How to Read Literature Like a Professor Ch 11-14

Questions and Answers

What does violence mean?

It is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings and can be symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, Romantic, allegorical, or transcendent.

How is violence different in literature?

It could also be a metaphor.

Who wrote 'Out, Out' about a farm boy whose hand gets cut off?

Robert Frost

Who wrote 'Lycidas' about how all nature weeps?

John Milton Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of violence in poems?

Character-inflicted violence and authorial violence to advance the plot. Signup and view all the answers

Why is there violence in literature?

To give weight to narratives like mystery novels. Signup and view all the answers

What is a book by D.H. Lawrence about Gudrun Brangwen and Gerald Crich?

Women in Love Signup and view all the answers

What is a book written by D.H. Lawrence about the relationship between Banford, March, and Henry Grenfel?

The Fox Signup and view all the answers

What does the death of Banford in 'Women in Love' signify?

The sexual tensions and gender-role confusion of modern society. Signup and view all the answers

Who is an individual in 'Women in Love' corrupted by the values of industry?

Gerald Crich Signup and view all the answers

Who in 'Women in Love' gets caught dancing in disco and has a hatred relationship with Gerald?

Gudrun Brangwen Signup and view all the answers

Which author is known for their violent themes including rape and incest?

William Faulkner Signup and view all the answers

What is a short story by William Faulkner about a father's revenge?

Barn Burning (1939) Signup and view all the answers

Who is a character in 'Barn Burning' trying to stop his father from burning a plantation?

Sarty Snopes Signup and view all the answers

What book by William Faulkner discusses Ike McCaslin and his grandfather's true history?

Go Down Moses (1942) Signup and view all the answers

What did Eunice do after finding out Tomasina was pregnant?

Suicide Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'The Hearts and Lives of Men' about a little girl in a corrupt world?

Fay Weldon Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'The Satanic Verses' featuring characters becoming demons?

Salman Rushdie Signup and view all the answers

Do symbols have a single meaning?

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a story or poem that can reveal a hidden single meaning?

Allegory Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Pilgrim's Progress' depicting a journey to the Celestial City?

John Bunyan Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Animal Farm' about failed revolutions?

George Orwell Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'A Passage to India' involving accusations of rape?

E.M. Forster Signup and view all the answers

What are caves a sign of based on Plato and ancestors?

Consciousness and perception Signup and view all the answers

Who describes the cave's effect only in terms of what does not cause it?

Professor Godbole Signup and view all the answers

What did Mrs. Moore not like about the cave?

She hated the Indian's views and felt trapped. Signup and view all the answers

What did Adela's cave stand for?

Adela felt self-doubt and faced spiritual issues. Signup and view all the answers

What book by Mark Twain features an escaped slave and a white boy?

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'The Bridge' about how rivers and bridges connect?

Hart Crane Signup and view all the answers

What did T.S. Eliot write about after WWI?

The Waste Land Signup and view all the answers

Which author is noted for using action symbolism in their poems?

Robert Frost Signup and view all the answers

Who claimed human population can outgrow food supply?

Thomas Malthus Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'A Christmas Carol' attacking Malthus's ideas?

Charles Dickens Signup and view all the answers

Why does Foster hate political writing?

They don't age well and push a single cause. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Foster like political writing?

He likes writing that protects people's rights. Signup and view all the answers

Who was a poet that wrote about anti-Semitism and fascism?

Ezra Pound Signup and view all the answers

How is 'Women in Love' political?

The characters never conform to any convention by an institution. Signup and view all the answers

What did Edgar Allan Poe write about a prince having a party during a plague?

The Masque of the Red Death (1842) Signup and view all the answers

What did Edgar Allan Poe write about decaying nobles?

The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) Signup and view all the answers

What was written by Washington Irving about a character who fell asleep for 20 years?

Rip Van Winkle Signup and view all the answers

Who in 'Oedipus at Colonus' was the Athenian king that protected Oedipus?

Theseus Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Mrs. Dalloway' that critiques legislative views?

Virginia Woolf Signup and view all the answers

How is Christian the predominant religion?

Because early settlers had inflicted their religion on native cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What does John 3:16 communicate?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Signup and view all the answers

What is a method of biblical interpretation involving the Old and New Testament?

Biblical typology Signup and view all the answers

Who said biblical typology was a dead language?

