English Final Study Guide

acquiesce

(v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit

affliction

(n.) anything causing pain or suffering

alacrity

(n.) speed

ample

(adj.) large in size, more than enough

assent

(v.) to express agreement

(n.) agreement

aversion

(n.) object arousing an intense dislike

candid

(adj.) completely honest; sincere

despotism

(n.) absolute rule, tyranny

dilapidated

(adj.) in disrepair

discord

(n.) lack of harmony; conflict

efface

(v.) erase; wipe out

eloquence

(n.) expressiveness

extort

(v.) to obtain by threat or violence

finite

(adj). having measurable or definable limits

infinity

(n.) endless or unlimited space, time, or distances

insidious

(adj.) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

magnanimity

(n.) generosity

ostentation

(n.) boastful display

parsimony

(n.) stinginess

pensive

(adj.) expressing deep thoughtfulness

perpetual

(adj.) lasting forever

prevalent

(adj.) widely existing or occurring

privilieges

(n.) special rights; advantages

rectitude

(n.) moral uprightness; righteousness

sublime

(adj.) noble, majestic

superfluous

(adj.) excessive; not necessary

tranquil

(adj.) calm, quiet, still

vigilant

(adj.) wide-awake, alert, watchful

address

prepared for a special occasion, like the dedication of a memorial or an inauguration

allusion

A reference to a well-known work of literature, person, or event

analogy

extended comparison of relationships

aphorisms

concise statements of a principle; tense formulation of a truth or sentiment

character

A person in a story

direct characterization

writer tells you what the character is like

dramatic irony

occurs when reader knows more than characters

exact rhyme

two or more words that have identical sounds in their final stressed syllables

foot

basic unit of meter

indirect characterization

personality is revealed through speech, thoughts, actions, appearance, reactions

irony

contrast between what appears to be and what really is

meter

systematic arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables

mood

emotional qualities

paradox

statement that seems contradictory but actually presents truth connected by their shared experiences of life

parallelism

repeating a grammatical structure

political speech

issue relating to government

repetition

restating an idea using the same words

rhetorical devices

patterns or words and ideas that create emphasis, clarify meaning, and stir emotions

rhetorical question

asked for effect rather than answers

restatement

expressing same idea using different words

sermon

intended to provide religious instruction

situational irony

when things turn out contrary to what is expected

slant rhyme

final sounds that are similar but no identical (one/stone)

speech

nonfiction work delivered orally to an audience

synecdoche

part of something to stand for the whole

verbal irony

what is said vs what is meant

Speech at the Virginia Convention

• What action does Patrick Henry want his listeners to take against England?

Patrick Henry wants the colonists to fight Britain for their liberty.

Speech at the Virginia Convention

• How will they fight against Britain?

This will be accomplished by organizing, training, and arming a militia to fight them.

Speech in the Convention

• What does Franklin confess in his speech?

Franklin confesses that he does not completely agree with the Constitution, but he supports it because compromise is necessary.

Speech in the Convention

• What is Franklin’s main point?

His main point is that the people should support the proposed Constitution because unanimity is essential to the nation's success.

The Declaration of Independence

• What is Jefferson’s main point of persuasion?

Jefferson's main point is that the American colonies have the right to break away from Britain because the British government has violated their natural rights.

The Declaration of Independence

• What are Jefferson’s lists of self- evident truths?

1. All men are created equal

2. unalienable rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

3. Governments are instituted to secure these rights

4. Governments derive their power from the consent of the governed

5. When a government becomes destructive of these ends, the people have the right to alter or abolish it

The Declaration of Independence

• What is Jefferson trying to accomplish?

Jefferson is trying to explain why the colonies are breaking away from Britain and to convince others that it is the right thing to do.

The Devil and Tom Walker

• Describe the forest and the devil

The forest is dark, gloomy, and mysterious, symbolizing danger and evil. The Devil is described as a large, dark man covered in soot, with glowing red eyes.

The Devil and Tom Walker

What type of people are Tom and his wife?

Tom and his wife are both greedy, selfish, and miserly. They constantly fight and cheat each other, showing little love or morality.

The Devil and Tom Walker

• What is the main lesson?

The main lesson is that greed and moral corruption lead to destruction, and making deals with evil has serious consequences.

The Devil and Tom Walker

• What happens to Tom?

Tom eventually gets taken away by the Devil on a black horse, disappearing forever, as punishment for his greed and deal with the Devil.

What source are the stories taken from in The Song of Hiawatha?

The stories come from nature and the lips of Nawadaha.

Explain the prologue of The Song of Hiawatha

The prologue invites listeners to hear Native American stories and celebrates their culture through rhythmic, ancient tales passed down over time.

Explain The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls

The poem shows a traveler whose footsteps fade away as the tide rises and falls, symbolizing that human life is temporary while nature's cycles continue forever.

