Focus: Genres of Early American Literature (1607–1830)
This quiz highlights major literary genres from both the colonial and early national periods: sermons, diaries, travel narratives, captivity narratives, spiritual autobiographies, political pamphlets, early fiction, and poetry. It includes stylistic traits and representative authors for each genre.
1. What genre was most dominant in early Puritan writing?
A. Historical fiction
B. Diary
C. Sermon ✔️
D. Travelogue
2. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God belongs to which genre?
A. Autobiography
B. Allegory
C. Jeremiad ✔️
D. Parable
3. Which genre combines narrative with religious reflection in a personal voice?
A. Spiritual autobiography ✔️
B. Mock epic
C. Gothic novel
D. Allegorical poem
4. The captivity narrative genre typically includes which of the following?
A. Romantic plot
B. Religious reflection ✔️
C. Scientific method
D. Political satire
5. Mary Rowlandson’s narrative helped shape which genre?
A. Allegory
B. Fiction
C. Captivity narrative ✔️
D. Transcendental essay
6. William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation is a:
A. Spiritual poem
B. Political satire
C. Historical narrative ✔️
D. Novel
7. What is a key purpose of Puritan diaries?
A. Promote business ethics
B. Explore politics
C. Track divine providence ✔️
D. Entertain readers
8. Which genre reflects personal religious experience and divine calling?
A. Captivity narrative
B. Sermon
C. Spiritual autobiography ✔️
D. Essay
9. Cotton Mather’s Magnalia Christi Americana is best classified as:
A. Epic poem
B. Biography and church history ✔️
C. Philosophical treatise
D. Gothic allegory
10. Which genre was NOT common in Colonial America?
A. Scientific fiction ✔️
B. Sermon
C. Diary
D. Captivity narrative
11. Early American poetry often focused on:
A. Love and war
B. Nature
C. Religion and morality ✔️
D. Urban life
12. Anne Bradstreet’s work blends personal emotion with:
A. Feminist rebellion
B. Theological themes ✔️
C. Scientific theories
D. Revolutionary politics
13. What was the primary function of early American travel narratives?
A. Entertainment
B. Evangelism
C. Promote colonization ✔️
D. Express romanticism
14. What genre is John Smith’s The Generall Historie?
A. Novel
B. Historical and promotional narrative ✔️
C. Diary
D. Sermon
15. Which literary genre did Jonathan Edwards mainly write in?
A. Fiction
B. Allegory
C. Sermon ✔️
D. Travelogue
16. Puritan poetry often drew inspiration from:
A. Greek mythology
B. Personal tragedy
C. Biblical allegory ✔️
D. Native folklore
17. The term jeremiad refers to:
A. Political propaganda
B. Romantic narrative
C. Lamenting sermon on moral decline ✔️
D. Adventure tale
18. Which genre formed the foundation of later American nonfiction?
A. Captivity narrative
B. Sermon
C. Spiritual autobiography ✔️
D. Gothic prose
19. What genre best describes Roger Williams’ writings?
A. Romantic treatises
B. Religious and political essays ✔️
C. Adventure fiction
D. Love poetry
20. What was often embedded in Puritan sermons?
A. Political satire
B. Economic policy
C. Biblical typology ✔️
D. Scientific explanation
21. Which genre combined travelogue, ethnography, and spiritual reflection?
A. Scientific journal
B. Captivity narrative ✔️
C. Enlightenment essay
D. Novel
22. Which writer’s work embodies metaphysical religious poetry?
A. Jonathan Edwards
B. Anne Hutchinson
C. Edward Taylor ✔️
D. Thomas Paine
23. Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is an example of:
