American Lit Context

Question 1

Who coined the term ‘The American Dream’

Answer 1

James Truslow Adams in 1931

Question 2

When was the great depression and what caused it?

Answer 2

1929-1941, stock market crashed in 1929

Question 3

When was Grapes of Wrath published?

Answer 3

1939

Question 4

How long did the dust bowl or the ‘dirty thirties’ last for?

Answer 4

1930-1940

Question 5

How many banks failed during the great depression?

Answer 5

A third

Question 6

What is a hooverville?

Answer 6

A derogatory term for a town that was built and occupied by the unemployed homeless people during the great depression. Called a hooverville. Angered by the lack of direct assistance from President Herbert Hoover and the U.S. government, the shanty communities were nicknamed after him.

Question 7

How many people were forced off their farms and migrated?

Answer 7

2.5 million people

Question 8

How many californians picked grapes?

Answer 8

40%

Question 9

Where did Steinbeck get the descriptive knowledge of the okie life from?

Answer 9

He worked on a farm during the great depression

Question 10

What was Grapes of Wrath accused of being?

Answer 10

Communist propoganda

Question 11

Why did the public at the time respond well to the Grapes of Wrath?

Answer 11

They liked it for its realism, and how the book reflected the anger in the people. This was not a period to romanticise (no happy ending)

Question 12

What are the ‘networks of iron’?

Answer 12

Refers to the extensive railroad networks that were being built at the time during America’s industrial revolution.

Question 13

How did Abraham Lincoln describe America?

Answer 13

‘a house divided’

Question 14

What was North America (where the Spanish and french weren’t) first called when settled by the English?

Answer 14

‘Virginia’ or virgin lands. People saw America as a blank slate, a fresh start, on which they could create their vision of a perfect state, free from the inequalities of the Old World. (Land of opportunity) Which led to a clash of ideas and cultures.

Question 15

How many settlers did John White recruit to settle in America?

Answer 15

100 settlers

Question 16

What was the American Dream?

Answer 16

A national ethos that any individual, regardless of their ethnic, religious or financial background has the opportunity to success, and upward social mobility through hard work, determination, and ambition. (Success should not depend on birth or priviledge but hard work)

Question 17

When was the prohibition era?

Answer 17

1920-1933

Question 18

What is hedonism?

Answer 18

A theme that explores the pursuit of pleasures as central values, shown through Gatsby’s parties illustrating how the relentless pursuit of pleasure can lead to loss of meaning and ethical grounding.

Question 19

What is a speak-easy?

Answer 19

Secret illegal pubs that were opened during the prohibition era (1920-1933)

Question 20

How did F. Scott-Fitzgerald come up with the idea for Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship?

Answer 20

Fitzgerald also was unable to marry the woman he loved due to a difference in class and wealth. (Gatsby so desperate to show Daisy his amassed wealth)

Question 21

When was the Great Gatsby published?

Answer 21

1925

Question 22

The Roaring Twenties

Answer 22

The Roaring Twenties and Materialism: The post world war 1 period saw an economic boom that ushered in the consumer-driven “Roaring Twenties.” Many Americans pursued wealth, entertainment, and self-indulgence as a way to escape the memories of wartime hardships. This shift towards consumerism left some feeling that American society was becoming increasingly shallow and focused on materialism rather than meaningful values or ideals.

Question 23

Why are the people in Grapes of Wrath angry?

Answer 23

False expectations of California. The “white houses” Ma dreams of is a symbol of the broken promises of the American Dream.

Question 24

What is rugged individualism?

Answer 24

A popular ideology with republicans that people should be self reliant and instead of relying on help from the government

Question 25

Why was president Herbert Hoover unpopular?

Answer 25

Because he provided very little aid to the suffering amercican people after the Wall st crash due to his belief in ‘rugged individualism’

Question 26

How many people were unemployed during the Great depression?

Answer 26

14 million, leading to many people having an ‘everyone for themselves’ mentality due to the lack of job space.

Question 27

How did Franklin. D. Roosevelt aid people during the great depression?

Answer 27

He implemented the ‘New Deal’ which was a series of public work projects and reforms to rebuild the US economy and created many jobs.

Question 28

In what way was the second world war positive for people?

Answer 28

It created millions of job opportunities after the great depression.