UGC NET Folk Literature Paper II | Code 71
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For Students Preparing for UGC NET Folk Literature. Jan 3, 2026
Syllabus of UGC NET Folk Literature (Paper 2)
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TEST YOUR BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF FOLKLORE
(111 objective-type questions; answers provided at the end of the page)
Jump to: Sections | Answer Key
SECTION A: ORIGIN AND MEANING OF FOLKLORE
Q1. The term “folklore” was coined by
(A) Andrew Lang
(B) E. B. Tylor
(C) William John Thoms
(D) Franz Boas
Q2. The term “folklore” was first used in the year
(A) 1846
(B) 1856
(C) 1865
(D) 1878
Q3. “Folklore” literally means
(A) Knowledge of elites
(B) Knowledge of the people
(C) Ancient literature
(D) Primitive belief
Q4. Before the term “folklore,” such materials were referred to as
(A) Popular antiquities
(B) Mythology
(C) Oral literature
(D) Cultural history
Q5. Folklore primarily belongs to
(A) Written tradition
(B) Oral tradition
(C) Digital culture
(D) Canonical literature
Q6. Folklore is best defined as
(A) Ancient written texts
(B) Elite cultural expression
(C) Traditional knowledge shared by a group
(D) Modern popular culture
Q7. The word “folk” in folklore refers to
(A) Rural peasants only
(B) Illiterate communities
(C) Any group sharing common traditions
(D) Tribal societies alone
Q8. Folklore is mainly transmitted through
(A) Printing
(B) Formal education
(C) Oral communication
(D) Digital media
Q9. Folklore is generally characterized by
(A) Individual authorship
(B) Collective creation
(C) Copyright ownership
(D) Written documentation
Q10. Folklore changes over time through
(A) Fixity
(B) Stagnation
(C) Variation
(D) Canonization
Q11. Variation in folklore refers to
(A) Errors in transmission
(B) Intentional distortion
(C) Natural change in retelling
(D) Loss of authenticity
Q12. Folklore exists most authentically in
(A) Archives
(B) Museums
(C) Performance
(D) Books
Q13. The anonymous nature of folklore suggests
(A) Lack of creativity
(B) Collective ownership
(C) Inferior art
(D) Primitive thinking
Q14. Which of the following is NOT a feature of folklore?
(A) Orality
(B) Tradition
(C) Fixity
(D) Variation
Q15. Folklore primarily reflects
(A) Elite ideology
(B) Religious doctrine
(C) Everyday life of people
(D) Government policies
Q16. The study of folklore focuses on
(A) Literary aesthetics only
(B) Cultural expressions of people
(C) Written historical records
(D) Scientific facts
Q17. Folklore is closely linked with
(A) Formal institutions
(B) Community life
(C) Industrial production
(D) Legal systems
Q18. The transmission of folklore is usually
(A) Vertical and written
(B) Informal and oral
(C) Institutional and rigid
(D) Individual and fixed
Q19. Which of the following best describes folklore?
(A) Static tradition
(B) Living tradition
(C) Dead culture
(D) Archived knowledge
Q20. Folklore includes which of the following?
(A) Myths and legends
(B) Folk songs and tales
(C) Customs and beliefs
(D) All of the above
Q21. Folklore mainly functions to
(A) Entertain elites
(B) Preserve social values
(C) Promote individualism
(D) Standardize culture
Q22. Folklore is studied today as
(A) Superstition
(B) Primitive literature
(C) Cultural expression
(D) Historical error
Q23. The concept of folklore challenges the idea that
(A) Culture is collective
(B) Culture belongs only to elites
(C) Tradition evolves
(D) Oral forms matter
Q24. Folklore is best understood as
(A) Static relic
(B) Cultural fossil
(C) Dynamic process
(D) Written heritage
Q25. Folklore studies emphasize
(A) Text alone
(B) Context and performance
(C) Author biography
(D) Literary criticism only
SECTION B: DEVELOPMENT OF FOLKLORE STUDIES
Q26. Folklore studies emerged as a discipline in the
(A) 17th century
(B) 18th century
(C) 19th century
(D) 20th century
Q27. Early folklore studies were closely connected with
(A) Nationalism
(B) Industrialization
(C) Colonial administration
(D) Digital culture
Q28. The collection of folklore was initially motivated by
(A) Academic curiosity
