Ôn thi Môn Văn học Anh-Mỹ | Đại học Sư phạm Hà Nội 2

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Nội dung chính từng tác phẩm
1. Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare
· Plot Summary: A tragic love story of two young lovers from feuding families in
Verona. Romeo and Juliet's forbidden love leads to a series of
misunderstandings and ultimately their tragic deaths, which reconcile their families.
· Highlights: Themes of love, fate, and conflict; poetic language and use of dramatic
irony; the symbolism of light and darkness.
2. The Daffodils - William Wordsworth
· Content: A lyrical poem describing the beauty of a field of daffodils and their
uplifting effect on the poet’s mind. The daffodils symbolize nature’s power to inspire and heal.
· Highlights: A key example of Romantic poetry; vivid imagery, personification of
nature, and the reflection of personal emotions.
3. The Moon and Sixpence - William Somerset Maugham
· Plot Summary: Inspired by the life of painter Paul Gauguin, the story follows
Charles Strickland, who abandons his family and career to pursue his passion
for art. His life symbolizes the pursuit of artistic freedom and self-expression at great personal cost.
· Highlights: Exploration of art vs. morality; complex characters and philosophical themes.
4. The Escape - William Somerset Maugham
· Plot Summary: A humorous short story about a man trying to escape a marriage
proposal. The story critiques social expectations and relationships.
· Highlights: Satirical tone, witty dialogue, and sharp social commentary.
5. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
· Plot Summary: Dorian Gray, a handsome young man, wishes that his portrait ages
instead of him. As he leads a hedonistic life, the portrait becomes grotesque, reflecting his moral decay.
· Highlights: Themes of vanity, morality, and the duality of human nature; vivid imagery and epigrams.
6. The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde
· Plot Summary: A golden statue of a prince helps the poor through the sacrifices
of a swallow. The story highlights compassion and selflessness.
· Highlights: Rich symbolism, critique of social inequality, and emotional depth.
7. The Last Leaf - O. Henry lOMoAR cPSD| 58950985
· Plot Summary: In a small artists’ colony, an elderly painter sacrifices his life to
inspire hope in a sick young woman by painting a leaf that she believes is her sign of survival.
· Highlights: Themes of hope, sacrifice, and friendship; O. Henry’s signature twist ending.
8. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
· Plot Summary: Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, struggles with a giant marlin
in the Gulf Stream. The story symbolizes human endurance and the struggle against nature.
· Highlights: Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” symbolism of the marlin and the sea,
and the theme of personal triumph in defeat.
9. Hills Like White Elephants - Ernest Hemingway
· Plot Summary: A minimalist conversation between a man and a woman at a train
station, discussing an implied but unnamed issue (commonly interpreted as an abortion).
· Highlights: Subtle dialogue, Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” and the exploration of relationship dynamics.
10. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
· Plot Summary: Set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era, the
novel follows Scarlett O’Hara, a strong-willed Southern belle, as she navigates
love, loss, and survival amidst societal changes.
· Highlights: Epic historical narrative, vivid character development, and themes of
resilience and transformation. Câu hỏi tham khảo Câu 1
1. Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare
· Briefly present the setting of Verona and its role in shaping the feud between
the Montagues and Capulets.
· Analyze the use of light and dark imagery in the balcony scene and its impact
on the lovers’ relationship.
2. The Daffodils - William Wordsworth
· Describe the natural setting of the poem and its influence on the poet’s emotions. lOMoAR cPSD| 58950985
· Discuss how the imagery in the poem reflects Wordsworth’s ideas about the
relationship between nature and memory.
3. The Moon and Sixpence - W. Somerset Maugham
· Analyze how Charles Strickland’s environment influences his journey toward
artistic self-discovery.
· Comment on the significance of Tahiti as a setting for the protagonist’s transformation.
4. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
· Describe Dorian Gray’s luxurious lifestyle and its role in his moral decline.
· Evaluate how the portrait serves as a metaphor for the hidden consequences of Dorian’s actions.
5. The Last Leaf - O. Henry
· Explain the role of the setting in Greenwich Village in emphasizing the story’s
themes of sacrifice and hope.
· Discuss how the painting of the leaf symbolizes resilience and faith in the story.
6. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
· Describe the sea as a setting and its dual role as a source of life and a site of struggle for Santiago.
· Comment on how Santiago’s relationship with the marlin reflects
Hemingway’s themes of pride and endurance.
7. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
· Analyze how the backdrop of the American Civil War influences Scarlett
O’Hara’s character development.
· Discuss the symbolic role of Tara plantation in representing resilience and survival. Câu 2
1. William Somerset Maugham - The Moon and Sixpence
· Name at least 3 other famous works by William Somerset Maugham.
· Comment on the influence of Paul Gauguin’s life on the story of The Moon and Sixpence.
2. Oscar Wilde - The Happy Prince
· Name at least 3 other stories written by Oscar Wilde.
