AMERICAN LITERARY PERIODS AND TEXTS

Historical Context: Puritan Ideals

John Winthrop's "City Upon a Hill": Emphasizes unity, morality, and serving as an example to the world.

NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE

Primarily Oral: Used to pass down traditions and explain natural phenomena.

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

Central themes: Equality, unalienable rights, and freedom from British rule. "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman

Celebrates diverse contributions to American society.

"I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes

Highlights the exclusion of marginalized groups and a hopeful vision for equality.

THE COLOR OF WATER BY JAMES MCBRIDE

Explores identity, family, and cultural heritage through dual narratives.

Symbolism: The Color of Water represents equality and transformation.

Seen through various works highlighting ambition, struggle, and success.

American Dreams &Nightmares

Symbolism in "Young Goodman Brown" . Examples The Forest: Symbolizes temptation and moral testing. Pink Ribbon: Represents innocence and purity.

“Paul's Case" by Willa Cather

Themes of ambition and disillusionment with societal expectations.