Raines Semester 2 Exam Quotations (please correct if my answers are wrong)
"What passing bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes." 1. Give the title of the poem and the poet. 2. Label and identify at least three poetic devices in the poem above.
"Anthem for a Doomed Youth" by Wilfred Owen. The alliteration of the "r" sound. Aural imagery of gunfire and rounds being unloaded, soldiers yelling. Visual imagery of the boys eyes as they realize their fate.
"If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as cud Of vile, incurable as sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory The old lie:..........." 1. Give the title of the poem and the poet. 2. Describe in detail each of the three similes that appear in this excerpt- what is being compared to what? 3. What is the scene being described? How specifically does the speaker emphasize the power and permanence of the imagery?
"Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen. The three similes are "like a devil's sick of sin", "as cancer", and "as the cud of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues." They are being compared to the look of death on the man who died from being exposed to gas. The sound of the man's dead body getting jolted around on the wagon. The scene being described is the men carrying away the dead body of someone who failed to put on his gas mask in time and suffers in his death. The speaker highly emphasizes the details and uses imagery to hear the mans body on the wagon and witness the look of fear and suffering on his face.
"Alone he staggered on until he found Dawn's ghost that filtered down a shafted stair to the dazed, muttering creatures underground Who hear the boom of shells in muffled sound. At last, with sweat and horror in his hair, He climbed through darkness to the twilight air, unloading hell behind him step by step." 1. Give the title of the poem and the poet. 2. Explain where "he" is staggering and what he encounters in this poem? 3. Explicate in detail how this end of the poem uses imagery to create a lasting message here.
"The Rear-guard" by Siegfried Sassoon. He is staggering out of the trench after he just had tried to abuse a dead person into showing him the way out. It was completely dark and he did not know his way, and is delusional as he kicks and yells at a dead person who he thinks is alive. The end of the poem uses imagery to explain in greater detail the relief of being able to escape the trench. He had not breathed or witnessed fresh air in a long period of time and compares the trench to hell. It creates a lasting message of saying that war is his own hell. Escaping the trench was his first taste of freedom and escaping the aspect of war, or hell.
"There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home." 1. Give the title of the poem and the poet 2. Who is the audience for this poem 3. What is the tone of the poem? How does the poet hope his audience will view his death?
"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke. The audience is England, the people of England, and the ones that were at war with him, and watched people die around him. The tone of the poem is calm and serene. He is happy to have honored his country and sees himself to always be present at the foreign place he died. The poet hopes that he shows the people that there can be honor in death. England will forever be his home.
"We're none of us the same! The boys reply. For George lost both his legs; and Bill's stone blind; Poor Jim's shot through the lungs and like to die; And Bert's gone syphilitic; you'll not find A chap who's served that hasn't found some change. And the bishop said" "The ways of God are strange." 1. Give the title of the poem and the poet 2. How does the boys' reply establish the tone of the poem? To what sentiment or attitude are they replying? How does their response embody the poem's larger theme? 3. Discuss the Bishop's final words and the Poets use of them.
"They" by Siegfried Sassoon. The boys are angry at the suffering of their friends in the war. They are pissed off about the war and see it only bringing death and injuries that will last a lifetime. There response embodies the poet's larger theme in all of his poems of an outcry and campaign against war, only brings destructiveness. The final words explain the Bishop's realization of war's terror. The Bishop is demonstrating that he struggles to understand God's reasoning behind all of the war and terror. Nothing is Romantic about war even though people try to romanticize aspects of it. After experiencing war, life will never be the same and you will never be able to adjust to the real world.
"You see it (my diary) is simply a very young girl's record of her own thoughts and impressions, and consequently meant for publication. When it appears in volume form I hope you will order a copy." 1. who is the speaker? 2. What irony is present in the above statement? 3. Explain the absurdity of the speaker's diary. Be specific. What is in it?
1. Cecily 2. It is ironic because one should not want others to see their diary. However, Cecily wants to publish it. 3. The diary is completely fiction it is essentially all of what Cecily daydreams about. In the diary, she discusses her engagement to a man, Ernest, who she has yet to meet. She talks all about how she fell in love and the engagement being broken off. She has never seen or met him.
