Name ______English 4

English 4 Final Exam Review Guide:

Part 1: The Things They Carried

Main ideas to review:

1. The symbolism of objects (pantyhose, Bible, moccasins, tranquilizers, lemon tree, Rainy River, etc.)

2. The dual meaning of items the soldiers carried emotionally and physically

3. What role did Azar play in the story in terms of "dark humor"? Give examples

4. What could Jimmy Cross never forgive himself for?

5. What was the significance of the water buffalo story? How did it relate to the death of one of the soldiers?

6. What is happening truth vs. story truth?

7. What is the importance/value of a true war story?

8. What is PTSD and how did it impact soldiers coming home from Vietnam?

9. Why did the US go to war in Vietnam? What was the general perception of the American soldiers from the perspective of US citizens? How did soldiers feel about the war?

10. Why did O'Brien return to Vietnam after all those years? How did his trip with his daughter give him closure?

11. What impact did "storytelling" have on O'Brien? How did his stories impact the lives of others and the men he fought with? Did it matter whether those stories were real or fiction? Why?

Characters to recall:

- Kiowa - Linda -Ted Lavender - Mitchell Sanders

- Jimmy Cross - Rat Kiley - Tim O’ Brien - Norman Bowker

-Henry Dobbins - Curt Lemon - Lee Strunk - Dave Jensen

- Martha - Azar - Bobby Jorgensen - Mary Anne Bell

- Elroy Berdahl (Old Man) - Mark Fossie - Tim's Daughter - Eddie Diamond

Part 2: Brave New World

Main ideas to review:

1. Describe the way this society functions. In what ways is it different from our society (in terms of the people’s values, the way they live, the organization of society, etc.)? Why do you think the author chose Ford to be the “God” of this society?

2. What is the significance of the hatchery and conditioning center? Why are there no mothers or fathers in society? What stations of life are created in the conditioning centers? (Alphas....deltas...)

3. What are the primary goals of the world state?

4. How are Bernard and John the Savage different from others in the World State?

5. What is the significance of John quoting Shakespeare throughout the novel?

6. What are some things Mond, the world controller, has sacrificed in order to create a stable society? Why?

7. What does the narrator suggest is the source of Bernard’s self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with society? Describe Bernard’s friend Helmholtz. How are Helmholtz’s self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with society different from Bernard’s?

8. What do you think Bernard means when he speaks of wanting to be “free to be happy in some other way”? What does he mean when he says that he wants to “try the effect of arresting [his] impulses,” and how does that idea apply to his relationship with Lenina? What does he mean when he says that he wants to be an adult all the time—how are the people of this society “infants where feeling and desire are concerned”? What does Lenina’s reaction to Bernard’s unhappiness about their date show about her?

9. What things do Bernard and Lenina find disturbing about the Indians’ way of life and environment? Describe some of the scenes they witness.

10. How does Linda react to being back in “civilization”? How does John feel about this, and what difference in values does this show—what does this indicate about John’s view of what it means to live a truly human life?

11. Why do you think the author chose to have John called “the Savage”? Why does John quote the Shakespeare line about the “brave new world” when he visits the lighting-set factory? What reaction does he have to what he sees there, and why?

12. Describe John’s complex reaction to Lenina. Why is she confused about his feelings?

13. What is the ultimate warning about society that the novel poses?

14. What are some examples of the decay of society and immorality of the people in BNW?

15. What is the fate of John the Savage? Why is this symbolic and fitting at the end of the novel?

Characters to recall:

- Bernard- Lenina-

- Helmholtz- Fanny

- John the Savage- The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning (Thomas)

- Linda- Mustafa Mond

Part 3: The Tempest

Main ideas to review:

