1 Early American literature 16 century 1620 Mayflower (ship) Piligrims started to America 1640 first newspapers and religious

us schools 1638 witchhunting (puritans) North colonies Bradfofd, Anna Bradstrid, E. Taylor The Southern colonies - no attempt to think about literature and Vast plantations = no communication Negroe folklore - 17th century The language of Shakespeare 18th cent. American English is formed after the War of Independence 1774 4 july the declaration of independence

5.The second stage of American Enlightenment

F. Coopers Pathfinder, Deerstager E.A. Poe (1st writer who gained his living writing) wrote romances of 3 types 1. Tales of horror (anxiety, terror, passion); 2.detective stories (solving the puzzle) The gold-bug(1843); 3. science fiction(descry. fantastic situations) Nathaniel Hawthorne rich on symbolism (hypocrisy of puritan morality) The scarlet letter(1850) (she is cast out for adultery but she never gives up her life, pride an life of her daughter though the blame is on clcergyman). H. Melville first stories adventures Moby Dick( 1851) was rejected by both readers and critics dull A good state is like a ship with a captain. All people depend on him and his wisdom 6. The third stage of American Romanticism Walt Witman the 1st truly am. poet of the people Never received formal schooling worked in hospital during civil war Leaves of grass free verse, flowing rhythm like folk songs 4 themes of his poems 1 brotherhood; 2 equality; 3 human worth ();4 technical progress H.Melville Israel Polter H. Longfellow (taught foreign l-ges)continued the trad. of describing the life of Indians, gathered Indian legends Poems of slavory Translated Dantes Divine comedy. He wrote verse, drama, ballads, collected Indian poetry. Human ideal of equality

8. Abolitionist motives in Am. literature.

A. a movement with purpose to abolish institutions of slavery. Harriet Beecher Stove Uncle Toms cabin reflects the idea of slavery in the U.S. Lydia Child An appeal in favor of that class of americans called Africans shows the need of racial toleration. Organized school for shildren. Angelina & Sarah Grinecke published the lectures in the New York Anti slavery society. Elizabeth Cady Declaration of Sentiments, Womans declaration of independence, The womans Bible Harriet Jacobs Incidents in the life if a slave girl Harriet Wilson Frederick Douglas Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, an American slave

2 American Enlightenment B.Franklin Declaration of independence Style is formal, too many Latin long words biography his personal civic and political success Th. Jefferson a philosopher, thinker, politician declaration of Independence Bill of Rights Th. Paine a poet, self-taught & curious about everything. Pamphlets, political essays. Filippe Freneau a poet & a prose writer Poet of the American Revolution, sailor .. wrote for newspapers The wild honey suckle, The Indian burying ground (sitting not lying dead) The main idea native literature. National spirit was developed. Many women wrote sentimental love-stories

4 Early Romanticism 18 20s, 30s Doctrine America for Americans War between Mexica and south-west. Part of California, local wars between farmers Economical conflict caused by bourgeois system/ They tried to find something romantic common man, the primitive life noble savages independent life and heroic passages changing conflicts with hursh life and proclamated ideas romantic heroes rebels life struggle between vice & virtue writers bring judgement of the nation as a whole (parody, symbolism, grotesque, allegory, approach to life through emotions) Writers depicted strange and unusual Historical novel, fantastic novel, psychological novel typical American genres Romantic short stories & adventures, old ballads and epics of folklore of Indians The early romanticism against rationalism unity of world and god Washington Irwing founder of American short stories, brought European traditions into American life. He made Humorous stories of New York Events took place a 100 years ago but modern New York is easily recognized Sketch book, Tales of a traveler, The devil & Tom Walker - Tom J.F.Cooper The spy, The pioneers 1st am. novelist who looked at am. history as a tragedy of civilization. Message: everything that is best for nature has been lost

7. The poetry of Am. Romanticism 1. E.A. Poes poetry 2. Walt Witmans poetry Leaves of grass 3. H.Longfellow - Poems of slavory ballads, poems about Indians 4. Emily Dickinson lived in a village, never married, was close to nature, knew the bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology She never uses 2 words when 1 will do, she combines concrete things with abstract ideas, she explores the dark and hidden part of the mind, had a good sense of humor Success, Im nobody and who are you?, This is my letter to the world

10. Transcendentalism in American literature (late 50early 60) - reliance on intuition and conscience- philosophical romanticism. There was something that transcended human experience. Believed in living close to nature and taught dignity of manual labour. Every persons relation to God is a persons matter established directly by an individual rather than through the rituals of church. Human beings divine in their own right, brotherhood. Believed in democracy, intense individualism. Leader of movement Emerson tried to be a brave, upright man who must find or cut a straight pass to everything excellent on Earth. Nature- fresh and sincere To be a good minister is necessary to leave the church he said Henry David Thoreau - Walden, or life in the woods his poetry and philosophy, long poetic essay, challenges the reader to examine his or her life and live it authentically Influenced by Hindi and Buddhist philosophy 11 Late XIX early XX American literature. 1 regional literature 2 naturalism 3 critical realism 1 Writers retreated from national themes The Atlantic the most popular magazine Southern region Mark Twain Far West short story writers Bred Harte (a writer of the Gold Rush period, sharp contrast on human behavior) Mary Wilkins Freeman Sarah Jewett 2 Naturalism born in England and France, description in detail all dirty and unpleasant things Stephen Crane (military reporter) Maggie, the girl of the street prostitute commits suicide The blue boot, The red badge of courage Jack London Martin Eden a sailor who became a writer but commits suicide The call of the wind Th. Dreiser An American tragedy OHenry 3 critical realism after Civil war transformed from small agricultural country into huge and industrial

