Week 13 Reading Guides

3.22 Reading Guide to The Way of the World (Acts 1-3)
Due before class on November 8. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.

Note: The plot is complicated, and the witty characters sometimes say exactly the opposite of what they mean, so read carefully! The last paragraph of the introduction to William Congreve (pp. 2227-28) will help you get the characters straight. Mirabell is the hero and yes, it's a man's name. Millamant is the heroine. Mirabell and Millamant may not behave in ways we would consider heroic but in the 18th century London of the play they are the "good" characters. Opposing them are the villainous Fainall (another guy), and his mistress, Marwood. Although several of the women are called "Mrs." in the cast of characters, only Mrs. Fainall is married. "Mrs." is a courtesy title.

Act 1
1. As the curtain rises, Fainall and Mirabell have just finished a game of cards. Who won? Why does Mirabell seem "out of humor" (that is, in a bad mood)? Hint: It has nothing to do with cards.

2. We learn several things in this opening scene between Fainall and Mirabell. Fill in the blanks: Millamant will lose half her fortune if she marries someone not approved of by ________________. Lady Wishfort is _________ years old. Mirabell had previously pretended to be in love with Lady Wishfort so he could be close to ____________. Mirabell is angry with Mrs. ___________ because she uncovered his trick on Lady Wishfort.

3. Who does Waitwell work for? Who does Foible work for? What have Waitwell and Foible just done, at Mirabell's instigation? (You may not be sure of the answer until the end of Act 2.)

4. What two men are rumored to be coming to London? (Witwoud has a letter from one of them. Petulant heard about the other at Millimant's house the previous night.)

Act 2
5. In the park, Mirabell talks privately with Mrs. Fainall while Fainall talks with Mrs. Marwood. What is the relationship between Fainall and Mrs. Marwood? Of what does Fainall accuse Mrs. Marwood on page 2241? What are Fainall's feelings toward his wife?

6. In Mirabell's talk with Mrs. Fainall, we learn more new information. Who encouraged Mrs. Fainall to marry Fainall? What is the real identity of Mirabell's uncle? What would Lady Wishfort "do anything to get"?

7. On pages 2244-47, we see Mirabell and Millamant together for the first time. Remember what you know about these two. Mirabell is genuinely in love with Millamant. In this scene, Millamant says some fairly harsh things to Mirabell. (For example: "I think I must resolve after all not to have you.") Do you think Millamant really intends to reject Mirabell? Could there be another explanation for her behavior here?

Act 3
8. Why is Lady Wishfort taking such pains with her makeup? Who is she expecting, and what does she hope will happen?

9. What is Mirabell's plan for winning Lady Wishfort's approval of his marriage to Millamant? Who overhears Foible and Mrs. Fainall discussing the plan? Who does Marwood propose as a match for Millamant?

10. On pages 2259-61, Marwood and Fainall come up with their own plot. What does Fainall want from Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall? What seems to be Marwood's main motivation?

3.23 Reading Guide to The Way of the World, Acts 4-5
Due before class on November 10. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.

Act 4
1. As Act 4 opens, Lady Wishfort has commanded her nephew Sir Wilfull Witwoud to propose marriage to Millamant. What does he seem to be more interested in doing?

2. What "contract" do Mirabell and Millamant negotiate on pages 2264-66?

3. What is Mirabell forbidding when he insists that Millamant "continue to like [her] own face as long as I shall"?

4. Who are Lady Wishfort and Waitwell (as Sir Rowland) discussing on page 2270?

5. How does Mrs. Marwood communicate what she knows about "Sir Rowland" to Lady Wishfort? How does Waitwell make Lady Wishfort believe the information is false?

Act 5
6. Why is Lady Wishfort angry at Foible at the beginning of Act 5?

7. What important information does Foible give to Mrs. Fainall on page 2274?

8. What scandal threatens Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall in Act 5? What three conditions for avoiding the scandal does Fainall propose to Lady Wishfort on page 2277?

9. Which two characters act as witnesses to Fainall and Mrs. Marwood's extramarital affair?

10. How does Mirabell save Mrs. Fainall's estate?

3.24 Reading Guide to "A Modest Proposal" (pp. 2462-68)
Due before class November 12. Five points.
1. This essay offers a solution to a social problem. What is that problem, as stated in the subtitle?

2. Why does Swift's proposal not include children younger than one year old (paragraph 4)?

3. What two crimes does Swift say the implementation of his plan will prevent (paragraph 5)?

4. What is the effect of Swift's mathematical computations and use of words like "breeders" and "commodity" (rather than "child-bearing women" and "child")?

5. What shocking claim does Swift make at the top of page 2464? Why do you think he says that he got the idea from an American?

6. Swift drops his mask a bit in the fifth paragraph on page 2464, where "dear" means "expensive." In what way have landlords "devoured" adults?

7. Find at least one hint on pages 2464-65 that Swift's true purpose is to criticize and provoke shame in wealthy people who don't care about the poor.

