Chapter 11 revieW Cards - Cengage...to Kate choPin, “the Story of an hour” (p. 115) 1. The...

Chapter 11 revieW Cards



Chapter 11 revieW Cardsr e a d i n g a n d r e aC t i n g

to Ben Katchor, “the Goner Pillow company” (p. 113)

1. Whatactuallyhappensduringthecourseof“TheGonerPillowCompany”?Howmuchtimedoyouthinkgoesbyfromfirstpaneltolast?

2. Inwhatsensedoesthefirstpanelofthestoryprovideexposition?Doesthestoryincludeanyforeshadowing?Doesitincludeanyflashbacks?

3. Inpanels7–9,thenarratorposesaseriesofquestions.Howdotheillustrationsanswerthesequestions?Howdoespanel10answerthequestions?

4. HowarethemembersoftheGonerfamilydifferentintermsoftheirattitudetoward“thehomeentertainmentindustry”?Whichfamilymember’sattitudeismostlikeyourown?

r e a d i n g a n d r e aC t i n g

to Kate choPin, “the Story of an hour”(p. 115)

1. Thestory’sbasicexpositionispresentedinitsfirsttwoparagraphs.Whatadditionalinformationaboutcharacterorsettingwouldyouliketoknow?WhydoyousupposeChopindoesnotsupplythisinformation?

2. “TheStoryofanHour”isaveryeconomicalstory,withlittleactionordialogue.Doyouseethiseconomyasastrengthoraweakness?Explain.

3. Whatisthenatureoftheconflictinthisstory?Who,orwhat,doyouseeasMrs.Mallard’santagonist?

4. Doyoufindthestory’sendingsatisfying?believable?contrived?Wasthestory’sendingunexpected,orwereyoupreparedforit?Whatelementsinthestoryforeshadowthisending?


to StePhen DoBynS, “Kansas” (p. 117)

1. Paragraph1presentsthestory’sexposition.Listthespecificinformationthisparagraphreveals.Howwilleachdetailbeimportantlaterinthestory?Areanydetailsunnecessary?Areanyimportantdetailsnotintroducedinparagraph1?

2. Whatspecificinformationarereaderstoldinthestory’sfirsttwenty-fiveparagraphsabouttheboy?thefarmer?thecoupleinthebluePlymouth?Isallthisinformationessentialtothestory’splot?Whatadditionalinformationmightyouwanttoknow?Why?

3. Thefirsttwenty-fiveparagraphspresentthestory’sbasicplot;then,thissectionofthestoryisfollowedbythreealternateversionsoftheboy’sexperience,eachbeginningwiththesentence“Theboywasstandingbythesideofadirtroad.”Howarethethreealternateversionsofeventssimilartoanddifferentfromtheboy’sstoryasitisfirstpresented?Whichversionismostsatisfying?mostlogical?mostbelievable?Explain.

4. Whatdoesthelastsentenceaddtothestory?


to William FaulKner, “a rose for emily” (p. 121)

1. Despitethestory’sconfusingsequence,manyeventsareforeshadowed.Givesomeexamplesofthistechnique.Howdoesforeshadowingenrichthestory?

2. Wheredoestheexpositionendandthemovementtowardthestory’sclimaxbegin?Wheredoestheresolutionstagebegin?

3. Emilyisclearlythestory’sprotagonist.Inthesensethatheopposesherwishes,Homeristheantagonist.Whatothercharacters—orwhatlargerforces—areinconflictwithEmily?

4. Thenarratorofthestoryisanobserver,notaparticipant.Whomightthisnarratorbe?Doyouthinkthenarratorismaleorfemale?HowdoyousupposethenarratormightknowsomuchaboutEmily?WhydoyouthinkthenarratorusesweinsteadofI?

7315_Kirszner_Review_Cards.indd 1 12/9/10 3:36 PM

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Chapter 11 CheCklistfor Ben Katchor, “the Goner Pillow company” (p. 113)

Chapter 11 CheCklistfor Kate choPin, “the Story of an hour”(p. 115)

Chapter 11 CheCklistfor William FaulKner, “a rose for emily” (p. 121)

Chapter 11 CheCklistfor StePhen DoBynS, “Kansas” (p. 117)

Writing about plot

Whatdoreaderslearnaboutcharactersinthestory’sexpositionsection?Whatdoreaderslearnaboutsetting?Whatpossibleconflictsaresuggestedhere?

Whatisthestory’scentralconflict?Whatotherconflictsarepresented?Whoistheprotagonist?Who(orwhat)servesastheantagonist?

Howisthestory’scentralconflictresolved?Isthisresolutionplausible?satisfying?

Whichpartofthestoryconstitutestheresolution?Doanyproblemsremainunresolved?Doesanyuncertaintyremain?Ifso,doesthisuncertaintystrengthenorweakenthestory?Wouldanotherendingbemoreeffective?

Writing about plot

Whathappensinthestory?

Identifythestory’scrisisorcrises.

Identifythestory’sclimax.

Howarethestory’seventsarranged?Aretheypresentedinchronologi-calorder?Whateventsarepresentedoutoflogicalsequence?Arethecausalconnectionsbetweeneventsclear?logical?Ifnot,canyouexplainwhy?

Writing about plot

Whathappensinthestory?


Identifythestory’scrisisorcrises.

Howarethestory’seventsarranged?Aretheypresentedinchronologi-calorder?Whateventsarepresentedoutoflogicalsequence?Arethecausalconnectionsbetweeneventsclear?logical?Ifnot,canyouexplainwhy?

Writing about plot


Whatisthestory’scentralconflict?Whatotherconflictsarepresented?Whoistheprotagonist?Who(orwhat)servesastheantagonist?

Whichpartofthestoryconstitutestheresolution?Doanyproblemsremainunresolved?Doesanyuncertaintyremain?Ifso,doesthisuncertaintystrengthenorweakenthestory?Wouldanotherendingbemoreeffective?

Howarethestory’seventsarranged?Aretheypresentedinchronologicalorder?Whateventsarepresentedoutoflogicalsequence?Doesthestoryuseforeshadowing?flashbacks?Arethecausalconnectionsbetweeneventsclear?logical?Ifnot,canyouexplainwhy?





Chapter 12 revieW Cardsreading a n d reaCting

to art SPieGelman, “eye Ball” (p. 130)

1. Accordingtothenarratorof“EyeBall,”whatarethemajortraitscartoonistsmustpossess?Howarethesetraitsinconflictwiththecharacteristicsofatypical“boyin1950sAmerica”?

2. Thisgraphicstoryislimitedtotwosettings,theballfieldandthelibrary.Arethesetwosettingssufficienttoillustratethenarrator’smajorproblem,orwouldothersettingsbehelpful?

3. ThelastpanelalludestoFranzKafka’s“TheMetamorphosis,”anovellainwhichanalienatedofficeworkerturnsovernightintoalargebug.Whatdoyouthinkthenarratormeansbyhisfinalcomment?

reading a n d reaCting

to John uPDiKe, “a&P” (p. 131)

1. SummarizetheinformationSammygivesreadersabouthistastesandbackground.Whyisthisexpositionvitaltothestory’sdevelopment?

2. ListsomeofthemostobviousphysicalcharacteristicsoftheA&P’scustomers.HowdothesecharacteristicsmakethemfoilsforQueenieandherfriends?

3. HowaccurateareSammy’sjudgmentsabouttheothercharacters?HowmightthecharactersbeportrayedifthestoryweretoldbyLengel?

4. GivenwhatyoulearnaboutSammyduringthecourseofthestory,whatdoyouseeashisprimarymotivationforquittinghisjob?Whatotherfactorsmotivatehim?


to Katherine manSFielD, “miss Brill” (p. 135)

1. WhatspecificdetailscanyouinferaboutMissBrill’scharacter(and,perhaps,aboutherlife)fromthisstatement:“Shehadbecomereallyquiteexpert,shethought,atlisteningasthoughshedidn’tlisten,atsittinginotherpeople’slivesjustforaminutewhiletheytalkedroundher”(par.3)?Whydoyousupposeshedoesn’tinteractwithanyofthepeoplesheobserves?

2. Inparagraph9,MissBrillrealizesthatthescenesheobservesis“exactlylikeaplay”andthat“EvenshehadapartandcameeverySunday.”WhatpartdoesMissBrillplay?Issheastockcharacterinthisplay,orissheathree-dimensionalcharacter?Doessheplayaleadroleorasupportingrole?

3. WhatdoyouthinkMissBrillmeanswhenshesays,“Ihavebeenanactressforalongtime”(par.9)?Whatdoesthiscommentrevealabouthowsheseesherself?Isherviewofherselfsimilartoordifferentfromtheviewtheothercharactershaveofher?

