AP English Language Quotes for Final

"A maiden never bold, of spirit so still and quiet that her motion blushed of herself; and she, in spite of nature, of years, of country, credit, everything, to fall in love with what she feared to look on!"

Brabantio, the father of Desdemona, is telling the duke, senators, and Othello that Desdemona is a shy person which shows that she would never run off with Othello. Also, this shows how much he doesn't know about his own daughter.

o Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate call all in all sufficient? Is this the Nature whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue the shot of accident nor the dart of chance Could neither graze nor pierce?

Lodovico has now met Othello and doesn't recognize him from the descriptions given. This man before him seems like a crazy person ( when he hit his wife) whereas the Othello described was an impressive specimen. This is an outside perspective to show you that Othello really has lost all sense of reality and Iago's plan has formed Othello into a monster.

o Lie with her? lie on her? We say "lie on her" when they belie her! Lie with her—that's fulsome. Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To confess, and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged, and then to confess—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is 't possible? Confess!—Handkerchief!—Oh, devil!— He falls in a trance

So, at this point, Othello has been completely convinced by Iago that Desdemona is a strumpet. Iago has perturbed Othello by relentlessly pointing out the "fact" of Desdemona's sexual promiscuity. Othello, enraged at the wrong person, begins to plot the murder of his wife. Moreover, this quote shows the beginning of Othello's mental deterioration that continues even after his "trance" until the end of the play.

"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" shouted Mrs. Wilson. "I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai -- " - Myrtle, page 37. "Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand."

- She thinks that she is one of the upper class because she is with Tom, but in reality she is just his mistress. He shows her that she is still low class when he punches her. She thinks for a minute that she is above, or even on level with the Buchanons and the others at the party and is put back to place when Tom punches her. In addition, she is the only female character who is ever reprimanded for her actions with both her abuse and her murder.

The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle - the girls were walking against the usual traffic (not that we have one-way signs or anything) - were pretty hilarious.

A&P Sammy views the majority of the customers as passive followers who have, virtually, no mind of their own. Everything homogeneous and commercial, which society has become saturated with, repels Sammy. And the girls represent a rebellion against society with is something that Sammy is influenced by

"I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

Daisy talking to Nick about her child - to her the best thing to be in life is a beautiful fool, because thats worked for her, and she thinks that's all a girl needs to succeed in Daisy's lifestyle.

"Jewel's mother is a horse,"Darl said. "Then mine can be a fish, can't it, Darl?" I said... "Then what is your ma, Darl?" I said. "I haven''t ere got one,"Darl said. "Because if I had one, it was. And if it was, it can be is. Can it?"

Darl and Vardaman are speaking to each other. Vardaman associates his mother to a fish because they are both dead. For him, the two items are interchangeable.

"I was within and without. Simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."

Description of Nick's position in high society - he is both an outsider but also an insider. He is also 'enchanted' with their lifestyle, as you can see by his description of the parties below. However, beneath all the glamour and wealth and beautiful luxury there is a wandering, pointless life with no real meaning or fulfillment, and Nick realizes this, which is why he is repelled as well.

No as I am a Christian! If to preserve this vessel for my Lord from any other foul unlawful touch Be not to be a strumpet I am none

Desdemona bluntly stated she didn't cheat on her husband. This was the first and lat point where she completely denies the alleged affair. After this point in the ext Desdemona sort of wilts, and then she is strangled by her husband. All of her earlier sparks of life are gone and the innocent woman grows cold and weary. This also shows an interesting comparison between the "strumpet" and the Christian affiliations

'I do perceive here a divided duty: To I am bound for life and education; My life and education both do learn me How to respect you; you are the lord of duty; I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband, And so much duty as my mother show'd To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.'

Desdemona says this to Brabantio after he tells her she must choose between her husband and her father. Like Othello, Desdemona uses very high-level language that sets her apart from many of the other characters. Desdemona brings into her argument her mother who, like her, left her father for her husband. Desdemona also uses parallelism.

I would let him come in between me and Lafe, like Darl came in between me and Lafe, and so Lafe is alone too. He is Lafe and I am Dewey Dell, and when mother died I had to go beyond and outside of me and Lafe and Darl to grieve because he could do so much for me and he dont know it. He dont even know it"

Dewey Dell is contemplating her pregnancy. Her language is very similar to her mother's. She does not want to have this baby and she wants to get an abortion. She says that "he could do so much for me" meaning if Peabody could give her an abortion her problem would be solved.

o "I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it; but she loved the token. (For he conjured her she should ever keep it) That she reserves it evermore about her To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out And give't Iago. What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy.

Emilia has just found the handkerchief of Desdemona given to her by her husband Othello. This soliloquy from Emilia really shows how far she is willing to go for her husband despite their unusual relationship and obvious lack of respect from Iago. She knows Desdemona loves it but she wants to help her husband.

O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness— More than indeed belonged to such a trifle-He begged of me to steal it.

Emilia tells Othello about the whole plan. In the time leading up to this, Emilia has been insulting Iago and calling Othello stupid, but this is the first time Othello gets the whole truth. This another example of how Emilia and Iago contrast even as spouses.

There was a man I cared about, and this afternoon he told me out of a clear sky that he was poor as a church-mouse. He'd never even hinted it before. Does this sound horribly mundane?

