American American LiteratureLiterature

A Year in ReviewA Year in Review

Unit 1: Colonial Period (Native Unit 1: Colonial Period (Native Americans, Explorers, and Americans, Explorers, and

Puritans)Puritans) Time Period: Beginnings – 1750Time Period: Beginnings – 1750 Basics of Literary Time PeriodBasics of Literary Time Period

Native Americans were the first settlers Native Americans were the first settlers in North Americain North America

Colonists from Europe did not begin Colonists from Europe did not begin arriving until the late 1500sarriving until the late 1500s

Religious reformers called Puritans Religious reformers called Puritans sailed from England on the Mayflower sailed from England on the Mayflower in 1620in 1620

Background on Native Background on Native AmericansAmericans

Native American MythsNative American Myths Explain customs, institutions, or Explain customs, institutions, or

religious ritesreligious rites Natural landmarksNatural landmarks Events beyondEvents beyond

people’s controlpeople’s control Use oral traditionUse oral tradition

Background on PuritansBackground on Puritans PuritansPuritans

Pilgrims, or Separatists, wanted to withdraw Pilgrims, or Separatists, wanted to withdraw from the Church of Englandfrom the Church of England

Puritans wanted to reform or “purify” the church Puritans wanted to reform or “purify” the church from within; they wanted to create a theocracyfrom within; they wanted to create a theocracy

Human beings exist for the glory of GodHuman beings exist for the glory of God Predestination (John Calvin)- God’s elect vs. the Predestination (John Calvin)- God’s elect vs. the

damneddamned Thought they could accomplish good only Thought they could accomplish good only

through continual hard work and self-disciplinethrough continual hard work and self-discipline Great Awakening-series of religious revivalsGreat Awakening-series of religious revivals

Early 1700s, Puritanism was in a declineEarly 1700s, Puritanism was in a decline In 1720, religious revivals, known as The Great Awakening, In 1720, religious revivals, known as The Great Awakening,

were led by ministers, such as Jonathan Edwardswere led by ministers, such as Jonathan Edwards This was done in hopes of reviving the Puritan ways and This was done in hopes of reviving the Puritan ways and

beliefsbeliefs It did little to revive old-fashioned PuritanismIt did little to revive old-fashioned Puritanism

Literature of the Time Literature of the Time PeriodPeriod

Native American Tradition: Native American Tradition: myths, folktales, etc.myths, folktales, etc.

Explorer’s AccountsExplorer’s Accounts Slave NarrativesSlave Narratives Religious writingsReligious writings Southern WritersSouthern Writers

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod Native AmericansNative Americans

““The Earth on Turtle’s BackThe Earth on Turtle’s Back ““When Grizzlies Walked Upright”When Grizzlies Walked Upright”

ExplorersExplorers Christopher Columbus – “Journal of the First Christopher Columbus – “Journal of the First

Voyage to America”Voyage to America” William Bradford – “Of Plymouth Plantation”William Bradford – “Of Plymouth Plantation”

PuritansPuritans Edward Taylor – “Huswifery”Edward Taylor – “Huswifery” Anne Bradstreet – “To My Dear and Loving Anne Bradstreet – “To My Dear and Loving

Husband”Husband” Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of

an Angry God”an Angry God” The CrucibleThe Crucible (written in the 1950s, but about (written in the 1950s, but about

Puritans in the 1600s)Puritans in the 1600s)

Unit 2: Revolutionary Period Unit 2: Revolutionary Period (Age of Reason-Rationalists)(Age of Reason-Rationalists)

Time Period: 1750-1800Time Period: 1750-1800 Basics of Literary Time PeriodBasics of Literary Time Period

Deists-believed God created the world and set Deists-believed God created the world and set it up to run without Him on a daily basisit up to run without Him on a daily basis

