ENGLISH STUDY GUIDE

Unit Essential Questions

1. What does a nations literature reveal about its citizens search for truth?
2. How are the cultural effects of westward expansion and the American Industrial
Revolution evident in American Romantic literature?
3. What is an American hero and how did the American Romantic hero emerge?
How does the American hero live on in literature, television and film today?
4. How do the works of American Romantic writers reflect a shift toward
individualism?
5. How do Romantic texts reflect emerging American ideals of self-reliance, selfdiscovery, and imagination?
6. How do the works of the Transcendentalists and of Gothic writers differ from, yet
contain the elements of, Romanticism?
7. Why are the voices of the disenfranchised (women, Native Americans, African
Americans) strikingly absent from the body of American Romantic texts?
Romantic Texts Included on This Exam:
"The Devil and Tom Walker"--Washington Irving
The Works of the Fireside Poets:
"Thanatopsis"--William Cullen Bryant
"A Psalm of Life"--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls"--Longfellow
"Old Ironsides"--Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl"--John Greenleaf Whittier
"The First Snowfall"--James Russell Lowell
The Works of the Transcendentalists:
Selection from Self-Reliance--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Selection from Nature--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Selection from Walden--Henry David Thoreau
Selection from Resistance to Civil Government--Henry David Thoreau
The Works of the Dark Romantics:
"The Minister's Black Veil"--Nathaniel Hawthorne

"The Fall of the House of Usher"--Edgar Allan Poe

"The Raven"--Edgar Allan Poe
The Works of the Masters of American Poetry
Walt Whitman
"I Hear America Singing"
Song of Myself--1, 10, 33, and 52
"A Noiseless Patient Spider"
"O Captain! My Captain!"
"A Sight in Camp in the Daybreak Gray and Dim"
Emily Dickinson (We did not get to Dickinson, so questions about her work will be extra
credit. We will read her works when we return.)
"Success is Counted Sweetest"
"Because I Could Not Stop for Death"
"Much Madness is Divinest Sense"
"'Hope' is the Thing With Feathers"
Literary Elements and Techniques (Devices):
Students will need to be able to recognize and evaluate the use of the following devices within
the literature. (See sample multiple choice and short answer items below.)
alliteration - Alliteration is a literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin
with letters belonging to the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific
vowel group, the alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence.
Alliterations are also created when the words all begin with the same letter. Alliterations are used
to add character to the writing and often add an element of fun to the piece..
Ex - The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way. (The W sound is highlighted and
repeated throughout the sentence.)
allusion - An allusion is a figure of speech whereby the author refers to a subject matter such as
a place, event, or literary work by way of a passing reference. It is up to the reader to make a
connection to the subject being mentioned.

Ex - Its no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Teresa in the making; she loves to
help and care after people everywhere- from the streets to her own friends.
In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of qualities that
Mary has.
author's style - HOW the author chooses to write to his or her readers. A style reveals both the
writer's personality and voice, but it also shows how he or she perceives the audience. The choice
of a conceptual writing style molds the overall character of the work.
author's purpose - WHY = Authors reason for writing the piece or the inner meaning/message
of the piece
audience - who the writing is directed towards
cadence - RHYTHM = The beat, rate, or measure of any rhythmic movement, a slight falling in
pitch of the voice in speaking or reading, as at the end of a declarative sentence
DIRECT characterization - when the reader or audience is told what the character's
personality is. Direct characterization tells the reader or audience exactly what type of person
that character is.
INDIRECT characterization - the process by which the writer shows the character's personality
through speech, actions and appearance. Indirect characterization shows who a character is based
on what he/she does and says.
conflict - It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds
in achieving his aims or dreams. The conflict is a discord that can have external aggressors or
can even arise from within the self. It can occur when the subject is battling his inner discord, at
odds with his surroundings or it may be pitted against others in the story.
Ex - John tried hard to convince himself that his Hollywood dreams were worth the struggle but
his parents, and his inner voice of reason, failed to agree.
connotation - Connotations are the associations people make with words that go beyond the
literal or dictionary definition. Many words have connotations that create emotions or feelings in
the reader.
Ex - And once again, the autumn leaves were falling.
This phrase uses autumn to signify something coming to an end.
denotation - Denotation refers to the use of the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a
word.
Ex - They built a house.
In the above sentence, house is meant literally as in a building where a family lives. If the word
"home" was used instead in the above sentence in place of "house", the meaning would not be so
literal as there are many emotions associated with the word "home" beyond simply the structure
where people live.
diction - Diction is the distinctive tone or tenor of an authors writings. Diction is not just a
writer's choice of words it can include the mood, attitude, dialect and style of writing. Diction is
usually judged with reference to the prevailing standards of proper writing and speech and is
seen as the mark of quality of the writing. It is also understood as the selection of certain words
or phrases that become peculiar to a writer.

