美国文学一期末复习题

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1、美国文学一期末复习资料I. Each of the following statements below is followed by four alternative answers. Choose the one that would best complete the statement.1. For Melville, as well as for the reader and _, the narrator, Moby Dick is still a mystery, an ultimate mystery of the universe.A. Ahab B. IshmaelC. S

2、tubb D. Starbuck8. Stylistically, Henry James fiction is characterized by_.A. short, clear sentences B. abundance of local imagesC. ordinary American speech D. highly refined language9. One of the characteristics that have made Mark Twain a major literary figure in the 19th century America is his us

3、e of_ . A. vernacular B. interior monologue C. point of view D. photographic description10. It is on his_ that Washington Irvings fame mainly rested. A. childhood recollections B. sketches about his European toursC. early poetry D. tales about America11. At the middle of 19th century, America witnes

4、sed a cultural flowering which is called “_”.A. the English Renaissance B. the Second RenaissanceC. the American Renaissance D. the Salem Renaissance12. As a philosophical and literary movement, the main issues involved in the debate of Transcendentalism are generally concerning _.A. nature, man and

5、 the universeB. the relationship between man and womanC. the development of Romanticism in American literatureD. the cold, rigid rationalism of Unitarianism13. About the novel The Scarlet Letter, which of the following statements is NOT right?A. Its very hard to say that it is a love story or a stor

6、y of sin.B. Its a highly symbolic story and the author is a master of symbolism.C. Its mainly about the moral, emotional and psychological effects of the sin upon the main characters and the people in general. D. In it the letter A takes the same symbolic meaning throughout the novel.14. The great s

7、ea adventure story Moby-Dick is usually considered_.A. a symbolic voyage of the mind in quest of the truth and knowledge of the universe.B. an adventurous exploration into mans relationship with natureC. a simple whaling tale or sea adventureD. a symbolic voyage of the mind in quest of the artistic

8、truth and beauty15. In his poems, Walt Whitman is innovative in the terms of the form of his poetry, which is called “_.”A. free verse B. blank verseC. alliteration D. end rhyming16. After the Civil War America was transformed from _ to _.A. an agrarian community an industrialized and commercialized

9、 societyB. an agrarian community a society of freedom and equalityC. a poor and backward society an industrialized and commercialized societyD. an industrialized and commercialized society a highly developed society18. Which of the following is not right about Mark Twains style of language?A. His se

10、ntence structures are long, ungrammatical and difficult to read.B. His words are colloquial, concrete and direct in effect.C. His humor is remarkable and characterized by puns, straight-faced exaggeration， repetition and anti-climax.D. His style of language had exerted rather deep influence on the c

11、ontemporary writers.20. Which of the following is not written by Henry James?A. The Portrait of A Lady and The Europeans.B. The Wings of the Dove and The Ambassadors.C. What Maisie Knows and The Bostonians.D. The Genius and The Gilded Age.21. More than five hundred poems Dickinson wrote are about na

12、ture, in which her general Skepticism about the relationship between _ is well-expressed.A. man and man B. men and womenC. man and nature D. men and God22. Which of the following is right about Emily Dickinsons poems about nature?A. In them, she expressed her general affirmation about the relationsh

13、ip between man and nature.B. Some of them showed her disbelief that there existed a mythical bond between man and nature.C. Her poems reflected her feeling that nature is restorative to human beings.D. Many of them showed her feeling of natures inscrutability and indifference to the life and interes

14、ts of human beings.23. As a great innovator in American literature, Walt Whitman wrote his poetry in an unconventional style which is now called free verse, that is _.A. lyrical poetry with chanting refrainsB. poetry without a fixed beat or regular rhyme schemeC. poetry without rhymes at the end of

15、the lines but with a fixed beatD. poetry in an irregular metric form and expressing noble feelings37. Which of the following is not a work of Nathaniel Hawthornes?A. The House of the Seven Gables. B. The Blithedale Romance.C. The Marble Faun. D. White Jacket.38. In Hawthornes novels and short storie

16、s, intellectuals usually appear as _.A. commentators B. observersC. villains D. saviors39. Besides sketches, tales and essays, Washington Irving also published a book on _, which is also considered an important part of his creative writing.A. poetic theory B. French artC. history of New York D. life

17、 of George Washington41. In American literature, escaping from the society and returning to nature is a common subject. The following titles are all related, in one way or another, to the subject except _.A. Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnB. Dreisers Sister CarrieC. Coppers Leather-St

18、ocking TalesD. Thoreaus Walden43. Emily Dickinson wrote many short poems on various aspects of life. Which of the following is not a usual subject of her poetic expression?A. Religion. B. Life and death.C. Love and marriage. D. War and peace.44. In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson made a speech entitled _

19、at Harvard, which was hailed by Oliver Wendell Holmes as Our intellectual Declaration of Independence.A. Nature B. Self-RelianceC. Divinity School Address D. The American Scholar46. In American literature the first important writer who earned an international fame on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean

