North American Lit

NORTH AMERICAN LITERATURE

North America is a mainland or continent totally inside the Northern Hemisphere and practically all inside the Western Hemisphere. It is the third- biggest landmass by region, following Asia and Africa, and the fourth by populace after Asia, Africa, and Europe. It incorporates the nations of Central America, Mexico, the United States, Canada, Greenland, and the islands of the Caribbean district.

Canada: Capital City: Ottawa Official Languages: English and French

Mexico: Capital City: Mexico City Official Language: Spanish

America/USA: Capital City: Washington D.C. Official Languages: American English

Various writers from this continent are prominent for their works and contribution to the body of literature.

North American Literature refers to the compilation of literary works of North America written or composed by North American authors.

North American literature is the term used to describe the written works produced in the English language in the continent of North America, which includes the United States, Canada, Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean.

BACKGROUND

North American literature has diverse origins shaped by Indigenous oral traditions, colonial influences, and later cultural developments. Native American oral storytelling traditions significantly contributed to the early literary landscape. With European colonization, the writings of explorers and settlers began to emerge. Over time, diverse cultural influences, including African, European, and Indigenous perspectives, shaped the rich tapestry of North American literature, reflecting the complex history and identities of the region.

European colonization in the 16th century brought a new wave of literature to North America. Early colonial literature primarily consisted of travel narratives, exploration accounts, and religious texts. As the colonies developed, so did the emergence of distinct literary traditions in various regions.

Today, North American literature continues to evolve and diversify, with a wide range of voices and perspectives being represented. It reflects the multicultural nature of the region, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience in the modern world.

LITERARY GENRES:

1. Detective Fiction- novel or short story in which a history is solved

2. Historical Novel- novel with a period in History as it setting

3. Letter- written Messages

4. Mystery- literary genre in which the cause of mysterious happening exists or is emphasized

5. Novel- a sustained work of prose fiction a volume of more in length

6. Pastoral- literary work in which the shepherd life is presented in a conventionalized manner

7. Romance- Tale of love and chivalric adventure, in verse or prose

8. Short Story- short work of prose fiction, usually consisting of between 500 and 10,000 words

FAMOUS AUTHORS:

Mark Twain, the pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens, wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," which was published in 1876. The novel is a classic of American literature and is often considered one of the first great American novels. Known as “The Father of American Literature.”

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, born in 1896, was an American author known for his exploration of the American Jazz Age. His most famous work, "The Great Gatsby," published in 1925, is a classic novel set during the Roaring Twenties. The story revolves around Jay Gatsby and his unrequited love for Daisy Buchanan, examining themes of wealth, excess, and the elusive American Dream. Fitzgerald's writing style often reflects the glamour and disillusionment of the time, making "The Great Gatsby" a staple in American literature.

Edgar Allan Poe, born in 1809, was an American writer known for his macabre and Gothic tales. "The Raven" is one of his most famous poems, published in 1845. The poem tells the melancholic story of a man mourning the loss of his love, Lenore, when a mysterious raven visits him. The raven's repeated refrain of "Nevermore" adds a haunting and supernatural element to the narrative.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is often named ‘the great American novel.’ It is one of the first American novels to have been written entirely in the vernacular, using the regional colour of the deep South. The story is narrated in the first person by the protagonist, Huck Finn. Huck’s artless vernacular language is artfully used to create detailed poetic descriptions of the characters and places depicted which are, at the same time, comic and ironic.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville.

The book is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the maniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg on the ship's previous voyage.

Native Son is a novel written by the American author Richard Wright. It tells the story of 20-year-old Bigger Thomas, a black youth living in utter poverty in a poor area on Chicago's South Side in the 1930s. While not apologizing for Bigger's crimes, Wright portrays a systemic causation behind them.

21^st Century North American Authors/Writers:

Chelsea Abdullah-is a Kuwaiti-American writer. She is the author of the fantastical Sandsea Trilogy.

Diane Ackerman-an American poet, essayist, and naturalist known for her wide-ranging curiosity and poetic explorations of the natural world. Her works of nonfiction include, most recently, The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us, which celebrates nature, human ingenuity, and explores how we've become the dominant force of change on the planet

Ryland Adams-Ryan Bruce "Ryland" Adams is an American YouTuber. Channels: Ryland Adams The Sip Podcast

Ibra Ake- a Nigerian-American artist. He has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, photographer, and creative director. He is best known for his work as a writer on the FX show, Atlanta, and director on Beyonce's visual album, Black is King

Arlene Alda-an American musician, photographer and writer. She began her career playing clarinet professionally, then moved on to photography and writing children's books. She is married to actor Alan Alda.

Paul Alexander (polio survivor) –an American lawyer and paralytic polio survivor. He is the last person living in an iron lung after he contracted polio in 1952 at the age of six. (Books: Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung) (Known for: Last person living inside of an iron lung)

Camila Alire-an American librarian and was president of the American Library Association from 2009 to 2010. She was the first Hispanic president of the ALA.