Fitzgerald "Winter Dreams" Pretty much summarizes the shallowness of Judy Jones - she loved a man but then found out he was poor, and was angry at him for tricking her; really,she only loves a man when she is sure of his money. She then says his behavior was 'horribly mundane' which is ironic because her behavior proves to be "mundane."

"For further emphasis she raised it again and was about to bring it down smartly upon the nurse's bosom, when the nurse seized the club and twisted it from her hands. You damn little mean old thing!" cried Miss Jones wildly."

Fitzgerald "Winter Dreams" This is when Judy is at the golf course and Dexter sees her for the first time as a caddy. She is mean and spoiled - she tries to hit her nurse with her golf club and calls her a 'damn little mean old thing' - not even 'woman' - but she can get away with it because she is wealthy. She was born into wealth and is surrounded by luxury, and therefore can act however she pleases but still maintain a good reputation.

"again the memory of those days swept over him like a nightmare . . . The men who locked their wives out in the snow, because the snow of twenty-nine wasn't real snow. If you didn't want it to be snow, you just paid some money."

Fitzgerald Babylon Revisited Charlie, is walking around the streets of Paris again and condemning his behavior of 10 years ago, during the Roaring 20s in Paris. He laments the "dissipation" of his youth, which he realizes was just merely making "nothing out of something." Everything he did back then was absolutely meaningless. He was wealthy due to the economic growth of America during that time but he did not appreciate his wealth - he merely wasted it on alcohol or other debauchery. He sees his dissipation as a distraction from the real problems that he's trying to avoid: his wife and his child. Once back in Paris, he tries to get his daughter Honoria back from Marion

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Fitzgerald's ending sentence, explaining how humanity is continuously turned back into the past, unable to look forward to the future. Reminds us how Gatsby couldn't forget his past and Daisy - was constantly trying to leave behind the West and fixated on getting Daisy - focused his whole life on her.

AHow, how? Let's see - After some time, to abuse Othello's ear That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose To be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly by led by the nose As asses are. I have't. It is engender'd. Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.'

In Iago's soliloquy, he acknowledges that Othello is a good man with an inviting nature. However, Iago also knows how inviting Othello is and how much of a womanizer Cassio is. This is Iago's first soliloquy and it directly sets the stage for his "monstrous birth", a metaphor for his plan to ruin Othello, to take flight.

In troth, I think I should, and undo 't when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition. But for the whole world? Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't.

In a nutshell, Emilia would sleep with someone else to benefit her husband. Now, she wouldn't act all shady for a ring, but yeah she'd sleep with someone else for a powerful position. This quote shows us really how different Desdemona and Emilia are, and it really shows us that Emilia is more of a dimensional character than previously expected. She would do it all for her husband, but she isn't restrained by the expectations of society to be this goody-goody homemaker. She would go out and work for it. On the other hand, maybe this shows a lack of love and respect between Emilia and Iago that Desdemona has for Othello.

"I don't mean to insist or insinuate or anything, Mrs. Fletcher, but Thelma's lady just happened to throw out -- I forgotten what she was talkin' about at the time -- that you was p-r-e-g., and lots of times that'll make your hair do awful funny, fall out and God knows what all.

Leota is speaking to Mrs. Fletcher; by bringing up the topic of pregnancy, she is actually attacking Mrs. Fletcher. She suggests that her hair looks awful, even to the extent that it's falling out. Leota speaks with a heavy country accent, since the setting of the story is in a Midwestern salon.

Behold, I have a weapon; A better never did itself sustain upon a soldier's thigh. I have seen the day that with this little arm and this good sword I have made my way through more impediments than twenty times your stop. But O vain boast! Who can control his fate? Tis not so now... Here is my journey's end, here is my butt, and very seamark of my utmost sail. ... Where should Othello go?

Othello is speaking to Lodovico and Gratiano. He uses military references to discuss his great accomplishments; however, this boasting means nothing now. His life has come to an end with Desdemona's death and he is now lost. This foreshadows him killing himself because he is lost and sees nothing left in life.

Think, my lord? By heaven, thou echoest me, As if there were some monster in thy thought Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something?

Othello is talking to Iago. At this point in the play Iago has just planted the first seed of his plan into Othello's mind. Iago acts like he has this big secret he's keeping from Othello which will hurt his feelings. . Othello refers to what Iago is no telling him as a "monster," but the real monster is the lie Iago is about to tell. Plus, this is another Ironic Iago statement.

o Haply for I am black, And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers have; or for I am declined Into the vale of years—yet that's not much— She's gone. I am abused, and my relief Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, That we can call these delicate creatures ours And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad And live upon the vapor of a dungeon Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others' uses. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones; Prerogatived are they less than the base.'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.

Othello says this to Iago after he finally succumbs to Iago's web of lies. Othello is obvously mad at his wife whom he now loathes, but he is also very sad. He uses some of Iago's animal imagery to describe himself. His confidence that was seen in the earlier acts has disappeared

'Tis true; there's magic in the web of it: A sybil, that had numbered in the world The sun to course two hundred compasses, In her prophetic fury sewed the work; The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk, And it was dyed in mummy, which the skilful Conserved of maidens' hearts.'

