English

Detailed Study Guide for College Writing Midterm Examination

1. Antigone by Sophocles

• Detailed Summary:

The play begins after the death of Oedipus, with his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, having killed each other in a battle for the throne of Thebes. Creon, the new king, decrees that Eteocles will be given a hero’s burial, but Polynices, branded a traitor, will be left unburied, a crime against Greek religious beliefs. Antigone, sister of the two men, defies Creon’s edict and secretly buries Polynices. When Creon discovers her actions, he sentences her to death despite warnings from his son Haemon (Antigone’s fiancé) and the prophet Tiresias. Antigone is imprisoned and takes her own life. Her death triggers a series of tragedies: Haemon kills himself, followed by Creon’s wife, Eurydice. Creon is left alone, devastated by the consequences of his pride and stubbornness.

• Detailed Analysis:

• Themes:

• Divine vs. Human Law: Antigone believes divine laws of burial take precedence over Creon’s human laws. Her defiance emphasizes the tension between moral duty and political authority.

• Pride and Power: Creon’s tragic flaw, hubris, blinds him to reason and compassion, ultimately leading to his downfall.

• Gender and Resistance: Antigone’s resistance to Creon challenges traditional gender roles in a patriarchal society.

• Literary Devices:

• Use of chorus to reflect societal norms and amplify key themes.

• Foreshadowing through Tiresias’s warnings about Creon’s doom.

• Relevance: The play serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the need for humility in leadership.

2. The Inferno by Dante Alighieri

• Detailed Summary:

Dante, the protagonist, finds himself lost in a dark forest, representing spiritual confusion. He is guided by Virgil through the nine circles of Hell, where sinners are punished in ways reflecting their sins (the concept of “contrapasso”). Each circle corresponds to a specific sin: Limbo for the unbaptized, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery. Dante meets historical and mythological figures, learning about their sins and punishments. At the end of his journey, Dante confronts Satan, frozen at the center of Hell, gnawing on the traitors Judas, Brutus, and Cassius. The journey serves as a step toward redemption.

• Detailed Analysis:

• Themes:

• Justice and Divine Order: The punishments in Hell are proportional to the gravity of sins committed, showcasing divine justice.

• Human Weakness: The journey through Hell exposes the flaws and temptations inherent in humanity.

• Redemption: Dante’s descent into Hell is a necessary step in his spiritual awakening and eventual salvation.

• Literary Devices:

• Use of symbolism, such as the dark forest symbolizing moral confusion.

• Allegory: Dante’s journey represents the soul’s path toward God.

• Significance: A masterpiece of allegorical literature, The Inferno provides a moral framework for understanding sin and redemption.

3. Hamlet by William Shakespeare

• Detailed Summary:

Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark following the death of his father, King Hamlet, only to discover his mother, Gertrude, has married his uncle, Claudius, who has seized the throne. The ghost of King Hamlet reveals that Claudius murdered him and demands revenge. Hamlet feigns madness to uncover the truth, leading to a series of tragic events. Polonius, the father of Ophelia (Hamlet’s love interest) and Laertes, is accidentally killed by Hamlet. Ophelia descends into madness and dies. In the final act, a duel between Hamlet and Laertes results in the deaths of Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet himself.

• Detailed Analysis:

• Themes:

• Revenge and Justice: Hamlet’s struggle to avenge his father raises questions about the morality of revenge.

• Madness: The line between real and feigned madness blurs, reflecting Hamlet’s internal conflict.

• Death and Mortality: The play’s many deaths emphasize life’s fragility and the inevitability of death.

• Key Literary Devices:

• Soliloquies, especially “To be or not to be,” provide insight into Hamlet’s thoughts.

• Irony, such as Hamlet’s delay leading to unintended consequences.

• Significance: A profound exploration of human psychology and moral dilemmas, Hamlet remains one of the most analyzed works in literature.

4. The Stranger by Albert Camus

• Detailed Summary:

Meursault, a French Algerian, lives a detached and emotionless life. After his mother’s death, he becomes involved with Marie, but his lack of grief or ambition isolates him. One day, he impulsively kills an Arab man on a beach, seemingly without motive. During his trial, his indifference to social norms, such as not crying at his mother’s funeral, becomes central to the prosecution’s case. He is sentenced to death. Facing his execution, Meursault accepts the absurdity of life and embraces its lack of inherent meaning.

• Detailed Analysis:

• Themes:

• Absurdism: Life has no inherent meaning, and humans must create their own purpose.

• Alienation: Meursault’s detachment from society highlights the cost of nonconformity.

• Death and Freedom: By accepting life’s absurdity, Meursault finds freedom in the face of death.

• Key Devices:

• Minimalist prose reflects Meursault’s emotional detachment.

• Symbolism: The sun during the murder scene represents overwhelming pressure and irrationality.

• Relevance: Challenges readers to question societal norms and confront existential truths.

5. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

• Detailed Summary:

Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect. Initially, he worries about his job as a traveling salesman and his ability to support his family. As his condition worsens, his family becomes increasingly hostile. Gregor’s physical state deteriorates, reflecting his alienation and loss of purpose. Ultimately, he dies alone, and his family moves on, relieved by his absence.

• Detailed Analysis:

• Themes:

• Alienation: Gregor’s transformation symbolizes the dehumanizing effects of societal and familial neglect.

• Sacrifice and Exploitation: Gregor’s life as the family’s sole breadwinner parallels his insect form—used and discarded when no longer useful.

• Identity and Transformation: Gregor’s physical change mirrors his psychological disconnection from his former life.

• Key Literary Devices:

• Surrealism: The fantastical premise heightens the emotional and symbolic impact.

• Symbolism: Gregor’s insect form represents his perceived worthlessness.

• Significance: A haunting critique of modernity and the human condition.