American Literature Final Study Guide

no vocab is on this, only the TEXT QUESTIONS

What is an Abecedarian?

A abecedarian is a style of poem where the sequence of letters in the alphabets serve as the first letter for each line

What are ethos, logos, and pathos?

Ethos- credibility, Logos- logic, Pathos- emotional/passion

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is comparing two or more things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

In “The Soft-Hearted Sioux” what purpose does the narrator have in returning to his tribe?

To preach Christianity to them and convert non-believers

Why does the main character end up contemplating the death at the of “The Soft-Hearted Sioux”?

Because he has been arrested for murdering a white man

In the story “Crow’s Son” the narrative moves back and forth from Young Thomas’ present reality as he is berated by a racist Sergeant and an imagined reality about nature and speaking with his ancestors. What message does this offer the reader?

Young Thomas’ indigenous identity and heritage give him strength

In what ways does Thomas show resistance to harmful authority?

He keeps himself calm and refuses to fight back, and he also pretends to misspeak when told to repeat insults about himself in order to subtly insult the sergeant.

In “Borders” the mother refuses to say she is American or Canadian, only identifying as….?

Blackfoot

How does the mother react in “Borders” when she is forced to spend several days between the American and Canadian borders?

She remains calm in spite of the rigidity of the border officers

What lessons does “Borders” offer readers?

Indigenous people are treated as “nationless’ and must conform to borders established by colonizing forces, and having pride for your identity is important (and) others can’t take it from you

What is the purpose of the short story, “Train Time”?

It depicts the realities of children who were removed from reservations and taken to boarding schools, and it demonstrates the shaky confidence of Major Miles, the man tasked with transporting the children

In “Train Time” why does Major Miles want Eneas to go to boarding school?

Because he doesn’t complain and seems obedient

What conflict does “A Man to Send Rain Clouds” develop?

A man navigates the tensions between his indigenous and Christian faith

What might the blessing of Holy Water offer to old Teofilo in his burial?

Water to quench his thirst in the afterlife and the ability to send rainclouds to his family from the afterlife

What is the name of the period in which people were repeatedly questioned about their political views, accused of disloyalty, and asked to incriminate friends and associates as suspected communists?

McCarthyism

What were the consequences of not cooperating with investigative committees?

jailtime, or losing your career

Which U.S FBI Director used his resources to hunt down supposed communists and eliminate them within positions of American society?

Hoover

How does race shape Hurston’s sense of identity? Explain.

Race shapes Hurston’s sense of identity by viewing her black skin as a generational blessing and her personal strengthening. This is because she expressed a strong confidence in her ancestors and her culture.

Who was Mary Warren in the Crucible?

She was the servant for Proctor

Who were the main three witches in the Crucible?

Abigal, Tituba, & Mary Warren

Why did Elizabeth fire Abigal?

Because Abigal was having an affair with Elizabeth’s husband, Proctor.

What is an allegory?

A piece of writing that reveals a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

What is an allusion?

A reference to something outside of the text, often well-known to imply meaning.

What is an anaphora?

The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases or sentences.

What is a hyberbole?

An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms.

What is imagery?

Language that paints a picture in the reader’s head

What is verbal irony?

Sarcasm

What is dramatic irony?

When a character does not know information but the readers know the plot around the character

What is situational irony?

Something happening that is very different to what was expected

What is a motif?

A reoccuring subject, phrase, or image that connects to a central meaning or theme

What is symbolism?

A thing which stands for or represents something deeper