Unit 1 Review

Terms and Applications

Terminology of Philosophy

Philosophy—the study of truth in all its various forms

Epistemology—the study of how and what we can truly know

Metaphysics—the study of the fundamental nature of reality and being

Ethics—the study of right and wrong Aesthetics—the study of the nature and

effect of art

Critical Thinking Skills

Metacognition—thinking about thinking; recognizing one’s own thinking patterns and problems

Reflection—taking time rather than making a snap decision; requires effort—integrity rather than expedience (not always the proper way to go)

Reason, logic—rather than emotion; trying to figure out the truly right answer rather than simply what we want; being dispassionate and objective, scientific method

Source evaluation—being able to find and evaluate sources of information

Terminology of Moral Systems

Puritanism—absolute sovereignty of god, total depravity of humans, unconditional election, God’s intentions are present in the world, Satan’s presence in the world—re: The Crucible

Utilitarianism—the greatest good for the greatest number (quality of “good” considered)

Absolute vs. Relative Ethics—applying ethical precepts to all situations or believing that there could be exceptions

Terminology of Moral Systems

Shermer’s Secular Morality The Ask First Principle—ask the affected

person(s) if behavior is moral; the Golden Rule with more emphasis on avoiding harm

The Happiness Principle—always seek happiness with someone else’s happiness in mind; never seek happiness when it leads to someone else’s unhappiness

Terminology of Moral Systems

Shermer’s Secular Morality The Liberty Principle—it is a higher moral

principle to always seek liberty with someone else’s liberty in mind, and never seek liberty when it leads to someone else’s loss of liberty

The Moderation Principle—when innocent people die, extremism in the defense of anything is no virtue, and moderation in the protection of everything is no vice

Terminology of Moral Systems

Four Standards of “Right Action” Obedience to Authority—”do it because I

say so” Effect on Others—consider how an action

helps or harms other people Model of an Ideal Figure—”WWJD,”

“WWMCD,” basing ethical choices on someone you admire

Intention—considering what the motive was rather than merely the result of an action

Literary Terms

Allegory—a narrative containing a surface story that symbolizes a deeper story, such as Animal Farm or The Crucible

Narrative (Literary) Frame—that stands for something else, as a flag symbolizing a country

Realism—a literary movement in which writers represented ordinary people in extraordinary, but real situations, rejecting the fantastic, heroic, mythic, etc. Began in the 19th century

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence “If I’m taught there is a God I’m responsible

to, I know I have to treat people right. But if there’s no creator to answer to, it changes your whole lifestyle. Then it’s just survival of the fittest. That’s where our society is headed. That’s why we have some of the problems we do.”

Elizabeth Proctor, who never lies, lies to save her husband’s reputation, which ruins it

Literature creates a virtual world that we respond to as if it were real.

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence I know it is true because I am at one with

nature “Sleeping on” a difficult decision Considering who tells us a fact before we

decide to believe it The Puritans’ belief in a corporeal devil

belongs to this branch of philosophy Choosing a new car based on gas mileage

and reliability instead of how “cool” it looks

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence The world is a battleground between good

and evil, and God will ultimately defeat Satan Take no actions that hurt others Using a noose to stand for the corrupt use of

power during the Red Scare in The Crucible To know right, seek to know if it hurts others To know right, emulate Buddha The sum of all knowledge is the search for

truth in all its forms

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Refraining from fighting a religious war If Abby had refused to falsely accuse others The first and last sections of Ethan Frome The Earth is a cold, empty ball—we just live

and die Hurricanes are God’s punishment of evil Finish your essay because Mr. Cook said so Finish your essay because Mr. Cook would

finish his

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Choosing to raise taxes only on the rich Choosing to forego the last cookie because

you know your little sister wants it Forgiving your brother for hitting you because

he was only trying to knock a bee off The “red pen poised” could stand for an

English teacher This could be seen as an introduction and

conclusion to a novel, in a way Ethan Frome is about a farmer, not a king

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Portraying John Proctor as an admirable man

who refuses to lie or give in to protect himself Portraying Ethan Frome is weak and passive Ethan agreeing to sled into the tree rather

than facing his problems Proctor facing hanging bravely rather than

whining or complaining about the unfairness of it all

Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Did The Crucible succeed in showing the

effects of mass hysteria on reason and justice?

Who took Zeena to the train station? Why did Ethan decide not to borrow money

from the Hales? Why did Arthur Miller choose the Salem Witch

Trials for his allegory about the Red Scare? It is always wrong to steal. Stealing may be acceptable if it saves a child

from starving.

The Crucible

What events originally start off the witchcraft hysteria?

What rifts existed in Salem that increased the town’s susceptibility to the cries of witchcraft?

How do Abby’s motives change from the first accusation to later in the play?

What is the state of the Proctors’ marriage at the beginning and end of the play? What caused the change?

What are Putnam’s motivations?

The Crucible

What are John Proctor’s conflicts at the beginning and end of the play?

Explain Giles Corey’s character and actions. How is Rebecca Nurse different from the

other people of Salem? What is Parris’s primary motivation

throughout the play? How is Reverend Hale different from the other

believers in witchcraft? How does this affect his actions?

The Crucible

Explain the Puritan metaphysical beliefs that led to the court’s acceptance of the girls’ testimony.

What belief lies at the bottom of Danforth’s refusal to let Proctor get a lawyer?

Why does Elizabeth lie for John? Why are Parris and Danforth so eager for

Proctor to confess at the end of the play? How is Hale’s motivation different from theirs?

The Crucible

Why does Proctor at first decide to confess? Why does he change his mind? Why does Elizabeth refuse to try to change

his mind? Why do you think Arthur Miller saw Proctor’s

final decision as the right action to take? What parallels exist between this play and the

Red Scare of the 1950’s? What can we learn about our society today

from this play?

Ethan Frome

What is Starkfield like, according to the narrator?

How does Ethan Frome act in the opening frame section?

What is the state of Ethan and Zeena’s marriage as the “past” section begins?

What is Zeena’s illness? What attracts Ethan to Mattie? What are Ethan’s plans for his night alone

with Mattie?

Ethan Frome

What happens during their night alone? What news does Zeena bring back from

Bettsbridge? Why can’t Ethan run away with Mattie? Where will Mattie most likely go? What is the first and only time Ethan stands

up to Zeena? What do Ethan and Mattie talk about on their

ride to the train station?

Ethan Frome

Why do they decide to take the final sled ride?

What does the narrator find at Ethan’s house?

What is Ruth Hale’s judgment of life at the Frome’s?

Explain the symbolism of the pickle dish. Explain the simile of the butterfly in winter. In what ways could Ethan be considered a

tragic hero?