English 9 Midterm
Directions: The first 100 questions are Multiple Choice. Fill in the correct circle on the scantron. The
second part of the test consists of a written essay question.
1. Which of the following is the correct order in which plot can be organized according to Freytag’s
model?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Rising Action, Exposition, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
Exposition, Climax, Rising Action, Falling Action, Resolution
Exposition, Rising Action, Falling Action, Climax, Resolution
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
2. What is a utopian society?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A community/society with highly desirable and near perfect qualities
A community/society solely valuing equality among all members
A degraded and abused community/society run by a dictator/totalitarian
A community/society led by rebels and revolutionaries
3. What is a dystopian society?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A community/society with highly desirable and near perfect qualities
A community/society solely valuing equality among all members
A degraded and abused community/society run by a dictator/totalitarian
A community/society led by rebels and revolutionaries
4. When does Harrison Bergeron, a dystopian short story, take place?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The past
The present
The future
Outer space
5. What is everyone given to ensure ‘equality’ in “Harrison Bergeron”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Physical handicaps
Mental handicaps
Emotional handicaps
All of the above
6. Why is Harrison such a threat to society?
a.
b.
c.
d.
He was so good looking
He was so smart
He was so inventive and inspiring to others
All of the above
7. Who is the author of Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
John Steinbeck
Edgar Allen Poe
George Orwell
Joseph Stalin
8. What is any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meanings and can be understood in two
ways called?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Satire
Fable
Allegory
Fiction
9. Which of the following vices is NOT something that the animals despised and detested about man
in the beginning of the novella? *based their commandments off of these human vices.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Man’s competitive nature
Man’s obsession with materialistic and monetary things
Man’s oppressive nature
Man’s gluttonous nature
10. Napoleon and Snowball represent which two historical figures from the Russian Revolution?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Czar Nicholas and Stalin
Stalin and Trotsky
Trotsky and Lenin
Karl Marx and Stalin
11. “This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between
Snowball and Napoleon. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible.”
What conflict is this an example of?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Society
12. What makes Snowball and Napoleon foil characters?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Their similarities
Their differences
Their similarities and differences
Their ability to be wrapped as leftovers when cooked
13. What symbolized a sense of hope, pride, and freedom for all of the animals on the farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Battle of Cowshed
The 7 commandments
“Beasts of England”
The windmill
14. Who represented the proletariat working class in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Napoleon
Snowball
Squealer
Boxer
15. Who represented propaganda in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Napoleon
Benjamin
Squealer
Moses
16. Who represented a bystander in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Muriel
Snowball
Boxer
Benjamin
17. Who, collectively, represent the blind followers in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The horses
The hens
The sheep
The pigs
18. Who did Napoleon use to instill the paradoxical feelings of fear and protection in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The pigs
The dogs
The horses
The sheep
19. Who is the biggest scapegoat in Animal Farm?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Napoleon
Snowball
Squealer
Boxer
20. What animal does George Orwell believe political leaders are most similar to?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Pigs
Horses
Dogs
Sheep
21. All animals are equal, but _____________________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Some animals are less equal than others.
Some animals are meant to follow, not lead.
Some animals are more equal than others.
Some animals are separate
22. Who is the author of Of Mice and Men?
a.
b.
c.
d.
George Orwell
John Steinbeck
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Lennie Smalls
23. What genre is Of Mice and Men?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Allegory
Satire
Novella
Memoir
24. When and where does Of Mice and Men take place?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Roaring 20’s…Weed, California
The Depression… Soledad, California
The Civil Rights Movement…Weed, California
The Women’s Rights Movement…Soledad, California
25. George and Lennie were examples of _______________; people who traveled from place to
place with nothing more than a bedroll on their back.
a.
b.
c.
d.
“hobos”
“ranchers”
“bindlestiffs”
“nomads”
26. Lennie is large but his last name is Small. What is this an example of?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Personification
Situational Irony
Dramatic irony
Genetics
27. “Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch”. This piece of narration is
written in…
a.
b.
c.
d.
First person
Second person
Third person limited
Third person omniscient
28. How is third person omniscient different than third person limited?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Omniscient focuses on one specific character more than the others
Omniscient focuses on all of the characters
Omniscient uses “you”
Omniscient uses “I”
29. Who has the biggest “Napoleon Complex” in Of Mice and Men?
a.
b.
c.
d.
