Introduction to American Literature

The 19 th Century literature A- first American novel; First novel was published in the late of 18 th and the early of 19 th centuries. ‘’Adventures of Alonso’’ by Thomas Attwood Digges published in London Susanna Rowson is a women writer; Charlotte; A Tale of Truth. published in London in 1791.

B- Unique American novels; Increase the production of American works with the war of Literary figures appeared; Washington Irving, first writer develop a unique American style. Edgar Allan Poe, wrote short stories in his works;’’The Masque of Red Death’’ and ‘’The Fall of the House Of Usher.’’ Ralph Waldo Emerson( ), Nathaniel Hawthorne( ), Herman Melville( ) and Harriet Beecherr Stowe her work; Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Works of Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe comprise the Dark Romanticism.

C-American 19 th century poetry; Two greatest American poets in the 19 th century are; Walt Whitman ( ) with his poetic innovation and Emily Dickinson( ) with her psychologically penetrating poetry. American poetry reached its peak in the early to the mid of 20 th century. T.S.Eliot a noted writer his work The Waste Land (1922).

D. Realism and Twan; First american writer born away from the east cost in Missouri. His masterpieces were; life on the Mississippi and the novel Adventures of Huckleberry. Twan’s style; influenced by journalism direct but highly evocative and irreverently humorous. Changed the way Americans write their language. His characters; 1- speak like real people and sound american. 2- using local dialects. Newly invented words. 3-regional.

The 20 th century At the beginning of the 20 th century, American novelists were expanding fiction’s social spectrum to encompass both high and low life. E.x; frank Norris wrote about the problems of American farmers and social issues. The most important writers; poet Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot’’ the waste land’’. Novelist; Ernest Hemingway; The Sun Also Rises and Farewell to Arms. Williams Faulkner; The Suond And The Fury, and The Unvanquished.

The rise of American Drama It attained interniational status only in 1920s and 1930s, with works of Eugene O’Neill. In the middle of 20 th century, American Drama dominated by works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. Later, Edward ALBEE AND August Wilson.

A- Depression –era literature; -it was blunt and directed in its social criticism. -The most socially aware writer with his simple and evocative style was John Steinbeck. The Grapes Of Wrath. -Henry Miller with his semi-autobiographyical novels.

B- Post- World War II The postwar novel; From the end of world war II up until, saw to the publication of some of the most popular works in America history. Saul bellow become the most influential novelist in America. Beat Generation ; the countercultural rhythm of the Jazz scene, and interested in new forms of spiritual experience. Jack Kerouac; on the road.

The war novel ;Literary explosion in America during the post world war II era. Ralph Ellison ; invisible man was powerful and sensational works of the immediate post war years. The Black American literature has flourished with Richard Wright ; Native Son.

Short fiction and poetry Art of the short story has flourished in the post war period. Most respected writer Flannery O’Connor. Most respected post American poets are John Ashbery and Elizabeth Bishop.

Contemporary American literature From early 1970s until present day postmodernism was the most well known literary category. Tim O’Brien, Toni Morrison and Philip Roth

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