Unit Four Study Guide – 11th Grade

							                                  Unit Four Study Guide – 11th Grade

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain p. 462
1. How does the narrator react to Simon Wheeler's stories?
2. What does Wheeler suggest is the most surprising thing about Jim Smiley's betting?
3. What were Smiley's successes in betting due to?
4. Why does Smiley bet that the parson's wife would not recover from her illness?
5. Why does Smiley train a frog?
6. What does Wheeler seem to think of Jim Smiley?
7. Why does Smiley's frog fail to jump?
Vocabulary words: coerce, garrulous, interminable, dilapidated, enterprising
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte p. 476
8. Why is Mr. Oakhurst banished from Poker Flat?
9. How does Mr. Oakhurst respond to Tom Simson's innocence?
10. How does Uncle Billy endanger the campers?
11. What does the story suggest is most responsible for the change in the Duchess and Mother Shipton?
12. How does the story suggest that Piney and the Duchess die?
13. What is the mood at the end of the story?
14. Who makes the decision to banish Mr. Oakhurst rather than hang him?
15. What is the reaction expressed by Mother Shipton and Uncle Billy to being banished from town?
16. Why does Mr. Oakhurst never drink?
17. What does the story suggest is the major difference between Piney and the Duchess?
Vocabulary words: malevolence, jocular, seclusion, equanimity
“Chief Sekoto Holds Court” by Bessie Head p. 488
18. What does Chief Sekoto believes causes insanity?
19. Why are the villagers of Bodibeng suspicious of Mma-Baloi?
20. Why does Chief Sekoto send for the Bodibeng doctor?
21. Chief Sekoto suggests that the children who died were the victims of what, so they should wear coats?
22. When Chief Sekoto announces his verdict, what attitude does he demonstrate toward the villagers?
23. What can Chief Sekoto tell about Mma-Baloi from her behavior?
Vocabulary: dally, concede
“To Build a Fire” by Jack London p. 498
24. At the beginning of the story, how does the man seem to feel about the cold?
25. What is the relationship between the man and the dog based on?
26. Why does the man continue to travel on this particular day instead of doing what his dog would do?
27. What causes the man's greatest difficulties in starting the last fire?
28. As the man's journey progresses, how does his attitude change toward the old-timer who gave him advice?
29. With what attitude does the man face death at the end of the story?
30. What is the dog's attitude toward the journey?
31. What does an "old-timer" warn the man about his trip?
Vocabulary: apathetically, compel
“I Will Fight No More Forever” by Chief Joseph p. 514
32. What is the tone of this selection?
33. What is Chief Joseph trying say in this selection?
34. Chief Joseph ends his statement with "From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever." What does
             "From where the sun now stands" refer to?
35. In his statement, for what does Chief Joseph express a deep concern?
36. What reason does Chief Joseph suggest for fighting no more?
“Let Us Examine the Facts” by Corn Tassel p. 519
37. What reasons does Corn Tassel give that the white people cannot use "right of conquest" to justify their
             demands?
38. What reason does Corn Tassel give regarding the question of why the Cherokee do not live as the white people?
39. What does Corn Tassel believe is the main goal of the white people?
40. Corn Tassel's statement that "We wish . . . to do as we would be done by" is another way of saying that the
             Cherokee want to what?
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin p. 525
41. At first, how does Mrs. Mallard react to the news of her husband's death?
42. Sitting at the window, what realization does Mrs. Mallard struggle against?
43. What does Mrs. Mallard realize that marriage has taken from her?
44. How do Mrs. Mallard's realizations about her husband's death change her view of her future?
45. In traditional wedding vows, the bride promises to love, honor, obey, and be faithful to her husband. Which
             promise would Mrs. Mallard most likely see a problem with?
46. How do people think Mrs. Mallard feels about discovering that her husband is alive?
47. Why does Mrs. Mallard emerge from her room?
Vocabulary: elusive, repression, persistence
“Douglass” and “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar p. 543
48. What does the speaker say has continued from Douglass's time to the present?
49. What is the tone of "Douglass"?
50. In "Douglass," the extended metaphor compares the efforts of the "we" of the poem to what?
51. From what do the "we" of "We Wear the Mask" hide their feelings?
52. What is the tone of "We Wear the Mask"?
53. What is the mask worn in "We Wear the Mask” used to disguise?
54. According to the speaker of "We Wear the Mask," who knows the true feelings of those who wear the mask?
55. In which poem is the world depicted as a place of great hostility?
“Lucinda Matlock” and “Fiddler Jones” by Edgar Lee Masters p. 547
56. Which line in "Lucinda Matlock" best describes the theme of the poem?
57. How does Lucinda feel about her life?
58. “At ninety-six I had lived enough, that is all” shows that Lucinda feels what about her life?
59. Who are the "sons and daughters" that Lucinda Matlock accuses of being degenerate?
60. How did Lucinda Matlock find relaxation as a married woman?
61. Who does Lucinda Matlock shows scorn for?
62. What does Fiddler Jones suggest a person thinks about when he hears the wind in the corn?
63. Why is Fiddler Jones unsuccessful as a farmer?
64. To Fiddler Jones, "a pillar of dust / Or whirling leaves" is a reminder of what?
65. What does Fiddler Jones suggest that his life was largely controlled by?
66. Is Fiddler Jones happy with the choices he made in his life?
“Richard Cory” and “Miniver Cheevy” by Edwin Arlington Robinson p. 553
67. What is the major contrast in "Richard Cory"?
68. How does Richard Cory's treat the townspeople?
69. What is the townspeople's attitude toward life?
70. The end of the poem reveals that the townspeople's envy of Richard Cory is what?
71. What is the main irony in Richard Cory's death?
72. How does Miniver Cheevy feel about having to deal with modern life?
73. How does the speaker of "Miniver Cheevy" describe Cheevy?
74. What is the cause of Cheevy's unhappiness?
75. What does Miniver Cheevy blame for his problems?