4. Attheendofthestory,hasMissBrillchangedasaresultofwhatshehasoverheard,orisshethesamepersonshewasatthebeginning?DoyouthinkshewillreturntotheparkthefollowingSunday?


to charleS BaXter, “Gryphon” (p. 138)

1. DescribeMissFerenczi’sphysicalappearance.Whyisherappearanceimportanttothestory?Howdoesitchangeasthestoryprogresses?

2. HowisMissFerenczidifferentfromotherteachers?fromothersubstituteteachers?fromotherpeopleingeneral?Howisherdifferentnesscommunicatedtoherpupils?tothestory’sreaders?

3. IsMissFerencziaroundoraflatcharacter?Explain.

4. WhydoesthenarratordefendMissFerenczi,firstinhisargumentwithCarlWhitesideandlaterontheplayground?WhatdoeshisattitudetowardMissFerenczirevealabouthisowncharacter?


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Chapter 12 CheCklistfor art SPieGelman, “eye Ball” (p. 130)

Chapter 12 CheCklistfor Katherine manSFielD, “miss Brill” (p. 135)

Chapter 12 CheCklistfor John uPDiKe, “a&P” (p. 131)

Chapter 12 CheCklistfor charleS BaXter, “Gryphon” (p. 138)

Writing about a CharaCter

Whatdoesthemajorcharacterlooklike?Ishisphysicalappear-anceimportant?

Whatisthemajorcharacter’smostnotablepersonalitytraits?

Whatarethemaincharacter’smoststronglyheldfeelingsandbeliefs?

Whatarewetoldaboutthemajorcharacter’sbackgroundandpriorexperiences?Whatcanweinfer?


Whatarethemajorcharacters’mostnotablepersonalitytraits?

Arethecharactersroundorflat?

Arethecharactersdynamicorstatic?

Doesthestoryincludeanystockcharacters?Doesanycharacterserveasafoil?


Whatarethemaincharacter’smoststronglyheldfeelingsandbeliefs?

Whatarewetoldaboutthemajorcharacters’backgroundsandpriorexperiences?Whatcanweinfer?


Withwhichcharactersarereaderslikelytobemostsympathetic?leastsympathetic?


Whatdothemajorcharacterslooklike?Istheirphysicalappearanceimportant?

Whatarethemajorcharacters’mostnotablepersonalitytraits?

Arethecharactersroundorflat?







to marJane SatraPi, from Persepolis (p. 151)

1. WhatspecificvisualelementsestablishthesettingofPersepolisasharshandrestrictiveforMarji?

2. Comparethefacialexpressionsofthe“guardiansoftherevolution”(especiallyinthefinalfourpanels)withMarji’s.Howaretheydifferent?InwhatotherrespectsdoesMarjilookdifferentfromthesewomen?

3. ThetwopanelsthatshowMarjipurchasingthetapesaretheonlyonesthathaveadarkbackground.DoyouthinkSatrapishouldhaveuseddarkbackgroundsinanyotherpanels?Whyorwhynot?


to Kate choPin, “the Storm” (p. 154)

1. Howdoestheweatherhelptocreatethestory’satmosphere?Howwouldyoucharacterizethisatmosphere?

2. InPartI,the“sombreclouds...rollingwithsinisterintention”introducethestorm.Inwhatsensedoesthisdescriptionintroducethestory’sactionaswell?

3. Inwhatwaysdoesthestormcausetheeventsofthestory?Listspecificeventsthatoccurbecauseofthestorm.Isthepresenceofthestormessentialtothestory?

4. Theweatheristhemostobviouselementofthestory’ssetting.Whatotheraspectsofsettingareimportanttothestory?


to Sherman J. aleXie, “this is What it means to Say Phoenix, arizona” (p. 157)

1. Inparagraph1,readersaretoldthatVictorlivesonanIndianreservation.Whatdetailselsewhereinthestoryestablishthissetting?Whatassociationsdoesthissettinghaveforyou?Doyouthinkthestorycouldtakeplaceanywhereelse?

2. Inadditiontovariouslocationsonthereservation,thestory’ssettingsincludeanairplane,atrailerinPhoenix,andaroadthroughNevada.Whatdoeseachofthesesettingscontributetothestory’splot?

3. Howwouldyoucharacterizethestory’smoodoratmosphere?HowdoThomas’sstorieshelptocreatethismood?Howdotheyhelptoestablishhischaracter?DoyouthinkAlexieshouldhaveincludedmoreofthesestories?

4. WhydoyousupposeVictorandThomascannotbefriendswhentheygetbacktothereservation?WhyaretheyabletobefriendswhentheyaretravelingtoPhoenix?


to tillie olSen, “i Stand here ironing” (p. 162)

1. “IStandHereIroning”focusesonincidentsthattookplaceinthe“pre-relief,pre-WPAworld”oftheDepression(par.9).Inlightofsocial,political,andeconomicchangesthathaveoccurredsincethe1930s,doyouthinktheeventsthestorypresentscouldoccurtoday?Explain.

2. Who,orwhat,doyoublameforthenarrator’sproblems?Forexample,doyoublameEmily’sfather?TheDepression?Thesocialinstitutionsand“experts”towhichthenarratorturns?

3. Doyouseethenarratorasavictimlimitedbythetimesinwhichshelives?DoyouagreewiththenarratorthatEmilyis“achildofherage,ofdepression,ofwar,offear”(par.55)?Ordoyoubelievebothwomenhavesomecontrolovertheirowndestinies,regardlessofthestory’shistoricalsetting?

4. Paragraph28describesthephysicalsettingoftheconvalescenthometowhichEmilywassent.Whatdoesthisdescriptionaddtothestory?WhydoyousupposethereisnophysicaldescriptionoftheapartmentinwhichEmilylivedasachild?Howdoyoupicturethisapartment?


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Chapter 13 CheCklistfor marJane SatraPi, from Persepolis (p. 151)

Chapter 13 CheCklistfor Kate choPin, “the Storm” (p. 154)

Chapter 13 CheCklistfor tillie olSen, “i Stand here ironing” (p. 162)

Chapter 13 CheCklistfor Sherman J. aleXie, “this is What it means to Say Phoenix, arizona” (p. 157)

Writing about setting

Inwhattimeperioddoesthestorytakeplace?Howcanyoutell?Whatsocial,political,oreconomicsituationsoreventsofthehistoricalperiodmightinfluencethestory?

Inwhatgeographicallocationisthestoryset?Isthislocationimportanttothestory?

Whatkindofatmosphereormooddoesthesettingcreate?Doestheatmosphereormoodchangeasthestoryprogresses?Isthischangesignificant?

Howdoesthesettinginfluencethecharacters?Doesitaffect(orreflect)theiremotionalstate?Doesithelptoexplaintheirmotivation?


Isthesettingjustbackground,orisitakeyforceinthestory?

Howdoesthesettinginfluencethestory’splot?Doesitcausecharacterstoact?

Whatroledoweatherconditionsplayinthestory?



Isthesettingspecifiedorunspecified?Isitfullydescribedoronlysuggested?

Areanycharactersinconflictwiththeirenvironment?

Inwhattimeperioddoesthestorytakeplace?Howcanyoutell?Whatsocial,political,oreconomicsituationsoreventsofthehistoricalperiodmightinfluencethestory?



Isthesettingjustbackground,orisitakeyforceinthestory?

Areanycharactersinconflictwiththeirenvironment?

Inwhatgeographicallocationisthestoryset?Isthislocationimportanttothestory?







to Shaun tan, from The Arrival (p. 174)

1. The Arrivalwaspublishedasabookforchildrenagestenandup.Inwhatrespectsdoesthisexcerptseemlikeastoryforchildren?Inwhatrespectsdoesitseemlikeastoryforadults?

2. The Arrivalhasnowrittentext.Doyouseethisabsenceofwordsasastrengthoraweakness?

3. Theexcerptprintedhere(liketheentirebook)mixesrealisticelementswithelementsoffantasy.Whatdothefantasyelementsrepresent?Whatdotheycontributetothestory?


to richarD WriGht, “Big Black Good man” (p. 184)

1. WhydoyousupposeWrightpresentseventsthroughOlaf’seyes?HowwouldthestorybedifferentifJimtoldit?

2. Thisstorywaspublishedin1957.WhatattitudesaboutracedoesWrightexpecthisAmericanreaderstohave?DotheseattitudespredisposereaderstoidentifywithJimorwithOlaf?Explain.

3. WhydoesOlafdislikeJim?Whatdoesthenarratormeaninparagraph24whenhesaysthatJim’s“intenseblacknessandungainlybigness...frightenedandinsultedOlaf”?

