Literature has existed in the Americas for as long as the people who lived there have been telling stories. Cultures have a rich history of oral literature. Books from as far back as the 5th century are known, and it is believed that the Maya started writing things down centuries before that. As a specific discipline viewed through the lens of European literature, American literature began in the early 17th century with the arrival of English-speaking Europeans in what would become the United States. Notable authors of American literature include:, who wrote some of its earliest works;, who wrote the first African American book;, a standout of the Romantic era;, a celebrated poet;, a woman who wrote poetry at a time when the field was largely dominated by men;, a master of humour and realism;, a novelist who articulated the disillusionment of the; and, a writer who centred her works on the black experience and received a Nobel Prize in 1993.
What are the periods of American literature? Read more below:Like other national literatures, American literature was shaped by the history of the country that produced it. For almost a century and a half, America was merely a group of colonies scattered along the eastern seaboard of the North American continent—colonies from which a few hardy souls tentatively ventured westward. After a successful rebellion against the motherland, America became the United States, a nation. By the end of the 19th century this nation extended southward to the, northward to the 49th parallel, and westward to the Pacific. By the end of the 19th century, too, it had taken its place among the powers of the world—its fortunes so interrelated with those of other nations that inevitably it became involved in two world wars and, following these conflicts, with the problems of Europe and East Asia.
Meanwhile, the rise of science and industry, as well as changes in ways of thinking and feeling, wrought many modifications in people’s lives. All these factors in the development of the United States molded the literature of the country.This article traces the history of American, and social and from the early 17th century through the turn of the 21st century.
SAMPLE READING LIST: American Literature 1850-1950. RATIONALE This field aims to cover the major and canonical American works between the years. Sep 8, 2017 - Familiarity with the classics of U.S. Literature helps students maintain fluency and their reading level, and encourages independent reading.
For a description of the oral and written literatures of the peoples of the Americas, see. Though the contributions of African Americans to American literature are discussed in this article, see for in-depth treatment. For information about literary traditions related to, and at times overlapping with, American literature in English, see.