MTTC Exam- Authors With Complete Solution
Washington Irving 1783-1859 - ANSWER -one of the first best-selling American writers
-he introduced a legend-filled style into a new American literary landscape
-he started out professionally as a lawyer, turned to creative writing in newspapers,
serials & books
-his first book, A History of New York, was very popular in America
-his two most famous works-originating from The Sketchbooks of Geoffrey Crayon,
Gent.-which were "Rip van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy hollow"-thrust him into
bestseller status
-these stories are almost like American fairytales in their fantastical and legendary
themes
-they were written in a unique humorous and witty style
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) - ANSWER-Poet and first African American to publish a
book
-she and Olaudah Equiano are credited with establishing African literature in the English
language
-most famous poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" --> focuses on race &
religion
-she was enslaved by John & Susanna Wheatley & converted to Christianity
-she was an active abolitionist and wrote poetry aimed at supporting the value of
freedom
-she admired George Washington and advocated for the American Revolution
John Smith 1580-1631 ANS -Early American settler who influence the politics and
history of the U.S.
-his books described the day-to-day life, opportunity, & geography of the Virginia
Colony, as well as a questionable account with an Indian woman named Pocahontas
,John Winthrop 1588-1649 ANS -His lay sermon coined the phrase "city on a hill" to
describe America
-His diary became an important book in the history of Massachusetts
-His vision for a godly commonwealth created the foundation for an established religion
Roger Williams (1603-1683) - ANSWER -His books & pamphlets publicized his ideas
concerning separation from the Church of England, separation of church and state, and
the right of every citizen to follow his or her conscience
Henry Wadsforth Longfellow (1807-1882) - ANSWER -19th century American poet &
author
-Had a good education & language training in Europe
-came back to the states, taught as a professor, and made text books
-Considered a Romantic and was influenced by the Romantics while in Germany
-Wrote novels and poetry, wrote about the common man, often in a Lyrical style that
emphasized the musical quality of poetry
-Most famous poem "Paul Revere's Ride" changed facts- didn't get Paul Revere arrested
& have him save the day
-He is remembered for his lyric poetry, his writing about everyday activities, and of the
common life
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) - ANSWER -19th-century American poet and short fiction
writer
-Know for his Gothic Romanticism; typically wrote poetry and short fiction, but was also
a prolific nonfiction writer
-Considered to be the father of the detective fiction genre
- His writing was closely attributed to his life's experience that he had to face and go
through. He went through a number of tragedies and psychological traumas. The
psychic effects of all these are so evident in his work.
-He tried to balance his feelings of fear, regret, and sadness with the beauty and
romance that people or events were embedding in his life
-His great understanding of the human condition appeared in his dramatic, symbolic,
, and evocative writing
Herman Melville 1819-1891 - ANSWER -Acclaimed, initially, for works that were thought
to be about adventure
-For his time, many critics viewed his writing to be excessive in verbiage and overly
descriptive with regards to characters and scenes
-Had an interest in transcendentalism, but his perspective is more pessimistic rather
than embracing
-Novel, Moby Dick, was not popularized until after his death
Moby Dick represents follies of searching for ethereal concepts without material luck
Captain Ahab's character represents the allegorical force of evil in a metaphysical tale
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) - ANSWER -Author during the Romantic period of
literature
-He was considered a Dark Romantic, or Gothic, writer because of his use of dark
puritan themes involving the supernatural, evil in humanity, and psychological
complexities
-He grew up primarily in Salem, MA where many of his ancestors settled
-Judge John Hathorne was an early puritan who oversaw the Salem Witch Trials & was
known for sentencing innocent people to death --> this author wanted to distance
himself from his ancestors so he decided to add a "w" to hathorne
-His writing style was to use long detailed sentences, exaggerated style, use of morality
in puritan life
-His most famous work was "The Scarlett Letter"---> focuses on shame and humiliation
-He also published Twice-Told Tales, The Blithedale Romance, etc.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) - ANSWER -His essay, "Self-Reliance," seeks to
explain the values of transcendentalism
-He rejected organized religion, but was deeply spiritual
He believed that this intuitive perception of every individual was the only way to
understand reality, and to truth in a direct manner.
