2025 english guide

Raymond’s Run (Tony Cade Bambara)

Squeaky has a change of heart for her brother during the May Day race after seeing him run alongside her. This story tells us about acceptance and familial love.

Setting:

• Time: 1970’s

• Month/Season: May, Springtime

• Area: Urban Environments: Park, Playgrounds, City Streets, Fences

• Geography: West Harlem, NYC, between Amsterdam Avenue and 145th Street

Characters:

• Raymond: Brother of Squeaky (Hazel) who enjoys running

• Squeaky: Talented runner, competitive, real name Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker

• Gretchen: Squeaky’s rival, lots of tension between the girls

• Mary Louise & Rosie: Gretchen’s sidekicks.

Theme:                                                                                                        

• Competitiveness: Squeaky & Gretchen's rivalry serves as a token as to how they want to be recognized, to win, and the pressure of being young.

• Familial Love: Raymond & Squeaky’s relationship showcases responsibility and care, especially because Squeaky has to keep Raymond around.

• Growth: After the Mayday race, instead of Squeaky being prideful, she grows and shows a change of heart, being respectful to Gretchen and choosing to coach her brother afterwards.

Araby (James Joyce)

A young boy falls in love with his friend’s sister, showing love, adoration, and eventually realization on a trip to the bazaar. This story tells us about the difference between an unrealistic love and reality.

Setting:

• Geography: Dublin, Ireland (North Richmond Street)

• Main Setting: The Bazaar

Characters:

• Nameless Narrator: A boy who lives with his aunt and uncle falls in love with his friend’s sister. He notices small details about her, such as her hair.

• Mangan: One of the boys that the narrator plays with on North Richmond Street.

• Mangan’s Sister: The object of the narrator’s love and desire.

Theme:

• Blindness & Sight: The narrator's blindness to reality parallels his romantic fantasies, emphasizing the theme of self-deception.

• Religion: Set in a priest's old house, the image of a book about deception seems to fit in with the theme of light and darkness.

• Light and Dark: Light represents hope and desire, while darkness symbolizes despair and the harsh realities of life.

Cask of Amontillado (Edgar Allen Poe)

Montresor kills Fortunato at a time that is meant to be happy. This story tells us about deception and irony.

Setting:

• Time Period: 19th century

• Geography: Rome, Italy

• Key Setting: Catacombs

• Season: Carnival Season

Characters:

• Montresor: A vengeful man who claims to have been wronged by a man named Fortunato. He seeks revenge against him, and carries out his plot to murder during a season of fun. His name, “Montresor,” means “My Treasure.” 

• Fortunato: The victim of Montresor, who is said to have done something to Montresor. He is killed by him in the Catacombs. His name means “Fortunate one,” which serves as irony due to his unfortunate fate.

Theme:

• Death, Darkness, Bones: In the Catacombs, there is a lot of discussion about death, darkness, and many bones in the area. This acts as foreshadowing.

• Drinking: Taking place in Carnival Season, Cask of Amontillado showcases a time when things should be happy due to drinking and celebrating becomes sad and dreary.

• Ironic Names: The irony of Montresor meaning “My Treasure” and Fortunato meaning “Fortunate one” showcases how by the end of the story, one is dead and the other is in much trouble.

• Binding: Montresor binds and imprisons Fortunato in the catacombs.

The Outing (James Baldwin)

A group of people from a church in Harlem leave the city on a boat to go to Bear Mountain. This story tells us about the complexity of romance, and walls built by religion.

Setting:

• Time Period: 1940-1960’s

• Geographical Setting: America

• Location for majority: Boat on the Hudson River

• Destination: Bear Mountain

Characters:

• Johnnie: The main character who rejects religion and is on a church trip with his brother and father. He shows much love for David, yet it is strictly against the rules. He shows much disdain for religion and does not want to be so religious.

• David: The object of Johnnie’s love but loves Sylvia. David is Johnnie’s best friend. Towards the end of the story, the mix of sexuality and friendship seem to be conflicting.