4. InwhatwaysdoJim’swordsandactionscontributetoOlaf’sfears?DoyouthinkOlaf’sreactionsarereasonable,ordoyoubelieveheisoverreacting?


to eDGar allan Poe, “the cask of amontillado” (p. 190)

1. Montresorcitesa“thousandinjuries”andan“insult”ashismotivationformurderingFortunato.Givenwhatyoulearnaboutthetwomenduringthecourseofthestory,whatdoyousupposethe“injuries”and“insult”mightbe?

2. DoyoufindMontresortobeareliablenarrator?Ifnot,whatmakesyouquestionhisversionofevents?

3. WhatisMontresor’sconceptofpersonalhonor?IsitconsistentorinconsistentwiththevaluesofcontemporaryAmericansociety?Howrelevantarethestory’sideasaboutrevengeandguilttopresent-daysociety?Explain.

4. WhydoesMontresorwaitfiftyyearstotellhisstory?Howmightthestorybedifferentifhehadtolditthemorningafterthemurder?


to William FaulKner, “Barn Burning” (p. 194)

1. Whatisthepointofviewoftheitalicizedpassages?Whatdoreaderslearnfromthem?Howwouldthestoryhavebeendifferentwithoutthesepassages?

2. “BarnBurning”includesagreatdealofdialogue.Howwouldyoucharacterizethelevelofdictionofthisdialogue?Whatinformationaboutvariouscharactersdoesitprovide?

3. Whatconflictsarepresentedin“BarnBurning”?Areanyoftheseconflictsavoidable?Which,ifany,areresolvedinthestory?Explain.

4. WhatroledoestheCivilWarplayin“BarnBurning”?WhatdoesAbnerSnopes’sbehaviorduringthewartellreadersabouthischaracter?


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Chapter 14 CheCklistfor Shaun tan, from The Arrival (p. 174)

Chapter 14 CheCklistfor richarD WriGht, “Big Black Good man” (p. 184)

Chapter 14 CheCklistfor William FaulKner, “Barn Burning” (p. 194)

Chapter 14 CheCklistfor eDGar allan Poe, “the cask of amontillado” (p. 190)

Writing about point of vieW

Whatisthedominantpointofviewfromwhichthestoryistold?

Doesthestory’spointofviewcreateirony?

Whataretheadvantagesofthestory’spointofview?Whatarethedisadvantages?

Doesthepointofviewremainconsistentthroughoutthestory,ordoesitshift?Howmightadifferentpointofviewchangethestory?




Isthestory’sthird-personnarratoromniscient?Doeshehavelimitedomniscience?Isthenarratorobjective?

Howmightadifferentpointofviewchangethestory?




Isthestory’sthird-personnarratoromniscient?Doeshehavelimitedomniscience?Isthenarratorobjective?

Doesthepointofviewremainconsistentthroughoutthestory,ordoesitshift?Howmightadifferentpointofviewchangethestory?



Isthenarratoracharacterinthestory?Ifso,isheaparticipantinthestory’seventsorjustawitness?

Whataretheadvantagesofthestory’spointofview?Whatarethedisadvantages?

Howmightadifferentpointofviewchangethestory?






to r. crumB, “a hunger artist” (p. 210)

1. Howisthestyle—particularlythelevelofdiction—usedforthenarrator’sboxedcommentsdifferentfromthestyleusedfordialogue?

2. Howwouldyoucharacterizethisstory’stone?Whatdothevisualelementscontributetothetone?

3. Considerthestory’svisualstyle.Howdovisualelements—forexample,thearrangementofimageswithinpanels,therelativesizeofthepeopledepicted,andtheuseofwhitespace—supportthestory’stheme?

4. Doyouseethehungerartistasamentallyillfanaticorasamanofhighprinciples?Inwhatsense,ifany,doyouseehimasan“artist”?Howishedifferentfromthecrowdsthatcometoseehim?


to JameS Joyce, “araby” (p. 220)

1. Howwouldyoucharacterizethestory’slevelofdiction?Isthislevelappropriateforastoryaboutayoungboy’sexperiences?Explain.

2. Identifyseveralfiguresofspeechinthestory.WhereisJoycemostlikelytousethiskindoflanguage?Why?

3. Whatwordsandphrasesexpresstheboy’sextremeidealismandromanticviewoftheworld?Howdoessuchlanguagehelptocommunicatethestory’smajortheme?

4. Howdoesthenarrator’schoiceofwordsillustratethecontrastbetweenhisday-to-daylifeandtheexoticpromiseofthebazaar?


to (mary) Flannery o’connor, “a Good man is hard to Find” (p. 224)

1. Howarethestyleandtoneofthenarrator’svoicedifferentfromthoseofthecharacters?What,ifanything,isthesignificanceofthisdifference?

2. Thefiguresofspeechusedinthisstorysometimescreateunflattering,evengrotesque,picturesofthecharacters.Findseveralexamplesofsuchnegativefiguresofspeech.WhydoyouthinkO’Connorusesthem?

3. Whatdoesthegrandmother’suseofthewordspickaninnyandniggerrevealabouther?Howarereadersexpectedtoreconcilethislanguagewithherveryproperappearanceandherpreoccupationwithmanners?Howdoesheruseofthesewordsaffectyourreactiontoher?

4. HowdoesTheMisfit’sdialectcharacterizehim?


to tim o’Brien, “the things they carried” (p. 232)

1. Althoughthesettingandtheeventsdescribedin“TheThingsTheyCarried”aredramaticandmoving,itstoneisoftenflatandemotionless.Givesomeexamples.Whydoyouthinkthenarratoradoptsthiskindoftone?

2. Astrikingcharacteristicofthestory’sstyleisitsthoroughcatalogsoftheconcrete,tangible“things”thesoldierscarry.Whydoyousupposesuchdetailedlistsareincluded?Whatdoeswhateachmancarriestellyouabouthim?Inalessliteral,moreabstractsense,whatelsedothesemen“carry”?

3. OnestylistictechniqueO’Brienusesisintentionalrepetition—ofphrases(“theycarried”);people’snamesandidentifyingdetails(Martha’svirginity,forexample);andpiecesofequipment.WhateffectdoyouthinkO’Brienhopestoachievethroughsuchrepetition?Ishesuccessful?

4. Interspersedamonglongparagraphscrammedwithdetailareshortone-ortwo-sentenceparagraphs.Whatfunctiondothesebriefparagraphsserve?


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Chapter 15 CheCklistfor r. crumB, “a hunger artist” (p. 210)

Chapter 15 CheCklistfor JameS Joyce, “araby” (p. 220)

Chapter 15 CheCklistfor tim o’Brien, “the things they carried” (p. 232)

Chapter 15 CheCklistfor (mary) Flannery o’connor, “a Good man is hard to Find” (p. 224)

Writing about style, tone, and language

Isthelevelofdictiongenerallyformal,informal,orsomewhereinbetween?

Whatkindofimagerypredominates?Where,andwhy,isimageryused?

Doesthestorydevelopapatternofimagery?Howdoesthispatternofimageryhelptoconveythestory’sthemes?

Doesthestorymakeanyhistorical,literary,orbiblicalallusions?Whatdotheseallusionscontributetothestory?


Doesthestyleemphasizethesoundandrhythmoflanguage?Forexample,doesthewriterusealliterationandassonance?repetitionandparallelism?Whatdosuchtechniquesaddtothestory?

Whatkindofimagerypredominates?Where,andwhy,isimageryused?

Dofiguresofspeechreinforcethestory’sthemes?revealinformationaboutcharacters?

Doesthestorymakeanyhistorical,literary,orreligiousallusions?Whatdotheseallusionscontributetothestory?


Doesthewritermakeanyunusualcreativeuseofwordchoice,wordorder,orsentencestructure?

Isthelevelofdictiongenerallyformal,informal,orsomewhereinbetween?

Isthereadifferencebetweenthestyleofthenarratorandthestyleofthecharacters’speech?Ifso,whatistheeffectofthisdifference?

Doanyofthestory’scharactersuseregionalisms,colloquiallanguage,ornonstandardspeech?Ifso,whateffectdoesthislanguagehave?


Doesthewritermakeanyunusualcreativeuseofwordchoice,wordorder,orsentencestructure?

Isthestory’stoneintimate?distant?ironic?Howdoesthetoneadvancethewriter’spurpose?

Doesthestyleemphasizethesoundandrhythmoflanguage?Forexample,doesthewriterusealliterationandassonance?repetitionandparallelism?Whatdosuchtechniquesaddtothestory?

