Mini Midterm Questions

The dictionary definition of a word is known as ________________.

denotation

The _______________ of a word can vary depending on context.

connotation

When writing on social media or speaking to a group of friends you are more likely to use __________ diction.

informal

True or False. Using language that is familiar and valued by your audience can build your credibility.

True

______________    _______________ involves words or phrases that are not meant to be taken literally.

figurative language

____________ is how words are combined to form sentences.

syntax

______________     _____________  is repeating the same word, phrase, or clause for emphasis.

parallel structure

Presenting contrary ideas using  a similar grammatical structure is called ________________.

antithesis

___________ is the writer's attitude towards his/her subject

tone

True or False. A tonal shift is always indicated with a signal like a phrase or sentence.

False

True or False. Thoreau was an advocate of big government.

False

How much of the population is bound by slavery? Hint: fraction...just write the fraction. i.e. 1/4

1/6

“What is the price-current of an honest man and a patriot today?” Is an example of what rhetorical device? Note: the punctuation.

rhetorical question

Thoreau says “stop the machine,” what is the “machine” he is referring to?

government

Where does Thoreau say the only place for a just man is? *Since just people are unjustly there, one word.

prison

What type of literary device is displayed in this list: “captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys”

alliteration

What are three things that Thoreau argued against?

slavery, the government, taxes

“The standing army is only an arm of the standing government.” What is the point of this statement.

to suggest the government is greater than the army itself

“After the first blush of sin comes its indifference.” This is a claim of ______________. One word, lower case.

value

“They are likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God” Is an example of which rhetorical device?

antithesis

True or False. King was officially arrested for parading without a permit.

True

What are two of the four steps that should be taken in a non-violent campaign?

self purification, collection of facts

True or False. King states that if violence is used against peaceful demonstrators, then they have the right to respond with violence.

False

What type of laws does King say should be broken?

unjust laws

What type of person does King say he has been “gravely disappointed” in?

the white moderate

True or False. King believes that being an extremist is not necessarily a negative label.

True

King criticizes the church and says he does so as “a minister of the gospel, who loves the church.” What appeal is this?

ethos

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This is an example of what rhetorical device?

antithesis

“They have left their secure congregations...they have gone down the highways...they have acted in the faith.” This is an example of what rhetorical device?

anaphora

True or False. King believes that if you break a law then you should be willing to accept the punishment for that action.

True

True or False. The narrator believes that he became “bad” over time.

False

True or False. The narrator let his desires control him from a young age.

True

How many years was the narrator at the school he describes IN THE BEGINNING?

5

What was the name of the boy at the school who the narrator could not gain control over?

William Wilson

True or False. The boy mentioned above spoke in a booming and obnoxious voice.

False

True or False. The narrator cherishes his name because it reminds him of his familial ties.

False

True or False. The narrator leaves the room in fright after seeing the boy because he is horribly disfigured.

False

True or False. Glendinning manipulates the narrator into playing cards with him.

False

True or False. William Wilson is a version of the narrator.

True

True or False. The narrator shoots and kills the "boy" from earlier in the story.

False

What do all the writers agree on?

everyone deserves life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

When was the Declaration of Independence written?

1776

What was the Declaration of Independence’s audience?

Mixed—the king but also the world/American people

What was the Declaration of Independence’s exigence?

war

What is the tone shift in the Declaration of Independence?

declarative to accusatory/inflammatory

Why does the tone shift in the Declaration of Independence?

needs people to fight—incite emotion

How does the Declaration of Independence create an us vs. them dynamic?

Demonizing the king while trying to appeal to the loyalists so they can help the revolutionaries fight

What type of sentence does the Declaration of Independence start with?

periodic sentence (main part of sentence comes last, after listing)

What is the effect of the starting sentence of the Declaration of Independence?

piling on effect

What are examples of word choice in the Declaration of Independence?

pirates, plundering; lives, liberty

Why does Jefferson reference John Locke in the DoI?

we are denied the laws of God/nature + not treated equally = should overthrow violently

What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

to declare independence

What do Thoreau and Jefferson agree on?

you can use violence to overthrow oppression

What is Jefferson compared to the other speeches?

the precedent

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.”

antithesis

What does JFK allude to in his speech?

founding fathers and communism/red scare

Why does JFK need to establish credibility?

because he is the youngest president yet elected

What is the context of JFK’s inaugural address?

1961, talking to US, newly elected president, young

What is the exigence of JFK’s inaugural address?

he was just elected as president

“support any friend and oppose any foe”

antithesis

What is the purpose of Thoreau’s speech?

to promote civil disobedience and individual and action

What is Thoreau’s exigence?

hasn’t paid a tax/just thrown in jail

Who is Thoreau’s audience?

contemporary

What did Thoreau and Poe both believe in?

power of the individual, action, nature

What did Romantics believe?

humans born innate evil

What did Transcendentalists believe?

people were innately born good, people have good consciences

When can you use violence to overthrow oppression, according to Thoreau?

when you become an agent of injustice to another person

What is an example of being an agent of injustice?

By paying taxes, my money is being used to support slavery (so now I can rebel)

During Thoreau’s time, who were the only ones who could violently overthrow their oppressors?

slaves

According to Thoreau, what can whites do even if they can’t use violence to overthrow oppression?

can protest (that’s why he doesn’t pay taxes); don’t give money to a cause you don’t support

What kind of tone does Thoreau end on?

bleak, but also challenging and thought provoking

Where did Thoreau and King write their works?

jail

T/F: King and Thoreau did not believe in accepting consequences of actions.

False

What did King and Thoreau believe is a reaction to injustice?

civil disobedience

What is the downfall of protests and society, according to King and Thoreau?

moderate thinking

How is voting an example of harmful moderate thinking?

you do nothing to fix the problem—you put it up to a gamble

How is white moderate thinking particularly harmful?

unwillingness to change segregation but knew it was wrong; decided against change; indifference = dangerous

What do Thoreau and Poe agree on?

Man cannot live in discord with conscience

Why can someone not live in discord with their conscience?

People need to be in unity to make good decisions

Thoreau and Poe could both be considered what?

individualists

King and Gandhi believe violence can be used when?

Never

According to King, when should laws be broken?

when they are not applied to the minority like they are to the majority

What is the purpose of the Letter from a Birmingham Jail?

to justify that civil disobedience is a moral path to change

How does King make logical arguments in his Letter?

through philosophy

How does King use visual imagery?

kids crying

How does King build credibility?

religion

King and Jefferson believe in _______ as a first step towards justice.

negotiation

Gandhi believed you should break which laws?

Those that are products of greed

What is the purpose of Gandhi’s letter?

to promote civil disobedience to an unjust tax (salt tax)

Gandhi believes you should _____ consequences of civil disobedience.

accept

Gandhi uses “I” significantly more in the end of his speech. What does this do?

takes responsibility upon himself

Give an example of word choice and its effect in Gandhi’s letter.

change of heart, conversion—evoking emotion in a Christian audience

What is the tonal shift in Gandhi’s letter?

deferential to direct

How is Gandhi’s tone at the end of his letter?

more straightforward

What did Poe believe humans had?

an innate compass of right and wrong

According to poe, is disregarding your conscience good or bad?

bad

Poe believed there was a ________ sense of morality.

universal

What is the purpose of William Wilson?

to warn people about disregarding their conscience

What is the exigence of William Wilson?

the narrator is dying

What is the audience of William Wilson?

moderate audience