- 1. Main Currents in American Thought is a seminal work by Vernon L. Parrington, first published in three volumes between 1927 and 1930, that explores the evolution of American intellectual history from the colonial period through the early 20th century. Parrington's scholarship is characterized by its comprehensive analysis of the interplay between different intellectual currents and American society, placing a strong emphasis on the significance of democratic ideals and pragmatism in shaping American thought. In this historical narrative, Parrington meticulously examines the contributions of key figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry James, and John Dewey, situating their ideas within the broader context of American cultural and political developments. He argues that American thought is marked by a distinctively optimistic belief in progress and innovation, often contrasting with European philosophies that may lean towards skepticism and elitism. By weaving together literary criticism, historical analysis, and philosophical inquiry, Parrington offers a rich tapestry that not only outlines the major themes in American thought but also critiques the socio-economic conditions that influenced these ideas. Through his work, he advocates for a deeper understanding of the American experience, urging readers to recognize the vital connection between intellectual currents and the democratic ideals that underpin American society.
What is the primary focus of Vernon L. Parrington's 'Main Currents in American Thought'?
A) The economic policies of American presidents
B) The biographies of famous American inventors
C) The history of American ideas and literature
D) The military history of the United States
- 2. How many volumes is 'Main Currents in American Thought' composed of?
A) One
B) Three
C) Four
D) Two
- 3. For which work did Parrington win a posthumous Pulitzer Prize?
A) The Romantic Revolution
B) The Colonial Mind
C) Main Currents in American Thought
D) The American Novel
- 4. What is the subtitle of Parrington's work?
A) An Interpretation of American Literature from the Beginnings to 1920
B) A History of the American People
C) The Economic Basis of Politics
D) The Development of Modern America
- 5. Which founding father is analyzed as a central figure in Volume One?
A) Benjamin Franklin
B) George Washington
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) Thomas Jefferson
- 6. Parrington frames American history as a conflict between which two primary forces?
A) North and South
B) Liberalism and conservatism
C) Federalism and anti-federalism
D) Industry and agriculture
- 7. What was Parrington's profession?
A) Newspaper editor
B) Theologian
C) U.S. Senator
D) English professor
- 8. At which university was Parrington a long-time faculty member?
A) University of Oklahoma
B) University of Washington
C) Harvard University
D) Yale University
- 9. The third volume of 'Main Currents' is entitled:
A) The Beginnings of Critical Realism in America
B) The Rise of the American Nation
C) The Age of Jackson
D) The Gilded Age
- 10. Parrington's work is considered a foundational text for which field?
A) Economics
B) Sociology
C) Political Science
D) American Studies
- 11. The first volume of 'Main Currents' is entitled:
A) The Puritan Legacy
B) The Founding Fathers
C) The Roots of Revolution
D) The Colonial Mind
- 12. Parrington's methodology primarily connects literature to its:
A) Aesthetic form alone
B) Religious symbolism
C) Psychological underpinnings
D) Political and economic context
- 13. A major criticism of Parrington's work is that it:
A) Is too short
B) Oversimplifies complex figures
C) Focuses only on poetry
D) Ignores the Revolutionary period
- 14. Which figure does Parrington identify as a key intellectual opponent of Jeffersonian democracy?
A) James Madison
B) Alexander Hamilton
C) John Jay
D) Benjamin Franklin
- 15. Parrington's interpretation of American history is often described as what?
A) Apolitical
B) Progressive
C) Neoconservative
D) Postmodern
- 16. Parrington's analysis is particularly attentive to the influence of which European thinker on the Founding Fathers?
A) Friedrich Nietzsche
B) Karl Marx
C) John Locke
D) Sigmund Freud
- 17. Which American poet is praised by Parrington for his democratic vision?
A) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
B) Walt Whitman
C) Edgar Allan Poe
D) Emily Dickinson
- 18. Parrington's work was left unfinished due to what?
A) His death
B) Academic censorship
C) Publisher cancellation
D) A loss of funding
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