A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Transcendentalism : a movement in philosophy, literature, politics, and religion Emphasis: interconnected things in nature role of the individual in society man vs machine *sometimes referred to as the American Renaissance because of the influence of Thoreau and Emerson on future generations. Time period: mid 19th century -industrial revolution -scientific developments of previous decades lead to the mechanization of society, factory system, assembly line, mass production Roots: Romanticism an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that dealt with strong emotion Communism vs Transcendentalism communism emphasizes the groups of people or "class structure" preoccupation with work and money transcendentalism emphasizes the individual preoccupation with nature and reflection essentially philosophical Ralph Waldo Emerson The father of Transcendentalism Born: Boston 1803 Life: Emerson's father was a Unitarian Minister and died when he was 7 (which made him have to rely on himself more than most people). He attended Harvard on a scholarship and became a teacher. later went on to become a successful minister in 1829 he left the ministry over several disagreements. His wife died two years later and grieved tremendously. *Emerson more than anybody before him pioneered the American spirit of individuality. he drew his influences from a variety of sources. Emerson's Influences: -J.S Mills -Thomas Carlyle -Indian religious writing "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" -This involves much inward contemplation "The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization" - The advancement in technology is so high and everything is becoming highly civilized that there will be no need for humans.

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson Theme: Self Reliance is a trust in ones present thoughts and impressions Lit Test review * according to Emerson genius is that what is true for you is true for all *the author believes that every person should trust their own instincts *In the work society is described as a conspiracy that demands conformity *Emerson believes that all great men are able to maintain independence even while in a crowd *At the end of the work, the reader realizes that the author values those who dare to challenge what is orthodox Henry David Thoreau Background: lived in Concord, Massachusetts for most of his life. died at age 44. He was deeply affected by the death of his brother John. he paid tribute by taking a trip with his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson that he originally planned with his brother in Walden Pond. He build a cabin there. Reaction to the American Renaissance: He felt that technology introduced complications as well as materialism to society and choose to separate himself from society and live as simply as possible. -So he performed an experiment and moved out to Walden Pond *Walden Pond the place Thoreau lived for 2 years, 2 months, 2 days. Walden by Henry David Thoreau The most famous and influential text of transcendentalism. Walden is responsible for sparking a new awareness of conservation, environmentalism, and the dangers of technology. Thoreau's Principles -Rejected complexity of life, favored simplicity -Belittles those who over complicate their lives. he believes it limits Lit Test Review *At Walden, Thoreau hoped to find the essence of life *Thoreau lived in the cabin for Approx 2 years *the author decided to leave Walden because he had other lives to live *The author chose to live at Walden because it offered him a chance for a simple life *The reader learns that while at Walden, the author developed an aversion for news Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau Theme: When a law is thought to be unjust you must oppose it -In opposing it you bring attention to the injustice and call for change *any punishment that comes from this act must be accepted as part of the struggle*

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Thoreau's inspiration for Civil Disobedience -A concept known as Individualism from Emerson's book self-reliance Individualism: One must be independent and cannot rely on anything that might disagree with his or her principles *Accomplish and experience everything life has to offer *Deeper meaning of life Lit test review *the author says that the best kind of government is the one that governs least *Thoreau explains that he felt "freer than his townsmen" while he spent time in jail *the one thing that the author feels he must follow is his conscience *problems from government that may arise would include loss of integrity and tyranny of the majority *Thoreau was imprisoned for not paying taxes Robert E. Lee Robert's letters to his family Background: Lee's father Harry "Light horse" Lee was a revolutionary War hero. Robert E. Lee attended military school at West Point and through his service in the Mexican-American War. Originally from Virginia, Lee himself owned a few slaves and inherited 63 from his father-in-law. his ancestors signed the declaration of independence. Lee's attitude toward the Civil war: on the outset of the crisis Lee opposes violent intervention, he stead chooses to remain aloof: distant -it is not until his home state of Virginia secedes that he joined the confederate forces Lit test review *His request to serve as General of the Union forces was denied FALSE *Lee held an allegiance to his home state of Virginia over his allegiance to the United States *At the time Lee wrote his letter, Less than five Confederate states had seceded *Lee is referring to sacrifice everything but honor to preserve the union of the nation. Abraham Lincoln Born: 1809 Died: 1865 Background: One of the United States' greatest presidents. Led the country through the Civil War helping preserve the Union and ended slavery Described military glory as "that attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood-that serpent's eye that charms to destroy." The Gettysburg Address Famous first line "Four Score and Seven years ago" -87 years ago (1776) -foundation of our country 3

