English III Honors Exam

I.  Literary Terms: DEFINE

purpose - the authors reason or intention for writing a particular text      

intended audience - the specific group of people a writer anticipates will read their work 

style - the way a writer expresses their ideas, which encompasses their choices in word selection, sentence structure, and tone        

 Theme - the main idea 

plain style - writing that is simple, direct, and free from fancy language      

Allegory - a form of narrative that uses plot, setting or character to stand for a message that has a larger moral or lesson or makes a far-reaching commentary on real -world issue         

Tall-tale - narrative that depicts the wild adventures of extravagantly exaggerated folk heroes  

primary source - immediate, first hand on a topic          

secondary source - one that was created later by someone that did not experience firsthand or participate in the events in which the author is writing about 

Symbol - an object, person, place, or idea that represents something else, usually a larger concept or idea, beyond its literal meaning       

Foreshadowing - a literary device where an author hints at events that will happen later in the story 

Flashback - a scene that takes us back in time from the current point in the story 

suspense - a literary device that authors use to keep their readers interest alive throughout the work    

Atmosphere - the feeling or emotion mood created by a writer through their descriptive language, setting or overall narrative     

dynamic character - someone who undergoes a great, overreaching transformation between the beginning and end of the story    

static character - one that doesn’t change throughout the whole story 

round character - a character in fictional work with depth or a complex personality 

flat character - two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work 

Protagonist - the main character often the hero

Antagonist - a character, force, or idea that opposes the protagonist

Archetype -  is a symbol, pattern, plot, or character template that appears in multiple stories from across cultures 

mood - the atmosphere or emotional feeling created for the reader by a work of literature          

unity of effect - determining what effect you want to have on a reader    

motif - any distinctive feature that reoccurs in the story

historical context - refers to the social, economic, political, and religious, events that influenced the writing of a text     

Setting - the time the time and place a story takes place 

creation myth - a supernatural story or explanation, often religious in nature, that describes the beginnings of humanity, earth, life, and the universe   

Tone - the attitude a writer takes towards a subject, character, or audience               

3rd person omniscient point of view - a point of view ere the narrator knows all the thoughts, actions, and feelings of all characters

3rd person limited point of view - the narrator tells the story from the perspective of a single character, using pronouns like “he”, “she”, or “they”

first person point of view - a point of view (who is telling the story) here the story is narrated by one character at a time

Exposition - an element of literature that introduces key background information of a narrative    

turning point - a moment in the plot when a character must make a decision that will change the course of the story

Climax - the turning point or highest point of tension in a narrative 

denouement/resolution - the final part of a narrative where the plot is resolved, loose end are tied up, and the story comes to a conclusion 

verbal irony - is mainly used as means of portraying humor         

situational irony - when the outcome is the opposite or completely different from what was expected      

dramatic irony - a situation in which the audience or reader has a better understanding of events than the characters in a story do 

Conflict - the struggle between opposing forces

framed story - a storytelling technique where a main narrative sets the stage for one or more secondary stories          

American Literary Periods

Colonial Period

1.     What did the Puritans believe about most people? The Puritans believed most people were sinful and only a few were chosen by God to be saved.

2      Why did the Puritans emphasize education?  Particularly reading and 

             Writing. So people could read the Bible and understand religious teachings 

3.      The Puritans believed that the Bible was______________. God’s true word and how you should live your life for god and through him

4.   What was the Mayflower Compact? The Mayflower Compact was an agreement made in 1620 by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to create a government and follow its rules. It was the first example of self-government in the American colonies and showed their desire to work together and make fair laws.

5. Who is John Smith? John Smith was an English explorer who helped lead the Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in America. He is known for his leadership and writings about the colony’s early struggles.

6. What did the Puritans believe about going to Heaven? The Puritans believed that only a few people, known as the elect, were chosen by God to go to Heaven. They believed salvation couldn’t be earned but was a gift from God, and those chosen would live moral, godly lives as a sign of their salvation.

7.  How did the Puritans establish their government? What was it based on? The Puritans established their government through the Mayflower Compact, an agreement made in 1620. It was based on the idea of self-government, where the colonists agreed to make and follow fair laws for the good of the colony. Their government was also strongly influenced by their religious beliefs, particularly the idea that they were creating a society based on God's will.

