NEW English Lang Art 301

Modernism (Literary Movement)

literary movement that called for a break from traditional values and style, and concentrating on the interior life of characters; often used stream of consciousness and recently developed literary techniques to engage with a word being transformed by industry and modern society

Literary Movements

groups of authors writing in a similar style whose works express similar worldviews

Transcendentalism

literary movement of the American Romantic Period in which authors embraced idealism, nature, and rejected materialism

Example.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau and Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Historical Context

the time in history in which a text was composed; the cultural and historical influences placed upon the text

Chicana / Chicano Literature (Literary Movement)

literary movement comprised of Mexican-American authors writing about the Mexican-American experience; this literature has gained prominence since the 1960s

Example.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea

Puritanism

Puritans wanted to purify the Church of England and create a more direct relationship with God; their writing reflected simplicity, predestination, and a deep spirituality

Example.

"To My Dear Beloved Husband" by Anne Bradstreet, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards

Revolutionary Age

era of American literature during the American Revolution; featured political writing and themes of reason, inquiry, individualism, and liberty (1765-1790)

Example.

writing of the Founding Fathers

Gothic (Literary Movement)

took place during American Romantic Period, a pessimistic approach to human emotions; writers wrote of humanity's sins, villainy, and hopelessness; Gothic writing featured horror and the supernatural

Example.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

American Realistic Period

era of American Literature after The Civil War; featured realistic depictions of American life and social issues as well as psychological dilemmas and ordinary problems (1865-1900)

Example.

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Literary Periods

broad periods in which literature shares similar themes and elements due to historical context

Old English Period

era of English literature written in Old English featuring poetry with Christian and heroic themes; the early era of medieval literature in England (500-1066)

Example.

Beowulf, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

The Early National Period

era of American Literature during the development of the United States; featured exploration of the new American identity and narratives of enslaved Africans (1775-1828)

Example.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by himself

English Renaissance Period

era of English literature situated during the reign of Elizabeth I, famous for drama (plays) and a focus on human character (1550-1660)

Example.

Hamlet (and the rest of Shakespeare's works), Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

Young Adult (YA) Literature

novels about the challenges of growing up and finding one’s true identity

Example.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

American Naturalist Period

era of American literature from 1900 - World War I; featured a grim view of life, lack of free will, and scientific influence

Example.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London, The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Protagonist

the main character in a narrative

Example.

Othello from Othello

Coming of Age (Literary Theme)

follows one or more characters as they grow up in some manner

Example.

The Catcher in the Rye - Holden Caulfield comes to terms with growing up as he roams NYC

Fantasy

a story which takes place in an imaginary world with unreal features and creatures

Example.

The Lord of the Rings

Historical Fiction

a fictionalized narrative of historical events

Example.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Middle English Period

era of English literature written in Middle English often dealing with Christianity, journeys, and medieval romance (adventure); the later part of medieval literature in England (1066-1550)

Example.

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory

Literary Archetype

image, character, or set of circumstances occurring often enough across cultural and historical divisions to be considered universal

Science Fiction

a narrative usually set in the future or alternate reality with advanced technology

Example.

Fahrenheit 451

Neoclassical Period

era of British literature characterized by an interest in classical themes, logic over superstition, as well as satire (1660-1785) (a.k.a. "The Enlightenment")

Example.

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Romanticism (European Literature)

era of literature focused on the rejection of Neoclassical ideas by exploring nature, imagination, and individuality; lots of poetry (1785 - 1837)

Example.

Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats

Modernism (European Literature)

era of literature influenced by the end of WWI featuring non-traditional structure, individualism, and disillusionment (1901 - 1945)

Example.

Ulysses by James Joyce, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Harlem Renaissance (Literary Movement)

literary movement based in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City in the 1920s and 30s which celebrated the African-American experience; featured new ideas, freedoms, and a break from racial stereotypes

Example.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Colonial Literary Period

era of American literature during the founding of the English colonies and The Great Awakening (1600-1765); explored historical, practical, and religious themes

Example.

The Tenth Muse, lately Sprung up in America by Anne Bradstreet, Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin

Contemporary Literature

literature written after 1945; features playfulness and randomness, satire and parody, the pursuit of identity, and cultural diversity (a.k.a "Postmodernism")

Example.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Handmaid's Tale  by Margaret Atwood, 

Postcolonialism (Literary Movement)

literary movement created by authors from formerly colonized countries or territories such as India, Nigeria, or Puerto Rico; this literature has gained prominence since the end of the Second World War in 1945

Example.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Midnight Children by Michael Ondaatje, White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Victorian Literary Period

the era of literary production that took place in the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria, which featured the rise of the novel and often examined the English class system (1837-1901)

Example.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Middlemarch by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

American Romantic Period

era of American literature focused on individualism, finding truth in nature, and emotions and imagination (1828-1865)

Example.

"Because I could not stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

American Modernist Period

the era of American literature after WWI; discussed the loss of the American Dream, break from tradition, individualism, and disillusionment (1914-1945)

Example.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck

Contemporary Realistic YA Fiction

focuses on realistic portrayals of modern-day issues faced by teenagers

Example.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green explores themes of love and mortality in the face of illness.

Emily Dickinson

American poet who wrote serious, emotional works in a traditional ballad format

Example.

"Because I could not stop for death," "'Hope' is the thing with feathers"

Robert Frost

an American poet who had a clear, simple word choice

Example.

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Dystopian Fiction

focuses on imagined societies characterized by oppression, surveillance, or environmental catastrophe; often presents a cautionary tale while considering the impact of larger forces on youthful characters

Example.

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins depicts a dystopian future where teenagers are forced to compete in a televised death match.

Nikki Giovanni

a contemporary African-American poet, writer, and activist

Example.

"Love Is"

John Keats

English poet who was one of the dominant voices in the Romanticism movement

Example.

“Ode to a Nightingale”

Walt Whitman

American poet who wrote free verse poetry in the 1800s

Example.

poems from Leaves of Grass

Rudyard Kipling

English writer who provided a commentary on the political climate in Europe

Example.

"Gunga Din"

Oral Tradition

stories passed from generation to generation, before being written down

Example.

the traditional Igbo folktale called "Nnabe and Chineke"

Trickster Tale

a common tale in the oral tradition

Example.

"Brer Rabbit" by Joel Chandler Harris