English 2023 Spring 2025 Final Exam Review Notes

A comprehensive set of flashcards based on key themes, symbols, meanings, and literary terms from the lecture notes for review.

What is the main theme of T.C. Boyle's "Rara Avis"?

The main theme is obsession and the consequences of scientific exploration, highlighting the fragility of nature in the face of human desire.

What does the title "Rara Avis" symbolize?

It symbolizes rarity and uniqueness, reflecting the extraordinary beauty of the bird and the human tendency to desire what is hard to obtain.

How does Boyle critique humanity in "Rara Avis"?

He critiques the intersection of humanity and nature, questioning if our desire to possess nature leads to its destruction.

What does the rare bird represent in "Rara Avis"?

It represents both the beauty of conservation efforts and the destructive tendencies of human exploration.

Which significant quote from "Rara Avis" encapsulates its themes?

"It isn't just about the bird, it's about the fever of the chase."

In "Night Women" by Edwidge Dandicat, what primary themes are explored?

The complexities of motherhood and survival.

What does the Haitian mother in "Night Women" do to survive?

She works as a prostitute to provide for her child.

What emotional conflicts are highlighted in "Night Women"?

The internal conflicts faced by women in desperation, emphasizing the bond between mother and child despite harsh realities.

What significance does the quote "I work at night for you. I dance in the dark to save you from the light" have in "Night Women"?

It underscores the sacrifices made in the name of motherhood.

What story does Angela Carter's "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon" reimagine?

It reimagines the tale of Beauty and the Beast.

Which themes are prominent in "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon"?

Attraction, power dynamics of love, and the questioning of beauty and transformation.

What does the character Mr. Lyon represent in the story?

He symbolizes both the ferocity and vulnerability of love.

What does the rose symbolize in "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon"?

It represents beauty and the transient nature of desire.

What is the central concern of Raymond Carver's "Are These Actual Miles?"?

The fragile nature of relationships through a moment of crisis.

What does the car symbolize in "Are These Actual Miles?"?

Stability and personal identity.

What recurring themes does Martin Amis's "The Immortals" focus on?

Mortality and identity.

What does the narrative of "The Immortals" challenge readers to confront?

Perceptions of life and mortality.

What notable quote from "The Immortals" highlights its themes?

"They were all so alive, so busy with all their living and wanting, I felt guiltily like a ghost."

What key theme does Mary Morris's "The Lifeguard" explore?

Confronting personal fears and the notion of letting go.

What does the ocean symbolize in "The Lifeguard"?

A potent symbol of change, embodying both refuge and danger.

What does the quote "You can only be safe if you let go" represent in "The Lifeguard"?

Emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance.

In Haruki Murakami's "The Elephant Vanishes," what themes are explored?

Disappearance, reality, and the absurdity of ordinary life.

What does the vanished elephant symbolize in Murakami's story?

Lost wonder in daily life.

What is the significance of the quote "The peculiar nature of the world sometimes just fades away"?

It reflects on the mundane versus the extraordinary.

What key themes does Patrick Chamoiseau's "The Old Man Slave and the Mastiff" address?

Memory, history, and the legacy of slavery.

What symbol represents loyalty and the burden of history in Chamoiseau's narrative?

The mastiff.

What does the quote "Each story holds a truth echoing through time" convey in "The Old Man Slave and the Mastiff"?

It encapsulates the enduring impact of history.

How does Kazuo Ishiguro's "A Family Supper" explore family dynamics?

Examines familial relationships intertwined with nostalgia and trauma.

What does the fish symbolize in "A Family Supper"?

Both nourishment and loss.

What is the notable quote in "A Family Supper" relating to memory?

"The past is always there, lurking beneath our plate."

In Lydia Davis's "The House Behind," what is a key theme?

Isolation and introspection through personal loss.

What does the house symbolize in Davis's narrative?

Memory and the past.

What does Margaret Atwood's "Happy Endings" comment on?

The nature of storytelling and what defines true happiness.

How does Atwood's narrative structure challenge readers?

It emphasizes character experience over plot trajectory.

What does the quote "What happens at the end is not nearly as interesting as what happens in between" suggest?

It critiques conventional narrative endings.

In T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," what themes are illuminated?

Struggles of modern man and existential introspection.

What does Prufrock's internal monologue highlight?

His feelings of inadequacy and fear of connecting with others.

What does the imagery of the "overwhelmed" city represent in Prufrock's poem?

The alienating nature of modernity.

What key quote conveys Prufrock's existential theme?

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."

Which generational theme does Philip Larkin's "This Be The Verse" engage?

Familial conflict and the burdens passed down through lineage.

What emotional impact does Larkin's language have in the poem?

Reflects the complexities of familial relationships.

What does the quote "They mess you up, your mum and dad" imply in Larkin's poem?

Highlights the profound influence of parents on their children.

What existential themes does Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" explore?

Absurdism, the search for meaning, and the human condition.

What does the act of waiting symbolize in Beckett's play?

Our existential quest.

