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Early American Literature: 1600-1800
The Puritans came over to the New World. During this time there were many influential writers such as Anne Bradstreet, William Bradford, John Winthrop, Anne Hutchinson and many more. Their writing style is what people call "plain style and it was filled with their religious beliefs and simple life. Towards the end of the end of the 17th century, the Salem witch trials were very prominent. Over 150 people were accused of being a witch and 20 were executed. -
The Crucible Unit
The Salem witch trials were very prominent. Over 150 people were accused of being a witch and 20 were executed. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is based off of the Salem Witch Trials. The writing style for The Crucible is Romantic. The use of the supernatural plays in this because of the use o witches and spirits. -
American Romanticism: 1800-1855
The writers of this period are Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This was a time for a different writing style called Romanticism where everything is artistic, musical, and was literary. Some of the characteristics of Romanticism are awe of nature, imagination, emotions and feelings, and etc. The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving is an example of romanticism. You get the supernatural, nature, and emotion. -
Romanticism to Realism (1855-1870)
This time period we shift from romanticism writing to realism. Where writing was straight forward and practical. Writers like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson write using realism characteristics like detail and transparent language. In 1852 Frederick Douglass gave a speech on July the 4 called "The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro," In 1861 the United States had a Civil War. -
Of Mice & Men 1930
The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a classic. The American Dream has its ground in this novel. During this time the Great Depression has made an impact on the novel and vise versa. This novel has an modernism sound to it as it's characteristics are religion, ethics, identity of self, political, and social views. -
Modernism Unit 1910-1940
From 1910-1940, American writers began to shift onto the "American Dream" and the struggles to get people there. During this time period the Civil Rights Movement was getting sprung into full action. People like Langston Hughes were a figure in the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement. Some writers during this time focus on themes like disillusionment and isolation. Take Langston Hughes's poem "Disillusion" for example. World war 1 and 2 broke out during this time period.
