How to Define American Literature

How to Define American Literature

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, American literature is the corpus of written or artistic works influenced by the history of the United States and its former colonies. In the past, America was ruled by Britain as one of the latter's colonies; as a result, its literary culture is linked to the rich tradition of English literature. Because of the unique American qualities and the literature's creation, American literature is currently regarded as a distinct subject and institution.

 

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, American literature is the corpus of written or artistic works influenced by the history of the United States and its former colonies. In the past, America was ruled by Britain as one of the latter's colonies; as a result, its literary culture is linked to the rich tradition of English literature. Because of the unique American qualities and the literature's creation, American literature is currently regarded as a distinct subject and institution.

Literature in America: A History

When Columbus and other European colonizers found the Americas, the original peoples of the continent did not have a written alphabet but instead used chants, songs, and oral tales to display their creative abilities and pass on knowledge of their traditions.

 

According to scholars, these verbal genres, such as trickster tales, jokes, naming and grievance chants, and dream songs, are considered "literary" because they represent the people's imaginative and energizing responses to their Native culture, in contrast to the common Western understanding that literature must primarily result from written words (Baym, Franklin, Gura, Krupat and Levine).

 

The primary function of writing during the time that various empires, including the Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German, and English kingdoms, colonized the Americas was to exert pressure on policy makers at these overseas colonies' home bases to justify actions taken without their specific consent or to provide evidence of the direct and unintended costs of European invasion of the Americas.

 

Writing also described the terrible consequences of European colonization of the Americas, including the unintentional spread of Old World diseases like smallpox, measles, and similar illnesses to Native Americans and their enslavement for use as slave labor. These events drew strong public criticism.

 

Writing provided opportunity for those who were not born into a life of luxury but were in favor of merit, skill, and effort to redefine their life's prospects, like Diego del Castillo and John Smith, during the early conquest of the Americas. Boston's size in terms of population drove the production of Puritan literature in the 15th century, and the foundation of Harvard University in 1636, which runs with an autonomous college and printing press, gave New England a publishing advantage over other colonies.

 

Although the English language's dominance was first scarcely noticeable due to these efforts, political developments ultimately altered the situation and made English the dominant language in the colonies as well as the preferred language for literary works. Just roughly 250 published works made up the whole of American literature between 1696 and 1700. These pieces mostly addressed colonial life's religious, security, and cultural issues.

 

Literature in America: A History

When Columbus and other European colonizers found the Americas, the original peoples of the continent did not have a written alphabet but instead used chants, songs, and oral tales to display their creative abilities and pass on knowledge of their traditions.

According to scholars, these verbal genres, such as trickster tales, jokes, naming and grievance chants, and dream songs, are considered "literary" because they represent the people's imaginative and energizing responses to their Native culture, in contrast to the common Western understanding that literature must primarily result from written words (Baym, Franklin, Gura, Krupat and Levine).

The primary function of writing during the time that various empires, including the Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German, and English kingdoms, colonized the Americas was to exert pressure on policy makers at these overseas colonies' home bases to justify actions taken without their specific consent or to provide evidence of the direct and unintended costs of European invasion of the Americas.

Writing also described the terrible consequences of European colonization of the Americas, including the unintentional spread of Old World diseases like smallpox, measles, and similar illnesses to Native Americans and their enslavement for use as slave labor. These events drew strong public criticism.

Writing provided opportunity for those who were not born into a life of luxury but were in favor of merit, skill, and effort to redefine their life's prospects, like Diego del Castillo and John Smith, during the early conquest of the Americas. Boston's size in terms of population drove the production of Puritan literature in the 15th century, and the foundation of Harvard University in 1636, which runs with an autonomous college and printing press, gave New England a publishing advantage over other colonies.

Although the English language's dominance was first scarcely noticeable due to these efforts, political developments ultimately altered the situation and made English the dominant language in the colonies as well as the preferred language for literary works. Just roughly 250 published works made up the whole of American literature between 1696 and 1700. These pieces mostly addressed colonial life's religious, security, and cultural issues.

Themes and Style in American Literature

The United States' growing desire to develop its own distinctive literature and culture was facilitated by the War of 1812, a conflict between the United States and the British Empire over trade restrictions, the forced conscription of American merchant mariners into the Royal Navy, British support for American Indian tribes opposing American expansion, and upholding national honor in the face of British insults.

 

Themes and Style in American Literature

The United States' growing desire to develop its own distinctive literature and culture was facilitated by the War of 1812, a conflict between the United States and the British Empire over trade restrictions, the forced conscription of American merchant mariners into the Royal Navy, British support for American Indian tribes opposing American expansion, and upholding national honor in the face of British insults.

Some of the settlers created romantic and nature-inspired poetry that diverged from its early English roots, while others composed satirical poems about life on the American frontier.

 

There have been short tales produced that explore hitherto unexplored facets of human nature and push the boundaries of fiction in the direction of mystery and fantasy. The rising demand for American literature's distinctiveness led to the formation of the transcendentalism movement, which was a protest to create a state of culture and society. Radical essays supporting the American character's individualism developed from this genesis.

