American Studies
Literature Midterm Study Guide
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Unit 1: The Age of Industrialism & Progressivism
Maggie: a Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane (4 questions)
Crane—style and important works
Naturalism and its characteristics (IMPORTANT!):
Characters and what they represent:
Maggie Johnson, Mrs. Johnson, Jimmie, Pete, Nell:
Short Stories: (5 questions)
“The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” by Mark Twain
Author Background and Satire:
Context/Gilded Age:
Allegorical interpretations:
Point-of-view/Narrator:
Theme:
Jack London’s “To Build a Fire”
Point of view:
Types of irony:
Theme:
Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”
Point of view:
Types of irony:
Imagery & theme:
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (2 questions)
The Story and its intention:
Muckraker: ______________________________________
Social & Legislative Impact of the Novel:
Poetry & Short Stories
(5 questions)
“Chicago” by Carl Sandburg
Use of figurative language (apostrophe, simile, personification)
“Richard Cory,” “The Mill,” & “Miniver Cheevy” by Edward Arlington Robinson
Use of figurative language, form, irony & major themes
Unit II. World War I
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (7 questions)
Author – Style, war poems, and other major works:
Structure of the novel in 5 Acts:
Point-of-view/narrator:___________________________________
The Code Hero and characteristics (IMPORTANT):
Symbols:
Themes:
“Lost Generation”: _________________________________
Unit III: The Twenties
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (12 questions)
Author & Background:
Briefly summarize the plot of the novel:
Describe the conflict(s) of the novel:
Characters /what they represent & how they contrast: Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy
Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker, The Wilsons
Point-of-view/narrator:___________________________________
Static/dynamic:_________________________ Foils: __________________________
Themes and motifs:
Symbols & how they are used in the novel:
The Harlem Renaissance (3 questions)
Background/Characteristics – Why did it begin? What were its goals/aims?
The Important Members:
Langston Hughes’ “Harlem”—tone & figurative language
Unit IV: The Thirties
Of Mice and Men (7 questions)
Steinbeck: style and other important works
Basic conflicts of the novel
Steinbeck’s writing style (use of vernacular, objectivity, understatement)
Allusion to Robert Burns’ “To a Mouse” & significance to themes
Symbols and motifs
Themes
“Waiting for Lefty” (3 questions)
Drama terms (stage directions, monologue, soliloquy, dialect, aside, “agit-prop” theater)
Know the basic plot and structure of the play
Important Characters and significance: Fatt, Joe & Edna, Sid & Florrie, Dr. Barnes & Dr.
Benjamin, Lefty (symbolic significance of name)
Political messages & themes: Socialism vs. Capitalism (“thunder from the Left”), class warfare, a
“call to arms” to unionize (collective strength), radical action
Culture & the Arts: (approx. 10 questions)
Be familiar with the time period and characteristics for each of the following
artists/musicians/cultural icons:
Music & Film:
Scott Joplin
John Philip Sousa
George Gershwin
The Charleston
Woody Guthrie
Robert Johnson
Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit” Josephine Baker
Duke Ellington
Louis Armstrong
Charlie Chaplin
D.W. Griffith
Architects:
Louis Sullivan
John Roebling
Frank Lloyd Wright
Artists:
Ashcan School (George Bellows)
Georgia O’Keeffe
Thomas Eakins (“The Gross Clinic”)
Edward Hopper
Ben Shahn & The Passion of Sacco & Vanzetti
Photographers:
Jacob Riis
Lewis Hine
Alfred Stieglitz
Dorothea Lange
Keystone Concepts: (10 questions)
Author's Purpose & Author's Techniques
Main Idea & Supporting Details
Conclusions, Inferences, Generalizations
Connections Between Texts
Synonyms, Antonyms, Affixes, & Roots
Context Clues & Multiple Meanings
Connotation/Denotation
ESSAY: Mr. Pezza will give you an overview of the DBQ assignment on
the final exam, worth 80 points.
GENERAL TIPS: Organize your notes, prepare early, and study!
Good Luck!