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Puritan/Colonial
Lasting until 1750, the Puritan/Colonial literary period was one that reinforced the authority of the church. Some notable texts are, "The Crucible" and "The Scarlet Letter". -
Romanticism
This literary period ran until around 1860. Romanticism focused on self-expression, the feelings of the writer/narrator, and celebrated nature and freedom. Some notable authors during this period were Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Edgar Allan Poe. -
Realism
Running until around 1900, Realism was the period during the Civil War and Postwar period. Realism showcased an objective narrator that did not idealize people or places and focused more on the real-life day to day complications - unlike Romanticism. A notable author for this period is Mark Twain. -
The Moderns
Lasting until around 1950, Moderns focused on the pursuit of the American dream and optimism, while reflecting on the idea that money and class control the nation. Novels, plays, and poetry increased during this period. Some notable works are Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". -
Harlem Renaissance
Paralleling to modernism, the Harlem Renaissance literary period alluded to African-American spirituals. This period gave birth to a new wave of African-American writers, poets, musicians, and artists. Some notable authors from this period are W.E.B. DuBois, and Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God". -
Postmodernism
Critics argue we are still in this literary period. Postmodernism mixes fantasy with nonfiction and blurs the lines of reality, while often focusing on social issues. This period is where we find most of our classics taught in schools - Sylvia Plath, Miller's "The Death of a Salesman", Capote's "In Cold Blood", Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye", and Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".