Review of Literature

9th-11th grade

9th grade literature

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee• Other: – American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang– 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

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's– Romeo– Benvolio– Lady M– Montague

• Capulet’s– 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

• Jeannette Walls

Key Facts

• Published: 2005• Genre: Memoir

– 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

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