"All i possess is freely yours. All that you have given me is at your command to have again. Beyond that, I have nothing. And if you ask me to give you what you never gave me, my gratitude and duty cannot do impossibilities." 1. Who is the speaker, and to whom is the passage addressed? 2. Explain the meaning of the phrase "my gratitude and duty cannot do impossibilities."
1. Estella; she is expressing how Miss Havisham ruined her. 2. Estella is expressing that since Miss Havisham has made it so she can not love and feel compassion for someone else, it is completely impossible for her to feel sorry and care for Miss Havisham.
"We live, as I hope you know, Mr. Worthing, in an age of ideals . . . and my ideal has always been to love someone of the name Ernest." 1. Who is the speaker? 2. Explain the absurdity of her statement? 3. What does the speaker think of the name "Jack"?
1. Gwendolen 2. She wants to marry someone just based on his name. She does not know enough about this man, she only likes him because of his name. 3. Gwendolen does not think the name Jack is attractive. Therefore, she will never marry a guy by the name of Jack.
"The home seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man. And certainly once a man begins to neglect his domestic duties he becomes painfully effeminate, does he not." 1. Who is the speaker? 2. What social norm is being reversed? 3. What victorian norms does this character stereotype? Be specific
1. Gwendolen 2. The domesticity of a mother being at home in the Kitchen and cooking/cleaning. 3. Gwendolen is stereotyping the Victorian norm that women should be the "Angel in the House".
"Of course I know that . . . "Told me! You have never told me when you have got your hair cut, but I have had senses to perceive it. You have always adored her, ever since I have known you. You brought your adoration and your portmanteau here, together. Told me! Why, you have always told me all day long. When you told me your own story, you told me plainly that you began adoring her the first time you saw her, when you were very young indeed." 1. Who is speaking in the passage above? 2. What does Pip share when they discuss the situation?
1. Herbert 2. Pip shares and admits that he is, in fact, in love with Estella, and has always been in love with her.
"I am greatly changed, I know; but I thought you would like to shake hands with Estella too, Pip. Lift up that pretty child and let me kiss it! (She supposed the child, I think, to be my child)" 1. Who is the Child in the scene above? 2. Explain the difference between the two endings. 3. Why did Dickens make the change? 4. Is the universal ending more gratifying to readers? Why or why not?
1. It is Joe and Biddy's baby. 2. In the first ending, Estella remarries and Pip is still single. In the other ending (one in the book), Estella and pip meet again and are forever together. Estella is no longer with Drummle. 3. Sir Edward Lott, his friend, advised him too. 4. Yes, simply because everyone wanted and hoped for Estella and Pip to eventually be together. Pip would never have abandoned his past and sought out a higher class if he did not fall in love with Estella. Pip's sacrifice of his family and friends is all for Estella causing him to be embarrassed by his past.
"It is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me? 1. Who is the speaker? 2. What social norm is reverted here? 3. Describe this speaker's character throughout the play. What purpose does he serve for Wilde?
1. Jack 2. He should not be apologizing if he is telling the truth. 3. Throughout the play, Jack is very deceptive as he creates an alter ego in Ernest in order to escape from society. He attempts to live up to Victorian ideals and norms. He serves the role of a protagonist, who pretends to be someone he is not in order to marry his true love. In the end, Jack realizes that this whole time his alter ego was actually his real name.
"I am not in favor of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character before marriage, which I think is never advisable." 1. Who is the speaker? 2. What social commentary is being made? 3. How would you describe the speaker's role in the play?
1. Lady Bracknell 2. One should already know who their partner is before they even get engaged. However, in this time you should barely know the person you marry. 3. Lady Bracknell is essentially the women who has the power to decide whether or not certain people can get married. She represents the Victorian morals and Victorian expectations.
"It was some broken wittles - that's what it was - and a dram of liquor, and a pie" 1. Who is confessing what in the lines above? 2. What does this confession - a lie - establish and foreshadow?