A. Captivity narrative
B. Republican fiction
C. Self-improvement and secular autobiography ✔️
D. Religious allegory
24. Which genre did Thomas Paine revolutionize in early America?
A. Gothic fiction
B. Political pamphlet ✔️
C. Jeremiad
D. Allegorical essay
25. What feature distinguishes spiritual autobiography from secular autobiography?
A. Third-person narration
B. Emphasis on salvation and divine guidance ✔️
C. Lack of emotion
D. Focus on humor
26. What genre was essential to the Great Awakening revival?
A. Drama
B. Epic poem
C. Fire-and-brimstone sermon ✔️
D. Fable
27. Early American poetry is often criticized for:
A. Overuse of satire
B. Lack of originality ✔️
C. Violent themes
D. Romantic tone
28. In captivity narratives, escape or redemption is usually attributed to:
A. Political wit
B. Divine providence ✔️
C. Military genius
D. Witchcraft
29. What defines the Puritan plain style?
A. Complex metaphors
B. Clarity, humility, religious purpose ✔️
C. Abstract structure
D. Rhyming couplets
30. What genre serves as both confession and historical documentation?
A. Allegory
B. Political pamphlet
C. Spiritual autobiography ✔️
D. Drama
31. Which of these is NOT a genre in early American literature?
A. Spiritual diary
B. Gothic novel ✔️
C. Captivity narrative
D. Jeremiad
32. What genre is usually didactic, addressing sin and virtue?
A. Novel
B. Sermon ✔️
C. Epic
D. Satire
33. Anne Bradstreet’s poetry also contains elements of:
A. Secular wit
B. Intellectual and domestic tension ✔️
C. Political propaganda
D. Scientific discussion
34. What genre does John Winthrop’s “A Modell of Christian Charity” belong to?
A. Fiction
B. Sermon or political homily ✔️
C. Diary
D. Poem
35. What genre was the main vehicle for Puritan theological argument?
A. Drama
B. Essay
C. Sermon ✔️
D. Letter
36. In Magnalia Christi Americana, Mather uses what genre structure?
A. Allegory
B. Biographical compendium ✔️
C. Fiction
D. Sermon
37. Which genre played a key role in colonial missionary work?
A. Scientific article
B. Religious tract ✔️
C. Fiction
D. Romantic ode
38. Puritan meditative poetry sought to:
A. Question God
B. Capture nature
C. Glorify spiritual introspection ✔️
D. Encourage politics
39. Which genre transitioned from colonial to national identity expression?
A. Captivity narrative
B. Sermon
C. Political essay and pamphlet ✔️
D. Myth
40. What genre often contains typological readings of personal events?
A. Spiritual autobiography ✔️
B. Epic
C. Satire
D. Drama
41. The genre that blends confession, history, and evangelism is:
A. Travelogue
B. Captivity narrative ✔️
C. Essay
D. Romantic story
42. What theme dominates early American political pamphlets?
A. Religious equality
B. Monarchy defense
C. Liberty and reason ✔️
D. Satirical mockery
43. What early American genre is most influenced by British Puritanism?
A. Romance
B. Epic
C. Sermon ✔️
D. Drama
44. The shift from sermon to political essay reflects:
A. Decline of Christianity
B. Rise of democratic values ✔️
C. Influence of Native myths
D. Popularity of fiction
45. In spiritual autobiographies, events are read through:
A. Science
B. Superstition
C. Providential interpretation ✔️
D. Irony
46. Which is NOT typical of early American sermons?
A. Biblical allusions
B. Humor ✔️
C. Moral warning
D. Call to repentance
47. The Enlightenment gave rise to which genre in early America?
A. Captivity narrative
B. Political essay ✔️
C. Epic poem
D. Pastoral elegy
48. The plain style is defined by:
A. Flowery prose
B. Emotional exaggeration
C. Clarity and simplicity ✔️
D. Satirical tone
49. Travel narratives often describe:
A. Spiritual rebellion
B. Cultural encounters and geographic detail ✔️
C. Dreams and visions
D. Epic battles
50. What was a core aim of early American literary genres?
A. Show fictional creativity
B. Reflect divine order ✔️
C. Entertain with fantasy
D. Explore romance
