Final Exam Questions
English 246
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Compared to society’s view on black people in the beginning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, how does
Huck’s view change after his adventures with Jim? In what other ways does Huck see society differently?
What does the line, “What’s the use you learning to do right when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no
trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (Twain 91) tell about Huck as a person compared to the
rest of society? Does it make him a realist?
Compare the mentalities of Realists and Modernists.
Compare “The Atlanta Exposition Address” and “Of Mr. Washington and Others” in terms of tone and ideas.
What is the cult of domesticity? During the 19th century, what qualities were expected of men? Of women? How
were the women from “the Awakening,” “Trifles,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” affected by the cult of domesticity?
How is the portrayal of slavery in the novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Beloved similar? How are
they different?
What does Mark Twain emphasize and challenge in Huck Finn through his characters? How do the characters
reinforce his emphasis?
What were some cultural differences as expressed in our literature between Europeans and Native Americans that
Europeans completely overlooked?
What were the two general approaches to equality taken by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois? How were
they influenced to take that approach?
“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost portrays an interesting view on the past, choices, and regret. Explain
what Frost’s central idea is.
What is American Literature? What contributions has it had on our country and its citizens?
In the story “The Awakening,” discuss the different actions of the three women in the story and how the society
viewed the women because of it.
In the story “Slave on the Block,” are Michael and Anne Caraway racist? Why or why not?
How have women evolved through the course of this quarter’s readings? Have women stayed the same social
level all throughout the different time periods (Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, Post-Modernism)? Have they
become weaker? Stronger?
What are the different ideas of Romantics and Modernists?
How does our view of Tom Sawyer change from the beginning of Huck Finn to the end?
In Huck Finn, Jim is shown as being just a dumb slave on the surface; what are some of the events that show
Jim’s intelligence?
Have your studies of American literature changed your opinions of the United States in general? Of the American
people? Of the American government?
Do you feel that studies of literature are still relevant and useful? Was this course something relevant and useful
to you?
Dr. Williamson said that everything has an agenda, a bias, and an angle it is working. What have been some of
the biases presented this quarter? Do the authors want to sway us to a way of thinking or just open us up to
other possibilities?
One ever-present theme of the class has been perspective; there are at least two sides to most all situations.
Can we make a better picture with all the different views or do they just contradict and conflict with one another?
We have learned that within time periods, authors often critique each other and run commentaries through their
work. What commentaries have our readings placed on each other?
Throughout this quarter, we have studied a variety of literature: different types of writing, holding different
values, from a variety of people, all from different walks of life, aiming for different goals, but they all had a
unified purpose. Everyone was trying to define themselves through their words and find a truth. Is that what
America is? What support do our experiences from this class provide?
Why is it necessary for us to pick apart every piece we come across? Why do we not just read on the surface?
And why, by the way, don’t the authors just tell it how it is?
Do you think the decision to read Huck Finn and then Beloved was purely based on the fact that Beloved is a
more difficult book? Why or why not? Explain.
26. Many of the people we have read about have either been women or people of diverse races or classes. Why is it
that we read about these persons? Why not just the typical white male?
27. Do you believe there is a connection between the pieces we read besides their classification as American lit? In
other words, by reflecting on the reading list for this class, what is the common thread in the American literature
class? Support with text.
28. What can be taken from English 246 and applied to our lives outside of class? What, if anything, can you walk
away with after a quarter of English 246? Is it valuable knowledge? Why or why not?
29. All through the class, we students talked about a ‘deeper meaning’ while Barbara thought we were crazy. Do you
still think there is a deeper meaning in reading? If so, does the deeper meaning help you understand the idea of
literature more? Why do we tend to read on the surface when literature is meant to be looked at intently and
with meaning?
30. Would you add another piece to our readings? Why? Which ones would you take out?
31. Some people argue that what Edna from “The Awakening” did was empowering for women. Do you agree with
this? Why or why not?
32. In Hughes “Slave on the Block,” Michael and Anne claim that they “love” African Americans. We all know that’s
not true. Explain the problems that their belief presented and how it is still relevant today.
33. Which reading opened your eyes the most and showed you things you never knew about?
34. In the part of Ginsberg’s “Howl,” he describes the Beat Generation. If you had to write “Howl” to this generation,
what would you have to say?
35. Why are cummings’ “[r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r],” and “[l(a]” even considered literature?
36. In Huck Finn, Mark Twain portrayed Jim, a slave, very differently than Toni Morrison described the slave lives of
the characters in her book. What does this say about Huck Finn? Why is it important to notice this difference?
What does this say about how slavery was viewed by whites? By blacks?
37. What does literature do in terms of explaining history? How can we use these explanations when examining the
past? Why is it useful to read the works of not just one author of a certain social or economic class, but also the
writing of multiple and diverse authors when attempting to understand what happened during a certain period?
38. Throughout the quarter we have encountered a number of difficult peoples that upon reading once leave you
completely lost. What have you learned about poetry and different styles of authors that help you understand a
poem? Who was your favorite poet and why?
39. Though poets like cummings are sometimes difficult and frustrating to understand, what can be gained by taking
the time to understand the true meaning behind his words? Why do you think he writes in this manner? What
does he want us to gain?
40. “Everything Rises Must Converge” is an interesting title, but how did it relate to the story? Why does it end the
way it does?
41. What do you think the overall theme of Beloved is? How do you know?
42. Discuss the father’s choices in “Barn Burning.” Do you agree with his stance? Use text to say why or why not.
43. Sylvia Plath laments, “Dying/is an art, like everything else./I do it exceptionally well.” Explain the irony in this line
as it relates to the poem “Lady Lazarus.”
44. Discuss the works of Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen as they relate to the civil rights movement. How were
they an affirmation and reflection of their time?
45. O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried” lists a multitude of things, both physical and emotional, that the men sling
over their backs. Which is heavier? Explain.
46. In Beloved, Sethe kills one of her children and intends to kill them all. Do you agree with her actions?
47. What is it you want me to know you know before I issue your grades?
Yes, this is a somewhat daunting list, but look carefully at it. You will note that 1) you know this stuff and 2)
many questions ask the same thing only in different ways, so your prep will be the same. Most of these
questions depend on knowledge you’ve gained from sitting through the class; this isn’t a test you can cram for.
In other words, don’t panic. Just prep.