Literature characteristics engl 2326 american literature. On the influence of naturalism on american literature xiaofen zhang dezhou university, dezhou 253023, china email. Joseph conrad was polish, robert burns was scottish, james joyce was irish, dylan thomas was welsh, edgar allan poe was american, salman rushdie is indian, v. The predominant african languages used are amharic, zulu, hausa, and swahili. The american dream can be sensed as a background or screen in the works of many famous american authors, some of whom have been awarded the nobel prize in literature. An outline of english history from julius caesars invasion to the middle of the 5th century and continues to 1154. Oral literature or orature may be in prose or verse.
The characteristics of american literature tend to follow movements in american history. Romantic literature tends to emphasize a love of nature, a respect for primitivism, and a valuing of the common, natural man. Inferred characteristics of new literary time period handout 5. Gale takes literature, history and culture to the next level with the largest, most extensive compilation of literary commentary available. What are the characteristics of african literature. The myths and trickster tales, which typically explain. Modernism is a historical movement that carried over several art forms, including literature, music, the visual arts, dance and drama.
The diary of a young girlby opal whiteley, selected and adapted by jane boulton, illustrations by barbara cooney. Belief that the world is created in the act of perceiving it. The united states has such a large and varied literature that we can make no true generalizations about it. A few broad details of american literature movements are that they often followed characteristic english literary movements, but tended to be. What are some characteristics of the byronicgothic hero. Lactaotao african literature preserves the rich culture and traditions of the african nations. Another common theme is that of interaction between generations, particularly older, chineseborn and younger, american born generations. It has been created within the larger realm of postcolonial literature, although scholars distinguish between the two, saying that african american literature differs from most postcolonial literature in that it is written by members of a. They tried to represent events and social conditions as they actually are, without idealization. The first american literature was neither american nor really literature. African american literature has both been influenced by the great african diasporic heritage and shaped it in many countries. Descibe the characteristics of the 19th century american.
The history of american literature stretches across more than 400 years. Doc postmodern literature characteristics shirin afroz. American literary movements characteristics of the periods. Represents the only uptodate concise history of american literature covers fiction, poetry, drama and nonfiction, as well as looking at other forms of literature including folktales, spirituals, the. Pdf basic summary of english and american literature. Romantics idealize country life and believe that many of the ills of society are a result of urbanization. American literature timeline period dates period name period characteristics famous authors and works arrived 40,000 20,000 b. The term english literature refers to literature written in the english language, including literature composed in english by writers not necessarily from england. After the american revolution, and increasingly after the war of 1812, american writers were exhorted to produce a literature that was truly native. It can be divided into five major periods, each of which has unique characteristics, notable authors, and representative works. Literary forms of the period were extraordinarily varied, and in drama, poetry, and fiction the leading authors tended toward. Early 1800s to 1865 american romanticism know this time frame 2.
The pioneer ideals of selfreliance and independence. Important movements in drama, poetry, fiction, and criticism took shape in the years before, during, and after world war i. The origins of african american literature, 16801865 on jstor. American literature as a whole is one of the richest and least explored topics in american studies.
More specifically, the term describes the modernist. But three characteristics seem to stand out and give it a flavor all its own. Realism was the literary movement that preceded naturalism, and out of which naturalism grew like a darwinian weed. The basic characteristics of african english literature are 1 written in both african and european languages. Characteristics of modernism in literature with some famous works often credited with bringing forth a new look to literature, modernism was born sometime in the late nineteenth century. The primary setting for native american literature is in, or around, nature. The process of reading should include both prereading preparing to read and postreading activities. I can describe the foundational works of eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentiethcentury american literature. The colonial period 14921700 native americans, the first inhabitants of the continent, did not develop anything we can call literature their stories and poems were spread orally, which means the american literally history begins with the age of colonialism. First, american literature reflects beliefs and traditions that come from the nations frontier days. The prose is often mythological or historical and can include tales of the trickster character. From the earliest texts of the colonial period to works contemporary with emancipation, african american literature has been a dialogue across color lines, and a medium through which black writers have been able to exert considerable authority on both sides of that racial demarcation. List the titles and authors of the three selections that you will read. American literature american literature the 20th century.
There were personal accounts of early american colonists depicting tales of travelling to the new lands, immigration, and everyday struggle. Pdf on jan 1, 2001, harry olufunwa and others published american literature find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The transcendentalist transcends or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life animal drives and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. As if in response, four authors of very respectable stature appeared.
The hundreds of indian words in everyday american english include canoe, tobacco, potato, mocca. Introduction to american literature continental academy. The eventful period that followed the war left its imprint upon books of all kinds. Although there were certainly slaves writing in the early days of slavery and colonization, the african american literary tradition began to take root in the 17th and 18th centuries, when former slaves such as frederick douglass. Old english literature characteristics english summary.
