1. Writers in different periods have responded diversely to advances in sciences, be they evidence of God's universal plan or a threat to religion and the humanities, be they a contributor to human progress or an indicator of a meaningless and bleak wasteland. Discuss with reference to two writers from two different periods. (30%)

2. The Ancient Mariner seems to be an archetypal figure forced to wander the earth in order to expiate a curse. Why does the Mariner's action have such enormous consequences not only for himself but also for the crew? Has he expiated the curse or does it continue? Why does the wedding guest rise "a sadder and a wiser man"? What has he learned? Does the poem convey a sense of justice? Why or why not? (30%)

1. The concept of the American dream is regarded as one of many characteristics closely connected to America; however, the definition of the American dream may vary from person to person. Choose one American literary work written in the nineteenth century and the other one written in the twentieth century to discuss how writers of different periods conceive the American dream. 20%)

2. The twentieth century witnesses many big events in human history: wars, the Depression, the moon landing, the American Civil Rights Movement, the invention of the personal computer and the internet, the ecological crisis, global warming, etc. Choose two works by two American writers (novelist, playwrights, or poets) to discuss how these two writers 'tell" or "show" the big events in their times, how they comment on the events, and whether they envision hope in man's confrontation with such challenges in history. (20%)

110年 - 110 國立政治大學_碩士班招生考試_英國語文學系:英美文學#102915