What does Thanatopsis mean?

"a view of death"

What will happen to people that die in Thanatopsis?

People who die will return to the earth and become one with nature, join all others including royalty who have died, and be part of the natural cycle.

What is Old Ironsides about?

It is about saving the USS Constitution from being destroyed to honor its past battles and preserve it.

What is the author's view about Old Ironsides?

The author says it is better for the ship to sink than be destroyed and lose its dignity.

What is Emerson’s view in Nature?

Understanding and truth comes from immersing oneself into nature. Nature is a source of spiritual truth, beauty, and inspiration.

What is the key idea in Self-Reliance?

Individuals should trust themselves, think independently, and follow their own inner voice rather than conforming to society's expectations.

Explain the importance of Concord Hymn.

It is the "shot heard round the world" at the Battle of Concord.

It honors the bravery and sacrifice of the patriots who fought for freedom.

Walden and Civil Disobedience

What is Thoreau's central message in Walden?

People should live simply, deliberately, and in harmony with nature to discover deeper meaning in life.

Walden and Civil Disobedience

Explain the importance of the "path."

People fall into routines which are natural human behaviors. He warns people to create their own life and think independently.

Walden and Civil Disobedience

Why did Thoreau write Civil Disobedience?

To express his belief that people should resist unjust government actions through peaceful means. He was protesting the Mexican-American War and slavery.

Walden and Civil Disobedience

What is Civil Disobedience's central message?

People should not obey laws or support a government that violates moral principles.

The Fall of the House of Usher

How is the House of Usher described in the opening paragraphs? What single effect is created?

The house is described as dark, decaying, and gloomy, with crumbling walls, vacant eye-like windows, and a mysterious atmosphere. This description creates a single, powerful effect of dread and gloom.

The Fall of the House of Usher

What does the narrator represent in the story?

The narrator the third person looking at things from a different perspective. He gives light to the Usher family.

The Fall of the House of Usher

What causes Roderick's sad situation?

It is caused by a hereditary illness, a nervous condition, and isolation.

The Fall of the House of Usher

What violent incident contributes to the gothic element?

Madeline Usher breaks out of her tomb and collapses onto Roderick, causing their deaths.

The Great Gatsby

Tom

- lives in East Egg

- Daisy's husband

- affair with Myrtle

- played football at Yale

- careless, selfish, hypocritical

The Great Gatsby

Daisy

- lives in East Egg

- Tom's wife

- Gatsby's "love"

- "beautiful fool"

- superficial and materialistic

- affiliated with white and the green light

The Great Gatsby

Jay Gatsby

- lives in West Egg

- mysterious and secretive about his past

- wants Daisy

- obsessed with wealth and status

- born James Gatz in North Dakota

- bootlegger

The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway

- lives in West Egg next to Gatsby

- observant, thoughtful

- cousin to Daisy

- claims to be honest and nonjudgmental

- from the Midwest

- attended Yale

The Great Gatsby

Jordan Baker

- lives in East Egg

- professional golfer

- Daisy's friend

- confident

- dishonest

The Great Gatsby

Owl Eyes

- mysterious

- surprised by Gatsby's library (books are real)

- attends Gatsby's funeral

The Great Gatsby

Myrtle Wilson

- Tom's extramarital lover

- sensual and bold

- wants to escape the lower class

- is hit by the yellow car

The Great Gatsby

George Wilson

- Myrtle's husband

- owns a garage in the "valley of ashes"

- quiet, hardworking

- emotionally fragile

- consumed by grief and betrayal due to Myrtle's affair

The Great Gatsby

What is the setting?

- 1922

- "Jazz Age"

- West Egg, East Egg, "valley of ashes," New York City

The Great Gatsby

What is the theme?

The book displays the decline of the American Dream, showing how the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to moral decay, emptiness, and tragedy. It critiques the shallow values and careless attitudes of the rich in 1920s society.

The Great Gatsby

Why does Tom physically abuse this extra-marital lover?

Myrtle taunts Tom, saying Daisy's name.

The Great Gatsby

Where does Gatsby recognize Nick?

Gatsby recognizes Nick from when they served together in WWI third division.

The Great Gatsby

Where was Gatsby after the war?

Gatsby attended Oxford University for a short period after the war. He eventually moved to West Egg.

The Great Gatsby

Who gave Gatsby his start?

Dan Cody gave Gatsby his start. Gatsby worked as Cody's personal assistant on his yacht for several years.

The Great Gatsby

Why does Gatsby throw parties?

Gatsby throws parties because he hopes to attract Daisy.

The Great Gatsby

What is the importance of the green light?

The green light represents greed and his desire to recreate the past with Daisy.

The Great Gatsby

Why does Myrtle flag down the "death car"?

Myrtle flags the car down because she wants to talk to Tom, whom she saw driving the car earlier.