The Ransom of Red Chief

The Ransom of Red Chief

1. What point of view is this story told in, and how do you know?

First person, it was narrated

2. What reason do Bill and Sam have for kidnapping the boy?

They need money from his rich dad for a real estate fraud scheme

3. What is the boy doing when the two men come upon him?

Throwing rocks at a cat

4. Why is it ironic that the boy says that he’s “never had such fun in all my life”?

People do not usually have fun when they are getting kidnapped

5. What is meant by the metaphor that Ebenezer Dorset was “an uptight collection-plate passer and forecloser”?

He doesn't give away his money easy, he is a miser

6. What is one example of allusion in this story? Include the page number.
Pirates of pinzans, ebenezer Scrooge from a Christmas carol, David and Goliath 

7. What is ironic about Mr. Dorset’s counteroffer (the note)?

He is making them pay him to give the kid back

8. What is the central conflict of the story?

The people kidnapping the boy for money end up wanting to give him back but he will not return to his parents. Two kidnappers come across a kid who is very annoying

9. What does Red Chief’s father think of him? 
He is a burden 

10.  What message about parenting and child-rearing is O. Henry trying to express to     readers? Think about what Red Chief’s dad thinks of him, and why Red Chief     doesn’t want to go home.

Clearly the parents are not doing a good job because the boy does not want to go back to his parents.

11.  How does O. Henry incorporate humor into this story?  


Irony, slapstick 

Poetry part II

Reflection Questions on Poetry II

“Ozymandias”

1.  What is the condition of the statue?

it is half sunken into the ground

2.  What is ironic about the boast inscribed on the statue?
it is talking about being indestructible but it is broken

3.  What do you think is the intended meaning of the poem?

you should not boast because it is possible that you can be humiliated. it is very humbling.

“The Second Coming”

4.  What is the tone of the poem?

horror

5. What object does the poem refer to in the second stanza that has “a gaze as blank and as pitiless as the sun”?

the stare of the sphinx

6. What does the allusion to “Bethlehem” in the last line signify?

the devil will come and take the place of God

“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”

7.  What is the tone of the poem?

sad and somber

8. What does the speaker mean when he/she pairs the two opposites, “curse, bless me”?

show some emotion, don't just die

“The World is Too Much With Us”

9.  How does the speaker of the poem suggest we “lay waste our powers”?

getting and spending is what we waste our time on

10.  What powers might that be?

we can control and conquer nature

“My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun”

11.  What is the tone of the poem?

mocking

12.  How does this poem differ from typical love poems?  
he is insulting her, not complementing her

Regret

Reflection Questions on Kate Chopin’s “Regret”

1.     In what ways does the author describe Mamzelle Aurélie at the onset of the story?

 The descriptions provided, indicating her personality, include: her wearing men’s clothes when tending to the farm, ruddy cheeks, and hair in which greys have just started appearing.  Through these details, it is safe to assume that she is not a fragile woman but an independent and determined one.

2.     What is the setting?  What clues help you determine the location of the story?

The setting is, presumably, in the countryside at Mamzelle’s farm. This conclusion could be made through the hints provided in the list of things that surrounded Mamzelle and kept her from being lonely despite not having a husband.

3.     What is meant by a “pleasant odor of pinks in the air”?

Flowers are in the air an her femininity is starting to come in because the kids are there.

4.     What does Mamzelle Aurélie inherit from her neighbor, Odile?

As the young Odile is experiencing family troubles and overall stress, she gives Mamzelle her four children to take care of indefinitely.

5.     An epiphany is a noticeable change in a character over the course of a story.  This change could be mentally, physically, or emotionally.  What change, if any, does Mamzelle Aurélie undergo?

Initially, Mamzelle sees the children’s occupancy of her home as somewhat of a burden and only gives them their necessities with her tough demeanor. As the children continue staying, however, she becomes more gentle and tender towards the children and begins to cater to their needs with happiness.

6.     The story contains the following lines:

She turned into the house. There was much work awaiting her, for the children had left a sad disorder behind them; but she did not at once set about the task of righting it.

Why doesn’t Mamzelle Aurélie set about the task?

Having the children leave with as much warning as they came, none, had shocked Mamzelle. She had become incredibly attached to the children and did not feel motivation to clean up their mess, and therefore acknowledge that they were gone. She wants to keep it as if they are still there.

7.     Who is Ponto?

Ponto is Mamzelle’s dog and possibly what she has been using to fill the void of children throughout the years.

8.     Why does Kate Chopin use the description “She cried like a man” to describe Mamzelle Aurélie actions?

She's reverting back to being masculine.

9.     How do you feel about Mamzelle Aurélie at the end of the story?

It was not necessarily bad that she did not want to when she was able to, she did not feel she needed that in order to be complete. With her strong personality, she intimidated but set to work on what she wanted to do. Being as she did not have the experience of taking care of children before,  she may regret not having them when she could but not the regret of remaining unwed.