8. Page 2466 lists at least six "advantages" of Swift's proposal. Find three of them.

9. Find on page 2467 at least three alternative solutions to the problems of the poor in Ireland. Why does Swift say he doesn't want to hear about these proposals? What seems to be his real opinion of these alternate proposals?

10. On page 2468, what does Swift say is his only motive for making his proposal? What do you think is his true motive?

Week 12 Reading Guides

2.21 Reading Guide to Paradise Lost, Book 9
Due before class on November 1. Five points.

1. In lines 1-13, what does Milton say will be his subjects in Book 9?
2. What is Satan looking for in lines 74-91?
3. What does Satan say on page 1976 is the only thing that can ease his thoughts?
4. On page 1978, what does Eve suggest that she and Adam do to increase their efficiency at their work?
5. What objections to Eve's plan does Adam offer on pages 1978-80?
6. What causes Satan to momentarily become "Stupidly good" on page 1983?
7. How does the Serpent explain to Eve his ability to talk?
8. Briefly summarize Eve's logic in deciding, on page 1989, to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.
9. What fears lead Eve to decide that Adam must also eat of the fruit, on pages 1990-91? What arguments does Adam use to convince himself that it's o.k. for him to eat (pp. 1992-93)?
10. What are the initial effects on Adam and Eve of eating of this fruit (pages 1994-95)? How are they changed after their nap (pp. 1995-98)?

Week 11 Reading Guides

2.19 Reading Guide to Paradise Lost, Book 1 (pp. 1831-50)

Due before class on October 25. Five points.
1. In "The Verse" (p. 1831), Milton states his opinion of long, rhymed poems. What objection does he have to rhyme?

2. The first sentence in Paradise Lost is 16 lines long. What is the main subject and verb?

3. What does Milton hope to do in Paradise Lost, as stated in the second sentence? That is, what is his stated purpose for writing the poem?

4. Look at the first speech of Satan, on pages 1834-35 (lines 84-124). What is the setting of this part of the poem? What has just happened to Satan? What admirable character traits does Satan possess?

5. Who is Beelzebub? What question does he ask Satan in lines 143-55?

6. What advantage does Satan claim for Hell on pages 1837-38?

7. Satan is described on pages 1838-39, and again on pages 1845-46. Briefly summarize what he looks like at this point in the poem (ll. 283-98 and 584-99).

8. Milton has a catalog of Satan's follower's on pages 1840-43, listed by the names they will receive later in human history (lines 364-69). What do the names of all these spirits (Moloch, Chemos, Astoreth, etc.) have in common?

9. On pages 1846-47, Satan addresses his troops. On what (and whom) does he blame his defeat in battle?

10. Since they have been defeated militarily, what does Satan suggest as a strategy for the future?

2.20 Reading Guide to Paradise Lost, Book 4
Due before class on October 27. Five points.
(Please note that line numbers start over in each new book.)
1. Satan arrives on earth at the beginning of Book 4. Look closely at his opening soliloquy, lines 32-113. He is thoughtful at first, as he remembers his old life in Heaven. On page 1888, what two things in his own character does he admit to as the cause for his fall? What does he say that God didn't deserve?
2. Compare Satan's description of Hell in Book 4, lines 20-23 and 68-78 to what he says about Hell in Book 1, lines 254-63. What has changed?

3. Give two reasons why Satan says, on pages 1889-90, that he will not repent and submit to God.

4. What four abstractions does Satan say goodbye to in lines 105-110?

5. Adam and Eve are described on pages 1893-94 (lines 288-324). Besides their physical appearance, how do Adam and Eve differ?

6. What important fact does Satan learn from Adam's conversation with Eve on pages 1896-97?

7. On page 1899, Uriel reports to Gabriel. Of what does he inform him?

8. What sort of work do Adam and Eve do in the Garden of Eden, as indicated by Adam's speech on page 1900?

9. Where do the angels Ithuriel and Zephon find Satan? What animal form has he taken? What is Satan doing to Eve when he is discovered?

10. When he is discovered, Satan is surprised to see that the other angels don't recognize him. Why don't the angels recognize Satan?

Optional Extra Credit for those who attended The Bourgeois Gentleman:

11. For 10 points, why does Monsieur Jourdain refuse to allow his daughter Lucile to marry Cleonte, the man she loves?

Week 10

No Reading Guides this week. Instead, we are doing worksheets in class on Donne, Milton, etc. Please remember that Paper 2 is due on Friday, October 22. This paper should include your triple-spaced, annotated poem plus a two page poetic analysis. The full assignment and a sample poetic analysis can be found on elearning.

Week 9 Reading Guides

2. 18 Reading Guide to John Donne Lyrics
Due before class on October 11. Five points.

1. Donne's love poetry often uses words and images taken from religion. Find three words in stanza 2 of "The Flea" (p. 1263) which refer to religion.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of each stanza of "The Flea"?

3. Whom is the male speaker of "The Good-Morrow" (pp. 1263-64) addressing in the poem?

4. Why is morning an appropriate time for this poem? In what sense are the speaker and the person addressed "waking" (line 8)?

