American Literature - 11652 Words

American Literature through Time To find out more about a particular literature time period, click on the links below: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Puritan Times Rationalism/Age of Enlightenment American Renaissance/Romanticism Gothic Realism Naturalism Modernism Harlem Renaissance Postmodernism Contemporary Puritan Times period of American Literature - 1650-1750 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · errand into the wilderness be a city upon a hill Christian utopia Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · sermons, diaries personal narratives captivity narratives jeremiads written in plain style Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · instructive reinforces authority of the Bible and church Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · a person s fate is determined by God all people are corrupt and must†¦show more content†¦Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · short story, novel characters usually lower class or lower middle class fictional world is commonplace and unheroic; everyday life is a dull round of daily existence characters ultimately emerge to act heroically or adventurously with acts of violence, passion, and/or bodily strength in a tragic ending Effect: ï‚ · this type of literature continues to capture audiences in present day: the pitting of man against nature Historical Context: ï‚ · writers reflect the ideas of Darwin (survival of the fittest) and Karl Marx (how money and class structure control a nation) Modernism period of American Literature - 1900-1946 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · dominant mood: alienation and disconnection people unable to communicate effectively fear of eroding traditions and grief over loss of the past Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · highly experimental allusions in writing often refer to classical Greek and Roman writings use of fragments, juxtaposition, interior monologue, and stream of consciousness writers seeking to create a unique style Effect: ï‚ · common readers are alienated by this literature Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · overwhelmingShow MoreRelatedThe American Of American Literature1425 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican literature is the literature written or produced in the area of the United States and its receding colonies. American literature as a whole is the written literary work, and the new England colonies were the center of early American literature. American drama attained international status only in the 1920s and 1930s, with the works of Eugene O’Neil, who won four Pulitzer prizes and the Noble prize. During the Middle of the 20th century, American drama was dominated by the works of eminentRead MoreThe American Dream Through Literature1496 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept of the American Dream. That is, that any person regardless of circumstances of birth can become successful through hard work and persistence, regardless of where they came from. Despite many arguments on whether that’s achievable or not, it continues to be a persistent topic in American culture. As such, the A merican Dream can be seen though literature, which often is a lens into life during the time of its writing. It would make sense, then, to chronicle the appearance of the American Dream throughRead MoreHow Mark Twain Influenced American Literature1641 Words   |  7 PagesHow Mark Twain Influenced American Literature When you think of the start of American Literature, what comes to your mind? Authors such as Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemmingway, Emily Dickinson, Charles Dickens, and Mark Twain stick out in our minds. They were the face of post-civil war and social realism poetry. Today we will take a closer look at Mark Twain, who was also known as the â€Å"Father† of American Literature. His work has survived more than 100 years after his death. Mark Twain was born inRead MoreErnest Hemingway, a Legacy for American Literature1550 Words   |  7 PagesErnest Hemingway, A legacy for American Literature Some say that Hemingways personal life should disqualify him from the literature canon. They state that his torrent affairs, his alcoholism, and his mental state should preclude him from entry into the canon. These are the very things that help to make Hemingway a unique writer. Although his genre is fiction, he relies on his real life experiences with the people and places that he visited. The very definition of the literary canon disputes theseRead MorePostmodernism in American Literature Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesPostmodernism in American literature The novel Beloved by Toni Morrison often makes us question the credibility of what is being told, and uses many striking, sudden shifts between the past and present, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction. This blurring of the truth is a common element of postmodern fiction. In fact, many scholars would say that Beloved is a great example of postmodernism. (Ebrahimi 2005) Morrison uses this technique to bring about the sufferingRead MoreMark Twains Influence on American Literature Essay examples1208 Words   |  5 PagesSamuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by the pseudonym Mark Twain, has been central to American literature for over a century. His seemingly effortless diction accurately exemplified America’s southern culture. From his early experiences in journalism to his most famous fictional works, Twain has remained relevant to American writing as well as pop culture. His iconic works are timeless and have given inspiration the youth of Amer ica for decades. He distanced himself from formal writing andRead MoreEssay about Influences that Have Shaped American Literature1001 Words   |  5 PagesInfluences that Have Shaped American Literature There have been a number of influences that have shaped American literature. From the time that Western Europeans founded the country to the inclusion of Native American lore to the contributions of such literary giants as Mark Twain and Carol Sandburg, the composition of American Literature has been both constant and ever changing. In deed as much as America, itself, is a melting pot of diversity within a cultural concern, so too is this considerableRead MoreErnest Hemmingway : A Spectacular And Complex Author That Changed The World Of American Literature1914 Words   |  8 Pagescomplex author that changed the world of American literature through his words. Hemmingway became an American novelist, journalist, and short story writer that published most of his work between the 1920’s and 1950’s. Hemmingway had a major impact on the world of writing, and a strong influence on 20th century literature during his lifetime. Hemmingway’s life was full of adventures from around the globe, and these experiences inspired his works of literature. The writing style Hemmingway used was simpleRead MoreThe Influence of History on American Literature Essay1546 Words   |  7 Pagesbe After the Fact†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is how Stephan Crane introduced his harrowing story, â€Å"The Open Boat,† but this statement also shows that history influences American Literature. Throughout history, there has been a connection among literary works from different periods. The connection is that History, current events, and social events have influenced American Literature. Authors, their literary works, and the specific writing styles; are affected and influenced by the world around them. Authors have long used experiencesRead More Essay on Literacy in African-American Literature2284 Words   |  10 PagesLevels of Literacy in African-American Literature - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Song of Solomon, and Push      Ã‚  Ã‚   Through literacy will come emancipation. So runs a theme throughout the various selections we have read thus far. But emancipation comes in many forms, as does literacy. The various aspects of academic literacy are rather obvious in relation to emancipation, especially when one is confronted with exclusion from membership in the dominant culture. In the various slave