Important Questions for American Literature Paper V

Important Questions   American Literature

1.WALT WHITMAN AND ROBERT FROST

1. Answer the following questions. 

(i) What is uniquely American about Whitman's poetry?
(ii) What, in Whitman's view, is the function of poetry?
(iii) Describe Whitman's conception of the soul and the body.
(iv) What kinds of structures does Whitman use in his poetry?
(v) What kind of vocabulary does Whitman use in his poetry?
(vi) What kinds of landscapes do we see in Whitman's poetry?
(vii) How does Whitman handle modernity and technological change?
(viii) What is the them of 'There was a Child Went Forth'?
(ix) What is the theme of 'I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing'?
(x) What is the theme of 'One's-Self I Sing'?
(xi) What is the theme of 'Poets to Come'?
(xii) What is the them of 'O Captain! My Captain!'?
(xiii) What is the theme of 'To a Stranger'?
(xiv) What is the theme of 'Shut Not Your Doors'?
(xv) What is the theme of 'The Carols'? 

2. Answer the following questions. 

(i) What are the major themes in Frost's poetry?
(ii) What are some of the American ideals that are explored in Frost's poems?
(iii) Why does Frost choose to write about everyday life in a rural environment?
(iv) What is the 'sound of sense', and why does Robert Frost use it in his poetry?
(v) What is the theme of 'Mending Walls'?
(vi) What is the effect of simple language in 'Mending Walls'?
(vii) What is the theme of 'After Apple Picking'?
(viii) What is the theme of 'The Road Not Taken'?
(ix) What is the anticipation or remorse in 'The Road Not Taken'?
(x) Where do the roads go in 'The Road Not Taken'?
(xi) What is the theme of 'Tree at My Window'?
(xii) What is the theme of 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'?
(xiii) What is the theme of 'Acquainted with the Night'?
(xiv) What is the theme of 'The Pasture'?
(xv) What is the theme of 'Meeting and Passing'? 

3. Salient Features of Walt Whitman's Poetry

4. Critical Appreciation of 'One's-Self I Sing'

5. Critical Appreciation of 'O Captain! My Captain!'

6. Major Themes in Frost's Poetry

7. Critical Appreciation of 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'

8. Critical Appreciation of 'Acquainted With the Night'

2.JOHN ASHBERY AND RICHARD WILBUR

9. Answer the following questions. 

(i) What are the basic themes in the poetry of John Ashbery?
(ii) What are the major elements of modernity in John Ashbery's Poetry?
(iii) What is the symbolic significance of the title 'Melodic Trains'?
(iv) What is the main theme of 'Melodic Trains'?
(v) What are the symbolic elements in 'Melodic Trains'?
(vi) How is journey of train similar to journey of mind? (Melodic Trains)
(vii) What do the stations of train symbolize in 'Melodic Trains'?
(viii) What is the main theme of the poem 'The Painter'?
(ix) How does Ashbery define art in 'The Painter'?
(x) What is Ashbery's wish in 'The Painter'?
(xi) What are the major symbols in 'The Painter'?
(xii) What does the sea symbolize in 'The Painter'?
(xiii) Why does the poet use the image of Tower of Pisa in 'Melodic Trains'?
(xiv) Trace political and religious allegory in 'The Painter'?
(xv) Why does the painter not paint anything on the canvas? 

10. Answer the following questions. 

(i) What are the major themes in Richard Wilbur's poetry?
(ii) What are the major elements of modernity in Richard Wilbur's poetry?
(iii) What are the typical qualities of Richard Wilbur's poetry?
(iv) What is the major theme of 'After the Last Bulletin'?
(v) Explain the meaning of the phrase 'thronged Atlantis' in 'After Last Bulletin'?
(vi) What does newspapers symbolize in 'After the Last Bulletin'?
(vii) What is the message of 'After the Last Bulletin'?
(viii) What is the significance of the title 'Still, Citizen Sparrow'?
(ix) Interpret 'The carrion ballast up, and at the tall tip of the sky lie cruising'.
(x) Who is addressee in the lines by Richard Wilbur, 'you --- who dart in the orchard aisles'?
(xi) What services did vulture perform at the time of Prophet Noah?
(xii) What do sparrow and vulture symbolize in 'Still, Citizen Sparrow'?
(xiii) How does the poem 'Still, Citizen Sparrow' expose the double standards of people?
(xiv) Describe religious symbolism in 'Still, Citizen Sparrow'.
(xv) What is the message of 'Still, Citizen Sparrow'? 

