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1500
"The World on the Turtle's Back"
The Iroquois wrote this creation story, "The World on the Turtle's Back," as a part of their mythology. It is one of the more famous pieces of literature by Native Americans and it contains several symbols that resemble those in other religions in cultures. For example: the fight between good and evil, yin and yang, and truth vs. lies) -
Period: 1500 to
Native American Literature
Native American literature was passed down from generation to generation orally through story-telling. They had a polytheistic religion and also told stories of their gods. Characteristically, their stories were cyclical in nature (the cycle of life, or the food chain) and had heavy use of metaphor. -
1520
"Coyote and the Buffalo"
This is another Native American myth, originating in the Nez Perce tribe that resided in present day Idaho. The story has many characteristics of Native American literature, such as personified animals and mystical themes. The story also teaches a moral which is why it was probably passed down and told from generation to generation. -
Observations of Native Americans by John White: Watercolors
In one of the earliest interactions between English settlers and Native Americans, John White, who was on an expedition to survey the region that the English now called "Virginia," produced a collection of watercolor paintings that were his observations of the lives of the Native Americans that lived on the land he had to explore. But, in order to convey the new things he saw, he had to record them as they were, without any dramatization or bias. -
The Colony of Jamestown is Established
The Jamestown colony was founded in Virginia by English colonists. By the end of the year, starvation and disease reduce the original number of settlers drastically. Native Americans at first were very hostile with the colonists because of their widely differing beliefs and traditions. Eventually, their relations would improve, but the drastic differences between the colonists and natives would never be ignored and would continue to be a reason for discrimination. -
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Puritanism
Puritan writing was very straightforward. The Puritans were a somber people and that mood was reflected in their writing. Characteristically, Puritan writing also had very religious tones as they were devout Christians and very fearful of God. Fictional writing and poems were never encouraged, which is why the literature of the Puritan era is so simple and usually religious. Though, near the end of the Puritan era, fiery and emotional sermons were also delivered. -
The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were one of the most wrongful events to occur in American history. When paranoia about witches in town pit neighbor against neighbor, false accusations were made for personal gain and nineteen people ended up being executed. It occurred as a result of the Puritan beliefs of colonial Massachusetts heavily restricting what people could do, which made people assume that anything out of the ordinary was because of witchcraft. -
THE CRUCIBLE
THE CRUCIBLE, though written by Arthur Miller much later in history, is a play that showcased the confusion and hysteria that was the Salem witch trials. It has a main protagonist who tries to convey the rest of the village that the accusations are false and the prosecutors are taking advantage of the court system. In the end, he faces execution, but a lot of character personality changes occur throughout the very well-written play and faith as well as morals are questioned. -
Jonathan Edwards delivers "Sinners in the hands of an Angry god"
This fiery sermon, delivered by Jonathan Edwards (a Puritan Pastor from Massachusetts), epitomizes what the beliefs and literature of the Puritan people were. This also counts as literature, and the sermon really induces the fear of God and speaks against the faults of humanity (according to Puritans). It's speeches like these that make the religion so somber and its members so dedicated to their faith. -
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Romanticism and Transcendentalism
During the American romantic era, there was a lot of opportunity and idealism in the atmosphere. The frontier gave opportunity for expansion and freedom, invoking optimism and mystery. Major characteristics in Romanticism are: imagination, emotions, heroism in the common man, and nature as a refuge, a source of knowledge, and spirituality (which was the key focus of Transcendentalism). There were also dark romantics who wrote dark themes like the evil inside man and bad aspects of imagination. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was probably the most influential historical event of the Romantic era. With the new land acquired came the promise of exploration, mystery, and a lot of nature, all of these evident themes in Romantic writing. -
"The Devil and Tom Walker"
This was one of the important pieces of literature that we read for the Romanticism unit. It's a short story in Washington Irving's collection of tales that are mostly Romantic. Several characteristics of Romantic writing are present in this story, including themes like the supernatural, the wonder and mystery of nature, and the emotions of individuals (both good and bad) that may affect the story as it continues. -
