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FINAL EXAM ESSAY OPTIONSYour final exam will take place during our last class meeting. You will have to identify 5 out of 10 quotes for the exam (selected from the quotations submitted by you and redistributed online by me). You will need to give the title of the piece, the author of the piece, and give two or three thoughtful sentences on the quote explaining its importance in the context of the course. In addition, you will need to prepare an essay exam prep card using the following specifications:
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, Washington Irving, 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. |
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Site URL: http://www.halhalbert.com/classes/spring2011/eng211 |