Colloquium 1 Study Guide
(March 28th @ 8:30)
A. Modernism
1. Know the dates of WWI (1914-1918) and WWII (1939-1945).
2. _______________________ + ____________________ = Modernism
3. Know the characteristics of Modernism. You should be able to list at least 5 qualities of
Modernism and modernist authors.
4. What is the “Oedipus complex” and who developed this theory?
B. Modern Poets: Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, and William Carlos Williams
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define “Imagism”.
What specifically did Ezra Pound have to say about the famous American poet, Walt Whitman?
Know Ezra Pound’s famous saying, “Make it new” and how this applies to Modernism.
What is a “dramatic monologue”?
How is the city described in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”? Be able to give specific
examples.
6. How does Prufrock view himself? What makes him lack confidence?
7. How does the opening quote from Dante apply to the rest of the poem?
8. How does the “local scene” influence William Carlos Williams’s writing? Can you give
examples from a poem?
9. How is the grandmother’s room described in “The Last Words of My English Grandmother”,
and what does this tell us about her condition?
10. How does the grandmother describe the trees? Why do you suppose she says she is tired of
them?
C. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence
1. Describe D. H. Lawrence’s relationship with his parents.
2. Can you describe details that suggest a possible Oedipus complex in this story?
3. What is an “objective correlative”?
4. How is this story like a fable or a fairy tale?
5. How does Hester want people in the community to perceive her?
6. The house becomes haunted with what unspoken phrase?
7. What does Hester say is better than being born rich? Why?
8. What does Paul claim God told him?
9. What do you know about the rocking horse’s name?
10. Why does Paul want to win money for is mother?
11. How does Hester respond when she opens her birthday letter?
12. What are Paul’s last words?
D. Dubliners (“Araby”, “Eveline”, and “After the Race”) by James Joyce
1.
2.
3.
4.
What does “epiphany” mean?
What does Dubliners depict?
What do you know about the writing style and techniques used in Dubliners?
Be able to explain, using specific examples, the epiphany in “Araby”, “Eveline”, and “After the
Race”.
5. Why does the narrator want to go the Araby?
6. Why does he arrive when Araby is closing?
7. Does the narrator buy anything at Araby? Why or why not?
8. How is Eveline treated at home?
9. What does Frank have to offer Eveline?
10. Of what does the organ music remind Eveline?
11. What is Eveline’s final decision? What might have motivated this decision?
12. How is Jimmy Doyle treated by his father?
13. What does Jimmy think about his friend Segouin?
14. Why does Jimmy continue playing cards when he knows he is losing money?
E. “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Why weren't there suitable suitors for Emily?
Why does Emily take up with Homer Barron?
How did she kill Homer Barron and why?
How crazy was Emily (unable to distinguish fantasy from reality)? Use specific evidence.
Can you identify clues or examples of foreshadowing that hint at the surprise ending?
What does the title tell you about the story? Why is it not called "A Rose for Miss Emily"?
Homer Barron is described as a “Northerner”. What is he doing in this southern town?
What is attached to the gold chain around Emily’s neck? What might this suggest about
Emily’s view of time?
9. Describe the house in which Emily lives.
10. Describe the room in which Emily kept Homer’s corpse. Why would she want to sleep in a
room like this?
11. What was lying on the pillow at the end of the story?
F. “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell
1. What is a “nom de plume”?
2. What does the adjective “Orwellian” describe?
3. Define “imperialism”.
4. Define “exploitation”.
5. Be able to describe the setting of this story.
6. How does the narrator feel about imperialism?
7. How do the “natives” treat him?
8. What does the elephant represent? Give specific examples.
9. What causes the narrator to shoot the elephant?
10. What do the “natives” do once the elephant is dead?