AMERICAN LITERATURE

1. The Colonial Period (1492–1700)

Native Americans, the first inhabitants of the continent, did not develop anything we can call “literature” – their
stories and poems were spread orally, which means the American literally history begins with the age of
colonialism.
The character of early American literature is strongly influenced by several factors:
 It was the era of colonising the continent. Since not only the English explored and claimed the
territories, the beginnings of American literature are more or less connected also with French,
Spanish or Dutch literatures as well.
 The first writers brought mainly English ideas and ways of writing, which means early American
literature is based on the literature of England. As years passed and literary theory developed, the
writers who adopted the English style are now sometimes called pale faces (Franklin, Longfellow,
James, Pound). Their poetry is sometimes referred to as “cooked poetry”. On the other hand, there were
authors who explored new topics and helped shape1 America’s own literary tradition. Those are called
redskins (Whitman, Emerson, the Beat Generation). Their poetry is referred to as “raw poetry”.
 Religion played an important part in the writers’ lives. Many writings of the period were sermons2 and
theological books. The fact that the Pilgrims landed in the Massachusetts Bay in 1620 had an
immense3 influence on the culture of the newly developing colonial system.
 The topics common in the early periods were connected with the issues of living in a new land
(agriculture, explorations, and relations with the native people) and travelling (travel logs4, journals).
JOHN SMITH (1580–1631) is considered to be the first American writer. He was an explorer and colonist;
he helped found Jamestown in 1607.5 His A True Relation of Virginia is said to be the first American book
written in English. It describes the problems of colonising the area.
WILLIAM BRADFORD (1590–1657) was a Puritan writer who described life in the early English
settlements. His book Of Plymouth Plantation is full of religious topics and depictions6 of a difficult life in the
colony.

2. The Revolutionary Period (1700–1800)

As dissatisfaction with the colonial system and the relations with Britain grew, the literature gradually changed
its shape. The writers became more politically, anti-British and revolutionary oriented, rationalism and
enlightenment prevailed. Essays, speeches and pamphlets became more important, the Puritans’ religious
poetry fell out of favour7 as man was not considered naturally sinful any longer.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706–1790) is one of the most important figures of the period. He can be
described as what we call a “renaissance man” – a person of many skills. He was a politician, scientist,
philosopher, publisher, humourist, inventor and writer. The Way to Wealth gives the reader advice how to
become successful – hard work and common sense are very important. Autobiography – Franklin writes about
his life, his successes and failures, individualism. His style is very plain. It is one of the first depictions of the
American dream.
THOMAS PAINE (1737–1809) was an English-born essayist and pamphleteer. His pamphlet “Common
Sense” is a sharp critique of the colonial system and explains why the Americans should rise against the English.
JOHN HECTOR ST. JOHN (1735–1813) was a French- American writer, one of the fathers of the American
novel. His epistolary novel Letters from an American Farmer deals with the differences between life in Europe
and in America.
THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743–1826) was an architect, essayist, lawyer, politician, and later became the
3 President of the United States of America. His greatest contribution8 to the history of America is that he is
rd

the main author of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Continental Congress on 4th
July 1776 during the War of Independence. For illustration, read the final section of the Declaration:

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 We, therefore9, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled10,
appealing11 to the Supreme Judge12 of the world for the rectitude13 of our intentions, do, in the Name, and
by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly14 publish and declare, That these united Colonies
are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved15 from all Allegiance16 to the
British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be
totally dissolved17; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy18 War, conclude
Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States
may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm19 reliance20 on the protection of divine21
Providence22, we mutually23 pledge24 to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

