American Literature Quiz

Various Native American tribes had stories that explained how mountains were created or why spring occurs. How would these stories have been documented?

• the stories were preserved in writing on animal skins

• through oral storytelling passed down through the generations

• through designs woven into their clothing and passed down as keepsakes

• as pictographs, or small pictures, that depicted the stories

How did the viewpoint of secular and religious political writers differ in the 17th and 18th centuries?

• Religious writers believed in an elaborate judicial system, while secular writers believed the Ten Commandments were all that was needed to govern.

• Secular writers believed that religion should not interfere with state law, while religious writers believed there should be no other laws besides Christian laws.

• Secular writers documented painstaking details about the hardships of settlement while religious writers praised God for survival.

• Secular writers laid out elaborate plans for future villages and governmental structure while religious writers relied upon biblical guidance.

A review of Puritan writing would consistently reveal which of the following themes?

• dedication to God and the Bible

• political events occurring at the time

• the ease of life in the colonies

• interactions with Native Americans

What issues influenced the literature in 17th century America?

• exploration of the new land, the sights and wonders

• the journey of the settlers from their homes in Europe

• the need to create fiction as an escape from harsh living conditions

• politics and the struggle for food and shelter

What is a common theme that runs through many different Native American literature pieces?

• a hero's journey to overcome adversity

• worship of various animals important to each nation

• the ruin of culture and society by white settlement

• the importance of female gods to native peoples

How did Americans react to the Age of Reason fifty years after the Revolutionary War?

• They continued to respect the ideals of the Age of Reason.

• They challenged the rational thinking of the Age of Reason.

• They rejected the ideals in the same way that Europeans rejected them.

• They adapted the ideals of the Age of Reason to respond to industrialization.

Which statement correctly compares Ben Franklin to the character Natty Bumppo?

• Bumppo was innocent but intuitive, while Franklin was educated and sophisticated.

• Bumppo loved the cities, while Franklin loved the countryside.

• Bumppo was a savvy politician, while Franklin was ignorant of government.

• Both Bumppo and Franklin were highly intelligent inventors.

How was Thanatopsis typical of Romantic literature?

• It was realistic.

• It looked to nature for spiritual insight.

• It took place in Europe.

• It was a story about royalty.

Which characteristics of the Romantic movement were expressed through a focus on nature?

• Escapism & the heroism of the common man

• Finding wisdom in the past & the heroism of the common man

• Finding wisdom in the past & imagination

• Escapism & spirituality

How did immigration affect the development of Romanticism in the United States?

• It contributed to the growth of a uniquely American identity.

• It made Americans want to travel to other countries.

• It made Americans long for Europe.

• It created divisions in American society.