-
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Native American (Recognized in 1800) not said specifically when it started. set date in 1500 so that it is ahead of puritan
Native American literature was never written down but passed on to each other orally. The story tellers in Native American community were highly respected among. These stories that were spoken orally told stories detailing creation, traditions, migration, and as well as the incidents with the invading Europeans. The Native American spoke of their traditions and the importance of such traditions. -
Jan 2, 1500
Native American 1
The Sky Tree by Huron tradition The Sky Tree is a Native American creation myth. Such a myth was used by four Native American tribes who had shared the same language of Wyandot. The myth claims that at one point the earth was covered in water and that people used to live in the sky. -
Jan 3, 1500
Native American 2
The Earth Only by Teton Sioux traditional
The earth only is a story that came from the Teton Sioux Native Americans. This story speaks of the earth enduring and of wise men who say it. Although it is very short it classifies as literature. -
Jan 4, 1500
Native American 3
Coyote Finishes His Work by Nez Perce Traditional
The story the Coyote finishes his work derives from the Nez Perce Native American people. This story speaks of the work of a coyote, the tasks and occupation of it in life and how his job is a lesson to all. -
Jan 5, 1500
Native American 4
The Blackfeet Genesis by Blackfeet traditional
The Blackfeet Genesis is a creation myth told by the Native Americans known as Blackfeet. Its contents are of an old man who created all things such as animals. Not stopping at animals but all of nature and soon came to create a woman and a child. -
Jan 6, 1500
Native American 5
Apache Creation Story
The creation story of the apache speaks of an old man who sat upon a flying a disk. He created a girl by mistake and she had encouraged the creator to creator various other thing like the sky and earth. -
Period: Mar 22, 1500 to
Sources 1
"Puritanism in American Literature." Puritanism in American Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"The Compulsive Reader :: A Haven for Book Lovers." The Compulsive Reader :: A Haven for Book Lovers. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"The Romantic Period." Infoplease. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Ed., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"Romanticism." - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. -
Period: to
Puritan
In the 17th Century many Europeans left Europe for various reasons such as, the hope of a new life and religious freedoms. Puritan came across in the hope in preserving their religion. Puritans saw their life as a constant moral struggle and so expressed it their writings which were now being written in America. It was an attempt to present life for what they believed it really was with connections to the bible. -
Puritan 1
The General History by John Smith
John Smith speaks of the ships that had taken the colonist from Europe to the new town in America, known as James town. The story includes the many hardships of those who traveled on the ship and now endure America. John smith included various encounters with the indigenous people. -
Puritan 2
Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
The book Of Plymouth Plantation speaks of the arrival to America in the point of view of the puritans. It includes the arrival and settlement of the Puritans at Plymouth Plantation this book is specifically written between the time period of 1620 and 1647. -
Puritan 3
To My Dear and Loving Husband by Anne Bradstreet The poem speaks of the love between a man and a woman in a puritan life style. The speaker makes the claim that she greatly appreciates her husband and loves him so much that she would never be able to repay him for his love. -
Puritan 4
Huswifery by Edward Taylor In huswifery a man is depicted as wanting to get closer to god and even says that he would be ok with god using him for his wishes. The man even goes in detail how he wished him selves to be used. He wishes for god to take control of his life since he is truly desperate in connecting to god. -
Puritan 5
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The story of the scarlet letter is the story of a woman who has lost her husband possibly at sea. She lives in America alone and have gave birth to a child. She is accused of adultery and forced to wear the letter a on her breast as punishment. She however refuses to inform the fathers who the father of the child is. -
Period: to
sources 2
"Gothic Fiction." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Ed. "Transcendentalism." Infoplease. Infoplease, 2012. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"Realism." - New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"Naturalism Period of American Literature - 1880-1900." Naturalism Period of American Literature - 1880-1900. Studyguide.org, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
The enlightenment time period was referred to as the Age of Reason. The use of reason was commonly used during this time period. It is the time that many took to the act of philosophy and use of different political ideals and beliefs. It was the period of new beliefs and the belief of the human minds new potential. This time era gave birth to the American Revolution. -
Enlightenment 1
The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin The autobiography speaks of Benjamin’s life and his enlightenment. At a young age he discovers an interest in reading and writing. How he left home and set off on his own. His journey was different and new ideology at that time. He later became a famous publicist and eventually he led way to his inventions and new ways of thinking. -
Enlightenment 2
The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence was an innovative belief of freedom for the colonies. It is the new idea of revolution and freedom from the mother country. New ideas and action brought up due to enlightenment of new thinking. -
