Study Session

Veon will be available after school Monday the 27th from 3:30 to 4:30 for a review session for Tuesday's demonstration of knowledge. I have already given you the test questions in class (many times) so they should be in your notes. But here are a few topics that you will need to be familiar with:

Be able to--by citing at least one Christian intrusion in Beowulf--suggest how this intrusion of Christian ethos into a "pagan" tale seemingly creates conflict with Anglo-Saxon beliefs.

Be able to discuss the frame of The Canterbury Tales.

Be able to define satire.

Be able to discuss satire within Chaucer's General Prologue as well as within the actual tales themselves.

Be thoroughly familiar with the Nun, the Monk, the Friar, the Parson, the Merchant, the Miller, the Pardoner, and the Summoner. How does Chaucer use his descriptions of these characters to satarize either the middle class or the Roman Catholic Church of his day? Through which character does he most harshly criticize the church?

Be thoroughly familar with all three tales discussed in class--paying close attention to how Chaucer uses these tales to develop satire. Be able to discuss how each character's tale reflects his or her purpose for being on the trip.

And lastly, please do not expect this much help on future tests. I will not be re-posting test questions from now on which I have also given in class.

Canterbury Tales e-text link

For your at home reading pleasure...there will be a bonus question on the test...just read an additional tale (other than the three we have read) and be ready to briefly summarize it in yr own words.

http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/gchaucer/bl-gchau-can-mill-m.htm

The Road

Overall, does The Road put forth a positive and uplifting view of humanity, or one of darkness and pessimism? Discuss by referring to specific passages of the novel. Do not argue both sides of this prompt.

The Awakening Essay

Literature may be studied--criticized--from many different viewpoints. Some critics examine literature, and the characters that authors create, from psychological viewpoints--perhaps even through the lens of a specific psychologist such as Freud. Other literary critics examine novels and plays through specific economic/political ideologies such as Marxism. Still others compare a piece of literature to the historical events happening at the time the novel or play was written. However, Chopin's novella The Awakening may be best examined through the lens of feminist theory which explores the female characters in any novel or play--how are they repressed by male characters; how society views their role within that society; and how they attempt to find freedom and power within a society which views them as inferior. In a well organized essay which features a clear and concise introduction, discuss how Edna attempts to find her place in a world which doesn't seem to care about her as an individual. Be sure to suggest whether her attempts are successful or not. You may consult your text for the correct spelling of character names. Be sure to underline the title. Be sure to rely on a predominate present tense. If you are already not doing so, make an effort to provide your reader with sentence variety. Sentence variety may be achieved by starting sentences with dependent (subordinate) elements such as "Later in the novel," or "After Edna decides to become an artist,".

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Twenty Points Each. Use PRESENT TENSE in your responses to these prompts. Remember, “Single subject, present tense—ALL verbs end in S.” DO NOT use the words “You” or “I” in your responses! Gracias!

1.     McMurphy’s arrival on the mental health ward manifests many positive changes in the lives of the patients who live there. Discuss at length three of the positive changes McMurphy makes during his stay at the hospital.

2.     Chief Bromden believes in a controlling concept called “The Combine.” Discuss two instances where the Chief sees “The Combine” in action—what do they do, what is their purpose, what are they up to—according to his original beliefs anyway?

3.     The reader soon realizes that “The Combine” is merely a manifestation of Bromden’s mental health issues. However, that doesn’t mean that the Combine might not actually exist. Discuss ways that society controls us, limits our potential, and keeps us generally controlled.

4.      McMurphy’s arrival does manifest positive changes in the lives of the patients of the mental health ward. However, his role there does lead to several distinctly negative outcomes. Discuss at length two negative impacts of his arrival.

5.     McMurphy’s battles with the Big Nurse are indeed legendary. Discuss at length one instance where McMurphy gets “the better” of the Big Nurse.

6.     At the end of the novel, it is clear that McMurphy could have fled after the party on the ward. Why does he stay? What happens to him because he stays? What happens to Billy? What does the Big Chief decide to do at the end of the novel? Is he a changed man? Why?

7.     Of course, it is clear that the one of the novel’s themes condemns the horrible conditions of mental health asylums in the 1940’s/1950’s. However, there are other themes developed in the novel. Discuss one other theme that Kesey develops in the novel—refer to specific instances or plot elements that develop this theme.