Questions and Answers
Who is known as the Poet of the American Revolution?
Which poet represents Neoclassical Thought?
Philip Freneau
What poem in this section is a satire on false religions?
'The Smooth Divine' (Timothy Dwight)
What poem criticizes new preachers and their style of preaching?
Signup and view all the answers
What poem epitomizes the idea that the Puritan God of wrath is being replaced by a gentler God?
Signup and view all the answers
What lines begin with 'There smiled the smooth Divine, unused to wound'?
Signup and view all the answers
What lines describe 'His Christ and Bible placed at good remove'?
Signup and view all the answers
What lines state, 'Twas best, he said, mankind should cease to sin'?
Signup and view all the answers
What lines mention 'Yet from their churches saw his brethren driven'?
Signup and view all the answers
What lines express, 'Let fools,' he cried, 'starve on, while prudent I'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the Neoclassic Period also known as?
Signup and view all the answers
The literary period which emphasized clarity, plainness, rationalism, and didactism?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the Neoclassical Era/Neoclassic Period emphasize?
Signup and view all the answers
The literary era in which there was a shift from the Puritan God of the Bible and a focus on man and his mind?
Signup and view all the answers
What are other names for the Neoclassical Era? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
What did the writers of the Neoclassical Era place above theology?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the writers of the Neoclassical Era place above authority?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the writers of the Neoclassical Era place above faith?
Signup and view all the answers
What belief did the writers of the Neoclassical Era emphasize?
Signup and view all the answers
In the Neoclassical belief that science is above theology, where did the writers believe that proof of God can be found?
Signup and view all the answers
According to the Neoclassical belief that reason is more important than faith, what kind of God did the Neoclassical writers write of?
Signup and view all the answers
Did the Neoclassics view God as the Puritans did?
Signup and view all the answers
List the 6 literary characteristics of the Neoclassical Era.
Signup and view all the answers
The 4 genres of the Neoclassical Era?
Signup and view all the answers
Name two poets of the Neoclassical Era.
Signup and view all the answers
Who was known as the epitome of Neoclassicism?
Signup and view all the answers
Was Benjamin Franklin a deist?
Signup and view all the answers
According to class notes, how do we know Benjamin Franklin was not a deist?
Signup and view all the answers
The belief that teaches that reason can discover all truth, that the world is progressing, and that man is perfectible?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the false religion that developed from rationalism? (Select all that apply)
Signup and view all the answers
From what false belief was the religion of deism developed?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was the American known as the epitome of Neoclassicism?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two works written by Benjamin Franklin that are presented in this class?
Signup and view all the answers
The Way to Wealth, by Benjamin Franklin, was the preface to which work?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the author of The Way to Wealth?
Signup and view all the answers
What was Poor Richard's Almanac renamed in 1748?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote Letters from an American Farmer?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the THEME of Letters from an American Farmer (Letter III)?
Signup and view all the answers
According to Letters from an American Farmer, how is the new man rewarded?
Signup and view all the answers
What do the following lines from Letters of an American Farmer talk about? 'Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world.'
Signup and view all the answers
What does de Crevecoeur focus on in his work 'What is an American?' from Letters from an American Farmer?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was the second American woman to publish a book of poems?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote the poem 'On Being Brought from Africa to America'?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote 'A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months'?
Signup and view all the answers
THEME of 'On Being Brought from Africa to America'?
Signup and view all the answers
Name two Neoclassical Poets.
Signup and view all the answers
The tone/mood of the child in 'A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months'?
Signup and view all the answers
The tone/mood of the parents in 'A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months'?
Signup and view all the answers
The tone/mood of the poet in 'A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months'?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the poet turn the reader's attention to in the following lines of 'A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months'?
Signup and view all the answers
A formal and sustained poem meditating on the death of a particular person or of man in general?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was known as the 'Poet of the American Revolution'?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote the poem 'The Wild Honey Suckle'?
Signup and view all the answers
THEME of 'The Wild Honey Suckle'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the theme expressed in the lines 'Thus quietly thy summer goes, Thy days declining to repose.'?
Signup and view all the answers
What do the lines 'Smit with those charms, that must decay, I grieve to see your future doom' suggest?
Signup and view all the answers
What do the lines 'Unpitying frosts, and Autumn's power, Shall leave no vestige of this flower.' indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is expressed in the following lines: 'If nothing once, you nothing lose, For when you die you are the same; The space between is but an hour, The frail duration of a flower.'?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was the grandson of Jonathan Edwards and wrote Triumph of Infidelity?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote 'The Smooth Divine'?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Neoclassical Era Overview
- Also known as the Early National Period, Enlightenment, Age of Reason, or Age of Science.
- Emphasized clarity, plainness, rationalism, and didacticism in literature.
Key Beliefs of the Neoclassical Era
- Priored science over theology, skepticism over authority, and reason over faith.
- Rationalism was a dominant belief, asserting that reason could uncover all truth and that humanity was reasonable and perfectible.
- Writers transitioned from a Puritan view of God to a focus on a gentler, philosophical interpretation of God, finding proof of God in nature.
Literary Characteristics
- Notable traits include clarity, rationality, progress, the perfectibility of man and institutions, efficacy of reason, beneficence of God, and patriotism.
- The period produced four main genres: political essays, scientific writing, poetry, and the developing novel.
Prominent Figures
- Benjamin Franklin, known as the epitome of Neoclassicism, was a scientist, inventor, thinker, author, and politician.
- Philip Freneau, recognized as the "Poet of the American Revolution," contributed significantly to Neoclassical thought through his poetry.
- Phillis Wheatley, the second American woman to publish a book of poems, emphasized God's mercy in her works.
Major Works
- Franklin's notable works include The Way to Wealth and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, focusing on themes of self-improvement and moral perfection.
- J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer explores identity and the concept of the "new man" in America.
- Philip Freneau's poetry, like The Wild Honey Suckle, addresses themes of transience in nature.
Satire in the Neoclassical Era
- Satirical elements are present in works like Timothy Dwight's The Smooth Divine, critiquing false religions and preaching styles.
- Satire is defined as the ridicule of human folly or vice with the intent of correction.
Poetic Themes and Tones
- Wheatley's A Funeral Poem on the Death of C.E., an Infant of Twelve Months reflects a hopeful tone, contrasting with the sorrowful mood of parents.
- Freneau's The Wild Honey Suckle encapsulates the ephemeral nature of life and beauty.
Personal and Philosophical Growth
- Franklin's journey included attempts at improving his reputation, writing skills, and moral behavior, epitomizing the Neoclassical ideal of self-perfection.
- He emphasized the importance of order, humility, and the continuous endeavor toward moral excellence.
Cultural Impact
- The Neoclassical Era influenced the understanding of American identity and values, paving the way for future literary movements.
- The period's focus on rationalism signified a shift in societal perspectives toward human understanding and governance, moving away from strict theological constraints.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the Neoclassical Era, also known as the Early National Period. This quiz covers key beliefs that emphasize rationalism and the transition of literary characteristics, focusing on clarity and the perfectibility of man. Delve into the significant figures, including Benjamin Franklin, who shaped this influential period.
