American Literature CLEP Exam 2026
Questions and Answers
Metaphysical Poetry - Correct answer-Uses conceits and uses intellectual and
philosophical language. Makes abstract comparisons using conceits. ie. John
Donne.
Michael Wigglesworth - Correct answer-Clergyman who wrote "Day of Doom"
and "Meat out of the Eater". He wrote lyrical, theological poems. Puritan.
Connotation - Correct answer-the feelings or emotions surrounding a word. (ie.
home = pleasant haven)
motif - Correct answer-Phase, image, action, that unifies a work of literature by
recurring throughout it. A theme or idea in a work of art or literature that is
developed or repeated.
Theme - Correct answer-central idea of a work of literature, general topic or
subject.
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,Apostrophe - Correct answer-A figure of speech in which one directly addresses an
absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction. Often used to address deep
emotion.
Philip Freneau - Correct answer-Transitional poet. Between Enlightenment and the
Romantic age. " "The Wild Honeysuckle". Published National Gazette that
promoted anti-federalism. Considered "the poet of the American Revolution."
picaresque - Correct answer-novel about lower-class character who triumphs
through wit instead of hard work. Usually autobiographical and in the first person.
J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur - Correct answer-•French-born American who wrote
"Letters from an American Farmer". First successful American author. First to
examine the idea of the "American Dream" and attempted to explain what an
"American" was.
Concepts by him that influenced America culture.
• American Adam - uniqueness of new people called "Americans".
•Melting Pot - America's uniqueness transcends ethnic, religious, cultural
backgrounds.
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,Huswifery - Correct answer-by Edward Taylor. "Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning
Wheele compleat"
W.E.B. DuBois - Correct answer-Opposite of B.T. Washington. Black should
engage in higher education. Challenges Washington's inability to see complete
integration in America. Not only work for freedom but demand rights and
participation in office. Disagrees on how "liberation" should be defined.
Alliteration - Correct answer-Repetition of consonant sounds.
Stephen Crane - Correct answer-A "realistic" writer. Wrote The Red Badge of
Courage.
Irony: Henry's only wound comes from retreat, not battle.
-Humans are left on this world to fend for themselves without help from divine
creator.
Heroic Couplet - Correct answer-a couplet consisting of two rhymed lines of
iambic pentameter (ie. aa, bb, cc) and written in an elevated style. (tradition of the
epic form)
imagery - Correct answer-The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete
sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience.
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, Edward Taylor - Correct answer-Wrote Preparatory Meditations. God's
Determinations touching His Elect. His work not meant for publication. Uses
conceits and unusual images. Inspired metaphysical poets like Ezra Pound. T.S.
Eliot.
Metonymy - Correct answer-One word or phrase is substituted for another with
which is closely associated.
"crown → royalty",
"ring →marriage"
"heart→love"
Bluest Eye - Correct answer-Pecola wants_____________ to be beautiful.
-She is considered a scapegoat because her ugliness has made the towns people
beautiful, her suffering made them feel lucky, her silence, their chatter.
By Toni Morrison.
Huck Finn escaped his father by - Correct answer-faking his death.
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Questions and Answers
Metaphysical Poetry - Correct answer-Uses conceits and uses intellectual and
philosophical language. Makes abstract comparisons using conceits. ie. John
Donne.
Michael Wigglesworth - Correct answer-Clergyman who wrote "Day of Doom"
and "Meat out of the Eater". He wrote lyrical, theological poems. Puritan.
Connotation - Correct answer-the feelings or emotions surrounding a word. (ie.
home = pleasant haven)
motif - Correct answer-Phase, image, action, that unifies a work of literature by
recurring throughout it. A theme or idea in a work of art or literature that is
developed or repeated.
Theme - Correct answer-central idea of a work of literature, general topic or
subject.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 1
,Apostrophe - Correct answer-A figure of speech in which one directly addresses an
absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction. Often used to address deep
emotion.
Philip Freneau - Correct answer-Transitional poet. Between Enlightenment and the
Romantic age. " "The Wild Honeysuckle". Published National Gazette that
promoted anti-federalism. Considered "the poet of the American Revolution."
picaresque - Correct answer-novel about lower-class character who triumphs
through wit instead of hard work. Usually autobiographical and in the first person.
J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur - Correct answer-•French-born American who wrote
"Letters from an American Farmer". First successful American author. First to
examine the idea of the "American Dream" and attempted to explain what an
"American" was.
Concepts by him that influenced America culture.
• American Adam - uniqueness of new people called "Americans".
•Melting Pot - America's uniqueness transcends ethnic, religious, cultural
backgrounds.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 2
,Huswifery - Correct answer-by Edward Taylor. "Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning
Wheele compleat"
W.E.B. DuBois - Correct answer-Opposite of B.T. Washington. Black should
engage in higher education. Challenges Washington's inability to see complete
integration in America. Not only work for freedom but demand rights and
participation in office. Disagrees on how "liberation" should be defined.
Alliteration - Correct answer-Repetition of consonant sounds.
Stephen Crane - Correct answer-A "realistic" writer. Wrote The Red Badge of
Courage.
Irony: Henry's only wound comes from retreat, not battle.
-Humans are left on this world to fend for themselves without help from divine
creator.
Heroic Couplet - Correct answer-a couplet consisting of two rhymed lines of
iambic pentameter (ie. aa, bb, cc) and written in an elevated style. (tradition of the
epic form)
imagery - Correct answer-The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete
sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 3
, Edward Taylor - Correct answer-Wrote Preparatory Meditations. God's
Determinations touching His Elect. His work not meant for publication. Uses
conceits and unusual images. Inspired metaphysical poets like Ezra Pound. T.S.
Eliot.
Metonymy - Correct answer-One word or phrase is substituted for another with
which is closely associated.
"crown → royalty",
"ring →marriage"
"heart→love"
Bluest Eye - Correct answer-Pecola wants_____________ to be beautiful.
-She is considered a scapegoat because her ugliness has made the towns people
beautiful, her suffering made them feel lucky, her silence, their chatter.
By Toni Morrison.
Huck Finn escaped his father by - Correct answer-faking his death.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVE 4