Enlightenment 3
The Crisis, Number 1 by Thomas Paine
The Crisis, Number 1 by thomas pain speaks of different reasons and beliefs for the American people to support the American Revolution. This new way of thinking is seen and is obvious in new persuading techniques as well as ways of thinking. -
Enlightenment 4
The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau In this work of writing Rousseau speaks of ways of building up a political community. He includes what would be the best way to do so. It is the new thinking of the enlightenment that sparks such a thought. He speaks his mind of the roe of society and that of politics. -
Enlightenment 5
Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture by Isaac Newton Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture Is a letter written by Isaac Newton, its purpose was to identify pages of the bible and clears them up for john lock. Isaac was a scientist and often though different and wanted support and did so with reason. In this letter support his claim of various pages in the bible and identifies was he feels it is logical for it to say. -
Romanticism 1
The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving The Devil and Tom Walker is about the legend Kidd the pirate who has buried a vast amount of treasure. A greedy man hears such a legend and sets off to find the treasure. Finding the treasure is risky and he chooses that for his wife. -
Period: to
Romanticism
Romanticism was a revolt against social and political customs of the enlightenment and to scientific reasoning of nature, as it was an artistic and intellectual movement full of literary criticism. The enlightenment was a movement full of intellectual progress and innovation of science and beliefs. Romanticism felt as if such logic and reasoning was commonly overdone in the enlightenment which is why Romanticism mainly focuses on the emotion. Human emotion did not really bother much with reason -
Period: to
Gothic Fiction
Gothic Fiction was the period of writings that contained and revolved around horror and romance? Then people of this time loved and were please by terror fascinated buy such writings. This is the period of great imagination and new way to keep people entertained. It has enabled Americans to enjoy an exotic type of literature that has long been remembered and enjoyed as well as become very popular genre in literature. -
Romanticism 2
The Deerslayer by James Finimore Cooper The Deerslayer is a tale written y James Fennimore who depicts a man that is referred to as the Dearslayer. He is fond of nature and believes it is wrong to take scalps from animals. He fights other characters who find it ok to take the scalps of animals. -
Romanticism 3
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe The tale begins with a man arriving at the home of a friend who has asked him to help heal him of his illness. Te man meets with his friend and he tries to make him better by entertaining him musically. Then is friend unveils a secret with him which startles the man. -
Romanticism 4
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe The poem speaks of a character who longs for his lost lover. The man is curiously caught at the window of a building as he goes to investigate he meets a raven and asks the raven for its name. The raven simply replies nevermore. -
Romanticism 5
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge The story is about a sailor who after a long voyage finally arrives home. When he arrives home he gets into a discussion with a man is about to get married. He then tells him the story’s of his voyage. He tells him of the time his crew turned on him after he had shot a seagull. -
Gothic Fiction 1
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstien is about ship captain who undertakes a dangerous task and while in that task he meets a man who was suffering from the cold. The captain helps the man out and heals him. This is when the captain is told of all the monsters that the man has created. Victor the man helped by the sailor then sets of to create a new creation. -
Gothic Fiction 2
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstien is about ship captain who undertakes a dangerous task and while in that task he meets a man who was suffering from the cold. The captain helps the man out and heals him. This is when the captain is told of all the monsters that the man has created. Victor the man helped by the sailor then sets of to create a new creation. -
Gothic Fiction 3
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe The tale begins with a man arriving at the home of a friend who has asked him to help heal him of his illness. Te man meets with his friend and he tries to make him better by entertaining him musically. Then is friend unveils a secret with him which startles the man. -
Gothic Fiction 4
The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allan Poe The short story The Pit and the Pendulum written by Edgar Allan Poe is about a man in trial in front of various judges. In front of him are candles and the connection between the candles melting and his freedom fading is made. The judge has made the decision of death, for the character and has found himself locked in a tomb. -
Gothic Fiction 5
The Ministers Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne "The Minister's Black Veil" is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and starts with a man ringing a doorbell of an office. This is when the man who opens the door appears to be wearing a black veil over his head. This starts to worry the people of the town and would what the purpose of such veil would be. -
Period: to
sources 3
"Imagism." - New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia, 3 Apr. 2008. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
Beers, G. Kylene, Lee Odell, and Gary Q. Arpin. Holt Literature & Language Arts. Mastering the California Standards : Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking. 5th ed. Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2003. Print.
