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English 161 Mid-Term Name____________________________: 700#______________
Please answer two questions in fully developed, detailed essays. Be sure to formulate a
thesis for each and support it with concrete and specific evidence from the readings. You
may consult the texts during the exam. Do not use the same work as the core of your
answer for both questions.
To return the exam, open space after the question you have chosen and insert your answer
there Answer both questions on the same question sheet. Then attach the complete
question sheet with your answers to an email and return it to me.
1. How do religion, morality and religious and moral ideas and attitudes influence
American literature? How does religion influence the writing of American
writers? From what you have read and viewed, why are these important in light
of American literature, myth, culture, and the manner in which Americans present
themselves to the world and each other?
2. Edgar Allan Poe called stories that showed an element of horror grotesque - that
which is hidden in every person so that what is horrific or hideous in a person is
not obvious or visible. While the grotesque is not necessarily bad or evil, the
character is a distortion of the paradigm. From what you have read and viewed,
why are these important in light of American literature, myth, culture, and the
manner in which Americans present themselves to the world and each other?
3. What is your understanding of the literary and cultural importance of The
Simpsons? Is The Simpsons worthy of literary and cultural study? How and why
is it, or is it not, important? Does what you have read about The Simpsons tell us
anything about the American character and culture? From what we have read and
viewed, why are these important in light of American literature, myth, culture,
and the manner in which Americans present themselves to the world?
4. Matt Groening said, “If you’ve read a few books, you’ll get most of the jokes.”
The Simpsons have explored, adapted and parodied many pieces of American
literature. Many have been overt and easily recognizable, but most often the
allusions have been subtle. All this points to one thing – if the references are
important enough to be lampooned by The Simpsons, these works must be
important cultural milestones. From what we have read and viewed, why are
these important in light of American literature, myth, culture, and the manner in
which Americans present themselves to the world and each other?
5. In what we have read and viewed, how would you assess the contemporary
feelings of Americans about any one of the following (you may combine
categories if you wish): gender roles, family, family roles, family values,
community, religion and work? From what we have read and viewed, why are
these important in light of American literature, myth, culture, and the manner in
which Americans present themselves to the world and each other?