Review of Literature 9th-12th grade

Works Reviewed: Of Mice and Men To Kill a Mockingbird Lord of the Flies Romeo and Juliet The Great Gatsby Fahrenheit 451 A Raisin in the Sun The Glass Castle A Prayer for Owen Meany Brave New World Hamlet

9th grade literature Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Other: The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men Author: John Steinbeck Setting: 1930s, South of Soledad, California Narrator: 3rd person omniscient Symbols: George and Lennie’s Farm: American Dream; land and independence Rabbits: Innocence Candy’s Dog: Quality of life; acts of mercy and kindness

Important Characters in OMM Lennie Smalls: huge man; migrant worker; mild mental disability; doesn’t understand his own strength; dependent on George; innocent; hopeful George: small in size; defined features; migrant worker; intelligent; caregiver to Lennie; shares the dream with Lennie, but gets frustrated with him

Other characters in OMM Candy: old swamper; dog is his companion Curley: boss’s son; mean spirited, jealous, untrusting of his wife Curley’s wife: attractive, red dress, flirtatious, source of trouble, dreams of being a movie star

Themes in OMM Broken Plans/dreams The American Dream Male Friendship Weakness vs. Strength The portrayal of women Loneliness

Literary Element Review To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Element Review

Notes Author: Harper Lee Point of View: First-person; Scout Finch Setting: Time: 1930’s Maycomb, Alabama Mood: lighthearted, humorous, reflective Atmosphere: Great Depression Small town discrimination

Theme The Coexistence of Good and Evil Mrs. Dubose Aunt Alexandra Boo Radley Walter Cunningham Senior Jury

Theme The Importance of Moral Education Atticus – seeing from other’s perspectives; equality; nonviolence Miss Maudie –respect for all people Calpurnia

Theme The Existence of Social Inequality Tom Robinson’s trial Finches – Cunninghams – Ewells – Black community

Theme The Destruction of Innocence Miss Maudie Mayella Tom Robinson Jem Scout

Theme Courage is doing what is right even when the odds of succeeding are poor Mrs. Dubose beating her addiction Atticus with the trial

Theme Prejudice and superstition leading to injustice Tom being found guilty when innocent Boo Radley

Symbols in TKAM Mockingbirds: innocence/loss of innocence

10th grade literature Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Lord of the Flies by William Golding Other: After the First Death by Robert Cormier Antigone by Sophocles Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Romeo and Juliet Author: William Shakespeare Play/Drama/Tragedy Setting: 1500s; Verona, Italy; Two children from feuding families fall in love

Important Characters Romeo: Impulsive; Impetuous; quick to fall in love; emotional; fails to think things through meaningfully Juliet: 13 years old; initially obedient and bending to her parents’ will; grows to be willful, independent; quick to fall in love

Other characters Montague Capulet Romeo Benvolio Lady M Juliet Parents Tybalt Nurse

Themes Young Love Fate Haste/Impulsivity Decisions

Conflicts Man vs. Man: Montagues vs. Capulets Man vs. Man: Romeo vs. Tybalt

Lord of the Flies Author: William Golding Point of View: 3rd person omniscient Setting: 1940s during a fictional war; deserted island; a group of British school boys are evacuated during war and crash onto an island; left to fend for themselves Allegory (metaphorical)

Important Characters Ralph: Leader, goodness, organization, order Jack: Hunter, evil, chaos, disorder Simon: Christ Figure; spirituality; philosophy Piggy: Intelligence, logic, unaccepted

Conflict Man vs. Man: Ralph vs. Jack Man vs. Man: Jack vs. Piggy Man vs. Man: Boys vs. Simon

Themes The inherent (naturally occurring) evil in mankind Good vs. evil Leadership Survival Community vs. Individuality

11th grade literature The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Great Gatsby Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald Point of View: First Person and third person (Nick Caraway) Setting: 1920s; prohibition; Long Island/NYC East Egg: Old money (Daisy and Tom) West Egg: New money (Gatsby and Nick)

Characters Nick Caraway Jay Gatsby Tom Buchanan Daisy Buchanan Myrtle Wilson George Wilson Jordan Baker

Themes The decline of the American Dream The emptiness of the upper class

Symbols The green light Valley of ashes The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg

The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls

Key Facts Published: 2005 Genre: Memoir Setting: Autobiographical: true; written about oneself Brief snapshot of a particular time period in a person’s life Still has “literary” qualities (strong imagery, symbolism, plot, characters, conflicts, etc.) Setting: Time: 1957-2005 Places: Nevada, Arizona, California, West Virginia, and New York Circumstances: a young girl tells her story of growing up in a dysfunctional family

Key Facts Many of the characters are real people that are still alive today. Jeanette Walls: Protagonist Her Parents: Rex and Rose Mary Walls: Antagonists Siblings: Lori, Brian, and Maureen Walls

Themes Hardship Family Dynamics Loyalty Fearlessness Shame Lost Dreams

Fahrenheit 451 Title: Fahrenheit 451 Date of Publication: 1953 (short story “The Fireman” 1951) Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction Setting: Futuristic society 24th Century Two atomic wars since 1990 Unspecified City

Characters Guy Montag Clarisse McClellan Mildred Motag Captain Beatty Professor Faber Granger Mrs. Phelps Mrs. Bowles Stoneman and Black

Symbols “The Hearth and the Salamander” “The Sieve and the Sand” The Phoenix

Themes Censorship Technology Knowledge vs. Ignorance

A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry Setting: 19402-50s; Southside of Chicago The Youngers, a working-class black family, struggle against economic hardship and racial prejudice.