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Context: The speech was delivered November 19, 1863 -4 months after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3 1863) Lincoln was invited to speak as they opened a ceremony dedicated at the site of those lost in Battle. -Speech was about 2 minutes long written on a napkin (classy) first reaction: -confused to why it was rather short -barely polite -people hated it *later went on to become one of the country's greatest speeches ever made* Lit test review *Lincoln uses a formal tone in the speech *When Lincoln says "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground" he most likely means that it is not in our power to dedicate, consecrate, and hallow the ground. *Lincoln says, "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here", because the soldiers' actions far outweigh what one person could say *the "Gettysburg Address" was given in the year 1863 *the "Great Task before them" is most nearly preserving the Union Ambrose Bierce Born: Ohio 1842, raised in Indiana Died: 1914 Life: Fought for the Union forces, he saw the whole country from the pacific to the Atlantic Became a noted journalist, literary critic, fiction writer. *Best known for the "Devil's Dictionary" a book that reinterprets the English language mocking political double talk and popular euphemisms of the day -Euphemisms: a nice way of saying something not nice An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce Setting: Owl Creek Bridge, Northern Alabama, during the Civil War (1861-1865) "In Medias Res" means the "middle of things" the story begins at the hanging of Peyton Farquhar, a well-to-do planter and confederate sympathizer. this was the main action and fills in details of how the character go to this point. *creates interest to the reader* Back story: we subsequently learn that Farquhar was set up by a Union spy and captured to sabotage a bridge that the Union railroads used. Peyton Farquhar: a trade owning planter, slave owner, and has a wife and child. the hanging: Bierce goes into great detail in his depiction of the hanging gives sensory details -influenced by Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum Bierce gives the narrator impossible minute details as if he had superhuman capabilities such as describing the detail of an individual leaf The Revelation: In the end man realizes he imagined this whole scenario in the time he was dropped from the bridge until his neck is finally broken and he dies. 4

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Farquhar after the rope snapping and he falls into the river he alludes being shot by union soldiers, drowning, and exhaustion, soreness, hunger Lit test review *The setting for the hanging is a bridge in the state of Alabama *Peyton Farquhar could most accurately be defined as a southern gentlemen *Farquhar alludes to all the following, except being chased by confederates *Hanging was Farquhar's sentence for attempting to burn a bridge *Owl creek bridge is a railroad bridge Shiloh by Herman Melville Background: written after the battle of Shiloh of Tennessee, one of the bloodiest battles in US history. resulting in over 24,000 casualties from both sides. Shiloh is a Requiem: a mass or ceremony held in honor of the deceased in which people pray for their souls. Lit test review Melville writes "Shiloh" as a tribute to all of the casualties following the battle, the Union and Confederate soldiers become connected in their dying the path of the swallow at the battlefield was symbolic because it had an dizzying effect on the author Walt Whitman Biography: Born: Huntington, NY Raised: Brooklyn Life: Worked as a teacher and a magazine publisher. Traveled to new Orleans to start a Newspaper where he experienced slavery 1st hand. His work was banned several times for being controversial. Style: real speech patterns, disregarded the conventional. "Modern" and often contradicted himself. Whitman used free verse which is poetry with no set rhyme scheme or rhyme. I hear America singing b Walt Whitman -the singing is not literal, it is an expression of Joy -the laborers are showcasing their skill and enthusiasm -shows the diverse society and how its individually celebrated -makes mention to the plough boy, the mother, and deckhand Lit test review *In this poem, Whitman makes mention of all of the following except the butcher *the "singing" the speaker "hears" is the melodious sounds that each worker makes as he or she *contributes to the forwarding of the nation *then Whitman writes "Each singing what belongs to him or her and no one else," he most nearly means *they celebrate their individuality 5

