American LiteratureLiterary Periods to Civil War

NamesPeriod

Assignment Details

• In your group, research the six literary periods of American literature prior to the Civil War.– You can answer questions separately or

construct a paragraph, but ALL answers must be written in COMPLETE SENTENCES.

– Information may be presented in PPT or DOC.

– Cite your sources in MLA format.– I suggest using a GoogleDoc so

everyone in your group can work on it at the same time.

Reliable Research Sources

• The internet provides easy access to an overwhelming amount of information, but it is not always reliable.

• Five things to check for:– Authority– Accuracy– Objectivity– Currency– Coverage

http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

Suggested Sources

• You will be evaluated not only on the information you present but also the sources you use. Here are some suggestions for reliable sources:– Elements of Literature textbook– Professor Mark Canada’s American Lit

syllabus: http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/lit/amlit1/fall2002/syllabus.htm

– Norton Anthology of American Lit student site: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/naal7/

Native American LiteratureBeginnings to 1620s

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Age of Faith Literature1620 to 1750

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Age of Reason Literature1750 to 1800

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Romantic Literature1800 to 1860

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Transcendental Literature1840 - 1860

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Dark Romantic Literature1840 to 1860

• What are the characteristics of literature?

• What are the common genres?• Who are key authors? What are key

texts?• How is the American experience

represented in the American hero, journey, and dream?

• How is this period similar to or different than another period?

Works Cited