(B) Fear of cultural loss
(C) Religious reform
(D) Political propaganda
Q29. Early folklorists believed folklore was
(A) Modern invention
(B) Corrupted tradition
(C) Survival of ancient culture
(D) Elite literature
Q30. The “survivals” theory is associated with
(A) Functionalism
(B) Evolutionism
(C) Structuralism
(D) Performance theory
Q31. Evolutionary folklorists believed culture
(A) Declines over time
(B) Remains unchanged
(C) Progresses from primitive to civilized
(D) Is cyclical
Q32. Diffusionist theory focuses on
(A) Independent invention
(B) Cultural borrowing
(C) Psychological symbolism
(D) Social function
Q33. The historical–geographical method emphasizes
(A) Performance context
(B) Textual comparison
(C) Audience response
(D) Ritual meaning
Q34. Early folklore studies often ignored
(A) Texts
(B) Context
(C) Motifs
(D) Classification
Q35. Folklore collections in the 19th century were mainly
(A) Audio recordings
(B) Written transcriptions
(C) Digital archives
(D) Visual documentation
Q36. Romanticism influenced folklore studies by valuing
(A) Industrial progress
(B) Popular traditions
(C) Scientific rationalism
(D) Urban culture
Q37. Folklore was initially studied as
(A) Living culture
(B) Performance art
(C) Textual artifact
(D) Digital content
Q38. The shift toward studying folklore as performance occurred in the
(A) 19th century
(B) Early 20th century
(C) Mid-20th century
(D) 21st century
Q39. Modern folklore studies emphasize
(A) Fixity
(B) Authorship
(C) Context
(D) Canon
Q40. The term “folkloristics” refers to
(A) Collection of tales
(B) Study of folklore as a discipline
(C) Performance of folklore
(D) Archiving folklore
Q41. Folklore studies intersect with
(A) Anthropology
(B) Sociology
(C) Literature
(D) All of the above
Q42. The professionalization of folklore studies occurred mainly in
(A) Universities
(B) Museums
(C) Courts
(D) Religious institutions
Q43. Modern folklorists reject the idea that folklore is
(A) Living
(B) Dynamic
(C) Primitive residue
(D) Socially meaningful
Q44. Folklore is now seen as
(A) Cultural error
(B) Cultural expression
(C) Obsolete knowledge
(D) Superstition
Q45. Contemporary folklore studies focus on
(A) Rural societies only
(B) Oral traditions only
(C) Both rural and urban traditions
(D) Written literature only
Q46. Folklore can exist in
(A) Traditional societies only
(B) Modern societies only
(C) Both traditional and modern societies
(D) Prehistoric societies only
Q47. Folklore today includes
(A) Internet memes
(B) Urban legends
(C) Workplace humor
(D) All of the above
Q48. The study of folklore today emphasizes
(A) Preservation alone
(B) Interpretation and meaning
(C) Textual purity
(D) Historical accuracy only
Q49. Folklore scholarship now recognizes
(A) Single origins
(B) Multiple meanings
(C) Fixed texts
(D) Canonical versions
Q50. Folklore studies moved away from evolutionism because it was
(A) Too scientific
(B) Ethnocentric
(C) Too detailed
(D) Inaccurate linguistically
SECTION C: KEY SCHOLARS AND CONCEPTS
Q51. William John Thoms introduced the term “folklore” in
(A) A book
(B) A lecture
(C) A journal article
(D) A letter to a magazine
Q52. The letter coining the term “folklore” was published in
(A) Folk-Lore Record
(B) The Athenaeum
(C) Journal of American Folklore
(D) Notes and Queries
Q53. E. B. Tylor is best known in folklore studies for the concept of
(A) Diffusion
(B) Structuralism
(C) Survivals
(D) Performance
Q54. Andrew Lang contributed to folklore studies primarily through
(A) Structural analysis
(B) Comparative mythology
(C) Functionalism
(D) Performance theory
Q55. Franz Boas emphasized the importance of
(A) Universal laws
(B) Evolutionary stages
(C) Cultural particularism
(D) Literary aesthetics
Q56. The Grimm Brothers are best known for
(A) Collecting fairy tales
(B) Performance studies
(C) Linguistic anthropology
(D) Ritual theory
Q57. The Grimm Brothers’ work was influenced by
(A) Romantic nationalism
(B) Colonial administration
(C) Industrial sociology
(D) Modernism
Q58. Stith Thompson is associated with
(A) Structuralism
(B) Motif-indexing
