What This Document Is
This document presents a set of essay questions for the midterm examination in Baruch College CUNY’s Great Works of Literature I (CMP 2800) course, Spring 2022. It serves as preparation material, prompting students to synthesize course readings and formulate analytical responses.
Why This Document Matters
This document is essential for students enrolled in CMP 2800 preparing for their midterm. It outlines the specific topics and texts upon which their exam performance will be evaluated. Successfully engaging with these questions will demonstrate comprehension of key themes, arguments, and literary techniques explored in the course. It’s designed to help students focus their study efforts and anticipate the expected level of critical thinking.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document *only* provides the questions themselves. It does not offer model answers, detailed outlines, or in-depth analyses of the texts. Students will still need to draw upon their class notes, assigned readings, and independent research to craft complete and compelling essays. This preview does not provide any answers or solutions.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes twelve essay questions covering a range of topics, including:
* Interpretations of Kant’s “What is the Enlightenment?” and its reflection in period literature.
* Analysis of intellectual trends during the period, including the impact of science and philosophy.
* Discussion of satire, specifically focusing on Voltaire’s *Candide*.
* Exploration of social roles of men and women in the period, as depicted in course texts.
* Examination of narrative structure and philosophical challenges in *Candide*.
* Analysis of Voltaire’s use of literary devices and the significance of gardens within *Candide*.
* Discussion of colonialism and slavery in *Candide*.
* Analysis of revolutionary documents like the “US Declaration of Independence”, “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen”, and Olympe de Gouge’s “The Rights of Woman”.
* Examination of the rise of the slave trade and Douglas’s narrative.
* Exploration of Romanticism through the works of Blake and Dickinson.
* Discussion of Realism and its characteristics, exemplified by “The Cherry Orchard”.