In other words, modernism seeks to find new forms of expression and rejects traditional or accepted ideas. The primary characteristic of african american literature is that it speaks to the africanamerican experience in the united states, a country with a history of slavery and segregation laws. I can compare and contrast how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics. While literature generally has always been informed by other disciplines, more than ever before it now carries so many is. Although the height of modernism lasted for fewer than 40 years, this movement profoundly influenced art and artists across media. Each group will report the three possible characteristics to the. Characteristics of african american literature pen and the pad. A brief history of american literature richard gray. The main characteristics of modernist literature pen and. At the center of modernism is a questioning of prior representations of human life. Pdf on may 19, 20, kiyan pishkar and others published basic summary of english and american literature find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Chinese american literature deals with many topics and themes. The first european settlers of north america wrote about their experiences starting in the 1600s.
A brief history of american literature offers students and general readers a concise and uptodate history of the full range of american writing from its origins until the present day. Some of these early works reached the level of literature, as in the robust and perhaps truthful account of his adventures by captain john smith and the sober, tendentious journalistic histories of. Genre characteristics 2 genre definition frequently found elements picture book examples journals and diaries a log written by an author at regular intervals. This break includes a strong reaction against established religious, political, and social views. It was not american because it was the work mainly of immigrants from england. Marked by a strong and intentional break with tradition. Realist writers like gustave flaubert and leo tolstoy were interested in recording people and events as they really happened, almost journalistically. Writers reacted to this question by turning toward modernist sentiment.
For instance, there is often a great emphasis on the history, culture and customs of a group of people when telling their stories. Use stories to teach moral lessons and convey practical information about the natural world. Literature scholars differ over the years that encompass the modernist period, however most generally agree that modernist authors published as early as the 1880s and into the mid1940s. At this phase, from postwar america, on through the civil rights era, through the cultural revolutions and economic seesaws, we have a collection of writers from. American romanticism literature linkedin slideshare. If you dont know the answer, reread preparing for readings in american literature above. Characteristics of african literature include slave narratives, protests against colonization, calls for independence, african pride, hope for the future, and dissent. The term postmodern literature is used to describe certain characteristics of post world war ii literature relying heavily, for example, on fragmentation, paradox, questionable narrators, etc. Gothic literature movement dark romanticism and the. African literature is as diverse as the continent itself, but several characteristics and themes prevail throughout much of the written works emerging from africa. New approaches is the result of several years of reassessing african literature from multiple perspectives, including the interdisciplinary, ethical, and scholarpoet traditions. First person narratives were commonplace in the writing of puritan age especially in the forms of journals and diaries. Introduction to american literature 8 reading is a process, not a step. Apr 03, 2016 african literature is literature of or from africa and includes oral literature.
Apr 17, 2017 african american literature refers to literature written by americans of african descent. In this lesson, we will examine the characteristics and literature of this time period. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism. Each group will infer three possible characteristics of american romanticism literature based on the conclusions from the primary source set, which will be noted on the literary time period comparecontrast tool. Pdf characteristics of african literature rony o p. Characteristics of african american literature pen and. War and industrialization seemed to devalue the individual. In american literature, the term realism encompasses the period of time from the civil war to the turn of the century during which william dean howells, rebecca harding davis, henry james, mark twain, and others wrote fiction devoted to accurate representation and an exploration of american lives in various contexts. Modernism in literature what are characteristics of. Imagine centuries of analysis the scholarly and popular commentary from broadsheets, pamphlets, encyclopedias, books and periodicals. On the influence of naturalism on american literature. We will speak our own minds ralph waldo emerson what types of values were embraced what is a non. Jun, 2017 literature scholars differ over the years that encompass the modernist period, however most generally agree that modernist authors published as early as the 1880s and into the mid1940s. In preparation for writing an essay or any other piece of work, your notes might come from a number of different.
Here are the main characteristics of the literature of the age. William cullen bryant, washington irving, james fenimore cooper, and edgar allan poe initiated a great half century. Common themes and techniques of postmodern literature of. A common topic is the challenges, both inner and outer, of assimilation in mainstream, white american society by chinese americans. Characteristics of modernism in literature with some. Nature for the romantics becomes a means for divine revelation wordsworth b.
It is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a woman separated from her lover wulf and forced to marry and live with a cruel man eadwacer. In this article, we take a look at some of the most important characteristics of the literary trend and look at some of the most famous works that emerged from it. Through his teaching and his lectures at his art schools in greenwich village and provincetown, massachusetts, he widened the scope of modernism in america. The development of the american novel coincided with the following. Neoclassical literature was written between 1660 and 1798. Basic characteristics of american transcendentalism. Tepees were common in the north and plains region as the people followed changing of seasons or movement of a herd.
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