20、 is_. A. Washington Irving B. Ralph Waldo Emerson C. Nathaniel Hawthorne D. Walt Whitman47. The American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for his“black vision”The Term “black vision” refers to_. A. Hawthornes observation that every man faces a black Wall B. Hawthornes belief that all men are by

21、 nature evil C. that Hawthorne employed a dream vision to tell his storyD. that Puritans of Hawthornes time usually wore black clothes52. Though Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson were romantic poets in theme and technique, they differ from each other in a variety of ways. For one thing, whereas Whitm

22、an likes to keep his eye on human Society at large, Dickinson often addresses such issues as_, immortality, religion, love and nature. A. progress B. freedom C. beauty D. death53. The Romantic writers would focus on all the following issues EXCEPT the_ in the American literary history A. individual

23、feeling B. survival of the fittestC. strong imagination D. return to nature55. With Howells, James, and Mark Twain active on the literary scene, _became the major trend in American literature in the seventies and eighties of the 19th century A. Sentimentalism B. Romanticism C. Realism D. Naturalism5

24、7. Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth and Pearl are most likely Characters in_. A. The House of the Seven Gables B. The Scarlet Letter C. The Portrait of a Lady D. The pioneers58. In his realistic fiction, Henry Jamess primary concern is to present the_. A. inner life of human beings B. Americ

25、an Civil War and its effects C. life on the Mississippi River D. Calvinistic view of original Sin60. Which of the following is NOT the virtue that Franklin enumerated in his The Autobiography? A. Temperance B. Humanity (Humility)C. Frugality D. Immoderation61. American Romanticism stretches from the

26、 end of the _ century through the outbreak of _.A. 18th, the Civil War B. 18th, the War of IndependenceC. 19th, WWI D. 19th, WWII62. _ believes that the chief aim of literary creation is beauty, and “the death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.”A. Walt Whi

27、tman B. Edgar Allen PoeC. Anne Bradstreet D. Ralph Waldo Emerson63. In Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death, _.A. death is personified as a devil B. death is described as the tragic end of a persons lifeC. death is a stage of life and it leads people to the Heaven of immortalityD. dea

28、th is described as a beautiful girl who couldnt find her final destination64. Which is generally regarded as the manifesto and the Bible of American Transcendentalism?A. Thoreaus Walden B. Emersons Nature C. Poes Poetic Principle D. Thoreaus Nature65. Henry David Thoreaus work, _, has always been re

29、garded as a masterpiece of the New England Transcendental Movement.A. Walden B. The PioneersC. Nature D. Song of Myself 66. Leaves of Grass commands great attention because of its uniquely poetic embodiment of_, which are written in the founding documents of both the Revolutionary War and the Americ

30、an Civil War.A. the democratic ideals B. the romantic idealsC. the self-reliance spirits D. the religious ideals67. _is the author of the work “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.A. Washington Irving B. James JoyceC. Walt Whitman D. William Butler Yeats68. After The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, Twain gives a

31、literary independence to Toms buddy Huck in a book called_, and the book from which all modern American literature comes.A. Life on the Mississippi River B. The Gilded AgeC. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn D. The Sun Also Rises69. The greatest work written by Theodore Dreiser is_.A. Sister Carrie B.

32、An American TragedyC. The Financier D. The Titan70. We can perhaps summarize that Walt Whitmans poems are characterized by all the following features except that they are _.A. conversational and crudeB. lyrical and well-structuredC. simple and rather crudeD. free-flowing72. Mark Twain, one of the gr

33、eatest 19th century American writers, is well known for his _.A. international theme B. waste-land imageryC. local color D. symbolism74. Most of Herman Melvilles novels are based on sea voyages and sea adventures. Which of the following is not the case?A. Typee. B. Moby-Dick.C. Omoo. D. The Confiden

34、ce-Man75. In Henry James Daisy Miller, the author tries to portray the young woman as an embodiment of _.A. the force of convention B. the free spirit of the New WorldC. the decline of aristocracy D. the corruption of the newly rich77. The Transcendentalists believe that, first, nature is ennobling,

35、 and second, the individual is _.A. insignificant B. vicious by natureC. divine D. forward-looking78. The Publication of _established Emerson as the most eloquent spokesman of New England Transcendentalism.A. Nature B. Self-RelianceC. The American Scholar D. The Over-SoulExplain the following litera

36、ry terms.2. American Transcendentalism New England Transcendentalism was, in essence, romantic idealism on Puritan soil. It was a system of thought that originated from three sources. First William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) was an American Unitarian clergyman. His Unitarianism represented a though

37、tful revolt against orthodox Puritanism. Unitarianism believed God as one being, rejecting the doctrine of trinity, stressing the tolerance of difference in religious opinion, and giving each congregation the free control of its own affairs and its independent authority. It laid the foundation for t

38、he central doctrines of transcendentalism. Secondly, the idealistic philosophy from France and Germany exerted enormous impact on American intellectuals. Thirdly, oriental mysticism as revealed in Hindu and Chinese classics reached America in English translations. As a result, New England Transcende