Doesthestorymakeanyhistorical,literary,orbiblicalallusions?Whatdotheseallusionscontributetothestory?






to aliSon BechDel, from Fun Home (p. 246)

1. Thetitleofthisstory,Fun Home,isshortfor“funeralhome,”wherethewriterandhercharactergrewup.Inwhatsenseisthistitleironic?

2. Bechdeldescribesherfatherasa“Daedalusofdécor.”Whatdoesshemean?

3. BechdelsaysthatherfatherwasbothIcarusandDaedalus.Whatdoesthistellreadersaboutherfather?

4. Whatdothevisualimagesaddtothestory?Whatwouldbelostifyoudisregardedthepicturesandreadjustthenarrativeatthetopofeachframe?


to Shirley JacKSon, “the lottery” (p. 251)

1. “TheLottery”takesplaceinsummer,aconventionalsymbolthathasapositiveconnotation.Whatdoesthissettingcontributetothestory’splot?toitsatmosphere?

2. What,ifanything,mightthenamesGraves, Adams, Summers,andDelacroix signifyinthecontextofthisstory?Doyouthinkthesenamesareintendedtohaveanyspecialsignificance?Whyorwhynot?

3. Whatroledothechildrenplayintheritual?Howcanyouexplaintheirpresenceinthestory?Dotheyhaveanysymbolicrole?

4. Whatsymbolicsignificancemightbefoundinthewaythecharactersaredressed?intheirconversation?


to alice WalKer, “everyday use” (p. 256)

1. InAmericanculture,whatdoesapatchworkquiltsymbolize?

2. WhatistheliteralmeaningofthetwoquiltstoMaggieandhermother?toDee?Beyondthisliteralmeaning,whatsymbolicmeaning,ifany,dotheyhavetoMaggieandhermother?DothequiltshaveanysymbolicmeaningtoDee?

3. Howdoesthecontrastbetweenthetwosisters’appearances,personalities,lifestyles,andfeelingsaboutthequiltshelptoconveythestory’stheme?

4. WhatdoesthenameWangerosignifytoDee?tohermotherandsister?Couldthenamebeconsideredasymbol?Whyorwhynot?


to raymonD carver, “cathedral” (p. 261)

1. Whoisthenarrator?Whatdoweknowabouthim?Whydoestheimpendingvisitbytheblindmandisturbhim?

2. Towardtheendofthestory,theblindmanasksthenarratortodescribeacathedral.Whyisthenarratorunabletodoso?Whatdoeshisinabilitytodosorevealabouthim?

3. Whydoestheblindmantellthenarratortoclosehiseyeswhileheisdrawing?Whatdoeshehopetoteachhim?Whatisthenarratorableto“see”withhiseyesshutthathecannotseewiththemopen?

4. Inparagraph96,theblindmanobservesthatthemenwhobeganworkonacathedralneverlivedtoseeitcompleted.Inthisway,hesays,“they’renodifferentfromtherestofus.”Whatdoesthecathedralsymbolizetotheblindman?Whatdoesitcometosymbolizetothenarrator?


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Chapter 16 CheCklistfor Alison Bechdel, from Fun Home (p. 246)

Chapter 16 CheCklistfor shirley JAckson, “The lottery” (p. 251)

Chapter 16 CheCklistfor rAymond cArver, “cathedral” (p. 261)

Chapter 16 CheCklistfor Alice WAlker, “everyday Use” (p. 256)

Writing about symbol, allegory, and myth

Isanycharacter,place,action,event,orobjectgivenunusualprominenceoremphasisinthestory?Ifso,doesthiselementseemtohavesymbolicaswellasliteralsignificance?

Howdosymbolshelptodepictthestory’scharacters?

Howdosymbolshelptocharacterizethestory’ssetting?

Whatdothestory’sreferencestomythcontributetothestory’splotortheme?


Areanyuniversalsymbolsusedinthework?anyconventionalsymbols?Whatistheirfunction?

Whatpossiblemeaningsdoeseachsymbolsuggest?


Doesthestoryhaveamoralordidacticpurpose?Whatisthemessage,idea,ormoralprinciplethestoryseekstoconvey?Isthestoryanallegory?




Howdosymbolshelptoadvancethestory’splot?

Doesthestoryhaveamoralordidacticpurpose?Whatisthemessage,idea,ormoralprinciplethestoryseekstoconvey?Isthestoryanallegory?


Areanyuniversalsymbolsusedinthework?anyconventionalsymbols?Whatistheirfunction?


Whatpossiblemeaningsdoeseachsymbolsuggest?


7315_Kirszner_Review_Cards.indd 12 12/10/10 10:12 AM





to lynDa Barry, “two Questions” (p. 273)

1. Whatarethe“twoquestions”referredtointhestory’stitle?Whydotheymattersomuchtothenarrator?

2. Whatisthecentralconflictofthestory?Howdoesthenarratorresolvethisconflict?

3. Lookatthefollowingcharactersin“TwoQuestions”:

• Theoctopus

• Theghosts

• Themonkey

• Thecat

Howdoeachcharacter’swordsandappearancehelpdevelopthecentralthemeofthestory?Whichofthese“minorcharacters”doyouseeasmostimportant?Why?

4. Whatdoyouthinkthenarratorlearnsaboutinspirationandcreativity?


to euDora Welty, “a Worn Path” (p. 285)

1. Howdoesthefirstparagraphsetthescenefortherestofthestory?Howdoesitforeshadowtheeventsthatwilltakeplacelateron?

2. Traditionally,aquestisajourneyinwhichaknightovercomesaseriesofobstaclesinordertoperformaprescribedfeat.InwhatwayisPhoenix’sjourneyaquest?Whatobstaclesdoessheface?Whatfeatmustsheperform?

3. BecausePhoenixisold,shehastroubleseeing.Whatthingsdoesshehavedifficultyseeing?Howdohermistakesshedlightonhercharacter?Howdotheycontributetotheimpactofthestory?

4. Aphoenixisamythicalbirdthatwouldliveforfivehundredyears,beconsumedbyfire,andthenrisefromitsownashes.Inwhatwayisthenameofthiscreatureappropriateforthemaincharacterofthisstory?


to DaviD michael KaPlan, “Doe Season” (p. 290)

1. Theinitiationofachildintoadulthoodisacommonliterarytheme.Inthisstory,huntingispresentedasaninitiationrite.Inwhatwayishuntinganappropriatecoming-of-ageritual?

2. Whichcharactersareinconflictinthisstory?Whichideasareinconflict?Howdotheseconflictshelptocommunicatethestory’sinitiationtheme?

3. Inthestory’sopeningparagraphandelsewhere,Andyfindscomfortandreassuranceintheideathatthewoodsare“alwaysthesame”;laterinthestory,sherememberstheocean,“hugeandempty,yetalwaysmoving.Everythinglayhidden...”(par.45).Howdoesthecontrastbetweenthewoodsandtheoceansuggestthetransitionshemustmakefromchildhoodtoadulthood?

4. Howdothereferencestobloodsupportthestory’sinitiationtheme?Dotheysuggestotherthemesaswell?


to D(aviD) h(erBert) laWrence, “the rocking-horse Winner” (p. 297)

1. Fromwhatpointofviewis“TheRocking-HorseWinner”told?Howdoesthispointofviewhelptocommunicatethestory’stheme?

2. Inwhatwaysis“TheRocking-HorseWinner”likeafairytale?Howisitdifferent?

3. Manyfairytalesinvolveaherowhogoesonajourneytosearchforsomethingofgreatvalue.WhatjourneydoesPaulgoon?Whatthingofvaluedoeshesearchfor?Ishesuccessful?

4. Therockinghorseisanimportantliterarysymbolinthestory.Whatpossiblemeaningsmighttherockinghorsesuggest?Inwhatwaysdoesthissymbolreinforcethestory’stheme?


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Writing about theme

Whatisthecentralthemeofthestory?

Whatotherthemescanyouidentify?

Doesthenarrator,oranycharacter,makestatementsthatexpressorimplyatheme?

Doanycharactersinthestorychangeinanysignificantway?Dothesechangesconveyaparticulartheme?

Chapter 17 CheCklistfor D(aviD) h(erBert) laWrence, “the rocking-horse Winner” (p. 297)

Chapter 17 CheCklistfor lynDa Barry, “two Questions” (p. 273)

Writing about theme



Howdoesthepointofviewshedlightonthestory’scentraltheme?

Doanysymbolssuggestatheme?

Chapter 17 CheCklistfor euDora Welty, “a Worn Path” (p. 285)

Writing about theme




Doanysymbolssuggestatheme?

Writing about theme

Doesthetitleofthestorysuggestatheme?


Inwhatwaydoesthearrangementofeventsinthestorysuggestatheme?

