Works that will be on the midterm:
The Odyssey:
Books 1-13, 18-24
Short stories:
“The Man of the House” – Frank O’Connor
“Cell One” – Chimamanda Adichie
“Raymond’s Run” – Toni Cade Bambara
“Free Fruit for Young Widows”—Nathan Englander (online under “Week 3”)
Poems:
“Mrs. Small” – Gwendolyn Brooks
“First Death in Nova Scotia” – Elizabeth Bishop
“Traveling through the Dark” – William Stafford
“The Chimney Sweeper” – William Blake
“My Papa’s Waltz”—Theodore Roethke
a. Make sure to memorize the last names of the authors whose works are on the review sheet.
b. Review the basic plot and structure of each short story and of the epic: what happens?
c. Make a list of the key characters and important themes from each text. (Keep in mind that it’s important to remember the names and spellings of the key characters of each text in order to write persuasively.)
d. Review the language of each text—both poetry and prose. What makes the language (diction) of each text unusual or unique?
e. Ask yourself questions about the various poems, short stories, and the epic. Making up your own questions and then trying to answer them is an excellent way to prepare for the exam. Chances are that if you’ve thought about the texts, made up your own questions, and answered them thoughtfully, you’ll be able to write cogent, well-organized paragraphs.
B. Exam Format
The exam will consist of the following two sections: one passage analysis section and one essay based on the reading of a poem at sight.
General Instructions. Use pen or pencil; please write on both sides of the blue book pages as long as the ink doesn’t run through. The exam is designed to take 1 ½ hours. You may not leave before that time is up. If you wish, you may work for an additional thirty minutes, for a total time of two hours. The two sections of the exam are weighted equally, so try to give them roughly equal amounts of time.
Part I. (Suggested time: 45 minutes). Passage Analysis (50 pts)
Write on THREE of the following six passages.
Each of your responses should be a full paragraph.
Each paragraph should have a clear, analytical topic sentence that addresses the given question.
Be sure to name the work the passage is from and the author who wrote it.
Also, make several specific references to the passage, explaining in your own words what the quoted phrases and embedded words mean and how they are significant.
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE PASSAGE FROM THE ODYSSEY AND NO MORE THAN TWO.
Suggestions for review for passage analysis (note: these tips will not appear on the exam):
Remember that the key to writing a good passage analysis is not just providing the context of each passage, but explaining its larger significance.
Keep the following questions in mind:
i. How does this quotation reflect an important theme of the text?
ii. OR: What does it reveal about a particular character’s motivation or worldview?
Be sure to embed words and phrases of the passage in your paragraph. It is important to quote the text directly in support of your ideas.
One good way to prepare for the passage analysis is by re-reading the parts of texts you’ve underlined and/or placed notes next to in the margins. Start making connections between key passages in a text and ask yourself why the passages you’ve marked are so important. Also, think about the key words, phrases, and literary devices present in the passages you’ve marked. Of course, this strategy will only work if you’ve regularly mark/underlined your books in a coherent way.
Part II. (Suggested time: 45 minutes) At-Sight Poetry Analysis (50 points)
Instructions:
Write a clear, well-developed essay in which you analyze a poem at sight.
Make sure you discuss BOTH the content of the poem AND the poetic devices it uses (e.g. imagery, metaphor, simile, irony, hyperbole, repetition, alliteration, diction, etc.).
Make sure you spend some time planning the structure of your essay.
Some tips to keep in mind:
(note: some of the following tips will NOT appear on the exam)
Read the instructions carefully and underline key terms.
Read the poem over once quickly then once more carefully.
Make sure you know who the speaker of the poem is and what the dramatic situation is (e.g. time, setting). What is literally going on in the poem?
Figure out what you think the larger theme of the poem is, taking into account the tone of the poem.
Consider the poetic devices the poem uses and how they contribute to the theme of the poem. Many students forget this important step!
Your essay should have a short introduction. This introduction should state the dramatic situation of the poem and then, in a separate sentence, state your thesis.
Your essay should have at least three quotations per body paragraph.