American literary periods and their characteristics. The Contemporary Period (1939–Present) After World War II, American literature has become broad and varied in terms of theme, mode, and purpose. Gain valuable insights into the history and context of the era, examining how religion, culture, and European literary traditions influenced the works of American colonial authors. Prior to this period, much of American Literature was serialized in periodicals, rather than as cohesive publications. Colonial American literature includes the writings of Mary Rowlandson, William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet and John Winthrop. Discover the movement of romanticism in American literature and its impact. From the early colonial days to the complexities of the present day technology American writers have chronicled the state’s growth struggles and triumphs. William Cullen Bryant, Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe initiated a great half century of Explore key authors and themes that remain relevant today to find out how 19th and 20th-century American Realism literature captured everyday life. English document from Lingaya's University, 46 pages, Periods in American Literature American literature does not easily lend itself to classification by time period. The advent of a national literary consciousness in the United States is generally attributed to the American Renaissance period, from around 1830 to the beginning of the Civil War. We have collected those works below. The American Dream and its Periods of American Literature- American literature is a wealthy tapestry that displays the evolving history culture and philosophy of the USA. U. 1930–1970): A movement, primarily in the theater, that responded to the seeming illogicality and purposelessness of human life in works marked by a lack of clear narrative, understandable psychological motives, or emotional catharsis. However, Literary movements are a way to divide literature into categories of similar philosophical, topical, or aesthetic features, as opposed to divisions by genre or period. Below, you’ll find a list of the major movements and eras of English literature; look them over. The following links, organized by literary period, are to the library's catalog for works by author, title, literary movement, type of work, etc. According to literary critic Harold Bloom, "American literature is essentially a literature of individualism, a literature obsessed with the self and its relation to the world. In this American literature summary, we’ll explore the defining characteristics of American literature, its major historical periods, influential authors, and must-read works that capture the essence of the American experience. The Carolingian Renaissance (800-850) eventually emerges in Europe. In central Europe, texts include early American literature is literature written or produced in the United States of America and in the British colonies that preceded it. Major themes in American literature discussed include individualism, the American Dream, cultural diversity, and tolerance. American literature - 19th Century, Realism, Romanticism: After the American Revolution, and increasingly after the War of 1812, American writers were exhorted to produce a literature that was truly native. As publishing companies began to take hold in the States, there was a influx of print journalism Delve into the overview of the American Colonial Era, touching upon influential writers, key events, and significant developments in colonial literature. The Modernist Period in American literature, spanning from 1910 to 1945, represents one of the most transformative eras in literary history. It was an age of reason, order, stability, and emphasis on classical ideals. Beginning in the pre-Revolutionary War period, African American writers have engaged in a creative, if often contentious, dialogue with American letters. The American literary tradition is part of the broader tradition of English-language literature, but also includes literature produced in languages other than English. Writers in this time not only tried to show the region they wrote about to their readers, but they also made an attempt at a sophisticated sociological or anthropological treatment of the culture of the region. These terms are helpful for curricula or anthologies. The postmodern literature movement in the mid-twentieth century was a reaction to the literary style of the modernist period, earlier in the century. These periods overlap: Puritanism continued through Victorianism into the 20th century. Literary Time Periods Literature constantly evolves as new movements emerge to speak to the concerns of different groups of people and historical periods. II. Literary forms of the period were extraordinarily varied, and in drama, poetry, and fiction the leading authors tended toward American literature refers to the body of written works produced in the United States, ranging from the colonial period to the present day. American writers began to explore themes relevant to the American experience, such as frontier life, individualism, and American literature - Naturalism, Realism, Regionalism: Other American writers toward the close of the 19th century moved toward naturalism, a more advanced stage of realism. Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, students will be able to Identify historical characteristics of the Revolutionary or Early National period in America. The result is a literature rich in expressive subtlety and social insight, offering illuminating assessments of American identities and history During this period, too, he became acquainted with the works of Rousseau, Godwin, and Mary Wollstonecraft, and from that time the kinship of many of his ideas with those of French Revolutionary origin can be clearly traced, though in passing through his serene and profoundly Christian mind those ideas often became scarcely recognizable. The Great Depression marked the end of the American Modernist Period, and writers such as William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, and Eugene O'Neill dealt with the social and political issues of the time in their literary works. The history of American literature reaches from the oral traditions of Native peoples to the novels, poetry, and drama created in the United States today. American literature - Colonial, Revolution, Enlightenment: In America in the early years of the 18th century, some writers, such as Cotton Mather, carried on the older traditions. The Enlightenment, with its focus on logic and empirical observation, heavily influenced this era. Some movements are defined by the authors themselves, while others are defined decades or even centuries later. It encompasses a diverse range of literary genres, including novels, poetry, plays, essays, and short stories, and reflects the cultural, historical, and social experiences of the American people. Much like the Italian Renaissance of the 15th century, the emergence of American Romanticism saw the celebration of the common man. American authors have written countless essays and songs, poems and plays, novels and short stories. Compare: Colonial Period vs. During this period, society at every level underwent profound changes. The eventful period that followed the war left its imprint upon books of all kinds. War and industrialization seemed to devalue the individual. As if in response, four authors of very respectable stature appeared. Like other categorizations, literary movements provide language for comparing and discussing literary works. Read the classics-but what are they? Here find annotated reading lists of most treasured English and American literature from different eras. The atmosphere of the time was serious and Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like What are the four basic qualities of American writers?, Puritan/Colonial (1600-1800), What is predestination? and more. Jun 9, 2025 · Writing from this period reflected attempts to create new, original American literature, while also showing traces of British roots and aiming for universal appeal. Many of the characteristics of colonial American literature can be found in the poems, journals, letters, narratives, histories and teaching materials written by settlers and religious and historic figures of the period. Franks, Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Goths settle in the ruins of Europe and the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes migrate to Britain, displacing native Celts into Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The periods covered include the Colonial period, Revolutionary period, Romanticism, Realism, and Modernism. Reacting to the profound social, political, and cultural upheavals of the early 20th century, Modernist writers sought to redefine literature in terms of both form and content. Place the French and Indian War within its larger social, cultural, and historical context, in both North America and Europe. Given the size of the United States and its varied population, there are often several literary movements happening at the same time. Key Characteristics: The Importance of Regional Literature American literature, in its vast expanse, is as diverse and varied as the nation’s topography. In the late 19th century Neoclassicism revived as a component in Realism and subsequently in Modernism. In part this was because they were in some way influenced . S. Realism continues throughout the 20th century as the mainstream tradition in American fiction, represented at its best by writers including John Steinbeck, Caroline Gordon, William Styron, Wallace Stegner The term American literary movement refers to the periods of evolution in American literature and the characteristics that literature from different time periods shares. The American Dream and its Literature scholars differ over the years that encompass the Modernist period, however most generally agree that modernist authors published as early as the 1880s and into the mid-1940s. Literary Movements/Periods Absurd, literature of the (c. The literature of Spanish America is an important branch of Spanish literature, with its own particular characteristics dating back to the earliest years of Spain’s conquest of the Americas (see Latin American literature). African American literature is the body of literature written by Americans of African descent. Hamlin Garland’s writings exemplified some aspects of this development when he made short stories and novels vehicles for philosophical and social preachments and was franker than Howells in stressing the harsher The American Renaissance was a period from the 1830s roughly until the end of the American Civil War in which American literature, in the wake of the Romantic movement, came of age as an expression of a national spirit. 1939 marked the beginning of the Contemporary Period of American Literature. Buckley, Jr. Explore the history and characteristics of the literary movement. Famous American writers include Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and Joan Didion. In short, American Romanticism emerged in response to the nationalist values beginning to develop a distinct American literary style. Understanding these periods and their key characteristics provides insight into how American literature has shaped and been shaped by the nation’s history. Oct 2, 2020 · The United States may be a relatively young country by global standards, but American literary history stretches back centuries. The document outlines distinct American Literary Periods from the Colonial and Early National Period to Contemporary/Postmodernism, highlighting their characteristics, themes, and notable authors. Discover the period's divergence from Modernism, the effects of World War II on the American literary landscape, and the pressures of conformity in the post-war consciousness. If an essay asks about the purpose of early American literature, these two periods show the shift from salvation to self-governance. American literature - Modernism, Realism, Postmodernism: Important movements in drama, poetry, fiction, and criticism took shape in the years before, during, and after World War I. Jul 9, 2019 · A brief guide to American literary periods, including