Doanycharactersinthestorychangeinanysignificantway?Dothesechangesconveyaparticulartheme?

Chapter 17 CheCklistfor DaviD michael KaPlan, “Doe Season” (p. 290)






to Janice miriKitani, “Suicide note” (p. 367)

1. Thispoemisasuicidenotethatcontainsanapology.Whydoesthespeakerfeelshemustapologize?Doyouagreethatsheneedstoapologize?

2. Whatattitudedoesthespeakerconveytowardherparents?

3. Isthecollegestudentwhospeaksinthispoemastrangertoyou,orishervoiceinanywaylikethatofstudentsyouknow?


to William WorDSWorth, “the World is too much with us” (p. 373)

1. Whatisthespeaker’sattitudetowardthecontemporaryworld?Howisthisattituderevealedthroughthepoem’stone?

2. Thispoemisasonnet, ahighlystructuredtraditionalform.Howdotheregularmeterandrhymeschemehelptoestablishthepoem’stone?


to roBert herricK, “to the virgins, to make much of time” (p. 374)

1. Howwouldyoucharacterizethespeaker?Doyouthinkheexpectshislistenerstosharehisviews?Howmighthisexpectationsaffecthistone?

2. Thispoemisdevelopedlikeanargument.Whatisthespeaker’smainpoint?Howdoeshesupportit?

3. Whateffectdoesthepoem’suseofrhymehaveonitstone?

4. Whosesideareyouon—thespeaker’sorthoseheaddresses?


to DuDley ranDall, “Ballad of Birmingham” (p. 378)

1. Whoarethespeakersinthepoem?Howdotheirtonesdiffer?

2. Whatkindsofironyarepresentinthepoem?Giveexamplesofeachkindyouidentify.

3. Whatpointdoyouthinkthepoemmakesaboutviolence?aboutracialhatred?aboutthecivilrightsstruggle?

4. Thispoemisaballad,aformofpoetrytraditionallywrittentobesungorrecited.Balladstypicallyrepeatwordsandphrasesandhaveregularmeterandrhyme.Howdotheregularrhyme,repeatedwords,andsingsongmeteraffectthepoem’stone?


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Chapter 21 CheCklistfor Janice miriKitani, “Suicide note” (p. 367)

Writing about voiCe

Whatdoweknowaboutthespeaker?

Doesthespeakermakeanydirectstatementstoreadersthathelpestablishhisorheridentityorcharacter?

Doesthespeakeraddressanyone?Howcanyoutell?Howdoesthepresenceofalisteneraffectthespeaker?

Whatisthespeaker’sattitudetowardhisorhersubject?

Chapter 21 CheCklistfor William WorDSWorth, “the World is too much with us” (p. 373)

Writing about voiCe




Howdowordchoice,rhyme,meter,sentencestructure,figuresofspeech,andimageryhelptoconveytheattitudeofthespeaker?

Chapter 21 CheCklistfor roBert herricK, “to the virgins, to make much of time” (p. 374)

Writing about voiCe




Howdowordchoice,rhyme,meter,sentencestructure,figuresofspeech,andimageryhelptoconveytheattitudeofthespeaker?

Chapter 21 CheCklistfor DuDley ranDall, “Ballad of Birmingham” (p. 378)

Writing about voiCe

Whatdoweknowaboutthespeakers?

Arethespeakersanonymous,ordotheyhaveparticularidentities?

Whatarethespeakers’attitudestowardtheirsubject?

Isthepoem’stoneconsistent?Howdoyouaccountforshiftsintone?






to e. e. cumminGS, “in Just-” (p. 387)

1. Inthispoem,Cummingscoinsanumberofwordsthatheusestomodifyotherwords.Identifythesecoinages.Whatother,moreconventional,wordscouldbeusedintheirplace?WhatdoesCummingsaccomplishbyusingthecoinedwordsinstead?

2. WhatdoyouthinkCummingsmeansby“farandwee”inlines5,13,and22–24?Whydoyouthinkhearrangesthesethreewordsinadifferentwayonthepageeachtimeheusesthem?

3. Evaluatethispoem.Doyoulikeit?Isitmemorable?moving?Orisitjustclever?


to GWenDolyn BrooKS, “We real cool” (p. 392)

1. WhatelementsofnonstandardEnglishgrammarappearinthispoem?Howdoestheuseofsuchlanguageaffectyourattitudetowardthespeaker?

2. Everywordinthispoemisasinglesyllable.Why?

3. Whydoyouthinkthepoetbeginswith“We”onlyinthefirstlineinsteadofisolatingeachcompletesentenceonitsownline?Howdoesthisstrategychangethepoem’simpact?


to GWenDolyn BrooKS, “What Shall i Give my children?” (p. 392)

1. Unlike“WeRealCool”(p.392),alsobyGwendolynBrooks,thissonnet’sdictionisquiteformal.Giventhesubjectofeachpoem,dothepoet’sdecisionsaboutlevelofdictionmakesensetoyou?

2. Whichwordsinthispoemdoyouseeaselevated—thatis,notlikelytobeusedinconversation?

3. Apartfromindividualwords,whatelsestrikesyouasformalaboutthispoem?


to a. e. houSman, “to an athlete Dying young” (p. 395)

1. Wheredoesthepoem’smeterorrhymeschemerequirethepoettodepartfromconventionalsyntax?

2. Editthepoemsoitswordorderismoreconventional.Doyourchangesimprovethepoem?

3. Whodoyouthinkthespeakeris?Whatishisrelationshiptotheathlete?


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Chapter 22 CheCklistfor e. e. cumminGS, “in Just-” (p. 387)

Chapter 22 CheCklistfor GWenDolyn BrooKS, “We real cool” (p. 392)

Chapter 22 CheCklistfor a. e. houSman, “to an athlete Dying young” (p. 395)

Chapter 22 CheCklistfor GWenDolyn BrooKS, “What Shall i Give my children?” (p. 392)

Writing about Word ChoiCe and Word order

Whyiseachwordchoseninsteadofasynonym?(Forexample,isthewordchosenforitssound?itsconnotation?itsrelationshiptootherwordsinthepoem?itscontributiontothepoem’smetricalpattern?)

Whatotherwordscouldbeeffectivelyusedinplaceofwordsnowinthepoem?Howwouldsubstitutionschangethepoem’smeaning?

Areanywordsrepeated?Why?

Isthepoem’swordorderconventional,orarewordsarrangedinunexpectedorder?




Howwouldyoucharacterizethepoem’slevelofdiction?Whyisthislevelofdictionused?Isitappropriate?



Whichwordsareofkeyimportanceinthepoem?Whatisthedenotativemeaningofeachofthesekeywords?

Whichkeywordshaveneutralconnotations?Whichhavenegativeconnotations?Whichhavepositiveconnotations?Beyonditsliteralmeaning,whatdoeseachwordsuggest?

Whatisthepurposeoftheunusualwordorder?(Forexample,doesitpreservethepoem’smeterorrhymescheme?Doesithighlightparticularsoundcorrespondences?Doesitplaceemphasisonaparticularwordorphrase?Doesitreflectthespeaker’smood?)

Howwouldthepoem’simpactchangeifconventionalsyntaxwereused?




Whymightthepoemusethelevelofdictionthatitdoes?Isitappropriate?



CHAPTER 23 REVIEW CARDSCHAPTER 23 REVIEW CARDSR E A D I N G A N D R E AC T I N G

to ROBERT FROST, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (p. 404)

1. What central idea does this poem express?

2. What do you think the first line of the poem means? In what sense is this line ironic?

3. What is the significance of the colors green and gold in this poem? What do these colors have to do with “Eden” and “dawn”?

4. How do the various images in the poem prepare readers for the last line? Do you think the title spoils the impact of the last line?

R E A D I N G A N D R E AC T I N G

to WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” (p. 405)

1. What point does Shakespeare make in the first twelve lines of his sonnet?

2. What point does the rhymed couplet at the end of the poem make?

3. How is Shakespeare’s imagery like and unlike that of traditional love poems?

4. How do you think the woman to whom the poem is addressed will react?


✔✔Chapter 23 CheCklistfor RobeRt FRost, “Nothing Gold Can stay” (p. 404)

Writing about imagery

Doesthepoemdependonaclusterofrelatedimages?

Whatdetailsmaketheimagesmemorable?

Whatmooddotheimagescreate?

Howdothepoem’simageshelptoconveyitstheme?

Chapter 23 CheCklistfor William shakespeaRe, “my mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” (p. 405)

Writing about imagery

Whatdetailsmaketheimagesmemorable?

Whatmooddotheimagescreate?

Howdothepoem’simageshelptoconveyitstheme?

