Modern American Literature Unit Test Multiple choice (3 points each) Choose the best possible answer. 1) In writing a literary analysis, a primary source is: A. the source you use the most B. your most formal source, usually an encyclopedia C. the novel about which you re writing D. a biography of the author 2) Which of the following did NOT take place during the Modern American Literature era? A. Hitler s rise to power B. the Civil War C. women s suffrage D. the roaring 20 s 3) Ulysses by James Joyce is one of the most famous examples of: A. disillusionment B. stream of consciousness C. psychoanalysis D. sestet 4) The reason behind a character s behavior is his or her: A. internal complexity B. background C. hopes and dreams D. motivation
5) Another phrase for Gothic tale is: A. historical essay B. personal narrative C. scary story D. epic poem 6) If a writer includes details about how he or she feels about certain events or people, these details are: A. subjective B. objective C. biographical D. historical 7) Ambiguities are common in several types of literary work, including stream of consciousness. What is an ambiguity? A. a meaning that is unclear B. a reference to another literary work C. a meaning that has a fixed interpretation D. a literary technique in which similar consonant sounds are used in repetition 8) The Modernist time period is characterized by all of the following, EXCEPT for: A. bold new experimental styles B. Shakespearean sonnets C. changes to poetic forms D. changes in attitudes 9) Which of the following works that we read is a parody? A. The Red Wheelbarrow B. Harlem C. Birches D. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
10) Which of the following is NOT an example of a figure of speech? A. metaphor B. personification C. allusion D. foreshadowing 11) The geographical center of the Harlem Renaissance movement was: A. in a neighborhood in Los Angeles B. in a neighborhood in Chicago C. in a neighborhood in New York City D. in a neighborhood in Seattle 12) Imagism was a movement that came about during the Modern American Literature time period. What is imagism characterized by? A. poetic language B. clear, concise images C. symbols in the text D. evoking images of abstract concepts 13) The mood is the overall emotion created by a piece of literature. What is the tone? A. the attitude of the writer B. the attitude of the reviewer C. the attitude of the reader D. the attitude of the main character 14) When analyzing a literary work, you must write a, which states your perspective on that piece. A. primary statement B. topic statement C. perspective statement D. thesis statement
15) What is an external conflict? A. a conflict that takes place outside B. a conflict between two or more people C. a conflict between a person and an object D. a conflict that occurs between a person and his or her conscious Use the following poem to answer questions 16 20 of this section. The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes I ve known rivers: I ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I ve known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like rivers. 16) Which phrase in the poem contains a simile? A. lulled me to sleep B. soul has grown C. deep like rivers D. raised the pyramids
17) Which literary technique does the author utilize? A. repetition B. alliteration C. onomatopoeia D. setting the scene 18) How would you describe the tone of this poem? A. distraught B. jubilant C. nervous D. proud 19) Human blood in human veins and muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset are examples of: A. symbolism B. rhythm C. setting D. imagery 20) In what movement was the author of this poem a key part? A. women s suffrage B. Harlem Renaissance C. civil rights D. the rejection of Modernist trends
Short answer (5 points each) Respond to all five short answer questions. Be sure to address each part of each question. 1) What is the American dream? Name one piece of literature in which we find this idea reflected. 2) What is the Harlem Renaissance? Name one significant contributor. 3) What is a protagonist? Is every protagonist a hero? 4) When analyzing a piece of literature, standard practice is to ask a series of questions about the piece. Name two questions you would ask yourself regarding any literary work that would help in your analysis of it. 5) Conflict is a vital piece to any literary work. Name one conflict that occurs in one of the pieces of literature we read during this unit. Is it an internal conflict or an external conflict?
Essay (15 points) During this unit, we have talked a great deal about how social and political happenings influenced the authors of this era. Pick one author and write about how his or her work was specifically influenced by the social and political environments that surrounded him or her.