3. The Period of Romanticism and Transcendentalism (1800–1880)

The period of romanticism represented a revolt against classicism and its values such as reason and form. The
American variant of romanticism was different from the European one to a certain degree 25. There was a great
interest in Indians and their culture. The writings were less political and religious, the topics were mostly
American, and the writers stressed imagination, nature and individualism.
The Knickerbockers were a group of romantic writers who contributed to The Knickerbocker, a magazine
published in New York. They named themselves after WASHINGTON IRVING’s (1783–1859) A History of
New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker. Irving was America’s first professional writer and the founder of short
story in the USA, “Rip Van Winkle” being one of his most famous short stories. It follows a henpecked26
husband who falls asleep in a forest and wakes up many years later after the colonies have become an
independent country. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is about a headless knight who terrorises the inhabitants
of a settlement.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER (1789–1851) was interested in life in wilderness and among the native
inhabitants. He wrote a series of five novels, together called the Leatherstocking Tales. They concentrate on
Natty Bumppo, a white man living in the forests of New York, and his friend Chingachgook, a Mohican chief.
There are five books in the series: The Deerslayer, The Last of the Mohicans, The Pathfinder, The Pioneers
and The Prairie.
EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809–49) is one of the most important figures of the American literary tradition.
His life was filled with sorrow and suffering. After unsuccessful studies he
became an editor. He drank alcohol and misfortune had a notable impact on his work. His writings are gloomy
and bizarre; his characters are murderers, alcoholics, desperate lovers and tortured prisoners. Poe is the founder
of modern American horror story and detective story. His short stories often describe the darkest states of
human mind and mysteries solved by logic. The most famous short stories by Poe include: “The Tell-Tale
Heart”, “The Black Cat”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, “The Mask of the Red Death” or “The Gold-
Bug”. He is not less famous for his melancholic poems such as “Annabel Lee”, “Eldorado” or “The Raven”,
which expresses the idea of vanity27 through the eyes of a man asking a mysterious raven about his dead love
while the raven’s only answer is “nevermore”:
Transcendentalism is a movement of authors concentrated in Boston. They rejected the then- common
spirituality and materialism. They were inspired by nature, spent time alone and relied on themselves. They
also stressed the role of intuition and God was omnipresent28 for them.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1803–82) is the author of “The Nature” – an essay expressing
Transcendentalist ideas. His friend HENRY DAVID THOREAU (1817–1862) wrote Walden, a philosophical
book about his new birth near Walden Lake, where he spent two years alone.

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE (1804–63) wrote The Scarlet Letter (1850), one of the most famous and
important books in the American literary history. It tells the tale of Hester Prynn, a woman who is sentenced to
wearing the letter A on her clothes (A for “adultery29”). She lives with her daughter Pearl and evolves into a
strong character. The book criticises Puritan morals, prejudice and intolerance.

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 HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW (1817–82) is known for his romantic poems
written in simple language. He wrote “The Song of Hiawatha”, a poem about the Indian chief Hiawatha
inspired by the Finnish epic Kalevala. WALT WHITMAN (1819–92) is considered as one of the best
American poets of all time. He introduced free verse – no metrical pattern and no rhymes appear in his poems.
This influenced many poets to come – the Chicago Renaissance or the Beat Generation. Leaves of Grass (1855)
is a collection of poems where he compares freedom to grass – it should grow everywhere. “When Lilacs Last
in the Dooryard Bloom’d” is a long poem about the death of Abraham Lincoln.

EMILY DICKINSON (1830–86) is another poet considered as one of the greatest in American history. She
rarely left her house, her poems were scarcely published during her life, they are personal and lyrical. They do
not have any titles.
HERMAN MELVILLE (1819–91) spent a part of his life at sea. Moby-Dick is a long novel
about a young sailor called Ishmael, who joins the crew of the Pequod, a ship under the
command of captain Ahab, who is trying to hunt a giant whale which once bit off his leg. The
clash between Ahab and Moby-Dick is the allegory of man’s struggle against nature.

4. American Realism and Naturalism (1860–1930)

Just as in Europe, the period of romanticism was followed by the period of realism. Writers
left behind the styles and topics adopted by the previous generation and rather concentrated on
describing life as it was with its negatives typical for the period. It was the era of industrialisation and migration,
determinism was a major paradigm32 of the age. Regionalism also appeared (Local Color School – a group of
authors who described the customs and specifics of particular regions). Novel was the main genre.

MARK TWAIN (1835–1910), born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was a great American novelist, short story
writer and humourist. He was a member of the Local Color School. He spent a major part of his life on the
Mississippi as a boatman, which plays an important part in his writings. His most famous novels are probably The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a book
describing the life of a problem boy, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), which concentrates on
Tom Sawyer’s friend Huck, who assists a black slave on his journey. The book criticises slavery and tries to
describe the world through the eyes of a naive, uncivilised, yet honest boy. The Prince and the Pauper tells the
story of a poor boy called Tom Canty who
changes places with Prince Edward, Henry VIII’s son. The book brought a sharp critique of England’s feudal
system in the 16th century and people spoilt by their properties. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is
a satirical novel which follows a young American engineer

HERMAN MELVILLE (1819–91) spent a part of his life at sea. Moby-Dick is a long novel about a young sailor
called Ishmael, who joins the crew of the Pequod, a ship under the command of captain Ahab, who is trying to
hunt a giant whale which once bit off his leg. The clash31 between Ahab and Moby-Dick is the allegory of
man’s struggle against nature.

