19th-century American Literature file.pptx

Nineteenth century American Literature

1. American Literature- 19 th Century HISTORY  English literature emerged earlier than American literature, since America was a British colony.  Therefore, while American literature’s history dates back to the 17th century , English literature emerged in the 10th century . The English style is therefore considered richer in this respect. NARRATION  British writers tend to use classical British English ; their vocabulary is richer .  On the contrary, the language of an American writer is simultaneously simpler and more accessible . This language is more modern than original British English.

2. STYLE  The common tendency of American literature is to be focused on politics, economics, and social status . Satire, sarcasm, and cynicism can be also often find their way into the works of American authors. For example, language functions as a vehicle of protest in “The Catcher in the Rye” and “The Great Gatsby.”  On the contrary, British literature of the same period mostly invokes romance, human values, ideals, and manners , although class differences are often discussed or referenced in some meaningful way. GENRES & TOPICS  English writers mostly emphasize their culture and manners , while American writers discuss American history and social issues . As well as early writings in the UK, early American works involve topics related to religion and politics.  American writers of the 17th century invoked Puritanical morals . In the 18th century, revolutionary topics prevailed in American style.

3. The Literature of Exploration Prior to the 19th Century  Columbus’s letter to the Royal Treasurer (1493) sets the form and content of the earliest American literature.  Much of the writing left by these early explorers and settlers discussed their enterprises, new lands, riches and explained the geographic, climatic and economic conditions in order to help those who were to follow them.  In short, American literature during this period gave a glowing picture of the land of riches and opportunity.  The discovery and settlement of the Western continent is only the first part of the American story. America was also a ‘ new world of the mind and spirit ’. The modern idea of a ‘ free individual ’ began to spread in America.  In the name of the colonization, the Native Americans suffered. In describing the Native Americans, the colonial writers used only black or white, and little is left of the Indian’s own account of life because his poetry and prose existed only in oral tradition . The ‘Indian’ had no written record and his conqueror was not interested in writing down his thoughts and feelings.

4. Puritanism’s influence on America prior to the 19 th Century  The story of the Puritans goes back to the beginning of the 16th century, when the efforts of Martin Luther in Germany to reform the Roman Catholic Church led to the establishment of the first Protestant churches. The Puritans were Calvinists (followers of John Calvin, 1509-1564) of the various European countries who advocated radical changes in doctrine and religious worship.  They were members of the Church of England itself, who wanted further reforms in the Church, but for their rigid approach, they were hounded out of England and they finally sought a place in America where they could establish their own church.  The puritans believed that sin is inherited by all human beings. The only hope of manis salvation through the grace of God. Following man’s brief time on earth his soul will either face eternal salvation or eternal damnation or suffering. Puritans emphasized the inherent sinfulness of all men and the need for complete dedication to God at every moment . They emphasized that very few souls- the Elect- were predestined to be saved by God’s grace; the vast majority were doomed to damnation. They believed that they had found the truth as revealed in the Bible and that they were the chosen people, the ‘elect’ few, chosen by God .  One of the most significant aspects of Puritan life was the habit of introspection , or, to know ones self. Hard work was a religious duty , blasphemy; fornication, drunkenness, playing games of chance, and participation in theatrical activities were penal offenses.

5.  During the 18 th century, the hold of Puritanism on the people of New England was weakened and the idea of Enlightenment spread from Europe to America, bringing a view of man as inherently “good” and which he could improve through his own natural powers , and Gods good graces.  The founders of the American republic: were optimistic and in the name of reason and common sense , they rejected the notion of innate depravity of man as well as the idea of predestination . They created a theology based on man’s innate goodness and his spiritual freedom in a universe created by God.

6. The War of Independence/The American Revolution, Pre 19th Century  The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was an 18th-century war between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies (allied with France) which declared independence as the United States of America.

7. Important Writers of the Pre-19 th Century Period  Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)  Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)  James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)

8. 19 th -Century American Literature  It’s ironic that a rejection of the European class structure at that time, was revealed to be exactly the same phenomenon that occurred in America, towards the end of the 19th Century, and identified through naturalism.  There were three distinct writing movements which took place during the 19th century: The Romantic Period (Romanticism): The American Renaissance (or Transcendentalism) The Realist Movement , which evolved further as a naturalist movement ( Realism / Naturalism )  In society, the themes of 19th Century America appeared to be freedom, evident in feminism and abolitionism, and growth, or expansion, with industrial, transport, infrastructural and technological advances driving the nation forward.

9. The Romantic Period (Romanticism)  The main characteristics (dating 1800-1860) were those of the ‘personal’ journey , and a growing emphasis on personal and national independence.  They were a revolt against the international and societal norms of Europe, and focused on ‘ how life should be ,’ ahead of how it is.  There was also a growing feeling among the liberal literary class, that cities, and urban area held negative perspectives and connotations , and they therefore sought to ‘move’ America to the rural, more natural environments .  This emphasized their belief that intuition, emotion, and imagination were of greater value than reason .  Artistic romanticism is defined as being imaginative , intuitive , idealistic , inspirational and individualistic , and these five ‘I’s would appear significant also in this genre the early 19th century.

10. The American Renaissance (Transcendentalism)  Overlapped with Romanticism, having its beginnings in the 1840’s , and was a movement which sought to instilled value in what it meant to be American.  The Renaissance, or transcendentalist, writers wanted to examine the possibilities associated with human ability while paying special attention to an individual's ego.  The American Renaissance writer desperately wanted to define themselves as American, and not British, writers.  They saw that life went beyond what we could see, hear, touch and feel, that our possibilities go far beyond that which could be proven or defined, and that individuals should trust themselves as to what is right or wrong.  The period was notable for the rise of feminism within literary circles, and visions of a possible Utopian existence were integrated into much of the literature of the time, with intuition over physicality also prominent.

11. The Realist Movement (1855-1900)  This period's writers wished to focus upon societies realism that problems exist within the American culture .  The Realists, therefore, focused upon changing specific social problems seen in America at the time.  These texts focused more upon a ‘ faithful ’ view of life as it was , as opposed to the idealized views the Romantic and Renaissance writers held.  The realists wanted to portray life as it was, and their focus was on the ordinary human being and the trials and tribulations which this individual, or group, faced.

12. The Naturalist Movement  Naturalism was a literary term created by the French novelist, Emile Zola .  In studying human life, the naturalist used the discoveries and knowledge of modern science, believing people were never really “free” and on the contrary, their lives, opinions and morality were all controlled by social , economic and psychological factors .  Realism largely evolved into what was described as a ‘ chronicle of despair ,’ an exaggerated form of reality that became naturalism.  Further, while the realist view appeared set in the ‘ middle classes ’ of American life (something the nation tried to resist), the naturalist stories were largely set among the ill-educated and poorer people .