(C) Functionalism
(D) Performance theory
Q59. The Motif-Index of Folk-Literature helps scholars to
(A) Analyze performance
(B) Classify narrative elements
(C) Study audience response
(D) Preserve recordings
Q60. Antti Aarne is associated with
(A) Performance theory
(B) Tale-type classification
(C) Structuralism
(D) Diffusion theory
Q61. The Aarne–Thompson classification system deals primarily with
(A) Folk songs
(B) Myths
(C) Folktales
(D) Proverbs
Q62. Vladimir Propp’s contribution to folklore studies lies in
(A) Diffusion theory
(B) Structural analysis of folktales
(C) Performance studies
(D) Functionalism
Q63. Morphology of the Folktale focuses on
(A) Historical origins
(B) Narrative structure
(C) Ritual context
(D) Audience interpretation
Q64. Propp identified
(A) Tale-types
(B) Motifs
(C) Functions of characters
(D) Performance frames
Q65. Alan Dundes emphasized folklore as
(A) Text
(B) Artifact
(C) Process and performance
(D) Archival material
Q66. Dundes defined folklore as
(A) Oral literature only
(B) Ancient tradition
(C) Autobiographical expression
(D) A mirror of culture
Q67. Richard Bauman is associated with
(A) Evolutionism
(B) Structuralism
(C) Performance theory
(D) Diffusionism
Q68. The concept of “performance” highlights
(A) Textual purity
(B) Fixity of tradition
(C) Context and interaction
(D) Historical origins
Q69. Folklore performance involves
(A) Performer only
(B) Text only
(C) Audience only
(D) Performer, audience, and context
Q70. Dell Hymes contributed through
(A) Ethnography of speaking
(B) Motif indexing
(C) Tale-type theory
(D) Evolutionism
Q71. The ethnography of speaking focuses on
(A) Written language
(B) Linguistic rules only
(C) Language use in social context
(D) Literary criticism
Q72. Which scholar emphasized folklore as communication?
(A) Stith Thompson
(B) Dell Hymes
(C) Antti Aarne
(D) Andrew Lang
Q73. Modern folklorists view folklore as
(A) Static relic
(B) Cultural fossil
(C) Dynamic social process
(D) Primitive survival
Q74. The shift from text to context marked
(A) Early folklore studies
(B) Romantic nationalism
(C) Contemporary folklore studies
(D) Diffusionism
Q75. The study of folklore today is best described as
(A) Purely literary
(B) Purely anthropological
(C) Interdisciplinary
(D) Antiquarian
SECTION D: SCHOOLS AND APPROACHES
Q76. The evolutionary approach to folklore is associated with
(A) Functionalism
(B) Structuralism
(C) E. B. Tylor
(D) Richard Bauman
Q77. Diffusionism focuses on
(A) Independent invention
(B) Cultural borrowing
(C) Ritual performance
(D) Psychological symbolism
Q78. The historical–geographical method is also known as
(A) Finnish method
(B) Russian formalism
(C) Structural analysis
(D) Performance theory
Q79. Functionalism studies folklore in relation to
(A) Origins
(B) Structure
(C) Social function
(D) Textual variation
Q80. Bronislaw Malinowski emphasized
(A) Survivals
(B) Functions of cultural practices
(C) Structural patterns
(D) Narrative motifs
Q81. Structuralism in folklore studies focuses on
(A) Historical development
(B) Social function
(C) Underlying structures
(D) Performance context
Q82. Structuralist analysis was influenced by
(A) Freud
(B) Durkheim
(C) Saussure
(D) Marx
Q83. Psychoanalytic approaches interpret folklore as expressions of
(A) Social norms
(B) Collective unconscious
(C) Economic relations
(D) Political ideology
Q84. Performance theory emphasizes
(A) Text preservation
(B) Audience interaction
(C) Historical origin
(D) Written form
Q85. Contextual approaches stress the importance of
(A) Author biography
(B) Performance situation
(C) Textual purity
(D) Historical accuracy
Q86. Comparative folklore primarily involves
(A) Ranking cultures
(B) Comparing motifs and tales
(C) Eliminating differences
(D) Canon formation
Q87. A major criticism of early comparative folklore is that it
(A) Ignored texts
(B) Ignored context
(C) Lacked data
(D) Was too modern
Q88. Modern folklore studies seek to balance
(A) Text and context
(B) Myth and ritual
(C) Oral and written
(D) Theory and practice
Q89. Which approach treats folklore as communication?
