American Literature Time Periods

Native American

Used stories to teach moral lessons and convey practical information about the natural world.

Native American

Oral literature- myths, legends.

Puritan

Dominated by Puritan beliefs that humans existed for the sole purpose of God.

Puritan

Life entailed hard work, frugality, self-improvement, and self reliance

Rationalism

Freedom, reason, common sense, and logical thinking were favored over religious faith and intuition.

Romanticism

Celebrates individualism, nature, imagination, and emotions

Romanticism

Elevated imagination over reason and intuition over fact.

Transcendentalism

Individual is the center of the universe

Transcendentalism

Found beauty in imagination

Transcendentalism

Non-conformity and self-reliance are key ideas.

Realism

Realistic and accurate portrayal of life

Realism

A response to the horrors of the Civil War

Naturalism

Forced beyond people’s control such as fate, nature, and heredity

Naturalism

A response in showcasing the harsh reality of frontier life

Modernism

Replaces/transforms traditions in both culture and writing

Modernism

Topics and themes include doubt, disillusionment, and depression

Modernism

World War 1, Great Depression, and World War 2 time period.