1. Magwitch is confessing about stealing the food and file from Pip's house. 2. It is the point when Magwitch becomes extremely loyal and compassionate for Pip, just because he did what Magwitch told him. Therefore, Magwitch is covering up for pip so he will not get in trouble.
"It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. There may be black ingratitude in the thing, and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can testify." 1. What is Pip's good fortune at this point in the novel and how has it made his life so miserable? 2. Explain his feelings towards Joe at this point. 3. Explain his feelings towards Biddy at this point.
1. Pip's good fortune is getting to be an apprentice under Joe. This has caused Pip to become miserable because he knows that if he grows up to be like Joe he will never be able to escape the lifestyle that has made him so miserable. He has become embarrassed about his past and where he has grown up. 2. He is ashamed of his dumbness. He also just truly believes he is better. 3. He is ungrateful for Biddy, and he does not care for her. Also, he does not even feel bad about the fact that he does not care for her.
"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But it is the same with any life. Imagine on selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day." 1. Explain Pip's perspective in the beginning of his story. How is his path both a chain of iron and gold - thorns and flowers?
At the beginning of the story, Pip is humbled by his childhood. His only expectation is to become Joe's apprentice, and at home willingly takes the verbal abuse and only wishes to be Joe's apprentice. Pip is talking about his rosebud moment. Because Pip was able to go to London he got a good education, and met new loyal friends. However, it made him arrogant and not respectful to the people at home.
"I begged Wemmick, in conclusion, to understand that my help must always be rendered without Herbert's knowledge or suspicion, and that there was no one else in the world with whom I could advise. I wound up by laying my hand upon his shoulder, and saying, " I can't help confiding in you, though I know it must be troublesome for you; but that is your fault, in having ever brought me here." 1. Explain the character development that we see in Pip here. What is he doing and why?
He is being nice with his money. He is helping Herbert become a clerk by giving him money so he can marry Clara. Pip is exemplifying that he realizes that because of Magwitch's generosity he came into his fortune, and he wants to show that generosity and selflessness towards someone else.
"I have not been using a dust pan." "Ah, well, forgive me, . . . "I naturally assumed you were using your dust-pan and had left it out in the hall. I am sorry to have disturbed you."
Miss Kenton and Stevens are talking in this quote. Miss Kenton is trying to be mean to Stevens by saying that all of his dads mistakes are his. She is doing this because Stevens said that ever since she came she has made a bunch of errors.
"Do you realize how much it would have helped me? Why, Mr. Stevens, why, why, why do you always have to pretend?"
Miss Kenton says this quote to Stevens. This is a year after they had to fire the Jewish maids. Stevens at the time acted like they needed to be fired, but he has just informed Miss Kenton that he did not approve of the decision. Therefore, Miss Kenton says why do you always have to pretend. It is significant because he never shows his emotions and if he would just tell Miss kenton how he feels she would accept him.
"In fact, I tended to concern myself with international affairs more than domestic ones. Foreign policy, that is to say."
Stevens says this quotation at the Taylor's house. He is lying to them by saying he is a "Gentleman" when he is really just a butler. He is just saying all of the points he has heard from other people. It is significant because he does not know why he never informs them that he is just a butler. Also, someone recognizes him and knows that he is a Butler-which makes it even more awkward.
"I may as well say here that having reread her letter again tonight, I am inclined to believe I may well have read more into certain of her lines than perhaps was wise."
Stevens says this quotation when he is talking about the letter Miss Kenton sent him. Stevens says this after Miss Kenton has just left him after they saw each other for the last time of their lives. He is stating that he basically heard what he wanted to hear in the letter that Miss Kenton sent him. He dreamed up the letter to mean that she was more interested in him than she really was. Because he blew the letter completely out of proportion it proves that he is not a reliable narrator.
"It has been my privilege to see the best of England, sir, within these very walls."
Stevens says this quote to Faraday before he leaves Darlington Hall for the first time. It is significant because he has seen England based on all of the visitors that came in whom he took care of. However, he has really not seen any of England at all.
"Beyond the shadow of the ship, I watched the water-snakes: They moved in tracks of shining white, And when they reared, the elfish light Fell off in hoary flakes. Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam: and every track Was a flash of golden fire.
