American Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

“It is an honest tale, but ‘tis not greatly told,” is a line from a poem most likely written by whom?

1. Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

3. Robert Frost

4. Walt Whitman

The correct answer is: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This line is from "A Poet's Tales" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the use of "honest tale" reflects his focus on moral themes in his writing. The other authors listed, while all notable poets, did not share this same focus in their work. For example, Ralph Waldo Emerson was known for his essays on transcendentalism rather than poetry, Robert Frost explored themes of nature and the human condition rather than morality, and Walt Whitman often delved into themes of democracy and individualism. So while they were all esteemed poets, Longfellow best aligns with the subject of this line.