The Great Gatsby
Nick Carraway is the narrator of The Great Gatsby. Is he a participant in the story or just an observer?
Both. Nick is a participant — he is Gatsby's neighbor and Daisy's cousin — but he also acts as an outside observer who comments on the other characters' behavior.
What is The Crucible mainly about? Name the historical event Arthur Miller used as its setting.
The Crucible is about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, in which people were falsely accused of witchcraft. Miller used it as an allegory for McCarthyism — the false accusations of communism in the 1950s.
Emily Dickinson writes 'Because I could not stop for Death — / He kindly stopped for me.' Is Death being described literally or figuratively here?
Figuratively. Death is personified — given human qualities (he 'stops' and is 'kind'). This is an example of personification, making death seem patient and polite rather than scary.
A student is writing a report on cyberbullying. Which is a more credible source: a peer-reviewed psychology journal or a personal blog post? Why?
The peer-reviewed journal is more credible. It is reviewed by experts, based on research, and not just one person's opinion. Blog posts can be biased or unverified.
What are the three rhetorical appeals? Give a one-word description of each.
Ethos = credibility (trust the speaker). Pathos = emotion (feel something). Logos = logic (believe the evidence). Speakers use these to persuade an audience.
Gatsby throws huge, flashy parties but stands alone and doesn't enjoy them. What type of irony is this?
Situational irony — the outcome is the opposite of what you'd expect. You'd expect the party's host to be having the most fun, but Gatsby is the loneliest person there.
Abigail accuses others of witchcraft to save herself, but her lies end up destroying the whole community. What type of irony is this?
Situational irony. Abigail's plan to protect herself backfires — her accusations cause chaos that she cannot control, ultimately ruining the community she wanted power in.
Dickinson calls Death 'kind' even though death is usually feared. What type of irony is this?
Verbal irony. Saying death is 'kind' is the opposite of what most people believe. This unexpected word choice creates an eerie, unsettling tone and makes the reader pause and think.
Which sentence has an objective tone? A) 'Solar panels are an amazing solution to climate change.' B) 'Solar panels can reduce home energy costs by up to 30%.'
B is objective. It presents a specific, verifiable fact without emotional language. Option A uses the word 'amazing,' which is an opinion — that makes it subjective.
A fire station burns down. What type of irony is this, and why?
Situational irony. We expect a fire station to be protected from fire — that's its whole purpose. When the opposite happens, it's ironic. Situational irony = when the outcome is the opposite of what's expected.
The word 'careless' is used to describe Tom and Daisy. What is the denotation of careless? What does it connote about their character?
Denotation: not paying attention; negligent. Connotation: that Tom and Daisy are irresponsible, selfish people who let others suffer for their mistakes without guilt.
Reverend Parris is described as believing he is always being persecuted. What does 'persecuted' mean, and what does using this word tell us about his character?
Denotation: treated unfairly or cruelly. Connotation: Parris sees himself as a constant victim, which suggests he is paranoid and self-centered rather than a true spiritual leader.
In 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers,' what is the mood created by comparing hope to a bird that keeps singing no matter what?
The mood is uplifting and resilient — the image of a bird that never stops singing suggests hope is always present, even in hard times. The reader feels comforted and encouraged.
What is the difference between denotation and connotation? Use the word 'home' as an example.
Denotation = the dictionary definition: a place where someone lives. Connotation = the feelings the word brings up: warmth, safety, family, belonging. Connotation goes beyond the literal meaning.
A poet writes the phrase 'we passes' multiple times throughout the poem. What is this technique called, and what effect does it have?
This is called repetition— the deliberate reuse of sounds, words, phrases, or entire lines. It creates emphasis and makes the idea feel urgent and important.
Is this sentence from the novel objective or subjective? 'Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.'
Subjective. The language is emotional and interpretive ('orgastic,' 'recedes'). An objective sentence would state facts without emotional language or personal judgment.
John Proctor says he will not confess to a lie just to save his life. Is this an appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos?
Pathos and ethos. He appeals to emotion (pathos) by showing courage and sacrifice, and to credibility (ethos) by proving he is a man of integrity who values truth over survival.
Phillis Wheatley was an enslaved woman who wrote poetry. In 'On Being Brought from Africa to America,' she quotes Christian ideas to argue for the equality of all people. What rhetorical appeal is this?
Logos and ethos. She uses logic (quoting scripture her audience already believes in) and establishes credibility as a person of faith. It's a clever strategy — arguing for her own humanity using the values of those who enslaved her.
A student wants an objective tone in an essay about electric cars. Which is better: 'Electric cars are the future!' or 'Electric car sales increased by 40% in 2023, according to the IEA.'
The second sentence is better. It cites a source and presents measurable data. The first sentence is an opinion stated as fact — that is subjective, not objective.
What is the difference between dramatic irony and situational irony? Give one example of each.
Dramatic irony: the audience knows something a character doesn't. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, we know Juliet is asleep, not dead — Romeo doesn't. Situational irony: the outcome is the opposite of what's expected. Example: A police station gets robbed.
At the end of the novel, Gatsby is killed for something Tom actually did. What type of irony is this, and how does it make the reader feel?
Situational irony. The reader likely feels outrage and sadness — the wrong person is punished. This reinforces the theme that the wealthy escape consequences while others suffer for them.
The court in Salem is supposed to protect innocent people, but it ends up convicting them. What type of irony is this?
Situational irony. The institution of justice becomes unjust. This creates a mood of dread and helplessness and is Miller's way of criticizing how fear-driven institutions can destroy innocent lives.
What is the difference between tone and mood? Use a poem about a storm as an example.
Tone = the author's attitude (e.g., the poet writes about the storm with excitement and awe). Mood = how the reader feels (e.g., the reader feels tense or anxious). Tone is what the writer puts in; mood is what the reader takes out.
The word 'mobilize' is used to describe a leader organizing community members. What does mobilize mean, and what does it suggest about the leader's actions?
Denotation: to bring people together for action. Connotation: the word suggests energy, purpose, and urgency — it implies the leader is inspiring people to act with a shared goal, not just casually gathering them.
A student wants to show a character is nervous without saying 'she was nervous.' Write one sentence of dialogue or action that shows it instead.
Sample: 'Are you sure this is a good idea?' she asked, twisting the hem of her shirt. Any answer that uses body language, hesitant speech, or indirect behavior to imply nervousness — without naming the emotion — is correct.