Questions for the Research Paper
1. Why is it important for modern Americans to read and study literature from the pre-Civil War
era?
2. In what ways can literature from this time period help us understand the social and cultural
issues that still affect America today?
3. How do the themes and motifs found in early American literature connect to contemporary
literature and popular culture?
4. How can we reconcile the racism and prejudice present in some early American literature with
its literary and historical value?
5. Is there a case to be made for incorporating more pre-Civil War literature into modern American
education?
6. What can modern authors and readers learn from the styles and techniques used by early
American writers such as Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe?
7. How does the depiction of American history and identity in pre-Civil War literature shape our
understanding of those concepts today?
8. Can reading pre-Civil War literature help us recognize and confront biases and prejudices that
still exist in American society today?
9. In what ways has pre-Civil War literature influenced contemporary American literature and
culture?
10. How can studying pre-Civil War literature inform our understanding of the contemporary
political and social landscape in America?
11. How has American literature before 1865 influenced contemporary American literature?
12. What can we learn about the values and beliefs of early America from reading literature before
1865, and how do those values and beliefs continue to shape American culture today?
13. What can we learn from early American literature about the experiences of marginalized groups
in American society, and how do those experiences continue to shape contemporary America?
14. In what ways does early American literature reflect the political and social climate of the time,
and how do those themes resonate with contemporary American politics and social issues?
15. How have interpretations of early American literature changed over time, and how do those
changes reflect shifts in American culture and values?
16. What role did literature play in shaping the identity of early America, and how does that identity
continue to influence American culture today?
17. How did early American literature address issues of race, class, and gender, and how do those
issues continue to be relevant today?
18. How did early American literature contribute to the development of American intellectual and
cultural traditions, and how do those traditions continue to inform contemporary American life?
19. What can we learn about the history of American language and linguistics from early American
literature, and how have those linguistic features evolved over time?
20. In what ways did early American literature influence other art forms and cultural expressions,
and how do those influences continue to shape American culture today?
