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Authors
Texts and Themes
Deep Thoughts
America, America
Potpourri
100
"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
Who is Washington Irving?
100
This movement emphasized feelings and emotions over reason.
What is the Romantic Period?
100
Crevecoeur sees America as a giant this, with all cultures, customs, and ways of life blending seamlessly together.
What is melting pot?
100
Jefferson wrote "The Declaration of Independence" to file an official list of grievances with this guy. Jefferson included lots of complaints, such as Great Britain's refusal to let colonists pass their own laws and Great Britain's insistence on keeping armies around the colonies without permission.
Who is King George III?
100
The first major period in American literature. Though there were lots of of other great texts preceding this period, it's the first one of considerable length and impact.
What is Enlightenment?
200
"On Being Brought to Africa to America"
Who is Phillis Wheatley?
200
The advantages of sleeping one's problems away is a common theme of this early Romantic text.
What is "Rip Van Winkle?"
200
Some say the women (and some men) who attended the Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls should have focused more on this very urgent human rights violation that was very widespread in America, rather than focusing on getting equal rights for women.
What is slavery?
200
Pastor's like Jonathan Edwards believed this religious revival would usher in the second coming of Christ.
What is The Great Awakening?
200
More than any other period, this prefigures today's world.
What is the Romantic period?
300
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
Who is Jonathan Edwards?
300
Phillis Wheatley's poems are about her newfound Christian faith and also her former tribe's worship of these gods.
What are the sun gods?
300
Some critics like this guy (also a famous Romantic writer) thought Irving's work wasn't deep or complex enough to warrant his extreme success and fame.
Who is Poe?
300
He is the Father of American Literature, and wrote scary stories and satire.
What is Washington Irving?
300
Of all three Aristotelean appeals, Edwards relies on this, which manipulates and plays with the emotions of the audience.
What is pathos?
400
"What is an American?"
Who is Crevecoeur?
400
One theme of this text is the downfalls of being too educated (if you know too much, you can really freak yourself out!)
What is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?"
400
Some critics of the phrase "all men are created equal" argue that it can't really be true because there are obvious differences in our intellectual, physical, and this capacities. So how can we all be equal?
What is spiritual?
400
This parody of "The Declaration of Independence" cites many grievances women have with men in power, including: 1) women being forced to obey laws they can't even vote on; 2) women losing property and money when married; 3) women being denied access to higher education; 4) women being essentially civilly dead when married.
What is the "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions"
400
You might say Crevecoeur's argument in "What is an American?" hinges on this appeal, which just plain makes sense.
What is logos or logical appeal?
500
"Declaration of Independence"
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
500
Wheatley uses this Biblical figure in her poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" to remind white Christian readers that even so-called cursed people have redemptive value too.
Who is Cain?
500
So…maybe it's not really a Melting Pot, but maybe it's more like this.
What is a stew?
500
During the latter part of the Enlightenment Period, America saw a rise in publications from Average Joes like this guy, which helped pave the way for low and middle class folks to write.
Who is Ben Franklin?
500
Religious leaders like Edwards followed this very strict form of Christianity which taught that an obvious physical conversion was necessary to be a true Christian.
What is Calvinism?