American Literature: Features, Notable Writers & their Works

American Literature

Features, Notable Writers & their Works

👉 What is American Literature?

American Literature refers to the body of written or spoken works produced by writers who are citizens of, or who are primarily associated with, the United States of America. It includes a wide range of literary genres such as novels, poems, plays, essays, short stories, and memoirs, among others.

The history of American Literature can be traced back to the colonial period, which covers the 17th and 18th centuries, when the first English settlements were established in North America. During this period, literary works were primarily focused on religious and political themes, and writers such as Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, and Cotton Mather produced works that reflected the values and beliefs of Puritan society.

In the 19th century, American Literature flourished with the emergence of writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville, among others. This period is often referred to as the American Renaissance, and it saw the emergence of new literary genres such as the novel, the short story, and the essay.

In the 20th century, American Literature continued to evolve, and writers like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, and Philip Roth, among others, produced works that reflected the social, cultural, and political issues of the time.

Today, American Literature continues to be a vibrant and diverse field, with writers from various backgrounds and cultures contributing to its rich and ever-expanding canon.

👉 Specific features of American Literature

American Literature is characterized by a number of specific features that distinguish it from other literary traditions. Some of these features include:

Diversity: American Literature is characterized by its diversity, as it reflects the experiences and perspectives of writers from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds.

Regionalism: American Literature often reflects the distinct cultures and landscapes of different regions of the country, from the rural South to the urban Northeast.

Individualism: American Literature often celebrates the individual and his or her struggle for personal identity and freedom.

Experimentation: American writers have often pushed the boundaries of literary form and structure, experimenting with new techniques and styles.

Realism: Many American writers have focused on depicting the reality of everyday life, often with a gritty and unromanticized view of society.

Social criticism: American Literature has often been used as a means of social criticism, addressing issues such as race, gender, class, and politics.

Optimism: Despite its focus on social issues and challenges, American Literature often reflects a fundamental optimism about the possibilities for individual and societal progress.

These are just a few of the key features that characterize American Literature, and they continue to shape the works of contemporary American writers today.

👉 Notable writers and their works in American Literature

There have been many notable writers in American Literature, and their works have had a significant impact on the literary world and beyond. Here are just a few examples:

Mark Twain - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby, Tender is the Night

Ernest Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls

Toni Morrison - Beloved, Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye

Edgar Allan Poe - The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher

William Faulkner - The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Absalom, Absalom!

Herman Melville - Moby-Dick, Billy Budd, Bartleby the Scrivener

Emily Dickinson - Collected Poems

Langston Hughes - The Weary Blues, Montage of a Dream Deferred

Sylvia Plath - The Bell Jar, Ariel

Ralph Waldo Emerson - Essays: First and Second Series, Self-Reliance

Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden

J.D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye, Nine Stories

Alice Walker - The Color Purple, Meridian

These are just a few of the many writers and works that have contributed to American Literature over the years. Their works continue to be studied and celebrated for their literary merit and cultural significance.

👉 Difference between the American Literature and the British Literature

There are several differences between American Literature and British Literature.

Historical Context: American Literature and British Literature have different historical contexts. American Literature emerged after the American Revolution and reflects the unique cultural, social, and political identity of the United States. British Literature, on the other hand, has a long and rich literary tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Language and Style: Although English is the primary language of both American Literature and British Literature, there are differences in language and style. American Literature often uses a more direct and accessible style, with a focus on clarity and simplicity. British Literature, on the other hand, often features a more complex and ornate style, with a greater emphasis on literary techniques such as imagery and symbolism.

Themes: American Literature and British Literature often explore different themes. American Literature often focuses on individualism, the American Dream, and the search for personal identity. British Literature often explores themes of class, social hierarchy, and tradition.

Regional Differences: American Literature reflects the unique cultural and regional identity of different parts of the United States, while British Literature often reflects the distinct regional identities of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Overall, while there are certainly similarities between American Literature and British Literature, there are also significant differences that reflect the unique cultural and historical contexts of each tradition.

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👉 Transcendentalist Movement in American literature

👉 Lady Lazarus - Sylvia Plath’s view towards a fascistic male

👉 The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - Chance and Co-incidence