Origin Myths
Name one of the three origin myth stories we read in class.
The Earth on the Turtle’s Back, When Grizzlies Walked Upright, The Navajo Origin Legend
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor likens an abstract idea, such as love or friendship, to a concrete image.
What is meter?
Meter is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Why is the narrator invited to visit Roderick?
Because Roderick is feeling unwell and the narrator is his old friend.
What is slant rhyme?
When the last syllables of two words are not exactly the same.
What are archetypes?
Archetypes are patterns, symbols, or character types that are repeated.
What does Anne Bradstreet express in "To My Dear and Loving Husband"?
She expresses her sincere love to her husband.
What is Iambic Pentameter?
The pattern of five feet of one unstressed and stressed syllable.
What detail of the house foreshadows the ending of the story?
The crack on the outside of the house foreshadows the end of the Usher family, or the revelation of the split personality of Roderick.
Give an example of an exact and a slant rhyme of the word "food".
E.g. mood and blood
In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright", how did the elders react to the marriages?
The elders were angry and punished the grizzlies.
In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", how does Edwards use emotion to persuade his audience?
He instills them with fear about the torture of hell.
What is Trochaic Pentameter?
The pattern of five feet of one stressed and unstressed syllable.
What are typical elements of Gothic fiction?
Bleak or remote settings, violent incidents, characters in torment, supernatural elements, language full of dangerous meanings
What is a paradox?
A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but actually presents a truth.
In "The Earth on the Turtle's Back", the muskrat saved the daughter. What characteristics did the muskrat display?
The muskrat displayed courage and an attitude to never give up.
Identify one metaphor in "Huswifery".
spinning of cloth, weaving of fabric, making of clothes
What is the meter of this line: "Beneath it rung the battle shout".
Iambic Tetrameter
Describe some supernatural elements in The Fall of the House of Usher.
The ghostly presence of Roderick's sister. The narrator hears noises similar to ones in the story he reads to Roderick.
Identify the paradox in the following: "The Brain is deeper than the sea—For—hold them—Blue to Blue—The one the other will absorb—As Sponges—Buckets—do—"
Give some examples of archetypes that you found in the origin myths?
Animals with human characteristics, the significance of natural elements
What is the overall conceit in "Huswifery"?
The author is offering to do God's work through simple activities, the Puritan way.
What is the meter of this line: "With their frequent repetitions".
Trochaic Tetrameter
How might the narrator of the story be an unreliable witness to the events of the story?
In "I heard a Fly buzz - when I died –", what might Emily Dickinson be suggesting about death.
Answers may vary.