What insightful quote summarizes the theme of futility in "Waiting for Godot"?

"Nothing to be done."

In Antonia Clark's "Excuses I Have Already Used," what themes are highlighted?

Regret and the human tendency to rationalize decisions.

What do the varied excuses symbolize in Clark's narrative?

Both a protective mechanism and a window into one's psyche.

In William Stafford's "The Little Girl by the Fence at School," what themes are explored?

Childhood innocence and the complexities posed by barriers.

What does the fence symbolize in Stafford's poem?

A boundary that separates and protects.

What significant quote emphasizes belonging in "The Little Girl by the Fence at School"?

"Sometimes we need a fence to remind us that we belong."

What is the main theme of Rita Dove's "Adolescence II"?

The transformative journey of youth and its complexities.

What does Dove's vivid imagery capture in "Adolescence II"?

The intensity of adolescence with its emotional landscape.

How does Julia Alvarez's "Bilingual Sestina" explore identity?

Through the complexities of bilingualism and cultural ties.

What does the interplay of language symbolize in Alvarez's poem?

The fluidity of identity and duality of belonging.

How does James Wright's "Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio" reflect on despair and hope?

It shows the connection between personal pain and collective experiences.

What does the setting of autumn symbolize in Wright's poem?

Change and transformation.

What is conveyed through the quote "In the same way tin is not gold, we survive"?

Acceptance of life's complexities amid despair.

What pain does Gwendolyn Brooks's "The Mother" explore?

The pain and regret surrounding motherhood and choices.

What key theme does Kincaid's "Girl" address?

Complex dynamics of mother-daughter relationships and cultural expectations.

What does the mother's instructions symbolize in Kincaid's narrative?

Cultural values and expectations placed on women.

What does Elizabeth Bishop's "One Art" explore?

Themes of loss and acceptance as part of human existence.

What is the main idea of Allison Joseph's "Regrets"?

Reflections on life choices and the emotional weight of decisions.

How does Anne Sexton's "Starry Night" juxtapose beauty and despair?

It illustrates the depth of mental health struggles and the solace found in nature.

What does the starry night symbolize in Sexton's poem?

Hope and possibility amid internal struggles.

What commentary does U.A. Fanthorpe's "Not My Best Side" provide?

On self-image and beauty standards through character perspectives.

What does Carolyn Forche's "The Colonel" address?

The horrors of war and the implications of human rights violations.

What do the colonel's actions symbolize in Forche's poem?

The extremes of power and human cruelty.

What does Susanna Kaysen's "Girl, Interrupted" engage with?

Themes of mental health, identity, and recovery.

What significance does the structure of Kaysen's memoir have?

It symbolizes the fragmented nature of mental health narratives.

What does Octavia Butler's "Kindred" intertwine?

Themes of race, history, and identity through a time-travel narrative.

What does the story of "Kindred" urge readers to acknowledge?

The ongoing impact of historical trauma on contemporary identities.

What do Lynda Barry's "100 Demons" reflect on?

Complexities of childhood, trauma, and self-discovery.

What do the demons symbolize in Barry's memoir?

Personal struggles and the journey toward acceptance.

What literary term is defined as a typical example in literature?

Archetype.

What characterizes a dynamic character?

Undergoes significant internal change throughout a story.

What role does a static character serve in literature?

Remains largely the same throughout the narrative.

What is the significance of an unreliable narrator?

Engages readers in questioning the truth.

What defines magic realism as a literary genre?

Magical elements in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment.

What is exposition in literature?

The introduction of background information within a story.

What marks the climax of a story?

The most intense point where conflict peaks.

What does a motif represent in narrative?

A recurrent thematic element.

What is the definition of theme in literature?

The main idea or underlying message of a literary work.

What is the purpose of falling action in a narrative?

The events leading to resolution after the climax.

What constitutes the resolution of a story?

The conclusion where conflicts are resolved.

How does tone influence literary works?

The writer's attitude affects reader perception.

What is an epiphany in literature?

A moment of sudden revelation or insight.

What does stereotype refer to in literature?

A widely held but oversimplified belief about a particular type of person.

What does the term microcosm signify?

A community or situation captured in miniature that reflects larger qualities.

What role does symbolism play in literature?

It deepens meaning through representative imagery.

How is gratuitous defined in literary contexts?

Uncalled for and lacking good reason.

What does catharsis refer to in literature?

The emotional release experienced by the audience.

What is a vignette in literary terms?

A brief descriptive account that captures a moment.

What does "in medias res" mean in storytelling?

A narrative that begins in the middle of the action.

What is a metaphor?

A figure of speech that involves an implied comparison.

What is a simile?

A figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as."

What constitutes a stanza?

A grouped set of lines in a poem.

How is postmodernism characterized in literature?

A reaction against modernism, focusing on fragmented narratives and irony.

What is an allusion?

A brief, indirect reference to a person, event, or literary work.

What does sensual language achieve in literature?

Evokes physical sensations through vivid descriptions.

What does point of view refer to in literature?

The perspective through which a story is narrated.