American Literature An Introduction Lit Periods Early American

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American Literature An Introduction

American Literature An Introduction

Lit. Periods • Early American Lit. 1607 -1820 • American Romanticism 1820 -1865 •

Lit. Periods • Early American Lit. 1607 -1820 • American Romanticism 1820 -1865 • American Realism & Naturalism 1865 -1914 • Modern American Lit. 1914 -1945 • Contemporary American Literature 1945 - present

Early American Literature An Era of Change

Early American Literature An Era of Change

Early American Literature • Time Period: 1607 -1820 • Historical Context: • First "American"

Early American Literature • Time Period: 1607 -1820 • Historical Context: • First "American" colonies were established • Religion dominated life and was a common theme in writing • American character/patriotism grew and led to the American Revolution

Early American Literature • Genre/Style (Literature of Settlement-1600 -1750): • sermons, diaries, personal narratives

Early American Literature • Genre/Style (Literature of Settlement-1600 -1750): • sermons, diaries, personal narratives • most writing sought to express the connections between God and their everyday lives • very plain writing style • Genre/Style (Literature of Revolution-1750 -1800): • political pamphlets, essays, travel writing, speeches • highly ornate writing style

American Romanticism An Era of Optimism

American Romanticism An Era of Optimism

American Romanticism • Time Period: 1820 -1865 • Historical context: • Expansion of book

American Romanticism • Time Period: 1820 -1865 • Historical context: • Expansion of book publishing, magazines, newspapers • Valued feeling, intuition, idealism • Viewed society as "artificial" and valued unspoiled nature • Saw poetry as the highest expression of the imagination

American Romanticism • Genre/Style: • Short stories, novels, poetry • imagination over reason; intuition

American Romanticism • Genre/Style: • Short stories, novels, poetry • imagination over reason; intuition over fact • writing can be interpreted 2 ways: surface and in depth • focus on inner feelings • "dark romantics" used dark and supernatural themes/settings (gothic style)

American Realism & Naturalism An Era of New Beginnings

American Realism & Naturalism An Era of New Beginnings

Realism & Naturalism • Time Period: 1865 -1914 • Historical Context: • Civil War

Realism & Naturalism • Time Period: 1865 -1914 • Historical Context: • Civil War brings a demand for a "truer" type of literature that doesn't idealize people • People in society are defined by class; materialism • Common subjects include slums of rapidly growing cities, factories replacing farmlands, poor factory workers, corrupt politicians • Literature represented everyday life and ordinary people

Realism & Naturalism • Genre/Style: • Realism - focused on ordinary people; antimaterialism •

Realism & Naturalism • Genre/Style: • Realism - focused on ordinary people; antimaterialism • Naturalism - a darker view of the world; our lives are shaped by forces we can't understand or control • Common Themes: survival, fate, nature as an indifference force, violence

Modern American Lit. An Era of Pessimism

Modern American Lit. An Era of Pessimism

Modern American Lit. • Time Period: 1915 -1945 • Historical Context: • World War

Modern American Lit. • Time Period: 1915 -1945 • Historical Context: • World War I; The Great Depression; WW 2 • Loss of faith in "The American Dream"

Modern American Lit. • Genre/Style: • Bold experimentation in style and form • Interest

Modern American Lit. • Genre/Style: • Bold experimentation in style and form • Interest in the inner workings of the human mind • Writers tried to create a unique style

Contemporary American Lit. An Era of Diversity

Contemporary American Lit. An Era of Diversity

Contemporary American Lit. • Time Period: 1945 -present • Historical Context: • Post WW

Contemporary American Lit. • Time Period: 1945 -present • Historical Context: • Post WW 2 prosperity; The Cold War; the fall of civil religion

Contemporary American Lit. • Genre/Style: • Multiculturalism = Rise of minority voices • Literary

Contemporary American Lit. • Genre/Style: • Multiculturalism = Rise of minority voices • Literary minimalism (similar to Hemingway’s style) = reader must construct meaning • Postmodernism = no universal truth • Blurred line between fiction and nonfiction

American Literature An Introduction Lit Periods Early AmericanAmerican Literature An Introduction Lit Periods Early American
Early American literature 1600 1750 Early American literatureEarly American literature 1600 1750 Early American literature
URBAN LIT street lit urban fiction ghetto litURBAN LIT street lit urban fiction ghetto lit
Colonial Literature Early American Literature The Literature ofColonial Literature Early American Literature The Literature of
Early Colonial Life and Literature Early American LiteratureEarly Colonial Life and Literature Early American Literature
Early Colonial Life and Literature Early American LiteratureEarly Colonial Life and Literature Early American Literature
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