- •Contents
- •Before the Anglo-Saxons
- •Anglo-Saxon England
- •Early Anglo-Saxon Life
- •Cultural Influences key idea Early Anglo-Saxon literature reflected a fatalistic worldview, while later works were influenced by rapidly spreading Christianity. The Spread of Christianity
- •The Development of English: Old English (450-1150)
- •Unit 2. The medieval period
- •Historical Context key idea With the Norman Conquest, England entered the medieval period, a time of innovation in the midst of war.
- •The Monarchy
- •Conflict and Plague
- •The Development of English: Middle English (1150-1500)
- •Indulgences
- •Royalty and the People
- •Ideas of the Age key ideas This period became known as the Age of Reason, because people used reason, not faith, to make sense of the world. The Age of Reason
- •A Changing Language: Restoration English
- •War with France
- •A Changing Language: Late Modern English
- •Monarchy in the Modern Style
- •Progress, Problems, and Reform
- •Cultural Influences key ideas Writers clashed over Britain’s expanding imperialism. British Imperialism
- •A Changing Language: The Birth of Standard English
- •Old English Poetry
- •Early Authors: Histories and Sermons
- •Literature Focus II. The Epic and the Epic Hero
- •French Romance
- •Reading Check
- •The Age of Chaucer
- •The Beginnings of Drama
- •Literature Focus II. The Ballad Tradition
- •Literature Focus III. Miracle and Morality Plays
- •Renaissance Drama
- •The Rise of Humanism
- •Spiritual and Devotional Writings
- •Metaphysical and Cavalier Poetry
- •Literature Focus II. The Sonnet
- •Literature Focus III. Shakespearean Drama Shakespeare’s Influence
- •Shakespeare’s Theater
- •Shakespearean Tragedy
- •Literature Focus IV. The Metaphysical Poets
- •Literature Focus V. The Cavalier Poets
- •I could not force an artificial dew [tears]
- •If it prove fair weather.”
- •The Age of Johnson
- •Literature Focus II. Nonfiction of the 18th Century
- •Other Forms of Nonfiction
- •Literature Focus III. Satire a History of Mockery
- •Characteristics of Satire
- •I sing— . . .
- •Romanticism Evolves
- •The Late Romantics
- •Literature Focus II. Romantic Poetry
- •Romantic Poetry’s Defining Features
- •Literature Focus III. Form and Meaning in Poetry
- •Literature Focus IV. The Byronic Hero
- •Characteristics of the Byronic Hero
- •The Legacy of the Byronic Hero
- •Realism in Fiction
- •Victorian Viewpoints
- •Victorian Viewpoints
- •Literature Focus II. The Growth and the Development of Fiction
- •The Novel Comes of Age
- •New Forms Emerge
- •Reading comprehension Reading Assessment I. Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Poetry
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
- •Reading Assessment II. Anglo-Saxon Prose
- •Comprehension
- •Reading Assessment III. Renaissance poetry
- •Sonnet 97 by William Shakespeare
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
- •Reading Assessment IV. Renaissance prose
- •From “Of Cunning” by Sir Francis Bacon
- •Comprehension
- •Reading Assessment V. Restoration prose
- •From “The Battle of the Books” by Jonathan Swift
- •Comprehension
- •From “The Poor and Their Betters” by Henry Fielding
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
- •Reading Assessment VI. Romantic literature
- •From “a Vindication of the Rights of Woman” by Mary Wollstonecraft
- •Comprehension
- •From “The Prelude, Book VI” by William Wordsworth
- •From “Hymn to Intellectual1 Beauty” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
- •Reading Assessment VII. Victorian literature
- •From “The New Railway” from “Dombey and Son” by Charles Dickens
- •Comprehension
- •Neutral Tones by Thomas Hardy
- •From “Adam Bede” by George Eliot
- •Comprehension
- •Written response
Comprehension
Directions Answer these questions about the extract
1. Which of the following literary elements is Jonathan Swift using in the phrase the destruction of infinite numbers of flies, in line 2?
A allusion
B metaphor
C simile
D hyperbole
E motif
2. Which of the following literary elements is Swift using in the phrase like human bones before the cave of some giant, in line 3?
A conceit
B hyperbole
C simile
D metaphor
E aside
3. At first what does the spider assume is happening as the bee attempts to free itself?
A The world is ending.
B A sparrow has come to eat him.
C A broom is sweeping away his web.
D A fly has landed in his web.
E A bee has landed in his web.
4. Which of the following literary elements is Swift using in the phrase Beelzebub, with all his legions, was come to revenge the death of many thousands of his subjects, in lines 11–12?
A allusion
B metaphor
C simile
D hyperbole
E motif
5. From the context, what do you conclude that the word acquitted, in line 14, means?
A exonerated
B explained
C freed
D imprisoned
E prosecuted
6. Which of the following literary elements is Swift using in the phrase he stormed and swore like a madman, in line 18?
A allusion
B metaphor
C simile
D hyperbole
E motif
7. Which of the following literary elements is Swift using in the phrase swelled till he was ready to burst, in line 18?
A allusion
B metaphor
C simile
D hyperbole
E motif
8. Why does the spider claim to be unable to attack the bee?
A The spider is afraid of the bee.
B The spider has been wounded.
C The spider must rebuild his web.
D There is no time for the spider to attack.
E A family tradition prevents the spider.
9. From the context, what do you conclude that the word substance, in line 23, means?
A basis
B matter
C theme
D thought
E understanding
10. What does the spider fear that he will do by comparing himself to the bee?
A cause controversy
B disparage himself
C lose his inheritance
D become a vagabond
E become a disputant
11. How does the bee counter the assertion that he is a universal plunder upon nature, in lines 31–32?
A The bee says that heaven gave it its flights and music.
B The bee says that the spider is more wicked.
C The bee says that it can fly and sing, and the spider cannot.
D The bee says that the spider cannot create anything.
E The bee says that it does not destroy what it collects.
12. From the context, what do you conclude that the word furnishes, in line 37, means?
A supplies
B removes
C confiscates
D undermines
E collects
13. Which of the following is the most prominent literary element in this passage?
A repetition
B symbol
C allegory
D apostrophe
E personification
14. According to your reading of this passage, what do you conclude that the overall tone of this piece is?
A angry
B humorous
C skeptical
D sinister
E knowing
15. From your reading of this selection, what do you think the author’s main purpose is?
A to persuade
B to instruct
C to inform
D to entertain
E to describe
DIRECTIONS Carefully read the following passage. Use context clues to help define any words with which you are unfamiliar. Pay close attention to the use of figurative language, argument, and tone. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the questions that follow.