Open Ended Questions on Literature

Compare the passage from Booker T. Washington's autobiography Up From Slavery with the passage from W.E.B. Du Bois' extended essay The Souls of Black Folk. Can you defend Washington against Du Bois' arguments? What are the main differences between these two men? What sort of future does each imagine for black people in 20th century America?

Which of these two writers do you think Nella Larsen would have had more in common with and why?

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American writers responded to the First World War by:

• writing patriotic literature

• expressing disillusionment and cynicism

• ignoring the war in their works

• focusing on economic impacts

How did they react to the rapid changes during the initial decades of the century?

• They embraced the changes enthusiastically.

• They resisted the changes.

• They were indifferent to the changes.

• They were confused by the changes.

They were shaped by the 'Jazz Age' through:

• Cultural influences and lifestyle changes

• Technological advancements

• Political movements

• Economic policies

What was a common theme in literature during the 'Jazz Age'?

• Focus on rural life

• Celebration of modernity and excess

• Exploration of traditional values

• Emphasis on historical events

How did American writers depict the societal changes of the 1920s?

• By critiquing the superficiality of the era

• By ignoring the changes

• By focusing on technological advancements

• By glorifying the past

Which of the following best describes the impact of the First World War on American literature?

• It inspired a wave of optimistic writing

• It resulted in a focus on realism and disillusionment

• It led to a surge in romantic novels

• It caused a decline in literary production

What was a significant influence on American art during the 1920s?

• Colonial American themes

• European classical traditions

• The Harlem Renaissance

• The rise of industrialization

Which genre of music became synonymous with the 'Jazz Age'?

• Rock and Roll

• Blues

• Jazz

• Classical