INSTRUCTIONS: Compose an essay of approximately 1000 words in response to one of the provided questions. Your essay should incorporate references to assigned readings and other course materials. Ensure accuracy in citing authors, dates, and titles. At the end of your essay, include a list of citations. While you may discuss ideas with peers during the preparation phase, the writing process should be independent. Submit your essay electronically by 5:00 PM on May 19th.

  1. Jill Lepore states, “To say that the United States is a story is not to say that it is fiction; it is, instead, to suggest that it follows certain narrative conventions.” A key convention of all storytelling is the conflict between a main character or characters (the protagonist) and an opposing character, group, or force (the antagonist). With that in mind, analyze the depiction of central figures and opposing forces in one of the origin stories we have considered this semester. Be sure to utilize specific graphic, textual, and/or media examples from the course to illustrate the dynamics of heroism, villainy, and outsider status. Discuss how these character configurations serve the interests of a dominant group. You might also examine the ways in which one or more marginalized groups has challenged or reshaped the dominant narrative.
  2. Examine the interplay of history and myth in one of the origin stories covered this semester. How does factual accuracy intersect with fictional elements to shape collective identity within the narrative? What consequences ensue when origin stories deviate from the truth about the past?
  3. Examine the influence of religious themes in U.S. national origin stories explored this semester. Focusing on two or three specific examples, discuss how origin storytellers have utilized Christianity to delimit national belonging and advance the notion of American exceptionalism.
  4. Examine the role of U.S. origin stories in rationalizing settler colonialism. Choose two or three specific examples from the course material and analyze how origin storytellers utilize various elements such as historical events, religious motifs, and cultural narratives to legitimize the colonization of Indigenous lands and the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
  5. Explore the ways in which a specific U.S. origin story has perpetuated racial inequality. Consider the portrayal of different racial and ethnic groups within the narrative, its construction of racialized identities, and its exclusion or marginalization of certain groups.
  6. Reflect on the contentious nature of national origin stories in shaping perceptions of America’s past. Using examples from the course, explore how different narratives have sparked debate and controversy over whose version of history should be privileged. Analyze the motives behind these conflicting interpretations and the interests they serve.
  7. Analyze the relationship between commemorative and academic history. How do commemorative narratives contribute to shaping national identity, and how do they interact with historical accounts? Discuss with reference to a specific origin story that we have studied this semester.  
  8. Investigate the interplay between a specific U.S. origin story and the concept of American exceptionalism. Choose one origin story that we have examined this semester and analyze how it both reflects and contributes to the perception of the United States as fundamentally different from other nations. Using a variety of sources included on the syllabus, delve into how this particular narrative is constructed and interpreted to emphasize the uniqueness of the American experience, and consider its implications for present-day understandings of American identity and values.
  9. Investigate the representations of Native Americans in U.S. origin stories, while also considering Indigenous self-representation and counter-narratives. Analyze how these narratives depict Native Americans and their interactions with European settlers, and examine the ways in which Indigenous communities challenge dominant stereotypes and assert their agency and resilience in shaping their own narratives.
  10. As we have learned, origin myths serve an important role in establishing a sense of unity and allegiance to the nation. Assess the inherent flaws in these narratives, including their tendency to glorify certain figures and story lines while marginalizing others, often distorting the historical record in the process. Utilize one or two of the origin stories we have studied to illustrate these shortcomings. Finally, discuss possible alternative strategies for building national community and commitment. Can national community and commitment be cultivated without relying on the perpetuation of flawed origin myths?
  11. Examine the value and pitfalls of popular cultural versions of U.S. origin stories. How do depictions of national origin stories in movies, television shows, literature, and other forms of popular culture shape public perceptions of American history and identity? Consider how such popular versions of origin stories may reinforce or challenge dominant narratives and evaluate their accuracy and inclusivity in representing diverse perspectives and experiences. Discuss the implications of consuming popular cultural versions of one of the origin stories we have examined on societal understandings of national identity, heritage, and collective memory.
  12. Reflect on the dynamic nature of U.S. origin stories, recognizing their inherent elasticity, variability, and adaptability to evolving social, political, and demographic contexts. Select a specific origin story from those studied in the course and analyze its transformation over time. Explore how changes in societal norms, political ideologies, and demographic shifts have influenced the narrative’s portrayal and interpretation. Consider the factors that have contributed to the narrative’s resilience and enduring relevance, despite its evolution. Through this analysis, examine the ways in which the chosen origin story reflects broader changes in American society.
  13. In his writing, Ross Douthat argues that the American past was characterized by both particularist and universalist dimensions. Drawing from historical examples and contemporary perspectives, analyze the particularist and universalist elements of American identity. How have specific cultural, ethnic, and religious traditions shaped American society in unique ways (particularist), and how have universal ideals such as liberty, equality, and democracy influenced the American national narrative (universalist)? Provide examples drawing on the origin stories we have considered and discuss the tensions or harmonies between these two dimensions of American identity.
  14. Examine the role of gender in U.S. origin stories. Drawing on two or three specific examples from the course, analyze how origin narratives construct gender norms and expectations and how these ideals shape understandings of national identity, citizenship, power, and belonging. Consider the relationship between gender and concepts such as conquest, civilization, domesticity, heroism, or national protection, as well as the ways gender intersects with race, class, religion, or sexuality. You may also examine how marginalized voices have challenged, complicated, or reimagined dominant gendered narratives of American origins.