American Literature fall semester exam study guide

Study Guide: Eleventh Grade Fall Semester Exam

Place in order and define the following literary movements:
Puritan literature, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Gothic, Realism

Summarize the following stories, and familiarize yourself with their symbols and themes:

“The Masque of the Red Death”
“The Devil and Tom Walker”
“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”
“The Minister’s Black Veil”

Also familiarize yourself with the following works: “Images or Shadows of Divine Things” (Edwards), “The Raven” (Poe), “To My Dear and Loving Husband” (Bradstreet), “Song of Myself” (Whitman)

Terms: thesis statement, introduction paragraph, conclusion paragraph, parenthetical citation, plagiarism, source, anaphora, rhyme, rhyme scheme, meter, imagery, simile, alliteration, internal rhyme, mood, foreshadowing, symbolism, theme

Vocabulary: caprice, perversity, revile, iniquity, perpetrate, retribution, efficacy, zealous, benign, haggard

Grammar:
- Be able to choose the correct pronoun to complete a sentence (nominative, objective, or possessive case)
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement
- Subject-verb agreement
- Make verbs agree with pronoun antecedents
- Identify and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences

Scarlet Letter:
- Who is the author?
- Describe each of the four main characters
- How do the characters respond differently to sin and guilt? What are the effects of revenge? How does Pearl act as a symbol as well as a character? How can we see the theme of individualism in this book? What are some symbols used in the novel?

Other:
- Describe in detail the characteristics of Romanticism and of Gothic literature. Be prepared to explain how specific works are characteristic of their respective genres. (Example: Evangeline is typical of Romantic literature in that nature reflects the mood of the characters.)
- Explain whether or the characters in the stories above (“Masque,” “Tom Walker,” “Dr. Heidegger”) are able to learn from their mistakes and change their ways. What faults bring about the characters’ downfall in “The Masque of the Red Death” and “Tom Walker”?
- Based on The Scarlet Letter and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” what do you think Hawthorne believes about confession and repentance?