American Literature Final Exam Review
I. Native American Origin Myths
 Oral literary tradition
 Passed from generation to generation
 Revealed values and tradition of the tribe
 Strong appreciation/
 connection w/ nature
“Earth On Turtle’s Back” Origin of the earth myth
“Navajo Origin Legend” Origin of mankind
“Iroquois Constitution” system of government (democracy)
“Interesting Narrative of Olahaudah Equianno” slave narrative
Curiosity of life despite appalling conditions
II. Early Explorer Documentation
 purpose/theme: to entice colonists to the new world
 projected the image of strong leadership, bravery, and resourcefulness
“Of Plymouth Plantation”
“The General History of Virginia”
III. The Puritan Age
 purpose/theme: moral instruction
 “To My Dear and Loving Husband”: contrasts material wealth with spiritual
wealth
 “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”: instill fear in the audience
 The Crucible: Written as a response to McCarthyism
o Characters put to a “severe test”
o Blaming others to get yourself out of trouble
 “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” without God you are in Hell
IV. The Revolutionary Period
 purpose/theme: man’s ability to reason for himself
 Political ideology
 Aphorism: concise statement expressing a wise or clever observation
 The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: human beings are capable of selfimprovement
 The Declaration of Independence: deductive reasoning to make a logical appeal
 Letters from an American Farmer: America is a melting-pot
 The Crisis: Thomas Paine- confront the troubles of today, not put them on future
generations
 Speech at Virginia Convention: Patrick Henry- Rhetorical devices-Ethos, Pathos,
Logos Persuasion of confrontational audience
V. The Romantic Period
 purpose/theme: criticized the restriction of society, expressed extreme emotion,
elements of nature and the supernatural
 “The Devil and Tom Walker”: selling your soul is not worth the price
 Thanatopsis: human beings are part of nature
 “The Minister’s Black Veil”: everyone’s hidden sin
 Transcendentalism: observe nature and reflect on man’s spiritual connection w/ it
 “Battle of the Ants” critical analysis of human warfare
 Civil Disobedience: people are politically responsible for themselves
 “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” acceptance of death as a normal part of
life death is a gentleman
 “Oh Captain, My Captain”: memorial to Lincoln—know the symbolism of the
poem
VI. Realism
 purpose/theme: portrayal of life as it is, language reflects how people speak
 “The Story of an Hour”: promise of a new life is shattered/denied
 Except from Tom Sawyer: colloquial language, everyday hero, celebration of
everyday life, humorous criticism
VII. Naturalism
 Man’s struggle against Nature “To Build a Fire”
man’s hubris vs. dog’s instinct
man is not above nature
VIII. Modernism
 Materialism, industrialization, dissoluteness, “living in the moment”
 The Great Gatsby: The Corruption of the American Dream