George
Curely
Curley’s Wife
Crooks
30. Besides George and Lennie, which character is able to understand the importance and necessity
of friendship?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Slim
Crooks
Candy
Curley’s Wife
31. Who is the one person that Curley’s wife is superior to?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Crooks
Lennie
Candy
Carlson
32. “She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her
hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.” This is an example of:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Climax
Direct Characterization
Indirect Characterization
Personification
33. What directly symbolizes Lennie’s “American Dream”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Alfalfa
Livin off the fat-a the lan
George
Tendin to the rabbits
34. “Ain’t many guys travel around together. I don’t know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole
damn world is scared of each other.” What theme/s does this quote reveal?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The American Dream
Gender expectations
Friendship and loneliness
The effects of racism
35. What is George unable to do when he shoots Lennie?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Tell him the dream once more
Look him in the eye
Talk about their friendship
Forgive Lennie
36. Who is the author of Oedipus Rex?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Homer
Sophocles
Aristotle
Antinous
37. Which of the following is not a section in Greek Tragedies?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Prologue
Intermission
Stasimon
Exodus
38. What kind of hero was Oedipus?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A superhero
A tragic hero
An epic hero
A fallen hero
39. One of Aristotle’s Six Elements of Tragedy is ‘Hubris’, which means:
a.
b.
c.
d.
An error in judgment
Excessive pride or arrogance
The reversal of fortune
The cleansing of one’s negative emotions
40. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a Tragic Hero:
a.
b.
c.
d.
He must be of high status and reputation
He must be the cause of his downfall
He must have a moment of enlightenment where he recognizes his hamartia
He must die as punishment for his hubris
41. How does the chorus function in a tragic play?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They sing songs that introduce and close of the play
The give choral odes that comment on the previous episode in the play
They guide the decision of the protagonist
They help with costume changes
42. Which of the following emotions does the chorus NEVER feel towards/for Oedipus?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Admiration
Respect
Fear
Anger
43. What is the answer to the riddle of the sphinx: What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs
during the day, and 3 legs at night?
a.
b.
c.
d.
People
Animals
Man
Human
44. How is Thebes punished for the murder of King Laius?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They are terrorized by the sphinx
They do not have a king for one year
There is a drought and famine
The plague is spreading through their streets
45. What is ironic about Tiresias?
a.
b.
c.
d.
He knows the truth
He is viewed as a god
He is blind
He is old
46. Helen Keller said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has ________ but not
___________”.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Vision but no sight
Money but no love
Sight but no vision
Pride but no modesty
47. Which of the following is NOT a reason Creon gives for not wanting to be king?
a.
b.
c.
d.
People already fawn over him
He does not want the responsibility
He would have to marry his sister
His easy lifestyle
48. What is the following line an example of: “Now, O Light, may I look on you for the last time!”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hubris
Dramatic Irony
Tragedy
Foreshadowing
49. When is Oedipus’ perepetiea, anagnorosis, and climax?
a.
b.
c.
d.
When he is told about and realizes the truth
When he finds Jocasta hanging
When he blinds himself
When he pleads with Creon to exile him and watch over his children
50. Where does Oedipus want to be exiled to once he realizes his oracle is true?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Corinth
Athens
Troy
Mt. Cithearon
51. According to the chorus, what is the pattern of man?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sink and swim
Fall and rise
Rise and fall
Rock and roll
52. Throughout the majority of the play, the reader knows what is going on or going to happen while
the characters remain ignorant. What is this as example of?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Catharsis
Dramatic Irony
Hamartia
Enlightenment
53. Who (supposedly) wrote The Odyssey?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sophocles
Aristotle
Homer
Guy Fieri
54. In Ancient Greek epic poems, gods often exhibit human like qualities…
a.
b.
c.
d.
They are funny, cry a lot, and get angry.
They fight, love, and are jealous.
They exhibit sins of gluttony, sloth, and pride.
They enjoy long baths, walks in the park, and bubble gum.
55. The Iliad is the model for epics of ____ and The Odyssey is the model for epics of_____.
a.
b.
c.
d.
War…the long journey
War…heroes
Achilles…Odysseus
Troy…Greece
56. How long did Odysseus fight in the Trojan War?
a.
b.
c.
d.
1 year
5 years
10 years
20 years
57. After the Trojan War, how much longer did it take him to get home to Ithaca?
a.
b.
c.
d.
