American Post-War Literature

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Questions and Answers

Who is known for importing the postmodern condition into poetry?

Sylvia Plath

John Berryman

John Ashbery (correct)

Robert Lowell

What is the title of Maya Angelou's poetry collection published in 1971?

Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water for I Die (correct)

The Heart of a Woman

Gather Together in My Name

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

What is the main difference between a novel and a play according to Marjorie Boulton?

A novel is meant to be read, while a play is meant to be performed (correct)

A novel is fiction, while a play is non-fiction

A novel is long, while a play is short

A novel is written in prose, while a play is written in verse

What is the title of Don DeLillo's epic novel published in 1997?

Underworld Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of a tragedy?

The protagonist is overcome by obstacles Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Alice Walker's novel published in 1982?

The Color Purple Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a flaw or weakness that leads to the protagonist's downfall in a tragedy?

Tragic flaw Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe writers like Truman Capote and Tom Wolfe?

New Journalists Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolic meaning of heat and fire in the context of The Crucible?

Passion and intense emotions Signup and view all the answers

What is the contrast between Abigail and Elizabeth's relationships with John Proctor?

Abigail is hot and passionate, while Elizabeth is cold and unforgiving Signup and view all the answers

What does Judge Danforth mean by 'We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment'?

The court is a place of intense pressure and scrutiny Signup and view all the answers

What is the metaphorical significance of the crucible in the play?

A process of transformation and change Signup and view all the answers

What happens to characters in the play as a result of the trials and pressures they face?

They are permanently and physically changed Signup and view all the answers

What is the atmosphere of the court scenes in the play?

Tense, intense, and pressured Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the crucible metaphor in the play?

That characters are transformed by their experiences Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of John Proctor's decision to resist his feelings for Abigail?

It ends their relationship Signup and view all the answers

What was the fear during the Cold War that led to a 'witch-hunt'?

Communism entering American political life Signup and view all the answers

What happened to many innocent people during the 'witch-hunt'?

Their careers were ruined Signup and view all the answers

What is the play that Arthur Miller wrote in 1953?

The Crucible Signup and view all the answers

What was Miller's intention for writing 'The Crucible'?

To warn America of the danger of unfounded mass hysteria Signup and view all the answers

What motivated Miller to write 'The Crucible'?

Man's inhumanity to man Signup and view all the answers

Which character's motivations best reflect Miller's views on 'witch-hunts'?

Giles Corey Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic shown by Proctor, the Nurse, and Giles?

A need to maintain positive virtues under pressure Signup and view all the answers

What was Miller disgusted by during the 1950s?

The spy hysteria and its effect on people's lives Signup and view all the answers

What is the main feature that distinguished Moby-Dick from other sperm whales?

His peculiar snow-white wrinkled forehead Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the whale that is described in the passage?

Moby-Dick Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of Moby-Dick's body that is mentioned in the passage?

It is streaked and spotted with a shrouded hue Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason why Moby-Dick is feared by humans?

His intelligent and malicious nature Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of Moby-Dick's attacks, according to the passage?

Dismembering or death Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of the passage when describing Moby-Dick's nature?

Fearful and intimidated Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of Moby-Dick's intelligent and malicious nature?

That he is capable of deliberate and intentional actions Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's purpose in describing Moby-Dick's physical appearance?

To highlight his unique and intimidating appearance Signup and view all the answers

What is the theme of the initial conversation in the story?

A decorative idea for a room Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of the speaker when talking about young writers?

Sarcastic and dismissive Signup and view all the answers

What is the subject of the 'dreadful poem' mentioned in the story?

A girl who was violated by a beggar without a nose Signup and view all the answers

How does Bertha feel about Miss Fulton at the beginning of the story?

She is bored by her Signup and view all the answers

What does Bertha decide to do after Harry hands her the cigarettes?

She decides to tell Harry about her feelings Signup and view all the answers

What is the strange feeling that Bertha experiences after Harry's conversation with Miss Fulton?

A feeling of desire and intimacy Signup and view all the answers

What does Bertha do after experiencing the strange feeling?

She runs over to the piano Signup and view all the answers

What is the new realization that Bertha has about her husband?

She realizes she loves him in a different way Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

20th-Century American Literature

The most significant post-war poets were Robert Lowell, John Berryman, and Sylvia Plath, who wrote about the anguish and madness of the contemporary world.
John Ashbery was a prominent poet who introduced postmodernism into poetry.
Outstanding black writers of the latter part of the 20th century included Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou.

American Novelists

Novelists of the 20th century polarized between the 'new journalism' represented by Truman Capote and Tom Wolfe, and the postmodern experimentalism of John Barth and Thomas Pynchon.
Writers like Gore Vidal, John Updike, and Philip Roth continued the history of America in fiction.
Don DeLillo's novel "Underworld" (1997) is a spiritual odyssey that contributed to world literature.

Drama

Drama is a three-dimensional art form that requires performance on a stage for its full effect.
A play is a composition in prose or verse that portrays life and character through dialogue and action.
There are many forms of drama, including tragedy, in which the protagonist is overcome by obstacles.

Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick is a novel by Herman Melville that features a white, monstrous toothed whale.
The whale is described as having a peculiar, snow-white, wrinkled forehead, and a high, pyramidical white hump.
The whale's unwonted magnitude, remarkable hue, and deformed lower jaw instill natural terror.

The Crucible

The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller that explores the concept of a crucible, where intense heat and pressure change people mentally, physically, and spiritually.
The play is set during the Salem witch-hunts and reflects the author's concerns about McCarthyism in the 1950s.
The play features a character named Abigail, who has a sense of heat and is likened to a crucible, representing the high temperatures and reactions that take place in a crucible.
The relationship between John and Abigail is hot and passionate, whereas the relationship between John and his wife Elizabeth is cold and distant.

McCarthyism

McCarthyism was a period of exaggerated fear of Communism in the United States during the Cold War.
The Congress set up a committee to investigate anyone sympathetic to Communism, leading to a 'witch-hunt' based on ungrounded fears and suspicion.
Miller wrote The Crucible as a response to the McCarthyism, highlighting the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of standing up for truth.

Miscellaneous

A writer criticized the romanticism of young writers, saying they are too afraid to take risks and need to have the courage to face the consequences of their actions.
A poem about a girl who was violated by a beggar without a nose in a little wood was described as dreadful.
A short story featured a character named Bertha, who desired her husband for the first time in her life, and a mysterious, blind, and smiling presence that whispered to her.

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Description

Quiz about American poets and writers of the 20th century, including Robert Lowell, Sylvia Plath, John Ashbery, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou.