Final Exam

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!

1. EACH OF THESE ESSAY QUESTIONS IS WORTH A POSSIBLE FIVE POINTS. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 100 POINTS POSSIBLE FOR THE EXAM.

PLEASE SELECT AND ANSWER 20 OF THE 25 QUESTIONS BELOW. 

YOU MAY LEAVE FIVE QUESTIONS UNANSWERED. (I WILL SCORE ALL ANSWERS CUMULATIVELY, UP TO 100 POINTS. THUS, YOU MAY ANSWER MORE THAN 20 TO HELP ENSURE YOU REACH THE MAXIMUM SCORE OF 100.)

2. ANSWER EACH QUESTION THOUGHTFULLY AND IN-DEPTH, USING PROPER GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, ETC. QUOTATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT PLEASE BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR ANSWERS, OFFERING PROOF OR EXAMPLES FROM THE READINGS.

3. I AM LOOKING FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF READINGS CITED IN YOUR ESSAY ANSWERS. SOME MAY BE REPEATED (ESPECIALLY YOUR NOVEL), BUT THERE WILL BE POINTS OFF ON EACH ANSWER IF ONLY A FEW WORKS ARE USED OVER AND OVER.

4. MOST QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE ANSWERED IN ABOUT 100-200 WORDS. AVOID LENGTHY OR EXTENDED PLOT SUMMARIES; JUST REFER TO THE SPECIFIC PART OF THE WORK THAT RELATES DIRECTLY TO YOUR ANSWER.

5. I SUGGEST WRITING YOUR ANSWERS OFFLINE (RUN SPELL CHECK, ETC.) AND PASTING THEM IN HERE WHEN YOU’RE DONE. TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LOSE YOUR WORK FROM TIMING OUT, LOG BACK IN (AND REQUEST THAT IT KEEP YOU LOGGED IN) TO MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM DOESN’T LOG YOU OUT WHILE YOU’RE STILL WORKING ON THE EXAM.

6. TO BE CLEAR, THIS EXAM IS “OPEN NOTE.” THINK CAREFULLY, PROOFREAD YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY, AND GOOD LUCK!

FIRST QUESTION: The first explanatory video described how to identify the meaning of a story at the plot level, the moral level, and the metaphorical level.

How is this done? Please offer one example of how to identify the meaning of a story at each level.

Briefly describe an example of problems arising from the “two triggers of tragedy,” as described in the explanatory videos, from two or more of the literary genres: Creative Nonfiction, Fictional Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, and the Novel.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”

What do you think this quotation means?

Describe an example of this from the readings in the course in terms of a character (or author) you could relate with. Explain why.

From the readings, explain two or more examples of how love helped a character succeed in their endeavors.

Describe how pride (hamartia or tragic flaw) affected three different characters (or narrators) from the readings in the course.

In the unit on poetry, the readings stated that “poetry is everywhere.” How so?

Briefly describe how some form of poetry, from the readings or in life, has affected you in some way.

Many characters bounce between the dichotomy of rebellion and conformity. Describe one example of this from three of the literary genres: Creative Nonfiction, Fictional Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, and the Novel.

Many characters have to deal with both love and hate in their lives, simultaneously. Describe one example of this from three of the literary genres: Creative Nonfiction, Fictional Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, and the Novel.

Many characters journey from ignorance to experience, learning things that make them happy, and other things that sadden them. Describe one example of this from three of the literary genres: Creative Nonfiction, Fictional Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, and the Novel.

As discussed in the first explanatory video, why do we study literature? Include two or more examples from the readings to make your points.

Aristotle wrote that Cause and Effect were the keys to writing a good story. Why? What should readers learn from this? Cite two examples from the readings to explain.

The second explanatory video explained how to identify symbols (usually objects) that helped add meaning to the themes of a story.

It also explained metaphors, which are often based in characters’ actions that readers could learn from and apply to themselves.

Describe an example of both of these from the readings.

In the third explanatory video, the Four Modes of literature and drama were described: Adventure (hero goes from bad to good), Tragedy (from good to bad), Comedy (from good to good), and Irony (from bad to bad).

From the readings, please list an example of each and describe why the example fits that mode.

Briefly describe how one of the readings mirrors each of the following moments in Syd Field’s “Three Act Structure:”

1. Setup (Introduces the hero, the villain, and the hero’s inner & outer problems.)

2. First Plot Point (Marks a significant turning point in the story where the hero is propelled into the main conflict or central quest.)

3. Midpoint (Serves as a pivotal moment of revelation or transformation, often altering the hero’s understanding of the situation.)

4. Second Plot Point (Introduces a major obstacle or twist that raises the stakes and intensifies the conflict.)

5. Climax and Resolution (The peak of the story’s tension and action, leading to the resolution of the main conflict and the hero’s ultimate fate.)

In James Hall’s Hit Lit: Cracking the Code of the Twentieth Century’s Biggest Bestsellers, one of the elements of a bestselling novel/film, is described as “Secret Societies.”

In this element, some secretive group has banded together to do harm to others, helping each other to do so while concealing their secret deeds. This is often posed as a key threat to the social order.

Describe and explain the consequences of one such group from the readings. Was the hero able to check the Secret Society’s evil intentions? Explain.

Describe what a psychological interpretation of a work of literature might include.

Then, from the readings, offer a brief psychological interpretation of one character, considering two or more factors revealed in the reading.

Briefly, describe the differences between a personal response and a reader-response interpretation. Use at least two examples from the readings to help explain.

Describe why Power Dynamics play a role in many works of literature, often forming the basis of a key conflict in the story.

Briefly describe an example from three of the literary genres: Creative Nonfiction, Fictional Short Stories, Poetry, Drama, and the Novel.

Did one of the readings particularly impact you, personally? As a personal response interpretation, describe the aspects of the work that affected you and explain why.

What aspects of a literary work might be included in a Historical/Biographical interpretation? Describe three or more aspects from one (or more) of the readings that might be helpful for such an interpretation.

Deconstruction analysis looks for a wide variety of meanings in a single work.

Offer a brief example of one of the readings and describe how it could be interpreted from either a variety of perspectives and/or how it offers a variety of possible themes or ideas for readers to consider.

In an Intertextuality analysis, readers try to notice references to works of literature, art, music, or other works that enhance the meaning (or add layers of interpretation) to the text being studied.

Briefly describe three examples of these intertextual references in one or more works, including how they might impact readers’ interpretation of the text being read.

Using specific examples, describe three of the readings whose themes mirrored one another in some way. Why do you think the authors felt this theme was important?

Often, a work begins by seeming to describe a happy, upbeat tale. Then, conflict enters into the character’s or narrator’s path.

From that point on, the theme and impact of the story usually changes.

Using specific details, describe the “before” and “after” of one such example from the readings.

Using specific details, describe your favorite reading, or part of the course, and why you enjoyed it so much.