Literary Context

Question 1

Transcendentalism

Answer 1

1840-1860

Question 2

Realism/naturalism/regionalism/

Answer 2

1855-1900

Question 3

Modernism

Answer 3

1900-1950

Question 4

Harlem renaissance

Answer 4

1920’s

Question 5

Transcendentalism beliefs

Answer 5

Manual labour dignity
Advanced confidence
Individuality is valued
Self reliance

Question 6

Transcendentalism in The Great Gatsby
&
The Grapes of Wrath

Answer 6

Nature - nick moves towards this at the end
Gatsbys life is the opposite to this
However he shows individualism and is a hard worker
Materialism kills him and myrtle

Recognition of Manual labour
Casey preacher - god - changes to become less centralised by this
Living away from society in natural places

Question 7

Realism/naturalism themes

Answer 7

Depicts the social realities and the lives of everyday society
“The faithful representation of reality”

Naturalism is an extreme form of realism

Question 8

Regionalism characteristics

Answer 8

Setting: remote, integral to story
Narrator: typically an educated observer who learns something from the characters while keeping a distant but sympathetic view towards them
Plots: ‘nothing happens’ prove a point. Revolves around the community

Question 9

Regionalism themes

Answer 9

Thematic conflict between urban ways and old fashioned values often symbolised by the intrusion of an outsider who seeks something from the community

Question 10

Abolitionist movement (1830’s)

Answer 10

Social pressure group, whose organisation was in the North, intending on abolishing slavery.

Question 11

Modernist movement outlined

Answer 11

‘unreliable’ narrator - readers forced to question even the most basic assumptions about a novel.
A whole new perspective came into being, known as ‘the stream of consciousness’ - the inner thoughts in somebodies head.

Question 12

What did modernist writers want?

Answer 12

a break from tradition - literature turned non traditional and less admirable

Question 13

What happened during the Harlem Renaissance?

Answer 13

a cultural, social and artistic explosion that took place during the 1920’s in Harlem, NY. Economic opportunities triggered a widespread migration of blacks into NY. Here blacks explored new opportunities for social freedom.

Question 14

What reform movement hit America in the late 19th Century?

Answer 14

Women’s suffragette movement (women’s campaign for vote)