Canadian Literature: An Overview

Historical/Literary Context
Canada, like New Zealand was a British colony, and is a member state of the
Commonwealth. Canada gained its independence from Great Britain via the British North
America Act(BNA Act) on July 1, 1867.
Independence was negotiated and achieved democratically; there are a variety of theories
as to how the BNA Act can/should be interpreted. One of the more popular theories is that
the Confederation of Canada was a compact between the two founding nations: France and
Great Britain. This had led to much unrest in the 148 years since, as the French feel that
they have been assimilated and their culture threatened. Also, the First Nations, Mtis, and
Inuit (FNMI) people were essentially ignored as founding partners.
The Canadian experience also differed greatly from American Independence in that the U.S.
declared war on Britain (in 1776), and then aggressively fought for their independence. In
the ninety years of American Independence that preceded Canadian Confederation, the U.S.
continued to aggressively expand, which was one of the reasons for Canadian
Confederation: to prevent American encroachment. The contrast in the birth of these two
nations must be considered when looking at the historical context that is so crucial to the
study of literature.
A Crisis of Identity
Canada became the worlds first officially multi-cultural nation with The Multi-culturalism
Act (1971), and is often described as a cultural mosaic, in contrast to the cultural
melting pot, that has been used to describe the United States. Because of its initial French
colonisation, it is also officially bi-lingual. There are also more than 65 native dialects
spoken representing at least the same number of ethnic groups. Immigration from Eastern
Europe in the 20th century and Asia in the 21st century have given rise to significant
populations of Chinese, Ukrainian, Japanese, Indian, Philippino communities as well as many
dozens more from elsewhere in the world.
The American influence on culture and society is hard to ignore. Sharing the largest border
in the world, with the worlds largest economy, in an era of globalisation, makes it difficult
to differentiate between the two nations. This is furthered by the fact that 75% of
Canadians live within 160km of the U.S. border. Therefore, the cultural behemoth to the
south, and the existence/celebration of more than 200 ethnic groups within its borders,
makes Canadian identity difficult to define.
A Literary Reflection of Canadian Culture
Despite its size geographically (9,093,510.0km2), Canada is a relatively small country. Its
population density is one of the lowest in the world 3.4/km2 (smaller even than New
Zealand at 16/km2). With such a small voice, Canada has a hard time being heard, and with
such a diverse background, it does not know where it is coming from either. Much of the
Canadian climate is in the Arctic Circle, or sub-arctic regions, where temperatures range
from -55C to 20C in the summer. Such weather defines anyone who lives in such a
climates existence. Since literature is reflective of culture and the experience of a nation,
Canadian literature is fraught with themes such as these.
Common Themes in Canadian Literature
Nature - The idea of humans against the elements is one of the key themes in Canadian
literature, particularly early Canadian literature. Canada is a hostile climate, particularly in

Canadian Literature: An Overview

the pre-modern era of colonisation. There are not many internationally known Canadian
titles, but Gary Paulsens Hatchet, and Farley Mowats Lost in the Barrens, are two notable
exceptions. *Gary Paulsen is not Canadian, but has spent much of his time there. Hatchet is set in Canada,
and deals with very Canadian themes.

The Pioneer Experience - Canadians are generally proud of their country, and proud that
they can handle such an extreme climate. The early settlement of Canada was cruel and
unforgiving, it was very hard work settling and then working land which had been inhabited
by only several hundred thousand people for thousands of years. There are many historical
fiction and non-fiction novels that deal with the colonisation of Canada, and the hard
working blue collar mentality that went into settlement is well celebrated in Canadian
literature. Stories of historical heroes like the Voyageurs are as common to young
Canadians as cowboy and Indian stories are to Americans.
Canadas Position in the World - These are the themes that dominate contemporary
Canadian literature. Authors from a variety of ethnic backgrounds explore issues in modern
day Canadian society, and many rail against the ever-present onslaught of American culture
that is inescapable. The fragmentation of Canadian society, particularly the French-English
divide, and aboriginal relations are common features of shorter literature especially.
Canadian stories set in smaller towns often see characters convey a sense of
disillusionment with the world around them. These feelings are often fuelled by the isolation
felt in such places as they can seem cut off from other towns, and the wider world at large.
Canadas first and only Literary Nobel Laureate(2013), Alice Munros, stories reflect these
latter themes, while the work of people like Mordecai Richler reinforces the former.
The Garrison Mentality - literary critic Northrop Frye has advanced the theory of The
Garrison Mentality in Canadian literature. It holds that characters are always looking
outwards and building metaphorical walls against the outside world. This mentality is
assumed to come from part of the Canadian identity that fears the emptiness of the
Canadian landscape, and the theory itself has grown out of the previous three themes
mentioned here. Texts that explore this theme also fear the oppressiveness of other nations
(especially the United States).
Other Issues Shaping Canadian Literature
Canadian identity is often questioned and hard to define. Canada has arguably the weakest
tie to the Commonwealth because of its proximity to the United States, its economic size
and political independence. Because Canadians in general do not know how to identify what
Canadian being is, but are decidedly not-American. Because of its independence from
Britain, and colonial bi-culturalism, it does not identify readily with the commonwealth nor
does the Commonwealth identify with it reciprocally. Typical Canadian themes are hard to
identify, and there is not one theme that would encapsulate the traditional Canadian
experience.
History remains a prominent feature of Canadian literature. The immigrant experience has
been increasingly reflected in the post-modern era, and as Canadian literature gains
international acclaim, it is these stories that gain notoriety including Man Booker Prize
winner Yann Martels Life of Pi, and Lawrence Hills The Book of Negroes. (published in New
Zealand under the title Someone Knows My Name)
Notable Canadian Authors

