Exam Questions

Be sure to return "Studies in American Literature" on June 11. If you fail to bring the book, you won't be allowed to take the exam.

1. Naturalism in writing, "The Second Choice" as a naturalistic work.

2. Peculiarities of E. Hemingway’s style.Hemingway’s principles of short story writing: traditions and innovations.(Be prepared to show examples of it from the stories we read).

3. E. Hemingway as a representative of “the lost generation” writers.

4. Themes and plot structure in “Dry September” and "Rose for Emily" by W.Faulkner.

5. The peculiarities of narration in T. Dreiser’s “The Second Choice”.

6. Symbols and their role in “The Great Gatsby”.

7. Themes and conflicts in “The Great Gatsby”.

8. American Dream in "The Great Gatsby"

9. Means of characterization in “The Great Gatsby”: speech portrayals, appearance, clothes, actions, names, thoughts. Speech portrayals and their roles in “The Great Gatsby”.

10. Flapper Culture in “The Great Gatsby”.

11. Plot structure and themes in "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.

12. "Flowers for Algernon" by D.Keyes: style, themes, story vs.novel.

13. Salinger's stories: themes, plot structure, characters.

14. Robert Frost's poetry: peculiarities, themes


Be ready to talk about the following characters:
Shirley in "The Second Choice",
Barton in "The Second Choice",
Miss Minnie Cooper in "Dry September",
the barber in "Dry September",
Emily in "Rose for Emily"
Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby",
Daisy Buchanan in "The Great Gatsby",
Nick Carraway in "The Great Gatsby",
George from "Of Mice and Men",
Lennie from "Of Mice and Men".
Charlie Gordon from "Flowers for Algernon@.

Be ready to explain the distinguishing characteristics of realism, naturalism, and regionalism.
Be ready to compare and contrast the writing styles of the authors.
Be ready to explain the following terms: Roaring Twenties, The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, Flappers.
Be ready to answer the question based on the readings you missed.
At the examination you are allowed to use the literary texts under analysis.

Exemptions: I would like to officially exempt Anna Karpova and Olga Ryabova (no classes missed, active engagement) from the exam procedures with an A. Yevgeniya can automatically get a B unless she wants to have a higher grade.