Howeffectivearetheimages?Howdotheyenhanceyourenjoymentofthepoem?






to Sylvia Plath, “metaphors” (p. 413)

1. Thespeakerinthispoemisapregnantwoman.Doallthemetaphorsseemappropriate?Forinstance,inwhatsenseisthespeaker“ameans,astage”(line7)?

2. Ifyouweregoingtoexpandthispoem,whatothermetaphors(orsimiles)wouldyouadd?

3. Whatarethe“ninesyllables”towhichthespeakerrefersinthepoem’sfirstline?Whatsignificancedoesthenumberninehaveintermsofthepoem’ssubject?Intermsofitsform?

4. Wouldyousaythespeakerhasapositive,negative,orneutralattitudetowardherpregnancy?Whichmetaphorsgiveyouthisimpression?


to ranDall Jarrell, “the Death of the Ball turret Gunner” (p. 413)

1. Whoisthespeaker?Towhatdoeshecomparehimselfinthepoem’sfirsttwolines?Whatwordsestablishthiscomparison?

2. Contrastthespeaker’sactualidentitywiththeonehecreatesforhimselfinlines1–2.Whatelementsofhisactualsituationdoyouthinkleadhimtocharacterizehimselfashedoesintheselines?

3. Boththispoemand“DulceetDecorumEst”(p.492)usefiguresofspeechtodescribethehorrorsofwar.Whichpoemhasagreaterimpactonyou?


to anDreW marvell, “to his coy mistress” (p. 419)

1. Inthispoem,Marvell’sspeakersetsouttoconvinceareluctantwomantobecomehislover.Inordertomakehiscasemorepersuasive,heuseshyperbole,exaggeratingtimeperiods,sizes,spaces,andthepossiblefateofthewomanifsherefuseshim.Identifyasmanyexamplesofhyperboleasyoucan.

2. Thetoneof“ToHisCoyMistress”ismorewhimsicalthanserious.Giventhistone,whatdoyouseeasthepurposeofMarvell’suseofhyperbole?


to roBert FroSt, “out, out—” (p. 420)

1. Thepoem’stitleisanallusiontoapassageinShakespeare’sMacbeth(5.5.23–28)thatattacksthebrevityandmeaninglessnessoflifeinveryemotionalterms:

Out,outbriefcandle!

Life’sbutawalkingshadow,apoorplayer, Thatstrutsandfretshishouruponthestage Andthenisheardnomore.Itisatale Toldbyanidiot,fullofsoundandfury, Signifyingnothing.

WhatideadoyouthinkFrostwantstoconveythroughthetitle“Out,Out—”?

2. Explainwhyeachofthefollowingqualifiesasunderstatement:

• “Neitherrefusedthemeeting.”(line18) • “Hesawallspoiled.”(line25) • “—andthatendedit.”(line32) • “Nomoretobuildonthere.”(line33)

Canyouidentifyanyotherexamplesofunderstatementinthepoem?

3. Doyouthinkthepoem’simpactisstrengthenedorweakenedbyitsunderstatedtone?


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Chapter 24 CheCklistfor Sylvia Plath, “metaphors” (p. 413)

Writing about figures of speeCh

Whatfiguresofspeecharepresentinthepoem?Identifyanyexamplesofsimile,metaphor,personification,hyperbole,understatement,metonymy,synecdoche,andapostrophe.

Whattwoelementsarebeingcomparedineachuseofsimile,metaphor,andpersonification?Whatcharacteristicsaresharedbythetwoitemsbeingcompared?

Doesthepoetusehyperbole?Why?Forexample,isitusedtomoveortoshockreaders,orisitsuseintendedtoproduceahumorousorsatiricaleffect?Wouldmoreunderstatedlanguagebemoreeffective?

Howdofiguresofspeechcontributetotheimpactofthepoemasawhole?

Chapter 24 CheCklistfor anDreW marvell, “to his coy

mistress” (p. 419)



Whatistheeffectofthepoet’suseofhyperbole?Wouldmoreunder-statedlanguagebemoreeffective?


Chapter 24 CheCklistfor ranDall Jarrell, “the Death of the Ball turret Gunner” (p. 413)



Whattwoelementsarebeingcomparedineachuseofsimile,metaphor,andpersonification?Whatcharacteristicsaresharedbythetwoitemsbeingcompared?

Doesthepoetusehyperbole?Why?Forexample,isitusedtomoveortoshockreaders,orisitsuseintendedtoproduceahumorousorsatiricaleffect?Wouldmoreunderstatedlanguagebemoreeffective?


Chapter 24 CheCklistfor roBert FroSt, “out, out—” (p. 420)



Forwhatpurposedoesthepoetuseunderstatement?Wouldmoreemotionallychargedlanguagebemoreeffective?







to aDrienne rich, “aunt Jennifer’s tigers” (p. 433)

1. Whatisthedominantmetricalpatternofthepoem?Howdoesthemeterenhancethecontrastthepoemdevelops?

2. Thelinesinthefirststanzaareend-stopped,andthoseinthesecondandthirdstanzascombineend-stoppedandrun-onlines.Whatdoesthepoetachievebyvaryingtherhythm?

3. Whatideasdothecaesurasinthefirstandfourthlinesofthelaststanzaemphasize?

4. Whatisthespeaker’sopinionofAuntJennifer’smarriage?Doyouthinksheiscommentingonthisparticularmarriageoronmarriageingeneral?


to GerarD manley hoPKinS, “Pied Beauty” (p. 437)

1. Identifyexamplesofonomatopoeia,alliteration,assonance,imperfectrhyme,andperfectrhyme.Doyouthinkallthesetechniquesareessentialtothepoem?Areanyofthemannoyingordistracting?

2. Whatisthecentralideaofthispoem?Howdothesoundsofthepoemhelptocommunicatethisidea?

3. Identifyexamplesofmasculineandfemininerhyme.

4. Hopkinsusesbothpleasinganddiscordantsoundsinhispoem.Identifyusesofeuphonyandcacophony,andexplainhowthesetechniquesaffectyourreactionstothepoem.


to GalWay Kinnell, “Blackberry eating” (p. 439)

1. WhatsoundsdoesKinnellrepeatinthepoem?Howdotheyhelptocreatethepoem’srhythm?

2. Thispoemconsistsentirelyofrun-onlines.Whydoyouthinkthepoetusesthistechniqueinsteadofend-stoppedlines?

3. Onepartofthepoemdealswithblackberries,andtheotherpartdealswiththepoet’sloveforwords.Whatistheconnectionbetweenthesetwosubjects?

4. HowdoalliterationandassonancehelpKinnellconveyhisideas?


to leWiS carroll, “Jabberwocky” (p. 440)

1. Manywordsinthispoemmaybeunfamiliartoyou.Aretheyactualwords?Useadictionarytocheckbeforeyoudismissany.Dosomewordsthatdonotappearinthedictionaryneverthelessseemtohavemeaninginthecontextofthepoem?Explain.

2. Thispoemcontainsmanyexamplesofonomatopoeia.Whatmeaningsdoesthesoundofeachofthesewordssuggest?

3. Summarizethestorythepoemtells.Inwhatsenseisthispoemastoryofayoungman’sinitiationintoadulthood?


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Writing about sound

Doesthepoemcontainrepeatedwordsandphrases?Ifso,howdotheyhelptocreaterhythm?

Doesthepoemuseonekindofmeterthroughout,ordoesthemetervaryfromlinetoline?

Whateffectdocaesurashaveinthepoem?

Whateffectsarecreatedbythepresenceorabsenceofpausesattheendsoflines?

Writing about sound

Howdoesthemetercontributetotheoveralleffectofthepoem?

Whatistheeffectofalliterationandassonanceinthepoem?

Howdoesrhymeunifythepoem?

Howdoesrhymereinforcethepoem’sideas?

Writing about sound


Doesthepoemhavearegularrhymescheme?

Howdoesrhymeunifythepoem?

Howdoesrhymereinforcethepoem’sideas?

Writing about sound

Doesthepoemuseonekindofmeterthroughout,ordoesthemetervaryfromlinetoline?


Whateffectsarecreatedbytheabsenceofpausesattheendsoflines?

Whatistheeffectofalliterationandassonanceinthepoem?

Chapter 25 CheCklistfor aDrienne rich, “aunt Jennifer’s tigers” (p. 433)

Chapter 25 CheCklistfor GerarD manley hoPKinS, “Pied Beauty” (p. 437)

Chapter 25 CheCklistfor GalWay Kinnell, “Blackberry eating” (p. 439)

Chapter 25 CheCklistfor leWiS carroll, “Jabberwocky” (p. 440)






to GWenDolyn BrooKS, “First Fight. then Fiddle” (p. 448)

1. WhatisthesubjectofBrooks’spoem?

2. Explainthepoem’srhymescheme.Isthisrhymeschemeanessentialelementofthepoem?Wouldthepoembeequallyeffectiveifitdidnotincludeendrhyme?Whyorwhynot?