Valued logic and reason over faithValued logic and reason over faith Science will further human progressScience will further human progress Unlike Puritans, little care was given to the Unlike Puritans, little care was given to the

afterlife or cleansing of sinsafterlife or cleansing of sins Believed that people are by nature good, not Believed that people are by nature good, not

evil. Could become perfectevil. Could become perfect Values rationality, order, and balanceValues rationality, order, and balance Believes the universe is orderly and goodBelieves the universe is orderly and good

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin ““The Autobiography”The Autobiography” ““Poor Richards Almanack”Poor Richards Almanack” ““Speech in the Convention”Speech in the Convention”

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson ““Declaration of Independence”Declaration of Independence”

Thomas PaineThomas Paine ““The Crisis, Number 1”The Crisis, Number 1”

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry ““Speech in the Virginia Speech in the Virginia Convention”Convention”

Persuasive TechniquesPersuasive Techniques (Rhetorical Devices) (Rhetorical Devices)

Literary Term Definition

Repetition Restating an idea using the same words

Rhetorical question

Asking a question whose answer is self-evident

Parallelism Repeating grammatical structure

Allusion Reference to a well-known/existing piece of literature, history, etc.

Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Simile Comparison of two unlike items by using “like” or “as”

Common Universal Themes Common Universal Themes inin

American Literature American Literature• American Individualism- the colonists

who first arrived in America were seeking freedom to practice their individual religions

• American Dream-the idea that anyone in America can achieve prosperity through hard work, perseverance, and determination

• Cultural Diversity-individuals of diverse backgrounds are accepted in the U.S. (melting pot)

• Tolerance-acceptance of others’ beliefs (religious beliefs are often illustrated with American literature)

Unit 3: Romantic Period Unit 3: Romantic Period (Romantics, Transcendentalists, (Romantics, Transcendentalists,

and Dark Romantics)and Dark Romantics) Time Period: 1800-1870Time Period: 1800-1870 Basics of the Literary Time PeriodBasics of the Literary Time Period

Emphasized imagination, feeling, and intuition Emphasized imagination, feeling, and intuition over reason (fiction popularized as opposed to non- over reason (fiction popularized as opposed to non-

fiction of the Revolutionary period)fiction of the Revolutionary period) The 5 Characteristics of the Literature The 5 Characteristics of the Literature

(Stories, Poems, and Novels)(Stories, Poems, and Novels)1.1. Imagination and EscapismImagination and Escapism2.2. IndividualityIndividuality3.3. Nature was seen as a source of spiritualityNature was seen as a source of spirituality4.4. Looked to the past for wisdomLooked to the past for wisdom5.5. Emphasized common man as a heroEmphasized common man as a hero

Background on Background on RomanticismRomanticism

Characteristics of the American Characteristics of the American Romantic hero:Romantic hero:

young, or possesses youthful qualitiesyoung, or possesses youthful qualities Innocent and pure of purposeInnocent and pure of purpose Sense of honorSense of honor Knowledge of people and lifeKnowledge of people and life Loves natureLoves nature Quests for some higher truthQuests for some higher truth

Fireside PoetsFireside Poets Couplet:Couplet: 2 line poem 2 line poem QuatrainQuatrain: 4 line poem: 4 line poem CinquainCinquain: 5 line poem: 5 line poem CharacterizationCharacterization: reveals personality traits of : reveals personality traits of

a character (Direct and Indirect)a character (Direct and Indirect) Represented a literary coming of age with the Represented a literary coming of age with the

first generation of acclaimed American poetsfirst generation of acclaimed American poets Used American settingsUsed American settings Some of the most read and most beloved poets Some of the most read and most beloved poets Wrote poems that were usually told around the Wrote poems that were usually told around the

firefire

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism BackgroundBackground

Everything in the world and God are 1Everything in the world and God are 1 So… God is in everythingSo… God is in everything So… Everything in the world (nature) So… Everything in the world (nature)

contains laws and meanings of contains laws and meanings of existenceexistence

So… each soul also contains the soul So… each soul also contains the soul of the world and all the world is of the world and all the world is connected to God (the over soul connected to God (the over soul connects us all)connects us all)