8.  How did the Native Americans affect the English settlers? Native Americans helped English settlers by teaching them how to grow crops, hunt, and fish, which helped them survive. They also formed alliances with the settlers, but over time, conflicts arose over land and cultural differences.

9.  What kind of worship service did the Puritans establish in their churches? The Puritans created a simple worship service that focused on Bible reading, sermons, and prayers. They avoided music and decorations, believing that worship should be plain and focused on God, without distractions.

10. What role did God have in the lives of the Puritans? God was at the center of the Puritans' lives. They believed their actions should follow God’s will and saw themselves as part of a special agreement with Him. Their faith shaped everything they did, from their laws and work to their relationships and worship.

B– American Romanticism

1.     What are the dates for the Romantic period? 1800 - 1860 (some extend it to the start of the Civil War in 1865)

2.     List the ideals of the Romantic writers. 

• Imagination over reason

• Emphasis on emotion and individualism 

• Reverence for nature 

• Interest in the supernatural and the mysterious 

• Focus on the past, especially the myths/folklore

3.     Describe Romantic novels.

• Often set in exotic or wild natural settings 

• Filled with emotion, imagination, and adventure 

• Frequently involved the supernatural or heroic quests 

• Focused more on characters’ inner worlds than on realism

4.     Describe the Romantic hero.

• Young

• Innocent and full of purpose

• Has a strong sense of honor and moral code 

• Seeks higher truth and avoids civilization

• Often connected to nature and alienated from society  

5. How is Ralph Waldo Emerson important to the Transcendentalist 

               Movement? He was the founder and leading voice of Transcendentalist and promoted self-reliance, individualism, and the belief that truth comes from within and influential essays are self-reliance and nature 

6.     Who were the three most important Dark Romantic writers? Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Merville 

7.     Other than writing, many of the Romantic writers also: Were lectures, editors, philosophers, or political activist 

8.     List the names of the Transcendentalists.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Henry David Thoreau

• Margaret Fuller

• Bronson Alcott

9.   List the ideals of the Transcendentalists. 

• Belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature 

• Individual intuition as the highest 

• Rejection of materialism and organized religion 

• Advocacy for social reform and self-reliance 

10.   What were the ideals of the Gothic (Dark Romantic) writers? 

• Belief in the presence of evil and sin in humanity

• Emphasis on the supernatural, mystery, and madness

• Exploration of psychological torment and human fallibility

• Use of dark, gloomy settings and symbolism

11.   What common ideals did the Transcendentalists and Gothic writers 

                  Hold? 

• Interest in the individual and intuition

• Rejection of strict rationalism

• Focus on emotion and the inner self

• Deep respect for nature (though for different reasons)

12.   In what part of the country did these writers live in?

• Primarily the Northeastern United States, especially New England

13.   What three philosophies influenced the Transcendentalists? 

• German Idealism (especially Immanuel Kant)

• Eastern religions/philosophies (like Hinduism and Buddhism)

• Romanticism (from European writers and thinkers)

14.   What was Washington Irving most famous for? 

• Writing short stories like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle”

• Being one of the first American writers to gain international fame

C.—Realism Period

1.     When did the Realism period take place? It happened in 1864 - 1914, following the Civil War

2.     What are the ideals of Realism? Realism focused on depicting everyday life and ordinary people honestly, without idealization or romanticism. It emphasized truth, accuracy, and detail in portraying life as it truly was.

3.     Define and explain Regionalism. Regionalism is a subgenre of Realism that focuses on the specific features—like dialect, customs, landscape, and culture—of a particular geographic region. It highlights how people and their environments shape each other.

4.     Describe the ideals of Naturalism. Naturalism is a more intense form of Realism. It suggests that people are shaped by forces beyond their control—such as nature, heredity, and social conditions—and often portrays life as harsh or indifferent.

5.   Who were the Realist writers influenced by? They were influenced by scientific thought, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the works of European Realist authors like Gustave Flaubert and Charles Dickens.

