Fall Semester Exam

Question 1

A Modell of Christian Charity by John Winthrop
- Detailed Summary

Answer 1

Delivered aboard the ship Arbella, Winthrop’s sermon outlines a vision for the new society the Puritans are about to build in New England. He emphasizes community, charity, and moral responsibility, urging his listeners to uphold a covenant with God and create a model Christian society.

Question 2

A Modell of Christian Charity by John Winthrop
- Key Themes

Answer 2

1. Community and Moral Responsibility
2. Divine Mission

Question 3

A Modell of Christian Charity by John Winthrop
- Connection to Puritanism:

Answer 3

This text embodies Puritan ideals through its emphasis on a collective moral code and a life lived under what they believed to be God’s high scrutiny. Winthrop’s vision of their society as a “city upon a hill” reflects the Puritan goal of living in a godly, communal manner that would set an example for the world.

Question 4

“Huswifery” by Edward Taylor
Detailed Summary:

Answer 4

Taylor uses the extended metaphor of a spinning wheel to describe his readiness and desire for God to use him as an instrument for spiritual purpose. The poem is a prayer for personal transformation into a vessel of God’s will.

Question 5

“Huswifery” by Edward Taylor
- Key Themes:

Answer 5

1. Spiritual Preparation
2. Purification and Usefulness

Question 6

“Huswifery” by Edward Taylor
- Connection to Puritanism:

Answer 6

The poem’s focus on personal piety and spiritual service aligns with Puritan values of self-discipline and devotion. Taylor’s plea to be made into a useful tool in God’s hands reflects the Puritan emphasis on fulfilling God’s purpose through personal and communal righteousness.

Question 8

“Upon the Burning of Our House” by Anne Bradstreet
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 8

After her house burns down, Bradstreet reflects on her loss and moves from initial grief to a spiritual acceptance of her fate, recognizing her true home is in heaven, built by God’s own hands.

Question 9

“Upon the Burning of Our House” by Anne Bradstreet
- Key Themes:

Answer 9

1. Material Loss vs. Spiritual Gain
2. Divine Will

Question 10

“Huswifery” (Taylor)
- Connection to Puritanism:

Answer 10

Bradstreet’s transition from mourning her earthly possessions to contemplating her heavenly home illustrates the Puritan value of spiritual over material wealth. Her acceptance of the fire as part of God’s plan exemplifies the Puritan ethos of seeing God’s hand in all things and using personal trials as a means to reflect on spiritual life.

Question 11

“Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 11

Franklin narrates his rise from modest beginnings to a successful career as an inventor, writer, and statesman, interspersing his life story with maxims and advice on personal and professional success.

Question 12

“Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin
- Key Themes:

Answer 12

1. Self-improvement and Rationalism
2. Pragmatism and Utility

Question 13

“Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin
- Connection to Enlightenment:

Answer 13

Franklin’s emphasis on reason, empirical observation, and the pursuit of knowledge aligns with Enlightenment principles. His methodical approach to self-improvement and his belief in human progress through rational thought and scientific endeavor are quintessential Enlightenment ideas.

Question 14

“Letters from an American Farmer” by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 14

Through letters, Crèvecoeur discusses the life of an American farmer and the broader social and economic conditions of the American colonies. He reflects on the nature of American identity and the new social order emerging in the New World.

Question 15

“Letters from an American Farmer” by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur
- Key Themes:

Answer 15

1. Emergence of American Identity
2. Critique of European Society

Question 16

“Letters from an American Farmer” by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur
- Connection to Enlightenment:

Answer 16

This work reflects Enlightenment ideals through its exploration of individualism, rationality, and criticism of old European traditions. Crèvecoeur’s portrayal of America as a land of opportunity where individuals could shape their destinies embodies the Enlightenment faith in progress and human reasoning.

Answer 17

1. God/Spirituality: Trust in God’s will and eternal provision.
2. Materialism vs. Spirituality: Earthly possessions are temporary; heavenly treasures are eternal.
3. Time: Earthly life is fleeting, but God’s promises endure.
4. Individuality: Bradstreet’s personal struggle with loss reflects both her faith and Puritan values.

Question 18

“An African Narrative” by Olaudah Equiano
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 18

Equiano recounts his life from freedom in Africa, through his experiences as a slave, to his eventual role as a free man and abolitionist. His narrative exposes the brutality of slavery and makes a compelling case for abolition.

Question 19

“An African Narrative” by Olaudah Equiano
- Key Themes:

Answer 19

1. Human Rights and Freedom
2. Rational Critique of Slavery

Question 20

Summary of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Connection to Enlightenment:

Answer 20

Equiano uses Enlightenment principles such as the universality of human rights and the appeal to reason and moral sensibility to argue against slavery. His narrative is a powerful testament to the Enlightenment belief in the capacity of reason to overcome ignorance and injustice.

Question 21

“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Detailed Summary:

Answer 21

In Puritan New England, Hester Prynne is punished for adultery. The novel explores her struggle against the restrictive moral and social codes of her community, her relationship with the co-sinner, Reverend Dimmesdale, and her attempts at redemption.

Question 22

“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Key Themes:

Answer 22

1. Individual vs. Society
2. Nature and Symbolism

Question 23

“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 23

“The Scarlet Letter” challenges the rigid Puritanical norms, focusing on personal emotion, moral ambiguity, and rebellion against societal expectations. Hawthorne’s use of symbolism and his deep exploration of personal guilt and redemption are hallmarks of Romantic literature, which values individual experience and emotion over societal norms.

Question 24

“Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 24

Emerson presents a philosophical treatise on the inherent connection between humans and the natural world, advocating for a spiritual approach to nature that transcends the purely empirical and utilitarian.

Question 25

“Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Key Themes:

Answer 25

1. Spirituality and Nature
2. Individual Perception

Question 26

“Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 26

Emerson’s essay embodies Romantic principles through its emphasis on individual intuition and the intrinsic value of the natural world. His idea that humans can gain deeper truths through personal connection with nature and the spiritual dimension it embodies reflects the Romantic valorization of the individual’s emotional and spiritual experiences.

Question 27

“To a Waterfowl” by William Cullen Bryant
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 27

Bryant observes a waterfowl’s flight and derives from it a lesson about divine guidance and the journey of the human soul. The poem is a contemplation of nature and its relationship to human life and destiny.

Question 28

“To a Waterfowl” by William Cullen Bryant
- Key Themes:

Answer 28

1. Divine Guidance
2. Inspirational Nature

Question 29

“To a Waterfowl” by William Cullen Bryant
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 29

The poem’s focus on nature as a source of spiritual inspiration and moral instruction aligns with Romanticism’s fascination with the natural world. Bryant’s reflection on the individual journey and divine providence in guiding that journey emphasizes the Romantic belief in a deeper, spiritual connection with nature.

Question 30

“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 30

Longfellow writes an inspirational poem that encourages the reader to live a life of active engagement and moral integrity, asserting the importance of making one’s life meaningful.

Question 31

“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Key Themes:

Answer 31

Rejection of Cynicism
Human Potential

Question 32

“A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 32

The poem’s exhortation to pursue a life of purpose and to believe in the inherent greatness of the human spirit is deeply Romantic. It challenges the transient nature of life with a call to transcendence through action and belief in the self, typical of Romantic literature’s emphasis on individualism and personal agency.

Question 33

“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 33

Rip escapes the societal changes and his personal troubles by falling asleep in the mountains, waking up to find the world has moved on without him. The story reflects on the transformations in American society and the individual’s place within it.

Question 34

“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving
-Key Themes:

Answer 34

1. Change and Continuity
2. Escape from Reality

Question 35

“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 35

Irving’s story explores themes of individualism and nostalgia, and the tension between progress and tradition. Rip’s disorientation upon awakening highlights the Romantic preoccupation with the individual’s alienation from society and the passage of time.

Question 36

“After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes” by Emily Dickinson
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 36

Dickinson portrays the numb aftermath of profound grief, using stark, almost clinical imagery to capture the emotional and psychological stasis that follows deep suffering.

Question 37

“After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes” by Emily Dickinson
- Key Themes:

Answer 37

1. Emotional Paralysis
2. Coping Mechanisms

Question 38

“After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes” by Emily Dickinson
-Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 38

The poem’s deep dive into the personal experience of pain and the introspective analysis of emotional response align with Romanticism’s focus on the individual psyche and the complexity of human emotions.

Question 39

“The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass
- Detailed Summary:

Answer 39

Douglass narrates his journey from a slave to a free man and influential abolitionist, focusing on his quest for education, understanding of his rights, and the cruel irony of the so-called Christian slaveholders.

Question 40

“The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass
- Key Themes:

Answer 40

1. Struggle for Literacy and Freedom
2. Moral and Spiritual Awakening

Question 41

“The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass” by Frederick Douglass
- Connection to Romanticism:

Answer 41

Douglass’s narrative emphasizes the Romantic ideals of self-education, personal enlightenment, and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. His story of self-liberation is a powerful affirmation of Romantic values of individualism and the transformative power of personal experience and will.