STEPHEN CRANE (1871–1900) wrote Maggie: A Girl of the Streets about a New York prostitute, and The Red
Badge of Courage about a naive soldier’s experience in the Civil war.

JACK LONDON (1876–1916) is famous for his books taking place in Alaska during the Gold
Rush– he is the author of White Fang or The Call of the Wild, a novel about a dog whose master is killed by
Indians and which becomes the leader of a wolf pack.

THEODORE DREISER (1871–1945) wrote Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy (1925), which is a critique of
the idea of the American dream. Its hero, Clyde Griffiths, pursues his dream of becoming rich and important.
When he has a chance to marry a rich girl, he murders his Girlfriend, is found guilty and dies in an electric chair.

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UPTON SINCLAIR’s (1878–1968) best known book is The Jungle – it is a story of immigrants from Poland and
Lithuania living in Chicago and working in terrible conditions in a slaughterhouse .

5. American Modernism and the Literature of the First Half of the 20th
Century
Since the dawn of the 20th century, writers were looking for new ways of writing and new topics. Their writings
expressed their feelings about living in the modern age, some of them wrote positively, some negatively. Their
style became more complicated, experiments were quite common. Many movements appeared; together they
might be called “modernism”.

EZRA POUND (1885–1972) was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. He was born in the USA but
he spent a long time in Europe, he also spoke many languages. He is one of the most complex writers in the
American history. He was involved in pioneering new styles and movements – imagism (words provoke pictures
in the reader’s mind) or vorticism. His
most important work is called Cantos.

T. S. ELIOT (1888–1965) lived in Britain and wrote “The Waste Land”, a very complicated modernist poem. E. E.
CUMMINGS (1894–1962) was an experimental poet.

The Chicago Renaissance was a movement consisting of Illinois poets. CARL SANDBURG (1878–1967)
was optimistic about America’s future; he expressed his passion for the rhythm of a modern city in his Chicago
Poems.

The Lost Generation is a term invented by Gertrude Stein to refer to a group of writers who felt alienated41
to the world. They wrote about young people who do not find any pleasure in everyday life or becoming rich.
The group included Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, John Dos Passos and William
Faulkner. ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899–1961) is probably the most famous representative. His writing
style is very plain, however, his stories
and novels are sometimes compared to an iceberg (you only see its one eighth; the rest is hidden below the
surface). His novelette The Old Man and the Sea (1952) earned him the Nobel Prize for literature42. It shows
the struggle between a fisher-man called Santiago and the natural world.
The moral of the story can be summed up as “a man can be destroyed, but not defeated”. The Sun Also Rises
is about a group of young people who drink, have love affairs and attend bullfights, all these without any mental
satisfaction. A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls are Hemingway’s accounts of war in Europe.

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD (1896–1940) is well known for The Great Gatsby (1925). It is a short novel
about Nick Carraway, who meets a mysterious rich man named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby spends time throwing
lavish48 parties; however, this does not make him feel happy. The book shows the negative aspects of high
society in the roaring twenties. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is a short story about a man suffering
from reverse ageing.

WILLIAM FAULKNER (1897–1962) is one of the most important writers of the American South. He
situated his writings in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County in Mississippi. In his books, he concentrates on the
fall of the Southern aristocracy. His texts are often very demanding, the reader does not know who says what.
He wrote The Sound and the Fury, Light in August or Absalom, Absalom!.

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 SINCLAIR LEWIS (1885–1951) was a satirist from the American Midwest. He is the first American writer
to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. His best novel is Babbitt, which tells the story of a typical middle
class man. JOHN STEINBECK (1902–68) is one of the best known socially critical writers of all time. His
style is very realistic, he wrote about exploited49 people who fall to the bottom of the society. Of Mice and Men
is a novel about two homeless farm workers. The Grapes of Wrath is probably his most famous novel; it is the
story of the Joad family moving from Oklahoma to California to work there on fruit farms in terrible conditions.
East of Eden is another of his great works.

6.-American Literature in the 2nd Half of the 20th Century and Contemporary American
Literature
The authors of the 2nd half of the 20th century followed in the tradition developed by their predecessors. More
movements appeared (the Beat Generation, Hippies), ethnic writers (African-American, Asian, Native
American, Jewish) became more involved and some of the authors may be called “post-modernist”. New
topics became popular (the revolt against the system, ethnic and racial issues, the holocaust), new genres
flourished (comic books, fantasy novels, sci-fi, horror stories). American drama was going through its best
times.
J.D. SALINGER (1919–2010) wrote The Catcher in the Rye (1951), a short novel about a young man
leaving his university studies, disgusted with people around him.

