Honors English - Naturalism/Realism (PART II)

What kind of tale is “To Build a Fire”?

survival tale set in the Yukon, a region of northwest Canada adjacent to Alaska’s eastern border

What was the day (setting) in the beginning of “To Build a Fire”?

cold and gray day, exceedingly cold and no sun at all; subtle gloom

How did the man react to the “no sun” situation?

he really didn’t care, and he underestimated the cold (he acted as if he was used to it; not worried)

What did the man think of -50 degrees Fahrenheit?

he didn’t really think it through, and obviously it was way colder than that; he thought it was basically just a number

What did the man observe when he spit?

it froze and crackled

What was the difference between the husky and the man?

the husky was smarter/intelligent; more experience and instinct; the man doesn’t really have sense when it comes to the cold extreme conditions

What was with the “chewing tobacco” in “to build a fire”?

he chewed and the juices freeze on his chin = amber beard

What does the man do (push) to the dog?

he pushes the dog through he ice to test the thin - iced river, and the dog goes through and freezes; the dog jumps out and tries to chew the ice off

What caused the hour delay for the man in “To Build A Fire”?

he broke through thin ice up to his knees

What happened to his first fire (To Build a Fire)?

he built it under a big tree and the snow from it blotted it out

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Describe John Oakhurst?

Gambler; conscious of a change in Poker Flat since last night; coolly and desperate man

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Date:

23 Nov. 1850

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What was the air of the morning like?

Sabbath lull, unusually not bustling with activity, quiet and peaceful

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): How did Oakhurst react to the quiet morning?

he thinks they’re after somebody (“Perhaps it’s me”)

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did Poker Flat recently lose?

several thousand dollars, horses and a valuable citizen

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What was Poker Flat experiencing?

a moral outrage and an impulsive thought to make the town morally better

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did some of the people think about John Oakhurst?

some wanted to hang him because they lost to him and some thought that was too much for they won against him

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): How did John react to the gossiping about whether he will be hanged or not?

Cooly, calm; poker face

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Uncle Billy:

a suspected sluice-robber and confirmed drunkard

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): How did the duchess, oakhurst, mother shipton, and uncle billy react to getting escorted?

hysterical tears; silence; bad language; swear words

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did Oakhurst listen to the others as they just get escorted?

how duchess said she would die; how mother shipton’s desire to cut someone’s heart out; alarming oaths from Uncle Billy

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What was the name of Oakhurst’s riding horse and what did he do with it?

Five Spot; he gave it to the sorry mule Duchess rode; but Mother Shipton got jealous

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What was Sandy Bar, where did it lay over, and how long to get there, etc.?

the initial destination for the “improper” persons; lay over a steep mountain range; trail was narrow and difficult; it was a distant day’s worth of travel

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What caused the party to halt as they strove to get to Sandy Bar?

Duchess halted and couldn’t go anymore

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Who knew that the party wasn’t equipped for delay?

oakhurst

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Even though Oakhurst pointed out the party wasn’t equipped for this delay, what did they all do? AND WHAT WERE THE REACTIONS?

they drank except oakhurst; billy passed rapidly from bellicose to stupor; Duchess became maudlin, mother shipton snored

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Why did Oakhurst not drink?

he needed impassiveness and coolness to be a gambler, sharp and on his feet

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did Oakhurst do while the others drank?

he dusted his clothes and shoes

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Did it occur to Oakhurst to abandon his weak friends?

no

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Who is the newcomer?

Tom Simson “The Innocent” of Sandy Bar, and Piney Woods (soon-to-be-wife, 15, shy); Tom used to gamble with Oakhurst but was foolish and lost all his money, Oakhurst felt bad and gave it all back, told him to never do it again

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What were Tom Simson and Piney Woods going to do?

they didn’t get Jake Woods’ blessing to get married, so they ran away and are going to Sandy Bar to marry

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Did the newcomers have more supplies?

yes, way more

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What caused Uncle Billy to burst into a fit of laughter?”

when the “innocent” thought the duchess was “Mrs. Oakhurst”

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): Who woke up first and what happened?

Mr. Oakhurst, there was snow, he realized Uncle Billy was gone but he didn’t want the rest of the party to wake or worry (MULES WERE GONE)

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did the party realize after Uncle Billy left? (FOOD)

he didn’t steal the food; if they used the food wisely, they could survive for another 10 days

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did oakhurst tell the Innocent?

he could stay with them if he was willing; if not, he could wait till Uncle Billy will return with supplies (but he wouldn’t tell the truth on how Billy literally stole and left)

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What is ironic about the luck of Oakhurst?”

He explained that when someone has a lucky streak in gambling, they don’t feel tired, but eventually the luck runs out. BUT at the end, he dies (bad luck)

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): On the third day, what did they realize?

they were trapped by the snow and they treated Piney like a child because she was proper and innocent

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did Piney suggest doing to pass time and ignore hunger?

Story telling, but no one wanted to talk about their past lives; The Innocent tells of The Iliad, he read a translation of Alexander Pope retold the story in simple words; ancient heroes involved

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What was progressively happening to the certain members of the party as they grew with no food and all the snow?

oakhurst was accepting the loss like a gambler losing; duchess continued caring for Piney; Mother Shipton became weak and sick —> she told oakhurst she will die; it turns out she starved herself to give all the food to Piney

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What did Oakhurst tell Tom after the death of Mother Shipton?

he made as pair of snow shoes and if someone reached poker Flat in two days, they could save Piney

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): True/False: Oakhurst surprisingly kissed the Duchess.

true

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What happened when Mr. Oakhurst “supposedly left” and brought tears to the eyes of Duchess?

Mr. Oakhurst stayed behind, but he secretly ensured the group would have enough firewood, showing his care, and the Duchess was quietly touched

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What happened as the rescuers/other people walked near the embrace of the two, Piney and Duchess?

they couldn’t tell which was the innocent and which one was not

(Outcasts of Poker Flat): What happened to John Oakhurst?

he killed himself with a shotgun and pinned a note with a deuce of clubs

Who wrote “Ain’t I A Woman?”

Sojourner Truth

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) An example of…

dialect; different way of speaking

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) Speech from where?

Women's Lack of Rights Convention

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) Did Sojourner Truth get any formal education?

no, not any education

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) Rhetorical Question?

“But what’s all this here talking about?”

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) What makes Sojourner Truth strong as a mother?

she bore thirteen children and most were sold to slavery

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) example of dialect

“ain’t”

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) Man came from…

woman and God

(“Ain’t I A Woman?”) what are the figurative devices used?

allusions to the Bbile, repetition, rhetorical questions

Is “Woman’s Right to Suffrage” a controversial argument?

yes; Susan states that it might be okay for the educated to rule over the poor, but it is NEVER okay for men to rule over women

What does Miniver Cheevy miss?

the olden days of medieval times

“Miniver Cheevy”: Personifications:

Romance and Art —>he believes

“Miniver Cheevy”: The Medici is known for?

intrigue and money

“Miniver Cheevy”: What is Miniver’s opinion on rich people?

he doesn’t like them and he’s poor

“Miniver Cheevy”: What does he obsess over?

things that he doesn’t have; he thinks that he should’ve been born at a different time period