• Sylvia: The object of love from David, Sylvia is gifted a brooch by Roy, David, and Johnnie. Sylvia has little development, but serves as a barrier between Johnnie and David. He is a member of the church as well.

• David’s Father: A deacon for a church in Harlem, and also Johnnie’s father. He heavily favors Johnnie’s brother, Roy, and shows disdain for Johnnie especially due to Johnnie’s views of the church.

Theme:

• Personal Identity Vs. Societal/Communal Pressures: Johnnie is secretly in love with David. This is conflicting with the values of the church. He must conceal his true self in order to continue to be a member of the church that he wants to get out of but is being thrust into by his family.

• Complexity of  Love: The relationship between Johnnie and David is forbidden, but the love between David and Sylvia is not. The issue is, Sylvia doesn’t truly love David and David truly loves Johnnie. The love between Sylvia and David is what is allowed and enforced, but that isn’t what they want.

• Shivering/Shaking: Uncertainty, fear

Through the Tunnel (Doris Lessing)

A young boy named Jerry goes to the beach with his mother and practices holding his breath so he is able to dive down so that he can go through an underwater passage that he sees other boys going through. This story tells us about the switch from a younger, childing version of yourself to a wiser and more understanding version of yourself.

Setting:

• Time period: Post 1995

• Closer setting: Beach

• Geography: Africa

Characters:

• Jerry: An 11 year old boy who seeks independence from his mother.

• Jerry’s Mom: Jerry’s mother who wishes to be more lenient with him.

• Boys on the rocks: African boys who are seen diving down, going out of sight (presumably through the tunnel) and out of the other side. 

Theme:

• The Tunnel: The tunnel is a metaphor for going through your switch from adolescence to being more mature. The tunnel also shows how Jerry desires acceptance, and when he sees the boys diving down, he wishes to join them. 

• Diving without goggles: This represents how foggy and uncertain the path of being a child is.

Twelfth Night (Shakespeare)

A romantic comedy based around two shipwrecked twins who disguise themselves in order to protect themselves. They end up falling in love, but it seems as though they fall into a difficult situation due to their disguises.

Act Summaries

• Act 1, Scene 1: Duke Orsino's complex feelings about love are introduced, setting the stage for the romantic entanglements that follow.

• Act 1, Scene 2: Viola's shipwreck leads to her disguise as Cesario, highlighting themes of identity and gender roles.

• Act 1, Scene 3: The introduction of Sir Toby, Maria, and Sir Andrew establishes the comedic elements and social dynamics at play.

• Act 1, Scene 4: Viola's love for Orsino is revealed, complicating her role as a messenger in his courtship of Olivia.

• Act 1, Scene 5: The pivotal moment where Olivia falls for Cesario, showcasing the theme of mistaken identities and unrequited love.

• Act 2, Scene 1: The introduction of Sebastian and Antonio adds depth to the narrative, foreshadowing future complications.

• Act 2, Scene 2: As Cesario heads back to Orsino’s house, Malvolio catches up with him and holds out the ring. Viola realises that Olivia must have fallen in love with Cesario.

• Act 2, Scene 3: Viola realises she is caught in a love triangle: she loves Orsino, he loves Olivia, and Olivia loves her (as Cesario).

• Act 2, Scene 4: Malvolio is disliked by Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Feste, and Maria. Maria can imitate Olivia’s handwriting and plans to use this skill to fool Malvolio. Sir Toby encourages Sir Andrew to spend his money out of hope that he will recoup his losses by marrying Olivia.

• Act  2, Scene 5: Orsino seems to enjoy talking about love with his new servant Cesario.

• By pretending to talk of someone else, Viola reveals to the audience how much she loves Orsino.

• Act 3, Scene 1: Viola appreciates Feste’s skill as a fool. Olivia, like Orsino, finds it hard to take no for an answer. Sir Andrew is impressed by 'Cesario'.

