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Flashcards: Connotation and Implication
Adapted from Notes from the Underground (1864) in White Nights and Other Stories by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1919, trans. Garnett)
"Ha! ha! ha! But you know there is no such thing as choice in reality, say what you like," you will interpose with a chuckle. "Science has succeeded in so far analyzing man that we know already that choice and what is called freedom of will is nothing else than—"
Stay, gentlemen, I meant to begin with that myself. I confess, I was rather frightened. I was just going to say that the devil only knows what choice depends on, and that perhaps that was a very good thing, but I remembered the teaching of science . . . and pulled myself up. And here you have begun upon it. Indeed, if there really is some day discovered a formula for all our desires and caprices—that is, an explanation of what they depend upon, by what laws they arise, how they develop, what they are aiming at in one case and in another and so on, that is a real mathematical formula—then, most likely, man will at once cease to feel desire, indeed, he will be certain to. For who would want to choose by rule? Besides, he will at once be transformed from a human being into an organ-stop or something of the sort; for what is a man without desires, without free will and without choice, if not a stop in an organ? What do you think? Let us reckon the chances—can such a thing happen or not?
"H'm!" you decide. "Our choice is usually mistaken from a false view of our advantage. We sometimes choose absolute nonsense because in our foolishness we see in that nonsense the easiest means for attaining a supposed advantage. But when all that is explained and worked out on paper (which is perfectly possible, for it is contemptible and senseless to suppose that some laws of nature man will never understand), then certainly so-called desires will no longer exist. For if a desire should come into conflict with reason we shall then reason and not desire, because it will be impossible retaining our reason to be SENSELESS in our desires, and in that way knowingly act against reason and desire to injure ourselves. And as all choice and reasoning can be really calculated—because there will some day be discovered the laws of our so-called free will—so, joking apart, there may one day be something like a table constructed of them, so that we really shall choose in accordance with it. If, for instance, some day they calculate and prove to me that I made a long nose at someone because I could not help making a long nose at him and that I had to do it in that particular way, what FREEDOM is left me, especially if I am a learned man and have taken my degree somewhere? Then I should be able to calculate my whole life for thirty years beforehand. In short, if this could be arranged there would be nothing left for us to do; anyway, we should have to understand that. And, in fact, we ought unwearyingly to repeat to ourselves that at such and such a time and in such and such circumstances nature does not ask our leave; that we have got to take her as she is and not fashion her to suit our fancy, and if we really aspire to formulas and tables of rules, and well, even . . . to the chemical retort, there's no help for it, we must accept the retort too, or else it will be accepted without our consent. . . ."
What was the effect of science on the speaker?
It was a source of consolation.
It confirmed his hypothesis.
It overcame his bias.
It gave him articulate reasons for his position.
It made him question everything.
All AP English Literature Resources
The Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition course is one of two classes that focus on English and provide qualified students experience with college-level English composition courses. Also called AP English Literature and Composition, this class is the equivalent of a first-year college English literature and composition course and when complete, can give students college credit for the equivalent course. Whether you need top English tutors in Orlando, English tutors in Memphis, or top English tutors in Phoenix, working with a pro may take your studies to the next level.
If you’re preparing for your AP English Literature and Composition test, there are a range of study aids that you can use to better understand the concepts and topics in the course, before you sit down to take the test. One of these is a set of AP English Literature flashcards from Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools. They differ from traditional flashcards in that they are available online. There are more than 400 flashcards that focus on a variety of topics contained in the AP English Literature and Composition curriculum. Some of those subjects include interpreting passages, interpreting words and excerpts, and passage content.
Whether you’re looking for a study aid to help you understand the topics you’re exploring in class or just wanting to prepare for an upcoming exam, you’ll find that these are fairly easy to use. Choose a topic and click your first card – you’ll likely see a passage to analyze, or answer a question about. Some, like passages from William Shakespeare, may ask you to identify how the speaker characterizes himself. Others may ask you to determine what is being compared or contrasted within a passage. No matter the content of the flashcard, you’ll have multiple answers to choose from, and you’ll get instant feedback on whether you chose the correct answer or not. You’ll also get an explanation of why the answer is correct. These cards can be useful in reinforcing your understanding of specific topics; they may even help you strengthen your composition skills, as you gain knowledge about the various topics. Varsity Tutors offers resources like free AP English Literature Diagnostic Tests to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an AP English Literature tutor.
These free online Flashcards are a great option when you want flexibility in your test review options. You can skip cards where you feel you have a grasp on the topic, you can revisit flashcards you’ve already answered, and you can even use the flashcard creator to create your own personalized flashcards, if you can’t find what you want in the pre-made Flashcard sets. The various questions contained on the AP English Literature flashcards are very similar to what you’ll see on the AP English Literature and Composition exam, but they are not the exact questions. You can sit and review a handful of cards, or hundreds of flashcards, whatever you choose, because these cards are available online, free of charge, accessible when you have an Internet connection. In addition to the AP English Literature Flashcards and AP English Literature tutoring, you may also want to consider taking some of our AP English Literature Diagnostic Tests.
If you find that you like the Learning Tools Flashcards, there are several other study aids for AP English review that can supplement your in-class work and flashcard use. Learning Tools also include an interactive syllabus, called Learn by Concept, a Question of the Day series that focuses on a single aspect of AP English Literature per day, Full-Length Practice Tests, and smaller topic-focused Practice Tests as well. All of these are available with an account through Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools.
Our AP English Literature flashcards each contain one question that might appear on the AP English Literature exam. You can use them to get a comprehensive overview of each topic covered on the AP English Literature exam one problem at a time, or to do problem drills that focus on particular problem types or content areas found on the AP English Literature exam.
