
Correct Answer: B
Q66. The performance of folklore often involves
(A) Audience participation
(B) Silent reading
(C) Fixed scripts
(D) Institutional approval
Correct Answer: A
Q67. Folklore is closely tied to
(A) Social relationships
(B) Literary canon
(C) State authority
(D) Formal education
Correct Answer: A
Q68. Folk traditions are usually learned through
(A) Observation
(B) Participation
(C) Informal teaching
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q69. Folklore helps transmit
(A) Laws
(B) Cultural knowledge
(C) Scientific theory
(D) Literary criticism
Correct Answer: B
Q70. The study of folklore emphasizes
(A) Text alone
(B) Context and use
(C) Canon formation
(D) Structural purity
Correct Answer: B
Q71. Folk traditions are often embedded in
(A) Daily routines
(B) Legal systems
(C) Formal institutions
(D) Written documents
Correct Answer: A
Q72. Folklore can exist in modern societies because it
(A) Rejects change
(B) Adapts to new contexts
(C) Is written
(D) Is institutionalized
Correct Answer: B
Q73. Folklore studies recognize culture as
(A) Fixed
(B) Processual
(C) Hierarchical
(D) Canonical
Correct Answer: B
Q74. The communal aspect of folklore emphasizes
(A) Individual achievement
(B) Shared experience
(C) Authorial control
(D) Written authority
Correct Answer: B
Q75. Folklore is often linked with
(A) Memory and identity
(B) Legal systems
(C) Scientific reasoning
(D) Formal education
Correct Answer: A
Q76. Folk traditions can include
(A) New practices
(B) Adapted customs
(C) Old beliefs
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q77. Folklore survives because it is
(A) Relevant to people’s lives
(B) Archived
(C) Written
(D) Institutionalized
Correct Answer: A
Q78. Folk traditions often provide
(A) Entertainment and meaning
(B) Legal authority
(C) Scientific explanation
(D) Historical accuracy
Correct Answer: A
Q79. The oral nature of folklore allows for
(A) Rigidity
(B) Creativity
(C) Fixity
(D) Canonization
Correct Answer: B
Q80. Folklore is best preserved through
(A) Continuous practice
(B) Formal documentation
(C) Canon formation
(D) Institutional control
Correct Answer: A
Q81. Folklore plays a role in shaping
(A) Cultural identity
(B) Legal codes
(C) Literary hierarchy
(D) Scientific method
Correct Answer: A
Q82. Folk traditions are shaped by
(A) Collective experience
(B) Social interaction
(C) Cultural context
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q83. Folklore often reflects
(A) Everyday concerns
(B) Elite ideology
(C) Canonical authority
(D) Institutional power
Correct Answer: A
Q84. Folk culture emphasizes
(A) Participation
(B) Formality
(C) Written authority
(D) Standardization
Correct Answer: A
Q85. The study of folklore helps understand
(A) Grassroots culture
(B) Elite literature
(C) Political systems
(D) Scientific knowledge
Correct Answer: A
Q86. Folklore often encodes
(A) Practical knowledge
(B) Social norms
(C) Cultural values
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q87. Folk traditions often change because they are
(A) Weak
(B) Embedded in living communities
(C) Written
(D) Institutionalized
Correct Answer: B
Q88. Folklore is a key source for understanding
(A) Popular belief systems
(B) Literary canon
(C) State ideology
(D) Scientific theory
Correct Answer: A
Q89. Folk traditions usually emphasize
(A) Collective memory
(B) Individual authorship
(C) Written authority
(D) Canon formation
Correct Answer: A
Q90. Folklore studies highlight the importance of
(A) Context
(B) Performance
(C) Community
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q91. Folk traditions often survive by
(A) Adapting to change
(B) Remaining static
(C) Being written
(D) Institutionalization
Correct Answer: A
Q92. Folklore is best understood as
(A) A static body of texts
(B) A living cultural process
(C) A written archive
(D) A literary canon
Correct Answer: B
Q93. Folk culture reflects
(A) Lived experience
(B) Official ideology
(C) Canonical authority
(D) Scientific abstraction
Correct Answer: A
Q94. The study of folklore emphasizes
(A) Community participation
(B) Written documentation
(C) Canon formation
(D) Institutional control
Correct Answer: A
Q95. Folk traditions often express
(A) Shared values
(B) Collective identity
(C) Cultural memory
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q96. Folklore allows communities to
(A) Maintain continuity
(B) Adapt to change
(C) Express identity
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q97. Folk traditions are often shaped by
(A) Social needs
(B) Cultural contexts
(C) Historical experiences
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q98. Folklore studies reject the idea that folklore is
(A) Dynamic
(B) Living
(C) Static and unchanging
(D) Contextual
Correct Answer: C
Q99. The continued study of folklore is important because it
(A) Preserves cultural diversity
(B) Documents living traditions
(C) Supports community identity
(D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Q100. Unit 1 of the syllabus primarily introduces
(A) Fieldwork methods
(B) Indian folk traditions
(C) Basic concepts and nature of folklore
(D) Comparative folklore Correct Answer: C