The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) in American Literature provides an opportunity for students to earn college credit by demonstrating their understanding and analytical skills in a comprehensive range of American literary works. This exam reflects the breadth of literature produced in the United States from its precolonial beginnings to the contemporary era, spanning a variety of genres including prose, poetry, drama, essays, and autobiographies. Below, I will delve into the specifics of the curriculum covered by the CLEP American Literature exam, incorporating knowledge from a standard literary curriculum.

Exam Overview

• Scope and Focus: The CLEP American Literature exam is designed to assess a student's grasp of the significant literary outputs and their contexts within the United States. While the primary focus is on fiction and poetry, the exam also touches upon essays, drama, and autobiography to a lesser extent. The ability to interpret texts, understand their historical and literary significance, and apply literary criticism techniques is central to the exam.

• Comparable College Course: The exam mirrors the chronological survey approach typical of college-level American Literature courses. It assumes that candidates have engaged in extensive reading and have developed a nuanced appreciation of the genre, including knowledge of major literary movements and historical development.

Knowledge and Skills Required

The exam tests the following abilities, with their approximate weightage:

• Literary Analysis (35–40%): Proficiency in interpreting short and long poems, and excerpts from prose works, focusing on themes, symbolism, and narrative techniques.

• Literary Knowledge (25–30%): Awareness of authors, characters, plots, settings, styles, themes, and the significance of major works in the American literary canon.

• Literary Terms and Devices (15–20%): Familiarity with critical terms, verse forms, literary devices, and the ability to apply this knowledge in analysis.

• Historical and Social Context (15–20%): Understanding the historical, cultural, and social contexts that shaped or were reflected in the literature, including the influence of major events and movements on authors and their works.

Chronological Periods and Their Emphases

• Precolonial, Colonial, and Early National Period (Beginnings–1800): 15% of the exam, covering the genesis of American literature, including Native American oral traditions and the early settler narratives.

• The Romantic Period (1800–1865): 20%, focusing on the emergence of a distinct American voice through transcendentalism, gothic literature, and the early rumblings of realism.

• The Period of Realism and Naturalism (1865–1910): 20%, reflecting literature's response to the Civil War, industrialization, and societal changes, emphasizing detailed depictions of everyday life and the forces shaping human destiny.

• The Modernist Period (1910–1945): 20%, showcasing the experimentation in style and form, the disillusionment post-World War I, and the Harlem Renaissance.

• The Contemporary Period (1945–Present): 25%, covering postmodernism, diverse narratives, and the broad spectrum of voices in late 20th and early 21st-century literature.

Scoring and Credit

• Credit-Granting Score: The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends a score of 50 for granting college credit, though institutions may set their own standards.

• Credit Hours: Successful candidates typically earn 3 semester hours of credit, but this can vary by institution.

Preparation Tips

• Broad Reading: Engage with a wide range of texts across all periods covered by the exam. Focus on understanding not just the content but also the context, literary styles, and thematic concerns.

• Study Literary Terms and Techniques: Familiarize yourself with the vocabulary of literary analysis to articulate your understanding of texts effectively.

• Practice Analysis: Work on interpreting texts, identifying literary devices, and connecting works to their historical and cultural contexts.

• Review Sample Questions: CLEP provides sample questions that can help you familiarize yourself with the format and type of questions on the exam.

The CLEP American Literature exam is an excellent opportunity for students to leverage their independent study and passion for American literature into college credit, saving both time and money in their academic careers.