1. III. Lit of the New Republic (1776-1837)
Characteristics of era
Noah Webster
Washington Irving

2. Lit. Of Colonial America - Review
Emphasis on Northern colonies
(New England)
Development of 1st native genre
(Captivity Narrative)
Shift from religious writing to the secular
Political writing toward close of era

3. III. Lit. of the New Republic (1776-1837)
Why these dates?
When is independence realized?
political?
cultural?

4. Political independence
War of 1812
Causes
-British kidnap sailors
-Desire to annex Canada
War of 1812
Results
-embargo leads to economic development
-military stalemate
-British leave US alone

5. Cultural Independence
Harder to achieve.
Europe remains role model.
"In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? Or goes to an American play? Or looks at an American picture or statue?"

6. 1780s-1790s Initial mood is more radical to Europe
Attempts at language change
Attempts at language reform

7. Noah Webster Early radical Lawyer, Teacher & Bookseller Wrote Speller
Grammar
Dictionary

8. Noah Webster Standardized A.E. Reformed spelling
Influenced pronounciation of A.E.
Dictionary a bestseller
Sense of national identity
Limit to influence

9. Reforms Spelling labour → labor centre → center plough → plow
musick → music
wimmen
tung
Pronounciation
Secretary
Waistcoat
Salvation

10. Characteristics of era
Political independence
Europe as a cultural/literary role model

11. Why cultural inferiority complex?

12. Why cultural inferiority complex?
Belief that literature stems from social institutions
Lack of history
Solution…?

13. Characteristics of era
Import European ideas
Place in an American context
Mythologize the landscape
Invent a history

14. Washington Irving ”Rip Van Winkle” ”The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Diedrich Knickerbocker (pseudonym)

15. Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Ichabod Crane
Headless Horseman
Pre-revolutionary
Dutch background
Mysterious landscape

16. Legend of Sleepy Hollow

17. Next week:
James Fenimore Cooper
Edgar Allan Poe
Read ”The Raven”