Othello tells this to Desdemona about his mother's handkerchief. Desdemona's handkerchief has already been stolen by Emilia. Of course, Othello has become completely focused on Iago's lies and the seed that Iago planted of Desdemona's infidelity (and the handkerchief) has taken root. Desdemona is pleading to her husband for Cassio's return; which of course, makes her look like she really is having an affair with him. This quote demonstrates that Othello has lost all faith in his wife and trusts Iago.

It was a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our most select street. But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps--an eyesore among eyesores

Rose for Emily: Faulkner Her house is a reflection of Emily's personality and solitude; the "coquettish decay" refers to how Emily is stuck in the past, even though everything around her seems to be growing old and the town around her is moving on

""Why, believing as he did, that all human obduracy was susceptible to common sense, was he unable to turn back? Why was he determined to complete his journey even if it meant putting his life in danger? At what point had this prank, this joke, this piece of horseplay become serious? He could not go back..."

Speaker: 3rd person omniscient narrator Neddy was trying to cross the highway, route 424, while being ridiculed. He questions his journey at this point, but he realizes he cannot turn back. The 3rd person omniscient narrator questions Neddy's action while also relating to his inner feelings. It gives the reader insight into Neddy's thoughts while also showing the outside perspective of his character.

"The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, the yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, licked its tongue into the corners of the evening"

TS Eliot "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" Prufrock describes a kind of sensory fog by using animal imagery. By personifying the fog, Eliot gives it life as more of a feline animal alluding to a sense of lust or sensuality.

For I have known them all already, known them all--Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons...

TS Eliot "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" Prufrock justifies his dull life by procrastinating. Well, really, Prufrock claims he has done everything to be done in the world. The imagery of measuring out his life with small coffee spoons suggests that his life has been small and virtually meaningless.

I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.

TS Eliot "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" Prufrock makes another self-hating statement by saying that his human life is meaningless and he should have been crab CLAWS on the sea floor. He really degrades his self worth by saying he should only be half of an animal.

"When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well;Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand, Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes Albeit unused to the melting mood,Drops tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinable gum. Set you down this. And say besides that in Aleppo once, Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, I took by the throat the circumcised dog And smote him—thus.

This is Othello's spiel before he kills himself. In a nutshell, Othello understands what he did was definitely wrong, but don't drag his name through the mud: speak of him as a man who had been fooled and tricked. This diction exemplifies Othello coming back into reality after being crazy; seems to have regained his confidence and sense of reality. Of course, the last person Othello must take out is himself, the miserable Turk; this suicide acts like a martyrdom to help as a last service to the state.

Touch me not so near. I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael Cassio

This is a incredibly ironic statement from the villanous Iago to Othello. Iago plays like he absolutely adores Cassio, yet the audience knows that Cassio was brought down by Iago's scheme that got him drunk. This is a perfect example of irony from Iago. Act 2

Tush! Never tell me? I take it much unkindly that thou, Iago, who has had my purse as if the strings were thing, should know of this."

This is from Roderigo to Iago. Roderigo is saying that Iago uses his money too freely. Roderigo is still subordinate to Iago, but uses a higher language.

"Standing barefoot in the deposits of the highway--beer cans, rags, and blowout patches--exposed to all kinds of ridicule, he seemed pitiful."

This is when Neddy is at the highway feeling all alone just as he is about to go to the Recreation Center Again the audience sees the judgemental narrative point of view Emotional turning point Point of no return Feel sorry for him; hopeless

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise, Awake the snorting citizens with the bell Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. Arise, I say!

This quote by Iago to Brabantio in Act 1 demonstrates Iago's low level language paired with animal imagery. Iago consistently makes animal references to Othello in order to degrade his character; furthermore, this imagery is a telltale sign of Iago as a speaker.

The houses are haunted By white night-gowns. None are green, Or purple with green rings, Or green with yellow rings, Or yellow with blue rings. None of them are strange, With socks of lace And beaded ceintures. People are not going To dream of baboon and periwinkles. Only, here and there, an old sailor, Drunk and asleep in his boots, Catches tigers In red weather

Wallace Stevens Disillusionment of Ten o'clock The narrator uses a modernist approach to describe a surrealistic setting of houses haunted by white night-gowns. He cries out against the conformity and monotony of society arguing that people have grown dull so that each night gown is dull and the same white color. He playfully states that no one is going to dream of baboons and periwinkles. The only person that is somewhat interesting is the sailor, "drunk" on happiness, who has experienced many things. The line "catches tigers In red weather" refers to the old saying "red sky at night, sailors delight."

he Kermess, the dancers go round, they go round and around, the squeal and the blare and the tweedle of bagpipes, a bugle and fiddles tipping their bellies (round as the thick- sided glasses whose wash they impound)

William Carlos Williams "The Dance" The narrator is the observer of the painting. The repetition of the phrase "go round" correlates to the circular motion dance taking place in the painting. Moreover, the author uses various instruments with distinguishable sounds to further brings life to the busy painting. The dancers rotund stomachs are also compared to drink glasses.

But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose feelings are all hurt about it. Even in the helter-skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seen that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation more or less.No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.

Zora Neale- Hurston "How it Feels to be Colored Me" Neale- Hurston argues that black people shouldn't still be upset about what happened to their people. She says she does not belong to the sobbing school of "Negrohood" and argues that she won't cry about her misfortune, she will just keep working to prove herself.

