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E volution of American Literature

**Literature of the Revolutionary Period, Harlem Renaissance, and Contemporary Era**

 "From its origins in colonial America to its present status internationally, American literature has stressed the diversity and uniqueness of the American character and experience" (Pinksker). That diversity and uniqueness are what create American Identity. American literature doesn’t just reflect the identity in place, but metaphorically pushes back against the old to make room from the new. Who we were, as a nation, differed greatly in the seventeenth century from who we are now, in the twenty-first century. **There are many events, circumstances, and individuals that helped to shape the American Identity through the literature of the Revolutionary, Harlem Renaissance, and Contemporary eras.**

** Literature of the Revolutionary Period ** 

When children grow up and leave home, they encounter a conflict of identity. Often, this is the time where the most maturation and growth occurs because an individual is rejecting and accepting the ideals presented to them throughout their lives. The Revolutionary Era is like that for America.We were breaking away from our Mother land and establishing a new identity of our own. As we moved towards independence, “literature reflected t he changing political situation” (Conn). Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called //Common Sense// in 1776, the night before the war began, which “advocated American independence and had the greatest revolutionary impact in the colonies and received the most attention abroad” (Pinsker) in an effort to lead the nation towards independence from Great Britain (Conn). Patriotic writing flourished during this era. In 1771, Princeton’s College commencement poem, written by Philip Freneau and Hugh Henry Brackenridge, was entitled “The Rising Glory of America” (Pinsker). Click here to read the poem. The impending greatness of America was held high in the hopes of the people. During this era, “writers and intellectuals tried to define America’s cultural identity”. St. John de Crevecoeur answered his own question as to what an American is: “a new race of men” (Conn). In essence, the concept of Literary Nationalists crept into writing. Much of this writing was satirical in nature, ridiculing the Loyalists, and persuasive in nature, encouraging the support for the Revolutionary War, intending to “instill pride” and to spur “common agreement” (Perales, “American Periods”; Conn). The Connecticut Wits appeared on the scene, a group of New England writers, who used different forms of writing to establish a new national identity. The most well-known publication is the 1787 mock-heroic epic poem, //The Anarchaid: A poem on the restoration of Chaos and Substantial Night// protesting the political chaos which succeeded the Revolutionary War. Writing was more than political in nature.There were also “histories, journals, personal diaries, [and] letters… conceived in the revolutionary spirit (Pinkser). Joel Barlow, a Connecticut Wit, published //The Columbiad// in 1807, a narrative written in a series of couplets, documenting American history from its discovery by Columbus (Conn). Of course, the most influential publication of the era created the foundation for our nation, who we were at the time, and who we were going to be: Thomas Jefferson’s //Declaration of Independence//. Literature of the Revolutionary era impacted the identity of our nation by developing it as a separate and compete entity, cutting the umbilical cord of Great Britain. ** By writing about the revolutionary war and responding to it critically, patriotism and nationalism emerged in the American self-concept. **

**  Literature of the Harlem Renaissance ** American literature of the 1920s was “characterized by disillusionment with ideals and even with civilization itself” (Pinsker). The Harlem Renaissance was primarily a literary movement that originated in Harlem, New York City. African-Americans up to this point in history were given minimal opportunities to publish work which would gain recognition. After moving North, African-Americans had more outlets available to them, and critics and publishers began to take their writing seriously (Perales, “American Periods”).Poetry, novels, and magazines focused on African roots and the dark reality of discrimination (Greenberg). Authors such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston  emerged during this period.Hughes was a poet, novelist, short story writer, and columnist (Greenberg). According to //America the Beautiful//, “Drawing on all aspects of black culture—including jazz rhythms, folklore, and street slang—his works present a rich portrait of African-American life” (“Hughes, Langston”). A famous poetic line of Hughes is, “Hold fast to dreams.” In 1926, //The Weary Blues// was published, a collection of Hughes’ poetry (Greenberg). A collection of stories by Hughes explored the relationships between blacks and whites, including //Not Without Laughter//, //Tambourines to Glory//, and //The Ways of White Folks// (“Hughes, Langston”). Hughes gave a voice to the black men and women of his time. He spoke for them. He spoke as them. His writing has earned him a place of respect in American Literature. As written by biographer Robert Hemenway, Zora Neale Hurston, “rejoiced in print about the beauty of being black” (“Hurston, Zora Neale). During this cultural movement, Hurston took a place of prominence as an influential woman writer. She wrote about the United States from the viewpoint of an African American.Hurston published several novels during the Harlem Renaissance, but //Their Eyes Were Watching God// is perhaps the most well-known, not released until 1937 (Greenberg). In 2005, it was made into a movie starring Halle Berry. Her writing was controversial, especially because of her choices in phonetic spelling, or the use of colloquial language.One of her successors, May Angelou, believes that Hurston’s works have endured because they “vibrate with tragedy, humor, and the real music of Black-American speech” (“Hurston, Zora Neale”). Both Hughes and Hurston take places of prominence in setting the American stage for African-American presentation.How did this impact the identity of the 1920s? The name itself, the Harlem Renaissance, holds the answer to this question. Writing of this era forced Americans (both black and white) to see our world from the minority perspective. It prompted a boom in African-American music and art. ** The changing American Identity now moves from patriotism and nationalism to cultural awareness and respect. **