Canadian Literature: An Overview

Margaret Atwood - Is considered by many to be Canadas greatest living author. She has
worked tirelessly to put Canadian literature on the map, and has published in a variety of
genres ranging from dystopian adult fiction, literary criticism, poetry, and even childrens
literature.
Alice Munro - Canadas first Literary Nobel Laureate. She is considered a master of the
short story, a revolutionary even who has redefined the genre. She writes almost
exclusively short stories, out of the necessity of being a writer and mother - never having
time to write a novel.
Farley Mowat - Wrote epic stories of Canadian wilderness, and survival his writings dealt
almost exclusively with Canadian themes. He championed nature and indigenous rights in
craft and activism.
Michael Ondaantje - Man Booker prize winning author of The English Patient. He is
representative of the multi-cultural nature of Canada, having been born to Sri Lankan
immigrants. His stories deal with a variety of these, including the immigrant experience in
Canada.
Yann Martel - Author of the man Booker Prize winning Life of Pi. He is of French-Canadian
heritage, and reflects more worldly experiences in his writing that are not necessarily
representative of anything specifically Canadian. He famously mailed the Prime Minister of
Canada a new book to read every two weeks from 2007-2011, because he wanted to figure
out what made the PM tick. (Harper has been a famously poor supporter of the Arts in
Canada.)
Other Notables: Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Mordecai Richler, Naomi
Klein (non-fiction political advocate), Sinclair Ross, Robertson Davies, Emily Carr, Robert
Munsch (childrens author), John McCrae (In Flanders Fields)
Selected readings in Canadian Literature
Excerpt from The Painted Door, by Sinclair Ross
She moved briskly; performing each little task with careful and exaggerated absorption,
binding her thoughts to it, making it a screen between herself and the surrounding snow
and silence. But when the stove was filled and the windows sealed it was more difficult
again. Above the quiet, steady swishing of her brush against the bedroom door the clock
began to tick. Suddenly her movements became precise, deliberate, her posture selfconscious, as if someone had entered the room and were watching her. It was the silence
again, aggressive, hovering. The fire spit and crackled at it. Still it was there. "I'm a fool,"
she repeated. "All farmers' wives have to stay alone. I mustn't give in this way. I mustn't
brood. A few hours now and they'll be here."
The sound of her voice reassured her. She went on: "I'll get them a good supper - and for
coffee tonight after cards bake some of the little cakes with raisins that he likes. Just three
of us, so I'll watch, and let John play. It's better with four, but at least we can talk. That's all I
need - someone to talk to. John never talks. He's stronger - he doesn't understand. But he
likes Steven - no matter what the neighbours say. Maybe he'll have him come again, and
some other young people too. It's what we need, both of us, to help keep young ourselves
And then before we know it we'll be into March. It's cold still in March sometimes, but you
never mind the same. At least you're beginning to think
about spring."
She began to think about it now. Thoughts that outstripped her words, that left her alone
again with herself and the ever-lurking silence. Eager and hopeful first; then clenched,
rebellious, lonely Windows open, sun and thawing earth again, the urge of growing, living
things. Then the days that began in the morning at half-past four and lasted till ten at night;

Canadian Literature: An Overview

the meals at which John gulped his food and scarcely spoke a word; the brute-tired stupid
eyes he turned on her if ever she mentioned town or visiting.

Excerpt from A Circle Game, by Margaret Atwood

v
The children like the block
of grey stone that was once a fort
but now is a museum:
especially
they like the guns
and the armour brought from
other times and countries
and when they go home
their drawings will be full
for some days, of swords
archaic sunburst maces
broken spears
and vivid red explosions.
While they explore
the cannons
(they arent our children)
we walk outside along
the earthworks, noting

how they are crumbling

under the unceasing
attacks of feet and flower roots;
The weapons
that were once outside
sharpening themselves on war
are now indoors
there, in the fortress,
fragile
in glass cases;
Why is it
(Im thinking
of the careful moulding
round the stonework archways)
that in this time, such
elaborate defences keep
things that are no longer
(much)
worth defending?