2012-2013 Midterm Exam Review Sheet
Mr. Barbato
English 11 H
The Canterbury Tales
 Life of Chaucer
 Significance of Thomas a Beckett
 The General Prologue & Characterization—what’s the point?
 The 7 Deadly Sins
 “The Knight’s Tale”
Characteristics of the Knight—effect on story?
Satire evident in the text (stereotyping)
Main conflict
Biblical references
Moral Lesson
 “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
Characteristics of the Wife of bath—effect on the story?
Deconstruction of upper class
Obligations and Chivalry
Role of a Woman (society vs. WoB)
Moral Lesson
 “The Miller’s Tale”
Narrative Structure—why does he go next?
Biblical references
Character Analysis (John, Nicholas, Absalom, and Alison)
“Love” Triangle
Theme/Moral Lesson
 “The Pardoner’s Tale”
Hypocrisy—why share so much?
Irony in Narrative
Greed: Money is the Root of All Evil
Breakfast Club
 Narrative Structure
 Connections to The Canterbury Tales
 Characterizations (Vernon, Bender, Brian, Claire, Andrew, & Alison)
 Conflicts
 Lessons Learned
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
 Medieval figurative devices (characteristics)
Kenning
Hyperbole
Caesura
Bob and Wheel
 Chivalry & the Art of Courtly Love
 Time of year—symbolism/significance
 Initial Conflict: What are the rules of the Green Knight’s game?
 Symbolism and the Hunt—what is hunted on each day? Irony?
 Final Showdown
 Motifs/Themes
 Moral lesson
Beowulf
 Traits of oral tradition/scops
 Characterization of Beowulf
 What is Herot? Characteristics & Symbolism
 Beowulf vs. Grendel
How does the conflict arise?
How does Beowulf prepare?
How does the battle unfold?
What are Beowulf’s “winnings?”
 Beowulf vs. Grendel’s Mother
How does the conflict arise?
How does Beowulf prepare?
How does the battle unfold?
What are Beowulf’s “winnings?”
 Beowulf vs. Dragon
How does the conflict arise?
How does Beowulf prepare?
How does the battle unfold?
What are Beowulf’s “winnings?”
 Difference between the Danes and the Geats
 Secondary characters: Hrothgar, Brecca, Higlac, Wiglaf, Unferth, etc.
Macbeth
 Aristotle’s Model of Tragedy
6 Parts & Examples
 Figurative Devices (Paradox, 3 Types of Irony, etc.)
 Macbeth/Banquo’s Initial Prophecies
 “Sounds of Supernatural Soliciting”: Use of Sound Effects/Rhyming
 Effect of Women: Power vs. Evil
 Banquet Scene
 Macbeth’s Second Prophecies & How They Came to Fruition
1.
2.
3.
BONUS:
 How is Peace Restored? (Public & Private)
A Modest Proposal
 Swift’s style/voice/diction
 Main idea/hypothesis
 Methodology
 Resolution
Lord of the Flies
 Allegorical reference to WWII
 Electoral process & democracy
 Characters’ roles/stereotype/symbolism
 Symbolism: conch shell, plane crash, “the beast,” etc.
 Conflicts (man vs. man, man vs. society, etc.)
 Themes/Motifs
 Moral Lessons