Slavery is the price I paid for civilization, and the choicewas not with me. It is a bully adventure and worth all that I have paid through my ancestors for it. No one on earth ever had a greater chance for glory. The world to be wonand nothing to be lost. It is thrilling to think--to know that for any act of mine, I shall gettwice as much praise or twice as much blame. It is quite exciting to hold the center of the national stage, with the spectators not knowing whether to laugh or to weep

Zora Neale- Hurston "How it Feels to be Colored Me" Neale-Hurston claims that though slavery was bad, the black race has the most chance for glory in the world. If they rise, it will be after trial and tribulation making their rise even more prominent while their fall will also be watched.

"He didn't seem to notice it, but just before they started playing again, he sipped from it and looked toward me, and nodded. Then he put it back on top of the piano. For me, then, as they began to play again, it glowed and shook above my brother's head like the very cup of trembling.

he narrator is attending Sonny's musical performance in Greenwich Village along with his other band members (Creole). Sonny has just finished his first song with the other band members (he plays the piano) and after a few stumblings, has finally found his footing. The narrator has finally understood Sonny's music and his suffering and he shares in that suffering as well. Because Christianity had a huge influence on Baldwin even though he later turned away from the church, here Baldwin cites a passage from the Bible in Isaiah concerning the "cup of trembling," which in the Bible signified suffering and here means the same as well. It means that while Sonny is playing his music, he is free, if even for just an instant, of all suffering.

One boy was whistling a tune, at once very complicated and very simple, it seemed to be pouring out of him as though he were a bird, and it sounded very cool and moving through all that harsh, bright air, eerily just holding its own through all those other sounds

his boy represents Sonny - he struggles for the freedom of a bird and the whistling is like Sonny's music - he's struggling to let his voice be heard in all of the other sounds

Kitchenettes With no heat And garbage In the halls. Who're you, outsider? Ask me who am I.

langston Hughes "Visitors to the Black Belt" Hughes says that many white people have a stereotypical and misunderstood view of Harlem and they don't understand it. Hughes wants to show that people really haven't even gotten to the tru meaning of Harlem.

From that time on her front door remained closed, save for a period of six or seven years, when she was about forty, during which she gave lessons in china-painting.

speaking about Emily and how she remains in solitude for most of her life; she prefers to stay indoors, and she never goes outside; the only time her "door was open," or the only time she interacted with others was when she "gave lessons in china-painting."

"But they got this man, this petrified man, that ever'thing ever since he was nine years old, when it goes through his digestion, see, somehow Mrs. Pike says it goes to his joints and has been turning to stone."

the first time the "petrified man" comes into the story. Leota's speaking about the freak show, and how there was a petrified man on display. However, we learn later that this petrified man is significant not because he is seen in the freak show, but because "the petrified man" is actually a rapist, who they read about in a magazine.

"He was not a practical joker nor was he a fool but he was determinedly original and had a vague and modest idea of himself as a legendary figure."

this shows the self satisfied view neddy has of himself and of the world in the beginning neddy believes himself to be a "legendary figure" but by the end of the story he gets weaker and he stops believing in himself the speaker is the narrator Uses contrasting language to convey that though Neddy seems ridiculous to others, he believes himself to be "a legendary figure."

Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

Claude McKay "If We Must Die" The black narrator calls for the people to stand up against the people who discriminate against them. He does say it will be tough, but at least they will be fighting back against the white opression.

f we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot

Claude McKay "If We Must Die" The speaker is a black adult who cries out against the discrimination of black people. With all of the physical violence and lynchings going on, which some white people viewed as a demented sport, McKay calls for the people to stand and prove to the white people that they are NOT animals.

The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

Wallace Stevens "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" This is maybe a philosophical quote, but it's too vague to argue yes or no. Really, this poem is about understanding that one image can be viewed through multiple, varying perspectives.

"I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time. And when I would have to look at them day after day, each with his and her secret and selfish thought, and blood strange to each other blood and strange to mine, and think that this seemed to be the only way I could get ready to stay dead, I would hate my father for having ever planted me. I would look forward to the ties when they faulted, so I could whip them. When the switch fell I could feel it upon my flesh; when it welted and ridged it was my blood that ran, and I would think with each blow of the switch: Now you are aware of me! Now I am something in your secret and selfish life, who have marked your blood with my own for ever and ever.

Addie is speaking about her father and her life as a school teacher. Her father believed that the only reason for living was getting ready for being dead, meaning that he did not believe in an afterlife or even in living a fulfilling life. The way Addie speaks of her father shows her estrangement from him as well as his coldness and inability to connect, a trait which she inherited from him. The dysfunction of the Bundren family originated with Addie because of her lack of human connections, notably lack of connection with her father. She also inherited a strange obsession with death from her father. Because Addie lacks real human connections, she yearns for one despite being unable to form a real link with anyone. She hates children and being a school teacher and enjoys physically hurting them because physical contact (usually violent and painful) is the only way she knows how to communicate. At the same time, she wants a real connection with the students but she hates them as well because they don't care about her and neither does she about them.

"Words don't ever fit even what they are trying to say at... Motherhood was invented by someone who had to have a word for it because the ones that had the children didn't care whether there was a word for it or not."

