Final  Study Guide Engl 200

The purpose of this study guide is not to indicate exactly what will be on the exam. The ideas below (which we've discussed in class) are intended to help you think about the works we've read and studied so far this semester.  Use these study quide ideas with 1.) your notes and own ideas to think about the short stories and poems we have read along with 2.) your review/rereading of the literature itself. Don't forget the intro reading about reading and writing about short fiction, poetry, and drama.  The study questions for each work that give you helpful ideas. And be sure to review the Course Notes.

Write out practice responses to previous quiz questions as well as questions you make up. You might practice one longer essay too.  Remember the quizzes we went over in class. The cards you used for group work in class have good notes.

**Although the final exam will cover material we've read after the midterm [Trifles, Death of a Salesman (DS), and A Raisin in the Sun, text and movie (RS)], there will be carry over works that may be on the exam: "Soldier's Home," "Battle Royal," "55 Miles to the Gas Pump," "Dover Beach," "To Autumn," "Chicago"

Possible question types:

  1. Identifications: You will identify an unnamed passage (give the title of the story) and explain its significance. I will not give you short, obscure passages.*
  2. Multiple choice, fill in the blank, or matching*
  3. Short Answer*  Think of individual works as well as connections among works.
  4. ***NEW***Longer essay question (1-1/2 pgs) focusing on a single work or on comparing/contrasting works. Also, you will have some choices.

*Like quiz questions. Also, you will have some choices.

Time for final exam: 2 hrs (Exam length: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hrs)


**I may make a few revisions**

READING ABOUT DRAMA


What is the payoff for reading drama?  See introduction (Reading Drama) in our anthology and quiz 4, #1.  What are similarities/differences between reading and watching drama?

Realism, Beyond Realism intros/Intros to plays - see syllabus.
Miller's statement on the tragic hero/Adler's statement on Hansberry's work.

Reading poetry and reading the short story - see the syllabus/our anthology.

Think of the relationship among plot, point of view, characterization, theme.

THEMES

FAMILY

All three plays present family as a theme.  What is a family?  What is the role of a family (in society)?  What is the relationship between family and the individual family member? For example, in DS how would you characterize the Loman family?  What role does Willy's family play in his vision of success, of the American dream?  How would you characterize Willy's relationship with Linda? His sons?  Is Willy's death, at least in part, a failure of his family? Why or Why not?  In RS, 
does family save Walter?  Why?  How?  How is the notion of family rooted in Lena's character?  How is family related to a home (vs a house)?  **Think of "Soldier's Home." Trifles - what view of family life do we get with Mr. and Mrs. Wright?  Connection to the murder and the investigation?  Domesticity is related to this theme - importance of the kitchen/housekeeping/gardening in our plays?

MONEY & CAPITALISM

In the bible, 1 Timothy 6: 9-10 - "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."  Also, see Adler's comments on Hansberry (p 1889) in our anthology: "Acquisition for the sake of acquisition.   How do DS and RS address this theme?  For example, think of Willy Loman, Uncle Ben, Charley Biff/Happy, Walter, Willy/Bobo, George.  Other ideas:  DS: Selling - needs to be a continous act, no rest.  RS: Life as two classes - takers and tooken.  What do these plays say about money and capitalism?  Come up with specific ideas/statements.  ***By the way, see Antigone, pgs 1477 (line 335)  - 1478:  Creon's statement about money.  The play was excellent.***

RELIGION & FAITH

What is religious faith?  The values it represents?  Beneatha's statements about God and Lena's reaction?  What role does religious faith play in RS?  Lena's (Mama's) view of individuals? Life?  How is this faith at odds with society? Capitialism? Individualism?  How is religious faith an essential part of family, for example the end of RS?
Does religious faith play a role in DS? 

DREAMS & DREAMING

We've discussed this in detail during our nice class discussions.  Review your notes.  For example, Asagai's statements in the opening of Act III, Willy's statements in DS.  Why do characters in these play dream?  Need to dream?  What is the basis of their dreams? Do their dreams change?  Why?  Can dreams be miguided?  Based on false values?  Mrs. Wright in Trifles? See Hansberry's statement at the end of the RS introduction - p. 1835.  Miller's statement on the tragic hero?  Willy Loman?  Does Walter Younger avoid becomint a tragic hero?

RACISM

A RS addresses this theme: Setting/Time period, housing.  What does the play says about racism?  Does it present a solution to racism?  A means to combat it?  On an individual level or social level or both?  Scenes in the movie that show racism or racial prejudice? Also, think of "Battle Royal."  Does this story present a more aggressive or confrontational approach to addressing racism.

CHANGE (INDIVIDUAL & SOCIETAL--HISTORY)

In RS, Lena (Mama) expresses her dismay about the generational gap between herself and her children - p. 1851.  This gap seems true in DS as well.  What do the plays reveal about generational change?  Is this change a measure of progress?  Simple inevitable?  How do characters adjust/need to adjust to change?  Setting of these plays - do they give us the sense of a changing society for the better or worse or a mix?  Arnold's "Dover Beach"?

NATURE

What do the carry over poems say about nature? 
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Final Thoughts - Titles of all three plays??  Do they connect to the above themes?
Consider the structure of each play as well.  How does each play's organization support its
plot, characterization, and themes?

Other themes you can think of/we discussed:  Gender (men and women)?  Individual's relationship to society?