Epiphanies, Mummers, hubris

Explanatory Answer Sheet

Twelfth-grade College Preparatory students should have reviewed Table C—the Table of Language Arts Standards for Twelfth Grade (ICAS, 2002, (Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates [ICAS], 2002, p. 70-78). They should continue to review all of the literary and grammatical terms, in addition to classical literature that functions as literary models appropriate for review and analysis. This Literature and Semantics Lesson II Exam refers to literature (Bevington, Papp, & Shakespeare, 1980; Hardy, 1950; Joyce, 1984; Joyce, 1991) that students have discussed and referred to throughout class during the last month. They are advised to review Table A, the descriptive Grading Rubric. An explanatory answer guide is provided in Table B.

Literature and Semantics Lesson II--Contemplative Review (Return to Home Page)

I. Multiple Choice Questions: Please circle the letter that precedes the correct answer. Explanatory Answers (that align with California State Standards for 12th Grade College Preparatory students)

1. In James Joyce’s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Stephen Hero plans to gather this which he perceives to be a symbol of a spiritual state:

A. Flowers

B. A page

C. Wheeling darting birds

D. Epiphanies

2. Derived from Holinshed’s Chronicles (1577), Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that includes a prophesy by three sisters who have been declared to be witches and who hail General Macbeth as thane of Glamis and traitorous thane of Cowdor. They also foreshadow to Macbeth that he will ultimately assume the crown of Scotland until it is claimed by Malcolm, a son of King Duncan who, upon the death of his Father, will also acquire the thrown. The atmosphere and foreshadowing of the witches did evoke the following which intrigued James I for whom this play was probably a tribute:

A. Justice for his dominion

B. Duncan’s posterity

C. Supernaturalism

D. The crown of Napoleon Bonaparte

3. In Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native (1873), Clym Yeobright hopes to become a school master in his native Egdon Heath; however, he does not fulfill his goals through his marriage to Eustacia Vye because:

A. Thomasin became a preacher.

B. Clym returned successfully to Paris.

C. He became blind, and impulsive Eustacia drowned herself.

D. His mother Mrs. Yeobright survived the wild Eustacia.

4. The literary term that conveys the rendering of thought and flow of inner experience with no evident logic through the mind of a character, and illustrated by James Joyce in Ulysses is:

A. Catharsis

B. Stream of consciousness

C. Illusion

D. Satire

II. Matching Questions: Please enter in the empty boxes the letter for the Syntactic Term in Column B that conveys the description or definition provided in Column A:

Column A		Column B
	Romans loved neither Greeks nor Persians. A. Parallel structure
	She kilns tureens. B. Gerund
	He learned that batteries generate power. C. Appositives
	Acquiescing D. Infinitive
	He studied Nuclear Physics and practiced Archaeology E. Transitional adverbs
	She suffered a heavy chill, ominous dimension. F. Noun phrase
	To elucidate G. Active voice
	Therefore, furthermore, on the other hand, however H. Verbal phrase
	They brightened paths that were dark. I. Adjective clause
	Flying to the Hague, she expressed relief J. Correlative conjunction
	K. Reflexive pronoun

III. True-False Items: Circle either the T for True or the F for False:

Item #
1	T	F	Enlightenment refers to the “liberation” of humankind, the uniting of Reason and nature toward a perfect society that may free humankind from oppression.
2	T	F	The antagonist is the major character and hero of a narrative or drama.
3	T	F	An oxymoron is a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms that express a paradox (for example: sizzling ice)
4	T	F	Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words to evoke, reinforce, or imitate sounds.
5	T	F	Major events that precede the climax of a plot or mystery are known as denouement.
6	T	F	Alliteration is the close repetition of vowel sounds.
7	T	F	Renaissance refers also to Elizabethan times during which Shakespeare lived; this period between the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment refers to “rebirth,” a revival or renewal of intellectual and artistic energies.
8	T	F	The mood that is established by the entirety of a literary work; associated with atmosphere, foreshadowing contributes to the plot (for example: the witches in Macbeth who provide the dark somber air that forebodes death).
9	T	F	The protagonist is a major character and hero of a narrative or drama (for example: Clym Yeobright is the protagonist in the Return of the Native).
10	T	F	Epiphany refers to an illuminating discovery, a revealing scene or moment—an appearance or manifestation of a divine being.

Bonus Questions: Please refer to the Rubric (Table A) for information about the grading of this optional section.

Develop a response to two of the following five questions for extra credit:

Despite the urging of his mother who eventually deceases, Clym Yeobright married the passionate and impulsive Eustache who had hoped to rendezvous with him to Paris.

1. Does this represent hubris (an overweening pride) that leads Clym to function as the protagonist for disregarding divine warnings? Please explain your answer.

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2. Since Clym has just lost his eyesight and his mother midst the passionate demands and plays of Eustache, does her drowning provide a catharsis (cleansing of emotions), then, for Clym? Please explain your answer.

3. How do you think Eustacia and the Heath symbolize superstitious religious doctrines of the Middle Ages? Please explain your answer.

4. We have discussed the English mummery plays and the masquerades associated with them that are staged between Christmas and Twelfth Night (January 6—12 days after Christmas, in commemoration of the coming of the Magi). Do you believe that this Victorian author commiserated with Clym? Please explain your answer.

5. To whom do you believe The Return of the Native is specifically or symbolically referring? Please explain your answer.

References

Bevington, D., Papp, J., & Shakespeare, W. (1980). The complete works of William Shakespeare (volume 5). New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland: Bantom Books.

Hardy, T. (1950). The return of the native. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company.

Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates (2002, Spring). Academic literacy: A statement of competencies expected of students entering California public colleges and universities. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/reports/acadlit.pdf

Joyce, J. (1984). Ulysses. N.Y.: Garland.

Joyce, J. (1991). A portrait of the artist as a young man. London, N.Y.: Penguin Books.

Table A

Grading Rubric

	Possible Points	Points Received
Literature and Semantics—Lesson II Exam 1. Multiple Choice—Reading Comprehension 5 points each 2. Matching 4 points each 3. True-False 4 points each 4. Critical Writing (Extra Credit) a) Reading for information, understanding b) Indicates depth of understanding, analytical skills c) Communicative style; coordinating literary terms, concepts d) Grammar conventions, and usage standards e) Interpreting, critiquing, and innovating original expository	100 + 20 40 40 20 20 20 20 20
Extra-Credit Grammar & Punctuation Marks	10
Total

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