10. What do you think the title of the story signifies?

It is not until we experience something completely and suddenly that we realize that it is what was wanted all along.

An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

OCB Questions

1. In Section I, Bierce includes few details about the condemned man and does not reveal the reason why he is being hanged. How does this help create suspense?

This leaves the reader wondering what the man did in order to have the noose around his neck.

2. In what ways are the condemned man's perceptions of time and motion distorted as he is waiting to be hanged? Why are his distorted perceptions important?

He hears the ticking of his watch very loudly and slow like the sound of a blacksmith's anvil. This shows that time is slowing down and he is very aware in the moments before his death.

3. What is a sentinel?

A soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.

4. What is the significance of the man’s perception of his ticking watch?

The significance of this is to show that time is slowing down and and allowing him to process what is about to happen.

5. In Section II, Bierce finally introduces Peyton Farquhar.  Why place this information in the middle of the story, and in a flashback?   How does this authorial decision contribute to suspense and our sympathies toward Farquhar?

This adds suspense to the story since the identity of the man is not given until later. This also causes us to feel bad for him because we find out about his family.

6.  Why was Farquhar captured?  Why did the Federal scout lie?

Farquhar was captured when spying on the troops. The Federal scout lied in order to be able to catch him.

7. What details in Part III suggest that Farquhar's journey occurs in his mind? How is the journey connected with the plan of escape that occurs to him moments before he is hanged?

The details like how he is able to dodge bullets and see far enough to know where the eyes of the shooter are looking show that this is not actually happening. The plan goes exactly as he thought.

8.  What is the ultimate fate of Peyton Farquhar?  About how long did it truly take for the events of the story to unfold?

Peyton Farquhar does die on the bridge. It takes the whole story for him to realize what has happened. It happens over the course of a few seconds.

9. Why is the limited third-person point of view appropriate for this story? How might the story be different if Bierce had used an omniscient third-person narrator?

This adds suspense. If there was an omniscient third-person narrator the surprise would have been given away at the beginning of the story.

10. Were you surprised by the ending?  Why or why not?

Yes I was very surprised because I did think those things were really happening.

A kidnapped Santa Claus

“A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum Reading Questions

1.  Who is the protagonist?  Who is the antagonist?

Santa, the kidnappers (demons)
 

2. What is the conflict?

Santa's getting kidnapped so he cannot give out the Christmas presents
 

3.  What is the setting?

Laughing Valley and demons cave
 

4.  To what genre would you say this story belongs?  Why?

This story is fantasy. Magic
 

5.  What do you notice about Baum’s writing style?  

 Dialogue and simple for kids
 

6.  Who are the Daemons?  How are they labeled?  Why are they named so?

The Daemons are kidnapping Santa. They are labeled envy, malice, selfish, hatred, repentance. They are labeled like this to represent bad things
 

7.  What familiar seasonal elements are used in the story?  What unfamiliar elements are there?

 Santa, snow. Demons, fairies, pixies, ryls.
 

8.  What are some variations of this story that have been retold in the last few years?

 Nightmare before Christmas, The Great Christmas Kidnapping Caper
 

9.  Are there any parts of the story that help to define Santa Claus as a character?  Does he make any tough decisions or risk something valuable?

 Resists temptations of the demons. Forgave the demons.

10.  How does Santa escape the cave?
Repentance releases him
 

The gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi

“The Gift of the Magi” Questions for Critical Reading

Review these questions. Take time to create your responses.

1.  What instances of irony exist in the short story?

The wife cuts her hair and the husband bought her a set of combs her Christmas.

2. Why would O. Henry put an emphasis on the number three for the story?

1. -The story has three main characters: Della, Jim, and Madame Sophronie
2. -Della counts her money three times (para. 1).
3. -The narrator says that “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles” (para. 2).
4. -A reference is made to the Queen of Sheba, who gave King Solomon three types 
of gifts: spices, gold, and jewels.
5. -A sentence in para. 5 states, “She stood by the window and looked out dully at 
a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard.”
6. -The narrator alliteratively describes Della as speaking with “sudden serious 
sweetness.”
7. -The story centers on three valuables: Jim’s gold watch, Della’s hair, and the love 
that Jim and Della share.
1. THis
2. TT      This is an allusion to the three wise men.

3.  Who is the protagonist? Who or what is the antagonist?

The protagonist is Della. The antagonist is poverty.

4. How would the story change if the setting were different? Would this be an effective story if it were set in today’s time?

This story would not be as effective because the values of gifts and of people are not the same as they were a long time ago today.

5. Is there foreshadowing in the story?

When Della talks about how much the husband loves his watch and how much he looks at it, it is clear that the watch will some how disappear.

6. Does the story end the way that you expect? Why or why not?

No, I did not expect their gifts to correlate with what they had given up for eachother.