"Enlightenment." (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Stanford, 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
SMITH-PETER, SUSAN. "Regionalism." Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia, 2004. Web. -
Period: to
Realism
Realism is a philosophy in which the belief is to be realistic and strait forward. Realists believe that what they see in everyday life is just gimps of reality. That if one truly wanted to see what reality is one needs to make closer inspection. Realism is commonly related to science in the aspect being that that i8s how they commonly observe their world. It is believed that realism was a direct response to Romanticism and their exaggerated of emotion. -
Realism 1
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn is a young uneducated, but still sharp, boy who decides to take off on his own to flee from the problems at home. On his journey he sees the world differently than other because of his young age and his innocent he commonly is unaware of people’s true intentions. Hemet an escaped slave along his traveled and he was torn between during what society has taught his or to be friend him. -
Realism 2
The story of an hour by Kate Chopin
The story of an hour by Kate Chopin speaks or a woman who suffers from a hart condition and becomes informed of her husband’s death. She lost him due to a rail road accident. The young woman falls into a form of depression and notices that everywhere she looks there lays happiness in others. -
Realism 3
To build a fire by jack London The story about a man who lives in the cold torturous land of Yukon. The man has yet to live a full winter in such a harsh environment. Ignorant to the reality of death and survival in Yukon he fears not the cold. -
Realism 4
Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson The story speaks of a man who has a great life and is wealthy. The one thing that he misses is the company of another person. People commonly see him as a great individual happily living life. One day he arrived home and committed suicide. -
Realism 5
We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar The poem depicts the sad incident of discrimination for blacks. He claims a smile is crucial for survival. Underneath it all it is the slaves who suffer so much and are the strongest. The mask is there a s a symbol of a cover for their true emotions. -
Period: to
Naturalism
The Naturalism time period of literature took place between 1880 and 1900. Naturalism was a branch of realism and focused mainly on survival as the overall theme. Nature is commonly depicted as an all powerful force that tends to shape situations. The characters in the literature of the naturalism period commonly tried to pass off as heroes in a sense. These characters were almost never of the upper class in society always of middle and lower class. -
Naturalism 1
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The story speaks of a woman of a certain age that is too old for a woman at that time to not be married. She has been affected by the death of her mother therefore affecting her relationships. She has the issue of wishing to be a gold digger but the man she truly loves is too poor to marry. -
Naturalism 2
Barren Ground by Ellen Glasgow,
Speaks of a daughter of a farmer. She is delusion by a man she loves and forgets her duty to her father in rebuilding the farm and helping it grow. A tragedy occurs where her lover is forced to marry an ex fiancé which tears the two. Now she is suffering with the issue of being a sing pregnant woman. -
Naturalism 3
The Big Money by John Dos Passos Claims that the American hope end in corruption. Claims that the desire for money has corrupted America and has overcame the American people. John speaks from the point of mechanic who works his way up in search for currency. -
Naturalism 4
The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer
The story speaks of a great assault that takes place on the island of Anopopei. Those invading consist of American solders whose task was to clear the way for reinforcement and to create a strong hold. The compelling story of such an act of bravery is phenomenal. -
Naturalism 5
The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow
Speaks about a young Jewish boy living in the depression abandoned by his father. He has been unfortunate to have simple minded relatives who do little to help with the situation. As a result great chaos is firmed in the family. -
Modern Age 1
Soldiers home by Ernest Hemingway
Shows the loneliness of a young American soldier who is at war in a foreign country. He returns home after fighting in the war and seems to find himself lonely again and the ambiguity begins to sink. In the end he decides to move to a place not as urban. -
Modern Age 2
Winter Dreams by F.scott Fitzgerald Takes the point of view of a wealthy store owner’s son. His dream is to become skilled golfer and be able to take on skilled golfers he feels are good. As a young boy he does irresponsible things often spontaneous but wrong, as a result he loses his job as a caddie at a golf club and so the downward cycle begins. -
Modern Age 3
A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
The story is about a girl named Emily who happened to die. Her death had gathered the whole town on her funeral. Her deaths bring a rush to gather her possession and because of her property being of an older era many were wishing acquires it. -
Modern Age 4