Indian Removal Act
As a result of "Manifest Destiny" --- a belief that stated the expansion of the United States throughout North America was justified and inevitable, the Indian Removal Act was put into place, forcing the natives to move further west. Later on, topics like this and slavery were beginning to be fought against by Romantic writers. -
WALDEN, or Life in the Woods
WALDEN is a book written by Transcendentalist author Henry David Thoreau. It's text is largely a reflection of his life in the woods, where he lived for two years in a cabin with very meager possessions. He wanted to convey his experience through this book and did it to learn from nature. It is essentially a spiritual journey and could also be a guide for self-reliance. The book itself is named after the pond, Walden pond, beside which Thoreau resided for those two years. -
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Transitioning: Romanticism to Realism
The path that took American writers from Romanticism to Realism was long and tragic. A direct result of the events taking place around them, the writers and literature of this era were essential to bridge the gap between two drastically different literary beliefs. In a divided country that was ravaged by and plagued by the effects of the Civil War, writers let go of norms that once held them back and wrote in unconventional ways about unconventional (but more realistic) topics. -
"I Hear America Singing"
Written in free verse by Walt Whitman, "I Hear America Singing," is a more popular transitional poem that showcases the lives of Americans. Walt Whitman himself, as an author, wrote very passionately about the country he loved. He thought of America itself as the greatest poem, and wrote about both it's flaws and it's strengths --- as reflected in his famous poem. -
The Start of the American Civil War
The American Civil War was probably the defining moment that started the shift from Romantic to Realistic writing. The tragedy ravaged the country and its effects would plague America for decades to come. In the bloodshed and sorrow, Americans writers began to see life as it really was and wrote in somber and un-idealistic tones. -
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson was another influential poet that helped bridge the gap between the Romantic era and the Realistic era. Her writing was very unconventional because it broke many of the so-called "norms" of poetry. She conveyed her message to readers the way that she wished, specifically in one called "Much Madness is divinest sense," in which she talks about not needing to be conventional. -
The Death of Slavery
Slavery was a long debated topic, fought against greatly through literature by Romanticist writers. Eventually it would be more realistic writings, those that portrayed the harsh conditions of slave life, that helped ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and ensure that the institution of slavery would be banned in America. -
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Era of Realism
(This was the literary style in the last unit: Of Mice and Men.) In this era of American literature, the shift from Romantic to Realistic writing was complete, encouraged by (yet again) the events of the time. As people lost idealism and began to understand the harsh realities of life, a somber attitude was reflected in this era's writing. The importance of the character and his choices, the plausibility of events, and a not always happy ending are common themes in Realistic writing. -
The Roaring Twenties
The 1920s was a period of mass consumerism for the first time in American history. People were hopping on the latest trends and spent their money on the luxuries of life. There was a lot of partying and drinking (despite the fact that the Prohibition was going on). The Realistic writers in this period --- most of which were expatriates, realized that consumerism was hurting America and happiness could not be found there. -
THE GREAT GATSBY
Similar to how OF MICE AND MEN was set in the Great Depression era, THE GREAT GATSBY (by F. Scott Fitzgerald) is set in the midst of the Roaring Twenties. It's a twisted love story that showcases the madness of consumerism and "happy-times" that occurred in this era, but also the negative aspects of these things. The writing is realistic because it's all the events were plausible and just as well may have really happened. -
The Great Depression
This was probably the final straw in the move from Romantic to Realistic writing. By the time that the Great Depression occurred in America, writers had begun to realize the harsh realities of life and wrote about just that. The Great Depression surely took its toll on the ideals of people and strained them to make something better of it. -
OF MICE AND MEN
This is one of the best novels I've read and it documents the lives of two characters that are caught up in the effects of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Written by John Steinbeck and set in Salinas Valley, California, Lennie and George (despite several setbacks) have to find work on ranches to get money in order to survive. It really represents the somber part of Realism, its theme being that one's dreams are not likely to be achieved.
