Characteristics of american literature

The characteristics of american gothic literature 930. Literature characteristics engl 2326 american literature loges. Before the high point of slave narratives, africanamerican literature was dominated by. Common themes in american literature include the great journey, the loss of innocence, the great battle, love and friendship, and revenge. American literature is literature written or produced in the united states of america and its. Additionally, animals may be given human behavioral characteristics such as a greed or jealousy. I am interested to hear what you all think are the most important characteristics that distinguish american literature are. What are some characteristics of puritan literature. American literature timeline period dates period name period characteristics famous authors and works arrived 40,000 20,000 b. Some of these early works reached the level of literature, as in the robust and perhaps truthful. A few broad details of american literature movements are that they often followed characteristic english literary movements, but tended to be a few years behind ie. It begins with the works of such late 18thcentury writers as phillis wheatley.

It can be divided into five major periods, each of which has unique characteristics, notable authors, and representative works. It was made up of a group of authors who wrote and published between about 1820 and 1860, when the u. The four main characteristics of literature are the plot, the setting, characterization and the theme. Feminist literature portrays characters or ideas that attempt to change gender norms. It arrived in the united states in 1820 after the american revolution. There are specific characteristics that identify this literary field or genre. Descibe the characteristics of the 19th century american. 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. American literature does not easily lend itself to classification by time period. These symbols are still kicking around in the 21st century. American literary movements characteristics of the periods. The three characteristics of american literature include.

Although there were certainly slaves writing in the early days of slavery and colonization, the africanamerican literary tradition began to take root in the 17th and 18th centuries, when former slaves such as frederick douglass. The first european settlers of north america wrote about their experiences starting in the 1600s. Characteristics of african american literature pen and. The novel is the one genre that is most closely associated with the rise of realism as a movement. They tend to reject authority and to emphasize democracy and the equality of men. In the 18th century, the enlightenment showed a great shift in. Africanamerican literature is the body of literature produced in the united states by writers of african descent. Relating to american culture means relating to world culture. Another characteristic of native american literature involves attributing human characteristics to landmark formations or inanimate objects. First, american literature reflects beliefs and traditions that come from the nations frontier days. Characteristics of colonial american literature narrative focus. Characteristics of 20th century american novel slideshare. What is it that entices people into reading about horror and darkness that has a mystifying attraction. What are five characteristics in literary naturalism.

The most common genres were tracts, polemics, journals, narratives, sermons, and some poetry. It tends to examine, question, and argue for change against established and antiquated gender roles through the written word. The pioneer ideals of self reliance and independence appear again and again in american writings. American writing began with the work of english adventurers and colonists in the new world chiefly for the benefit of readers in the mother country. The history of american literature stretches across more than 400 years. Characteristics the colonial period was dominated by puritan beliefs and thus literature of this period is usually historical, religious, or didactic. Gale takes literature, history and culture to the next level with the largest, most extensive compilation of literary commentary available. A brief overview of the modernist movement in american literature. American literature united states literature 1902 encyclopedia. In general, romantic literature is emotional, imaginative, and interested in beauty. For almost a century and a half, america was merely a group of colonies scattered along the eastern seaboard of the north american continentcolonies from which a few hardy souls. Later in this movement mid1800s, american literature flourished and matured with works like.

Before the founding of the united states, the british colonies on the eastern coast of the presentday united states were heavily influenced by english literature. What are the 5 characteristics of american romantic. Like other national literatures, american literature was shaped by the history of the country that produced it. The characteristics of american literature tend to follow movements in american history. American literary movements characteristics of the american literary movements student activity american literary movements native american tradition. Get an answer for what are the characteristics of american literature.

The colonial and early national period 17th century to 1830 the romantic period 1830 to 1870 realism and naturalism 1870 to 1910 the modernist period 1910 to 1945 the contemporary period 1945 to present. Main characteristics of american literature articles factory. American authors have great respects for the value and importance of the individual. The carnage of two world wars profoundly affected writers of the period. During the american revolution, romanticism became popular, and some of the characteristics include ordinary men becoming heroes, heightened emotions and imaginative scenarios. We see these themes in romantic literature across cultures. The main characteristics of modernist literature pen and.

Five characteristics of native american literature synonym. The united states has such a large and varied literature that we can make no true generalizations about it. You cant talk about realism without talking about the novel. Many of the characteristics of colonial american literature can be found in the poems, journals, letters, narratives, histories and. Five characteristics of native american literature hero initiation. Characteristics of the 20 th century american novel by. Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement with roots in western europe during the 1770s. While america continued to evolve and change the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote, and the stock market crash of 1929 changed everything, modernism in american literature continued to. The plot deals with how occurrences happen in a piece of literature. But three characteristics seem to stand out and give it a flavor all its own. Religion is prominent in colonial american literature. It is important for students of american literature to understand the author and characters attitudes.

Modernist literature was a predominantly english genre of fiction writing, popular from roughly the 1910s into the 1960s. Colonial american literature emerged from the original u. Fitzgeralds characteristic theme, expressed poignantly in his masterpiece the great gatsby, is the tendency of youths golden dreams to dissolve in. A puritan writers main focus was to glorify god and show reverence for the bible. Gothic literature incorporates many unique characteristics that keeps the reader intrigued. Resources for course writing assignment on american authors. American literature is often divided into five major periods.

Get an answer for what are five characteristics in literary naturalism. During this period, society at every level underwent profound changes. Second, american writers have always had a strong tendency to break with literary tradition and to strike out in their own directions. Characteristics of colonial american literature pen and. American romanticism was the first fullfledged literary movement that developed in the u. It can be divided into five major periods, each of which has unique characteristics. American literature is literature written or produced in the united states of america and its preceding colonies for specific discussions of poetry and theater, see poetry of the united states and theater in the united states. The main characteristics of modernist literature individualism. An appreciation of emotion, an artists unique spirit, a reverence for nature and a skepticism about human society are all characteristics of romantic literature. The university of michigan has composed a list of some of the basic characteristics of american culture in hopes to broaden americans understanding of their own culture as well as give people of other cultures the opportunity to better understand when and how. What are the characteristics of american revolution. Puritanism, and puritan literature, became popular in the 17th century. Characteristics of colonial american literature pen and the pad. The theme of a book is the underlying meaning within the story.

Start studying characteristics of postmodern american literature. These include the infamous white whale in herman melvilles mobydick and the red letter a in nathaniel hawthornes the scarlett letter. American literature ranging from a struggling family of immigrants to a sports team overcoming odds and becoming victorious is not bound by our borders. Modernist writers broke free of old forms and techniques. Get an answer for descibe the characteristics of the 19th century american novel in detail. In modernist literature, the individual is more interesting than society. Animals represent tricksters in native american culture. Characteristics of romanticism in early american writing. Characteristics of romanticism in american literature video. Given the size of the united states and its varied population, there are often several literary movements happening at the same time. Imagine centuries of analysis the scholarly and popular commentary from broadsheets, pamphlets, encyclopedias, books and periodicals. What are some examples of themes in american literature. The american dream is the largely unacknowledged screen in front of which all american writing plays itself out. What are the characteristics of romantic literature.

This is part of a more generalized anthropomorphic tendency in native american folk traditions. Some examples of the characteristics that may be included in american gothic are. Colonial american literature is characterized by the narrative. 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.

They tend to reject authority and to emphasize democracy and the equality. What are characteristics of modernist literature, fiction. The american romantics have given us some of the greatest symbols in all of american literature. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What are three characteristics of american literature. War and industrialization seemed to devalue the individual. Africanamerican literature refers to literature written by americans of african descent. The number of writers who have acquired some amount of wellfounded reputation in.