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

Beat! Beat! Drums! by Walt Whitman -the opening line of the poem is repeated thrice (3x) -meant to overpower the reader, much in the same way war over powers "peaceful farmers" and all aspects of life Use: Paradox which is a statement that contradicts itself. uses it to emphasize the chaos of war War: Creates chaos and upsets the natural balance and order of things "No Bargainers bargain, No Talkers are talking" *War is emotionless and unreasonable* Lit test review *The instruments mentioned throughout the poem are bugles (small trumpets) and drums *the instruments are a direct symbol of war and chaos *the instruments are told to ignore all that is reasonable *the symbolic instruments seem to be oblivious to everything around them Francis Scott Fitzgerald Born: September 24, 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota Died: December 21, 1940 in Hollywood, California Education: attended Newman academy (boys prep school) 1911-1913 Princeton University (leaves without degree to join army) Army camp in Montgomery, Alabama -this is where he meets his wife Zelda (married 1920) 1920: Publishes The side of Paradise 1922: writes The beautiful and dammed stories of the Jazz Age moves to great neck, long island 1924: moves to the French Riviera 1925: The great Gatsby 1930: Wife Zelda has a nervous breakdown (bitch goes crazy) 1931: leaves his wife in Baltimore to go to Hollywood to make money 1934: Tender is the night 1937: Falls in love with Shelia Graham 1940: Does of a heart attack in Hollywood 1948: His wife Zelda dies in a hospital fire

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald
AUTHOR F. Scott Fitzgerald TYPE OF WORK Novel GENRE Modernist novel, Jazz Age novel, novel of manners LANGUAGE English TIME AND PLACE WRITTEN 19231924, America and France DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION 1925 PUBLISHER Charles Scribners Sons NARRATOR Nick Carraway; Carraway not only narrates the story but implies that he is the books author POINT OF VIEW Nick Carraway narrates in both first and third person, presenting only what he himself

observes. Nick alternates sections where he presents events objectively, as they appeared to him at the time, with sections where he gives his own interpretations of the storys meaning and of the motivations of the other characters.
TONE Nicks attitudes toward Gatsby and Gatsbys story are ambivalent and contradictory. At times he

seems to disapprove of Gatsbys excesses and breaches of manners and ethics, but he also romanticizes and admires Gatsby, describing the events of the novel in a nostalgic and elegiac tone.
TENSE Past SETTING (TIME) Summer 1922 SETTINGS (PLACE) Long Island and New York City PROTAGONIST Gatsby and/or Nick MAJOR CONFLICT Gatsby has amassed a vast fortune in order to win the affections of the upper-class

Daisy Buchanan, but his mysterious past stands in the way of his being accepted by her.
RISING ACTION Gatsbys lavish parties, Gatsbys arrangement of a meeting with Daisy at Nicks CLIMAX There are two possible climaxes: Gatsbys reunion with Daisy in Chapters 56; the confrontation

between Gatsby and Tom in the Plaza Hotel in Chapter 7.

FALLING ACTION Daisys rejection of Gatsby, Myrtles death, Gatsbys murder THEMES The decline of the American dream, the spirit of the 1920s, the difference between social

classes, the role of symbols in the human conception of meaning, the role of the past in dreams of the future, Ideal self vs Real self (Gatsby vs Tom)
MOTIFS The connection between events and weather, the connection between geographical location

and social values, images of time, extravagant parties, the quest for wealth
SYMBOLS The green light on Daisys dock, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, the valley of ashes, Gatsbys

parties, East Egg, West Egg 7

A1 English Literature Review Sheet Trimester 2

FORESHADOWING The car wreck after Gatsbys party in Chapter 3, Owl Eyess comments about the

theatricality of Gatsbys life, the mysterious telephone calls Gatsby receives from Chicago and Philadelphia *Got the Gatsby notes from Spark notes and added are notes to it.* Good Luck!