Vanity of Human Wishes
Life of Samuel Johnson
Miscellaneous Johnson
100
Norton Anthology, pg. 2669, Lines 135-143
What is the relationship between Truth and Virtue? Does knowledge play a part?
100
Norton Anthology, pg. 2664, middle of the 2nd paragraph: "For instance..." until the end of the paragraph.
How has Johnson's class or socio-economic standing influenced his works? What other author's or works have we seen informed by similar circumstances?
100
Norton Anthology, pg.2679, 1st full paragraph.
In what way is Johnson's definition of idleness insightful? Is this an example of wit? How?
200
Norton Anthology, pg. 2666, Lines 5-10
How does Samuel Johnson relate man's agency with the concept of fate?
200
Norton Anthology, pg.2664, 2nd sentence in 2nd paragraph
In this brief excerpt, what strands of Renaissance Humanism are seen in Johnson's thinking?
200
Norton Anthology, pg. 2755, all 8 definitions listed on the page (majority of the page until paragraph begins at the bottom).
What role does satire play in Johnson's definitions?
300
Norton Anthology, pg. 2667, Lines 21-28
Which of the two forms of satire discussed in class is most present in this passage and how is it used?
300
Norton Anthology, pg.2753, 2nd paragraph (entire)
What difficulties did Samuel Johnson overcome in compiling his dictionary? What was remarkable about Johnson's compilation when compared with the creation of other European language dictionaries?
300
Norton Anthology, pg. 2756, last sentence on the page leading into first sentence on following page. Hint: "While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance; and when he is dead we rate them by his best."
What is the danger of "bardolatry"?
400
Norton Anthology, pg. 2670, Lines 169-174
What is fatal learning? Why does Samuel Johnson address it?
400
Norton Anthology, pg.2665, final paragraph (continued on the next page).
What significance can we find in Johnson's devotion to Truth?
400
Norton Anthology, pg.2683, 1st complete paragraph.
What does Johnson mean by "desires distinct from sense" and how do they relate to Truth Beauty and the Good?
500
Norton Anthology, pg. 2673, Lines 319-324
How does Samuel Johnson teach about Beauty (with a capital "B") in these lines?
500
See handout- the underlined paragraph.
What effect did the spread of literacy have on the works and lives of Samuel Johnson and his contemporaries?
500
Norton Anthology, pg.2685, Paragraph beginning with "Here he recollected himself..."
What does the mountain represent?
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