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Speaks of the upper-class of the gilded age. It shows that women after the war were desperate to marry a man with money. They often married with no intention of love simply of money. The reason why there were so many affairs. The upper-class lived luxurious lives due to the sale of illegal liquor. -
Modern Age 5
A Worn Path by Welty Eudora
Is a story about an elderly black woman who has traveled a journey to acquire medicine for a sicken grandson. As the elderly woman progresses nature appears to become more beautiful. But she soon faces the obstacle of fatigue due to her aged body. -
Period: to
Modern Age
The Modern age is the period where many Americas were disillusioned and depressed because of world war one and because of the great depression. This has causes them to distrust and question many American traditions as well as social institutions. As a result many writers broke such literary traditions and wrote in a whole new way as well as tell the stories of the modern world; the issues and life. -
Imagism 1
The River Merchants Wife; a Letter by Ezra pound
• The poem uses imagery to depict his children and family along a river. He also expresses the love for his wife and his Dearing children. The possibility of being hurt alarms the author. -
Period: to
Imagism
Imagism was a literary movement in early twentieth century. It was against proper language and unnecessary meter and rhyme. The Imagists preferred to use imagery and strait forward language in order to avoid unnecessary confusion as well as speculation, which is essentially common language used at that time. This type of literary technique was commonly found in poetry than any other forms of writing. Imagism was derived from England and traveled to the United States. -
Imagism 2
Chicago by Carl Sandburg
Is a poem about the city where the author lives. It speaks about the railroads and the contents of the city. It makes for a vivid description of the city and a fair use of imagery. -
Imagism 3
• Morning at the Window by T. S. Eliot's
Speaks of a day in the life of the author. It describes the unclean slyness of an urban city. The fog and the disorder with in classes. Although he compares the city to music with its sounds and smells. -
Imagism 4
Preludes by T. S. Eliot's
Speaks of the point of view of an old man. This old man is alone in a small dirty room. The thought that go to him are his life and how he was once young and in youth and now that has been taken away. -
Imagism 5
The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock by Ts Eliot
• Speaks of a man who has been hurt by mentally. He is allusion of the possibility of being with his lover but tortured at not having the opportunity. It hurts him and the comment of other sting as well. -
Period: to
Harlem Renaissance
Harlem is a section in New York City with a densely population of African Americans. Because of the large amount of African Americans living there, the African culture is a strong influence on the city. After world war one, the great migration brought many African Americans to migrate north as an attempt to avoid discrimination given that the north of united states was said to be more tolerate to blacks. As a result clash of new ideas, art and literature took place which is why it is called t -
Harlem Renaissance 1
Incident by Countee Cullen
• Speaks of a horrible encounter between a black and a white child. The black child is depicted as a nice young buy that simply gives a warm gentle smile and is rudely attacked vulgarly by a white boy. The black boy is haunted by that memory above all others. -
Harlem Renaissance 2
Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston
• Speaks of the progress of a black woman and the rise of her status through education. Speaks of such accomplishment of influence such as several novels. The novel speaks and praises education as a positive thing but racial discrimination did not appear much in the writing. -
Harlem Renaissance 3
Tableau by Countee Cullen
• Speak of a dream of racial discrimination to be absent in society. Two young boy each of different ethnicities holding arms and prove to be a symbol of such a dream. The happiness however is ended by thunder. -
Harlem Renaissance 4
The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes
• Peaks of the time where the author remembers listening to a blues musician in the city of Harlem. The author describes the tune to be mournful but appreciated the song. It is a way to appreciated the creatively of those where and are discriminated against. -
Harlem Renaissance 5
Harlem by Langston Hughes
• Describes what happened when ones dream is no longer fallowed and is pushed to the side. Claims that in the event of this occurring the dream will eventually dry up and will no longer exist. It is crucial to never give up on ones dream and to continue. -
Transcendentalism 1
• Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Ralph Waldo Emerson published the essay Nature anonymously but later gained recognition of it. Nature is an essay that established the genre of Transcendentalism nature is explained as imitation of wisdom and what hold life together. A new belief of the importance of nature on one’s life. -
Period: to
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that was developed in the Eastern region of the United States. Originally it was created as a protest toward the culture and society of that time. Transcendentalists believed that individual s were able to receive divine intervention. Those in the philosophy believed in the relationship of people and nature. Many believed that individuals were corrupted by society and political institutions as well as organized religion. -
