Page 21 - TEST BOOK

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Beginning

th
19 Century American Literature
2. The word facsimiles in the passage is
closest in meaning to The Revolutionary War brought an end to
A reproductions America’s political dependence on England, but the
B mockeries cultural lifeline proved much harder to cut. For
C adaptations nearly two centuries, the American colonies had
D glorifications simply been viewed as the furthest outposts of
English and, in a broader sense, European culture,
and the literature of the colonies had reflected this
3. Based on the information in paragraph
view, aping European themes and conventions. The
1, what can be inferred about
war and the gaining of independence, however, had
Americans after the Revolutionary
made it clear to most Americans that they were, in
War?
fact, no longer Europeans. Their values, sensibilities,
A They were reluctant to separate and concerns were no longer those of the English,
themselves from England. but something entirely new, and yet their literature
B They were especially interested in failed to reflect this. The novels of Charles Brockden
Gothic literature. Brown, essentially facsimiles of English Gothic
C They were dissatisfied with the novels, provide a good example of the type of
literature available to them. writing being produced in America at the time.
D They lacked an understanding of Slowly, however, writers began to emerge whose
their values and beliefs.
work could honestly be said to be unique and truly
American.
Paragraph 1 is marked with an arrow [ ].
One of the first such authors was Washington
Irving. Irving’s work possessed a sharp satirical wit,
which along with the rough hewn voice of his
narration, differentiated him from European writers of
his time. Irving first gained notice with his A History
of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the
End of the Dutch Dynasty, which he published under
the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. The work
was a comedic yet caustic look at New England
society and lampooned many of New York’s leading
families. Still, the book was highly popular, and
Irving began to receive widespread recognition both
at home and abroad.
In 1815, Irving left for Europe on a trip that
would ultimately take him away from home for 17
years. Irving was immensely popular at this time

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