An additional 5 years
An additional 7 years
An addition 10 years
An additional 13 years
58. Who was Odysseus’ mentor?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Athena
Poseidon
Zeus
Circe
59. What was the symbol of Odysseus’ mentor?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The sea
Lightning
Fig tree
Olive tree
60. Who was Odysseus’ nemesis?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Athena
Poseidon
Zeus
Helios
61. What is “father of gods and men” an example of?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A Homeric simile
A Homeric metaphor
“en media res”
An epithet
62. What kind of hero was Odysseus?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A superhero
A tragic hero
An epic hero
A fallen hero
63. What is Odysseus’ homeland? (where he rules as king)
a.
b.
c.
d.
Thebes
Greece
Troy
Ithaca
64. Which of the following excerpts did not have to do with the theme of overcoming temptation?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Lotus Eaters
The Cyclops
The Sirens
The Cattle of the Sun God
65. What sacred and esteemed Greek value does the Cyclops break?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Courage
Loyalty
Hospitality
Wisdom
66. Odysseus’ decision to tell the Cyclops “I am Nohbody” is an example of his:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ate
Arête of the mind
Nemesis
Poor spelling
67. Which two mythological creatures, when paired together, evoke the modern saying “between a
rock and a hard place”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cyclops and Sirens
Scylla and Sirens
Scylla and Charybdis
Scylla and Calypso
68. What kind of days did Odysseus return to when he first arrived back home?
a. Better
b. Bitter
c. Beautiful
d. Brutal
69. Who is the first person to recognize Odysseus when he returns home?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Eumaeus, the swineheard
Penelope, his wife
Telemachus, his son
Antinous, the suitor
70. What weapon symbolizes Odysseus’ fighting abilities?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Long sword
Spear
Shield
Bow and arrow
71. What is the climax of The Odyssey?
a.
b.
c.
d.
When Odysseus loses all his men
When Odysseus lands on King Alcinous’ island
When Odysseus reveals his identity to the suitors/gets his revenge
When Odysseus and Penelope reunite
72. Who wrote “The Tell Tale Heart”?
a. John Steinbeck
b. Stephen Spielberg
c. Edgar Allan Poe
d. O. Henry
73. What does the narrator of “The Tell Tale Heart” hate about the old man?
a.
b.
c.
d.
His eyes
His one eye
His hair
His mouth
74. What does the “beating” heart symbolize in “The Tell Tale Heart”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fear
Relief
Grief
Guilt
75. Who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Harper Lake
Harper Luis
Harper Lee
Harper Lowe
76. When was To Kill a Mockingbird published?
a.
b.
c.
d.
1930
1960
1975
1990
77. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Southern Gothic literature?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The grotesque rumors about Boo Radley
The poverty of the Cunninghams and the Ewells
The racist views of Maycomb, Alabama
Mrs. Dubose’ addiction to morphine
78. What does the term Bildungsroman mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Realistic Fiction (genre)
Southern Gothic (genre)
Coming of age (genre)
Roman buildings (not a genre…)
79. What kind of town is Maycomb described as?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Vapid
Tyrannical
Passé
Austere
80. Which of the following is NOT a rumor spread about Boo Radley?
a.
b.
c.
d.
He has blood stained hands
He peers into people’s windows at night
He poisoned his dad’s food
He is chained to his bed
81. What season is Dill associated with?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
82. Why can Dill be considered obstreperous?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Because he is so creative
Because he is so adventurous and brave
Because he is such a curiosity
Because he is rowdy and boisterous
83. “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to__________. One does not love to breathe.” Scout
a.
b.
c.
d.
Play
Learn
Read
Love
84. What kind of love did Calpurnia show Scout and Jem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Tough love
Inconsistent love
Easygoing love
No love
85. Who does Scout stick up for on the first day of school?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Burris Ewell
Jem
Walter Cunningham
Ms. Caroline
86. Who has the dirtiest reputation in town?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Radleys
The Cunninghams
The Ewells
The Robinsons
87. When does Calpurnia’s erratic southern dialect come out?
a.
b.
c.
d.
When she is tranquil (calm and at peace)
When she is happy
When she is sad
When she is furious
88. Who believes that “all forms of pleasure are sin”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Finches
The Radleys
The Cunninghams
Calpurnia
89. Who/What does the snowman that Jem and Scout build represent?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Mr. Avery
White supremacy
Childhood fun
Stereotypes
90. What does the first at Miss Maudie’s house symbolize?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The spreading of racism
How hot Miss Maudie is
The potential “good” in all people
The potential “evil” in all people
91. Which of the following is not one of the items that Boo puts in the knot hole?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A ball of yarn
Gum
Cement
Soup figures
92. Who fixes Jem’s ripped pants?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Miss Maudie
Aunt Alexandra
Boo Radley
Atticus
93. What/who does a “mockingbird” represent?
a.
b.
c.
d.