· Comment on how Wilde critiques social inequalities through The Happy Prince. lOMoAR cPSD| 58950985
3. O. Henry - The Last Leaf
· Name at least 3 short stories by O. Henry that highlight his use of surprise endings.
· Comment on the themes of hope and sacrifice in The Last Leaf.
4. Ernest Hemingway - The Old Man and the Sea
· Name at least 3 other major works by Ernest Hemingway.
· Comment on how Hemingway’s personal experiences influenced his portrayal of
resilience in The Old Man and the Sea.
5. Margaret Mitchell - Gone with the Wind
· Name at least 3 characters besides Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.
· Comment on how the American Civil War shaped the lives of the characters in the novel. Câu 3
1. William Wordsworth - The Daffodils
· Choose 3 key images in The Daffodils and explain their symbolic meanings.
· Compare Wordsworth's depiction of nature in The Daffodils with the depiction of
nature in The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.
2. Oscar Wilde - The Picture of Dorian Gray
· Identify 5 symbols in The Picture of Dorian Gray and explain their meanings.
· Compare the symbolism of the portrait in The Picture of Dorian Gray with the
symbolism of the marlin in The Old Man and the Sea.
3. O. Henry - The Last Leaf
· Identify 3 symbols in The Last Leaf and discuss their significance to the story.
· Compare the symbolism of the last leaf in The Last Leaf with the rose in The
Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde.
4. Ernest Hemingway - The Old Man and the Sea
· Choose 5 symbols used by Hemingway in The Old Man and the Sea and explain their symbolic meanings.
· Compare the symbolic meaning of the sea in Hemingway’s novella to the role of
nature in The Daffodils by William Wordsworth.
5. Margaret Mitchell - Gone with the Wind
· Identify 5 symbols in Gone with the Wind and analyze their meanings.
· Compare the use of war as a symbol in Gone with the Wind with the use of personal
sacrifice in The Last Leaf by O. Henry.
1. Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare lOMoAR cPSD| 58950985
· Plot Summary: A tragic love story of two young lovers from feuding families in
Verona. Romeo and Juliet's forbidden love leads to a series of
misunderstandings and ultimately their tragic deaths, which reconcile their families.
· Highlights: Themes of love, fate, and conflict; poetic language and use of dramatic
irony; the symbolism of light and darkness.
2. The Daffodils - William Wordsworth
· Content: A lyrical poem describing the beauty of a field of daffodils and their
uplifting effect on the poet’s mind. The daffodils symbolize nature’s power to inspire and heal.
· Highlights: A key example of Romantic poetry; vivid imagery, personification of
nature, and the reflection of personal emotions.
3. The Moon and Sixpence - William Somerset Maugham
· Plot Summary: Inspired by the life of painter Paul Gauguin, the story follows
Charles Strickland, who abandons his family and career to pursue his passion
for art. His life symbolizes the pursuit of artistic freedom and self-expression at great personal cost.
· Highlights: Exploration of art vs. morality; complex characters and philosophical themes.
4. The Escape - William Somerset Maugham
· Plot Summary: A humorous short story about a man trying to escape a marriage
proposal. The story critiques social expectations and relationships.
· Highlights: Satirical tone, witty dialogue, and sharp social commentary.
5. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
· Plot Summary: Dorian Gray, a handsome young man, wishes that his portrait ages
instead of him. As he leads a hedonistic life, the portrait becomes grotesque, reflecting his moral decay.
· Highlights: Themes of vanity, morality, and the duality of human nature; vivid imagery and epigrams.
6. The Happy Prince - Oscar Wilde
· Plot Summary: A golden statue of a prince helps the poor through the sacrifices
of a swallow. The story highlights compassion and selflessness.
· Highlights: Rich symbolism, critique of social inequality, and emotional depth.
7. The Last Leaf - O. Henry
· Plot Summary: In a small artists’ colony, an elderly painter sacrifices his life to
inspire hope in a sick young woman by painting a leaf that she believes is her sign of survival. lOMoAR cPSD| 58950985
· Highlights: Themes of hope, sacrifice, and friendship; O. Henry’s signature twist ending.
8. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway
· Plot Summary: Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, struggles with a giant marlin
in the Gulf Stream. The story symbolizes human endurance and the struggle against nature.
· Highlights: Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” symbolism of the marlin and the sea,
and the theme of personal triumph in defeat.
9. Hills Like White Elephants - Ernest Hemingway
· Plot Summary: A minimalist conversation between a man and a woman at a train
station, discussing an implied but unnamed issue (commonly interpreted as an abortion).
· Highlights: Subtle dialogue, Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” and the exploration of relationship dynamics.
10. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
· Plot Summary: Set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era, the
novel follows Scarlett O’Hara, a strong-willed Southern belle, as she navigates
love, loss, and survival amidst societal changes.
· Highlights: Epic historical narrative, vivid character development, and themes of
resilience and transformation.