Ex - Certain writers in the modern day and age use archaic terms such as thy, thee and
wherefore to imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work.
ethos - an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or
credibility of the persuader.
epigram - a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way OR a short
poem, especially a satirical one, having a witty or ingenious ending.
imagery - In literature, one of the strongest devices is imagery wherein the author uses words
and phrases to create mental images for the reader. Imagery helps the reader to visualize more
realistically the authors writings. The usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and
similes amongst other literary forms in order to tickle and awaken the readers sensory
perceptions is referred to as imagery. Imagery is not limited to only visual sensations, but also
refers to igniting kinesthetic, olfactory, tactile, gustatory, thermal and auditory sensations as well.
Ex- The gushing brook stole its way down the lush green mountains, dotted with tiny flowers in
a riot of colors and trees coming alive with gaily chirping birds.
logos - literary device that can be defined as a statement, sentence or argument used to convince
or persuade the targeted audience by employing reason or logic
metaphor - Metaphors are one of the most extensively used literary devices. A metaphor refers
to a meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by way of another. In a metaphor, one subject is
implied to be another so as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits. The
first subject, which is the focus of the sentences is usually compared to the second subject, which
is used to convey a degree of meaning that is used to characterize the first. The purpose of using
a metaphor is to take an identity or concept that we understand clearly (second subject) and use it
to better understand the lesser known element (the first subject).
Ex: Henry was a lion on the battlefield. This sentence suggests that Henry fought so valiantly
and bravely that he embodied all the personality traits we attribute to the ferocious animal. This
sentence implies immediately that Henry was courageous and fearless, much like the King of the
Jungle.
meter - Meter is a unit of rhythm in poetry, the pattern of the beats. It is also called a foot. Each
foot has a certain number of syllables in it, usually two or three syllables. The difference in types
of meter is which syllables are accented and which are not.
mood - The literary device mood refers to a definitive stance the author adopts in shaping a
specific emotional perspective towards the subject of the literary work. It refers to the mental and
emotional disposition of the author towards the subject, which in turn lends a particular character
or atmosphere to the work. The final tone achieved thus is instrumental in evoking specific,
appropriate responses from the reader.
Ex - In Erich Segals Love Story, the relationship of the two protagonists is handled with such
beauty, delicateness and sensitivity that the reader is compelled to feel the trials and tribulations
of the characters.
motif - The literary device motif is any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly
present through the entire body of literature. Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific
theme dominating the literary work. Motifs are very noticeable and play a significant role in
defining the nature of the story, the course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece.