5. List the verbs in stanza 1 of "Song" (p. 1264). What is the word for the grammatical form of these present tense verbs? (They are c o __ __ a __ __ s, in the imperative voice.)

6.. What do all the proposed activities listed in stanza 1 of "Song" have in common?

7. The word "fair" in line 18 means "beautiful." If the person addressed in the poem should find a woman who is both "true" and "fair," what does the speaker say will happen between (a) the time he writes the news and (b) the speaker arrives to meet her.

8. The second poem entitled "Song" is on page 1269, and concerns a male speaker saying goodbye to his wife or lover before going on a necessary journey. In what sense are journeys "feigned deaths"?

9. How does the speaker compare his journey to that of the sun, in order to comfort his wife?

10. In "The Bait" (p. 1274), what person is compared to a fish? Who or what is the bait?

Volpone

We completed two worksheets on Volpone in class this week. There were no reading guides on Volpone.

Week 8 Reading Guides

2.16 Reading Guide to King Lear, Act I (pp. 1143-64)
Due before class on October 4. Five points. (Extra credit for Screwtape at end.)
Identify the following quotations from Act I, answering the following questions:
A. Who says the lines?
B. To whom or about whom are they said?
C. In one sentence, what is the meaning or significance of the lines?

1. Now, our joy.
Although our last and least.

2. Nothing will come of nothing.

3. Come not between the dragon and his wrath.

4. I want that glib and oily art,
To speak and purpose not.

5. Time shall unfold what pleated cunning hides.

6. . . . he hath ever but slenderly known himself.

7. This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune, often the surfeit of our own behavior, we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon and the stars; as if we were villains by necessity.

8. Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest.

9. How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child!

10. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Optional extra credit for those who attended Screwtape:

11. For five extra credit points, in the performance of Screwtape at the University of Alabama Allen Bales Theater, what common household material do the fiends pass through to indicate that they are exiting the scene and going "down under"?

2.17 Reading Guide to King Lear, Acts 2-5
Double reading guide due before class on Friday, October 8. Ten points.

Are you having trouble understanding King Lear? For a side by side original/modern text, go to: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/lear/page_2.html. Be sure to read the original Renaissance text, but if you get stuck, there's help on the right hand side of each page. (Note: The modern text is a loose translation, not an exact one.)

For 1-5, identify the following quotations from Acts II and III, answering the following questions:
A. Who says the lines?
B. To whom or about whom are they said?
C. In one sentence, what is the meaning or significance of the lines?

1. Fortune, good night; smile once more; turn thy wheel!
2. I will do such things--
What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth!

3. Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!

4. 'tis a naughty night to swim in.

5. The prince of darkness is a gentleman.

6. Act IV, Scene ii shows an argument between Albany and Goneril. Why is each upset with the other?

7. What well-meaning trick does Edgar play on Gloucester in 4.6?

8. What does Goneril's letter ask Edmund to do?

9. What growing rivalry between Regan and Goneril becomes evident in 5.1? What is Edmund's position concerning this rivalry?

10. We see the last of Goneril and Regan in 5.3. How does each die?

Week 7 Reading Guides

2.15 Reading Guide to Doctor Faustus (pp. 1025-55)
Due before class on September 27. 10 points.
Please note: No reading guide is due for Friday, September 24, although your assignment is to read pages 1023-41 of Doctor Faustus by then. This is a double reading guide on the entire play, and is due on Monday.

1. Faustus opens Scene 1 of the play on pages 1025-26 by rejecting, in turn, four major fields of study. What are these four, as represented by Aristotle, Galen, Justinian and Jerome?

2. What is the danger of studying magic, according to the Good Angel? What, according to the Evil Angel, is the reward?

3. On page 1031, Faustus suggests a deal with Lucifer. What does he ask the devil to give him? What does he promise in return?

4. What question does Faustus ask that Mephastophilis refuses to answer? Why won't he answer?

5. Here's the big question: Why would anyone make a deal with the devil? Specifically, why do you think Faustus made a deal with the devil? Support your answer by referring to anything you noticed in the Prologue or scenes 1-5.

6. In what European city does Scene 7 take place? What spell does Faustus ask Mephistophilis to put on him? Name two tricks Faustus plays on the Pope.

7. Look back over scenes 7, 9 and 11. In general, how does Faustus use his powers in these passages? How do his actions in these scenes compare to his comment in the opening speech (page 1026) that "A sound magician is a mighty god."

8. What famous beauty does Faustus conjure up in Scene 12? By what name is she more commonly known? One of the most famous lines in British literature occurs in Scene 12. Locate this line and fill in the blanks below:

"Was this the __________ that launched a thousand __________,
And burnt the topless _______________ of _______________?"

9. The three scholars appear in Scene 13. What is their dramatic purpose? (In other words, what action do they urge?) Looking back over the play and the list of characters on pages 1023-24, what other characters have urged the same action?

10. The final speech of Faustus on pages 1054-55 is an example of a soliloquy. Why do you think Faustus waits until his last moment on earth to say, "I'll burn my books"? What does the Chorus warn the audience against in the Epilogue on page 1055?