3. Studythepoem’suseofcapitalizationandpunctuationcarefully.WhydoyouthinkBrookschoosestoendmanyofhersentencesinmidline?Howdoherdecisionsdeterminehowyoureadthepoem?

4. WhatdoyouthinkBrooksmeansby“fight”and“fiddle”?


to martin eSPaDa, “Why i Went to college” (p. 452)

1. Howis“WhyIWenttoCollege”differentfromColeridge’sandBlake’sepigrams?Howisitsimilartothem?

2. Whatfunctiondoesthepoem’stitleserve?Isittheepigram’s“punchline,”ordoesitserveanotherpurpose?

3. Whatcanyouinferaboutthespeaker’sfatherfromthispoem?Why,forexample,doyouthinkhewantshissontogotocollege?


to matSuo BaShō, “Four haiku” (p. 453)

1. Haikuareadmiredfortheirextremeeconomyandtheirstrikingimages.WhatarethecentralimagesineachofBash–o’shaiku?Towhatsensesdotheseimagesappeal?

2. Inanotherpoem,Bash–osaysthatartbeginswith“Thedepthsofthecountry/andarice-plantingsong.”Whatdoyouthinkhemeans?Howdothesefourhaikuexemplifythisidea?

3. Doyouthinktheconcisenessofthesepoemsincreasesordecreasestheimpactoftheirimages?Explain.

4. “InaStationoftheMetro”(p.401)isEzraPound’sversionofahaiku.Howsuccessfuldoyouthinkhispoemisasahaiku?Doyouthinkalongerpoemcouldhaveconveyedtheimagesmoreeffectively?


to Walt Whitman, “From ‘out of the cradle endlessly rocking’ ” (p. 456)

1. Thisexcerpt,thefirsttwenty-twolinesofapoemnearlytwohundredlineslong,hasnoregularmetricalpatternorrhymescheme.Whatgivesititsform?

2. Howmightyouexplainwhythepoem’slinesvaryinlength?

3. ComparethisexcerptwiththeexcerptfromWhitman’s“SongofMyself”(p.520).Inwhatrespectsaretheformsofthetwopoemssimilar?


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Chapter 26 CheCklistfor martin eSPaDa, “Why i Went to college” (p. 452)

Chapter 26 CheCklistfor GWenDolyn BrooKS, “First Fight. then Fiddle” (p. 448)

Chapter 26 CheCklistfor matSuo BaShō, “Four haiku” (p. 453)

Writing about form

Isthepoemwritteninopenorclosedform?Onwhatcharacteristicsdoyoubaseyourconclusion?

Whydidthepoetchooseopenorclosedform?Forexample,isthepoem’sformconsistentwithitssubjectmatter,tone,ortheme?Isitdeterminedbytheconventionsofthehistoricalperiodinwhichitwaswritten?

Arecertainwordsorphrasesisolatedonlines?Why?

Howdoelementssuchasassonance,alliteration,rhyme,andrepetitionofwordsgivethepoemform?

Writing about form

Isthepoemwritteninopenorclosedform?Onwhatcharacteristicsdoyoubaseyourconclusion?

Howdothetraditionalconventionsofanepigramsuitthepoet’slanguageandtheme?Doesthepoemfollowtherulesoftheformatalltimes,ordoesitbreakanynewground?



Writing about form

Whydidthepoetchooseopenform?Forexample,isthepoem’sformconsistentwithitssubjectmatter,tone,ortheme?Isitdeterminedbytheconventionsofthehistoricalperiodinwhichitwaswritten?

Whatdeterminesthebreaksattheendsoflines?



Writing about form

Arethepoemswritteninopenorclosedform?Onwhatcharacteristicsdoyoubaseyourconclusion?

Howdothetraditionalconventionsofahaikusuitthepoet’slanguageandtheme?Dothepoemsfollowtherulesoftheformatalltimes,ordotheybreakanynewground?


Whatusedoesthepoetmakeofpunctuationandcapitalization?Ofwhitespaceonthepage?

Chapter 26 CheCklistfor Walt Whitman, “From ‘out of the cradle endlessly rocking’ ” (p. 456)






to eDGar allan Poe, “the raven” (p. 465)

1. Whoisthespeakerinthepoem?Whatishisstateofmind?Howdoestheravenmirrorthespeaker’smentalstate?

2. “TheRaven”containsagooddealofalliteration.Identifysomeexamples.Howdoesthisuseofrepeatedinitialconsonantsoundshelptoconveythemoodofthepoem?

3. Thespeakerreferstotheraveninanumberofdifferentways.Atonepoint,itissimply“anebonybird”(line42);atanother,itisa“prophet”and“athingofevil”(85).Howelsedoesthespeakercharacterizetheraven?

4. Whatisthesymbolicsignificanceoftheraven?oftherepeatedword“nevermore”?ofthebustofPallas,theancientGreekgodofwisdom?


to aDrienne rich, “Diving into the Wreck” (p. 469)

1. Ononelevel,thispoemisaboutadeep-seadiver’sexplorationofawreckedship.Whatdetailssuggestthatthepoetwantsyoutoseethepoemassomethingmore?

2. Explaintheallegoricalfigurespresentedinthepoem.What,forexample,mightthediverandthewreckrepresent?

3. Doesthepoemcontainanysymbols?Howcanyoutelltheyaresymbolsandnotallegoricalfigures?

4. Inlines62–63,thespeakersaysthatshecamefor“thewreckandnotthestoryofthewreck/thethingitselfandnotthemyth.”Explainthisdistinction.Whatdoyouthinkthespeakerisreallylookingfor?


to William Butler yeatS, “leda and the Swan” (p. 475)

1. Whateventisdescribedinthispoem?Whatisthemythologicalsignificanceofthisevent?

2. HowisLedaportrayed?Whyistheswandescribedasa“featheredglory”(line6)?Whyinthepoem’slastlineisLedadroppedbyhis“indifferentbeak”?

3. ThethirdstanzareferstotheTrojanWar,whichwasindirectlycausedbytheeventdescribedinthepoem.HowdoestheallusiontotheTrojanWarhelpdevelopthethemeofthepoem?

4. Doesthepoemanswerthequestionaskedinitslasttwolines?Explain.


to W. h. auDen, “musée des Beaux arts” (p. 475)

1. RereadthesummaryofthemythofIcarusonpage473.WhatdoesAuden’sallusiontothismythcontributetothepoem?

2. Whatpointdoesthepoetmakebyreferringtothe“OldMasters”(line2)?

3. Brueghel’spaintingLandscape with the Fall of Icarus isshownbelow.Howdoeslookingatthispaintinghelpyoutounderstandthepoem?Towhatspecificdetailsinthepaintingdoesthepoetrefer?

Mus

ee D

’Art

Anci

en, B

russ

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Bel

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Scal

a/Ar

t Res

ourc

e, N

Y


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✔ ✔Chapter 27 CheCklistfor W. h. auDen, “musée des Beaux arts” (p. 475)

symbol, allegory, allusion, myth

Inwhatwaydothepoem’sallusionsdeepenthepoem’smeaning?Doesanyallusioninterferewithyourunderstandingorenjoymentofthepoem?Ifso,how?

Whatmythsormythologicalfiguresarealludedto?

Howdoesthepoemusemythtoconveyitsmeaning?

Howfaithfulisthepoemtothemyth?Doesthepoetaddmaterialtothemyth?Areanydetailsfromtheoriginalmythomitted?Isanyinformationdistorted?Why?


Arethepoem’ssymbolsconventional?Aretheyuniversalorarchetypal?

Areanysymbolsobscureorhighlyidiosyncratic?

Whatistheliteralmeaningofeachsymbolinthecontextofthepoem?Beyonditsliteralmeaning,whatelsecouldeachsymbolsuggest?

Howdoesyourinterpretationofeachsymbolenhanceyourunderstandingofthepoem?

Chapter 27 CheCklistfor eDGar allan Poe, “the raven” (p. 465)

Chapter 27 CheCklistfor William Butler yeatS, “leda and the Swan” (p. 475)


Inwhatwaydothepoem’sallusionsdeepenthepoem’smeaning?Doesanyallusioninterferewithyourunderstandingorenjoymentofthepoem?Ifso,how?

Whatmythsormythologicalfiguresarealludedto?

Howdoesthepoemusemythtoconveyitsmeaning?

Howfaithfulisthepoemtothemyth?Doesthepoetaddmaterialtothemyth?Areanydetailsfromtheoriginalmythomitted?Isanyinformationdistorted?Why?