Washington Irving 1783-1859 - ANSWER -one of the first best-selling American writers
-he introduced a legend-filled style into a new American literary landscape
-he started out professionally as a lawyer, turned to creative writing in newspapers,
serials & books
-his first book, A History of New York, was very popular in America
-his two most famous works-originating from The Sketchbooks of Geoffrey Crayon,
Gent.-which were "Rip van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy hollow"-thrust him into
bestseller status
-these stories are almost like American fairytales in their fantastical and legendary
themes
-they were written in a unique humorous and witty style
Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) - ANSWER-Poet and first African American to publish a
book
-she and Olaudah Equiano are credited with establishing African literature in the English
language
-most famous poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" --> focuses on race &
religion
-she was enslaved by John & Susanna Wheatley & converted to Christianity
-she was an active abolitionist and wrote poetry aimed at supporting the value of
freedom
-she admired George Washington and advocated for the American Revolution
John Smith 1580-1631 ANS -Early American settler who influence the politics and
history of the U.S.
-his books described the day-to-day life, opportunity, & geography of the Virginia
Colony, as well as a questionable account with an Indian woman named Pocahontas
,John Winthrop 1588-1649 ANS -His lay sermon coined the phrase "city on a hill" to
describe America
-His diary became an important book in the history of Massachusetts
-His vision for a godly commonwealth created the foundation for an established religion
Roger Williams (1603-1683) - ANSWER -His books & pamphlets publicized his ideas
concerning separation from the Church of England, separation of church and state, and
the right of every citizen to follow his or her conscience
Henry Wadsforth Longfellow (1807-1882) - ANSWER -19th century American poet &
author
-Had a good education & language training in Europe
-came back to the states, taught as a professor, and made text books
-Considered a Romantic and was influenced by the Romantics while in Germany
-Wrote novels and poetry, wrote about the common man, often in a Lyrical style that
emphasized the musical quality of poetry
-Most famous poem "Paul Revere's Ride" changed facts- didn't get Paul Revere arrested
& have him save the day
-He is remembered for his lyric poetry, his writing about everyday activities, and of the
common life
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) - ANSWER -19th-century American poet and short fiction
writer
-Know for his Gothic Romanticism; typically wrote poetry and short fiction, but was also
a prolific nonfiction writer
-Considered to be the father of the detective fiction genre
- His writing was closely attributed to his life's experience that he had to face and go
through. He went through a number of tragedies and psychological traumas. The
psychic effects of all these are so evident in his work.
-He tried to balance his feelings of fear, regret, and sadness with the beauty and
romance that people or events were embedding in his life
-His great understanding of the human condition appeared in his dramatic, symbolic,
, and evocative writing
Herman Melville 1819-1891 - ANSWER -Acclaimed, initially, for works that were thought
to be about adventure
-For his time, many critics viewed his writing to be excessive in verbiage and overly
descriptive with regards to characters and scenes
-Had an interest in transcendentalism, but his perspective is more pessimistic rather
than embracing
-Novel, Moby Dick, was not popularized until after his death
Moby Dick represents follies of searching for ethereal concepts without material luck
Captain Ahab's character represents the allegorical force of evil in a metaphysical tale
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) - ANSWER -Author during the Romantic period of
literature
-He was considered a Dark Romantic, or Gothic, writer because of his use of dark
puritan themes involving the supernatural, evil in humanity, and psychological
complexities
-He grew up primarily in Salem, MA where many of his ancestors settled
-Judge John Hathorne was an early puritan who oversaw the Salem Witch Trials & was
known for sentencing innocent people to death --> this author wanted to distance
himself from his ancestors so he decided to add a "w" to hathorne
-His writing style was to use long detailed sentences, exaggerated style, use of morality
in puritan life
-His most famous work was "The Scarlett Letter"---> focuses on shame and humiliation
-He also published Twice-Told Tales, The Blithedale Romance, etc.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) - ANSWER -His essay, "Self-Reliance," seeks to
explain the values of transcendentalism
-He rejected organized religion, but was deeply spiritual
He believed that this intuitive perception of every individual was the only way to
understand reality, and to truth in a direct manner.
