Vocabulary
Provide a brief definition and one synonym for "unalienable."
"Unalienable": unable to be taken away; synonym: inalienable, inherent.
What does SOAPSTone stand for? Give each element in one phrase.
SOAPSTone: Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone.
Name two common themes of American Romanticism.
Common themes: individualism, reverence for nature, emotion over reason.
"Declaration of Independence": What is the primary purpose of this document? (one sentence summary).
Purpose: to declare the colonies' independence and justify the decision by listing grievances and stating political principles.
This novel by Harper Lee takes place in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama
What is To Kill a Mockingbird?
Define "tyranny" and name one historical example often discussed in American literature or political writing.
Tyranny": oppressive government or rule; example: British monarchy abuses cited in the Declaration of Independence.
Define ethos, pathos, and logos and give a short example of each can be used.
Ethos: appeal to credibility. Pathos: appeal to emotion. Logos: appeal to logic/facts. Examples: ethos — citing expertise; pathos — emotional anecdote; logos — statistics.
How does Gothic fiction differ from Romanticism’s broader characteristics? Give one distinguishing feature.
Gothic adds darkness, decay, and supernatural terror to Romantic focus on emotion and nature.
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God": Identify the speaker’s main appeal (ethos, pathos, or logos) and justify in one phrase.
Often called the “Father of American Poetry,” he wrote “Thanatopsis.”
Who is William Cullen Bryant?
What does "infringed" mean in a legal or rights context? Use it in a sentence about freedom of speech.
"Infringed": violated or encroached upon; sentence example: "The law infringed on citizens' right to protest."
Explain the difference between tone and mood with a one-sentence example for each.
Tone: author's attitude (e.g., bitter). Mood: reader's feeling (e.g., unsettled).
Identify one Romantic-era American writer from the reading list and one trait of their work that exemplifies Romanticism.
300 — Example: Edgar Allan Poe — emphasis on emotion, the macabre, individual psychological states.
The Crucible: Explain how the theme of hysteria is shown through the behavior of one named character (one to two sentences).
The Crucible: Example — Abigail’s accusations spread fear; her manipulation and lies drive the hysteria.
This transcendentalist wrote the essay “Self-Reliance.”
Who is Ralph Waldo Emerson?
Define "dissemble" and explain how a character who dissembles might affect a play's dramatic irony.
"Dissemble": to conceal one's true motives or feelings; a character who dissembles creates dramatic irony because the audience knows the truth while other characters do not.
Define "metonymy" and provide an example used in literature or news coverage.
Metonymy: substitution of related term (e.g., "the crown" for monarchy).
Describe briefly how nature is portrayed in Romantic poetry; use one of the listed poems as a reference (no quotation required).
400 — Nature is often sublime, restorative, or a source of spiritual truth (e.g., Bryant’s meditative tone in "Thanatopsis").
"The Devil and Tom Walker": In an excerpt where Tom refuses to help others and becomes miserly, what device best describes the author’s presentation of moral consequence? (name the device and briefly explain)
Device: irony and satire (Washington Irving uses irony/satire to comment on greed and moral downfall); also allegory of moral cost.
This poem by Edgar Allan Poe begins, “Once upon a midnight dreary.”
What is “The Raven”?
Give the meaning of "probity," then contrast it with "licentious" in one clear sentence.
Probity": honesty and strong moral principles. Contrast: "Probity denotes strict moral integrity, while licentious describes a disregard for rules and moral restraint."
Explain "allegory" and name a well-known allegorical work (not required to be American).
Allegory: extended metaphor where characters/events represent abstract ideas; example: "Animal Farm."
Explain how the supernatural or the sublime functions in Gothic stories like "The Fall of the House of Usher" to develop theme.
Supernatural/sublime creates atmosphere and reveals psychological states; in "Usher" the house mirrors Roderick's mind.
"Thanatopsis" and "A Psalm of Life": Compare the poets’ attitudes toward death in one comparative sentence.
Comparison: "Thanatopsis" treats death as a natural, consoling return to earth; "A Psalm of Life" urges active, optimistic living in the face of death
This female poet, famous for dashes and slant rhyme, lived much of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Who is Emily Dickinson?