Quick Quiz “Winter Dreams” and “The Reach of Imagination”
1. Find your favorite paragraph of “Winter Dreams” that contains at least
three devices. Copy the sentences which contain the devices and
label them.
2. Explain how the devices you found create or support the meaning of
the words.
3. Look at the second to last paragraph of “Winter Dreams” that starts
“For the first time” on page 13. Based on the imagery motifs in the rest
of the story, what does it mean “the gates were closed, the sun was
gone down”? What is happening to Dexter here and how has the
ending of the story fulfilled the earlier foreshadowing, “Remember
that—for only in the light of it can what he did for her be understood”.
4. Jacob Bronowski earned a PHD in what subject? What effect does his
education have on the subject he tackles?
5. What is the thesis of “The Reach of the Imagination”? Identify one
sentence that you feel best represents Bronowski’s argument.
6. According to paragraphs 9-11, page 618, what is the connection
between imagination and human brains? Why is symbolism important?
7. Reread paragraph #14, pages 618-619. How does Keat’s phrase “the
unheard melodies are sweeter” apply to both Gatsby and Dexter
Green? What role does memory play in each story?
8. Considering paragraphs #20 and #22 and current school budget cutting
debates, what would happen to the sciences if all humanities education
was cut from university budgets?
9. Reread the sentence in paragraph #21, page 621 that starts, “When a
man counts. . .” then reconsider Henry David Thoreau’s assertion, “I
cannot count one. I know not the first letter of the alphabet.” How does
each of these writers use counting as a metaphor. What is meant by
each phrase?
10. Why does Bronowski end with man’s quest to go to the moon (notice
the year of publication)? What does he suppose this achievement
represents? What is a modern equivalent scientific achievement that
requires this marriage of imagination and science for man to achieve?