Prepare for the NES English Language Arts (ELA) (301) Exam with our comprehensive study guide featuring concise flashcards, multiple choice questions, and detailed explanations. Master the ELA content and enhance your test readiness with our expert resources.

Multiple Choice

The Age of Johnson (ca. 1750-1790) is commonly associated with which period?

The main idea here is recognizing historical periodization in literature—that is, matching a label like the Age of Johnson to the approximate years when Johnson’s influence dominated English letters. The Age of Johnson refers to mid-18th-century English prose, criticism, and culture, roughly around 1750 to the 1780s. Choosing 1750-1790 fits that span, since Johnson’s major works and his impact—such as his Dictionary (1755) and his essays starting in the 1750s—shape English writing during that time. The other options fall outside this period: 1650-1700 is earlier Restoration/late Renaissance fiction and poetry; 1800-1850 is more aligned with Romantic and early Victorian literature; 1900-1950 belongs to modern and contemporary literature.

The main idea here is recognizing historical periodization in literature—that is, matching a label like the Age of Johnson to the approximate years when Johnson’s influence dominated English letters. The Age of Johnson refers to mid-18th-century English prose, criticism, and culture, roughly around 1750 to the 1780s. Choosing 1750-1790 fits that span, since Johnson’s major works and his impact—such as his Dictionary (1755) and his essays starting in the 1750s—shape English writing during that time.

The other options fall outside this period: 1650-1700 is earlier Restoration/late Renaissance fiction and poetry; 1800-1850 is more aligned with Romantic and early Victorian literature; 1900-1950 belongs to modern and contemporary literature.