Period: to
Regionalism
The period of regionalism in American literature took places in the late eighteen hundreds. This kind of literature focused on the geographical area of certain locations. This period of literature commonly took great interest in the people living in such geography. These writers took careful note in the effect of the geography of the people and included the speech, fashion, religion, and social customs of those people. -
Transcendentalism 2
• Experience by Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson where he shares his beliefs with society and future politics. Here he speaks about future experiment with creating new communities that are utopia like. He shows he is against the over intellectualizing of life. He also expresses his disliked against the experimental utopias that are being presented at the time. -
Transcendentalism 3
The Over-Soul by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson where he shares his belief that every person has a god within themselves whom they can come in contact with. He resides in the belief that there is no need for a church to be able to do so, or any other sort of assistance. He also shares the belief that geography does neither anything to do with person spiritualism. -
Transcendentalism 4
"The Poet" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson where he shares belief in what makes a poet a poet and what their place in society should be. He argues that a poet is someone who ventures into the mysterious area of the universe and attempts to get a hold of and bring to light. He also makes the argument that a poet puts emotions in worlds that a person could not do. -
Transcendentalism 5
• Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson where he portrays the need for an individual to avoid the compliance of society and differed from it by being independent. He also strives to point out that an individual should strive away the false uniformity of life. -
Regionalism 1
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain
• Is a short storey where a man is sent to speak to an elder. The elders speak of the abilities of another. This character is fascinated by gambling and has created to be a problem. The gambling problem had caused him to get scammed at one point following more obstacles for the character. -
Regionalism 2
The Lowest Animal by Mark Twain
• Is of a man who is claimed to be so patriotic that he would be willing to kill his own kind. The man is what causes issues without countries while the animals do not. Mark makes the inference that it is really man who is the lowest animal. -
Regionalism 3
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
• Is about a steam boat pilot that has been influenced by the Missipisi River which had provides for him while the railroad had led many other Americans down. He includes that in the beginning the Mississippi river was commonly ignored and with it it’s potential. -
Regionalism 4
A Wagner matinee by Willa Cather
• Is about a young man who lives in a boarding school. He gets word that his grandma will be visiting from a distant city. He goes in the hope of helping his aunt with any form of obstacle. When they finally memories explode with emotion. -
Regionalism 5
The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte
• Speaks of a mining community in California who deal with undesirables and pondering for a way to get rid of them. The undesirables were gamblers and prostitutes and others. They bring problems to the community which as a result wants them out. -
Contemporary 1
The Magic Barrel by Bernard Malamud
• Is about a Jewish individual who struggles with personal isolation. He has strived to succeed but then falls victim to other emotion such of as those of love. But as a rebbi he is forbidden of such act. -
Period: to
Contemporary
The Contemporary time period took place after world war two. The significance of this time period is the sudden change of politics and culture in the United States. This is why many of the writers of that period tended to write about the war including it in some aspect in their writings. The contemporary varied different style but is essential influenced by world war two. Technology, politics, holocausts, depression had great influence on the writers of this time period. -
Contemporary 2
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
The story was written as a result of a suicide. The author wanted to write a story for the victim but couldn’t find the proper words to do so, speaks of the impact of the war upon the returning citizen, and the mixed feelings of Vietnam with the many suicides. -
Contemporary 3
Black Boy by Richard Wright
• Speaks of a young boy who was playing with fire at the home of his ill grandmother. As a result he burned down the home. The young boy runs away from the family ashamed and lives with another woman. An older one and aunt at that. -
Contemporary 5
Son by John Updike
• Is about the relationship of a father and son and the ups and downs that come upon them, as well as the comparison between several children. -
Contemporary
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
The story is about two old men who seek to find themselves after world war two. One of the men is trying to take in the persona of a bum who seeks to be uncivilized or in a sense without manners, such example by sleeping in the theater. Each man lost of who they really were.