Freshman English 2026 Final Exam Study Guide

Comprehensive practice questions covering The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, literary terms, and MLA formatting based on the final exam study guide.

What are the common traits of an epic hero like Odysseus?

Undertakes a quest for value, displays societal values, receives supernatural aid, has a tragic flaw (like hubris), and is physically impressive, brave, wise, cunning, and resourceful.

Define an 'Odyssey'.

A long, difficult journey in search of something of value.

What is an epic simile?

A figure of speech using like, as, or resembles that compares heroic or epic events to simple, everyday events that the audience would recognize instantly.

What are the two examples of epic similes provided in the notes?

1. Scylla snatching men compared to someone fishing or surf-casting. 2. Suitors on the floor compared to fish dumped from a net onto the sand.

What is the difference between Dramatic, Verbal, and Situational irony?

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows what characters do not; Verbal irony is using words to suggest the opposite of what is meant; Situational irony is when the actual outcome is the opposite of logical expectation.

What is Hospitality (Xenia) and why is it important?

The generous relationship between guest/stranger and host; failing to show it would anger the gods and goddesses.

What is hubris?

Dangerous overconfidence, excessive pride, or arrogance.

Which goddess provides the most influence in aiding Odysseus on his quest?

Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

Why does Poseidon take revenge on Odysseus?

Because Odysseus stabs Poseidon's one-eyed son, Polyphemus, in the eye.

What happens to Odysseus's men after they kill and eat the cattle of Helios?

Zeus punishes them by sending a thunderbolt to destroy their boat, causing all the men to drown except Odysseus.

How do Odysseus and his men blind Polyphemus and escape his cave?

They get him drunk on wine, blind him with a stake made from an olive tree, and escape by holding onto the bellies of rams (tied three abreast).

What name does Odysseus give to Polyphemus to trick him?

Nohbdy.

What are the specific terms of Polyphemus's prayer to Poseidon regarding Odysseus?

That he never makes it home, or if he does, it takes years, he loses all his men, and he faces bitter days at home.

How did Penelope avoid marriage to the suitors for three years?

By weaving a burial cloth (shroud) every day and unweaving it every night.

What test must a suitor pass to marry Penelope?

String Odysseus’s bow and shoot an arrow through $12$ iron ax-helve sockets.

What are the steps in Odysseus’s plan to regain his kingdom from the suitors?

Remove their weapons from the hall, lock them inside the palace compound, and lock the women safely in their rooms.

What is the difference between Direct and Indirect characterization?

Direct characterization states traits outright; Indirect characterization provides clues through appearance, actions, speech, and other characters' reactions.

Provide an example of foreshadowing from Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo having a bad feeling about the Capulet masquerade party and mentioning his untimely death.

What is the purpose of comic relief in a play like Romeo and Juliet?

To add humor, provide a foil for serious characters, satisfy the groundlings, and soften the pain of a tragic ending.

What is a soliloquy?

A long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage (or thinking they are alone).

What are 'character foils'?

Characters whose opposite qualities provide contrast, making those qualities stand out more (e.g., Mercutio and Romeo).

What was the Globe?

A London theater where Shakespeare’s plays were performed in the $16^{th}$ and $17^{th}$ century.

What is the climax of Romeo and Juliet?

It begins with Romeo drinking poison from the apothecary and ends with Juliet stabbing herself with Romeo’s dagger.

In the potion plan, how long will Juliet appear dead?

$42$ hours.

What is the structure and rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet?

It is a $14$-line poem with $3$ quatrains and $1$ couplet, following the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg.

Define iambic pentameter.

A line of poetry with $10$ syllables consisting of $5$ iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable).

What is the correct MLA format for a date?

Day Month Year (Example: $1$ June $2026$).

How should article and book titles be punctuated according to MLA format?

Article titles are put in quotation marks, and book titles are italicized.