Question One: Analyze the quote, “Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small”. Discuss how this quote may relate to what we find out about Bartleby at the end of the story.

Question Two:  In the text “A Modest Proposal”, the use of humor or otherwise more specifically the use of satire is very significant. Discuss and support why this is, in other words, why did Swift use humor when making a proposal on such a serious topic?

1. “Girls are made of water and boys are made of mud.” How the relationship between Baoyu and other women are affect in the story of the stone？
2. How did  Bartleby, who always said “I prefer not to do,” live before he met his boss in the story.

1. Describe what enlightenment means to you? Use readings to support your answer.

2. In the beginning of “Narrative of the life of Fredrick Douglas” he describes some very gruesome experiences. Choose one and write about the thoughts and the feelings that were running through you when you read it.

1. In the Candide, or Optimism, what means last sentence ” we must cultivate our garden?

2. In the story of stone, what a specific line or phrase shows Bayou’s view of feminism

1.In The Story of The Stone, what are the Baoyu’s enlightenments and how the context shows it?

2. Bartleby only said ” I prefer not to”, why he always said it and is really means “I prefer not to ? How to relate our lives?

Question 1. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass describes the life of the American slaves. The author writes the article in order to fighting for abolitionist movement and freedom of black people. Bartleby, the Scrivener is a story about the people who enjoy freedom in the U.S.  Compare and contrast the freedom of Frederick Douglass and Bartleby, define your own freedom.

Question 2.The Declaration of Sentiments is based on the American Declaration of Independence, the Sentiments demanded equality with men before the law, in education, employment, and the right to vote. The black people demanded equality with other people in the U.S. Both of the authors wrote their works for equal rights and have great influence on the equal rights movement. Which work can cause more influence? How?

1. what does Frederick Douglass effect people in now? And how?

2. Is “I perfer not to do” readly work in today’s life? Why Barleby always said it to other people? Is this a real meaning that he want to show out?

1. If you were Baoyu, you would marry Baochai who you did not love. Would you accept it or not? What would you do?
2. Why does Voltaire mention “Eldorado” in the story? What does this place stand for? Will this place exist in a real world?

1. “Truth becomes fiction when the fiction’s true; Real becomes not-real where the unreal’s real.” What does it mean in “The Story of the Stone” and what problems does it reveal for the story and for the society in that period?
2. In the story “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, Bartleby always said “I prefer not to”. Does the meaning of “prefer not to” real mean what the story show us or it have a deeper meaningful mean and what does it reveal to us?

1. When in the text do you realize that Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”is a satire? Is there a specific line or phrase?

2. In Herman Melville’s Bartleby, the Scrivener, why was Bartleby never reprimanded for his actions? What is it about his catch-phrase (“I would prefer not to”) that keeps him safe from punishment?