Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Language

Unit 3: Middle English Literature

3.1 General Characteristics of the Period

The Middle English period spans from 1100 to 1500, although some scholars prefer 1150 as the starting point, particularly regarding literature (the final entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is dated to 1154). While 1500 is conventionally used as the closing date, 1547 (the death of Henry VIII) has gained recent traction. The Norman Conquest of 1066 dramatically reshaped English literature and culture during these 400 years. William, the Duke of Normandy's invasion, led to a new French aristocracy, establishing French as the language of the ruling class. While the masses continued speaking English, it was considered uncultivated. However, the influx of French words enriched... Continue reading "Middle English Literature (1100-1500): An Overview" »

Inversion Exercises

Part A

1. A1 Little did Grandad know
   2 Seldom have/had I seen
   3 Down came the rain
   4 Matt did was travel
   5 a podcast I heard that
   6 we’re/are doing is learning
   7 11 got on did I realise
2. 1 1 the markets that are
   2 really amazed me was
   3 was Tom who booked
   4 truth is
   5 I in your position, I’d/would
   6 were standing
   7 no time did Ella feel
3. 1 1 sooner
   2 means
   3 had
   4 It
   5 had
   6 question
4. 1 1 authenticity
   2 immersing
   3 strive for perfection
   4 high season
   5 influenced
   6 contributing factors
   7 ended up
5. 1 1 distorted
   2 picturesque
   3 cancellations
   4 expectancy
   5 learning
   6 disparity
6. 1 1 come up against
   2 put up with
   3 rough it
   4 sent out
   5 keep up with
   6 stand out
   7 fit in
7. 1 1 C
   2 B
   3 A
   4 B
   5 B
8. 1 1 C
   2 B
   3 A
   4 A
   5 C
9. 1 1 F
   2 A
   3 C
   4 E
   5 B

Part

William Wordsworth: “I wandered lonely as a cloud”

He was born in England, 1770. He was a poet who helped to found the Romantic Movement in English Literature. He wrote “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” and worked with Samuel Taylor Coleridge on Lyrical Ballads, 1798. The collection which contained Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey”, introduced romanticism to English poetry. He also showed his affinity for nature through some of his poems and he became England’s poet laureate in 1843, a role that he held until he died in 1850. William Wordsworth visited France in the middle of the French Revolution and was a supporter of the new government and republican ideals. Furthermore, he is considered to belong to the Lake School, the first generation... Continue reading "William Wordsworth: The Romantic Poet and Nature Lover" »

Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall

Understanding Autumn's Stealth

The author describes autumn as a season that passes quickly through the years, acting with a sense of stealth.

Cause and Effect of Falling Leaves

The text explains the process of leaves changing color and falling in autumn through a cause-and-effect chain:

1. Trees pull nutrients back into their trunks and roots.
2. Corky layers of cells form at the petioles and scar over.
3. Undernourished leaves stop producing pigment.
4. Photosynthesis stops.
5. Leaves die and fall off.

The Role of Scientific Diction

The author uses scientific terms like anthocyanin and carotenoids to explain the pigments responsible for the changing colors of leaves. Anthocyanin is a red-violet pigment influenced by temperature and... Continue reading "Exploring the Beauty and Tragedy of Nature and Humanity: A Literary Analysis" »

Essential Driving Knowledge for Road Users

Understanding Intersections

• An intersection is controlled if there are traffic signals or signs in any direction, or if it is controlled by a police officer.
• What does a single solid white line across a road at an intersection mean? It means you must stop behind the line for a traffic signal or sign.

Speed Limits to Observe

• The speed limit in a school zone is 25 mph.
• The speed limit in a business area is 25 mph.
• The speed limit on a highway is typically 50 mph.

Interpreting Pavement Markings

• What does a white diamond-shaped symbol in a lane indicate? It indicates a lane reserved for High-Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) only.
• What do solid lines indicate? A solid line on a motorist's side of the center line means do

*Mrs. Dalloway* by Virginia Woolf: A Stylistic Analysis

Text Type and Character Description

The text is primarily descriptive and narrative. It provides a detailed description of Mrs. Dalloway, encompassing both her *ethopoeia* (psychological description) and *prosopography* (exterior appearance).

Lexical Fields

Several key lexical fields are present:

• Summer: Words like "fresh" and "beach" evoke a summery atmosphere.
• Age: References to being "fifty" indicate the character's stage of life.
• Luxury: Terms such as "diamonds" suggest a life of affluence.
• London: Words like "uproar," "omnibuses," and "vans" paint a vivid picture of the city.
• Imperialism: Mentions of "king" and "war" hint at the broader socio-political context.

Stylistic Features

Synesthesia

10 Oraciones con el verbo to be

Pronombre= I we, you, they he, she, it

Verbo= am Are is

1=I am a teacher student

2=She is beautiful

3=they are my friends

4=we´re al school

5=it is the capital

6=I am married

7=you are in the classroom

8=they are from Costa Rica

9=he is from Honduras

10=she is very happy

Frequency adverbs

Always= siempre usually= generalmente usualmente often= a menudo sometimes= a veces

Never= nunca

1= I always eat take a shower

2= I always dress

1= I usually wash clothes

2= I usually cook

1= I sometimes feed my dog

2= I sometimes practice sports

1= I never dance

2= I never sleep on the bus

Numeros cardinales

1 one 17 seventeen 1st first 17 th seventeenth

2 two 18 eighteen 2 nd second 18 th eighteenth

3 three 19 nineteen 3 rd third 19 th nineteenth

4... Continue reading "English Grammar Practice" »

mood: is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional setting that surrounds the readers. 

shady(it means you find them untrustworthy, suspicious, of questionable intent in their actions, is up to no good.), gloomy (gloomy is dark, depressing or dim) and cheerful (a person or thing that brings joy, humor or good spirits. A bright room that makes people feel happy when they enter)

pov: point of view refers to who is telling or narrating a story 

first person witness (where the story is narrated by one character at a time. This character may be speaking about him or herself or sharing... Continue reading "What is the time of the pet" »

Traveled

When I traveled to Spain to visit my uncles, I remember the flight had a lot of turbulence. At first, when we departed, it was raining but it wasn't heavy until eventually it became heavier. We had been praying by the time the plane started shaking very strongly. Then, as I was tired, I had slept a bit when the pilot told us we had to change planes. He had been flying for two hours and everything was on fire. The pilot said that due to the storm, the engine had been hit very strongly and overheated, so we had to land in Portugal.