10.1.3 Final Exam: Wrap-Up English 11 Points Possible:50 Exam Name: Mateo Vanegas Date: 1. Read the following excerpt from "Notes of a Native Son": That year in New Jersey lives in my mind as though it were the year during which, having an unsuspected predilection for it, I first contracted some dread, chronic disease, the unfailing symptom of which is a kind of blind fever, a pounding in the skull and fire in the bowels. Once this disease is contracted, one can never be really carefree again, for the fever, without an instant's warning, can recur at any moment. It can wreck more important things than race relations. There is not a Negro alive who does not have this rage in his blood — one has the choice, merely, of living with it consciously or surrendering to it. As for me, this fever has recurred in me, and does, and will until the day I die. Analyze Baldwin's use of metaphor in this excerpt. How does this rhetorical device contribute to his message and the essay's power? Be sure to include specific details from the text to support your answer. (10 points) He is comparing his disease that can come back and cause him pain at any moment to racial inequality with African Americans. “without an instant's warning, can recur at any moment. It can wreck more important things than race relations.” He also goes and explains how when an African American is born they are automatically born with rage and fire and will have to learn to deal or surrender to it. 2. Read the following excerpt from Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron": "You been so tired lately—kind of wore out," said Hazel. "If there was just some way we could make a little hole in the bottom of the bag, and just take out a few of them lead balls. Just a few. "Two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball I took out," said George. "I don't call that a bargain." "If you could just take a few out when you came home from work," said Hazel. "I mean—you don't compete with anybody around here. You just sit around." "If I tried to get away with it," said George, "then other people'd get away with it—and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?" "I'd hate it," said Hazel. "There you are," said George. The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?" If Hazel hadn't been able to come up with an answer to this question, George couldn't have supplied one. A siren was going off in his head. "Reckon it'd fall all apart," said Hazel. "What would?" said George blankly. "Society," said Hazel uncertainly. "Wasn't that what you just said? "Who knows?" said George. Analyze Vonnegut's use of irony to convey meaning in this story. In particular, explain how the dystopian setting contributes to the author's message. Provide evidence for your analysis from the text. (10 points) The dystopian shows the seriousness of the citizens following the law. The laws are rigid and some people don't even understand why it is done. George is different from everyone else because he realizes what is going on. Which means he has to consciously keep himself together to make sure society doesn't fall apart.”The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?....Reckon it'd fall all apart," 3. In a short essay, identify how two characters from A Raisin in the Sun serve as symbols of at least one of the play's themes. Describe in detail how these symbols support the theme or themes. Also analyze the effects of this symbolism on the reader's experience. Be sure to include examples from the text to support your answer. (30 points) Beneatha's hair is a symbol of her getting comfortable with her natural self and her origins. Even though she straightens her hair all the time she starts realising it's okay to be who you are. The plant is another good example of symbolism because it represents the growth of the family even through bad circumstances. The mom takes care of the plant and wants it to grow as if it were her own family.