Addie, speaking in As I lay Dying by Faulkner, says that words are meaningless things left to fill a void. Moreover, words are used but they don't convey the deeper things in life like experience.

His spirit is smoke ascended to high heaven. His father, by the cruelest way of pain, Had bidden him to his bosom once again; The awful sin remained still unforgiven

Claude McKay "The Lynching" The victim ascends to heaven while being welcomed by his Father. In contrast, it seems that God rejects those who lynched the man by calling their crime an "awful sin" that "remained still unforgiven." There is no forgiveness, according to McKay, for those who participated in the lynching.

Billy Boy stomped through the group of wild-haired ladies and went out the door, but flung back the words, "If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?"

Billy Boy is Leota's son. His role in the story is to tell the ladies at the salon how dumb they are acting - makes this clear by saying that they'd be rich if they were smarter. This is the closing line of the story. The "wild-haired ladies" refers to Medusa, who can petrify man. Here, Billy Boy suggests that these ladies are petrifying each other with their words and actions.

The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls, Devoured her with their eager, passionate gaze; But, looking at her falsely-smiling face I knew her self was not in that strange place.

Calude McKay "Harlem Dancer " The girl is obviously a hit given the attention being paid to her by the crowd who "devoured" her face, yet something with her is still not right. The black dancer seems so graceful and lovely, but in reality she is breaking inside but conceals her face and never shows it.

"Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes Blown by black players upon a picnic day. She sang and danced on gracefully and calm, To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm Grown lovelier for passing through a storm

Claude McKay In this quote, the narrator describes the dancer as a graceful, elegant girl with a pretty voice. Moreover,the girl is compared to a swaying palm tree in a storm.

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth' Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth

Claude McKay "America" America is like a mother because "she feeds" the speaker, but America is feeding the speaker "bread of bitterness" showing the underlying feeling of blacks especially in the south before the civil rights movement. The unequal treatment of blacks is taking away their proud spirit which is shown by "stealing my breath of life". Then the speaker in the next line says how he loves america. This poem shows the mixed feelings of blacks and the speaker towards America.

Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace, Has pushed the timid little feet of clay, The sacred brown feet of my fallen race! Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet In Harlem wandering from street to street.

Claude McKay "Harlem Shadows" In this poem, McKay talks about how blacks during that time period lived in poverty and it was hard for people to keep their family under their a house and maintain money. He talks about how he sees little girls walking about in the streets making money by using their bodies for sex, or being prostitutes. He then talks about how mean and despicable this world is to people who are poor and need help especially during a time where poverty is really common with the African American race. Also, the things that are happening, such as the girl's actions, are making them live up to other people's expectations of the black race

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow but myself. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end. For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, 'tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.

From Act 1 Scene 1, Iago's dialogue to Roderigo show's both Iago's tru nature in life as well as his feelings towards Othello. Iago says that the day I wear my heart upon my sleeve is the day I am most vulnerable as a person; This should be a warning to Roderigo, but he is too naive to understand. This shows Iago's dark moral compass through very cryptic, almost paradoxical, dialogue.

"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

He uses double-sided words like 'men and girls' (sounds suspicious - why would grown men be out at midnight with girls?), 'moths' (moths gather around lights, but are also ugly on close inspection), 'whisperings' instead of gossip, and 'champagne' instead of hard liquor or alcohol (especially during Prohibition). His word choice sounds sophisticated and dream-like but have an uglier undertone that depicts high society in the 20s.

Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow And smooth as monumental alabaster.Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.Put out the light, and then put out the light. If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,I can again thy former light restore Should I repent me. But once put out thy light, Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,I know not where is that Promethean heat That can thy light relume. When I have plucked thy rose I cannot give it vital growth again, It must needs wither. I'll smell thee on the tree. Oh, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.Be thus when thou art dead and I will kill thee And love thee after.

Here we get Othello's reasoning for desdemona and as you can see it's pretty twisted. He needs to kill her to punish her for her actions but the reader can tell he's having a hard time doing it. He's constantly reminding himself about the "cause" ( he can't bring himself to say that she's a cheating *****) and he constantly focuses on her beautiful skin and the fact that one she's dead he can't bring her back.

And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.

Langston Hughes "Weary Blues" Rocking and death are mentioned earlier in the poem. Here is where the suffering ends. As the lights of the night dwindle down, the stars and the moon,the singer fins peace. The singer completely invested himself in "The Weary Blues," so he can finally get rest.

It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor - put money in thy purse - nor he his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration - put but money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills: fill thy purse with money - the food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth: when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice: she must have change, she must: therefore put money in thy purse.'

Iago is manipulating Roderigo in order to keep him subservient. He tells Roderigo that Desdemona will fall out of love with the Moor, so Roderigo should continue to work with him. Iago's whole dialogue is ironic because he's really just trying to use him for his own selfish needs i.e. Iago wants Roderigo for money and to use him as a pawn. (act 1)

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed. You shall mark many a duteous and knee-crooking knave that, doting on his own obsequious bondage, wears out his time, much like his master's ass

Iago is once again telling Roderigo of his thoughts on living life (act 1). He uses low language because he is the antagonist and talked this way for the benefit of the groundlings. What Iago is trying to tell Roderigo that he cannot be a servant who loves his job, and sucks up to his master,because he ends up looking idiotic.

