N/A — Exam Answers

Read the passage from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman . . . . Rousseau became enamoured of solitude, and, being at the same time an optimist, he labours with uncommon eloquence to prove that man was naturally a solitary animal. Misled by his respect for the goodness of God, who certainly?—for what man of sense and feeling can doubt it!?—gave life only to communicate happiness, he considers evil as positive, and the work of man; not aware that he was exalting one attribute at the expense of another, equally necessary to divine perfection. Reared on a false hypothesis, his arguments in favour of a state of nature are plausible, but unsound. I say unsound; for to assert that a state of nature is preferable to civilization in all its possible perfection, is, in other words, to arraign supreme wisdom; and the paradoxical exclamation, that God has made all things right, and that evil has been introduced by the creature whom he formed, knowing what he formed, is as unphilosophical as impious. What is Wollstonecraft’s purpose in citing Rousseau’s theory?

Which evaluation of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman makes an accurate conclusion about Wollstonecraft’s beliefs and correctly supports it with text evidence?

Read the line from Grendel . I was safe in my tree, and the men who fought were nothing to me, except of course that they talked in something akin to my language, which meant that we were, incredibly, related. This is an example of a

Read the excerpt from Hamlet, Act I, Scene i. Marcellus: What! has this thing appear’d again to-night? Bernardo: I have seen nothing. Marcellus: Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us: Therefore I have entreated him along With us to watch the minutes of this night; What is the effect of this dialogue?

Read the excerpt from Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. What saw thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but waves and winds. Read the excerpt from "Morte d'Arthur” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: "Hast thou perform’d my mission which I gave? What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?” And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag.” How does Tennyson effectively retell King Arthur and Sir Bedivere’s interaction?

Read the excerpt from "Morte d'Arthur" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. On one side lay the Ocean, and on one Lay a great water, and the moon was full. Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: What does the imagery in this excerpt best help readers envision?

Read the excerpt from Queen Elizabeth's Address to the Troops at Tilbury. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects, and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die among you all, to lay down for my God, and for my kingdoms, and for my people, my honour, and my blood, even in the dust. In this excerpt, Queen Elizabeth is attempting to

Read the excerpt from an analysis of Act III of Hamlet . The fight between Hamlet and Gertrude reinforces gender stereotypes, as Hamlet judges Gertrude and she accepts his criticism without attempting to justify her actions. Which excerpt provides the best evidence to support the analysis?

Read the excerpt from Hamlet . Gertrude: O Hamlet! speak no more; Thou turn’st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct. Hamlet: Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stew’d in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty,— Gertrude: O! speak to me no more; These words like daggers enter in mine ears; No more, sweet Hamlet! The excerpt supports the conclusion that Gertrude