the Colonial, Renaissance, Beat, and Contemporary, along with examples. Understand the diverse and numerous circumstances contributing to the Revolutionary War, starting with It discusses the historical context, primary characteristics, genres, and notable authors of each period. The period from 1800 to 1830 in American literature is often characterized by the emergence of a distinctly American voice in literature. [1] A central term in American studies, the American Renaissance was for a while considered synonymous with American Romanticism [2] and was closely associated with Transcendentalism. Let’s take a dive into the history of the main American literary movements and what they say about the characteristics of American literature. In keeping with that fact, it makes sense that colonial literature was the first major literary period in America. How their literature slowly grew to be “American” writing is less well known. American literature - Puritanism, Colonization, Revolution: This history of American literature begins with the arrival of English-speaking Europeans in what would become the United States. " This focus continues to resonate in contemporary works, with protagonists often grappling with their identity and place in society. THE OLD ENGLISH (ANGLO-SAXON) PERIOD (428-1066) In 428 Rome falls and barbarian tribes move into Europe. What Are Literary Movements? Literary movements divide literary works into groups based on their similarities, as opposed to grouping them by period or genre. His huge history and biography of Puritan New England, Magnalia Christi Americana, in 1702, and his vigorous Manuductio ad Ministerium, or introduction to the ministry, in 1726, were defenses of ancient Puritan Each literary period, marked by distinct themes, styles, and cultural contexts, offers a unique window into the thoughts, struggles, and aspirations of its time. It was American independence from British rule, achieved in 1776, that opened the path to examining national identity, the development of a distinctly American literary tradition in the light of Romantically reconceived visions of the self and nature. LIFE > Arts and Entertainment > Literature > Outline of American Literature Historical Context: This period in English literature is named after the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus, known for its literary flourishing. Discover the Romantic Period in American Literature (1830–1865) with detailed themes, key writers, major works, and literary impact. American literature - Transcendentalism, Realism, Romanticism: The authors who began to come to prominence in the 1830s and were active until about the end of the Civil War—the humorists, the classic New Englanders, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, and others—did their work in a new spirit, and their achievements were of a new sort. This list describes its six major periods. The Pilgrims and Their Descendents Much of American literature parallels the nation’s historical events. Discover modernist writers and their works. [1] Some of these movements (such as Dada and Beat) were defined Literature History Henry Augustin Beers was a literature historian and professor at Yale who lived at the turn of the 19th century. Literary Periods: A brief overview is located below: Literary periods are spans of time for literature that shares intellectual, linguistic, religious, and artistic influences. While American literature has its own romantic period, the term predominantly refers to this vibrant and extensive era in British literature—a period marked by the profound influence of the French Revolution and the publication of significant works. Postmodernism embodied the disenchantment of the post-World War II era, rejecting the idea of absolute truth, avoiding deep analysis, and a focusing on subjective beliefs rather than science. Learn about modernism in American literature. [3] In the previous lesson, we discussed major critical approaches and theories. The following list will go through some of the important periods of American literary history, noting the defining characteristics of each one and providing some of the most famous works American literature is the body of written works produced in the English language in the United States. Currently, there is little consensus as to how to go about classifying the last 80 years into periods or movements—more time must pass, perhaps, before scholars can make these determinations. Revolutionary Period—both used writing as a tool for community building, but the Colonial era focused on spiritual community while the Revolutionary era built political community. Learn about American romantic art and literature with authors, characteristics, and examples. With over 5,000 total entries, The Oxford Companion to American Literature reflects a dynamic balance between past and contemporary literature, surveying virtually every aspect of our national literature, from the Pulitzer Prize to pulp fiction, and from Walt Whitman to William F. At first American literature was naturally a colonial literature, by authors who were Englishmen and who thought and wrote as such. Get an answer for 'Why do we study American literature?' and find homework help for other Literature questions at eNotes + Follow Download Presentation American Literary Periods and their characteristics An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. The growth of American literature, however, follows closely the history of the nation from its beginning to the present time. Nov 4, 2025 · Explore the history of American literature, including Romanticism, Realism and Modernism, with insights into their defining features. He wrote intensely detailed histories of American and English literature, covering the periods up until what were his modern times. American Renaissance (literature) The American Renaissance period in American literature ran from about 1830 to around the Civil War. This era marks the beginning of the Romantic period in America, though it was still heavily influenced by European literary traditions. i4udc, lv3q3s, zq2uq, tjq9an, mpz6, jzc2, p27v, 4zwgne, cdlk, xyou5,