The quotation is from Coleridge's "The rime of the Ancient Mariner". The meter is Iambic tetrameter. The significance is that at this point in the poem it takes a dramatic turn. The poem has turned into a Gothic poem, however it is still Romantic (Gothic Romanticism).
"Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
The quotation is from Keats', "Ode on a Grecian Urn". The meter is Iambic pentameter. The significance is the beautiful Urn tells each person a story. Then whatever one takes out of the urn is the is the truth and that truth is beautiful.
"And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies."
The quotation is from Lord Byron's, "She Walks in Beauty". The significance is that there is a paradox that she is both dark and light. She contains the best features of the night and the best features of the day. The best of dark and night is both in her body figure and her eyes. Thus, making her absolutely perfect. The meter is Iambic Tetrameter.
"Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;"
The quotation is from Shelly's, "Ozymandias". The meter is Iambic Pentameter. The significance is that Ozymandias will definitely not be remembered. Therefore, the words of the sculptor are worthless because no one cares about him. Ozymandias was a dictatorial leader and said that his kingdom would last forever. The irony is that all that's left is his statue surrounded by sand and ruins.
"It moves us not. Great God! I'd rather be A pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;"
The quotation is from wordsworth's, "The World is Too Much With Us." The meter is Iambic Pentameter. The significance is that he is saying that he would rather be a pagan (or atheist) than not love nature for its true beauty. The poem is discussing how people do not value nature, but instead take it for granted.
"And let the misty mountain-winds be free To blow against thee: and, in after years, When these wild ecstasies shall be matured Into a sover pleasure; when they mind Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms, Thy memory be as a dwelling-place For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then, If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief, Should be they portion, with what healing thoughts Of tender joy wilt thou remember me, And these my exhortations!"
The quote is from Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" and it is written in iambic pentameter. There are 4 enjambments. The significance is that he can go back and think of all the good times he had with nature when he was young and immediately be "Healed" by the joy he had while enjoying nature. The memories are what can get him through hard times.
"I saw their starved lips in the gloam, with horrid warning gaped wide, And I awoke and found me here, On the cold hill's side."
This quotation is from Keats', "La Belle Dame Sans Merci". The meter is Iambic tetrameter. The significance is describing the characters night after the woman had left and his vision had passed while he was sitting there. He awoke and she was gone, while he was left in the cold. The only thing that kept him warm and alive was her.
"No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine; Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss'd By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;"
This quotation is from Keats', "Ode to Melancholy". The meter is Iambic pentameter. The significance is that Keats is telling the reader not to forget our troubles. He is also saying to not solve your troubles by "twisting Wolf's-bane...for its poisonous wine". The author is telling us life is not worth killing yourself over. The good times are only enjoyable because of how bad the struggles are during the bad times.
"Tis past, that melancholy dream! Nor will I quit thy shore A second time; for still I seem To love thee more and more."
This quotation is from Wordsworth's, "I Travelled Among Unknown Men". The meter is Iambic tetrameter. The significance is that Wordsworth is stating that he loves England so much and that he will never mistake that again.
"While here I stand, not only with the sense Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts That in this moment there is life and food For future years. And so I dare to hope, Though changed, no doubt, from what I was when first"
This quotation is from Wordsworth's, "Tintern Abbey". The meter is Iambic pentameter. The significance is that the speaker is pleased for two reasons at the same time. First, because that view is pretty spectacular in the here and now. Second, because he's already thinking about how, sometime in the future, he's going to look back on the memory of his present experience with enjoyment. Also, the speaker "hopes" that he'll live to look back on this moment with pleasure.
"The rear door of the car opened and my father was observed to be standing there, a few steps back from the vehicle, gazing steadily in the interior."
This quotation is one of the 3 stories that Stevens thinks dignity is all about. This specific quotation is about his dad. His dad made sure that the dunk men respected his house as a whole by not even saying a word. Because Stevens takes so much pride in trying to be dignified like his father, it ultimately leads to him not attending to his father on his death bed.
