English midterm

Question 1

Antigone

Answer 1

The protagonist of Antigone, she defies Creon’s decree by burying her brother Polyneices, embodying resistance, familial duty, and moral conviction. Her actions challenge state power and demonstrate unwavering devotion to divine law. She is the tragic hero, whose hamartia (stubbornness and pride) leads to her downfall.

Question 2

Ismene

Answer 2

Antigone’s sister who initially refuses to help but later offers to share her punishment. She represents caution and submission, highlighting the contrast between obedience and rebellion in the play.

Question 3

Creon

Answer 3

The ruler of Thebes in Antigone, Creon’s hubris and rigid adherence to law result in tragedy. He prioritizes order over justice, leading to his downfall as his refusal to listen to reason causes personal and societal destruction.

Question 4

Eteocles

Answer 4

One of Antigone’s brothers, who fought for Thebes and was granted an honorable burial. His death in the civil war against Polyneices sets the conflict in motion and raises questions about power and favoritism.

Question 5

Polyneices

Answer 5

Antigone’s brother, labeled a traitor and denied burial by Creon. His body becomes a political tool in the struggle between state law and divine law, sparking Antigone’s defiant actions.

Question 6

Haemon

Answer 6

Creon’s son and Antigone’s fiancé, Haemon pleads for Antigone’s life and ultimately dies by suicide after her death. His role highlights the generational conflict and the personal cost of Creon’s authoritarian rule.

Question 7

Teiresias

Answer 7

The blind prophet who warns Creon of divine punishment for his actions. Though physically blind, he ‘sees’ the truth, symbolizing wisdom and the ignored voice of reason in the play.

Question 8

the Chorus

Answer 8

A group of Theban elders who comment on events and offer philosophical insights. They serve as a moral barometer, mediating between the audience and the unfolding drama, reflecting societal norms and concerns.

Question 9

Cordelia

Answer 9

The protagonist of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, a young private investigator determined to uncover the truth about Mark Callender’s death. She challenges gender norms and the expectations placed on her profession, proving herself capable in a male-dominated field.

Question 10

Bernie Pryde

Answer 10

Cordelia’s mentor, whose apparent suicide triggers her investigation. He represents a past generation of detectives and leaves behind a legacy that Cordelia must navigate as she forges her own path.

Question 11

Mark Callender

Answer 11

The young man whose death is central to An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. His apparent suicide masks a deeper mystery, and his past actions, relationships, and hidden truths unfold as Cordelia investigates.

Question 12

Ronald Callender

Answer 12

Mark’s father, a controlling and emotionally detached scientist whose behavior and decisions contribute to his son’s tragic fate. His cold rationality and secrecy contrast with Cordelia’s pursuit of truth.

Question 13

Dr. Gladwin

Answer 13

A forensic pathologist who provides critical insights into Mark’s case. His expertise plays a key role in uncovering details that challenge the initial assumptions about Mark’s death.

Question 14

Miss Markland

Answer 14

A housekeeper who provides key insights into Mark’s life. Her observations offer valuable details about the household dynamics and the events leading up to Mark’s death.

Question 15

Miss Leaming

Answer 15

A supportive figure to Cordelia, offering guidance and assistance in her investigation. She represents a steady, rational presence in contrast to the turmoil surrounding the case.

Question 16

Gary Webber

Answer 16

A suspect in Mark’s case, representing potential corruption and ulterior motives. His involvement in the investigation adds layers of intrigue and deception.

Question 17

extended metaphor

Answer 17

A sustained comparison used throughout a text. In Antigone, the ‘ship of state’ metaphor represents governance. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia’s investigation serves as an extended metaphor for defying gender roles.

Question 18

Aristotle’s definition of tragedy

Answer 18

A serious drama involving a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, leading to catharsis. Antigone follows this structure, while An Unsuitable Job for a Woman modernizes tragedy through detective fiction.

Question 19

hubris

Answer 19

Excessive pride leading to downfall. Creon’s hubris results in tragedy. In An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Ronald Callender’s arrogance blinds him to his moral failings.

Question 20

rhetoric

Answer 20

Persuasive speech. Creon and Antigone use rhetoric to justify their actions. Cordelia employs investigative rhetoric to uncover truth.

Question 21

anagnorisis

Answer 21

The moment of recognition in tragedy. Creon’s comes too late, as does Cordelia’s realization of Mark’s true fate.

Question 22

pathos

Answer 22

Emotional appeal in literature. Antigone evokes sorrow for its doomed characters, while An Unsuitable Job for a Woman elicits sympathy for Mark’s unjust death.

Question 23

dramatic irony

Answer 23

When the audience knows more than the characters. Present in both texts—Antigone’s fate is sealed, and Cordelia’s discoveries are anticipated.

