American Literature Time periods and defining characteristics

Colonialism 1600’s – 1770’s  Mostly nonfiction (imaginative literature like drama and novels was considered evil by the Puritans)  Often didactic; purpose was to instruct  Often served practical purpose of creating a historical record  Often religious (religious poetry and songs were closest thing to creative/imaginative literature) Colonists came from many different backgrounds, making it difficult to say there was one unified type of literature in America at this time. The literature that did exist was heavily influenced by England.

Enlightenment / Age of Reason 1770’s  Emphasized reason – believed reason could fix the problems caused by ignorance and superstition  Critical of traditional institutions and beliefs, especially religious ones  Many Enlightenment thinkers were deists  Wanted to separate religion from science  Interested in social progress, and believed the state (government) could be a tool for progress Enlightenment philosophy greatly influenced the American Revolution, including important documents such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Romanticism Early to mid 1800’s  A reaction against Enlightenment thinking  Valued emotion and intuition over reason, logic, planning  Emphasized the individual over society  Believed imagination was able to apprehend truths that the rational mind could not  Emphasized the wild and natural over the tamed and civilized The Romantic movement in America is considered the first truly American literary movement. There was a Romantic movement in England. However, Romantic writers in America developed their own style, unique from the style of English Romantic writers.