Foundations of American Literature
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American literature's journey from the Revolutionary Period to the present day showcases its rich diversity and evolution. Key figures like Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, and Toni Morrison have shaped its identity, reflecting societal themes and embracing a multitude of perspectives. The text delves into the development of a unique American literary voice, the impact of historical events on literature, and the recognition of diverse voices in recent times.
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Foundations of American Literature
American literature, a rich and varied body of work, originates from the United States and its preceding colonies. Distinct from its English-language literary heritage, it also includes contributions in other languages, reflecting the nation's diverse cultural tapestry. The American Revolutionary Period laid the groundwork for the nation's literary tradition, with seminal political writings from Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson. The first American novel is often considered to be "The Power of Sympathy" by William Hill Brown, published in 1791. The push for a unique American literary voice was championed by critics like John Neal, who urged writers to develop an authentic American literary style, influencing Edgar Allan Poe and others to pursue original literary paths.The Development of American Literary Identity
The nineteenth century was pivotal in shaping an American literary identity. Edgar Allan Poe made significant contributions to poetry and the short story genre, while Ralph Waldo Emerson was a central figure in the Transcendentalist movement, which also inspired Henry David Thoreau's "Walden." The abolitionist movement gave rise to influential works by Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass, who addressed the injustices of slavery. Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" explored complex themes in American society. This era also saw the emergence of poets like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, who left indelible marks on American poetry. Mark Twain and Henry James later emerged as literary figures who brought American storytelling to a wider audience, with Twain introducing vernacular language into literature and James exploring the international theme.American Literature in the Modernist Era
The early twentieth century marked a transformation in American literature with the modernist movement, which sought to break away from nineteenth-century literary traditions. F. Scott Fitzgerald epitomized the Jazz Age of the 1920s, while contemporaries like John Dos Passos, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner experimented with narrative techniques and forms. Modernist poets, including Wallace Stevens, T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Ezra Pound, and E. E. Cummings, pushed the boundaries of poetic expression. The Great Depression influenced socially conscious writers such as John Steinbeck, whose "The Grapes of Wrath" depicted the plight of the dispossessed. World War II's impact was evident in works like Norman Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead," Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s "Slaughterhouse-Five." The era also witnessed the ascendancy of playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller, who enriched American theater with their dramatic works.Contemporary American Literature and Its Diverse Voices
The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries in American literature are marked by an increased recognition of diverse voices, including those of immigrant, ethnic, and LGBT writers, and the inclusion of works in various languages. Authors such as Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, and James Baldwin have explored the African American experience, while Maxine Hong Kingston and Ocean Vuong have provided insights into the Asian American experience. The literary landscape has also been enriched by LGBT authors like Michael Cunningham. The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature to Bob Dylan in 2016 acknowledged the impact of songwriting on the literary canon, signifying the expansion of literature to encompass a wider array of storytelling forms. This period reflects the ongoing evolution of American literature as it continues to embrace a multitude of perspectives and narratives.
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Origins of American Literature
English-language literary heritage
American literature has its roots in the English-language literary heritage, but also includes contributions in other languages
American Revolutionary Period
Seminal political writings
The American Revolutionary Period laid the groundwork for the nation's literary tradition with influential political writings from figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson
Push for a unique American literary voice
Critics like John Neal urged writers to develop an authentic American literary style, leading to the pursuit of original literary paths by writers like Edgar Allan Poe
Development of American Literary Identity
Contributions of key figures
Writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Harriet Beecher Stowe made significant contributions to shaping an American literary identity
Themes and movements
Transcendentalist movement
The Transcendentalist movement, led by figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, played a central role in shaping American literature in the nineteenth century
Abolitionist movement
The abolitionist movement gave rise to influential works by writers like Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass, who addressed the injustices of slavery
Exploration of complex themes
Writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville explored complex themes in American society through works like "The Scarlet Letter" and "Moby-Dick."
American Literature in the Modernist Era
Transformation in American literature
The modernist movement of the early twentieth century sought to break away from nineteenth-century literary traditions, leading to a transformation in American literature
Key figures and their contributions
F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Jazz Age
F. Scott Fitzgerald's works epitomized the Jazz Age of the 1920s, along with other writers like John Dos Passos, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner who experimented with narrative techniques and forms
Modernist poets
Poets like Wallace Stevens, T. S. Eliot, and E. E. Cummings pushed the boundaries of poetic expression during the modernist era
Socially conscious writers
The Great Depression influenced socially conscious writers like John Steinbeck, whose works like "The Grapes of Wrath" depicted the plight of the dispossessed
Contemporary American Literature and Its Diverse Voices
Recognition of diverse voices
The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have seen an increased recognition of diverse voices in American literature, including those of immigrant, ethnic, and LGBT writers
Key authors and their contributions
Exploration of the African American experience
Authors like Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, and James Baldwin have provided insights into the African American experience through their works
Asian American authors
Maxine Hong Kingston and Ocean Vuong have enriched the literary landscape with their works exploring the Asian American experience
LGBT authors
LGBT authors like Michael Cunningham have also made significant contributions to contemporary American literature
Foundations of American Literature
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00
The initial American novel is frequently acknowledged as ______ by ______, released in ______.
The Power of Sympathy
William Hill Brown
1791
01
______, a proponent for a distinctive American literary identity, impacted authors like ______ to seek novel literary directions.
John Neal
Edgar Allan Poe
02
Edgar Allan Poe's contributions
Pioneered poetry, short story genre; added mystery, macabre elements to American literature.
