Literary Focus: Early America

Based on the text, which of the following options best characterizes early American literature?

• Early American literature is best described as solely influenced by Native American storytelling traditions.

• Early American literature is best described as a diverse mix of writing and storytelling techniques that were informed by various cultural influences.

• Early American literature is best described as solely faith-based and originating from the writing traditions found in the Puritan movement.

• Early American literature is focused on defying British conventions of spelling and grammar.

England had a well-established literary tradition at the time—Shakespeare had died only four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620. By contrast, because North American settlers were occupied with establishing the colonies and had little time to devote to the creation of original works of fiction, the majority of early colonial literature was utilitarian—observations of North American geography, biographies, and treatises.

• The passage explains that Shakespeare was an important influence on early colonial literature.

• The passage explains the impact of England’s taxation on early colonial literature.

• The passage describes a notable difference between English and early colonial literature.

• The passage suggests that English literature was more interesting than early colonial literature.

The following passage (paragraph 9) most closely suggests that early American literature _______.

Many of the inhabitants of North America during the colonial period were struggling to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. Native Americans saw the land they had inhabited for thousands of years overrun by newcomers; they saw their populations being decimated by European diseases and colonization, which culminated in violent battles over territory. Early European settlers sought to establish themselves and tame what they viewed as a wild and alien environment, documenting their efforts in diaries, letters, and books. Enslaved Africans passed on oral and written accounts of their daily struggle to survive the violence and degradation imposed on them by colonial masters.

• was informed by a sense of struggle

• attempted to explore the injustices of oppression

• was responsible for starting the Revolutionary War

• united colonial America’s various cultural groups

According to the text, the Enlightenment was a movement primarily committed to the use of __________.

• philosophy

• religious faith

• emotion

• reason

According to the text, which of the following best describes the typical form of Native American literary traditions?

• Native American literature is mostly based on hieroglyphics.

• Native American literature is primarily an oral tradition.

• Native American literature is primarily a written tradition.

• Native American literature is mostly harmonious in form.