American Studies
Literature Final Exam Study Guide 2015
There will be no questions on the final exam on the following:
(1) Vocabulary
(2) Grammar
Unit 1: A Separate Peace (10 questions)
Point of view & significance
Major characters
The tree as symbol (Eden)
Other symbols & motifs
Themes
The Bell Jar (12 questions)
Elements of Plath’s biography
Confessional poetry style & subject matter
Major characters in The Bell Jar (foils, mirrors)
Novel as bildungsroman
Motifs & themes
The Crucible (7 questions)
Characters and what they represent allegorically
Background on Salem
Structure of the play (trial motif)
Parallels to HUAC hearings - allegory
A Raisin in the Sun (5 questions)
Main characters and their dreams
Traditional values vs. assimilationism
Symbols
Walter’s growth as a character
Anna’s Boys (5 questions)
Characters – static/dynamic, basic traits/plot points
Themes
“I Have a Dream” (3 questions)
· Symbolism and figurative language
Poetry (15 questions)
Literary terms: Know the terms in your poetry packet, and be able to identify them in a poem or passage. Understand significant themes/images from poems in the packet. Anything in the packet is fair game.
Art, Music, & Literature presentations (approx. 7 questions)
Rachel Carson Silent Spring
Jack Kerouac On the Road (and the Beat Movement)
Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451
Kurt Vonnegut Slaughterhouse 5
Alice Walker The Color Purple
Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club
Pete Seeger
Elvis Presley
Bob Dylan
The Beatles
Woodstock
Jackson Pollock (Abstract Expressionism)
Andy Warhol
Vietnam Memorial and its history/controversy
READING COMPREHENSION: (15 questions)
There will be a non-fiction selection and a literary selection, each relevant to one of the eras we studies, followed by reading comprehension questions assessing major Keystone skills studied this year.
ESSAY: Think course themes and connect them to the different eras we’ve studied. Be ready to use examples from history, literature, and culture.
Organize your notes, prepare early, and study! Good luck!