1. American Literary Movements
A Project
American Literary Movements

2. Literary Movements
A literary movement is defined as trends within a certain time period in which literature was unified by certain ideas and influences.

3. In groups of 2-3
You will assigned a literary movement from American Literature.
You will read/research various aspects of that movement.
You will create a vivid poster with the information you have found.
You will present the poster to the class.
You will also turn in a short reflective writing.

4. Grading 50%- Group grade 50%- Individual grade Poster Presentation
Reflection
Teacher Observation

5. Movements Pre-Colonial Colonial Age of Reason American Romanticism
Transcendentalism
Realism
Modernism
The Harlem Renaissance
Post-Modernism

6. What do you need to find?
For each literary movement, you will need to find:
Years in which it took place (some literary movements overlap on the timeline).
Major themes and motifs explored during this movement. (5 or 6 need to be identified)
Political or social issues that may have influenced the literature at this time. (2 or 3 major issues need to be identified)
Common genres in which authors would write during this time. (2 to 5 need to be identified)
Notable authors and texts from the movement. (5 or 6 need to be identified – make sure you give some info about the authors, not just their names and texts.)

7. Your poster Think about where it is going to be.
Design your poster according to your time period.
Borders
Color scheme
Images

8. Your Presentation All group members must speak an equal share.
Do not just read the poster. Present the information (that means you actually have to know it).
Do not turn your back to the audience.

9. Rubric Group ___/50 Poster ___/40 Presentation ___/10
Individual ___/50
Presentation ___/25
Reflection ___/25

10. Taking notes
For each literary movement, you will take notes of the following items:
Name of the literary movement
Dates
5-6 major themes
2-3 political or social issues
These notes will be put in your notebook.

11. Pre-1500
Pre-Colonial

12. Pre-Colonial Major themes and motifs: Political and Social Issues
Nature
Creation and Religion
Family
Balance
Political and Social Issues
Cultural diversity
War between tribes

13. Pre-Colonial Genres Authors Oral literature- songs/poetry
Trickster tales
Creation myths
Authors
Sioux
Iroquois
Winnebago

14.
Colonial

15. Colonial Major Themes and Motifs Political and Social Issues
Christian Utopia
Errand into the Wilderness
Be a city on a hill
Political and Social Issues
First American colonies established
Salem Witch Trials

16. Colonial Genres Authors Sermons Diaries Personal Narratives
Captivity Narratives
Authors
William Bradford
Anne Bradstreet
Jonathan Edwards
Edward Taylor

17.
Age of Reason

18. Age of Reason Major themes and motifs Political and Social Issues
Human beings can arrive at truth using deductive reasoning.
Political and Social Issues
Revolutionary War
Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights created

19. Age of Reason Genres Authors Speeches Autobiographies Pamphlets Poetry
Benjamin Franklin
Patrick Henry
Thomas Paine
Phyllis Wheatley

20. 1830’s-1860’s
Transcendentalism

21. Transcendentalism Major themes and motifs Political and Social Issues
Nature
Individualism
Self-reliance
Man’s natural goodness
Political and Social Issues
Abolition
Industrialism
Religion

22. Transcendentalism Genres Authors Speeches Essays Poetry
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Margaret Fuller
Henry David Thoreau

23.
Realism

24. Realism Major themes and motifs Political and Social Issues
Complex characters and realistic plots and settings
Naturalism
Regionalism
Social class
Political and Social Issues
Industrial Revolution
New scientific discoveries
Post-Civil War Reconstruction
Women’s and Civil Rights

25. Realism Genres Authors Short story Novel Journalism Stephen Crain
Henry James
Mark Twain

26.
Modernism

27. Modernism Themes and motifs Political and Social Issues
Modern life (cosmopolitan and rural)
Popular culture
Debating tradition
Fragmentation
Political and Social Issues
World Wars
The Great Depression
Women’s Rights

28. Modernism Genres Authors Fiction Poetry Drama T. S. Eliot
William Faulkner
Ernest Hemingway
James Joyce
Tennessee Williams

29. 1945-Present
Post-modernism

30. Post-modernism Major themes and motifs Political and Social Issues
Contemporary life
Humor
Erasing boundaries
Avoiding traditional forms
Political and Social Issues
Cold War
Introduction of suburban life
Post-industrialism

31. Post-modernism Genres Authors Novel Drama Joseph Heller Thomas Pynchon
Kurt Vonnegut

32. Reflection Write one paragraph where you detail
What part you played in the project.
If any of your group members did not do their part.
What you learned from the project or how you felt about starting an English class with a project instead of a piece of literature.