English 9 Final Exam Study Guide

Short Stories

“The Most Dangerous Game”

1. Describe the two main characters.
2. Summarize the central conflict in the story.
3. In 3-4 details, describe the rising action.
4. State the climax of the story, and what impact it had on the plot.
5. In 3-4 details, describe the steps leading up to the resolution.
6. Why is this story a good illustration of plot?
7. What role does suspense play in the story?
8. What are context clues?
9. Define antecedents and give examples of common pronouns that antecedents may describe.
10. List 3 new vocabulary words you learned from the story, and define each.

“The Cask of Amontillado”

1. Describe the two main characters.
2. Summarize the central conflict in the story.
3. In 3-4 details, describe the rising action.
4. State the climax of the story, and what impact it had on the plot.
5. In 3-4 details, describe the steps leading up to the resolution.
6. Why is this story a good illustration of setting?
7. What role does mood play in the story?
8. What is the reading strategy of breaking down confusing sentences?
9. Define common & proper nouns and give examples of each.
10. List 3 new vocabulary words you learned from the story, and define each.

“The Necklace”
1. Describe the two main characters.
2. Summarize the central conflict in the story.
3. In 3-4 details, describe the rising action.
4. State the climax of the story, and what impact it had on the plot.
5. In 3-4 details, describe the steps leading up to the resolution.
6. Why is this story a good illustration of theme?
7. What role does irony play in the story?
8. What is the reading strategy of drawing conclusions?
9. Define appositive phrase and give 3 examples of appositive phrases from the story.
10. List 3 new vocabulary words you learned from the story, and define each.

English 9 Final Exam Study Guide

Perseus

1. Why did Acrisius refuse to kill his daughter?

2. Who visited Danae in her chamber? In what form was he?
3. Who was Perseus?
4. What did Acrisius do to make sure that his grandson would not kill him?
5. Who discovered Danae and Perseus? What did he do with them?
6. Why did Polydectes want to kill Perseus? What was his plan?
7. What happened to anyone who laid eyes on Medusa?
8. What was Hermes' plan to find the way to the nymphs of the North?
9. What did Hermes give to Perseus? Why was it special?
10. What did Athena give Perseus? How would it help him?
11. What gifts did the Hyperboreans give to Perseus?
12. What did the 3 Gorgons look like? Why could Perseus only kill Medusa?
13. Why was Andromeda being punished? What was her punishment?
14. What did Perseus do to the great snake? Why?
15. What happened when Perseus entered the banquet?
16. What became of Acrisius?
17. Who kept Medusa's head? What did she do with it?

English 9 Final Exam Study Guide

Epic

The Odyssey, Part 1: The Adventures of Odysseus

“Sailing from Troy” & “The Lotus-Eaters”

1. What is your first impression of Odysseus? Which of his qualities do you admire?
2. Describe the events on Ismarus.
3. What can be learned from the defeat of Odysseus and his men at Ismarus?
4. Where is Odysseus’ home? What significant role does his home play in Odysseus’ epic journey?
5. How do Calypso and Circe keep Odysseus from reaching home? What were Odysseus’ feelings when he
was with Calypso and Circe?
6. What happens to the men who eat the Lotus?
7. What does this episode suggest about the main problem that Odysseus has with his men?
8. What do you think about the way Odysseus responds to the three men who long to stay with the Lotus-
Eaters?
9. In what ways is the world of the Odyssey similar to today’s world? In what ways is it different?
10. Do you admire Odysseus? Why or why not?

“The Cyclops” & “The Land of the Dead”

1. What do you think of Odysseus’ plan for escaping from Polyphemus?
2. Before the meeting with the Cyclops, what had Odysseus received from Maron at Ismarus?
3. What does the encounter with Maron reveal about the ancient Greek attitudes regarding hospitality?
4. How do Odysseus and his companions expect to be treated by the Cyclops? What laws of behavior and
attitude does Polyphemus violate in his treatment of the Greeks?
5. How do Odysseus and his crew ultimately escape from the Cyclops? Which positive and negative
character traits does Odysseus demonstrate in his adventure with the Cyclops?
6. Whom does Odysseus encounter in the Land of the Dead?
7. Which character trait does Odysseus display in the Land of the Dead that he did not reveal earlier?
8. What difficulties does Tiresias predict for the journey to come?
9. Why would Odysseus continue, despite the grim prophecies?
10. Based on Tiresias’ prediction, which heroic qualities will Odysseus need to rely upon as he continues
his journey? Explain.

“The Sirens”, “Scylla and Charybdis”, & “The Cattle of the Sun God”
1. In which adventure in this section does Odysseus act most heroically? Explain.
2. How do the Sirens lure travelers to their destruction?
3. How does the danger posed by the Sirens compare to that posed by the Lotus-Eaters?
4. What are Scylla and Charybdis, and why do they pose dangers for travelers?
5. Why does Odysseus choose to sail toward Scylla rather than Charybdis?
6. Was Odysseus right not to tell his men about his decision to sail toward Scylla?
7. What would have happened if Odysseus had told them everything?
8. What does Eurylochus say to persuade Odysseus’ men to slaughter and eat the cattle of Helios, the sun
god?
9. Why is Odysseus unable to keep his men from killing the cattle?
10. Do the members of the crew deserve the punishment they receive for killing the cattle?
Part 1 Overview
1. Define an epic hero and give examples of why Odysseus is often considered one.
2. List heroic and moral qualities of Odysseus.
3. Based on Odysseus’ actions, which values did the ancient Greeks admire?
4. In which of the adventures does Odysseus come into conflict with forces of nature?
5. In which of the adventures does Odysseus come into conflict with mental or emotional forces?
6. Why are these tales a good illustration of conflict?
7. Which character traits help Odysseus to be victorious in most of his conflicts?
8. How do you correctly use like, as, and as if?
9. Define reading in sentences and describe why this is helpful when reading a story written in verse.
10. List 4 new vocabulary words from myths you learned from the story, and define each.