Northrop Frye Signup and view all the answers

What book by Ernest Hemingway is similar to the life of Jesus?

The Old Man and the Sea (1952) Signup and view all the answers

What is the plot of 'The Old Man and the Sea'?

An old man endures challenges while fishing, symbolizing resilience. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the old man in 'The Old Man and the Sea'?

Santiago Signup and view all the answers

How do we know if we see a Christ-like figure?

If the character has some of the same attributes as Jesus. Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote 'Love Medicine' involving a character named June Kashpaw?

Louise Erdrich Signup and view all the answers

Who was a character in 'Love Medicine' who dies after walking home in a blizzard?

June Kashpaw Signup and view all the answers

Who is the illegitimate son of June Kashpaw?

Lipsha Morrissey Signup and view all the answers

How is June Kashpaw a Christ-like figure despite her flaws?

She provides meaning and belonging to Lipsha. Signup and view all the answers

Why are there Christ-like figures?

Because the author wants to make a point or illustrate a sacrifice. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Violence in Literature

Violence serves as a significant theme reflecting personal, social, and political aspects in literature.
Different interpretations of violence can be symbolic, thematic, or allegorical in nature.
Robert Frost’s poem "Out, Out" depicts the tragic consequences of machinery through the narrative of a farm boy.
"Lycidas" by John Milton explores nature's mourning, emphasizing loss.
Two types of violence in literature: character-inflicted violence (e.g., murder, bombings) and authorial violence that drives the plot.
Violence in fiction often symbolizes deeper issues, such as the horrific realities of slavery in "Beloved" by Toni Morrison.

Notable Works and Themes

D.H. Lawrence's "Women in Love" addresses themes of personal conflict and violence in modern relationships.
"The Fox," also by D.H. Lawrence, examines the destructive outcomes of relationships and violence.
The death of Banford in "Women in Love" symbolizes gender-role confusion and societal pressures.
In "Barn Burning," William Faulkner illustrates class struggles and familial ties through the character of Sarty Snopes.

Authors and Their Contributions

William Faulkner, famous for his exploration of intense subjects like rape and suicide within concise narratives, defines Southern Gothic literature.
"Go Down Moses" reveals Ike McCaslin's confrontation with his family's history and racism.
Fay Weldon’s "The Hearts and Lives of Men" critiques the corrupt adult world through the innocent lens of a child.
Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" discusses transformations of characters from a corrupt existence to demonic entities.

Symbols and Allegories

Literary symbols often possess multiple meanings rather than one single interpretation.
Allegory, as defined, is a narrative that conveys a deeper moral or political meaning.
John Bunyan’s "Pilgrim’s Progress" serves as a Christian allegory depicting a character’s journey to salvation.
George Orwell’s "Animal Farm" critiques totalitarianism through allegorical representation of failed revolutions.

Philosophical Themes in Literature

E.M. Forster's "A Passage to India" involves themes of racial tension and colonialism, articulated through Adela's false accusations of rape.
Caves symbolize consciousness and perception, revealing deeper truths about human existence.
T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" uses polluted imagery to convey post-WWI disillusionment.

Character Studies

In "The Old Man and the Sea," Santiago’s struggle between man and nature mirrors Christ-like sacrifices and endurance.
Mark Twain’s "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" represents freedom and moral dilemmas along the Mississippi River.
Characters like June Kashpaw in Louise Erdrich’s works embody flawed yet redemptive qualities, symbolizing resurrection and sacrifice.

Literature often serves as a medium for critiquing societal structures, such as Edgar Allan Poe's critiques of European nobility in "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Fall of the House of Usher."
Political writing in literature may present an author’s perspective on societal issues, but it risks adhering to a single narrative vision, reducing its complexity.

Influential Literary Figures

Thomas Malthus’ theories regarding population growth and societal impacts are echoed in Charles Dickens’ critique through "A Christmas Carol."
Notable literary critics such as Northrop Frye comment on interpretive methods like biblical typology, revealing complexities in texts.

Recurring Themes

Themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas recur in literature, revealing societal values and human conditions.
The portrayal of flawed characters challenges conventional notions of heroism, providing a more relatable depiction of the human experience.

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Description

This quiz focuses on chapters 11 to 14 of 'How to Read Literature Like a Professor'. It explores key concepts such as the meaning of violence in literature and its various interpretations. Test your understanding of these themes and their implications in literature.