American Literature Flashcards

Flashcards for American Literature Lecture Review

How does American literature contribute to national identity?

Creating symbolic stories that reflect American values and smooth over political trauma

How does myth-making help process historical change?

It turns conflict into legend, giving Americans a unified and hopeful version of the past.

Why choose myth over realism?

To appeal to emotion and unity in a newly forming culture.

What are the main characteristics of Rip Van Winkle?

Kind, easy-going, and beloved by children and neighbors; idle and unambitious; dominated by a nagging wife; passive in the face of change

Is Rip Van Winkle a hero or an anti-hero?

An anti-hero; he lacks traditional heroic traits and passively escapes his responsibilities.

What Romantic elements are found in 'Rip Van Winkle'?

Emphasis on nature, fascination with the supernatural, individual over society, idealization of the past, distrust of industrialization and rationalism.

Nature in Irving's 'Rip Van Winkle' is…

Nature is mystical, timeless, and restorative.

What does 'Rip Van Winkle' tell you about change?

Change is inevitable, yet superficial for some individuals.

How can the ending of Rip Van Winkle be interpreted?

Rip is free from his wife, accepts the new society, and lives peacefully; OR Rip has escaped real life rather than engaging with it disengagement is the price of contentment.

How does 'Rip Van Winkle' relate to the American Dream and the ideal of the self-made man?

The self-made man is the opposite of Rip; questions whether the American Dream transforms individuals.

Core beliefs of Transcendentalism

Trust in one’s inner moral compass over societal norms or institutions. Self-Reliance, Nature as Divine, Nonconformity, Spiritual Over Material

What are the Major Themes of Transcendentalism?

Moral law vs. civil law; Individualism and nonconformity; Nonviolent resistance; Nature as truth

How does Transcendentalism define the individual-society relationship?

The individual is morally autonomous and should resist injustice, even at personal cost.

When is civil disobedience justified?

When the state violates moral truth — peaceful resistance is a moral duty.

What role does nature play in Transcendentalism?

connects humans to higher truths, unlike corrupt social institutions.

What is Thoreau's argument in 'On Civil Disobedience'?

Individuals should not permit governments to overrule their consciences; advocates for nonviolent resistance to unjust laws that contradict moral principles.

"On Civil Disobedience" reflects core transcendentalist values of…

Individual conscience over external authority; moral integrity and nonconformity; simple living and resistance to materialism

What are the characteristics of Gothic literature?

Explores the darker sides of human nature and the psyche; haunted settings, psychological terror, madness, supernatural events, themes of decay.

What are the stylistic features of Gothic literature?

Rich, poetic language, repetition and musicality, symbol-heavy narration.

How does Gothic literature reflect mental and emotional states?

Through symbolic settings and characters that externalize psychological conflict.

How is Gothic Romanticism different from Transcendentalism?

It emphasizes fear, death, and inner darkness, not spiritual optimism.

What are the key themes of Poe's "The Raven"?

Grief and loss, madness, the supernatural, the power of language.

What are the key themes of Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'?

Madness, isolation and decay, fear of the buried alive, the house as a symbol.

What is Gothic literature?

Combining horror, death, the supernatural, and romance to explore the darker sides of human nature and the psyche.

How does Hawthorne critique inherited morality?

Shows how rigid systems lead to guilt, repression, and hypocrisy.

How do Hawthorne's stories reveal hidden evil?

By pulling characters into situations where faith, science, or love conceal deeper corruption.

What are the main themes of Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"?

Loss of innocence, hypocrisy of Puritan society, faith vs. doubt, moral ambiguity.

What are the Romantic elements in "Young Goodman Brown"?

Dreamlike/supernatural atmosphere, inner psychological conflict, individual experience of truth over institutional dogma.

What are the key themes of Hawthorne's “Rappaccini’s Daughter”?

Science vs. nature, innocence and corruption, the danger of idealization, isolation and difference.

What are the Romantic and Gothic Elements of Hawthorne's 'Rappaccini's Daughter'?

