1. American Literature & Arts Sarah Roodriguez Period 3

2. American Themes Some American literature themes include: The Journey from Innocence to Awareness The American Dream The Land and the Frontier The Hero Community

3. Transcendentalism Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the eastern region of the United States. The movement was a reaction to or protest against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality.

4. Ralph Waldo Emerson Leading transcendentalist In popular speeches and essays, he asked Americans to question the value of material goods. Stressed individualism Challenged people to use their “inner light” to guide their lives and improve society.

5. Henry David Thoreau Took Emerson’s challenge and stayed 2 years in the woods at Walden Pond. Wrote a book in 1854 called Walden, it urged people to live simply. Believed individuals must judge right from wrong themselves Encouraged civil disobedience Spent a night in jail for refusing to pay tax that he felt supported slavery.

6. Herman Melville Fascinated by psychology and extreme emotions Wrote Moby-Dick in 1851 A story about a sea captain who is obsessed with pursuing a white whale. In the end, the captains mad pursuit destroyed himself, his ship, and his crew. Moby-Dick was largely ignored when first published Today it is considered one of the greatest American novels.

7. Nathaniel Hawthorne Descendent from the Puritans of Massachusetts Used historical themes to explore dark side of mind Wrote the novel The Scarlett Letter in 1850 The novel is a about a young minister destroyed by secret guilt Novel paints a grim picture of Puritan life

8. Louisa May Alcott Published Little Women in 1868 This novel is based on her own experiences of growing up with three sisters. Main character Jo March was one of the first young American heroines to be presented as a believable, imperfect person rather than a shinning ideal.

9. Popular Music Early American songs had roots of English, Irish, or Scottish tunes. Over time new songs emerged Many were work songs chanted by men The spiritual song was a special type of song developed by many enslaved African Americans. Stephen Foster was the most popular American songwriter of the 1800s, most are still popular today.

10. Washington Irving Began writing essays under the pen name Johnathan Oldstyle for the Morning Chronical His use of imagery separated himself from other European writers Best known works are The Legend of Sleepy Hallow and Rip Van Wrinkle are from The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. Used the pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker for History of New- York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty,

11. James Fennimore Cooper Was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century His historical romances of frontier and Indian life in the early American days created a unique form of American literature. Him serving in the U.S. Navy influenced most of his writing works His novel The Spy influenced his career Wrote numerous sea stories Best-known works are five historical novels of the frontier period known as the Leatherstocking Tales.