11. John Ashbery As a Modern Poet

12. Critical Appreciation of 'Melodic Trains'

13. Critical Appreciation of 'The Painter'

14. Richard Wilbur As a Modern Poet

15. Critical Appreciation of 'After the Last Bulletin'

16. Critical Appreciation of 'Still, Citizen Sparrow'

3.MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA BY EUGENE O' NEIL

17. Answer the following questions. 

(i) What is trilogy?

(ii) In what ways does mourning become Electra?

(iii) What is the historical context of 'Mourning Becomes Electra'?

(iv) Why has O'Neil used myth and legend as symbols in his play?

(v) How does O'Neil symbolize hair and eyes in 'Mourning Becomes Electra'?

(vi) What is the significance of the 'Blessed Islands'?

(vii) What is the meaning of theme song 'Shenandoah'?

(viii) Who are the haunted in 'Mourning Becomes Electra'?

(ix) Why are the Mannons driven to their self destructive behaviour?

(x) Why do every Mannon in 'Mourning Becomes Electra' seek escape from the real world?

(xi) Why does Lavinia say, 'I hate love!'?

(xii) What kind of relationship does Lavinia have with her mother?

(xiii) Why does Lavinia hate her mother?

(xiv) Why does Lavinia hate Adam?

(xv) Why is Lavinia instead of committing suicide prepared to meet her punishment by living a solitary life?

18. Answer the following questions. 

(i) On what excuse does Lavinia tell Peter that she cannot marry him?

(ii) Why does Laviania follow Christine to New York?

(iii) How does Lavinia prove to Orin that Christine was guilty of poisoning Ezra?

(iv) Why does Christine hate her husband?

(v) What complaint has Christine against her daughter?

(vi) Why does Christine hate moonlight?

(vii) What does Christine mean when she picks some flowers and says, 'Our tomb needs a little brightening'?

(viii) Why does Orin not like daylight?

(ix) Orin does not actually kill his mother, so why does he feel guilty for her murder?

(x) How had Uncle David brought shame to Mannon House?

(xi) Why does Adam want to take revenge to Ezra Mannon?

(xii) Why is Captain Brant so angry at Mannon family?

(xiii) Why did the grandfather Abe Mannon demolish the old house and build a new one?

(xiv) What are the last words of Ezra Mannon?

(xv) Who is Peter Niles?

19. 'Mourning Becomes Electra' As a Tragedy

20. Major Themes in 'Mourning Becomes Electra'

21. Symbolism in 'Mourning Becomes Electra'

22. Character Sketch of Electra

4.THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER

23. Answer the following questions.

(i) What is a crucible?
(ii) What is an overture? Why does Miller use on in 'The Crucible'?
(iii) What is the purpose of Miller's comments and explanation throughout the play?
(iv) Why does Miller open Act IV of 'The Crucible' with a scene of madness?
(v) State the significance of fifth avenue parade in July 1917.
(vi) What does fore symbolize 'The Crucible'?
(vii) Interpret 'Them that will not confess will hang'.
(viii) How does Abigail thrives on the attention of all in the court and become the centre of excitement?
(ix) What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending fails on her?
(x) Why does Abigail accuse Proctor's wife?
(xi) What are Abigail's feelings towards John Proctor?
(xii) Why does John Proctor confess his act of adultery?
(xiii) Why has proctor refused to let Parris baptize his third child?
(xiv) How has Proctor earned his death?
(xv) Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the puppet with the needle in it? 

24. Answer the following questions.

(i) What does Reverend Hale mean when he says, 'There is blood in my head!'?
(ii) What does Hale mean when he says, 'Cleave to no faith when faith brings blood!'?
(iii) What do you know about Reverend Parris?
(iv) Why is Thomas Putnam willing to speak to witchcraft?
(v) What do you know about Tibuta?
(vi) Why does Mrs. Putnam contact Tibuta?
(vii) How does Marry Warren behave towards her employers?
(viii) What does Danforth mean when he says, 'we burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment'?
(ix) What kind of government does Salem have?
(x) How does Andover differ from Salem?
(xi) What is the the function of Rebecca Nurse in 'The Crucible'?
(xii) How does Elizabeth deal with Abigail when she comes to know of illicit relations between Proctor and her?
(xiii) What is Giles Corey's function in 'The Crucible'?
(xiv) Why is Giles Corey expelled from court?
(xv) How and why does Giles die? Why wasn't he hanged? 