Ex - In many famed fairytales, the motif of a handsome prince falling in love with a damsel in
distress and the two being bothered by a wicked step mother, evil witch or beast and finally
conquering all to live happily ever after is a common motif.
Another common motif is the simple, pretty peasant girl or girl from a modest background in
fairytales discovering that she is actually a royal or noble by the end of the tale.
narration - What makes them "narrative" is their ability to tell a story.Narrative poetry tells
stories about societies and heroic deeds. Many of them are very long, like some ballads and epic
poems.
pathos - convincing using emotional pull
personification - Personification is one of the most commonly used and recognized literary
devices. It refers to the practice of attaching human traits and characteristics with inanimate
objects, phenomena and animals.
Ex - The raging winds The wise owl The warm and comforting fire
point of view - Point of view is the manner in which a story is narrated or depicted and who it is
that tells the story. Simply put, the point of view determines the angle and perception of the story
unfolding, and thus influences the tone in which the story takes place. The point of view is
instrumental in manipulating the readers understanding of the narrative. In a way, the point of
view can allow or withhold the reader access into the greater reaches of the story. Two of the
most common point of view techniques are the first person, wherein the story is told by the
narrator from his or her standpoint and the third person wherein the narrator does not figure in
the events of the story and tells the story by referring to all characters and places in the third
person with third person pronouns and proper nouns.
Ex - In the popular Lord of the Rings book series, the stories are narrated in the third person and
all happenings are described from an outside the story point of view. Contrastingly, in the
popular teen book series, Princess Diaries, the story is told in the first person, by the protagonist
herself.
purpose - the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic. Then, once a topic is
selected, the author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain,
or explain his ideas to the reader.
repetition - to repeat the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer.
rhythm - demonstrates the long and short patterns through stressed and unstressed syllables
particularly in verse form.
SLANT rhyme - a rhyme in which the stressed syllables of ending consonants match, however
the preceding vowel sounds do not match.For instance, in words such as shape/keep the
consonance is very strong. The final consonant sounds remain similar but the ending vowel
sounds are different in half rhyme. Similar to these two words, moon and run and in the
words hold and bald the ending consonant sounds are similar, whereas vowel sounds are
different. It is generally used to give an inharmonious feeling in a rhyme scheme. Poets can bring
variations in their choice of words by using half rhymes.

EXACT rhyme - repetition of the same stressed vowel sound as well as any consonant sounds
that follow the vowel. For example, look at the word pair 'now' and 'cow'. The exact same vowel
sound is repeated with no change in consonant sounds after the vowel sound.
speaker - WHO is speaking (author, character) [voice in a poem; the person or thing that is
speaking]
suspense - Suspense is the intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the
outcome of certain events. It basically leaves the reader holding their breath and wanting more
information. The amount of intensity in a suspenseful moment is why it is hard to put a book
down. Without suspense, a reader would lose interest quickly in any story because there is
nothing that is making the reader ask, Whats going to happen next? In writing, there has to be
a series of events that leads to a climax that captivates the audience and makes them tense and
anxious to know what is going to happen.
Ex - A cliffhanger is a great way to create suspense. You remember when you were a kid and
very excited to watch those Saturday morning shows. You can probably recall the feeling you
had at the pit of your stomach when, after about 25 minutes and lots of commercials, you were
hoping to find out what happened to your favorite character. However, you didnt get to find out.
Instead they would make the Tune In Next Week announcement and you already knew that
you would be there. Same time, same place. Suspense is a powerful literary tool because, if done
correctly, you know your audience will be back for more and more.
symbol(ism) - A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often
concealed at first sight, and is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than
those that are visible in the literal translation alone. Symbol is using an object or action that
means something more than its literal meaning.
Ex - The phrase a new dawn does not talk only about the actual beginning of a new day but
also signifies a new start, a fresh chance to begin and the end of a previous tiring time.
theme - The theme of any literary work is the base that acts as a foundation for the entire literary
piece. The theme links all aspects of the literary work with one another and is basically the main
subject. The theme can be an enduring pattern or motif throughout the literary work, occurring in
a complex, long winding manner or it can be short and succinct and provide a certain insight into
the story.
Ex - The main theme in the play Romeo and Juliet was love with smaller themes of sacrifice,
tragedy, struggle, hardship, devotion and so on.
tone - The tone of a literary work is the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with
regards to a specific character, place or development. Tone can portray a variety of emotions
ranging from solemn, grave, and critical to witty, wry and humorous. Tone helps the reader
ascertain the writers feelings towards a particular topic and this in turn influences the readers
understanding of the story.
Ex - In her Harry Potter series, author J.K. Rowling has taken an extremely positive, inspiring
and uplifting tone towards the idea of love and devotion.
(Note good lit device resource here: http://literary-devices.com/)

Be able to answer the unit essential questions.

Familiarize yourself with the content of the PowerPoint Presentation title American
Romanticism (black background).
Be able to discern the meanings of words from context.
Review the textual notes (annotations) you made for each text as we discussed it in class.
Review the "Before You Read" and "Literary Focus" sections or the background information
provided for each text, and review the "Making Meaning" questions and prompts at the end
of each text.