FINAL EXAM

On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 10:20 AM until 12:20 PM, we will have our final exam in our normal classroom.

The Quotations section will give you ten quotes. Pick five and explain why the quote is significant in the context of the source. Be very specific: your answer needs to indicate a working knowledge of the source document's plot and theme.

The Essay section has four possible questions. You will answer ONE of the following questions below. All will be on the test, so whichever essay question you choose to prepare is guaranteed to be on the test. Please prepare an outline of your essay response on an Exam Card ahead of time, including quotes from the texts you plan to write about. Do not write out the essay word for word in your outline.

Your essays are expected to be five to six paragraphs long with a traditional introduction that includes the authors and titles of the texts you plan to use in the essay, a clear thesis you plan ot argue, and a list of the key points you plan to include in the paper. Remember to read your chosen essay topic carefully and answer all the expectations of the essay.

Essay Options for Final Exam

1. The early nineteenth-century period of American literature saw the rise of political and social discussion, satire, and disdain of government.  Find at least three examples from different authors to illustrate their disenchantment with sociopolitical issues and use your knowledge of each author to explain their gripes.

2. As the first European to encounter the Americas, Christopher Columbus embodies the introduction of European peoples and cultures into the Western Hemisphere.  This pivotal historical moment has since served as moral mirror for citizens of the United States, reflecting their feelings and concerns about the origins of their national identity.  Using Columbus and Whitman as your primary sources, identify at least two attitudes about Columbus that reflect upon the character of the United States and offer an explanation of what cultural forces helped shape those attitudes.

3. Along with issues about race, freedom, and egalitarianism, gender issues offer a rich subtext for readings in the course.  From overt calls for gender equality to spirited discussions of traditional and transgressive gender norms, the question of what it means to be male and female in America to different groups remained a constant struggle.  Using at least three texts, analyze different attitudes about the genders and argue what these attitudes suggest about the cultural values they represent.  You may choose to talk about both genders or focus on either male or female roles.

4. While the American Revolution literally declared the United States an independent entity, the writers of the nineteenth century helped to articulate an American attitude about meritocracy, personal independence, self-reliance, and non-conformity in political, social, and even literary pursuits.  Using at least three authors, argue what it means to be an individual in America and how that attitude evolved.

5. The early nineteenth century saw the rise of transcendentalism, particularly in the works of Emerson and Thoreau.  What precisely does transcendentalism transcend? Give examples that illustrate how their writings are able to make universal judgments while remaining isolated from social, cultural, and political struggles.