Section 1: Multiple Choice (25 Questions)

Suggested Time: 35 Minutes

Instructions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer from the options provided. Mark your answer clearly. Each question is worth 1 point.

Which of the following Puritan beliefs is most reflected in Jonathan Edwards's sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God'?

The Enlightenment, or Age of Reason, significantly influenced American writers like Benjamin Franklin. Which of the following is a core principle of this period?

Which characteristic best defines American Romanticism, as seen in works by authors like Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper?

Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay 'Self-Reliance' is a cornerstone of American Transcendentalism. What is its central message?

What was the primary goal of the Realist movement in American literature?

Naturalism, an offshoot of Realism, often emphasized which of the following themes?

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of American Modernist literature (early 20th century)?

Jonathan Edwards was a key figure during which significant religious revival in colonial America?

Who authored 'Poor Richard's Almanack' and is considered a prime example of the American Enlightenment ideal of the self-made man?

Nathaniel Hawthorne, a Romantic author with Dark Romantic leanings, is best known for exploring themes of sin, guilt, and hypocrisy in Puritan society in which novel?

Which collection of poems, by Walt Whitman, revolutionized American poetry with its free verse and celebration of democracy, individualism, and the common man?

Mark Twain is considered the father of American literature and a key Realist author. His novel that satirizes societal norms and explores themes of racism and freedom along the Mississippi River is:

The 'Lost Generation' writers, such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, often expressed what sentiment in their works?

F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' is a quintessential Modernist novel that critiques which aspects of American society in the 1920s?

Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' was highly effective in galvanizing public opinion for the American Revolution primarily due to its use of:

Henry David Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience' advocates for which core principle?

Edgar Allan Poe, a prominent figure in Dark Romanticism, is known for his mastery of what literary elements?

Stephen Crane's 'Maggie: A Girl of the Streets' is an example of Naturalism because it primarily explores:

Which theme is central to many works by Modernist authors like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound?

Which of the following historical events significantly influenced the shift from Romanticism to Realism in American literature?

Imagism, a poetic movement influential during Modernism, emphasized:

The Harlem Renaissance was a significant cultural movement that involved:

In colonial American literature, why is the influence of Puritanism so pervasive?

Although written in the 20th century, Arthur Miller's play, which uses the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory for McCarthyism, reflects themes rooted in colonial Puritan society. What is the play's title?

What was a primary aim of Western Realism, as exemplified by authors like Bret Harte?

Section 2: Short Answer/Identification (5 Questions)

Suggested Time: 15 Minutes

Instructions: Answer each question concisely but completely. Aim for 2-4 sentences for each answer. Each question is worth 3 points.

Define the 'Cult of Domesticity' and briefly explain how it influenced the portrayal of women in American literature during the 19th century.

What is Regionalism (or local color), and name one author who exemplifies this movement, providing a representative work if possible.

Explain how the concept of the 'American Dream' evolves or is critiqued in Modernist literature, compared to earlier periods.

Who were the 'Fireside Poets,' and what were two defining characteristics of their work?

Briefly explain the core philosophical tenets of American Transcendentalism and how they encouraged individualism.

Section 3: Rhetorical Analysis Essay (AP Style)

Suggested Time: 40 Minutes

Instructions: Read the passage below carefully. Then, write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical choices Patrick Henry makes to achieve his purpose of persuading the Virginia Convention to declare independence and prepare for war. In your analysis, discuss how Henry's use of rhetorical appeals, literary devices, and organizational structure contributes to the force and impact of his message.

Section 4: Argumentative Research Paper Proposal/Outline (1 Question)

Suggested Time: 30 Minutes

Instructions: Choose ONE of the following topics. On a separate sheet of paper, create a detailed proposal/outline for an argumentative research paper. Your outline must include:

• A clear and arguable thesis statement.
• At least three distinct main arguments/claims that support your thesis, each with a brief elaboration (1-2 sentences) of how it contributes to your overall argument.
• Specific literary works or authors (at least two per main argument, if applicable) that could serve as primary evidence for your claims.
• A brief acknowledgment of a potential counterargument and how you might address it.

Choose ONE Topic:

Topic 1: Individualism Across American Literary Periods Analyze the evolution and impact of individualism as a recurring theme in American literature from the Transcendentalist era through the Modernist period. Argue whether the portrayal of individualism consistently celebrates freedom and self-reliance, or if it increasingly reveals its potential for isolation and disillusionment.

Topic 2: The American Dream in Crisis Discuss how the concept of the 'American Dream' is presented, challenged, or dismantled in American literature from the late 19th century (Realism/Naturalism) through Modernism. Argue to what extent these literary movements reflect a growing disillusionment with the attainability and moral integrity of the American Dream.