 

Moreover, Native American memoirs were created, and fiction written by minority writers started to appear. Literary romances filled with philosophical presumptions began to center on allegories and gloomy psychology. In American literature, dark romanticism rose to prominence, which portrayed people as prone to vice and self-destruction. Dark Romantics appropriated portrayals of  satan, demons, ghosts, werewolves, vampires, and ghouls, among other anthropomorphized forms of evil.

 

Some of the settlers created romantic and nature-inspired poetry that diverged from its early English roots, while others composed satirical poems about life on the American frontier.

There have been short tales produced that explore hitherto unexplored facets of human nature and push the boundaries of fiction in the direction of mystery and fantasy. The rising demand for American literature's distinctiveness led to the formation of the transcendentalism movement, which was a protest to create a state of culture and society. Radical essays supporting the American character's individualism developed from this genesis.

Moreover, Native American memoirs were created, and fiction written by minority writers started to appear. Literary romances filled with philosophical presumptions began to center on allegories and gloomy psychology. In American literature, dark romanticism rose to prominence, which portrayed people as prone to vice and self-destruction. Dark Romantics appropriated portrayals of  satan, demons, ghosts, werewolves, vampires, and ghouls, among other anthropomorphized forms of evil.

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What Is Special About American Literature?

Before writing was invented, Native American traditions had a variety of impacts on American literature, which were combined with influences from European invaders.

 

The early works of American literature were mostly chronicles and records of grievances and conditions in the New World. Writing and literature were used to inform policy makers how to advance civilization, discover natural resources, and comprehend Native American customs and civilizations.

 

Throughout time, American literature changed into a variety of genres, employing both fiction and non-fiction to express the opinions of authors on issues like politics, the economy, culture, and social statuses using creative images or factual sources. The 17th century saw the continued development of American literature into its own genre, moving away from its original source of inspiration, English literature, giving the country its own identity and encouraging individuality.

 

It produced authors who experimented with human emotions, philosophy, and psychology. The dark romanticism subgenre, which depicts people as fallible creatures capable of sin and self-destruction, also emerged as a result of it. The ongoing exploration with emotions and concepts in American literature, which may be traced to the attitude of creative expression and independence among current authors, pushed the limits of human imagination and inventiveness.

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What Is Special About American Literature?

Before writing was invented, Native American traditions had a variety of impacts on American literature, which were combined with influences from European invaders.

The early works of American literature were mostly chronicles and records of grievances and conditions in the New World. Writing and literature were used to inform policy makers how to advance civilization, discover natural resources, and comprehend Native American customs and civilizations.

Throughout time, American literature changed into a variety of genres, employing both fiction and non-fiction to express the opinions of authors on issues like politics, the economy, culture, and social statuses using creative images or factual sources. The 17th century saw the continued development of American literature into its own genre, moving away from its original source of inspiration, English literature, giving the country its own identity and encouraging individuality.

It produced authors who experimented with human emotions, philosophy, and psychology. The dark romanticism subgenre, which depicts people as fallible creatures capable of sin and self-destruction, also emerged as a result of it. The ongoing exploration with emotions and concepts in American literature, which may be traced to the attitude of creative expression and independence among current authors, pushed the limits of human imagination and inventiveness.

It produced authors who experimented with human emotions, philosophy, and psychology. The dark romanticism subgenre, which depicts people as fallible creatures capable of sin and self-destruction, also emerged as a result of it. The ongoing exploration with emotions and concepts in American literature, which may be traced to the attitude of creative expression and independence among current authors, pushed the limits of human imagination and inventiveness.

Conclusion

We may describe American literature as a set of works commemorating the discovery and acquisition of the Native Americans in its early beginnings by examining literary works from class in order to comprehend the meaning of American literature via diverse literary works by early authors.

 

In response to the developments in American culture, literature on the continent gradually changed throughout time, impacting both its authors' and readers' aesthetic expressions and socioeconomic conventions at the time of composition. A reflection of American history, culture, and characteristics may be found in American literature.

 

It is regarded as a component of American culture since it illustrates both the history and the imaginative and creative thinking of the American people. The early inhabitants of the United States' delicate local customs as well as the colonists from Europe left their mark on American literature. It also serves as a potent symbol of American traits like liberty and individuality.

 

Conclusion

We may describe American literature as a set of works commemorating the discovery and acquisition of the Native Americans in its early beginnings by examining literary works from class in order to comprehend the meaning of American literature via diverse literary works by early authors.

In response to the developments in American culture, literature on the continent gradually changed throughout time, impacting both its authors' and readers' aesthetic expressions and socioeconomic conventions at the time of composition. A reflection of American history, culture, and characteristics may be found in American literature.

It is regarded as a component of American culture since it illustrates both the history and the imaginative and creative thinking of the American people. The early inhabitants of the United States' delicate local customs as well as the colonists from Europe left their mark on American literature. It also serves as a potent symbol of American traits like liberty and individuality.