Passing the EOCT Chapter 1 A Brief History of American Literature Nathan and Casey

About this Chapter 0 As the United States grew in both power and size, the success of American writers contributed greatly to the body of world literature. 0 This Chapter shows the general history of literature that corresponds to the literary movements of American literature.

Early American Literature Native Americans where the earliest known inhabitants in the United States. There literature was strongly influenced by nature and the universe. Many didn’t have any form of writing so there literature was told orally in myths, songs, and stories. In many Spanish colonies, there were a couple writers that would write diaries, journals, and histories about the New World.

The Early Colonial Period: Some of the earliest American writing includes pamphlets of explorers and merchants encouraging English citizens to colonize the New World. Any stories were captivity narratives which described close encounters between Europeans and Native Americans. Poetry was not a big commonplace during this period, but it entertain some and was the start to poetry.

The Colonial Period and the American Revolution: Slave Narratives became subject for literature in this time. This described the loss of homelands, family, and dignity. Also literature shifted away from matters of religion and exploration toward political rights and freedoms.

A New Nation Finds Its Voice: Edgar Allan Poe was the master of this period using literary essays and short stories. His short stories produced such deeply psychological works. The type the caught the most attention was the detective story's. His stories laid the ground work for the 20 th century.

Rebellion, Romance, Rededication: During this period, abolitionist, like Fredrick Douglas wrote about injustice and inhumanity. Most short stories or novels are about slavery.