  1. Themes of the play: Forgiveness vs. Revenge; Inhumanity of Mankind; Freedom vs. Slavery; Letting go of the past
  1. Prospero’s past- why did he lose his position as Duke? Who stole the title from him?
  1. What is Ariel’s role in Prospero’s quest towards self-actualization rather than revenge?
  1. Why did Prospero relinquish his power?
  1. What is the moral to come from the story?
  1. What is the purpose of Prospero’s “dreams” speech?
  1. Why does Prospero test Ferdinand and challenge him early in the play?
  1. What is the relationship like between Miranda and Ferdinand? Miranda and Prospero?
  1. Compare/contrast Prospero’s treatment of Caliban vs. his treatment of Ariel
  1. What is the dynamic between Stephano and Trinculo and Caliban?
  1. What role did Antonio and Sebastian play when it came to revenge and seeking power?
  1. How did Prospero finally learn the difference between vengeance and forgiveness?
  1. What role did Gonzalo play in the story and how is he different from the other royals?
  1. How is the theme of “brave new world” evident in the play? What message did we learn about humanity and “civilization” vs. the “uncivilized world?”
  1. How are John the Savage, Ferdinand, and Miranda similar? How are Caliban and Bernard similar?
  1. Why does Prospero try to punish Caliban and take away his freedom? Why does Caliban resent Prospero so much?
  1. What conspiracy/plans took place in the play? How was each act foiled ultimately?
  1. How come Prospero doesn’t free Ariel until the end of the story? What impact does this have on Ariel’s character?

Characters to recall: What role did the following characters play in the story?

  1. Prospero6. Ariel
  2. Miranda7. Caliban
  3. Ferdinand8. Antonio
  4. Alonso 10. Trinculo
  5. Sebastian 11. Stephano

Part 4: The Kite Runner

Main ideas to review:

  1. The role of symbolism in the novel
  2. The role of extended metaphors in the novel
  3. The role of foreshadowing in the novel
  4. Themes: Redemption, forgiveness, regret, longing for the past, secrets and betrayal, purity and goodness, sacrifice, etc.
  5. Allegory: How is the story an example of an allegory? What archetypal characters are portrayed in the novel?
  6. What is the significance of the “monster in the lake”?
  7. What is the significance of kites throughout the novel symbolically?
  8. What is the significance of the phrase, “For you a thousand times over”?
  9. In what ways were Baba and Amir similar? Different?
  10. What atrocities and violations of human rights as seen through the Taliban were evident throughout the story?
  11. How did Amir gain redemption in the novel?
  12. In what ways did Hassan sacrifice himself for Amir and others?
  13. What sins did Baba commit that later came to light? What sins did Amir commit that later came to light?
  14. How are Amir and Soraya similar in terms of their past?
  15. How does Sohrab symbolize the same values and traits of Hasan?
  16. What are some symbols of childhood and innocence in the story?
  17. What are some heroic deeds that Baba has done throughout the story? What has Baba sacrificed?
  18. What are some moral lessons and teachings in the novel?
  19. How does the story come around full circle from start to finish?
  20. What is Eid? How does the holiday relate to Hassan’s character?

Characters to recall:

  1. Amir6. Assef11. Farzana (Hassan’s mother)
  2. Hassan7. Farid
  3. Baba8. Soraya
  4. Ali9. General Taheri
  5. Rahim Khan 10. Sohrab

Part 5: Ishmael

Main ideas to review:

  1. What myths/distortions of truth did Mother Culture teach mankind?
  2. What are some of the essential differences between Leavers and Takers?
  3. How does the Cain and Abel story relate to leavers and takers?
  4. What is the agricultural revolution? How has it impacted society according to Quinn?
  5. What is the “taker thunderbolt”? What impact did it play on the history of mankind?
  6. What does Ishmael mean when he says that mankind thinks the world belongs to him?
  7. What is the significance of the phrase, “With gorilla gone, what will become of man? With man gone, what will become of gorilla?”
  8. Why do takers prefer the lifestyle of agriculture vs. the lifestyle of hunters-gatherers?
  9. What is the significance of the pupil’s college essay about the Nazis and Germany? How are the people of Germany during the rise of Hitler similar to modern day man?
  10. What are the ABCs of ecology? What laws of the universe does man fail to acknowledge?
  11. What is the ultimate message behind the novel? What does Quinn want readers to take away from reading this story?
  12. What are some important teachings between Ishmael and his pupil?
  13. In what ways are human beings “captive”? How have we held mother nature “captive”?

Part 6: Essay

Prompt: After reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini, and The Tempest by William Shakespeare, it is clear that the authors have one big thing in common: a disgust towards the ills of humanity and the moral degradation of society. All of these works have explored themes such as the moral and intellectual decay of society, a depreciation of values and morals in society, acts of inhumanity, man vs. society, etc. in the attempt to warn future generations. It is your task to choose TWO of the works of literature we have read in this course and analyze the message behind the novels and their prophetic warnings for future generations.