English 3 H Finals MCQs

Novelists focused on the frightening lack of tradition in the US (a history of strife, a vast
and imposing wilderness, and a classless/leaderless society)

Trans

Art = truth (as captured by the Hudson River School of landscape painting)

Light

Important writing of the era includes Paine’s Common Sense (Jan 1776), Jefferson’s
Declaration of Independence (1776), and Madison’s U.S. Constitution (1787)

Ration

This era’s modern impact includes a fascination with alluring, villainous antagonists and persecuted, suffering young women; inspired 1900s crime noir literature

Dark

Common motifs include repetition/enumeration, ritual beginnings/endings, heavy
imagery, a structure of order-chaos-solutions-order, and anthropomorphism

Native

1600-1750; plain style writing (no ornate language, simple/everyday comparisons, non-personal); believed all of life was a test

Purit

Believed human beings and society were perfectible; reason could reveal universal truth

Ration

Offers best example of US poetry/spirit, as well as two of the biggest names in literature

Late

Saw poetry as the highest expression of the imagination and the creative spirit

Light

Heroes can be cultural models of behavior who shape the world or tricksters with more brains than brawn, often creating chaos for change and suffering for pride

Native

Writing was intended to instruct and help enforce God’s will, demystifying His demands
and expectations, and glorify His existence

Purit

Intuition/Emotion/Individualism/Intuition/Era of the Common Man/1800-1860

Light

Nature depicted as cruel, unmerciful, destructive, and unexplainable with settings
of ruined buildings or castles, dark and overgrown forests, and wind-swept plains

Dark

“Belle of Amherst” and “Good Gray Poet” were the nicknames of this era’s poets

Late

Folktales/Legends/Mythology/Oral Tradition/Prehistory-Today

Native

Inspired by Immanuel Kant; linked to Concord, Mass; the philosophical side of Romanticism; felt contemplating nature leads to spiritual truth

Trans

Factors against aspiring writers included: writers were drawn to politics or could not resist the habit of UK imitation, copyright laws did not exist, and writing did not pay

Ration

Commonly described a journey into nature (for escape or revelation) and away from the
corruption and ugliness of cities (which destroyed creativity)

Light

Believed writing and writer are one, writing is not about achievement but self-expression, true poetry comes from experience, success = breaking the collective voice

Late

Emphasized social order, community, connection of all living things, respect for nature

Native

Examined inner and outer lives closely for signs of God’s saving grace

Purit

Religion/Faith/Simplicity/Collectivism/Sermons and Diaries/1600-1750

Purit

Oldest literature in America but the last literature to be recognized by critics as valuable

Native

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a primary force behind this philosophical movement

Trans

Logic/Reason/Politics/Patriotism/Persuasive/Pamphlets/1750-1800

Ration

Writing becomes a legitimate profession as US audiences looked home for their literature; the US literary voice is discovered and writers’ groups emerged

Light

Gothic/Psychological/Sin, Pain, Evil Exist/Symbolic/Supernatural/Troubled Heroes

Dark

Broke poetic traditions in unique but important ways; inspired generations of poets

Late

Stories focus on creation through struggle/theft, moving from a sky to a water world,
earth-divers, and emergence or migration

Native

Beliefs focused on the idea of T.U.L.I.P. (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election,
Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of "saints")

Purit

Writers of this era were against tradition, religion, monarchy; natural rights were
believed to be above government/Kings/religion

Ration

Modern day legacy includes expectation of moral leadership, quest for freedom, work
ethic, fascination with death, manifest destiny & US divinity, secular marriages

Purit

Heroes of this era were usually young, innocent, noble, and outdoorsy; they were
questing for truth with a personal code of ethics that outweighed man’s laws

Light

Provided transition from the 1800’s to the 1900’s; ushered in the next century of poetry

Late

Revealed man’s dark side using dread, terror, and suspense to hold the reader’s
attention; explored tales of shame, obsession, revenge, madness

Dark