African Americans
Stereotypes
Innocent outcasts
Racism
94. What is Maycomb’s “usual disease”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Materialism
Bigotry/prejudice
Racism
The common cold
95. What does Tim Johnson symbolize?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Stereotypical African Americas
Stereotypical loners
Stereotypical poor people
Stereotypical children
96. Who shoots Tim Johnson?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Heck Tate
Jem
Atticus
Calpurnia
97. Who is the character that finally makes Jem snap and react in a violent way?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Uncle Jack
Aunt Alexandra
Cousin Francis
Mrs. Dubose
98. How are Jem and Scout able to palliate the symptoms of Mrs. Dubose’ morphine withdrawal?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They sing to her
They tend to her garden
They brush her hair
They read to her
99. What is in the box that Mrs. Dubose left for Jem?
a.
b.
c.
d.
100.
A necklace
A pocketknife
A flower
A picture
Who are the best examples of foil characters?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Scout and Jem
Oedipus and Jocasta
Snowball and Napoleon
Odysseus and Telemachus
Part II: In a well-organized and well thought out 5 paragraph essay, answer the following prompt:
We have encountered many “good”, “bad” and somewhat “in between” leaders throughout the first
half of this year. Which three characters do you believe best exhibit the idea that those who have
power will abuse it, and why? Make sure you give evidence that supports how they abuse their
power, and why it is often inevitable.
English 9 Midterm
Directions: The first part of this exam is quote recognition and analysis. CHOOSE 10 out of the 15
quotes to analyze. Please read the quote and identify the literary piece that it comes from, the speaker,
and give a brief explanation of its significance a few sentences (what does this quote mean? Why is it
significant to the character and story as a whole?). The second part of the test consists of a written essay
question.
1. “I ought to of shot that dog myself. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
2. “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing”
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning:
3. Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger
and overwork is abolished forever. Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He
does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast
enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning:
4. She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe...Son, I told you that if you
hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her.
I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a
gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you
see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
5. I shall tell you. My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning:
6. I have never longed for the king's power—only his rights.
Would any wise man differ from me in this?
As matters stand, I have my way in everything
With your consent, and no responsibilities.
If I were king, I should be a slave to policy.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
7. "An' have rabbits. Go on! Tell about what we're gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits
in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove, and how thick the cream is on the milk
like you can hardly cut it. Tell about that!
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
8. Stranger, you are no longer what you were just now!
Your cloak is new; even your skin!
You are one of the gods who rule the sweep of heaven!
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
9. From now on, where oracles are concerned,
I would not waste a second thought on any.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
10.
"Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade
Napoleon has made in taking this extra labor upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that
leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes
more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to
let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions,
comrades, and then where should we be?
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
11. You yellow dogs, you thought I’d never make it home from the land of Troy.
You took my house to plunder. You dared bid for my wife while I was still alive…
your last hour has come. You die in blood.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
12. "I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the
blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
13. “A guy needs somebody―to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no
difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets
sick.”
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
14. ‘Napoleon is always right’ and ‘I will work harder’.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning:
15. My children, generations of the living
In the line of Kadmos, nursed at his ancient hearth:
Why have you strewn yourselves before these altars
In supplication, with your boughs and garlands?
The breath of incense rises from the city
With a sound of prayer and lamentation.
Literary piece:_____________________________________________
Speaker: __________________________________________________
Significance/meaning
Part II: In a well-organized and well thought out 5 paragraph essay, please choose ONE of the following
essay prompts to respond to.
a) What character were you most fascinated or intrigued by this year? Why? Write a character
analysis that explains what the author did to make this character so engaging, with direct
references to their characteristics, relationships, conflicts, transformations, etc.
b) Write an analysis of two foil (contrasting/opposing) characters, highlighting how each character
brings out the strengths/good and/or weaknesses/evil of the other character.
c) Write a character analysis of three characters who can be considered dynamic and why.
English 9 Midterm
Directions: The first part of this exam consists of a short story analysis. The second part of the test
consists of a written essay question.
Short story title: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
Short story Author: Ursula K LeGuin
Part II:
Thinking back on everything we have read and learned this year, in addition to the short story that you
just read, write a 5 paragraph essay that analyzes one specific theme that the short story and TWO
OTHER literary pieces we have read this year have in common.
*Keep in mind that a theme is a TOPIC + an insight
Ex. Love (topic) + is blind (insight) = love is blind
Ex. 2 the necessity of (insight) + friendship = the necessity of friendship