English 9 Final Exam Study Guide

Drama

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act I

1. In the introduction of any story, we meet the characters, discuss the plot, and identify the central
conflict. Explain how Act I illustrates a standard exposition.
2. If you were Romeo or Juliet, would you pursue a relationship? Explain.
3. Based on Act I, what facts do you know about Romeo’s and Juliet’s lives?
4. How are these characters’ personalities alike and different?
5. What information about the two households is presented in the Prologue? What poetic form is the
prologue written?
6. How do the comments of Montague and Benvolio in Act I help you to understand the character of
Romeo?
7. What threats to Romeo and Juliet’s love already exist in Act I?
8. Define a round character and a flat character, and give examples of each.
9. What is a dramatic foil? Give an example.
10. When do you use a nominative case pronoun or an objective case pronoun?

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act II

1. In the rising action of any story, we set the stage for the events leading up to the climax. Explain how
Act II illustrates rising action.
2. Do you think Friar Lawrence is wise to agree to marry Romeo and Juliet? Explain.
3. Where do Romeo and Juliet first mutually declare their love for each other?
4. What weakness in Romeo does the Friar point out before agreeing to help? How do the Friar’s motives
differ from the couple’s own motives?
5. For whom does Juliet wait in Scene v?
6. What tragic events to come are foreshadowed in Act II?
7. Why do you think the balcony scene is one of the most famous in all of literature?
8. Define blank verse, and give examples of who would use it and why.
9. Define character rank.
10. Give examples of how the possessive case of personal pronouns should be used.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act III

1. In the climax of any story, we reach the high point of action or suspense. Explain how Act III illustrates
a climax.
2. Why do Mercutio and Tybalt fight in Scene I? What does Mercutio mean by his dying exclamation, “A
plague on both your houses!”?
3. How and why does Romeo kill Tybalt? What does Romeo mean when he says, “I am fortune’s fool!”
4. What punishment does the prince order for Romeo?
5. What is a soliloquy? Give an example of a passage.
6. What is an aside? Give an example of a passage.
7. What is a monologue? Give an example of a passage.
8. What is an allusion?
9. What is paraphrasing?
10. How do you correctly use the pronouns who and whom?

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act IV

1. In the falling action of any story, we begin to see events take shape that will lead up to the resolution.
Explain how Act I illustrates falling action.
2. Do you think it is appropriate for a religious person like the Friar to deceive people with the hope of
positive outcomes?
3. What event are Paris and Juliet discussing at the beginning of Act IV?
4. How do their feelings about the event differ?
5. What is the Friar’s plan for Juliet? Why do you think she trusts the Friar?
6. What three fears does Juliet reveal in her soliloquy in Scene iii?
7. How has Juliet changed during the play?
8. Define dramatic irony, and give an example from the text.
9. Define suspense, and give an example of a passage.
10. When do you use the comparative degree of an adjective? When do you use the superlative degree of
an adjective?

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Act V

1. In the resolution of any story, we tie up loose ends and bring some sort of closure to the story. Explain
how Act I illustrates a standard resolution.
2. What role does cause and effect play in this tragedy?
3. In Scene I, what news causes Romeo to exclaim, “ Then I defy you, starts”? How are Romeo’s words
consistent with what you know of his character?
4. Identify at least three events that cause the Friar’s scheme to fail.
5. Which is most to blame for the lovers’ deaths- chance, the lovers themselves, or their families? Explain.
6. How do you think events would have turned out if the apothecary had refused to sell poison to Romeo?
What other unique actions in the chain of events, if avoided, could have changed the play’s outcome?
7. How does the relationship of the feuding families change at the end of the play? Were Romeo and
Juliet’s deaths necessary for the feud to end?
8. In what ways does Shakespeare’s play provide a valuable lesson about the destructive effects of hatred?
9. Define tragedy.
10. What are examples of indefinite pronouns?
 English 9 Final Exam Study Guide
Poetry

Irony and Tone

Define Irony & Tone, and give 2 examples of specific poems that illustrate each.

Symbolism
Define Symbolism, and give 3 examples of specific poems that illustrate symbolism.

Imagery
Define Imagery, and give 5 examples of specific poems that illustrate imagery.

Narrative and Dramatic Poetry

Define Narrative & Dramatic poetry, and give 3 examples of specific poems that illustrate each.

Lyric Poetry
Define Lyric poetry, and give 6 examples of specific poems that illustrate lyric poetry.

Sonnets and Haiku

Define Sonnets & Haiku, and give 2 examples of specific poems that illustrate each.

Poetic Terms
Alliteration
Assonance
Couplet
Extended Metaphor
Figurative Language
Free Verse
Iamb
Metaphor
Meter
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Rhyme
Rhyme Scheme
Simile
Stanza