THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE FINAL

 "Hills Like White Elephants"

Know the symbolism of the setting, a major theme, the point of view, what's going on with the dialogue.

"The Yellow Wall Paper"

Know the symbolism of the wall paper, a major theme, a summation.

"Searching for Zora"

Summation. Why did Walker go looking for Zora? Answer the question: "Walker's optimism" writes critic Donna H. Winchell, "is ultimately born of her belief that something divine exists in every human and nonhuman participant in the universe. The inhabitants of her fictional world search...for that divine spark that makes them uniquely who they are." How might this quote apply to this essay?

Langston Hughes

Be able to list and explain a major theme in his poetry. Also look back at textbook questions on his poetry.

Allen Ginsberg

"Howl" "America" "Hum Bom" - explain what the poems are about and how they fit post-modernism

Gregory Corso

"Marriage" "The American Way"  - explain what the poems are about and how they fit post-modernism

Diane di Prima

"Revolutionary Letters" "Rant" - explain what the poems are about and how they fit post-modernism

"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"

Summation. Theme. What does this narrative say about slavery? 

"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas"

Explain a major theme of the narrative with examples.

Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address"

I might give you the text of this address on the test and ask you to SOAPSTone it and explain what Lincoln believes the Civil War has been about and what the next steps are. 

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

Theme. Discussion what is going on in the text.

Rita Dove

Discussion of poems. Look at text questions.

Billy Collins

Discussion of poems.  Look at text questions.

The Great Gatsby

Anything on the test you took. 

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Anything on the test you took.

A Raisin in the Sun 

Know - characters: Ruth, Travis, Walter, Beneatha, Lena, Joseph Asagai, George Murchinson, Bobo, Karl.

Be able to discuss the meaning of the title. Be able to discuss the symbol and a major theme. Possible comparison essay with The Great Gatsby

"Sonny's Blues"

Discuss the major conflict of the story and how this conflict connects a theme.

1) Write a paragraph overview of the story. What is it really about? What really happens?

2) There are a number of themes in the story including: suffering, darkness, feeling trapped and wanting to escape. How can you tie all of these into one dominate theme that is suggested in the title "Sonny Blues"? (Note there is no single answer for this questions).