1. AMERICAN LITERATURE, AN OVERVIEW PRE-HISTORY - PRESENT

2. TAKING NOTES  You are to view this presentation and listen as the instructor speaks. PAY ATTENTION.  Take notes – write down the important facts and info.  If the instructor adds information that sounds important or helps you to connect to the topic, include it.  If you miss something, either get it from a neighbor at the end of class, or view this presentation on Mrs. Utley’s website. It can be found by following the links for English 10 homework at: http://www.asdk12.org/staff/utley_amy/

3. ERAS PRE- HISTORY Native American Mythology ENLIGHTENMENT (1607-1800) Phase One (1607- 1750) Age of Faith Phase Two (1750-1800) Age of Reason ROMANTICISM (1800-1855 ) Gothic Literature (sub- genre) Transcendentalism (1840-1855) REALISM (1865-1915) Naturalism (sub-genre) MODERNISM (1915-1945) Harlem Renaissance (1915-1929) CONTEMPORARY (1945-PRESENT) Science Fiction and Fantasy Influx of female writers Increase in multi- cultural lit

4. PRE-HISTORY  NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY BEFORE EUROPEAN INVASION (pre-1620) CHARACTERISTICS: CREATION STORIES – “How did __________ come to be?” NATURE as TEACHER/COMPANION STYLE/GENRE: Oral Tradition – Not recorded until later

5. ENLIGHTENMENT  CHARACTERISTICS INDEPENDENCE From Catholic Church From aristocracy DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCES  TWO PHASES AGE OF FAITH AGE OF REASON

6. AGE OF FAITH (1620-1750)  CHARACTERISTICS: PURITANS AND PILGRIMS Differed from Catholics – personal relationship with God. No priest needed. Puritan Work Ethic - salvation through work and religious devotion.  STYLES/GENRES SERMONS, DIARIES, LETTERS, POEMS RELIGIOUS, STYLE IS DIRECT

7. AGE OF REASON (1750-1800)  CHARACTERISTICS SCIENCE AND LOGIC TEMPER RELIGION IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY – POWER OF THE INIDIVIDUAL  STYLES/GENRES PAMPHLETS, SPEECHES, DOCUMENTS INSTRUCTIVE, INFORMATIVE, ORNATE Declaration of Independence

8.  CHARACTERISTICS: ASSERTION OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT INSTINCT AND IMAGINATION OVER FACT DEVELOPMENT OF SYMBOLISM  STYLE/GENRE: SHORT STORIES/NOVELS  WRITERS: Nathaniel Hawthorne Edgar Allan Poe – Father of American Short Story ROMANTICISM 1800-1855

9. GOTHIC (SUB-GENRE OF ROMANTICISM)  CHARACTERISTICS: DARK SIDE OF ROMANTIC LIT MAN HAS BOTH GOOD AND EVIL ATTRIBUTES SETTING – DARK, SPOOKY (CATHEDRALS, CASTLES, RAIN, ISOLATION INCORPORATES SUPERNATURAL

10. TRANSCENDENTALISM (1840-1855)  CHARACTERISTICS: MOVEMENT OF LITERARY ACADEMICS CENTERED IN NEW ENGLAND (BOSTON RALPH EMERSON – FATHER OF MOVEMENT TRUTH – TRANSCENDS FACT / TRUST INTUITION INDIVIDUALS MUST WORK TO UNDERSTAND SELF AND THE WORLD AROUND HIM/HER.  KEY WRITERS: HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALT WHITMAN

11. REALISM 1850-1915  CHARACTERISTICS: FOCUS ON THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE ANTI-MATERIALISM OFTEN AIMS TO SOLVE A SOCIAL PROBLEM  STYLE /GENRES: USED REGIONAL DIALECTS – the way people actually spoke REFLECTION OF LIFE AS IT IS  WRITERS: MARK TWAIN, FREDRICK DOUGLAS

12. NATURALISM (SUB-GENRE OF REALISM)  CHARACTERISTICS: DARKER FORM OF REALISM FREE WILL IS AN ILLUSION  STYLE / GENRE: THEMES OF SURVIVAL, FATE, NATURE AS AN INDIFFERENT FORCE  WRITERS: STEPHAN CRANE, JACK LONDON

13. MODERNISM (1915-1945)  CHARACTERISTICS: BREAK WITH TRADITION, RISE OF NEW YOUTH RESPONSE TO WW’s I & II ALIENATION “JAZZ AGE”  GENRE /STYLE: HIGHLY EXPERIEMENTAL – STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS USE OF FRAGMENTS/ALTERNATE PUNCTUATION

14. FAMOUS “MODERNISTS”  ERNEST HEMINGWAY  F. SCOTT FITZGERALD  JOHN STEINBECK  WILLIAM FAULKNER  E E CUMMINGS  T.S.ELIOT

15. HARLEM RENAISSANCE (1915-1929)  CHARACTERISTICS: SURGE OF NEW ART (LITERATURE, MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE) BEGUN IN HARLEM, N.Y.  GENRE/STYLE: LITERATURE, DANCE, MUSIC HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY JAZZ

16. CONTEMPORARY AGE (1945-PRESENT)  CHARACTERISTICS: INCREASED MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY VALUES ARE NOT PERMANENT ANTI-HERO SEEKING SOCIAL CHANGE  GENRE/STYLE: EMERGENCE OF SCI-FI/FANTASY AND HORROR

17. CONTEMPORARY WRITERS  JOHN UPDIKE  TRUMAN CAPOTE  JOYCE CAROL OATES  STEPHEN KING

18. FUTURE  WHAT NEW FORMS OF LITERATURE MIGHT EMERGE IN THE FUTURE?  IN WHAT WAYS HAS THE INTERNET BEGUN TO AFFECT AMERICAN WRITING?  IN WHAT WAY(S) DO YOU FORESEE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION AFFECTING THE LITERATURE OF TOMORROW?