American Literature Midterm Exam
Ms. Kudish-McManus and Ms. Wizeman
Academic Level
On the day of your final exam, you will select and write two essays from below. You may bring in a sheet of
handwritten notes, but you may not to pre-write your essays. Notes will be collected with your exam.
For each question you are to cite at least two works, and for each work you are to use at least two quotes,
thus each essay will have four quotes in it. Essays are to be three divisional in nature (introduction, body and
conclusion). You must refer to at least three different works from this year.
Works:
Fahrenheit 451
The Crucible
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
Of Mice and Men
1.) Each of our works has been written to explore a social concern. This is to say that each has been
written not only for entertainment, but to spread a message to its readers. Select two of the works we
have explored and analyze the author’s agenda citing specifically where we see their agenda in each
work.
2.) Nominate a character for “Most ____ of the Year” and nominate their opposite for “Least ____ of
the Year.” Take these characters from two novels and explain why you think he/she deserves these
titles using two examples. Additionally, explore what the two have in common if anything.
3.) Crucible:
1.) a severe test 2.) a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or
influence change or development
A crucible can be considered a test by which people’s characters are tested by their situation; what
emerges is either their best or worst selves. What two characters in any of our novels or movies
have been exposed to crucibles? What has tested them and how did they fair?
4.) The idea of redemption permeates our literature. Basically, this reflects the belief that forgiveness
is possible and that when things look their very worst, a person or culture can rise from its/his own
ashes like the proverbial Phoenix. Identify two works in which you have seen this and explain what
they can tell us about ourselves as people.
5.) All of our works explore the relationship between the powerful and the powerless, how power
shifts, the notion of the majority determining right and wrong in a culture, the price of following your
conscience when faced with an unfair or immoral situation, and the importance of moral courage.
Using any of these ideas, tie together two works we have explored this year.