25. Symbolic Significance of the Title 'The Crucible'

26. Major Thematic Concerns in 'The Crucible'

27. Character Sketch of John Proctor

28. Character Sketch of Abigail

5.A FAREWELL TO ARMS BY HEMINGWAY

29. Answer the following questions.

(i) What is the meaning of the title 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(ii) What is Hemingway's opinion about war?
(iii) How does love affect the characters' perception of war?
(iv) What is the role of foreshadowing in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(v) What kind of weather dominates the novel 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(vi) What do lowlands and mountains symbolize in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(vii) What does wine symbolize in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(viii) What are the major conflicts in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(ix) What is the 'Lost Generation' in 'A Farewell to Arms'?
(x) Interpret 'I'm not brave anymore darling. I'm all broken. They've broken me.'
(xi) How is Frederic Henry?
(xii) Why is Frederic Henry in the ambulance service instead of a combat unit like the soldier from Pittsburgh?
(xiii) What type of rifle does Frederick have? What country is it from?
(xiv) Why does Frederic Henry plunge into the river The Tagliamento?
(xv) How is Henry wounded after he crawls out of the river? 

30. Answer the following questions. 

(i)Who is Catherine Barkley?
(ii) Catherine says, 'Life isn't hard to manage when you've got nothing to lose'. What does it mean?
(iii) Why is Catherine afraid of rain?
(iv) What are Catherine and Frederic's reasons for not getting married?
(v) Who is Rinaldi?
(vi) What events have made Rinaldi more cynical?
(vii) Who is the priest?
(viii) What gifts does the priest give to Henry when he is in hospital?
(ix) Who is Helen Ferguson?
(x) Who is Miss Gage?
(xi) Who is Miss Van Campen?
(xii) Who is Dr. Valentini?
(xiii) Who is Bonello?
(xiv) How does Mr.s Walker greet Henry upon his arrival at the American hospital Milan?
(xv) What characteristic makes Ettore Moretti a good contrast to Lieutenant Henry? 

31. 'A Farewell to Arms' As a War Novel

32. Major Themes in 'A Farewell to Arms'

33. Frederic Henry As a Typical Hemingway Hero

34. Catherine Barkly As a Typical Hemingway Heroine

6.JAZZ BY TONY MORRISON

35. Answer the following questions.

(i) What is the symbolic significance of the title 'Jazz'?
(ii) Tell with reference to Jazz, what is Harlem Renaissance?
(iii) Why is the Jazz music called the devil's music?
(iv) What is the effect of Jazz on the lives of poor people?
(v) Define feminism.
(vi) Interpret 'Don't ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I din't fall in love, I rose in it.'
(vii) Interpret 'When they fall in love with a city, it is forever and it is like forever.'
(viii) Interpret 'A son ain't what a woman say. A son is what a man do.'
(ix) Who is Violet?
(x) Why does Violet release her encaged birds?
(xi) Why does Violet plan to get herself a boy friend?
(xii) Who is Joe Trace?
(xiii) Name the parents of Joe Trace.
(xiv) Why is there tension between Joe and Violet?
(xv) Why are Joe and Violet subject of ridicule in their community? 

36. Answer the following questions. 

(i) Who is Dorcas?
(ii) What kind of young woman is Dorcas?
(iii) Why does Joe shoot Dorcas?
(iv) What happens on Dorcas's funeral?
(v) Why was Joe Trace not persecuted for killing Dorcas?
(vi) Why does Dorcas choose to die and what does her death symbolize?
(vii) How does Dorcas's mother die?
(viii) Who is Alice Manfred?
(ix) In Alice Manfred's opinion, how can she protect herself?
(x) Who is Golden Gray and why is he given this name?
(xi) Why does Morrison tell us the story of Golden Gray?
(xii) Who is Felice?
(xiii) Who is Wild?
(xiv) Who is Less Troy?
(xv) Who is Rose Dear? 

37. Major Themes in 'Jazz'

38. Female Characters in 'Jazz'

39. Character Sketch of Violet

40. City As a Character in 'Jazz'