IT's More Than Just Rain Or Snow
Quick quiz on Chapter 10 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
What purpose does rain serve within a story?
- A.
Plot device
- B.
Atmospherics
- C.
Symbolic cleansing
- D.
All of the above
Correct Answer
D. All of the aboveExplanation
Rain serves multiple purposes within a story. Firstly, it can be used as a plot device to create conflict or change the course of events. Rain can also be used to set the atmosphere or mood of a scene, adding to the overall tone of the story. Additionally, rain can have symbolic meaning, representing cleansing, renewal, or a fresh start. Therefore, all of the given options - plot device, atmospherics, and symbolic cleansing - are valid purposes for rain within a story.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What does fog most commonly signify?
Correct Answer
confusionExplanation
Fog is often associated with reduced visibility and a sense of disorientation, which can lead to confusion. The thick mist obscures objects and makes it difficult to navigate, causing people to lose their sense of direction and become uncertain about their surroundings. As a result, fog is commonly used as a metaphor for confusion in literature and everyday language.Rate this question:
- 3.
In the ending line of James Joyce's "The Dead" snow falls "upon all the living and the dead." This line employs snow as what?
- A.
The great unifier
- B.
A biblical illusion
- C.
A plot device
- D.
To convey a sense of confusion
Correct Answer
A. The great unifierExplanation
The ending line of James Joyce's "The Dead" uses snow as a symbol of unity, bringing together both the living and the dead. It represents the idea that death is a universal experience that connects all people, regardless of their differences in life. The snow falling on both the living and the dead suggests that in the face of death, all distinctions and divisions become irrelevant, and humanity is united in their mortality.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Which element do authors commonly use ironically?
- A.
Snow
- B.
Rain
- C.
Sleet
- D.
Fog
Correct Answer
B. RainExplanation
Authors commonly use rain ironically in their works. Rain is often associated with sadness, gloom, and melancholy. However, authors may use rain ironically to depict a positive or hopeful outcome amidst difficult circumstances. This contrast between the conventional symbolism of rain and its unexpected usage creates a sense of irony in the narrative.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish" endsI stared and staredand victory filled upthe little rented boat from the pool of bilgewhere oil had spread a rainbowaround the rusted engineto the bailer rusted orange,the sun-cracked thwarts,the oarlocks on their strings,the gunnels--until everythingwas rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!And I let the fish go. What does the end of Bishop's poem signify?
- A.
The unifying effect of weather
- B.
The pact between human, nature, and God.
- C.
Rain will soon fall
- D.
A change in atmospherics
Correct Answer
B. The pact between human, nature, and God.Explanation
The end of Bishop's poem signifies the pact between human, nature, and God. The speaker's act of letting the fish go represents a recognition and acceptance of the interconnectedness of all living beings and a respect for the natural world. By releasing the fish, the speaker acknowledges their role as a steward of the environment and demonstrates a sense of harmony and reverence towards nature and the divine. The use of the word "victory" suggests a sense of triumph in this realization and the fulfillment that comes from embracing this pact.Rate this question:
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- 6.
In what way is identifying weather most helpful to a reader?
- A.
Determine the mood of a story
- B.
Describe setting
- C.
Connections to other stories
- D.
Both A and C
- E.
Both B and A
Correct Answer
D. Both A and CExplanation
Identifying weather is helpful to a reader as it can determine the mood of a story. Weather can create a specific atmosphere and contribute to the overall tone of the narrative. Additionally, weather can also establish connections to other stories, as certain weather conditions may be symbolic or reminiscent of other literary works. Therefore, both options A and C are correct.Rate this question:
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- 7.
A character who walks through a rainstorm and reaches his destination changed has been what?
Correct Answer
symbolically cleansedExplanation
The character walking through a rainstorm and reaching his destination changed suggests a metaphorical transformation or purification. The rainstorm can symbolize a cleansing process, washing away the character's burdens or negative emotions. By reaching his destination, the character has metaphorically arrived at a new state, free from the previous troubles or conflicts. This change can be seen as a symbolic cleansing, representing a fresh start or a release from the past.Rate this question:
- 8.
Which element conveys the greatest misery factor?
- A.
Rain
- B.
Sleet
- C.
Snow
- D.
Fog
Correct Answer
A. RainExplanation
Rain is often associated with gloomy weather and is commonly seen as a symbol of sadness and melancholy. It can make the environment feel cold and damp, which can contribute to a feeling of discomfort and unhappiness. Additionally, rain can also be a hindrance to outdoor activities and can create inconvenience for people, further adding to the sense of misery. Therefore, out of the given options, rain is the element that conveys the greatest misery factor.Rate this question:
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- 9.
One must have a mind of To regard the frost and the boughsOf the pine-trees crusted with snow;And have been cold a long timeTo behold the junipers shagged with ice,The spruces rough in the distant glitterOf the January sun; and not to thinkOf any misery in the sound of the wind,In the sound of a few leaves,Which is the sound of the landFull of the same windThat is blowing in the same bare placeFor the listener, who listens in the snow,And, nothing himself, beholdsNothing that is not there and the nothing that is.In his poem "The Snowman", Wallace Stevens uses snow to indicate what?
- A.
A pact between humans and nature
- B.
A calm mood
- C.
Abstract thoughts concerned with nothingness
- D.
A biblical connection
Correct Answer
C. Abstract thoughts concerned with nothingnessExplanation
In "The Snowman," Wallace Stevens uses snow as a metaphor for nothingness and emptiness. The speaker in the poem observes the winter landscape, focusing on the frost, boughs, and trees covered in snow. The mention of the wind and the sound of leaves emphasizes the absence of any significant meaning or misery in the scene. The poem suggests that true understanding and appreciation come from being able to embrace and contemplate the concept of nothingness, rather than seeking meaning or significance in the external world. Therefore, the correct answer is "Abstract thoughts concerned with nothingness."Rate this question:
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- 10.
"Spring drew on, she was in fact already come; the frosts of winter ceased; its snows were melted, its cutting winds ameliorated." This line from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre demonstrates what?
- A.
A biblical allusion.
- B.
The symbolism of snow.
- C.
Symbolic cleansing
- D.
A change in mood.
Correct Answer
D. A change in mood.Explanation
This line from Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre describes the arrival of spring and the end of winter. It signifies a change in mood as the harshness of winter gives way to the more pleasant and hopeful season of spring. The mention of the frosts of winter ceasing, the snow melting, and the cutting winds being ameliorated all suggest a shift towards a more positive and uplifting atmosphere.Rate this question:
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Mar 17, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Dec 08, 2009Quiz Created by
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