WILLIAM STYRON (1925–2006) was a southern writer who is best known for Sophie’s Choice
(1979). It is the story of a young Southerner Stingo who befriends a Polish immigrant Sophie and her
paranoid lover Nathan. Sophie tells him her story of having to choose between sacrificing one or the other
child in a concentration camp during WWII.

As for authors writing about war, NORMAN MAILER (1923–2007) is best known for his novel The Naked
and the Dead (1948), which takes place during WWII in the Pacific. JOSEPH HELLER (1923–99) wrote
Catch-22, a war novel taking place in the Mediterranean50. A group of pilots is added new and new flights to
their schedule instead of being laid off.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS (1914–83) wrote psychological plays. He is the author of A Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof or A Streetcar Named Desire. The latter is the tragedy of a woman raped by her brother-in-law. It is one
of the most quoted American plays ever written. ARTHUR MILLER (1915–2005) wrote Death of a
Salesman, the tragedy of a disappointed ageing man who commits suicide to ensure his family money from his
life insurance. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by EDWARD ALBEE (1928) is another famous drama of the
period.

In the 1950s, a group of non-conformist authors emerged, which is now known as the Beat Generation. They
refused to fit in the society, revolted against the establishment, experimented with drugs and criticised
consumerism. They preferred spontaneity and travelling, San Francisco became their centre. Their literature is
still popular and inspirational for many young people.
JACK KEROUAC (1922–69) wrote On the Road, which became a kind of a Bible for his followers. It tells
stories of people travelling across America. LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI (1919) is the best known poet of
the generation, together with ALLEN GINSBERG (1926– 1997), who wrote “Howl”, a poem expressing the
beatniks’ attitudes:

CHARLES BUKOWSKI (1920–94) is well known for his poems and stories full of sex, alcohol and drugs.
KEN KESEY (1935–2001) is the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a novel taking place in a mental
asylum whose patients rebel against the oppressing system represented by nurse Ratched. TRUMAN CAPOTE
(1924–84) was a post-modernist writer who combined fiction and non-fiction (e.g. In Cold Blood).
African-American literature became more prominent as the struggle for human rights intensified. They
followed the so called Harlem Renaissance, a movement of black writers (e.g. the poet Langston Hughes) from

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the 1920s. JAMES BALDWIN (1924–87) was an essayist and novelist writing not only about black people’s
problems, but also about homosexuals’ problems. TONI MORRISON (1931) is famous for her novel The
Bluest Eye (1970) about a black girl who is raped by her father and becomes pregnant with him. The book
criticises black girls’ pursuit of the ideal of beauty embodied51 by white girls.

Jewish American literature draws inspiration from the painful experience of the holocaust, but also from
the Jewish spirit, traditions and humour. The main hero is often an unlucky outsider. ISAAC BASHEVIS
SINGER (1902–91) wrote Gimpel the Fool, the story of an unlucky man who has five children without
sleeping with his wife. BERNARD MALAMUD (1914–86) is the author of The Fixer, a book about Jews
experiencing anti-Semitism in Ukraine. PHILIP ROTH (1933) was accused of being anti-Semitic even though
he is Jewish. He wrote Portnoy’s Complaint, a book about a boy spied by his mother.

N. SCOTT MOMADAY (1934) is probably the best known Native American writer. He wrote The House
Made of Dawn, a non-linear novel about an Indian man who belongs neither to his tribe nor to the majority.
Asian-American (John Okada, Maxine Hong Kingston) and Latin- American (Sandra Cisneros) writers also
appeared.

New genres have become more popular in the past decades. As for sci-fi, PHILIP K. DICK (1928–82) and
RAY BRADBURY (1920–2012) are worth mentioning. The former is the author of dystopian novels Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and A Scanner Darkly, the latter wrote many short stories and the novel
Fahrenheit 451 about a society where books are banned and burnt. GEORGE R.R. MARTIN (1948) is the
author of A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of fantasy books beginning with the bestselling A Game of Thrones.
STEPHEN KING (1947) is the example of modern horror fiction – his books The Dreamcatcher, Carrie,
’Salem’s Lot, It, Misery or The Dark Tower became hits. Teen fiction has become very popular in the past few
years, The Maze Runner by JAMES DASHNER (1972) being an example of a contemporary bestseller.

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