English test 1

Walt Whitman

"Song of Myself" – Stanza 1

Whitman celebrates himself and all people, emphasizing the shared connection between individuals and nature. He feels alive, grounded, and in tune with the world.

"Song of Myself" – Stanza 52

In the final stanza, Whitman accepts death as part of life. He tells readers they can find him in nature after he's gone—he becomes part of the earth and the air.

"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d"

A poem mourning Abraham Lincoln’s death. Whitman uses nature (lilacs, stars, birds) to express grief, love, and eventual acceptance of death as a natural cycle.

Emily Dickenson

Poem 479: "Because I could not stop for Death - from Emily Dickinson. In this poem, the speaker describes how Death comes in the form of a polite gentleman who picks her up in a carriage ride. As they travel, they pass scenes that represent the stages of life: a school (childhood), fields (adulthood/work), and the setting sun (old age/death). The ride ends at a grave, which she describes as a “House.” The speaker reveals that although this happened centuries ago, it still feels recent, showing how eternal and timeless death feels.

Mark Twain

"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" This humorous short story is about a man named Simon Wheeler who tells a tall tale about a gambler named Jim Smiley, known for betting on anything. The main focus is on Smiley’s pet frog, which he trained to jump high and win competitions. However, when a stranger tricks Smiley by secretly weighing the frog down with lead shot, Smiley loses a bet. The story ends abruptly, showing how people in the Old West loved storytelling and exaggeration.

Sarah Orne Jewett

"A White Heron" This short story follows Sylvia, a shy and nature-loving young girl who lives with her grandmother in the countryside. One day, a young hunter arrives, asking for help to find a rare white heron to add to his bird collection. He offers money and shows kindness, which tempts Sylvia. The next morning, she climbs a tall tree, spots the heron’s nest, and now has the power to help the hunter. But in the end, she chooses to protect the bird and keep its location a secret, valuing nature over personal gain.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

"The Revolt of 'Mother'" This story centers on Sarah Penn, a hardworking farmer’s wife who has long endured her husband Adoniram’s broken promises. For years, he has promised to build a new house for their family but never follows through. When Adoniram finally builds a new barn instead, Sarah quietly decides to take action. She moves the family into the barn, transforming it into their new home, asserting her needs and challenging her husband’s authority. The story ends with Adoniram realizing the seriousness of Sarah’s stand and beginning to respect her wishes.

Kate Chopin

"Désirée's Baby" The story follows Désirée, a young woman of unknown origin who is adopted and raised by a wealthy Louisiana family. She marries Armand Aubigny, a plantation owner, and they have a baby. Over time, Armand notices that the baby’s skin is darker, which leads him to believe Désirée has African ancestry. Heartbroken and angry, Armand rejects Désirée and their child. Désirée disappears with the baby, presumed lost to the bayou. Later, Armand discovers a letter from his mother revealing that it is actually he who has African ancestry, not Désirée.

"The Story of an Hour" The story centers on Mrs. Louise Mallard, who learns that her husband has died in a railroad accident. Initially devastated, she soon feels a surprising sense of freedom and relief at the thought of living life on her own terms. However, her joy is short-lived when her husband walks in alive and well, having been nowhere near the accident. Shocked by his return, Louise suddenly dies, with doctors claiming it was from “the joy that kills.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

"The Yellow Wall-paper" The story is a first-person narrative about a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Her husband, a physician, prescribes a “rest cure,” confining her to a room with yellow wallpaper in an old mansion. As she spends more time isolated, she becomes obsessed with the wallpaper’s patterns, believing she sees a woman trapped behind it. Her mental health deteriorates as she identifies with the trapped figure, symbolizing her own feelings of confinement. By the end, she has a complete mental breakdown, tearing down the wallpaper to free the imagined woman.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote “Why I Wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’” to explain her personal experience with postpartum depression and to criticize the harmful “rest cure” treatment prescribed to her, which involved isolation and inactivity. She wanted to highlight how this treatment worsened her mental health instead of helping it. Gilman hoped her story would raise awareness about the need for more understanding and better care for women’s mental health, and to challenge the restrictive roles and medical practices imposed on women in the 19th century.

Ida B. Wells Barnett

"Shot an Officer"
This section describes the incident where Charles, a man involved in criminal activities, shot a police officer. It covers the details of the shooting, the circumstances leading up to it, and the immediate aftermath.

"Death of Charles"
This part narrates Charles’s death following the shooting. It includes the confrontation with law enforcement and the events that led to his demise.

"Mob Brutality"
Here, the focus is on the violent response of the local mob to Charles’s actions and death. The mob takes justice into their own hands, leading to brutal treatment and chaos.

"A Gray-Haired Victim"
This section tells the story of an older individual who becomes a victim amidst the violence and unrest, highlighting the broader impact on the community.

"Was Charles a Desperado?"
This part questions Charles’s character and motives. It explores whether he was truly a dangerous outlaw or if the narrative has been exaggerated or misunderstood.

"Died in Self-Defense"
The final section argues that Charles’s death was an act of self-defense, providing evidence or perspectives that challenge the initial portrayal of the events.

W. E. B. Du Bois

"The Forethought"
This is a short introductory passage where W.E.B. Du Bois sets the tone for his book The Souls of Black Folk. He reflects on the deep struggles and hopes of African Americans, preparing readers for the themes of identity, race, and social justice that follow.

"I. Of Our Spiritual Strivings"
In this section, Du Bois discusses the concept of “double consciousness,” the internal conflict African Americans face living in a society that views them through a lens of prejudice. He explores how Black Americans struggle to reconcile their African heritage with their American identity, striving for equality and self-respect in a racially divided nation. Du Bois emphasizes the spiritual and psychological challenges involved in this struggle for freedom and recognition.

Paul Laurence Dunbar

"We Wear the Mask"
This poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar talks about how Black people (and others facing hardship) often hide their true feelings behind a “mask” of smiles and false appearances. It explores themes of pain, deception, and the struggle to survive in a society that doesn’t always show understanding or compassion.

"Sympathy"
Written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, this poem expresses the deep longing for freedom felt by those who are oppressed. Using the metaphor of a caged bird beating its wings against the bars, it conveys feelings of frustration, suffering, and hope for release from captivity—both physical and emotional.

Stephen Crane

“The Open Boat”

The story is based on Crane’s own experience surviving a shipwreck. It follows four men—the captain, the cook, the correspondent (a writer), and the oiler—who are stranded in a small dinghy on rough seas. They struggle together against nature’s indifferent power, battling waves, cold, and exhaustion as they try to reach shore. Despite their efforts and cooperation, the story highlights the randomness of fate and nature’s indifference to human life. In the end, only three survive; the oiler dies just before reaching safety.

Jack London

“To Build a Fire”

The story follows an unnamed man traveling alone through the Yukon wilderness on an extremely cold day, with temperatures well below freezing. Despite warnings from an experienced old-timer not to travel alone in such harsh conditions, the man sets out anyway. As he journeys, he struggles against the brutal cold and eventually falls into a hidden stream, soaking his clothes. He tries to build a fire to dry himself and survive the freezing temperatures, but his attempts fail due to his clumsiness and the harsh environment. Eventually, the cold overpowers him, and he dies alone in the wilderness. His loyal dog, sensing the danger, leaves to find other humans.