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AMERICAN LITERATURE, AN OVERVIEW PRE-HISTORY - PRESENT
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TAKING NOTES You are to view this presentation and listen as the instructor speaks. PAY ATTENTION. Take notes – write down the important facts and info. If the instructor adds information that sounds important or helps you to connect to the topic, include it. If you miss something, either get it from a neighbor at the end of class, or view this presentation on Mrs. Utley’s website. It can be found by following the links for English 10 homework at: http://www.asdk12.org/staff/utley_amy/
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ERAS PRE- HISTORY Native American Mythology ENLIGHTENMENT (1607-1800) Phase One (1607- 1750) Age of Faith Phase Two (1750-1800) Age of Reason ROMANTICISM (1800-1855 ) Gothic Literature (sub- genre) Transcendentalism (1840-1855) REALISM (1865-1915) Naturalism (sub-genre) MODERNISM (1915-1945) Harlem Renaissance (1915-1929) CONTEMPORARY (1945-PRESENT) Science Fiction and Fantasy Influx of female writers Increase in multi- cultural lit
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PRE-HISTORY NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY BEFORE EUROPEAN INVASION (pre-1620) CHARACTERISTICS: CREATION STORIES – “How did __________ come to be?” NATURE as TEACHER/COMPANION STYLE/GENRE: Oral Tradition – Not recorded until later
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ENLIGHTENMENT CHARACTERISTICS INDEPENDENCE From Catholic Church From aristocracy DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCES TWO PHASES AGE OF FAITH AGE OF REASON
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AGE OF FAITH (1620-1750) CHARACTERISTICS: PURITANS AND PILGRIMS Differed from Catholics – personal relationship with God. No priest needed. Puritan Work Ethic - salvation through work and religious devotion. STYLES/GENRES SERMONS, DIARIES, LETTERS, POEMS RELIGIOUS, STYLE IS DIRECT
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AGE OF REASON (1750-1800) CHARACTERISTICS SCIENCE AND LOGIC TEMPER RELIGION IDEALISTIC PHILOSOPHY – POWER OF THE INIDIVIDUAL STYLES/GENRES PAMPHLETS, SPEECHES, DOCUMENTS INSTRUCTIVE, INFORMATIVE, ORNATE Declaration of Independence
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CHARACTERISTICS: ASSERTION OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT INSTINCT AND IMAGINATION OVER FACT DEVELOPMENT OF SYMBOLISM STYLE/GENRE: SHORT STORIES/NOVELS WRITERS: Nathaniel Hawthorne Edgar Allan Poe – Father of American Short Story ROMANTICISM 1800-1855
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GOTHIC (SUB-GENRE OF ROMANTICISM) CHARACTERISTICS: DARK SIDE OF ROMANTIC LIT MAN HAS BOTH GOOD AND EVIL ATTRIBUTES SETTING – DARK, SPOOKY (CATHEDRALS, CASTLES, RAIN, ISOLATION INCORPORATES SUPERNATURAL
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TRANSCENDENTALISM (1840-1855) CHARACTERISTICS: MOVEMENT OF LITERARY ACADEMICS CENTERED IN NEW ENGLAND (BOSTON RALPH EMERSON – FATHER OF MOVEMENT TRUTH – TRANSCENDS FACT / TRUST INTUITION INDIVIDUALS MUST WORK TO UNDERSTAND SELF AND THE WORLD AROUND HIM/HER. KEY WRITERS: HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALT WHITMAN
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REALISM 1850-1915 CHARACTERISTICS: FOCUS ON THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE ANTI-MATERIALISM OFTEN AIMS TO SOLVE A SOCIAL PROBLEM STYLE /GENRES: USED REGIONAL DIALECTS – the way people actually spoke REFLECTION OF LIFE AS IT IS WRITERS: MARK TWAIN, FREDRICK DOUGLAS
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NATURALISM (SUB-GENRE OF REALISM) CHARACTERISTICS: DARKER FORM OF REALISM FREE WILL IS AN ILLUSION STYLE / GENRE: THEMES OF SURVIVAL, FATE, NATURE AS AN INDIFFERENT FORCE WRITERS: STEPHAN CRANE, JACK LONDON
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MODERNISM (1915-1945) CHARACTERISTICS: BREAK WITH TRADITION, RISE OF NEW YOUTH RESPONSE TO WW’s I & II ALIENATION “JAZZ AGE” GENRE /STYLE: HIGHLY EXPERIEMENTAL – STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS USE OF FRAGMENTS/ALTERNATE PUNCTUATION
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FAMOUS “MODERNISTS” ERNEST HEMINGWAY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD JOHN STEINBECK WILLIAM FAULKNER E E CUMMINGS T.S.ELIOT
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HARLEM RENAISSANCE (1915-1929) CHARACTERISTICS: SURGE OF NEW ART (LITERATURE, MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE) BEGUN IN HARLEM, N.Y. GENRE/STYLE: LITERATURE, DANCE, MUSIC HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY JAZZ
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CONTEMPORARY AGE (1945-PRESENT) CHARACTERISTICS: INCREASED MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY VALUES ARE NOT PERMANENT ANTI-HERO SEEKING SOCIAL CHANGE GENRE/STYLE: EMERGENCE OF SCI-FI/FANTASY AND HORROR
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CONTEMPORARY WRITERS JOHN UPDIKE TRUMAN CAPOTE JOYCE CAROL OATES STEPHEN KING
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FUTURE WHAT NEW FORMS OF LITERATURE MIGHT EMERGE IN THE FUTURE? IN WHAT WAYS HAS THE INTERNET BEGUN TO AFFECT AMERICAN WRITING? IN WHAT WAY(S) DO YOU FORESEE POLITICAL AND CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION AFFECTING THE LITERATURE OF TOMORROW?
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