The Big Six
Dark/Light Romanticism
Transcendentalism
The Oval Portrait
The Birthmark
100

Name three different tools that could be used in a poem.

Metaphor, simile, repetition, onomatopeia, alliteration, personification, etc...

100

What is the difference between light and dark Romanticism?

Light Romanticism focuses on the positive aspects of human nature and the beauty of the natural world. Writers believed in the inherent goodness of people and the divine presence in nature. Dark Romanticism, on the other hand, highlights the darker aspects of human nature, such as sin, guilt, and the potential for evil, with writers exploring the mysterious and unsettling sides of existence.

100

How does Transcendentalism view nature?

Transcendentalism views nature as a profound, divine force and a source of inspiration and spiritual connection.

100

Name three elements that create a spooky or eerie vibe in the story "The Oval Portrait".

the death of the wife, the obsession of the artist, the dark abandoned castle, the lack of light.

100

How does "The Birthmark" reflect Dark Romantic themes?

The story reflects Dark Romantic themes by exploring the darker aspects of human nature, such as obsession, the rejection of natural limitations, and the destructive potential of scientific ambition.

200

Name all six of the Big Six

Title, Paraphrase, speaker, tools, turns, theme.
200

Who are some prominent authors associated with light Romanticism?

Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, 

200

What is the "Oversoul" in Transcendentalism?

The “Oversoul” is a concept introduced by Emerson, describing a universal, spiritual presence that connects all living things.

200

What significance does love have in the story, "The Oval Portrait"?

Love is portrayed as obsessive and destructive; the artist’s love for his art consumes him to the point where he neglects his wife’s well-being, ultimately leading to her death as he becomes engrossed in capturing her likeness.

200

What does the birthmark symbolize in the story, “The Birthmark” by Nathanial Hawthorne?

The birthmark symbolizes human imperfection and mortality, highlighting the folly of seeking perfection and the dangers of trying to alter what is natural.

300

Name at least 3 possible turns that could happen in a poem.

Setting changes locations
Tone shifts from one to another
Subject of the poem changes
Flashback or flash forward
A pattern in punctuation or rhyme scheme changes
Speaker’s attitude toward subject changes

300

Who are some prominent authors associated with dark Romanticism?

Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville.

300

Name 3 elements of American Transcendentalism. 

  1. The inherent goodness of people

  2. Individuality

  3. Nature as spirituality

300

What moral less can be gathered from the story "The Oval Portrait"?

The story suggests that while dedication to art is admirable, it should not come at the expense of those we love or our responsibilities to them.

300

How does Aylmer’s character reflect the theme of human ambition?

Aylmer embodies the dangers of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of perfection at all costs.

400

Tell me a thematic statement that encapulates Longfellow's "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls".

The poem reflects the inevitability of life’s cycles and the transient nature of human existence, as symbolized by the endless movement of the tide.

400

Name 3 key elements of American Romanticism.

  1. Emphasis on emotion and intuition

  2. Exploration of the supernatural and mysterious

  3. Rejection of rigid social conventions and norms

400

Name three issues transcendentalists fought to change.

Prison reform, Women's rights, abolition of slavery.

400

What is the tone of "The Oval Portrait"?

The tone is dark, suspenseful, and eerie.

400

What is ironic about the outcome of Aylmer’s experiment?

The irony lies in the fact that Aylmer achieves "perfection" by removing the birthmark, but it comes at the cost of Georgiana’s life.

500

Name at least three questions you could ask while examining the speaker.

Is the speaker living or nonliving?  Human or object?

How well does the speaker know the subject of the poem?

Does the speaker have a gender?  Does that matter?

What background experiences have impacted the speaker?
In what ways are YOU similar or different to the speaker?  How so?

Does the speaker’s tone or attitude toward the subject change at any point?

500

Name 3 key elements of Dark Romanticism.

  1. Human fallibility and sin

  2. The psychological effects of guilt and anxiety

  3. Questioning the perfectibility of humanity

500

How do Transcendentalists view individuality and society?

Transcendentalists place high value on individuality, encouraging people to follow their own beliefs and moral compass rather than conforming to societal expectations.

500

How does Poe depict the relationship between art and life in "The Oval Portrait"?

Poe presents art as something that can possess a life of its own, potentially consuming the artist and their subject. The artist’s obsession with capturing his wife’s likeness in the portrait leads to her literal loss of life, suggesting that the pursuit of perfection in art may require sacrificing real human connections and vitality.

500

How does Georgiana’s response to Aylmer’s obsession change throughout the story?

Initially, Georgiana is confident in her beauty and unbothered by the birthmark. However, Aylmer’s obsession causes her to view it as a flaw, leading her to doubt herself and eventually submit to his desire to remove it.