6.   What kind of characters did the Realists primarily write about? Realists wrote about middle and lower-class individuals, everyday workers, farmers, and people facing real social struggles—not heroes or aristocrats.

7. How did America change and grow during this time? America experienced rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, along with social upheaval following the Civil War.

8. What kind of TONE did Naturalists use when writing about people? Naturalist writers often used a detached, objective, and sometimes pessimistic tone, emphasizing that humans are at the mercy of natural forces.

D.-----Modern Period

1.     Years for the Modern Period _________. ( 1914 to 1945, beginning with World War I and ending with World War II)

2.     List the ideals of the Modern period. Disillusionment with traditional values, experimentation in form and style, questioning of reality and identity, loss of faith in the American Dream, and a search for meaning in a fragmented world.

3.     List the major historical events that shaped the Modern period. World War I, the Great Depression, Prohibition, the Roaring Twenties, the Harlem Renaissance, and World War II.

4.     Write the Emersonian American Dream. The belief that through hard work, self-reliance, and individualism, anyone can achieve success and fulfillment.

5.     Who came up with the name “Jazz Age?” F. Scott Fitzgerald coined the term “Jazz Age” to describe the 1920s.

6.     Sigmund Freud – what was his field of study? Freud was the father of psychoanalysis—a field focusing on the unconscious mind, dreams, and human behavior.

III. Literary Texts Studied

A- The Crucible -- Matching

B -- The Great Gatsby

What is one theme from the novel? 

The decline of the American Dream in the 1920s

What is the setting of the novel?

Long Island, New York (East Egg and West Egg) and New York City, during the 1920s (the Jazz Age)

Who are the protagonists of the novel?

Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway

The novel is told from the ___________ point of view

First-person point of view (Nick Carraway's narration)

The only truly dynamic character is _____________.

Nick Carraway (he changes the most in understanding and perspective)

The turning point of the novel is

The confrontation between Gatsby and Tom at the Plaza Hotel

The climax of the novel is

Myrtle Wilson’s death

What does Daisy symbolize?

The American Dream, illusion, and wealth that is ultimately hollow

The theme of old money vs. new money is most clearly shown through ____.

East Egg (old money) vs. West Egg (new money)

The three parts of the Emersonian American Dream are (bubble all 3)___.

• Self-reliance

• Individualism

• The pursuit of happiness   

What kind of narrator is Nick Carraway?

        Reliable but limited narrator (honest but sometimes biased or blind)  

Who is George Wilson?  List details

• Myrtle’s husband

• Owns a garage in the Valley of Ashes

• Poor, working class

• Kills Gatsby and himself after learning about Myrtle’s affair and death

What war did Gatsby and Nick fight in?

World War I

Where are Daisy and Jordan from?

Louisville, Kentucky

Who is Meyer Wolfsheim?

Gatsby’s shady business associate (possibly based on real-life gangster Arnold Rothstein)

Who does Goerge Wilson get Gatsby's name from?

Tom Buchanan

Describe Gatsby's parties.

Lavish, extravagant, filled with strangers, alcohol, and music — symbolize excess and the illusion of connection

Who are each of the following characters?  How are they described?  What do they do in the story?

Nick Carraway  - Narrator, Yale graduate, honest, from the Midwest, moves to West Egg

Tom Buchanan - Daisy’s wealthy, aggressive, racist husband; represents old money and entitlement        

Daisy Buchanan - Beautiful, shallow, Gatsby’s love interest; represents both charm and moral emptiness         

Jordan Baker - Professional golfer, friend of Daisy, cynical, dishonest

Jay Gatsby -  Professional golfer, friend of Daisy, cynical, dishonest    

Myrtle Wilson -  Tom’s mistress; desires wealth and status, killed in a hit-and-run   

George Wilson - Myrtle’s husband; devastated by her affair and death, kills Gatsby

Meyer Wolfsheim - Gatsby’s business partner, involved in organized crime, rigged the 1919 World Series

Dr. T. J. Eckleburg -    A billboard with giant eyes overlooking the Valley of Ashes; symbolizes the moral decay and "the eyes of God"   

Dan Cody - Wealthy copper magnate who mentored young Gatsby; inspired Gatsby’s dream of wealth