(A) Evolutionism
(B) Diffusionism
(C) Performance theory
(D) Antiquarianism
Q90. Feminist folklore studies focus on
(A) Elite traditions
(B) Male-centered narratives
(C) Women’s voices and experiences
(D) Textual classification
Q91. Marxist approaches to folklore examine
(A) Aesthetics
(B) Class relations
(C) Linguistic structure
(D) Performance style
Q92. Folklore studies today reject
(A) Interdisciplinarity
(B) Contextual analysis
(C) Ethnocentrism
(D) Performance theory
Q93. Postmodern approaches view folklore as
(A) Fixed tradition
(B) Authorless text
(C) Multiple and contested meanings
(D) Pure survival
Q94. Contemporary folklore studies emphasize
(A) Collection only
(B) Archiving only
(C) Interpretation and meaning
(D) Canon formation
Q95. The study of folklore today includes
(A) Oral traditions only
(B) Rural cultures only
(C) Everyday expressive culture
(D) Written literature only
SECTION E: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDINGS
Q96. Modern folklore studies recognize folklore as
(A) Obsolete
(B) Static
(C) Dynamic and adaptive
(D) Primitive
Q97. Folklore can exist in
(A) Pre-literate societies only
(B) Rural societies only
(C) Urban and digital contexts
(D) Historical societies only
Q98. Urban legends are considered
(A) False history
(B) Modern folklore
(C) Literary fiction
(D) Mythology
Q99. Internet memes can be studied as
(A) Popular culture only
(B) Digital folklore
(C) Mass media
(D) Written literature
Q100. Contemporary folklore studies often intersect with
(A) Media studies
(B) Cultural studies
(C) Anthropology
(D) All of the above
Q101. Folklore today is viewed as a means of
(A) Cultural resistance
(B) Cultural expression
(C) Identity formation
(D) All of the above
Q102. The concept of “folk group” today includes
(A) Only rural communities
(B) Only ethnic groups
(C) Any group sharing traditions
(D) Only tribal societies
Q103. Contemporary folklorists emphasize
(A) Fixity
(B) Canon
(C) Creativity within tradition
(D) Decline of folklore
Q104. Folklore is now studied as
(A) Error
(B) Superstition
(C) Cultural knowledge system
(D) Primitive belief
Q105. Modern folklore studies challenge the binary of
(A) Oral vs written
(B) Rural vs urban
(C) Tradition vs modernity
(D) All of the above
Q106. Folklore continues to exist because it
(A) Is preserved in archives
(B) Is fixed in form
(C) Adapts to changing contexts
(D) Is protected by law
Q107. The study of folklore today is concerned with
(A) Loss only
(B) Preservation only
(C) Continuity and change
(D) Historical accuracy only
Q108. Contemporary folklore studies recognize the importance of
(A) Performer agency
(B) Audience interpretation
(C) Social context
(D) All of the above
Q109. Folklore scholarship today values
(A) Objectivity only
(B) Multiple perspectives
(C) Single interpretations
(D) Canonical versions
Q110. The relevance of folklore studies today lies in understanding
(A) Ancient texts only
(B) Modern social life
(C) Elite culture
(D) Historical errors
Q111. Folklore studies today aim to
(A) Eliminate tradition
(B) Freeze culture
(C) Understand human creativity
(D) Standardize narratives
▶ View Answer Key (click to expand)
Section A: Origin and Meaning of Folklore (Q1–Q25)
Q1–C, Q2–A, Q3–B, Q4–A, Q5–B,
Q6–C, Q7–C, Q8–C, Q9–B, Q10–C,
Q11–C, Q12–C, Q13–B, Q14–C, Q15–C,
Q16–B, Q17–B, Q18–B, Q19–B, Q20–D,
Q21–B, Q22–C, Q23–B, Q24–C, Q25–B
Section B: Development of Folklore Studies (Q26–Q50)
Q26–C, Q27–A, Q28–B, Q29–C, Q30–B,
Q31–C, Q32–B, Q33–B, Q34–B, Q35–B,
Q36–B, Q37–C, Q38–C, Q39–C, Q40–B,
Q41–D, Q42–A, Q43–C, Q44–B, Q45–C,
Q46–C, Q47–D, Q48–B, Q49–B, Q50–B
Section C: Key Scholars and Concepts (Q51–Q75)
Q51–D, Q52–B, Q53–C, Q54–B, Q55–C,
Q56–A, Q57–A, Q58–B, Q59–B, Q60–B,
Q61–C, Q62–B, Q63–B, Q64–C, Q65–C,
Q66–D, Q67–C, Q68–C, Q69–D, Q70–A,
Q71–C, Q72–B, Q73–C, Q74–C, Q75–C
Section D: Schools and Approaches (Q76–Q95)
Q76–C, Q77–B, Q78–A, Q79–C, Q80–B,
Q81–C, Q82–C, Q83–B, Q84–B, Q85–B,
Q86–B, Q87–B, Q88–A, Q89–C, Q90–C,
Q91–B, Q92–C, Q93–C, Q94–C, Q95–C
Section E: Modern and Contemporary Understandings (Q96–Q111)
Q96–C, Q97–C, Q98–B, Q99–B, Q100–D,
Q101–D, Q102–C, Q103–C, Q104–C, Q105–D,
Q106–C, Q107–C, Q108–D, Q109–B, Q110–B,
Q111–C