Unit 4 Literature Study Guide

A complete set of vocabulary-style flashcards based on the Unit 4 Literature Study Guide covering literary terms, poems, and memoirs.

Letter to my younger self (comparison)

The older self is wiser and less impulsive than the younger self.

Central theme of "Letter to my younger self"

Learn from failures.

Old man (genre)

Lyric poetry.

Major conflict in "old man"

Youth versus age.

Tone change in "old man"

Transitions from frustration to understanding.

Symbolism of the old man

Authority in tradition.

Themes in "old man"

Identity and resilience.

Memoir

A story that shows a meaningful incident in the author’s life.

Inciting incident

An event that introduces the conflict and sets it in emotion.

Condoleezza Rice (hometown)

Birmingham, Alabama.

Importance of education (Condoleezza Rice)

It was necessary for success and opportunity.

Parental preparation (Condoleezza Rice)

She was raised to neglect victimism and taught discipline.

Ballad of Birmingham (inspiration)

The 1934 church bombing.

Ballad

A poem is meant to be sung.

Motivation in "ballad of Birmingham"

The mother sends her daughter to church to keep her safe.

Tragic irony in "ballad of Birmingham"

The safest place in the world becomes the most unsafe.

Church symbol ("ballad of Birmingham")

Safety.

Tone change in "ballad of Birmingham"

Gentle to tragic.

Hatred's effects ("ballad of Birmingham")

Hatred destroys innocence.

White glove symbolism ("ballad of Birmingham")

Purity and innocence.

Bombingham

A name given to Birmingham due to the many bombings.

16th St. Baptist Church

A Civil rights meeting place during the civil rights movement.

Church bomb perpetrators

Members of the KKK.

Cynthia Wesley

One of the four girls killed in the church bombing.

Significance of the bombing

It became a turning point in American history because it exposed racial violence.

Delayed justice

Reveals that during this time period, justice is delayed.

Traveling (social issue)

Segregation.

Passing the baby forward ("traveling")

A moment that shows the crossing of racial boundaries.

Baby symbolism ("traveling")

Innocence and humanity.

Theme of interactions in "traveling"

Racial division in society.

Shaped poem

A poem that is shaped like a subject.

Concrete poetry

Arrangements that create meaning.

The universe (major idea)

Humanity is the smallest in the universe.

The universe (themes)

Awe and mystery.

The universe (structure)

Shaped poetry.

Mood change in "the universe"

Curious to fearful.

"That sound" symbolism

War.

Auen's theme on danger

Ignoring danger doesn’t stop it.

Initial response to threat (Auen)

Calmly and dismissively.

Rhodium girls

Workers working with radium.

Lip pointing

A dangerous practice workers were taught to do with brushes.

Radium jaw

Jaw deterioration from radium.

Company response (Radium Girls)

They denied dangers when workers became sick.

Radium Girls case importance

It created safety laws.

Theme of "Radium Girls"

Exploitation.

Persuasive nonfiction

Non-fiction that persuades.

Introvert misunderstanding (Kane)

They are misunderstood as shy and less capable.

Woman with flower (themes)

Strength and resilience.

Flower symbolism ("woman with flower")

Beauty and hardship.

Literary device in "woman with flower"

Metaphor (comparing the woman to the flower).

Nicolas Gage (struggle)

He struggled in school with the English language.

Miss Hurd

Nicholas’s teacher who encouraged him.

Internal conflict (Nicolas Gage)

Insecurity.

Major theme (Nicolas Gage essay)

Overcoming obstacles.

Becky Vaughn (tragedy)

Her life was changed by burns.

Vaughn’s response to suffering

Through faith and perseverance.

Crucible

A container used under extreme heat; a metaphor for testing.

Fire symbolism ("into the crucible")

Transformation.

Vaughn’s memoir themes

Redemption.

Role of Faith (Vaughn story)

It gives strength and healing.