If thou be'st valiant (as they say base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them), list me. The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.

Iago is setting up the beginning of his plan by telling Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio. Roderigo is, of course, a fool for believing the cunning Iago. Iago is trying to provoke Roderigo to go along with his plan by saying that he is valiant, but only because he is a fool in love - therefore, this isn't actually a compliment at all. Act 2

'I will in Cassio's lodgings lose this napkin, And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. This may do something. The Moor already changes with my poison: Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons. Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, But with a little act upon the blood, Burn like the mines of sulphur.

Iago speaks to himself about how effectively his plan is taking flight. He's just thought of the way to use the napkin to fram Desdemona and he reflects on the way that his poison infiltrates Othello's mind like poison and completely take control of him. This statement proves true for the remainder of the play.

'You are pictures out of doors; Bells in your parlours; wild-cats in your kitchens; Saints in your injuries; devils being offended; Players in your housewifery; and housewives In your beds.'

Iago tells this to Desdemona after they are having some witty banter about differences between men and women. This quote really exemplifies Iago's misogynistic view of women and shows the tense relationship between Iago and his wife; it also shows the interesting relationship he has with Desdemona.

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe 't; That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit. The Moor, howbeit I endure him not, Is of a constant, loving, noble nature, And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona a most dear husband

Iago's soliloquy shows he is analyzing the situation at hand and allowing the reader to know his thoughts about it. He believes that Desdemona is loved by Cassio, and he believes is would be easy to create a rouse to suggest the two were having an affair. Moreover, this also shows that Othello is a good man in the eyes of Iago. Granted, Iago wants to ruin his life, but he still understands that Othello is a good person. This, in reality, is almost a paradoxical idea but it aptly exemplifies Iago's character. Act 2

My little horse must think it queer to stop without a farmhouse near between the woods and frozen lake the darkest evening of the year.

In "Stopping by the Woods in a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, frost gives the reader a serene, pleasant landscape. The overall tone of the statement is very serene, and the rhyme scheme adds an additional note of serenity and eternity to the poem. The horse finds it odd that the rider stops in the middle of the road insinuating that the stop was arbitrary.

"Democracy will not come Today, this year, Nor ever, Through compromise and fear

Langston Hughes emphasizes that the african american race needs to fight for their equality rather than just sit and wait for it. It will not come through compromises and subordination to the white man, and it is time to make that change. by rhyming "fear" and "year" it

It is most true; true I have married her. The very head and front of my offending hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech, and little blessed with the soft phrase of peace

In this text, Othello tells Brabantio and the senators that he eloped with Desdemona and meant no harm by it. He also shows that he is very touchy with his speech, yet he does have very eloquent speaking at this point in the play. He is trying to portray himself as a man in love.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed— I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes "I, Too" This poem shows Langston Hughes desire for the black race to be considered equal to that of the black race. The black people may be considered inferior by some, but those people are wrong because the black people are "beautiful." The use of the word tomorrow suggests that in a future point in time, everyone can sit at a table together, and those once racists will be ashamed because black people are citizens. This poem really reflects the ideal from the Harlem Renaissance that "Black is Beautiful"

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on,

Langston Hughes "Mother to Son" A Mother, the narrator of the piece, tells her son that her life has been hard and the journey of her life has been difficult. The bare floor with cracks and splinters represents the hardships she faced by society based on her skin color. However, she tells her son that she continues to climb despite hardships and encourages him to do so as well.

But someday somebody'll stand up and talk about me, and write about me-black and beautiful- and sing about me, and put on plays about me!

Langston Hughes "Note on Commercial Theater" Though Langston complains that the whites have stolen bits of black culture, trying to make it their own, he says that these injustices will not go on forever. He will one day see himself in the papers and the white community cannot ignore him forever; they will acknowledge his true beauty and regret having failed to see it for so long.

You've taken my blues and gone-you sing'em on Broadway and you sing 'em up with symphonies and you fixed 'em so they don't sound like me. Yes, you done taken my blues and gone. You also took my spiritual and gone

Langston Hughes "Note on Commercial Theater" Hughes argues that the commercial theater and the white society has taken blues and morphed it into a new form of music. However, the whites have also left out the black people who founded the very music they stole; Hughes argues that it is unjust.

Way Down South in Dixie (bruised body high in air) I asked the white Lord Jesus what was the use of prayer.

Langston Hughes "Song for a Dark Girl" Hughes tells the story of his girlfriend or lover who was maliciously lynched. Hughes is speaking out against the segregation and racial discrimination that has hurt so many innocent people. The rhyme scheme is intended to add an innocent feel that sharply contrasts to the sad, depressing content. Hughes is asking why he needs to pray to the same God that the white people, who murder and discriminate, worship.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset

Langston Hughes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" The Mississippi River holds the main idea of this poem because it has a connection to slavery. The fact that it sings suggests that it protests slavery and celebrates the president who will abolish slavery one day.

I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

Langston Hughes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" This quote shows how the poem is about roots and circuits. The ancient rivers the narrator speaks of are like the blood in veins or the roots under trees, for they provide the sustenance to our lives and can give and support life. This is later supported when the speaker discusses early civilizations that thrived off the river system, thus the theme of "roots" has a dual meaning.

"Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, thats true!

Langston Hughes "Theme for English B" A conversational poem based on speaking to his white english teacher, Langston Hughes conveys his push for equality by telling him even though we do not want to be apart of each other, we are American, which unites us beyond any racial separation.By addressing white population of America in a conversational tone he enables the reader to connect to the poem, which enables him to get his point accross.

You can talk about across the railroad tracks- to me it's here on this side of the tracks-

Langston Hughes "Visitors to the Black Belt" Langston addresses the fact that "outsiders" or the white people may sometimes look into Harlem life and think that they understand how life is there when they really don't. They have a superficial view that has just scratched the surface. He advises white people to not think they know him and all of his concerns

He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues! Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues!

Langston Hughes "Weary Blues" Raggy is the type of music, like Ragtime. This implies poverty because back in the day, those who sang for money were like Fools (court jesters). Also, this shows the correlation of blues music and poetry that ran deep throughout the Harlem Renaissance.

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."

Nick's final judgement on Tom and Daisy and all high society in the 20s - they are careless and destructive but never are punished because of their 'vast wealth and carelessness.' Fitzgerald's word choice is reminiscent of children's behavior, which further expands his description of Tom and Daisy

He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced--or seemed to face--the whole eternal world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.

Nick's impression of Gatsby - one of the times in the book when you understand why Gatsby is Great - he is eternally hopeful and confident in his hopes and dreams and that the people around will always be the best they can be, which is why the end is so devastating

As I am an honest man, I had thought you had received some bloodily wound. There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all unless you repute yourself such a loser.

Once again, this is an ironic statement from Iago. Iago tells Cassio, as an "honest man", that his reputation is still intact. This is ironic because Cassio has lost his reputation and Iago is a complete manipulator. Moreover, Iago is rubbing it in that Cassio has lost the one thing he holds very dear, his reputation.

"I found a dimpled spider, fat and white, on a white heal-all, holding up a moth like a piece of rigid satin cloth-"

Robert Frosts "Design" Frost is the narrator The imagery of the spider presents the insect as more of a fat cute baby next to an innocent flower; the ironic tone comes in the next sentence where that same cute spider has a moth dangling from it's clutches. The death can be viewed as a natural death that provides life for the spider.

Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we a saw a long strand of iron-gray hair

Rose for Emily by Faulkner This is the last line of the story. This line wraps up the story which was dangling along by a thin thread, but at the end we learn that Emily had killed Homer and had been sleeping next to him at her time of death. It was both disgusting and depressing that a woman needed love enough to kill someone.

"Assorted characters of death and blight mixed ready to begin the morning right like the ingredients of a witches' broth - a snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,

Robert Frost's "Design" Frost is the narrator of the piece. He says that the flower and spider elements come together to make the morning right, pun for Mourning rites like in a funeral. The spider is still seen as an innocent creature, paired with the flower froth, yet the witches provide the evil or bad connotation.

"Neddy remembered the sapphire water at the Bunkers' with longing and though that he might contaminate himself--damage himself--damage his own prosperousness and charm--by swimming in this murk, but he reminded himself that he was an explorer, a pilgrim, and that this was merely a stagnant bend in the Lucinda River.

The Swimmer Contrast to how he was feeling before Happy at Bunkers' and now he feels gloomy Still in denial about what is happening This incident is just a little bump in the journey Language- murk and stank of chlorine (before water was sapphire)

"It's Cash and Jewel and Vardaman and Dewey Dell,"pa says, kind of hangdog and proud too, with his teeth and all, even if he wouldn't look at us. "Meet Mrs. Bundren," he says.

The children have survived fire and flood to deliver their mother to the gravesite she had chosen. And now, the day after she is buried, Anse appears sporting a set of false teeth and a new wife. It is a disappointing ending for the reader since Anse seems to have gotten the most out of his wife's death

All they really knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness, and in which they now, vindictively,dreamed, at once more together than they were at any other time, and more alone

The narrator is talking about the boys he teaches. They only know two darknesses, one of their lives - racism - and the other of the movies. The darkness of their lives refers to their situation in life as African Americans in the middle 20th century - the endless cycle of poverty and racism that they feel powerless to rise up against. It creates a darkness and rage inside of them. As Baldwin says, they go to the movies to blind themselves to "that other darkness," and they dream of better lives living vicariously through the movies, but it also means that they do not confront their other darkness - they will do nothing to better their situation. They commiserate by themselves and not in community? - not so sure what that last part means

• My mother had a maid called Barbary,She was in love, and he she loved proved mad And did forsake her. She had a song of "Willow,"An old thing 'twas, but it expressed her fortune And she died singing it. That song tonight Will not go from my mind. I have much to do But to go hang my head all at one side And sing it like poor Barbary. Prithee, dispatch

The song Desdemona sings to Emilia is a reflection of her own situation. Othello is losing his mind and will leave Desdemona (and kill her) just as Barbary was left. Desdemona is connecting the two similar instances. Also, this singing a way for Desdemona to exhibit her emotions and concerns.

"The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."

The statement, in "Stopping by the Woods in a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost, the rider (narrator) wishes to continue his stop and gaze at the woods. However, other obligations and "promises" force him to continue on his path. The repeated phrase at the end suggests that the miles to go will be plentiful and this was just a quick (peaceful) stop on a long journey. It can be thought that the "miles to go" refer to the life that must be lived before sleep (death).