Dark Romanticism Dark Romanticism BackgroundBackground

Can be referred to as anti-transcendentalismCan be referred to as anti-transcendentalism Thought transcendentalists were too optimisticThought transcendentalists were too optimistic Focused on the perceived darkness of the Focused on the perceived darkness of the

human soulhuman soul Felt humans were inherently selfishFelt humans were inherently selfish Began the gothic movementBegan the gothic movement Imagery:Imagery: use of language to evoke a picture or use of language to evoke a picture or

concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experienceexperience

Gothic Style:Gothic Style: (Poe) remote settings, violent (Poe) remote settings, violent acts, tormented characters, and often acts, tormented characters, and often supernatural elementssupernatural elements

Allegory:Allegory: story/poem that can be read on one story/poem that can be read on one level for its literal meaning and on a second level for its literal meaning and on a second level for its symbolic meaninglevel for its symbolic meaning

ParadoxParadox: statement that appears self-: statement that appears self-contradictory, but that reveals a kind of truthcontradictory, but that reveals a kind of truth

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod RomanticsRomantics

Washington Irving (A.K.A. the father of American Washington Irving (A.K.A. the father of American literature - literature -

Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and “The Devil and “The Devil and

Tom Walker”Tom Walker” James Fennimore Cooper – First American novelist; James Fennimore Cooper – First American novelist;

wrote about Natty Bumppo (character was considered wrote about Natty Bumppo (character was considered the first American hero)the first American hero)

Herman Melville – Moby DickHerman Melville – Moby Dick William Cullen Bryant - “Thanatopsis”William Cullen Bryant - “Thanatopsis”

Dark Romantics-Reflected the darker side of lifeDark Romantics-Reflected the darker side of life Edgar Allen Poe - “The Raven” and “The Fall of the Edgar Allen Poe - “The Raven” and “The Fall of the

House of Usher”House of Usher” Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Scarlet Letter and “The Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Scarlet Letter and “The

Minister’s Black Veil”Minister’s Black Veil” Emily Dickinson – “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” Emily Dickinson – “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”

and “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died”and “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died”

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the Period Period

(Continued)(Continued)Transcendentalism – Reflected Transcendentalism – Reflected

spirituality and optimismspirituality and optimism Ralph Waldo Emerson – “Nature” Ralph Waldo Emerson – “Nature”

and “Self-Reliance”and “Self-Reliance” Henry David Thoreau – “Walden” Henry David Thoreau – “Walden”

and “Civil Disobedience”and “Civil Disobedience” Walt Whitman - “I Hear America Walt Whitman - “I Hear America

Singing”Singing”

Unit 4: RealismUnit 4: Realism Time Period: 1850-1914Time Period: 1850-1914 Basics of the Literary Time PeriodBasics of the Literary Time Period

Style of writing developed in the 19Style of writing developed in the 19thth centurycentury

Depicts life accurately without idealizing, Depicts life accurately without idealizing, romanticizing, or filtering it through romanticizing, or filtering it through personal feelingspersonal feelings

Focuses on ordinary people suffering the Focuses on ordinary people suffering the harsh realities of everyday life “our common harsh realities of everyday life “our common course”course”

Subjects include poor factory workers and Subjects include poor factory workers and corrupt politicianscorrupt politicians

Writing TechniquesWriting Techniques Objective Point of View-Objective Point of View- reader follows the reader follows the

action without understanding any action without understanding any character’s thoughts about the eventscharacter’s thoughts about the events

Third-Person Limited-Third-Person Limited- the narrator relates the narrator relates the inner thoughts and feelings of a single the inner thoughts and feelings of a single charactercharacter

FlashbackFlashback-interrupts chronological -interrupts chronological presentation of events to relate to an earlier presentation of events to relate to an earlier time time