Exotic garden, beauty mixed with danger, critique of rationalism, tragic love and symbolic allegory.

In "Young Goodman Brown," is there a dichotomy of good versus evil depicted in the story?

Yes—a major theme is the conflict between the appearance of goodness and the hidden presence of evil.

In "Young Goodman Brown," can we tell whether this is a dream or reality?

No, Hawthorne deliberately leaves this ambiguous. The events may be a dream, hallucination, or a supernatural experience. The uncertainty emphasizes the psychological and symbolic nature of the story.

In "Young Goodman Brown," is Brown active or passive?

He starts off as active—he chooses to go into the forest—but becomes increasingly passive as the events unfold. He loses agency, merely observing with growing horror and becoming emotionally paralyzed by the experience.

What is Young Goodman Brown's unpardonable sin?

His loss of faith in humanity and refusal to forgive others (and himself).

In "Young Goodman Brown," why won’t he leave the community?

He stays physically, but emotionally and spiritually withdraws. He cannot bring himself to trust or connect with anyone again. His disillusionment traps him in a lonely, joyless existence.

In "Rappaccini’s Daughter," what is the unpardonable sin here and who commits it?

The unpardonable sin is using others for selfish or intellectual purposes, without love or empathy. Dr. Rappaccini commits this by raising his daughter as part of an experiment, prioritizing science over her humanity.

What does the garden remind you of in "Rappaccini’s Daughter"?

The garden clearly evokes the Garden of Eden, but twisted: Instead of innocence, it is full of poison and moral danger.

How does Whitman create a distinctly American poetic voice?

Through free verse and direct celebration of American life, nature, and democracy.

What role does the “self” play in Walt Whitman's Song of Myself?

The self is a microcosm of America — personal experience is also national and spiritual.

Whitman’s poetry…

Broken away from traditional rhyme and meter, celebrate the individual, the body, nature, and the American spirit. Connect all people and explore the soul's vastness.

Key themes in Whitman's Song of Myself

Individualism:, Universality, The Body and the Soul, Democracy and Equality, Nature as a Teacher, Death as a Natural Process

What makes Huck a unique narrator in Twain's novel?

He gives voice to the marginalized and challenges dominant cultural narratives.

What makes Huck a unique narrator?

His honest, naïve voice exposes social injustice while remaining believable and relatable.

How does Twain critique society?

By showing how institutions like slavery and religion conflict with personal conscience.

A turning point where Huck has to face his decisions about Jim is when…

Huck decides, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”—choosing Jim’s freedom over social morality.

How do Tom and Huck’s contrasting approaches further the plot?

Tom represents conventional thinking and Romantic fantasy, while Huck is more practical and realistic. Tom's elaborate schemes to free Jim feel cruel and unnecessary, showing his detachment from real suffering.

What Romantic Elements are in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

Tom Sawyer’s schemes: Absurd, imaginative adventures based on fiction…Adventure on the river: The journey feels symbolic and mythic. Escape from civilization: A classic Romantic theme—freedom through nature.

What are some Realist elements in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

Harsh critiques of slavery, religion, and education…There are no perfect heroes; Huck lies, steals, and struggles with ethics…Portrayals of violence, con men, and flawed adults.

How does religion function in Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?

Treats it with skepticism and satire. Represent religious hypocrisy—they promote Christian values while owning slaves. Resists religious teachings that don’t align with his developing moral instincts. Uses humor to critique blind faith.

How does Naturalism portray human struggle?

As a battle against indifferent natural forces, where fate often triumphs over effort.

What role does chance play in these stories?

Fate and misunderstanding often shape outcomes more than intention or morality.

Crane’s stories reflect Naturalism’s core belief that…

Humans are at the mercy of forces beyond their control—be it nature, fear, or fate.

Core concepts of Naturalism

Humans are shaped by environment, heredity, and chance, not free will. Nature is indifferent to human suffering. Focus on objectivity, survival, and randomness of life. Characters are often victims of forces beyond their control.