Themes The value and purpose of dreams The need to fight racial discrimination The importance of family

Characters Mama Walter Lee Younger Ruth Beneatha Travis Jospeh Asagai George Murchison Karl Lindner Willy Harris Bobo Mrs. Johnson

Symbols Mama’s Plant Beneatha’s hair

Speak Author: Laurie Halse Anderson Point of View: first person (Melinda tells the story; diary-like; reveals her inner thoughts) Structure: 4 marking periods of Melinda’s freshman year; change of seasons Setting: Modern (Late 90s) Syracuse, NY at Merryweather High School

Characters Melinda Her parents Rachel Andy Evans/”It”/Andy Beast Mr. Freeman Heather Mr. Neck Ivy

Themes Communication Personal Growth Overcoming Painful Experiences Artistic or Personal Expression Violence against women/Agression Fear Depression

Conflicts Man vs. Man: Melinda vs. Andy Evans Man vs. Self: Melinda vs. Self

Symbolism Seasons: Personal changes Fall: Dying/turning inward/Losing oneself Winter: Death/frozen/isolation/desolation Spring: healing/rebirth Tree: Growth; life; overcoming pain Art Tree in her yard=pruning=healing

A Prayer for Owen Meany By John Irving

Key Facts Date of Publication: 1989 Genre: Bildungsroman Circular Narrative: Starts by telling you the resolution; story is about HOW things happen rather than WHAT happens. Setting: Gravesend, NH in 1952-68; Toronto, Canada in 1987

Author’s Style Influenced by Dickens; Lengthy, vivid description Well-developed, memorable characters Sentimental, heartbreaking, comical

Characters Owen Meany: Christ figure, anti-hero Strong impact on John mature, witty, smart, faithful, rebellious, outspoken, believes in God’s plan, accepts his fate

Characters Johnny Wheelwright: Narrator Missing finger Quest for self-understanding Defines himself through his friendship with Owen Quiet, curious, doubtful

Characters Tabby Wheelwright: Johnny’s Mom; killed by Owen with baseball; talented, beautiful, mysterious Dan Needham: Johnny’s father figure; legally adopts him after Tabby’s death Reverend Lewis Merrill: Johnny’s biological father; cowardly, doubtful, disappointing

Characters Hester Eastman: Johnny’s cousin; Owen’s love interest; superstar; unloved; abrasive, overtly sexual, selfish, rude, stubborn Harriet Wheelwright: Johnny’s grandma; “WASPY”; rigid, but becomes more open-minded after Tabby’s death; dignified

Symbols/Motifs Armless Figures (Motif) Dressmaker’s Dummy Mary Magdalene Armadillo SIGNIFICANCE: fate; life is out of your hands and in God’s hands

Themes Fate Friendship Faith vs. Doubt

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley Genre: Dystopian Fiction Published: 1932 Setting: future (2540); England; Savage Reservation in NM

Characters Bernard Marx Hemholtz Watson John (Savage) Lenina Crowne Linda (John’s mother) Director of Hatchery and Conditioning World Controller, Mustapha Mond

Symbols The bottle: conditioning; social predestination Soma: control; promotion of happiness

Themes: The incompatibility of truth and happiness Use of technology to control society Government Control

The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison Genre: Bildungsroman; African American Literature Published: 1965 Setting: 1930s; Lorraine, OH

Characters Pecola Breedlove Claudia MacTeer Frieda MacTeer Mrs. Breedlove (Pauline or Polly) Cholly Breedlove Mr. Henry Soaphead Church

Symbols/Motifs Seasons Blue Eyes Dick and Jane Narrative Houses Marigolds/Seeds

Themes White Standards of Beauty Sexual Initiation and Abuse Loss of Innocence

The Catcher in the Rye By J.D. Salinger Published: 1951 (1945-46 as a short story) Genre: Bildungsroman Setting: December, late 1940s; Pency Prep and NYC

Characters Holden Caulfield Ackley Stradlater Jane Gallagher Phobe Allie DB Sally Hayes Mr. Spencer Mr. Antolini

Symbols Red Hat Catcher in the Rye Museum Ducks in Central Park

Themes Alienation as Self-Protection Painfulness of Growing Up Phoniness of the Adult World

Hamlet Written between 1599-1602 Genre: tragedy Elements of tragedy (classical and Shakespearean): noble characters tragic hero: a basically good or noble person with a tragic flaw (HAMARTIA) who makes a bad decision which leads to his/her downfall. goal: JUSTICE; to evoke terror and pity in the audience

Setting Time: Late medieval period (imprecise date…1300’s) Place: Denmark; Elsinore Castle Circumstances: Prince Hamlet returns home from school after his father King Hamlet’s death (Lion King-esque)

Characters Hamlet Claudius Gertrude Polonius Laertes Ophelia Horatio Fortinbras Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Themes Revenge The health of the state/moral legitimacy of the ruler Action vs. Inaction Death****************************************************