Situational Irony- Situational Irony- outcome of an action or outcome of an action or situation is very different from what one situation is very different from what one expectsexpects

BackgroundBackground RegionalismRegionalism

Emphasizes a specific geographical settingEmphasizes a specific geographical setting Reproduces a speech of people in a certain areaReproduces a speech of people in a certain area Also shows behavior and attitudes of people Also shows behavior and attitudes of people

living in a certain area living in a certain area NaturalismNaturalism

Humans are subject to the laws of nature and Humans are subject to the laws of nature and controlled by instinctcontrolled by instinct

Fate determined by environment, heredity, Fate determined by environment, heredity, chance, or by uncontrollable forceschance, or by uncontrollable forces

Characters have limited choices and motivationsCharacters have limited choices and motivations ““we are all fighting a losing battle”we are all fighting a losing battle” Dissected human behavior with complete Dissected human behavior with complete

objectivity (like scientists)objectivity (like scientists)

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod

Mark Twain – Mark Twain – Huck FinnHuck Finn Stephan Crane – “An Episode of War”Stephan Crane – “An Episode of War” Kate Chopin – “The Story of an Hour”, Kate Chopin – “The Story of an Hour”,

“Desiree’s Baby” “Desiree’s Baby” Owl Creek Bridge”Owl Creek Bridge”

Bret Harte – “The Outcasts of Poker Flat”Bret Harte – “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” Jack London – “To Build a Fire”Jack London – “To Build a Fire” Abraham Lincoln – “The Gettysburg Abraham Lincoln – “The Gettysburg

Address”Address” Paul Laurence Dunbar – “Douglass”, “We Paul Laurence Dunbar – “Douglass”, “We

Wear the Mask”Wear the Mask”

Unit 5: ModernismUnit 5: Modernism

Time Period: 1914-1946Time Period: 1914-1946 Basics of the Literary Time PeriodBasics of the Literary Time Period

Two World Wars and a Great Depression Two World Wars and a Great Depression marked this era.marked this era.

The devastation of WWI brought an end The devastation of WWI brought an end to optimism. People were left feeling to optimism. People were left feeling uncertain and disillusioned; they did not uncertain and disillusioned; they did not trust the ideas and values that once trust the ideas and values that once characterized our country.characterized our country.

The quest for new ideas occurred in the The quest for new ideas occurred in the world of literature, and modernism was world of literature, and modernism was born.born.

Modernism Key Points Modernism Key Points (Cont.)(Cont.)

Modernist authors sought to capture the Modernist authors sought to capture the essence of modern life in both the form essence of modern life in both the form and the content of their work.and the content of their work.

Modernists constructed their works out of Modernists constructed their works out of fragments. Poets abandoned traditional fragments. Poets abandoned traditional forms and meters, in favor of free verse.forms and meters, in favor of free verse.

Themes of their works were usually Themes of their works were usually implied, rather than directly stated, implied, rather than directly stated, making readers draw upon their own making readers draw upon their own conclusions.conclusions.

Modernist works demanded more from Modernist works demanded more from readers.readers.

Imagism (1909-1917): demanded hard, Imagism (1909-1917): demanded hard, clear expression, concrete images, and the clear expression, concrete images, and the language of everyday speech; their models language of everyday speech; their models came from the Greek and Roman classics, came from the Greek and Roman classics, Chinese and Japanese poetry, and the free Chinese and Japanese poetry, and the free verse of the French poets. (Poets: H.D., verse of the French poets. (Poets: H.D., Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams)Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams)

Expatriates: writers who settled in Paris Expatriates: writers who settled in Paris after WWI, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and after WWI, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

Writer Gertrude Stein created the phrase Writer Gertrude Stein created the phrase “lost generation” to describe those who “lost generation” to describe those who were disillusioned by WWI; she influenced were disillusioned by WWI; she influenced the ideas of those writers who had settled in the ideas of those writers who had settled in Paris.Paris.

