Choose TWO of the stories or poems from this semester. In two ACES paragraphs, explain how each of the selections you choose reflect something that is uniquely American.

Answer 1

The two stories or poems I chose from this semester are “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.

In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Gilman reflects the uniquely American experience of women’s oppression in the late 19th century. The protagonist is a woman who is confined to her bedroom and forbidden to write or work, a situation that was all too common for women of the time. The story’s themes of confinement, powerlessness, and the struggle for autonomy are all reflective of the struggles of American women during this period.

In “The Road Not Taken”, Frost reflects the uniquely American experience of individualism and self-determination. The poem’s narrator is faced with a choice between two paths, and ultimately chooses the less-traveled one. This decision reflects the American spirit of independence and the belief that one should make their own decisions and forge their own paths in life. The poem’s themes of choice, exploration, and self-reliance are all reflective of the American experience.