Format for English 382 Midterm Exam

Summer 2011
You will type all of your answers on the computer in the JFSB computer lab (B153).
You will have 2 hours to take this 100-point exam, so make sure you keep track of
your time. At the end of the 2 hours, the computer should shut off, although
sometimes this does not happen. However, be advised that I receive a print-out of
how much time you spend on the exam and reserve the right to penalize you if you
go over 2 hours (I dont care if you go over 10 minutes or so, but it is not fair to
the rest of the class to spend an extra 45 minutes). Note: The computer does allow
you to go back or skip ahead on the exam.
You will not be able to use your texts during the exam. All answers are free
response (no lists from which to choose). I do not expect you to memorize lines or
passages from particular works, but you should be able to recognize and identify
such passages. You should also be able to refer to specific passages and discuss
them in some detail.
Section 1 (8 points) is a multiple choice section covering the readings out of the
Bedford Companion book and the Norton introduction (the study guide sections on
Shakespeares life and art, dramatic genres and performance issues, language, and
Shakespeares reading). Each question asks which of the four statements is NOT
true. Each question is worth 1 point. You should move very quickly through this
section.
Section 2 (12 points) is a term/date/quote identification section. All terms are
taken from readings in the Bedford Companion book and the Norton introduction,
and all are referred to on the study guide. I will give you a description or definition
and you will provide the appropriate term or date that matches this
description/definition. There are also several short quotes from the plays; for each
one, you must identify the character who says it. Each question is worth 1 point.
You should move very quickly through this section.
Section 3 (30 points) is a passage identification and discussion section. I will give
you 3 passages from the four plays we have read. All are fairly lengthy passages.
For each passage, you should (1) identify the play from which it is taken and its
context (who is speaking and about what, where in the play the passage is found,
although you dont need to know the specific act and scene by number, and what
the situation is); (2) discuss the thematic meaning (what issues it addresses) and
significance of the passage, both for that particular moment and within the play as
a whole; (3) discuss significant aspects of language/style/imagery exhibited in the
passage. You should be as specific and detailed as possible in your commentary
so that you demonstrate that you fully understand the passage and its larger
significance. You should spend about 45 minutes on this section (15 minutes for
each passage). You should write at least two substantial information-rich
paragraphs on each passage (one on themes and one on language or structure).
Each response is worth 10 points.
Section 4 (50 points) is an essay section. There are two essays, each worth 25
points, and you must write on both topics. All four plays we have studied are

treated in one or both of the essays. Each essay asks you to compare and contrast
two or more of the plays on a particular topic; one of the essays deals with thematic
concerns and one deals with structure and genre. For the thematic question, think
about the themes we have repeatedly addressed in our discussions
(appearance/illusion vs. reality, order vs. disorder, truth and deception, masking and
unmasking, art and imagination) and consider the ways in which they are explored
(both similarly and differently) within the four plays. For the genre question,
consider how these plays fit (or deviate from) the various genres we have treated
(comedy, history, romance) in terms of themes, structure, and language. Your
responses to these two questions should not be broad and generic, but rather
specific and detailed, demonstrating that you have, indeed, read and studied the
plays. You should refer to specific moments, speeches, interactions, events,
characters, and scenes as supportive examples. Remember that the more specific
and detailed you can be in your examples and interpretive commentary, the
better. You should spend about 1 hours on this section (approximately 40 minutes
for each essay). You should write approximately four to six substantial informationrich paragraphs on each prompt. (These essays should be at least twice as long as
your passage discussions.) You should not waste time on extensive introductions
and conclusions (which I expect in a paper, but not in an exam essay); instead,
concentrate on the meat of your essay.
Make sure that you do not spend too much time on the first two sections (the
objective part worth 20 points) so that you have sufficient time to spend on the last
two essay sections, which together are worth 80 points. You should spend about 15
minutes on the first two sections, 45 minutes on the third section, and 1 hours on
the two essays.
If you have read the Bedford Companion chapters, the Norton introduction, and the
plays in their entirety, come to class and participated regularly, and reviewed the
study guide carefully, you should be well prepared for the exam.