Short Answer Questions : 1.  Quite a few writers we’ve discussed have been recognized as literary pioneers (that is, they were the “FIRST” to use a certain technique or achieve a certain level of fame; for example, Ben Franklin wrote the first famous American autobiography and the first American rags-to-riches story).  Choose three writers we’ve covered since the last test and discuss how each was a literary pioneer. 2.  Compare the narrative voices of Phyllis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano.  How does each appear to feel about his/her captivity?  How does each feel about the dominant “white” society?  Give specific examples. 3. Recent research suggests (but does not prove) that Equiano may have been born in South Carolina, not in Africa.  How does this possibility change your assessment of his narrative? One of the most quoted lines in Thoreau’s work occurs in “Economy”: The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Discuss this statement and Thoreau’s observation that desperation is found in the city, the country, and even in our “games and amusement.” 5.  One of the PowerPoint slides contains the following assertion concerning “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”: “The story may represent Irving’s view of what the world is becoming—rough, a bit uncouth, etc.”  Using examples, show how this statement can apply to BOTH “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.” 6.  Discuss how the subject of death is treated in ONE of the following poems: Freneau’s “The Indian Burying Ground,” or Bryant’s “Thanatopsis.” 7.  Define “frame story” and discuss Irving’s use of the frame story to separate the author or narrator from the story in “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”  What might be his purpose in using the frames as he did? 8. Discuss some similarities between Franklin’s Autobiography and Equiano’s Interesting Narrative .  9.  Summarize  Emerson’s  “Self-Reliance”  and state what you believe are its main themes.  What do you think Emerson wants readers to learn from the essay? 10.  Explain why, in your opinion, Thoreau undertook the experiment at Walden Pond. 11.  Define “frame story” and discuss Irving’s use of the frame story to separate the author or narrator from the story in “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” What might be his purpose in using the frames as he did? 12.  What are the major “errata” of Franklin’s life, and why does he mention these so prominently in the autobiography? 13.  In your opinion, what would Franklin most want to be remembered for? 14.  Compare Ben Franklin’s Autobiography and Olaudah Equiano’s Narrative as “rags to riches” success stories. 15. Discuss what Emerson means when he states,  “No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.”  How does this fit in with the rest of his philosophy in “Self-Reliance”?  As a governing principle, how useful do you believe this statement to be? 16.  Lydia Maria Child's fiction was, in her own time, sometimes described as "a.

1. Short Answer Questions
:
1. Quite a few writers we’ve discussed have been recognized as
literary pioneers (that is, they were the “FIRST” to use a certain
technique or achieve a certain level of fame; for example, Ben
Franklin wrote the first famous American autobiography and the
first American rags-to-riches story). Choose three writers
we’ve covered since the last test and discuss how each was a
literary pioneer.
2. Compare the narrative voices of Phyllis Wheatley and
Olaudah Equiano. How does each appear to feel about his/her
captivity? How does each feel about the dominant “white”
society? Give specific examples.
3. Recent research suggests (but does not prove) that Equiano
may have been born in South Carolina, not in Africa. How does
this possibility change your assessment of his narrative?
One of the most quoted lines in Thoreau’s work occurs in
“Economy”: The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
Discuss this statement and Thoreau’s observation that
desperation is found in the city, the country, and even in our
“games and amusement.”
5. One of the PowerPoint slides contains the following
assertion concerning “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”: “The
story may represent Irving’s view of what the world is
becoming—rough, a bit uncouth, etc.” Using examples, show
how this statement can apply to BOTH “The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.”

2. 6. Discuss how the subject of death is treated in ONE of the
following poems: Freneau’s “The Indian Burying Ground,” or
Bryant’s “Thanatopsis.”
7. Define “frame story” and discuss Irving’s use of the frame
story to separate the author or narrator from the story in “Rip
Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” What might
be his purpose in using the frames as he did?
8. Discuss some similarities between Franklin’s
Autobiography
and Equiano’s
Interesting Narrative
.
9. Summarize Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” and state what you
believe are its main themes. What do you think Emerson wants
readers to learn from the essay?
10. Explain why, in your opinion, Thoreau undertook the
experiment at Walden Pond.
11. Define “frame story” and discuss Irving’s use of the frame
story to separate the author or narrator from the story in “Rip
Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” What might
be his purpose in using the frames as he did?
12. What are the major “errata” of Franklin’s life, and why
does he mention these so prominently in the autobiography?
13. In your opinion, what would Franklin most want to be
remembered for?
14. Compare Ben Franklin’s
Autobiography
and Olaudah Equiano’s

3. Narrative
as “rags to riches” success stories.
15. Discuss what Emerson means when he states, “No law can
be sacred to me but that of my nature.” How does this fit in
with the rest of his philosophy in “Self-Reliance”? As a
governing principle, how useful do you believe this statement to
be?
16. Lydia Maria Child's fiction was, in her own time,
sometimes described as "abolitionist propaganda." Today, her
stories are often described as melodramatic. Discuss what
elements of "The Quadroons" seem overly dramatic, and how
this drama helps shed some light on the abolitionist cause.
17. Aside from his poetry, what other accomplishments was
Philip Freneau known for?
18. Discuss some ways Equiano’s slave narrative is typical of
Ante-bellum slave narratives.
19. What are some of the “marvels” that Equiano encounters
during his travels, and why does each impress him?
20. Most of Equiano’s audience was white, Christian, and
middle-class. What qualities of prose style, what allusions,
what details support the statement that the narrative was
directed to such an audience?
21. Washington Irving’s stories contain elements of satire.
What does Irving make fun of in “Rip Van Winkle” and “The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow”?
22. One of the most quoted lines in Thoreau’s work occurs in
“Economy”: “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
Discuss this statement and Thoreau’s observation that

4. desperation is found in the city, the country, and even in our
“games and amusement.”
23. Thoreau believes in simple living. Discuss several of the
ways he simplifies his life during his experiment on Walden
Pond.
24. Discuss the theme of beauty in any two poems by Freneau
or Emerson.
25. Discuss Ben Franklin’s plan for arriving at moral
perfection.
26. Phyllis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano both wrote to a
primarily white, middle-class audience. Discuss elements of
each writer’s work that point at the accuracy of this assertion.
27. Discuss Emerson’s concept of “self-reliance.”
28. Using examples from “Self-Reliance,” discuss Emerson’s
ideas on individualism, nonconformity, and the nature of
genius.
29. In what ways is Ben Franklin the representative American
of his era? What good and bad qualities can readers learn from
him, based on the
Autobiography
?