Honors American Literature Final Exam Study Guide – Spring 2025

Flashcards for Honors American Literature Final Exam Study Guide - Spring 2025

What is Prohibition?

Prevention by law of alcohol between 1920 and 1933

What is the American Dream?

The ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved

What are the Roaring Twenties?

A period in American history characterized by rapid economic growth, cultural changes, and social shifts following World War I

What are Flappers?

A fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior (1920s)

What does setting refer to?

Where an event takes place

What is a plot?

The main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work

What is a theme?

An idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature

What is tone?

The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation

What is an allusion?

An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly

What is a metaphor?

Figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

What is a simile?

Figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing

What is a symbol?

A thing that represents or stands for something else

What is a stanza?

A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem

What is personification?

Attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman

What is alliteration?

Occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

What is rhyme?

Correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words

What is a scheme?

A plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.

Who is a speaker?

Person who speaks

Who is a narrator?

Person who narrates something

How do you format an MLA heading?

The heading on the first page appears in the upper left-hand corner, and includes your name, instructor's name, course name, and date, each on a separate, double-spaced line

How do you format the title of the novel we read this semester in MLA format?

italicized

How to write a proper in-text citation for a quote from The Great Gatsby, on p. 15?

“The telephone rang inside, startlingly, and as Daisy shook her head decisively at Tom the subject of the stables, in fact all subjects, vanished into air" (Fitzgerald 15)

Describe Fitzgerald’s personal life and literary career.

His personal life included alcoholism, financial difficulties, and Zelda's mental illness. b. The Side of Paradise (1920) c. The Beautiful and Damned (1922) d. Tender is the Night (1934) e. The Last Tycoon (after death) f. The Great Gatsby (1925)

What just ended before the 1920s?

World War I

What amendment outlawed the manufacture, sale and transport of alcohol?

18th Amendment

How did women contribute to the enactment of prohibition?

Temperance Movement and Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) i. driven by women, advocated for alcohol prohibition, arguing it caused social ills and domestic violence

How did Prohibition contribute to crime?

Due to the creation of a lucrative black market for alcohol

How were flappers different from other women?

Their fashion, behavior, and attitude, embracing a more modern and liberated lifestyle that challenged traditional social norms

What were speakeasies?

Drinking establishments that operated during the Prohibition era (secret bars)

What brought about the end of the Roaring Twenties?

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 (Black Tuesday)

In what decade does The Great Gatsby take place? What is this decade often called?

The 1920s. Often called the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age

What is Owl Eyes amazed about at Gatsby’s party? Why is this significant?

Guy in library, only one who comes to Gatsby funeral

Describe the way Tom and Daisy live. What word does Nick use to describe them at the end of the novel?

Life of unbounded privilege and careless entitlement, shielded by their wealth and societal status. Described as “carless people” .

What does Gatsby think you can repeat?

The past, his romantic relationship with Daisy specifically

What is the generally unspoken conflict between East Egg and West Egg in the book? Who looks down on whom?

The distinction between the two. Old money (East Egg) looks down on New money (West Egg).

What are Jordan and Daisy doing when we first see them in the novel?

Lounging on a couch

How can you tell New Money from Old Money? Give an example from Gatsby.

"New money" typically refers to wealth acquired within a single generation, “Old money" represents wealth that has been passed down through multiple generations, Gatsby = new money, showcasing his wealth through extravagant parties, Tom and Daisy Buchanan = old money, more subtle and established social status

How does Gatsby die? What are the circumstances that lead to his death?

George Wilson shoots him because he believes Gatsby was the driver of the car that killed Myrtle

What does Gatsby’s association with Wolfsheim suggest about his business?

His wealth is likely derived from illegal activities, particularly organized crime or bootlegging

How does Myrtle feel about George?

Disappointment

Why does Tom hit Myrtle?

She refuses to stop mentioning Daisy's name

Why does Gatsby throw his lavish parties?

To get Daisy’s attention, hoping she will walk into one of them

Why is Daisy so choked up over Gatsby’s shirts?

Overwhelmed by all the things he has done to get back to her

What kind of narrator is Nick?

A reliable narrator

Describe the Valley of Ashes.

