Tall Tales
Where and when do most American Tall Tales take place?
American Western frontier; 1800s
In what format is the material presented? Explain.
epistolary
It is written in a series of letters by Judy.
What is the setting (time and place) of the story?
New York, New York
small flat (apartment)
Christmastime
early 1900s
Which figurative language is often used in tall tales?
Hyperbole
Why is it important for John Henry to beat the steam drill?
John Henry is trying to prove men are more valuable than machines.
Which type of irony is the following statement?
Master Jervie used to be a mischievous child, however now he is a proper, affluent adult.
situational irony
What are Jim and Della's most prized possessions?
Jim's watch
Della's hair
Which literary element is O. Henry most well-know for?
Irony
What does Pecos Bill riding the storm like a wild bronco suggest about the cultural context of the tale?
People valued expert riding ability in the American West
How did Mrs. Semple and Mr. Jervis Pendleton know one another?
She was his nurse at Lock Willow when he was a child.
Name one internal conflict and one external conflict.
Internal: Della deciding to sell her hair
External: Jim and Della can't afford to buy each other gifts
In "The Merchant of Venice" name one subplot that develops from the main plot.
Bassanio and Portia
Jessica and Lorenzo
Gratiano and Nerissa
What are some larger- than-life tasks that Paul Bunyan accomplished?
-turned off the rain
-moved snow from China
-dragging his ax to create the Grand Canyon
How did Jersuha Abbott get into Vassar College?
A trustee liked her essay, Blue Wednesday, and decided to send her to college to become a writer.
What is a theme of the story?
Unconditional Love
Self Sacrifice
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Jerusha is very descriptive with her writing and the reader is able to picture her words in his or her mind using one or more of the 5 senses.
imagery
Give an example of hyperbole from "Davy Crocket's Dream"?
-icicles from his nose
How does the setting of the novel reveal the time period?
-Vassar College is an all girls institution and Judy attends this College during the early 1900s
-Women's Rights - Judy talks about an election and mentions when women get their rights.
Explain the meaning of the title of the selection and how it is symbolic?
The Gift of the Magi - refers to the 3 Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus
Symbolic: Jim and Della sacrifice their most prized possessions to make the other happy; the three wise men give what they can to the baby Jesus
Explain the term cultural context. Give an example from one of the tall tales.
Cultural Context: the beliefs, meanings, customs, ideas, language, traditions
Examples will vary.