• Act 3, Scene 2: Sir Andrew is convinced to write a letter challenging Cesario to a duel. Sir Toby has conned money from Sir Andrew. Malvolio is following all the instructions set down in Maria’s forged letter. He is wearing cross-gartered yellow stockings and is smiling.

• Act 3, Scene 3: Sebastian seems pleased to see Antonio. Antonio once fought against Orsino’s ships and will be in trouble if he is recognised. Sebastian is now walking around in the same town as Viola.

• Act 3, Scene 4: Olivia is still hoping 'Cesario' will change 'his' mind about loving her.Olivia believes Malvolio is unwell and wants him looked after. In disguising herself as ‘Cesario’, Viola has imitated her brother and dressed as Sebastian would dress which has confused Antonio.

• Act 4 Scene 1: Sebastian is mistaken for Cesario by everyone he meets. Olivia has very little respect for Sir Toby. Sebastian enjoys Olivia’s attention.

• Act 4, Scene 2: Malvolio has been locked away in a dark room. Feste becomes involved in the prank, disguising himself as Sir Topas. Sir Toby realises that Olivia thinks he has gone too far with his pranks.

• Act 4, Scene 3: Sebastian went to the Elephant and found a note from Antonio to say he had gone out to find Sebastian. Olivia wants Sebastian, who she believes is Cesario, to secretly swear he will marry her before a priest.

• Act 5: Three months have passed since the shipwreck.Sir Andrew and Sir Toby have again provoked Sebastian to fight, mistaking him for 'Cesario'. The confusions caused by Viola’s disguise are resolved when Sebastian and 'Ceasrio' are seen together. The captain has Viola’s clothes but has been arrested under Malvolio’s orders so the play ends with Viola still dressed as a young man.

Character Analysis

Viola

• Adaptable and witty, Viola navigates the complexities of love and identity with intelligence and grace.

• Her sheltered upbringing contrasts with her resourcefulness in Illyria, showcasing her growth throughout the play.

• The name 'Viola' symbolizes music and harmony, reflecting her role in bringing characters together.

• Persistent in her pursuit of love, she embodies the theme of resilience in the face of adversity.

• Viola's internal conflict between her true self and her disguise adds depth to her character, making her relatable and compelling.

Olivia

• A strong female figure, Olivia's desire for genuine love challenges societal norms and expectations of women.

• Her wit and intelligence position her as a master of her household, showcasing her independence.

• Olivia's character arc reflects her journey from mourning to embracing love, highlighting her emotional depth.

• The theme of feminism is evident in her refusal to conform to traditional roles, asserting her agency in love.

• Olivia's complexity as a character makes her one of the most intriguing figures in the play.

Malvolio

• Self-loving and blinded by ambition, Malvolio's character serves as a critique of social climbing and self-obsession.

• His puritanical nature contrasts with the play's themes of joy and revelry, making him an outsider.

• Malvolio's downfall illustrates the dangers of pride and the folly of believing oneself superior to others.

• His interactions with other characters reveal his inability to understand the complexities of love and friendship.

• The comedic elements of his character provide a foil to the more romantic figures in the play.

Orsino

• Orsino's melancholy and obsession with the concept of love highlight his superficial understanding of relationships.

• His character embodies the theme of self-love, as he believes Olivia will love him simply because he loves himself.

• Orsino's interactions with Viola/Cesario reveal his vulnerability and emotional depth, despite his flaws.

• The contrast between his romantic ideals and the reality of love serves as a critique of societal expectations.

• Orsino's character arc ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of love and connection.

Maria

• Witty and cunning, Maria's character adds a layer of complexity to the play's themes of deception and social dynamics.

• Her role in deceiving Malvolio showcases her intelligence and resourcefulness, positioning her as a key player in the plot.

• Maria's respect for Olivia contrasts with Malvolio's obsession, highlighting the importance of genuine relationships.

• Her character serves as a bridge between the nobility and the lower classes, emphasizing the play's exploration of social hierarchy.

• Maria's actions ultimately contribute to the comedic resolution of the play, showcasing her cleverness.