39、ntalism blended native American tradition with foreign influences.3. American Realism Realism is the theory of writing in which familiar aspects of contemporary life and everyday scenes are represented in a straightforward or matter-of-fact manner. This is the theory that authors try to use and guid

40、e them in their writing. It stresses truthful treatment of material. It is anti-romantic, anti-sentimental, and without abstract interest in nature, death, etc. Mark Twain laughed at people who were caught up in the world of illusions, who were not mature enough to see real situations. This is one e

41、xample of the truthful treatment of material. 4. American RomanticismRomanticism was a rebellion against the objectivity of rationalism. It was a movement of conscious rebellion against being too objective. The romantic spirit was one of subjectivity of inward feelings that one could trust ones subj

42、ective responses. Romantics placed a high premium upon the creative function of imagination, and saw art as a formulation of intuitive and imaginative perceptions that tend to speak a nobler truth than that of fact.5. Multiple points of view The employment of several narrators or narrative points of

43、 views to tell a story, thus making the structure of the book somewhat radioactive. For example, The Sound and the Fury uses four different narrative voices to piece together the story and thus challenges the reader by presenting a fragmented plot told from multiple points of view.Answer briefly4. P

44、lease give a brief analysis of the major features of American romanticism.5. Give a brief analysis of the differences between the three realists： William D. Howells， Mark Twain and Henry James7. Whitman has made radical Changes in the form of poetry by Choosing free verse as his medium of expression

45、What are the characteristics of Whitmans free verse?9. What are the major features of New England Transcendentalism? 10. What are the similarities and differences between Whitman and Dickinsons poetry?11. What are the writing features of Mark Twains literary creation?12. Who is the first American po

46、et to write free verse? What is his masterpiece? What are the symbolic meanings of the title of this work?Topic Discussion1. What makes Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn more than a childs adventure story? Briefly discuss the question from THREE of the following aspects: the setting, th

47、e language, the character(s), the theme and the style.2. Take Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as an example to illustrate the statement that Mark Twain was a unique writer in American literature6. O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done, The ship has weathered every rack, the

48、prize we sought is won The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. 1) Who is the writer of this poem? 2) Who is “Captain” the poet compa

49、res to, and what do the “fearful trip” and the “prize” respectively refer to?3) What are major rhetorical devices used in this stanza? 2. Take examples to analyze the style and theme of Mark Twain.9. Reality reflected in realistic writings （现实主义的简要背景，现实主义文学的特点，举例说明）Realism came as a reaction against

50、 the lie of romanticism and sentimentalism. The battle between idealists and realists provided the major issue of American literary history after the Civil war (1861-1865). Literature began to pay less attention to general ideas and more to the immediate facts of life. As a way of writing, realism h

51、as been applied in almost every literature throughout history. But as a literary movement, realism is a period concept and it refers to the approach of realist fiction occurred at the latter part of the 19th century. In part, the rise of realism came as a protest against the falseness and sentimenta

52、lity seen in romantic literature. The realists were determined to create a new kind of literature that was completely and totally realistic. Major Features1 Realism is the theory of writing in which familiar aspects of contemporary life and everyday scenes are represented in a straightforward or mat

53、ter-of-fact manner. This is the theory that authors try to use in their writing. It stresses truthful treatment of material. It is anti-romantic, anti-sentimental, and without abstract interest in nature, death, etc.2 In realist fiction characters from all social levels are examined in depth. The re

54、alist writers hold on to characters and keep examining how these people relate to each other. 3 Open ending is also a good example of the truthful treatment of material. 4 Realism focuses on commonness of the lives of the common people who are customarily ignored by the arts. Realists are interested

55、 in commonplace, the everyday, the average, the trivial, and the representative. 5 Realism emphasizes objectivity and offers an objective rather than an idealistic view of human nature and human experience. The realist writers are detached observers of life. They are like scientists, making an inves

56、tigation. Realism presents moral visions. The author has a purpose for presenting an objective account of real life in order to express his moral sense. Realists are ethical writers, interested in the problems of the individual conscience in conflict with social institutions. Many of their works sho

57、w the American businessman in the conflict over whether he should accept a bribe, give a bribe, participate in unfair business practices, etc. Generally, these writers show how the individual conscience wins when he opposes social conventions and social practices and they are always interested in fo

58、cusing on the dilemma. This indicates their disbelief in romantic individualism.6. The influence of Transcendentalism（定义1分，社会意义1分，文学意义2分，代表人物1分）Transcendentalism can be best understood as a late and localized manifestation of romantic movement in literature and philosophy. The triumph of intuition o

59、ver five senses, the elevation of the individual over society, the critical attitude toward formalized religion, the rejection of any kind of restraint or bondage to custom, the new and thrilling delight in nature - all these were characteristics of transcendentalism. As formulated by Emerson, transcendentalism became a loud and clear call to action, urging young people to cast off their enslavement to the past, to follow God within, and to live every moment of life with great effort, to regard nature as the great objective lesson proving Gods presence everywhere in Hi