American Literature Flashcards

Flashcards for American Literature Review

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Franklin reflects on his life, emphasizing self-improvement, virtue, and the American Dream.

The Devil and Tom Walker

A man makes a Faustian bargain with the Devil, leading to his downfall.

Thanatopsis

A meditation on death, encouraging acceptance and finding peace in nature.

The Leatherstocking Tales

Explores themes of nature, civilization, and the American identity through the adventures of Hawkeye.

A Psalm of Life

Encourages living life to the fullest, with purpose and vigor.

The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls

Reflects on the cyclical nature of life and death.

The Chambered Nautilus

Uses the nautilus shell as a metaphor for personal growth and spiritual development.

Old Ironsides

A poem advocating for the preservation of the historic ship, symbolizing American heritage.

Snow-Bound

Depicts a family's experience of togetherness and reflection during a winter storm.

The First Snowfall

A father reflects on the death of his child during the first snowfall, finding solace in nature.

Concord Hymn

Commemorates the Battle of Concord and the American Revolution, highlighting themes of liberty and sacrifice.

Self-Reliance

Advocates for individualism and nonconformity, urging people to trust their intuition.

Nature

Explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, emphasizing its spiritual significance.

Walden

A reflection on simple living, self- sufficiency, and a deep connection with nature.

Civil Disobedience

Argues for individual resistance to unjust government policies through nonviolent means.

Women in the Nineteenth Century

Advocates for women's rights and equality, challenging societal norms of the time.

The Raven

A melancholic poem about loss and mourning, featuring a mysterious raven.

The Masque of the Red Death

A grim allegory showing that death is inescapable, no matter one’s wealth or status.

Moby-Dick

Ahab's obsessive pursuit of the white whale represents the destructive nature of obsession and revenge.

The Scarlet Letter

Explores sin, guilt, and redemption in a rigid religious society.

The Minister’s Black Veil

A parable about secret sin and the fear of personal truth.

I Hear America Singing

Celebrates the diverse and harmonious contributions of American laborers.

Song of Myself

Emphasizes individuality, nature, and the interconnectedness of all beings.

A Noiseless Patient Spider

Compares a spider spinning a web to the soul seeking connection.

Beat! Beat! Drums!

Highlights the disruption of war on everyday life.

Preface to Leaves of Grass

Introduces his poetic vision of democracy, individuality, and the American spirit.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Personifies death as a polite suitor escorting the speaker into eternity.

Success is Counted Sweetest

True success is best understood by those who fail.

Much Madness is Divinest Sense

Challenges conventional views of sanity and conformity.

My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close

Reflects on personal loss and the mystery of death.

The Soul Selects Her Own Society

Explores the soul's autonomy in choosing companions.

I Heard a Fly Buzz—When I Died

Depicts the ordinary intruding upon the moment of death.

My Life Had Stood – A Loaded Gun

Explores power, identity, and female agency through metaphor.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Details the brutality of slavery and Douglass’s journey to freedom and literacy.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Reveals the specific oppression of enslaved women and the fight for freedom.

The Gettysburg Address

Honors those who died in battle and reaffirms the nation's commitment to liberty and equality.

The Emancipation Proclamation

Declared all slaves in Confederate states to be free, redefining the war's purpose.

Letter to His Son

Expresses Lee’s conflicted loyalty between the Union and his home state.

Letter to Sarah Ballou

A heartfelt goodbye from a Union soldier expressing love and patriotic duty.

A Diary from Dixie

Gives a Southern woman’s critical perspective on the Confederacy and slavery.

Speech to the American Equal Rights Association

Advocates for both racial and gender equality.

The Red Badge of Courage

Explores the psychological experience of a young soldier confronting fear, courage, and manhood.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

A man imagines escape from execution, only to be snapped back to the brutal reality of death.

The Autobiography of Mark Twain

A humorous, reflective look at Twain's life and views on society, politics, and writing.

Life on the Mississippi

Chronicles Twain’s life as a steamboat pilot and the changing American landscape.

The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

A humorous tall tale about gullibility and storytelling.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Explores themes of freedom, race, and morality through Huck’s journey with a runaway slave.

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

A group of societal outcasts face judgment and redemption in the wilderness.

A Wagner Matinee

A woman reconnects with her lost passion for music, revealing the cost of sacrifice and isolation.

The Open Boat

Man vs. nature—explores fate, survival, and human solidarity in the face of indifferent nature.

We Wear the Mask

Expresses the hidden pain and forced cheerfulness of Black Americans facing racism.

In a Station of the Metro

A brief, imagist poem comparing faces in a crowd to petals on a wet branch.

The Red Wheelbarrow

Emphasizes how ordinary things (like a red wheelbarrow) are essential and profound.

This Is Just to Say

A humorous and intimate apology for eating someone else’s plums.

Old Age Sticks

Depicts the tension between youth’s rebellion and age’s restrictions.