Howdoesyourinterpretationofeachsymbolenhanceyourunderstandingofthepoem?

Whateffectdotheallegoricalfigureshaveinthepoem?

Whatdotheallegoricalfiguressignifyonaliterallevel?

Whatlessondoestheallegoryillustrate?

Chapter 27 CheCklistfor aDrienne rich, “Diving into the Wreck” (p. 469)



to SuSan GlaSPell, Trifles (p. 555)

1. Whatkeyeventshaveoccurredbeforethestartoftheplay?Whydoyousupposetheseeventsarenotpresentedintheplayitself?

2. Whatarethe“trifles”towhichthetitlerefers?Howdothese“trifles”advancetheplay’splot?

3. Trifles isaone-actplay,andallitsactionoccursintheWrights’kitchen.Whatdoyouseeastheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofthisconfinedsetting?

4. AllbackgroundinformationaboutMrs.WrightisprovidedbyMrs.Hale.Doyouconsiderhertobeareliablesourceofinformation?Whyorwhynot?


to henriK iBSen, A Doll House (p. 562)

1. WhatisyourattitudetowardNoraatthebeginningoftheplay?Howdoesyourattitudetowardherchangeastheplayprogresses?Whatactionsandlinesofdialoguechangeyourassessmentofher?

2. Listthekeyeventsthathaveoccurredbeforethestartoftheplay.Howdowelearnofeachevent?

3. IsKristineLindeasmuchofa“modernwoman”asNora?Issheactuallymoreofamodernwoman?Issheessentialtotheplay?Howmighttheplaybedifferentwithouther?

4. DoyouseeA Doll Houseasprimarilyaboutthestrugglebetweentheneedsoftheindividualandtheneedsofsociety,orabouttheconflictbetweenwomen’srolesinthefamilyandinthelargersociety?Explain.


to arthur miller, Death of a Salesman (p. 605)

1. IsWillyalikeablecharacter?Whatwordsandactions—bothWilly’sandthoseofothercharacters—helpyoutoreachyourconclusion?

2. HowdoestheexistenceofTheWomanaffectyouroverallimpressionofWilly?Whatdoessherevealabouthischaracter?

3. WhatdoesWilly’sattitudetowardhissonsindicateabouthischaracter?Howisthisattituderevealed?

4. Intheabsenceofanarrator,whatdevicesdoesMillerusetoprovideexposition—basicinformationaboutcharacterandsetting?


to William ShaKeSPeare, Hamlet (p. 644)

1. WhatareHamlet’smostnotablecharactertraits?Doyouseethesetraitsasgenerallypositiveornegative?

2. IsHamletasympatheticcharacter?Where(ifanywhere)doyoufindyourselfgrowingimpatientwithhimordisagreeingwithhim?

3. Whatdoothercharacters’commentsrevealaboutHamlet’scharacterbeforethekeyeventsintheplaybegintounfold?Forexample,inwhatwayhasHamletchangedsincehereturnedtothecastleandfoundoutabouthisfather’sdeath?

4. Listthoseintheplaywhoyoubelievetobeflatcharacters.Whydoyoucharacterizeeachindividualinthisway?Whatdoeseachoftheseflatcharacterscontributetotheplay?


✔✔

✔ ✔Chapter 33 CheCklistfor William ShaKeSPeare, Hamlet (p. 644)

Writing about CharaCter

Doestheplayincludemonologueorsoliloquies?Whatdotheseextendedspeechesrevealaboutthecharacters?

Isthecharacters’languageformalorinformal?Isthecharacters’languageplainorelaborate?

Doestheplayincludeverbalirony?dramaticirony?Howisironyconveyed?Whatpurposedoesironyachieve?

Howmightdifferentactors’interpretationschangeanaudience’sunderstandingofthecharacters?

Chapter 32 CheCklistfor SuSan GlaSPell, Trifles (p. 555)

Writing about plot

Whathappensintheplay?

Whatsectionoftheplayconstitutesitsrisingaction?

Whatsectionoftheplayconstitutesitsfallingaction?

Howdocharacters’actionsadvancetheplay’splot?

Chapter 32 CheCklistfor henriK iBSen, A Doll House (p. 562)

Writing about plot

Doestheplaycontainasubplot?Whatisitspurpose?Howisitrelatedtothemainplot?

Howdocharacters’actionsadvancetheplay’splot?

Howdoesdialogueadvancetheplay’splot?

Doestheplayincludeflashbacks?foreshadowing?Doestheplay’sdialoguecontainsummariesofpasteventsorreferencestoeventsinthefuture?Howdoestheuseofflashbacksorforeshadowingadvancetheplay’splot?

Chapter 33 CheCklistfor arthur miller, Death of a Salesman (p. 605)

Writing about CharaCter

Whoarethemajorcharacters?Dotheychangeandgrowduringthecourseoftheplay,ordotheyremainessentiallyunchanged?

Whatisrevealedaboutthecharactersthroughdialogue?

Doestheplayincludeverbalirony?dramaticirony?Howisironyconveyed?Whatpurposedoesironyachieve?

Whatisrevealedaboutcharactersthroughtheiractions?


Chapter 34 revieW CardsChapter 34 revieW Cardsr e a d i n g a n d r e aC t i n g

to DaviD iveS, Words, Words, Words (p. 697)

1. Lookupthenamesofthethreemonkeysinanencyclopedia.WhydoyouthinkIveschosethesenamesforhischaracters?

2. Whatpersonalitytraitsdefineeachofthemonkeys?Howaretheyalike?Howaretheydifferent?

3. Themonkeyssometimesusejargontypicallyusedbywritersforthemoviesorfortelevision.Findseveralexamplesofthistypeofjargon.Howdoesthisuseoflanguageaddtothehumoroftheplay?

4. Atvariouspointsintheplay,themonkeysecholinesfromShakespeare’splays.Findseveralexamples.Whatisthesignificanceofthisuseoflanguage?


to SoPhocleS, Oedipus the King (p. 701)

1. TheancientGreeksusednosceneryintheirtheatricalproductions.Intheabsenceofscenery,howisthesettingestablishedatthebeginningof Oedipus the King?

2. InsomerecentproductionsofOedipus the King,actorswearcopiesofancientGreekmasks.Whataretheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofusingsuchmasksinacontemporaryproductionoftheplay?

3. IntheancientGreektheater,thestropheandantistropheweresungorchantedbythechorusasitdancedbackandforthacrossthestage.Ifyouwerestagingtheplaytoday,wouldyouretainthechorusordoawaywithitentirely?Whatwouldbegainedorlostwitheachalternative?

4. HowdoesSophoclespresentinformationaboutwhathappenedyearsbeforetheplaytookplace?Ifyouwerestagingacontemporaryversionoftheplay,whatadditionalwayscouldyouusetopresentthisinformation?


to auGuSt WilSon, Fences (p. 724)

1. Obviously,fencesareacentralmetaphoroftheplay.Towhatdifferentkindsoffencesdoestheplay’stitlerefer?

2. Howarethefathersandsonsinthisplayalike?Howaretheydifferent?Doestheplayimplythatsonsmustinevitablyfollowintheirfathers’footsteps?

3. Thisplayissetin1957.Giventheracialclimateofthecountryatthattime,howrealisticareCory’sambitions?Howreasonablearehisfather’scriticisms?

4. InwhatwayshasTroy’scharacterbeenshapedbyhiscontactwiththewhiteworld?


✔✔

✔

Writing about staging

Whatinformationaboutstagingisspecifiedinthestagedirectionsoftheplay?

Howmightdifferentdecisionsaboutstagingchangetheplay?

Dothestagedirectionsprovideinformationabouthowcharactersaresupposedtolookorbehave?

Whatcostumesarespecified?Inwhatwaysdocostumesprovideinsightintothecharacterswhowearthem?

Writing about staging

Whatinformationaboutstagingisspecifiedinthestagedirectionsoftheplay?

Howmightdifferentdecisionsaboutstagingchangetheplay?

Whateventsoccuroffstage?Why?Howaretheysuggested?

Howdoesstaginghelptocommunicatetheplay’sthemes?

Chapter 34 CheCklistfor SoPhocleS, Oedipus the King(p. 701)

Chapter 34 CheCklistfor DaviD iveS, Words, Words, Words(p. 697)

Writing about theme

Whatisthecentralthemeoftheplay?


Whatconflictsexistintheplay?Howdotheyshedlightonthethemesoftheplay?

Doanycharacters’statementsexpressorimplyathemeoftheplay?

Chapter 35 CheCklistfor auGuSt WilSon, Fences (p. 724)


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