Midterm Exam

Midterm Examinations are this coming Wednesday (March 19th). For the exam students will be writing two short essays in class. The following are the different essay options that you may choose from. Pick two of the options, re-read the literature, and plan your essay before arriving to class. You may NOT write your essay beforehand, but you may mark passages and create an outline for your essays. The exam will be open book and you may use one page of notes. Remember, that all essays should be well-written and need to have specific support from the text (quotes, paraphrasing, etc.) along with appropriate citation.

1. In Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” we are introduced to new and interesting insights to the common man. What is Gray’s purpose in writing this work? Do you think that the author’s point is true only for people at that time or is it still relevant today?
2. Satire is often used to ridicule or mock a person or idea in order to bring about social change. What are some of the targets in Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”? How is his satire employed? How effective is the use of Swift’s satire?
3. In Alexander Pope’s “An Essay on Man” we are introduced to many of Pope’s ideas and theories concerning mankind. What does Pope have to say about mankind? Do you agree or disagree with his assessment?
4. A mock epic is a long, humorous narrative poem that treats a trivial subject in the grand style of a true epic. In Alexander Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock” we receive many elements of a mock epic. Explain how the ending battle between Belinda and the Baron employs the conventions of a mock epic.
5. John Donne’s poetry is full of figurative language, including paradoxes and conceits. In a well-written essay, explain how Donne uses figurative language to advance the meaning of his poems.
6. The theme "Carpe Diem" is latin, meaning "Sieze the Day." Many poets throughout time have employed this theme in their poetry. Choosing one or more of the following poems (Andrew Marvell's, "To His Coy Mistress"; Robert Herrick's, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"; and John Suckling's, "Song"), write about how the author or authors uses the Carpe Diem theme. Explain the particular theme for the poem, how it is being supported, what it is asking others to do, and how effective the argument is in connection to the theme.
7. In "Paradise Lost," John Milton attempts to "Justify the ways of God to men." In so doing, Milton supports the character of God in his work, yet he makes the character of Satan both persuasive and sympathetic in his rebellion. Explain Satan's thesis and the arguments that he uses to support it. Are Satan's arguments convincing? What does he have to say concerning good and evil? What of the power of the mind? Be sure to explain why we as readers should accept or reject Satan's reasons for continued rebellion.
8. Amelia Lanier is one of the few women writers of her time. In her work, "Eve's Apology in Defense of Women" Lanier presents an argument that defends the status and rights of women through exploring carefully the story of Adam and Eve. What reasons does Lanier present to support a woman's cause in a society that is dominated by male perspectives and opinions? Is Lanier's defense a reasonable one? How effective are her arguments in advancing the cause of women?