A desolate, industrial wasteland between West Egg and New York City, representing moral decay and the plight of the working class

What scandal was Jordan Baker involved in in her career?

She cheated during a game

List the rumors that surround Gatsby. What is his actual biography?

Bootlegger, a German spy, a murderer, and an Oxford graduate Actual biography: he was born James Gatz in North Dakota, changed his name to Jay Gatsby after meeting a wealthy man,Dan Cody, and amassed his fortune through bootlegging and other illegal activities

Describe Gatsby’s funeral.

A somber affair attended by a small number of people, highlighting the hollowness of his social circle: Nick Carraway, Henry C. Gatz, the Owl-Eyed Man, a few servants, the postman from West Egg

What do Myrtle’s apartment and style of dress say about her?

Yearning for a higher social status and her attempt to escape her working-class life

When does Tom know he has beaten Gatsby?

In Chapter 7, he uses their class differences

Describe Tom Buchanan

Large, physically strong, and athletic man, with a history of wealth and privilege. He is arrogant, violent, and hypocritical, with a strong, controlling personality. His background is one of privilege, as he comes from a wealthy family and attended Yale. He lives in the wealthy section of West Egg, in contrast to Gatsby's neighbor, Nick Carraway, who lives in the less exclusive East Egg. Tom is married to Daisy, and he has a mistress named Myrtle. His affair with Myrtle and his attempts to control Daisy ultimately lead to tragedy, as he is involved in the events surrounding Myrtle's death and Gatsby's demise.

Describe Daisy Buchanan

Beautiful, alluring woman, but also shallow and materialistic. She's wealthy, married to Tom Buchanan, and the object of Gatsby's enduring love, having met him in Louisville, Kentucky. Daisy is often presented as innocent and charming, but also has a cynical and morally ambiguous side. She prioritizes wealth and status over genuine love and ultimately chooses a life of comfort and privilege over her relationship with Gatsby

Describe Owl Eyes

A middle-aged man with enormous owl-eyed spectacles. He is characterized by his fascination with Gatsby's library, especially the genuine books, and his initial skepticism towards Gatsby's life. Owl Eyes's background is unknown, but his presence in Gatsby's world and his eventual attendance at Gatsby's funeral suggest a deeper connection to Gatsby's true nature than many of the other partygoers.

Describe Myrtle Wilson

As stout, with a hoarse voice and a lack of conventional beauty, yet possessing a captivating vitality that attracts Tom Buchanan. Myrtle is a social climber who craves a more glamorous life and is living in a depressing valley of ashes with her husband George. Her most significant relationship is with Tom Buchanan, with whom she is having an affair, and her outcome is a tragic one, being killed by Daisy's car in a fatal accident.

Describe George Wilson

Blond, spiritless and anaemic. Whereas Tom comes across as strong, forceful and energetic, Wilson seems weak and demotivated. However, the men do have some things in common. They share a love for Myrtle, and each fears losing his wife

Describe Michaelis

A Greek immigrant who owns a coffee shop near George Wilson's garage. He is a minor character who witnesses Myrtle Wilson's death and attempts to provide support to George in the aftermath. Michaelis's actions and words, while brief, offer a contrasting perspective to the chaos surrounding the accident. Owns diner next to Wilson

Describe Klipspringer

A shallow, parasitic character who seems to live at Gatsby's mansion, taking advantage of his host's wealth. He's described as a slightly worn young man with shell-rimmed glasses and scanty blonde hair. His personality is characterized by opportunism and a lack of genuine friendship. He's primarily a guest, playing the piano, but shows no remorse when Gatsby dies, being only concerned about his own belongings. Lives at Gatsby’s, plays piano

Describe Wolfsheim

A shady figure with a distinctive appearance and personality. He is described as a short, flat-nosed man with tiny eyes and tufts of hair coming out of his nostrils, along with human molars for cufflinks. Wolfsheim's personality is characterized by a penchant for illegal activities and a willingness to associate with others involved in criminal enterprises.He is portrayed as a gangster with shady business dealings and a prominent role in organized crime, particularly in bootlegging.

