Junior English What is American Literature

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO READ? Junior English is a survey of American Literature.

Why Read? Think for a second about your favorite book you have read…answer the following questions? –What makes it so good? –What does it make you think about? –Why do we like to read?

What is Literature? Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works. –i.e. works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction.

Why is Literature Important? Literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition.

Why is Literature Important? Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience. Literature is the creation of another world, a world that we can only see through reading literature

Why is Literature Important? Literature is something that reflects society, makes us think about ourselves and our society, allows us to enjoy language and beauty, and it reflects on “the human condition”.

What does it mean to be American? Take a moment and discuss with your neighbor about what it means to be an American. Be ready to share your answer with the class.

Let’s start from the beginning… Who were the first Americans?

What kind of literature did they use? Myth - A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that explains aspects of the natural world.

How were these Myths taught and shared? oral tradition - a community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written instruction.

Why are they important? Culture is a system of beliefs and values through which a group of people structure their experience of the world.

Why are Myths Important? If culture is a system of beliefs and values then these (creation) myths should embody the basic beliefs and values of the people who create them. These beliefs and values can be roughly organized in three areas.

Beliefs and Values (1)beliefs about the nature of the physical world. Where did the sun come from? How was the earth created?

Beliefs and Values (2) beliefs about social order and appropriate behavior Myths often had some sort of moral or lesson to be learned.

Beliefs and Values. (3) beliefs about human nature and the problem of good and evil. –Rules on behavior –Importance of being good –Consequences of being bad