american literature-in-brief

Page 1: Introduction to American Literature
- Focus on Robert Frost

## Page 2: Overview of Contributors
- Executive Editor: George Clack
- Author: Kathryn VanSpanckeren
- Editor: Paul Malamud
- Designer: Chloe D. Ellis
- Cover Illustration: Sally Vitsky
- Cover Design: Min Yao
- Context of U.S. literature

## Page 3: About the Author
- Kathryn VanSpanckeren, professor of English at University of Tampa
- International lecturer on American literature
- Former director of Fulbright-sponsored Summer Institute in American Literature
- Publications include poetry and scholarly texts; education includes a B.A. from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. from Harvard

## Page 4: The Foundation of American Literature
- Begins with Native American oral traditions
- Rich lore encompassing myths, legends, and songs
- Native American culture sees nature as spiritual and nurturing

## Page 5: Native American Contributions
- Nature viewed as alive with spiritual forces
- Animals and plants may act as protagonists or totems
- Indigenous language impacts English via words like "canoe" and "tobacco"
- Early European narratives start with Scandinavian records, such as the Vinland Saga

## Page 6: European Exploration
- Columbus’s 1493 journal highlights the trip's significance
- First English colony, Roanoke, disappears; Jamestown established in 1607
- Puritan influence on literature spans from metaphysical poetry to journals

## Page 7: Puritanism and Capitalism
- Puritan life seen as a test of faith, balanced by ambition and moral guidance
- Ideas of wealth tied to spiritual health; strong emphasis on education for understanding God’s will
- Religious dogmatism wanes as tolerance grows

## Page 8: Quaker Influence
- Quaker principles emphasize individual conscience and social order
- William Penn establishes Pennsylvania as a tolerant colony

## Page 9: American Revolution
- Seen as a liberation war (1775-1783); independence fuels aspiration for great literature
- Early American identity shaped by reliance on English literary models

## Page 10: James Fenimore Cooper
- Pioneer writer alongside Washington Irving; captures American wilderness themes
- Creates the myth of America as a re-enactment of Eden and its destruction
- Natty Bumppo, a key character representing the noble frontiersman

## Page 11: The Leather-Stocking Tales
- Narratives centered on Natty Bumppo; symbolize independence and individualism
- Cooper's works reflect the evolution of frontiers and displacement of cultures

## Page 12: American Romanticism
- Emerges as a response to Rationalism; emphasizes nature, individual mind, and creativity
- Explores moral duty to reform and self-awareness

## Page 13: Romantic Aesthetic
- Explores sublime qualities of nature; adaptability to political and social values
- Emphasizes individualism and artistic expression

## Page 14: Transcendentalism
- Key figures: Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau
- Advocating for individual insight versus dogma, and nature over institutional structures

## Page 15: Emerson's Call for Individualism
- Promotes original relationships with the universe; challenges readers to live authentically
- Discusses influence from Eastern philosophies

## Page 16: Thoreau's Walden
- Focuses on living simply and independently; explores self in harmony with nature

## Page 17: Walt Whitman
- Celebrated for his unique voice and democratic spirit
- Leaves of Grass marks a shift in American poetry and form

## Page 18: Emily Dickinson
- Represents link between 19th-century themes and modern sensitivities
- Her poetry reflects existential questions and bold formats

## Page 19: The First Great Literary Generation
- Includes Whitman, Melville, Dickinson, Hawthorne, and Poe
- Romantic vision expressed in varied forms, representative of struggle against dark fates

## Page 20: American Novelist Characteristics
- Predominance of heroic, mythic figures with a sense of alienation
- American novels challenge aristocratic structures seen in European counterparts

## Page 21: Herman Melville
- Builds rich, allegorical narrative in Moby-Dick; explores philosophical themes of obsession
- Represents complexities of nature and human understanding

## Page 22: Philosophical Themes in Moby-Dick
- Moby-Dick as a symbol of cosmic mystery and existential quest

## Page 23: Historical Context
- Whaling industry as a metaphorical exploration of American identity and destiny

## Page 24: Rise of Realism
- Post-Civil War America shifts focus to industrial growth and individual survival
- Twain and James represented different responses to these changes

## Page 25: Twain vs. James
- Twain focuses on rural and frontier narratives; James assesses European influence

## Page 26: Mark Twain's Humor and Realism
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn recognized for its truthful portrayal of American life

## Page 27: Henry James
- Explores complex relationships between naïve Americans and sophisticated Europeans

## Page 28: James's Phases
- Iterations from international themes to psychological depth in character analysis

## Page 29: Literary Changes 1910-1940
- Youthful disillusionment shaped literature post-World War I; increased wealth yet profound existential void

## Page 30: Modernism
- The cultural turn towards Modernism led to experimentation in form and theme

## Page 31: T.S. Eliot's Influence
- Best known for iconic works that challenge and redefine the poetic form

## Page 32: Robert Frost’s Contribution
- Poems rooted in pastoral imagery but often holding deeper implications

## Page 33: F. Scott Fitzgerald's Life
- Chronicles the extravagance and disillusionment of 1920s America

## Page 34: Hemingway's Realism
- Focuses on war and human experience through a spare, direct writing style

## Page 35: William Faulkner
- Explores the Southern Gothic and complex moral landscapes in his works

## Page 36: American Drama in the 20th Century
- O’Neill distinguished as a playwright, exploring family dynamics and psychological depths

## Page 37: Post-World War II Literature
- Economic boom leads to an exploration of individual psychological struggles; women’s roles shift dramatically

## Page 38: The Flowering of the Individual
- Writers such as Plath and the Beats emerge, expressing intense personal experiences and societal critiques

## Page 39: Beat Movement
- Poets like Allen Ginsberg challenge traditional norms and advocate for free expression

## Page 40: Tennessee Williams
- Explores deep emotional landscapes and familial relationships in Southern contexts

## Page 41: Eudora Welty's Unique Voice
- Celebrated for humor and humane perspectives amidst complex characters

## Page 42: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
- Explores the African American experience and societal invisibility in a broader context

## Page 43: Saul Bellow's Engagement
- Captured the complexity of human experience and the condition of modern society

## Page 44: John Cheever's Narrative Style
- Addressed middle-class American life and underlying emotional struggles in refined prose

## Page 45: John Updike's Prolific Career
- Focuses on domestic themes and the passage of individual lives over decades

## Page 46: Norman Mailer and his Visibility
- Engages deeply with national issues while exploring his artistic persona

## Page 47: Toni Morrison’s Impact
- Examines African American experiences with depth and nuanced storytelling

## Page 48: Contemporary Poetry
- Writers like Louise Glück and Billy Collins interact with personal and universal themes

## Page 49: Annie Proulx's Narratives
- Depicts northern New England life with a blend of realism and myth

## Page 50: Richard Ford and Themes of Disconnection
- Explores themes of malaise and emptiness through character-driven narratives

## Page 51: Amy Tan and Asian-American Voices
- Highlights Asian-American experiences and cultural conflicts through storytelling

## Page 52: Sherman Alexie and Native American Narratives
- Gives voice to contemporary issues resonating within Indian communities

## Page 53: Photo Credits
- Various credits listed for the images utilized

## Page 54: Conclusion by the Bureau
- Provides access to literature and culture information from U.S. Department of State