Describe Jordan Baker

A professional golfer and socialite who represents the new woman of the 1920s. She is physically described as alluring and modern, with a wan or pale complexion, often associated with the golden color. Her personality is cynical, self-centered, and dishonest, and she is a close friend of Daisy Buchanan, a potential romantic interest for Nick Carraway. Her background involves a golf cheating scandal and a reputation for being somewhat unscrupulous. She is mostly set in the social circles of East Egg and Long Island, and her relationship with Nick ultimately ends due to her dishonesty and inability to commit to him.

Describe Jay Gatsby

Elegant and refined, his personality is characterized by his deep desire for social acceptance and his unwavering pursuit of love, his background is one of humble beginnings in the Midwest, the setting is the affluent Long Island in the 1920s, his relationships are marked by his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, and his outcome is tragic and symbolic.

Describe Nick Carraway

Nick's personality is characterized by his initial optimism, tolerance, and ability to see the good in others, as well as his eventual disillusionment with the reckless and careless behavior of the wealthy elite. He is closely related to Daisy Buchanan, which leads to his involvement with Gatsby's quest to win her back. While he initially believes in Gatsby's dreams, he eventually recognizes the superficiality and moral decay of the society he lives in, leading to his decision to return to the Midwest at the end of the novel.

Describe Henry Gatz

As an old, solemn, and helpless man who is deeply dismayed by his son's lavish lifestyle and ultimate fate. He is portrayed as a man of modest means, deeply connected to his humble origins, and disconnected from Gatsby's world of wealth and extravagance.

Describe East Egg

Old money, but it is also symbolic of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Jay Gatsby met and fell in love with Daisy during the middle of World War I. After Gatsby had been sent to war, a mystery loomed as to whether or not he survived.

Describe West Egg

New money and what it means to go from extreme poverty to endless money in only a matter of years. Gatsby is a great symbol of this because he grew up poor and did not have a family who could give him money. Therefore, he earned it himself.

Describe the Valley Of Ashes

Symbolic representation of the social and moral decay beneath the surface of the Roaring Twenties. It highlights the plight of the lower class, their struggles, and the corruption of the American Dream.

Describe New York

The east, where everything happens, anything can happen

Describe the Midwest

They come from a place where they belong but they move to East Egg

Describe The Weather

It's used to foreshadow events, emphasize moods, and create a sense of unease or hope

Describe Green and Gold

Gatsby's unattainable dream and desire for Daisy, as well as the elusive nature of the American Dream

Describe White

Primarily associated with Daisy and her idealized image of purity and innocence

Describe Cars and Drivers

Representing both the materialism and recklessness of the wealthy in the 1920s

Describe Dogs

Myrtle station in life

Describe Clocks

Representing both the materialism and recklessness of the wealthy in the 1920s

Describe Time

Highlighting the characters' inability to escape the past and the destructive nature of attempting to repeat it

Describe Dr. T. J. Eckleburg

A powerful symbol of decay, moral emptiness, and the loss of faith in a materialistic world

Describe Green Light

represents Gatsby's aspirations, hopes, and dreams

How does Dexter first meet Judy? How do they run into each other again years later?

Working as a caddie at the Black Bear Lake Country Club. Dexter runs into Judy again in New York, while working in his New York office

Where does Dexter go to college? Why?

Dexter goes to an eastern university to pursue his ambitions.

How does Dexter earn his money?

Caddying at a golf club, He later becomes a successful businessman by opening a laundry business

How does Judy treat her boyfriends?

None of them have her loyalty

How does Dexter treat Irene?

He is nice but then dumps her for Judy

What does Dexter find out has happened to Judy at the end of the story? How does he feel?

Dexter learns that Judy has lost her beauty and is unhappy in her marriage to a man named Simms, who is an alcoholic. He realizes the futility of chasing after unattainable ideals and the passage of time

What does the beach house symbolize to David and his family?

Their version of the American Dream, wealthy enough to have 2 homes

What does the woman say at the beginning of the story? Why do David and his mother try to imitate her?

The woman says, "You know, my feet are in a terrible shape, too." They find her confidence in accepting her own flaws charming and relatable.

How does David’s family start to change after they fail to purchase the beach house? Why?

Imagine they are better than they thought they were, naming the house they dont have, acting arrogant

What is the American Dream? Is it equally achievable for everyone?