American Literature Study Guide Flashcards
(45 cards)
Who wrote “Possum?”
Paul Laurence Dunbar
What style was the poem “Possum?”
Dialect Style
Who wrote “Sympathy?”
Paul Laurence Dunbar
What style was “Sympathy?”
Standard English
Who wrote “Harlem?”
Langston Hughes
What literary devices are used in “Harlem?”
Similes, metaphors, imagery, alliteration, symbolism, and rhetorical questions.
Who wrote “The Wrote Not Taken?”
Robert Frost
What was “The Road Not Taken” about?
Choice, regret, and human nature.
What was the road symbolic of in “The Road Not Taken?”
Life choices and the paths we take
Who wrote “Let America Be America Again?”
Langston Hughes
What does the poem “Let America Be America Again” talk about?
The American dream and equality
What literary devices does “Let America Be America Again” use?
Repetition, alliteration, imagery, metaphors, etc.
What is iron about “War is Kind?”
The poem describes the harsh reality of war.
What type of irony is used in “War is Kind?”
Verbal Irony
Why did Jackson write “The Lottery?”
To critique societal traditions and blind conformity.
Comma/FANBOYS Ex.
I wanted to go to the beach, but it started raining.
Semicolons and Transitions Words Ex.
I love reading; however, I don’t have much time for it.
What years did the Realism and Naturalism time period span?
mid 19th century - early 20th century
What years did Modernism span?
1910’s - 1940’s
What years does Contemporary span?
1940’s - present
What is the American Dream?
The belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination.
What are the 5 characteristics
Formalism, symbolism, individualism, experimentation, and absurdity.
What was the Harlem Renaissance?
Cultural movement in the 1920’s that celebrated African-American art, Literature, music, and intellectualism, fostering racial pride and creativity.
Who is Maya Angelou?
An American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.