Question 24

paradox

Answer 24

A seemingly contradictory statement. Antigone’s punishment for an honorable act and Cordelia’s role in a male profession are paradoxical.

Question 25

hamartia

Answer 25

A tragic flaw leading to downfall. Creon’s rigidity and Ronald Callender’s neglect serve as examples.

Question 26

catharsis

Answer 26

Emotional purification. *Antigone* provides it through tragedy, while *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman* does through resolution of mystery.

Question 27

the ship of state

Answer 27

A political metaphor in *Antigone*, comparing Thebes to a ship. Governance and control are central in both texts.

Question 28

filial duty

Answer 28

Responsibility to family. Antigone and Mark Callender both suffer due to family obligations.

Question 29

Destiny / Fate

Answer 29

Preordained events. Antigone’s fate is tragic, while Cordelia’s investigation follows a path of uncovering destiny.

Question 30

yielding

Answer 30

A theme in *Antigone*, where Creon’s refusal to yield causes tragedy. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, Cordelia’s persistence contrasts with those who submit to power.

Question 31

mortality

Answer 31

Both texts explore death—through tragedy in *Antigone* and murder in *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*.

Question 32

method(s) of punishment

Answer 32

In *Antigone*, Creon condemns Antigone to be entombed alive, a cruel and symbolic punishment that represents isolation and suppression. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, punishment is more psychological, as Mark Callender suffers under his father’s cold authority. Both texts explore how punishment can be unjust and driven by power rather than fairness.

Question 33

spectacle

Answer 33

In *Antigone*, spectacle is a key element of tragedy, especially in the dramatic suicides of Antigone, Haemon, and Eurydice. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, Cordelia’s discovery of Mark’s death and her investigation create a spectacle of their own, exposing hidden truths.

Question 34

a chamber (stone or bridal?)

Answer 34

In *Antigone*, Antigone is entombed in a stone chamber, which also serves as her 'bridal chamber' in death. This reflects Sophoclean tragedy’s blend of love, death, and fate. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, Mark’s secret room, his father's lab, and the isolated cottage all serve as metaphorical chambers that hold secrets and hidden fates.

Question 35

the gods

Answer 35

The divine plays a critical role in *Antigone*, where religious duty to the gods conflicts with Creon’s law. Antigone believes in the supremacy of divine law. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, there is no direct reference to gods, but Cordelia’s pursuit of truth can be seen as an almost sacred duty, echoing Antigone’s devotion.

Question 36

civil war

Answer 36

The conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices sparks Thebes' civil war, reflecting the destructiveness of power struggles. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, the 'civil war' is more personal—a conflict between father and son that ends in Mark Callender’s death.

Question 37

birds of prey

Answer 37

Teiresias warns Creon that birds of prey are feeding on Polyneices’ unburied body, symbolizing divine anger. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, the natural world also reveals truth—Cordelia’s observations, much like those of Teiresias, help uncover hidden corruption.

Question 38

sight and blindness

Answer 38

In *Antigone*, literal and metaphorical blindness are crucial themes—Teiresias, though blind, sees the truth, while Creon refuses to 'see' until it is too late. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, Cordelia acts as the seer, uncovering truths others are blind to, paralleling Teiresias.

Question 39

blood types

Answer 39

Blood plays a symbolic role in both texts. In *Antigone*, familial bloodlines dictate fate, as Antigone’s lineage curses her to tragedy. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, forensic blood analysis is key to solving Mark’s murder, making blood a literal clue to the truth.

Question 40

a prayer book

Answer 40

Religious faith is central to *Antigone*, where divine law takes precedence. In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, a prayer book might symbolize moral introspection, something Ronald Callender notably lacks.

Question 41

a Renaissance oil painting

Answer 41

A reference in *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, it represents art, history, and hidden meanings—much like the layers of deception Cordelia peels away. In *Antigone*, art is not explicitly referenced, but tragedy itself is a dramatic form with deep artistic heritage.

Question 42

a gardener’s cottage

Answer 42

In *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, the gardener’s cottage serves as a key location holding secrets about Mark’s death. In *Antigone*, no literal cottage exists, but the idea of a secluded place where truth is buried connects both texts.

Question 43

a gun

Answer 43

A modern instrument of power and death in *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, reflecting how violence is hidden beneath civility. In *Antigone*, weapons are less central, but power still results in tragic deaths.

Question 44

a lipstick

Answer 44

An object of femininity in *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman*, symbolizing Cordelia’s navigation of a male-dominated world. In *Antigone*, there is no direct equivalent, but Antigone’s femininity is a critical part of her defiance and tragedy.