Below are the prompts for the take home part of the final (50 pts). Choose only one prompt. The essay will be due on Wednesday, May 14. Note that you may choose to write about works that we have not discussed in class.
1. What does the term American literature mean to you? How has this term evolved for you over the semester? How has it evolved in the era that we cover in EN 211? What appears to be the purpose of literature? How does it evolve? Discuss the contributions of four of our readings to your understanding of American literature. Feel free to consider works from different genres as well as those from both Colonial America and the United States of America. Two should be from the first half of the semester; two should be from the second half. How does literature shape American identity? You may also consider works from Canada or Mexico or the Native American peoples. What does each work have in common with the others? How does each work trouble or complicate your understanding of American literature? Note that we have talked about some British authors (John Donne, George Herbert, Samuel Richardson, Katherine Phillips, Jane Austen, Charlotte Temple Smith, etc.) as well. (The British works are above and beyond your four works to discuss.)
2. What role do women play in American literature before 1865? Consider women as characters, audiences, and authors in up to three different works. Which genres or topics do they seem to prefer? How do they view the act of writing as well as its purpose? Recognize that your viewpoint will be grounded in your historical perspective as a 21st century American. Feel free to consider works from different genres as well as those from both Colonial America and the United States of America. Two should be from the first half of the semester; two should be from the second half.
3. Should it matter whether or not a work is popular or even published during its author's life? Why? Why not? Should it matter whether or not a work was popular when it was first published? Why or why not? Refer to up to three of the works that we've read so far this semester. Consider how publication may change a work. Consider the authors' race, class, and gender and these factors' impact on their work and its publication. Note that some of the British authors we've talked about were not published in print (as opposed to manuscript circulation) either. Note that Emily Dickinson chose not to publish her work although many women of her time did. Note that Walt Whitman self-published his work. (The British works are above and beyond your four works to discuss.)
4. What role does race play in American literature before 1865? Consider not only African-American and/or Native American authors and their writing but also African-American and/or Native American characters and audiences as well as European-Americans as a race. Also, consider how race impacts important themes in American literature such as freedom and individualism. Note that Phillis Wheatley is a public poet, perhaps because she must argue for her right to write poetry. Note that readers suspected that Harriet Jacobs' narrative had been written by her editor. Feel free to use 20/20 hindsight, especially about the Civil War. Discuss four works from the semester so far. Two should be from the first half of the semester; two should be from the second half.
5. What role does genre play in American literature before 1865? Consider the genres that you have read in other literature classes (especially at the college & AP level) and those that we are reading this semester. Consider that, in the second half of the class, we have read more traditional literary genres in addition to our life writing and journalism. Discuss the impact of gender, class, race, and historical period. Note that we have talked about some British authors (John Donne, George Herbert, Jane Austen, etc.) as well and that we have read both canonical and non-canonical writers. Refer to up to four works. (The British works are above and beyond your four works to discuss.)
6. What role do landscape and geography play in American literature before 1865? Consider differences in genre, historical period, gender, race, and class among authors and their works. If you have studied later American literature and/or read the work of nature writers such as Terry Tempest Williams, Barry Lopez, or Henry David Thoreau, feel free to bring their insights into your discussion. You may also bring in insights from your reading of British writers, especially the Romantics. Refer to four works. Two of these should be from the first half of the semester; the other two should be from the second half.
Good luck! Feel free to check in with me if you have questions.
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