Take from the dresser of deal, Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet On which she embroidered fantails once And spread it so as to cover her face. If her horny feet protrude, they come To show how cold she is, and dumb. Let the lamp affix its beam. The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream

Wallace Stevens "Emperor of Ice Cream" The narrator is describing the funeral. The girl had a sheet with embroidered pigeons covering her face. The specific details about "the dresser of deal," "lacking the three glass knobs," and "fantails" all contribute to the fact that she is poor. By showing that she embroidered images on the cloth suggests that she aspired to a higher beauty, but her choice to use a lowly "fantail" implies that the attempts were in vain.

"The dream was gone. Something had been taken from him. In a sort of panic he pushed the palms of his hands into his eyes and tried to bring up a picture of the waters lapping on Sherry Island and the moonlit veranda, and gingham on the golf-links and the dry sun and the gold color of her neck's soft down. And her mouth damp to his kisses and her eyes plaintive with melancholy and her freshness like new fine linen in the morning. Why, these things were no longer in the world! They had existed and they existed no longer."

This is Dexter's finishing thought after he realizes that Judy has changed, grown up, and is no longer beautiful. His lifelong dream had been ambition, and Judy Jones summarized his ambition - he wanted to fit into and belong to her social class and she was the epitome of that social class, and then when she faded and became old he realized that his dream was only an illusion - it did not exist anymore.

Call the roller of big cigars, The muscular one, and bid him whip In kitchen cups concupiscent curds. Let the wenches dawdle in such dress As they are used to wear, and let the boys Bring flowers in last month's newspapers. Let be be finale of seem. The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Wallace Stevens "Emperor of Ice Cream" The poem is about the funeral of a dead woman. The roller of big cigars is "whipping up concupiscent curds," ie sinful ice cream. "Concupiscent" is used by Stevens to describe the ice cream, contrasting an essentially good thing, the ice cream, with sin. The poor are gathering for the funeral and boys are bringing flowers in last month's newspapers. The terms "wenches" and newspapers from "last month" suggest that all of these people are poor. The Emperor of ice cream can be seen as death, or it can be seen as those who embrace the happier aspects of life.

Among twenty snowy mountains, The only moving thing Was the eye of the blackbird

Wallace Stevens "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" The blackbird can be seen as the central point of this text who's eye was the main, moving image. This is also a realistic image or perspective. The whole poem shows how one animal can be viewed through multiple, differing lenses.

ridiculous to others, he believes himself to be "a legendary figure." "They would be honored to give him a drink, they would be happy to give him a drink, they would in fact be lucky to give him a drink. The Biswangers invited him and Lucinda for dinner four times a year, six weeks in advance. They were always rebuffed and yet they continued to send out their invitations, unwilling to comprehend the rigid and undemocratic realities of their society."

When Neddy goes through a party at the Biswangers' house, he is confident that his social status is much higher than that of the Biswangers, whose invitations he and his wife often "rebuffed." However, it is in fact Neddy who is "unwilling to comprehend the rigid and undemocratic realities of their society" in his apparent ignorance of his own downfall in financial and social status. This is also ironic because Neddy is, in a sense, later rebuffed by the bartender at this party. He regards the Biswangers with disdain, but he is the one that is actually now in a lower position than them.

so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens

William Carlos Williams The speaker is an observer. This poem is significant because is truly resembles the style of the modernists: a break from traditional writing styles and this can be seen by the poem above.The modernists sought to make simple objects art, so the simple red wheel barrow became something beautiful.

according to Brueghel when Icarus fell it was spring a farmer was ploughing his field

William Carlos Williams "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus " The speaker is an observer. This quotation is significant because it refers to the painting done by Brueghel that depicts the Fall of Icarus.

unsignificantly off the coast there was a splash quite unnoticed this was Icarus drowning

William Carlos Williams "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" The quote ends the poem said by an observer of a landscape painting. the narrator has spent a good deal of time focusing on the main, central portion of the painting. At the very end, he finally tells of the drowning Icarus; this is mirroring the insignificant Icarus who's legs are flailing in the corner.

Lifeless in appearance, sluggish dazed spring approaches— They enter the new world naked, cold, uncertain of all save that they enter. All about them the cold, familiar wind—

William Carlos Williams "Spring and All" Williams, as the narrator of this piece, describes a setting right after the end of winter as new,young life is born. Spring is personified as this young life approaching. The interesting diction goes against the traditional ideas of spring as a quick, giddy youth.

all along the road the reddish purplish, forked, upstanding, twiggy stuff of bushes and small trees with dead, brown leaves under them leafless vines-

William Carlos Williams "Spring and All" Williams, as the narrator, paints the image of a beautiful, though dead, road right before spring. The narrator can be seen as someone who is walking through or looking at the road describing all the scenery.

Kicking and rolling about the Fair Grounds, swinging their butts, those shanks must be sound to bear up under such rollicking measures

William Carlos Williams "The Dance" The narrator is the observer of a painting which shows people gaily, and somewhat hilariously, dancing at a fair. The diction used by Williams pokes fun at the peasant dancers; the crude language reflects the lower class festivities enjoyed by the people in the painting.