Literature 7-8
Answer the following questions on "The Raven." Due no later than noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31.
1. Poe mostly uses long lines each with 8 strong beats. Write out the first line of the poem and mark where you find the strong beats.
2. When you read these long lines aloud, you notice that there is a noticeable pause in the middle of the line, usually marked by punctuation. Write out and mark 3 lines from the poem that illustrate this.
3. The last, indented line is shorter than the rest. It has only 4 strong beats. Write one out and mark it.
4. In the first half of the poem, every stanza except one ends with the same words. What words are those?
5. Write out the one line that is an exception to the rule above.
6. In the second half of the poem, every stanza ends with the some word. What is it?
7. What is the emotional effect of ending the stanzas this way?
8. Poe sometimes uses this "split" line to insert an internal rhyme. In fact, he uses it in the first and third line of every stanza. Write out and mark 4 lines from 4 different stanzas that use this internal rhyme.
9. The rhyme pattern for each stanza is very complex. I have written it out for you. A letter in parentheses indicates an internal rhyme; boldface type indicates a rhyme that also repeats a word. A space indicates a line break.
(a)a b (c)c (c)b b b
I have marked out the first stanza for you to see. Read it carefully and pay attention to the symbols for the rhymes.
Once upon a midnight dreary, (a) while I pondered, weak and weary, a
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-- b
While I nodded, nearly napping, (c) suddenly there came a tapping, c
As if someone gently rapping, (c) rapping at my chamber door. b
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered,"tapping at my chamber door-- b
Only this and nothing more." b
This is a very complex rhyme pattern, and Poe uses it in every stanza of this narrative poem. You are beginning to see one reason why this poem is so well known!
Now it's your turn. Write out the second stanza completely, and mark it exactly the way I have done.
American Literature
Note on ch. 11
This chapter is a particularly good example of the psychological interest of the author. We have seen that same interest in many of the authors we have read--Hawthorne, Melville, Dickinson, and Whitman. They are interested in internal states of mind as much as they are in external events, even more so. Crane fits in well with that emphasis on the psychological. In this chapter, there's not that much that happens in the world around the youth--he is wandering around during or after a battle. He observes, but he doesn't interact much. The real battle is going on in his mind. Notice how often his mind and attitude change in the course of a few short pages.
Assignment
Read 12-13 and answer the following questions. Due no later than noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31.
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1. What are the "dragons" mentioned in the fourth paragraph? What is another vivid image in the same paragraph?
2. Why do you think Crane often uses language like this?
3. Explain the circumstances in which the youth is wounded (50 words).
4. Write out a sparkle that captures the chaos on the field.
5. The youth is joined by "a cheery man." Make an educated guess about why Crane seems to prefer descriptors like this (the youth, the tall soldier, the loud soldier, the spectral soldier, the tattered soldier) to actual names.
6. Who is Jack, and how does he come into the story?
7. Review question from ch. 10: Who is Tom Jamison, and how does he come into the story?
8. How does the youth find his regiment?
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9. What lie does Henry tell to Wilson, the loud soldier?
10. Cpl. Simpson has a look at Henry's wound. What is his assessment?
11. What kind gesture does Wilson make?
12. Re-read the last paragraph. Explain what makes it so emotionally powerful (50 words).
British Literature
See previous post.
C.S.Lewis
See previous post.
Luke and Acts
Read Acts 10:23-48 and answer the following. Due no later than noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31.
1. In vv. 25-26 there is a scene that will remind you of a similar scene in A Wrinkle in Time. Explain (30 words).
2. What "law" is Peter breaking, and why is he breaking it?
3. Cornelius tells his side of the story.
a. Who is Cornelius anyway?
b. When was he praying?
c. What other event took place at the same hour? See Acts 3.
d. Whom did he see?
e. What command did he receive?
4. Peter's response
a. What has Peter learned?
b. He summarized the earthly ministry of Jesus. What does he begin with? What does he end with?
5. What happened as Peter was speaking?
6. This event has taken place before (Acts 2 and 8). What is different this time?
7. How does the chapter end?
Poets and Prophets
Read Is. 25 and answer the following in complete sentences. Due no later than noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31.
1. Explain why rubble is a cause for praise.
2. Write out II Cor. 10:4-5, a NT parallel.
3. Connect the first part of v. 4 to Ps. 46.
4. Connect it also, in a general way, to the book of Job.
5. Connect the second part of v. 4 to Ps. 121.
6. What does this verse say to Christians in a time of pandemic?
7. Explain why a song being silenced is a good thing.
8. The mountain language in v. 6ff. is familiar from Is. 2 and many other places.
a. What will the Lord prepare?
b. How does this relate to Rev. 19:1?
c. What will he destroy?
d. How does this relate to Rev. 20:10?
e. What will the Lord remove?
f. How does this relate to Rev. 21:4?
g. What confession will believers make on that day?
h. Quote a similar verse from Ps. 98.
i. Why is manure mentioned?
j. A similar image is used in Jeremiah 8:2. Of whom is it used?
k. A related image is that of a swimmer. Explain how it is used in Isaiah 25.
l. List 3 psalms that we have studied that refer to the mountain of the Lord in some way, and tell what they say.
m. In an OT context, what is this mountain?
n. Briefly explain the significance of this same image for a NT Christian.
9. In a general way, how does this chapter relate to Is. 2?
10. Briefly explain in what way this chapter is an inclusio.
French Classes: See previous posts.
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