Early American Literature Unit 1 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What key factor hindered the emergence of distinctly American literature?

Dependence on English literature.

Who were the two leading figures of the Great Awakening?

George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards.

What was the main motive behind the early migrations to New England?

Religion.

What subject matter dominated literature after the establishment of the colonies?

Religion. Signup and view all the answers

In Mary Rowlandson's account, what notable aspect did her narrative reflect about the colonial attitude towards Indians?

It portrayed the attitudes of other colonists towards the Indians. Signup and view all the answers

What principle advocated by Roger Williams has influenced religious and political discourse?

Separation of church and state. Signup and view all the answers

In 'Upon the Burning of Our House,' what does Anne Bradstreet cite to justify her belief in God's justice?

All her goods belong to God. Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the father of the American Dream?

Jonathan Edwards. Signup and view all the answers

What three principles of religion did Benjamin Franklin accept according to his autobiography?

The soul is immortal, crime will be punished or virtue rewarded, and God exists as the creator of the world. Signup and view all the answers

Which virtue did Benjamin Franklin add due to his Quaker friend's suggestion?

Humility. Signup and view all the answers

What was Thomas Paine's reaction to the king, as stated in his writings?

He viewed the king as a common murderer, highwayman, and housebreaker. Signup and view all the answers

What did major romantic writers strive for in their literature?

They pursued universal themes and forms. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main theme of 'Rip Van Winkle' concerning Rip's character?

Rip's primary fault was his distaste for profitable labor. Signup and view all the answers

What religious beliefs are central to transcendentalism?

Belief in a universal being oversoul and that communicating with nature equates to communicating with the Divine. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Civil War influence American literary trends?

It discouraged Romanticism. Signup and view all the answers

What symbolizes man's original sin in Hawthorne's 'The Birthmark'?

Georgina's birthmark symbolizes man's original sin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the irony in Lincoln's statement regarding the memory of his speech?

Despite claiming it would be forgotten, his speech became one of the most famous oratories in American history. Signup and view all the answers

Who was known as the master of the macabre in American literature?

Edgar Allan Poe. Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Unit 1: Early American Literature

Distinct American literature emerged after dependence on English literature.
Key figures of the Great Awakening were George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards.
Early American literature's primary purpose was instruction.
The initial migrations to New England were primarily driven by religious motivations.
Early colonial authors primarily wrote about their hardships.
After initial establishment, religion became a dominant subject in literature.
Captain Smith's capture unexpectedly led to Native American provision and friendship with the colonists.
Smith's "A Description of New England" encouraged English converts to convert Native Americans.
John Winthrop's journal focused on God's guidance of the colonists.
Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative represented the period by illustrating colonial attitudes towards Native Americans, reliance on the Bible during hardship, and the dangers of colonial life.

Unit 2: Colonial American Literature

Roger Williams's belief in the separation of church and state remains influential.
Anne Bradstreet used poetry to express her understanding of God's work in her life.
In "The Author to Her Book," Bradstreet compared her poetry to a child, and expressed some embarrassment about her work.
In "Upon the Burning of Our House," Bradstreet justified God's actions by accepting all her possessions belong to Him.
Edward Taylor exemplified how appearance can create great poetry.
Edward Taylor's "God's Determination" emphasizes God's plan for redemption and spiritual growth.
In "Upon a Spider Catching a Fly," Taylor used a spider to represent Satan's power.
Jonathan Edwards addressed the distinction between genuine and false religious experiences during revivals.

Unit 3: The Revolutionary Period

Benjamin Franklin was known as the "father of the American Dream."
Franklin's religious principles included: the soul's immortality, divine justice, and God's existence.
Franklin added humility to his list of virtues after a Quaker friend pointed it out.
Patrick Henry famously said "Give me Liberty or give me Death."
Thomas Paine was a prominent political pamphleteer who united the colonists for independence.
Paine's writing was prompted by colonial defeats in early battles.
Paine held highly negative views of the King, calling him a common murderer, highwayman, and housebreaker.
Thomas Jefferson believed the individual was more important than the community and forward-thinking was more valuable than tradition. Authority comes from the people to elected officials.

Unit 4: American Romanticism

Romantic writers aimed for universal themes and forms in their literature.
Romantics believed improving man involved removing negative influences from society.
Romantics viewed God's understanding through nature.
The publication of Darwin's "Origin of Species" increased attacks against the Bible.
Secularism entered the national consciousness by 1776.
The New England School of poets focused on poems and long narratives.
Rip Van Winkle's key flaw was his dislike of work.
Rip Van Winkle was a sympathetic, round character.
Dame Van Winkle was an unsympathetic, flat character.
William Bryant's poetry combined classic form with romantic content.
Harriet Wadsworth Longfellow was a prominent professor-poet, writing epics about America's past, and achieving national popularity.
John Greenleaf Whittier was a major voice in the fight against slavery.

Unit 5: Transcendentalism and Beyond

Transcendentalism emphasized a belief in a universal being, communication with nature as communication with the Divine.
Henry Thoreau's central idea in "Walden" was to simplify life.
Walt Whitman's style was influential, extended Emerson's ideas, and championed freedom in content and style, strongly impacting American poetry.
Whitman proclaimed himself the National Poet of the United States.
In "The Birthmark," the birthmark symbolizes sin.
Herman Melville's writing was realistic, with a focus on ambiguity and symbols, strongly influenced by his seafaring experiences.
Ahab was Melville's most well-known character.
In "O Captain! My Captain!," the ship represents the nation and the Captain is Abraham Lincoln.
Edgar Allan Poe was known as the master of the macabre.

Unit 6: The Post-Civil War Era

The Civil War discouraged Romanticism.
Post-Civil War literature focused on issues of progress and industry.
With religion's declining authority, Darwinism rose.
Lincoln's effectiveness in speaking and writing came from his simple, clear, and accurate style.
Lincoln was a Republican.
Lincoln's humility in his famous speech contrasts with the speech's lasting fame.
Ambrose Bierce's fiction reflected the mental and physical horrors of the world.
Bierce was a key figure in the development of black humor.

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Test your knowledge on Early American Literature, focusing on distinct American themes that emerged post-independence from English literature. Explore key figures like Jonathan Edwards and the themes of religion, hardship, and Native American interactions presented in foundational texts of the colonial period.