Young Republic

Question 1

American Novel

Answer 1

At first imitations of British Novels

Question 2

Sentimental Novel

Answer 2

Was meant to show the formula of virtue being rewarded, vice punished. Teaching women how to avoid scandals and errors, dangers of seduction etc. - shows the helpless situation of the 18th century women.

Question 3

William Hill Brown

Answer 3

The Power of Sympathy; first American novel, told through letters.

Question 4

Susana Rowlson

Answer 4

The Charlotte Temple - tells the story of a schoolgirl who gets seducted by a british officer, for whom she leaves Britain for America, where she gets abandoned, pregnant and dies. Reason must control passion.

Question 5

Picaresque Novel

Answer 5

An episodic novel that features an unconventional protagonist traveling and getting into trouble. Major literary trend of the 18th century.

Question 6

The Gothic Novel

Answer 6

Combines elements of horror, romance and mystery.

Question 7

Charles Brocken Brown

Answer 7

First American gothic writer. Uses sentimental plot to explore obsession and darkness of human psyche. Influential in Britain (his works influenced the writing of Frankenstein).
Sensational violence, dramatic intensivity - was meant to educate the readers on their behavior and historical causes of actions.

Question 8

Wieland

Answer 8

Charles Brockden Brown.
The titular protagonist (who represents enlightenment) starts hearing a voice in his head that tells him to do horrible things. He obeys - the novel critiques the pure belief in reason, because reason can’t always be used to understand the world.

Question 9

Edgar Huntly

Answer 9

Charles Brockden Brown, captivity narrative (test of faith). Indians are shown as savage animals.

Question 10

Philip Freneau

Answer 10

Transitional poet (romanticism was about to start as the 18th century was ending), points to romantic spirit (nature stuff) and writes about the American Revolution.

Question 11

The Wild Honeysuckle

Answer 11

Philip Freneau. Presents a speaker who sees a honeysuckle, and talks about its beauty, the nature and how the flower’s life imitates human’s.

Question 12

The Indian Burying Ground

Answer 12

Philip Freneau, describes the difference between the burying of the Natives (sitting position) and the colonizers (lying position) and the superiority of the Indian customs.

Question 13

Thanatopsis

Answer 13

William Cullen Bryant. Nature as a Metaphor of Truth. The Brits were amazed by the quality of the poem.

Question 13

To a Waterflow

Answer 13

William Cullen Bryant. Nature is the metaphor for an eternal truth. God guides the bird just like he guides the poet.

Question 14

Washington Irving

Answer 14

Born in tolerant New York, but because of his stay in Britain he struggled with finding literary identity of his country, as it had no heritage (medieval ruins for romanticism etc.). Themes included:
- awareness of how nothing is permanent
- contrast between reality and imagination, inability to draw the line between the two
- no didactism

Question 14

Washington Irving

Answer 14

Born in tolerant New York, but because of his stay in Britain he struggled with finding literary identity of his country, as it had no heritage (for example: how can romanticism exists if USA has no medieval foundation? And etc.). Themes included:
- awareness of how nothing is permanent
- contrast between reality and imagination, inability to draw the line between the two
- no didactism

Question 15

A History of the New York from the beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Driedrich Knickerbocker

Answer 15

Washington Irving. A satire of serious historical pieces. Mixture of important and meaningless events, intermingled without any selection. Before it was published, Irving posted ads that suggested Knickerbocker was a real person.

Question 16

The Sketchbook

Answer 16

Washington Irving. Collection of Knickerbocker’s short stories, such as “Legends of Sleepy Hollow” or “Rip van Winkle”.

Question 17

James Fenimore Cooper

Answer 17

Author of Historical Romances, a pre-romantic author. Wrote The Pilot and The Spy.

Question 18

The Leatherstocking Tales

Answer 18

James Fenimore Cooper. Tells the adventures of Hawkeye, a white child who was raised by the Native Mohican tribe.

Question 19

Last of the Mohicans

Answer 19

James Fenimore Cooper. A sequel to The Leatherstocking Tales, set during the 7 year war.
Focusses on transport of two women in company of soldiers - Mohicans travel with them, one of them becomes a villain. Hawkeye becomes the prototype of an American Adam - pristine, innocent character, who embraces indian code of honor, and respects their culture.