Writers began using stream of Writers began using stream of consciousness attempting to recreate the consciousness attempting to recreate the natural flow of a character’s thoughts. natural flow of a character’s thoughts. (William Faulkner and Katherine Anne (William Faulkner and Katherine Anne Porter were known for this.)Porter were known for this.)

Modernism Key Points (Cont.)Modernism Key Points (Cont.)

Poets also sought to stretch old Poets also sought to stretch old boundaries – E.E. Cummings, William boundaries – E.E. Cummings, William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, Marianne Moore, etc.Marianne Moore, etc.

Harlem Renaissance: African Harlem Renaissance: African Americans from the South created Americans from the South created their own renaissance in Harlem; it their own renaissance in Harlem; it began in 1921 (Countee Cullen, began in 1921 (Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neal HurstonLangston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston

Claude McKay, and Jean Toomer)Claude McKay, and Jean Toomer) Major themes in the early 20th century: Major themes in the early 20th century:

loss of innocence in people and pursuit loss of innocence in people and pursuit of the American Dreamof the American Dream

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod

F. Scott Fitzgerald – F. Scott Fitzgerald – Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby T.S. Elliot – “The Love Song of J. Alfred T.S. Elliot – “The Love Song of J. Alfred

Prufrock”Prufrock” Earnest Hemingway – “In Another Earnest Hemingway – “In Another

Country”Country” Eudora Welty – “A Worn Path”Eudora Welty – “A Worn Path” Poets: Ezra Pound, William Carlos Poets: Ezra Pound, William Carlos

Williams, E.E. Cummings, Carl Williams, E.E. Cummings, Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, and Langston Sandburg, Robert Frost, and Langston HughesHughes

Unit 6: PostmodernismUnit 6: Postmodernism Time Period: 1946 – PresentTime Period: 1946 – Present Basics of the Literary Time PeriodBasics of the Literary Time Period

WWII and Holocaust was hurting the meaning of lifeWWII and Holocaust was hurting the meaning of life Influenced by the growth of informational technologyInfluenced by the growth of informational technology Loss of trust in author’s irrational thoughtsLoss of trust in author’s irrational thoughts Less confidence that work is unique – culture Less confidence that work is unique – culture

continually copies itselfcontinually copies itself Interest in work as process and how it evolvesInterest in work as process and how it evolves Loss of belief that work is immortalLoss of belief that work is immortal Belief that fine art can be a cartoonBelief that fine art can be a cartoon Works consisting of dialogue aloneWorks consisting of dialogue alone Works that blend fiction and non-fictionWorks that blend fiction and non-fiction Experimentation of the physical appearance of a workExperimentation of the physical appearance of a work Essence of contemporary life in worksEssence of contemporary life in works Impersonal and commercial nature of today’s workImpersonal and commercial nature of today’s work

Writers and Works of the Writers and Works of the PeriodPeriod

Arthur Miller – Arthur Miller – The CrucibleThe Crucible J.D. Salinger – J.D. Salinger – Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye Flannery O’Connor – “The Life You Save Flannery O’Connor – “The Life You Save

May Be Your Own”May Be Your Own” Naomi Shihab Nye – “Mint Snowball”Naomi Shihab Nye – “Mint Snowball” Alice Walker – “Everyday Use”Alice Walker – “Everyday Use” Carson McCullers – “The Mortgaged Carson McCullers – “The Mortgaged

Heart”Heart” Sylvia Plath – “Mirror”Sylvia Plath – “Mirror” Gwendolyn Brooks – “The Explorer”Gwendolyn Brooks – “The Explorer” Tim O’Brien – “Ambush”Tim O’Brien – “Ambush”

The End!The End!I hope you’ve learned plenty about I hope you’ve learned plenty about American Literature, and perhaps, you American Literature, and perhaps, you can now reflect upon the significance of can now reflect upon the significance of this history and how it continues to this history and how it continues to shape the ideas, culture, and literature shape the ideas, culture, and literature of today.of today.