** Literature of the Contemporary Era **

 The Contemporary Era arguably began in the 1960s or 70s and continues to the present. There are those that contend it is merely an extension of post-modernism. Others will surely assert in the future an end point for this era and the beginning of one yet to be unnamed. The most “evident hallmark of contemporary American literature is its great range and  diversity” (Conn). Many different types of writing can be attributed to the Contemporary era including narratives, both fiction and non-fiction and autobiographical essays. These are typically “anti-hero, emotion provoking, humorous irony, concern[ed] with the connections between people, [and] beginning a new century [where] media culture interprets values” (Perales, “American Periods”). One might think that anything published since the 1960s is Contemporary Literature, but that is a fallacy. Omitted from this category are “certain genre fiction such as sci-fi and romance” as well as “pieces with poor grammar and syntax” and “poorly constructed characters and storylines” (Perales, “Introduction to Contemporary Literature”). As such, popular romantic fiction and “chick lit” like Nora Roberts produces may not be categorized as Contemporary Literature; however, if beauty in composition is evident, then it may be included. Ernest J. Gaines //A Lesson Before Dying// published in 1993 is an outstanding example of Contemporary literature. It explores the themes of racism, obligation, redemption, heroism, and freedom as a state of mind, focusing specifically on fatalism vs. individualism: “whether people can change their own nature and by doing so effect their own environment (Perales, “Introduction to A Lesson Before Dying”). All of these are current and common themes in the United States, and it is written in discernibly high quality. Our current body of literature reflects the fact that we are one of the most diverse countries. According to Kathryn VanSpanckeren, "[Our] dynamic population of about 300 million boasts more than 30 million foreign-born individuals who speak numerous languages and dialects.” Building upon that, VanSpanckeren goes on to say that literature in the US is “likewise dazzlingly diverse, exciting, and evolving. New voices have arisen from many quarters, challenging old ideas and adapting literary traditions to suit changing conditions of national life” (VanSpanckeren). Contemporary literature forces us to “question our ability to accurately see and understand ourselves and our culture” (Perales, “Introduction to Contemporary Literature”), clearly evidenced in Gaines’ piece.Ethnic minorities have taken ownership of Contemporary literature. Two characteristics of Contemporary literature are that it “emphasizes the crossing of old boundaries” and “represents migration and  immigration as a fundamental human experience” (Perales, “Introduction to Contemporary Literature”).//The Joy Luck Club// published by Amy Tan in 1989 focuses on the strained generational relationships of Chinese American immigrant families.The novels of Native American writer Leslie Marmon Silko, “combine realistic narration with songs and legends of the Indian Past” (Conn). Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Pat Mora, and so many other Hispanic-Americans chronicle their journeys and trials of assimilating to American culture only further support the notion that migration is pivotal to the human experience. If we consider the best-seller lists, we encounter other candidates for valuable Contemporary literature.In 2001, religious novels topped the lists in fiction and in non-fiction for the first time, and many book stores include separate sections for different major religions.Several notable works include Annie Dillard’s //The Writing Lif//e published in 1989, a writer writing about writing; Frank McCourt’s //Angela’s Ashes//, a humorous reflection on a difficult upbringing; Joan Didion’s //Where I Was From//, narrating her move westward to settle in California; and Stephen King’s collection of horror novels (VanSpanckeren). Regardless of the genre, Contemporary American Literature tracks the changing identity that Americans have of themselves and the way they are viewed by the world. These days, anyone can publish a novel, but the great works of the Contemporary Era take risks, cross boundaries, question the past, and give voice to the silenced.

** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">media type="custom" key="6398389" align="right" TAKE IT AWAY! **

Now that you know what you know, have some fun with it! Play games, watch videos, check out slide shows, and read some more (if that's your fancy)!

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 * Where in Time is American <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Literature ? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Game
 * Can You Name the Authors for the American Novels Given? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Game
 * Fun Trivia with American Literature. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Quiz
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">How Well Do You Know the English Language? Play against kid all over the world! <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Trivia
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Excellent American and English Internet Resources. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sites
 * StudyStack - All the Fun in One Place! There are hundreds of different "study sets". <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> StudyStack

("Songs Inspired by Literature") **

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("American Lit Quick and Dirty Part I") **