Midterm Exam and its Rubric

ENGL 121: Humanities Literature

Midterm Exam
NOTE: This exam will consist of two parts: an in class part, and a take home part

PART ONE: In-class (100 points)

Section I: Identification and Analysis of Quotations (50 points)

In this section, you are asked to identify five out of eight quotations extracted from texts that
we have read in class so far. Identification of the quotations should include the following:

 Name of the character that said it

 Title of the work from which the quotation is taken
 Name of the author who wrote the work
 Genre of the work
 One paragraph analyzing the quotation, the situation in which it is said, its context, and
its effect on the plot of the text

1. “Speaking indifferently to him,

Who had driven out the cold
And polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
Of love’s austere and lonely offices?”

2. –“ I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,

And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!” –
“My dear – a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain’t ruined,” she said.

3. “Think it no more.
For nature crescent does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but as this temple waxes
The inward service of the mind as soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue if his will, but you must fear,
His greatness weighted, his will is not his own,
For he hismeslf is subject to his birth.”

4. “Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone. When you do become engaged to
someone, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact. An
 Midterm Exam and its Rubric

engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the

case may be. It is hardly a matter that she could be allowed to arrange for herself…. And
now I have a few questions to put to you…”

5. “We didn’t say anything for a time. He was leaning forward with his head turned at me,
his right ear aimed in the direction of the set. Very disconcerting. Now and then his
eyelids drooped and then they snapped open again. Now and then he put his fingers
into his beard and tugged, like he was thinking about something he was hearing on the
television.”

6. “Ha! Ha! Ha! – he! He! He! – a very good joke, indeed – an excellent one. We will have
many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo – he! He! He! – over our wine – he! He! He!”

7. “Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring: - the finger it was
meant for, perhaps, molders in the grave; a banknote sent in swiftest charity: -he whom
it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing;
hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved
calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death.”

8. “And fare thee weel, my only luve,

And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Though it were ten thousand mile.

Section II: Literary Terms Identification (50 points)

Identify five of the following eight literary terms and write one paragraph describing the
characteristics and usage of the term with examples and/or titles of works that contain the
usage of the terms.

1. Simile
2. Epiphany
3. Rhyme
4. Pun
5. Stanza
6. Theater of the Absurd
7. Soliloquy
8. Epilogue and Prologue
 Midterm Exam and its Rubric

PART TWO: Take Home (100 points)

Write a 2-3 page essay on one of the following topics. This will be due by Wednesday, March 5.
Essays should demonstrate a critical and analytical thinking, with at least one question and one
quotation that are relevant to the chosen topic. Please follow MLA Style format, it will count
towards your grade.

1. Several poems that we discussed in class create characters and situations, like in drama.
White an essay in which you describe and analyze the speaker of “The Ruined Maid” by
Thomas Hardy, “They Flee from Me” by Sir Thomas Wyatt, and “Dover Beach” By
Matthew Arnold.

2. How does Pygmalion’s first scene, set in fro not St. Paul’s Church, serve to introduce the
play’s principal theme? How do the setting and the first actions and speeches reflect on
the values of the characters and the differences between men and women, upper and
lower classes? Why does Shaw introduce his heroine as “The Flower Girl”?
 Midterm Exam and its Rubric

ENGL 121: Humanities Literature *= 2 Points

Rubric for Midterm Exam √= 1 Point
× = 0 point

PART ONE: In-class Exam

Section I: Identification and Analysis of Quotations (10 points each, 50 points total)

Quotation One:
______Character name
______Work title
______Author’s name
______Genre
______Analytical paragraph

Quotation Two:
______Character name
______Work title
______Author’s name
______Genre
______Analytical paragraph

Quotation Three:
______Character name
______Work title
______Author’s name
______Genre
______Analytical paragraph

Quotation Four:
______Character name
______Work title
______Author’s name
______Genre
______Analytical paragraph

Quotation Five:
______Character name
______Work title
______Author’s name
______Genre
______Analytical paragraph
 Midterm Exam and its Rubric

*= 1 Point
Section II: Literary Terms Identification (5 points each, 50 points total)
?= Not accurate

Term One: ×= 0 Point

______Definition of the term
______Number of examples
______Accuracy of examples
______Accuracy and details of the descriptive paragraph
______Coverage of information

Term Two:
______Definition of the term
______Number of examples
______Accuracy of examples
______Accuracy and details of the descriptive paragraph
______Coverage of information

Term Three:
______Definition of the term
______Number of examples
______Accuracy of examples
______Accuracy and details of the descriptive paragraph
______Coverage of information

Term Four:
______Definition of the term
______Number of examples
______Accuracy of examples
______Accuracy and details of the descriptive paragraph
______Coverage of information

Term Five:
______Definition of the term
______Number of examples
______Accuracy of examples
______Accuracy and details of the descriptive paragraph
______Coverage of information
 Midterm Exam and its Rubric

*= 8-10 Points
PART TWO: Take Home Exam
√= 6-8 Points
Essay exam (100 points total, 10 points for each following item)
 = 4-6 Points

?= 2-4 Points
______ Presentation
! = 1 Point
______ MLA Format
× = 0 Point
______Language and Style

______ Argument and Critical Analysis

______ Structure of Paper

______ Number of Paragraphs

______ Application of Critical Approaches

______ Probing questions and success at answering them

______ Quotations and their relevance to the topic

______ Coverage of argument