American literature facts. Native American literature 2022-10-10

American literature facts Rating: 9,8/10 1154 reviews

American literature is a rich and diverse tradition that has contributed significantly to the development of the English language and literary culture. Here are some interesting facts about American literature:

  1. The first work of American literature is often considered to be the oral traditions of Native American cultures. These oral traditions were passed down through generations and included stories, legends, and myths that were used to teach cultural values and beliefs.

  2. The first written work of American literature was a poem called "The Day of Doom," which was written in 1662 by a Puritan minister named Michael Wigglesworth.

  3. One of the most influential writers in American literature is Edgar Allan Poe. His works, which include "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart," are known for their dark themes and focus on the psychological effects of guilt, fear, and madness.

  4. Another important figure in American literature is Nathaniel Hawthorne, who is known for his exploration of the human psyche and his use of allegory and symbolism in his works. His most famous works include "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of Seven Gables."

  5. Mark Twain is one of the most well-known and beloved writers in American literature. His works, which include "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," are known for their wit, humor, and portrayal of life on the Mississippi River.

  6. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the emergence of several important writers, including Emily Dickinson, whose poems explored themes of death, loss, and the human condition, and Walt Whitman, whose poetry celebrated the diversity and strength of the American people.

  7. The modernist movement, which began in the early 20th century, marked a shift in American literature towards more experimental and avant-garde forms of writing. Some notable modernist writers include T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein.

  8. The postmodernist movement, which emerged in the mid-20th century, marked a further departure from traditional forms of literature and a focus on themes of individual identity, cultural diversity, and the role of technology in society. Some notable postmodernist writers include Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo, and Jeanette Winterson.

In conclusion, American literature is a diverse and rich tradition that has contributed significantly to the development of the English language and literary culture. From its roots in oral tradition to its evolution through various literary movements, American literature has shaped and been shaped by the cultural, social, and political climate of the United States.

(PDF) History of American Literature

american literature facts

. Retrieved December 3, 2009. Sentimentalism is often thought to be a reaction against the Calvinistic belief in the depravity of human nature. A History of American Literature. In American Poetic Materialism from Whitman to Stevens, Mark Noble examines writers who share the assumption that personhood can be understood as a material event.

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History of American literature

american literature facts

. She received a Nobel Prize in 1993. Learn More American Literature Definition American literature refers to the body of written or literary works shaped in the history of the United States and its former colonies britannica. The Sun Also Rises 1926 and A Farewell to Arms 1929 articulated the disillusionment of the Lost Generation. Some of these very established names are: Kurt Vonnegut, Amy Tan, John Updike, Eudora Welty, James Baldwin, Sylvia Plath, Arthur Miller, Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, Joan Didion, Thomas Pynchon, Elizabeth Bishop, Tennessee Williams, Philip Roth, Sandra Cisneros, Richard Wright, Tony Kushner, Adrienne Rich, Bernard Malamud, Saul Bellow, Joyce Carol Oates, Thornton Wilder, Alice Walker, Edward Albee, Norman Mailer, John Barth, Maya Angelou, and Robert Penn Warren.

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American Literary Periods

american literature facts

. Early adopters of Realism include Russian authors, L'Assommoir , an excruciatingly detailed account of alcoholism and poverty, resulted in his being the most widely-read author in France. He refused the traditional constraints of rhyme and meter in favor of free verse in Leaves of Grass 1855 , and his frankness in subject matter and tone repelled some critics. However, this hasn't stopped literary scholars from making an attempt. Conversion means a turning with and as some force of newness: it affirms, plugs into, and enacts energies of becoming, eruptive ideas, recomposition, and a creativity or beatitude latent or damaged in the self. .

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Periods of American Literature

american literature facts

Short stories enjoyed great cultural popularity in recent modern history, a phenomenon that was aided by technical innovation. . Widely acclaimed as one of the finest short-story writers and known for her acerbic wit, complex themes, and illuminating portrayal of the American South, Flannery O'Connor is a favourite among students, scholars, and general readers. I am a weak, defenceless woman. Gothic Fiction is similar to Realism in that both genres provide graphic details to support the story's credibility. New York: NYU Press.

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American Literature Timeline

american literature facts

Ormond, The first writer to be able to support himself through the income generated by his publications alone was A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, Connecticut 06226. Charlotte: A Tale of Truth, published in London in 1791. Enjoyed these facts about literature? They are bad enough to dislike, at any rate; and for this short life that is quite enough. This time period saw a rise in confessional poetry and sexuality in literature, which resulted in legal challenges and debates over censorship in America. Though with these efforts the initial state of the English language supremacy was barely evident, political events eventually changed the course and made English the main language for the colonies as well as the choice in writing literature. Retrieved March 1, 2010.

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What Is American Literature and What Makes It Unique? American Literature Essay

american literature facts

. . This volume covers a pivotal era in the formation of American identity. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. Keep Cool in 1817, Logan, A Family History in 1822, Randolph in 1823, Errata in 1823, Brother Jonathan in 1825, and A New England Tale in 1822, Redwood in 1824, The Linwoods in 1835. .

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Literature in Early America

american literature facts

Emile Zola's Drink The genre of Realism is expressed around the world, in art, literature, and music, exposing the raw, naked, factual truths of life. Retrieved January 24, 2018. Matthews, William Faulkner: seeing through the South Wiley, 2011. . . The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, p 42. .

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American literature

american literature facts

Retrieved March 21, 2021. . The average reader reads about 130 words per minute, so a 1,900 word story can be read in just under 15 minutes. . Among the first American novels are Adventures of Alonso, published in London in 1775 and In the next decade, important women writers also published novels. The novella or novelette occupies the space between the short story and the novel, between 7,500 words and 20,000 words. .

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