Forms of Literature: Nonfiction

Test One

Essay questions. Answer one question for each of three authors.

1. Montaigne
A. In "Of the Inconsistency of Our Actions," what are the main points and how does he illustrate them?

B. Explain how the story of the horse riding accident relates to the main point in "Of Practice."

C. Explain how the reflections on writing about the self pertain to the rest of  "Of Practice."

2. Thoreau
A. Discuss either "My House" or "Where I Lived and What I Lived For" in terms of the philosophy of life that Thoreau espouses in it.

B. Discuss Thoreau's use of surface vs. depth imagery.

3. Orwell
A. Discuss how the narrator presents himself in either "A Hanging" or "Shooting An Elephant."

B. Discuss "Shooting An Elephant" in terms of its statements about imperialism.

C. Explain the political messages of "Some Thoughts On the Common Toad." How does Orwell go about addressing them in the essay?

4. White
A. In "Once More To The Lake," explain the relevance of the last sentence to the rest of the essay.  How does White prepare for this epiphany?

B. Discuss the theatrical imagery in "Death of A Pig."  How does it relate to the narrator's "scheme" and his reason for writing the essay?

5. Woolf
A. Explain the significance of the moth in "Death of The Moth." What lessons does Woolf draw from its ordeal?

B. Discuss the alternation between observation and imagination in "The Moment: A Summer's Night."