English Exam Overview

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I. Drama: Julius Caesar (Acts III, IV & V) - William Shakespeare Act III: Caesar's assassination by conspirators led by Brutus and Cassius. Mark Antony's manipulative funeral oration turns the Roman populace against the conspirators, forcing them to flee. Act IV: The formation of the Second Triumvirate (Antony, Octavius, Lepidus) and their proscriptions. Brutus and Cassius quarrel over strategy and honor, later reconciling. Brutus sees Caesar's ghost, foreshadowing his defeat. Act V: The decisive battle at Philippi. Cassius, misunderstanding events, orders his death. Brutus's forces are defeated, and he commits suicide, believing it more honorable than capture. Antony and Octavius, recognizing Brutus's noble intentions, give him an honorable burial. II. Treasure Chest: Prose (Short Stories) 1. With the Photographer – Stephen Leacock Summary: A humorous account of a man's frustrating experience at a photographer's studio. The photographer, obsessed with artistic perfection, makes numerous bizarre demands and criticisms about the customer's face, forcing him to endure a prolonged, uncomfortable sitting, only to produce a highly altered and "improved" portrait that barely resembles him. The story satirizes the vanity of artists and the absurdity of social conventions. 2. The Elevator – William Sleator Summary: Martin, a timid and overweight boy, moves into a new apartment building with an old, creepy elevator. He develops an intense fear of the elevator, especially of a strange, obese woman who sometimes rides it with him, silently staring. His father dismisses his fears as irrational. The tension escalates as the woman's presence becomes more menacing and the elevator malfunctions, trapping Martin in a terrifying psychological and possibly supernatural ordeal. 3. The Girl Who Can – Ama Ata Aidoo Summary: Told from the perspective of a young Ghanaian girl named Adjoa, who is proud of her unusually long and strong legs. Her grandmother criticizes her legs as being too thin and unfeminine, fearing they will hinder her ability to marry and have children. Adjoa's mother, however, encourages her to embrace her uniqueness. The story explores themes of self-acceptance, cultural beauty standards, and the generational clash between tradition and modern perspective. 4. The Pedestrian – Ray Bradbury Summary: Set in a dystopian future in 2053, where society is completely dominated by television and technology. Leonard Mead is the only person who enjoys walking outdoors at night. He is stopped by an autonomous police car (the only one left, as crime is non-existent due to societal control). The car questions his unusual behavior and, finding no logical reason for his solitary walks and lack of engagement with technology, deems him regressive and sends him to a "Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies." The story critiques conformity and the dehumanizing effects of technology. 5. The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet Summary: Set during the Franco-Prussian War, the story is narrated by a young Alsatian boy named Franz, who dreads his French lesson. On this particular day, he learns that it is M. Hamel's (his teacher's) last French lesson, as an order from Berlin dictates that only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The impending loss of their language makes Franz and the villagers realize its value, evoking a deep sense of regret and patriotism. M. Hamel, with great dignity, imparts his final lesson, emphasizing the importance of preserving one's language as a key to freedom. II. Treasure Chest: Poetry 1. Haunted Houses – H.W. Longfellow Summary: The poem explores the idea that houses, even after their inhabitants are gone, retain the "spirits" or memories of those who lived there. The speaker suggests that these spirits are not malevolent but rather "gentle" and "melancholy," still present in the silent rooms, observing the living. It reflects on the lingering presence of the past and the emotional resonance of places, suggesting that death does not entirely erase human connection to the physical world. 2. The Glove and the Lions – Leigh Hunt Summary: A King and his court watch a fight between lions. A countess, in a display of vanity and to test her lover, De Lorge, deliberately drops her glove into the arena. De Lorge retrieves it bravely, but instead of returning it to her, he throws it in her face, shaming her for her cruel and thoughtless act. He then leaves her, teaching her a lesson about true love and courage versus superficial flirtation and pride. 3. When Great Trees Fall – Maya Angelou Summary: The poem reflects on the profound impact and deep sorrow felt when significant individuals ("great trees") die. Angelou compares the passing of such people to natural phenomena – earthquakes, mountains crumbling – emphasizing the widespread disturbance and lasting void they leave. She suggests that the world itself is altered, and it takes time for the "survivors" to understand the new landscape and process the immense loss, highlighting the enduring legacy of powerful figures. 4. A Considerable Speck – Robert Frost Summary: The speaker observes a tiny speck, which he initially assumes is dust, moving across his writing paper. Upon closer inspection, he realizes it's a living mite. He marvels at its smallness and its apparent ability to think and choose its path, despite its minuscule size. The poem uses this observation to reflect on the nature of intelligence, agency, and the wonder found in the smallest forms of life, contrasting the mite's "mind" with the often mindless masses of humanity. 5. The Power of Music – Sukumar Ray Summary: This is a humorous nonsense poem about the absurd effects of music, particularly when played by an incompetent musician. The "great singer" Gobardhan's terrible singing causes chaos: eggs hatch prematurely, milk curdles, and everyone around him suffers physical discomfort. The poem playfully exaggerates the "power" of bad music to disrupt the natural order and drive people to distraction, highlighting the subjective and sometimes destructive nature of artistic expression.