7. Several passages in the story give subtle clues about Jim. Identify at least three passages that reveal aspects of Jim’s character and explain their significance. 

"Something just a little bit near of worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim."

He says he is called by his full name when he is not home but when he is home he is called Jim. This shows that he is professional.

He looks at his watch a lot so he is diligent and serious.

He sold his favorite watch for Della so that shows that he is loving and caring.

 

8. If Della had had short hair in the beginning of the story, what do you think that she would have done/sold in order to pay for the gold chain? Why do you think so?
Sold her clothes

Della probably would have sold another of her prized possession to show her love for Jim.  

9.  What does the story teach about sacrifice?

The story teaches that sometimes even though you sacrifice something for the one you love, the happiness of the other person can be better.

10.  If you had to teach this story as an example of good literature, what elements would you emphasize to your classes?

Foreshadowing and irony.

A worn path

“A Worn Path”

The Story

After seeing an elderly African American woman striding across the landscape with a strong sense of purpose, Eudora Welty wrote a story exploring the possible motive for this intense journey. “A Worn Path” is that story. Students often asked Welty about the story, and their question was always the same: “Is Phoenix Jackson’s grandson really dead?” Welty took that question as the title for an essay interpreting the story, and she declared that she had always thought of the boy as still alive. Then she added, “The grandson’s plight was real and it made the truth of the story, which is the story of an errand of love carried out. If the child no longer lived, the truth would persist in the ‘wornness’ of the path. But his being dead can’t increase the truth of the story, can’t affect it one way or the other.”

1.In the opening sentence of “A Worn Path,” the narrator describes Phoenix

Jackson as “an old Negro woman.” Later the hunter calls her “Granny,” and the

nurse refers to her as “Aunt Phoenix.” Was the term “Negro” an accepted term of respect in 1941? Are the references to Phoenix as “Granny” and “Aunt” disparaging in any way.

No, negro was not accepted. The terms Granny and Aunt are not nice.

2.Phoenix Jackson lives in the Mississippi countryside near the old Natchez Trace. She knows the world of nature and feels at home in it. The town of Natchez, however, has Christmas lights turned on in the daytime, and the lady who ties Phoenix’s shoe wears perfume that smells like “the red roses in hot summer.” Does Welty contrast the natural wisdom of Phoenix with the artifice of the town?

Yes, Phoenix lives by nature and basically does nothing in an artificial way. Therefore, the fake lights and smells contrast her natural essence.

3.What is the significance of the visual imagery regarding color?

The colors are of a rainbow that lead to the gold at the end which is the medicine for the grandson.

4.Why might Welty have chosen the name “Phoenix” for her character?

"Phoenix" is the name of a mythological bird that catches fire and is rebirthed from its own ashes.

5.How old is Phoenix? What does she mean when she says she did not attend

school because she was “too old at the Surrender”?

The civil war was the surrender that did not allow her to go to school. She is in her 80s or 90s.

6.The grandson has swallowed lye, and such a plight was not uncommon. Do you think that the grandson is alive or dead?  Does either scenario make an impact on the plight of Phoenix Jackson?

I think that the grandson is dead. If this is true, it means that although he is not living, Phoenix still makes the long journey to show her everlasting love for her grandson. 

7.Does Welty’s reading of the story enhance your understanding of it? Do the

comments she makes about the story do so as well?

Yes. I also felt bad for her and compassionate. 
8.  Compare/Contrast Phoenix to Atalanta.  What similarities or differences do you see in the two?
They were both underestimated by people throughout their journey.
They are different because Atalanta was easily distracted by the apple where Phoenix was determined.

1. In Section I, Bierce includes few details about the condemned man and does not reveal the reason why he is being hanged. How does this help create suspense?
2. In what ways are the condemned man's perceptions of time and motion distorted as he is waiting to be hanged? Why are his distorted perceptions important?
3. What is a sentinel?
4. What is the significance of the man’s perception of his ticking watch?
5. In Section II, Bierce finally introduces Peyton Farquhar.  Why place this information in the middle of the story, and in a flashback?   How does this authorial decision contribute to suspense and our sympathies toward Farquhar?
6.  Why was Farquhar captured?  Why did the Federal scout lie? He was a spy. In order to trap him. 
7. What details in Part III suggest that Farquhar's journey occurs in his mind?   The dodging of bullets. How is the journey connected with the plan of escape that occurs to him moments before he is hanged? He was thinking about it before he was hanged. 
8.  What is the ultimate fate of Peyton Farquhar?   About how long did it truly take for the events of the story to unfold? A few seconds. 
9. Why is the limited third-person point of view appropriate for this story? It would ruin the supprise. How might the story be different if Bierce had used an omniscient third-person narrator?   
10. Were you surprised by the ending?  Why or why not? It would have been to good to be true if he got away.