Literary History Revolutionary Period (Nationalistic), –Revolutionary to 1790 –Federalist from 1790 to 1830 Romantic Period, Realistic Period, –Naturalistic and Symbolistic Period, –Conformity and Criticism, –Confessional Self Period, Modernist Period, Post-Modernist Period, 1965-

Revolutionary Period Prose of this period was polemical and philosophical –Concerns the relationship between individual rights and governmental rights –Explores the meaning and conditions of freedom Fiction of the period occurs in two streams –Uses neoclassic forms to “Americanize” European tales –Values the instructional advantage of fiction, while being concerned with truth –Conveys an anxiety about freedom and rebellion

Romantic Movement Celebrated Nature Focused on the importance of the self, the individual, over society Elevates imagination over reason –Transcendentalists –Sentimentalist –Historical Fiction –“Dark” Humanistic Fiction

Regionalism With increasing urbanization and more accessible transportation, small, rural communities became a subject of literary interest. –Specific, localized settings and topics: Toward mid-century, regional voices had emerged from newly settled territories in the South and to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. In many of these works local dialects, sayings, and spellings were used for humorous effect

Realism Realism, in art and literature –Attempt to describe human behavior and surroundings or to represent figures and objects exactly as they act or appear in life. Attempts at realism have been made periodically throughout history in all the arts; the term is, however, generally restricted to a movement that began in the mid-19th century, in reaction to the highly subjective approach of romanticism.

Naturalism Naturalism holds that literary composition should be based on an objective, empirical presentation of human beings. –It differs from realism in adding an amoral attitude to the objective presentation of life. Naturalistic writers integrate theory of other disciplines into their vision of human behavior –People are controlled by instinct, emotion, or social and economic conditions –Free will is an illusion –Human life/progress is biologically determined (Darwin) and economically determined (Marx).

Modernism Breaks with traditional forms and techniques Sense of alienation, despair, loss, or anxiety Rejects history Elevates individual—conscious and unconscious—over social human beings