wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

American Literature Eras

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which era of American literature is characterized by writings that reflect the beliefs and values of the early American settlers?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

2.

Which era of American literature emphasized the importance of individualism, self-reliance, and the connection between nature and the divine?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

3.

Which era of American literature focused on depicting everyday life and society as it truly was, without idealization or romanticism?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

4.

Which era of American literature includes the oral traditions, myths, and legends of the indigenous peoples of America?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

5.

Which era of American literature is associated with the writings and speeches about equality and freedom?

a)

Revolutionary literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

6.

Which era of American literature is characterized by a focus on individualism, intuition, and the belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

7.

Which era of American literature is known for its accurate and detailed portrayal of everyday life, often focusing on the middle class?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

8.

Which era of American literature is associated with slave trade and expansion of territories and colonies?

a)

Colonial literature

b)

Transcendentalism

c)

Realism

d)

Native American

9.

Romanticism focused mostly on

a)
politics
b)
feelings
c)
religion
d)
education
10.
Romantics thought the beauty of nature was a path to:
a)
new places
b)
sophistication
c)
spiritual development
d)
picnic areas
11.
The Romantic literary era was bounded by:
a)
the Revolutionary and Civil Wars
b)
WWI and WWII
12.
The most important genre of literature to Romantics is
a)
sermons
b)
brochures
c)
poetry
d)
novels
13.

Early American Literature began approximately in what year?

a)

1600

b)

1700

c)

1800

d)

1900

14.

France allied with Native Americans to drive the British out of North America in what was known as the...

a)

French and Indian War

b)

The Great War

c)

The American Revolution

d)

The Great Britain War

15.

Which of the following authors included Enlightenment ideals in their political writing?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Thomas Paine

c)

Benjamin Franklin

d)

All are correct

16.

True/False: With oral tradition, stories can become distorted and lead to multiple versions

a)

True

b)

False

17.

The purpose of this was to explain how life/ Earth came to be

a)

Fable

b)

Creation myth

c)

Fairytale

d)

Divine myth

18.

Much of the early Native American literature did not survive because

a)

Explorers burned it

b)

They realized there were other ways to explain things in the world

c)

Native Americans were being wiped out by European diseases

d)

None are correct

19.

A character type that can be found in literary works from different cultures throughout the ages

a)

Archetype

b)

Protagonist

c)

Antagonist

d)

Foil character

20.

What is modernism?

a)

A reaction that began during the WWI period that focused on a break from convention and tradition in art, literature, culture, etc.

b)

A reaction against the Romantic authors that focused on creating realistic, gritty narratives

c)

A continuation of the Realist movement that now focused on WWI and the horrors of war

d)

A break from Imagism that turned against using imagery and focused on hidden meaning in poetry

21.

What did most modernists reject the existence of?

a)

Love

b)

God

c)

Dogs

d)

Cats

22.

What focus of regionalism made it different from other realist writers?

a)

regional dialect/speech

b)

regional customs, beliefs

c)

regional landscape

d)

all of the above

23.
Which of the following is a key element found in Regionalism literature?
a)
The story is written about a war.
b)
The story includes some kind of talking animal.
c)
The story involves a life lesson.
d)
The story includes the culture and traditions of people in the region.
24.
Which of the following is a characteristic of Regionalism Literature?
a)
Setting/Geographical Location
b)
Rhyme Scheme
c)
Stories in a series
d)
Stories about trains
25.

___________ is a literary movement that is a branch of Realism, its works depicted the unique characteristics, dialects, and landscapes of particular regions

a)

Naturalism

b)

Realism

c)

Regionalism

26.

Which quote from the text best supports the idea that after the civil war, most Americans were disillusioned with previous literary movements and preferred Realism because it reflected their problems?

a)

“The South emerged from the war into a period known as Reconstruction. African American men had been granted the right to vote and began running for and serving in public office.”

b)

“Industrialization and urbanization had significant benefits, such as providing both mass transit and a massive boost to the Northern economy.”

c)

“American writers and artists rejected the idealism and lofty symbolism of the Romantic and Transcendentalist movements because they failed to address the realities of rapid socio-economic change in post-war American life.”

d)

“Investigative journalists during this period worked to expose social injustice, including the harsh labor practices, dangerous housing conditions, corporate greed, and political corruption.”