Test II: Fall 2003

ID Section: Answer seven of eight for 35 points (5 points each) This section is designed to test whether you have read the works and are sufficiently familiar with them to recognize important themes, ideas, characters, etc. You will need to identify and give the significance of each quotation, character, term, date, etc. You do not need to write more than two sentence on any answer. Be careful--it is easy to spend too much time on this section. As on Test I, remember that you are SUPPOSED to guess; guessing is a good thing, not a bad thing. You should be able to tell the difference among the three main works by their style and by their content. I will not ask any quotation identification questions based on the sonnets, though I may ask about terms, characters, etc.

Short answer section: There will be a 20-point question based on the sonnets and one additional 10-point question. This section is designed to test whether you have paid attention in class. It will ask you to discuss issues, problems, themes, etc. that we discussed in class. You will need to write a short but well-supported paragraph on each question. Be sure to answer the question I ask. Keep your eye on the clock.

Essay is worth 35 points. This section is designed to test whether you understand the material well enough to make connections between works on your own. Remember, since these questions are often interpretive there may be no single RIGHT answer; instead, I am looking for intelligent, well-supported answers that are consistent with the texts and with the historical realities of the eras.

On your test, you will find this essay question.  Prepare it carefully; since you have certain knowledge of the question in advance, there is absolutely no excuse for a second-rate or unsupported answer.

1.  In all three major works (The Faerie Queene, Dr. Faustus, and The Taming of the Shrew),  there is at least one "teacher" and a "pupil."  Identify those figures in each work, and discuss the effectiveness of the education that takes place. What do the works say about the power education has to change people for the better and for the worse?

Essays are not judged by length; they are judged by their effectiveness in answering the question. If you want to get a good grade, give me good, clear insightful thinking supported by effective use of evidence. I do not appreciate BS, and I’ve been around long enough to smell it when it’s in front of me.

General Advice
DO NOT spend an inordinate amount of time on any single section of the test. Each section should take no more than 20 minutes; you should be able to finish the first two sections more quickly than that, if you know the works and the material well.

Cultural History Test:

This test is designed to reward those of you who stayed awake during those boring history lectures I’ve been giving. Seriously, understanding historical context is key to understanding what you are supposed to be getting out of this class. To study for this test, you should review your notes dealing with historical events and cultural context. Review closely the historical background of Henry IV. Review your handouts on humors, the anatomy of the soul, and the Elizabethan idea of order. Review the introductions to the Middle Ages and the Sixteenth Century found in your book. Memorize important dates (I won’t include a lot of these, but there are some pretty obvious key dates). This test can cover any material since the beginning of the semester. The test will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and fill in the blank questions. There is a lot of helpful information on the website--it might be worth your while to look through it.