12 M. Twain. Novels. Pamphlets - father of national literature. First he tended to be too flowery, sentimental. His style based on vigorous, realistic, colloquial speech Adventures of Tom Soyer, Adventures of H. Finn, Life on Mississipi Adventures of Finn , , - , , Huck Finn a poor boy who decided who decided to follow the voice of his conscience and help a negro slave escape to freedom, even Heck thinks that this means that he will be damned to hell for breaking law Late XIX- early XX American literature. Novel U.S was transformed from a small, young, agricultural ex-colony to a huge, modern, industrial nation Stephen Crane Maggie, a girl of the streets a story of poor sensitive girl whose alcoholic parents fail her. She escaped cruel life and began to live with a young man who soon deserts her. Became prostitute, suicide Jack London Martin Eden a sailor who wanted to become a writer, worked a lot, but when he gained everything commits suicide. Dreiser- An American tragedy displays crushing authority. A portrait of American success, stresses of urbanization, modernization and alienation. A reflection of envy, poverty, despair and working people of America

Early XX poetry The Chicago school of poetry Carl Sandburg, Edgar Lee Masters, Lindsay developed realism, dramatic renderings that reached out to a larger readership. They are part of Midwestern or Chicago, School that arose before World War Ito challenge the East Coast literary establishment. The Chicago Renaissance was a watershed in American culture. it demonstrated that Americas interior had matured. H.Monroes poetry the most important literary magazine of the day Edgar Lee Masters Spoon River Analogy unpoetic colloquial style, frank presentation of sex, critical view of village life Carl Sandburg poet, historical, biographer, novelist, musician poem Chicago Lincolns biography Lindsay developed a hyper vaudeville using music and strong rhythm Robinson

H.Melville Moby dick, E.A. Poe

15 The lost generation writers 1914-1945 Never called themselves so. Main theme the importance of facing reality Fitzgerald his novels are full of biographical details. all his life he tried to bridge the gap between the rich and himself (was from ordinary people). couldnt get edulistic detailscation because of money, went to the army The great Gatsby Hemingway avoided stylistic devises in literature, rewieved his characters in simple dialogues. The writer may omit the things he knows and the reader will feel what is omitted A farewell to arms, The old man and the sea, For whom the bell tolls Strange years to America. Many people in W.W.I lost their American ideas. The fear of poverty and the worship of success Faulkner Sartoris re-creates the history of the land and the various races Indian, African-Americans and various mixtures who have lived on it. Experimented with voices, extremely long sentences full of complicated subordinate parts 18 oNeil The reformer of American theatre - often plays from England or translated from European languages - melodramas and plays about social problems were very popular - vaudeville appeared ONeil great figure of American theatre. His earliest dramas concearned the working class and the poor, later works explored subjective realms (obsessions and sex) Desire under the elms passion within one family Strange interlude Later plays The iceman cometh (the theme of death) Long Days journey into night autobiography, focuses on his family He redefined the theatre by abandoning traditional divisions into acts and scenes Nobel prize
20. Post war realism and naturalism The spoken world on television has given new life to oral tradition/ All writers explored the fate of individual within the family or community & focused on the balance between personal growth and responsibility. John Updike writer of manners Rabbit Run reflection of aimless disaffected young husband. Couples, The music school, poetry, essays, short stories. Th. Wilder Our town small country town, parents, children, love and

16 Early XX novel. Depression realism Social revolutionary movements, social criticism of J.London corruption of American government. But all this was stopped violently. Realism rebellion against small town life. Three major works of this rebellion. 1915- E. Masters- small town, unfulfilled life 1919 Anderson Winesburg, Ohio the stories are full of action, psychological movement, the life of soul. There are no happy people in the town, the loss of spiritual values 1920- Lewis Main street caricature and satire of small town life It cant happen here Steinbeck The grapes of wrath combines realism with a primitivist romanticism that finds virtue in poor farmers who live close to land Historical fiction became popular during the Great depression Gone with the wind Mitchel genre of western appeared, adventures of cowboys

17 War novel I. Show The young lions Meiler- very educated person, participated in war, wrote about it The naked and the dead D. Haidler

19 XX American drama American drama imitated the English and English theatre. democratic figures and clear contrasts between good and evil were popular. Plays about social problems such as slavery also drew large audiences. Vaudeville, minstrel shows, based on African-American music and folkways performed by white characters using blackface makeup ONeil (18 ) Th. Wilder Our town small country town, parents, children, love and death Miller dramatist, novelist, essayist, biographer Death of a salesman moving story of a common man to whom attention must be payed Williams her works focused on disturbed emotions and unresolved problems within one family A streetcar named desire Albee a series of nontraditional psychological works Who is afraid of Wirginia Woolf A delicate balance, Seascape reflected the authors own soul-searching
21American science fiction Kurt Vonnegut - a master of black humour - was a prisoner in Dresden (Germany), enjoyed playing with this form of popular fiction Player Piano, Mother nightt, Cats craddle invents a false religion which lies that many people are happy. Roy Bradbbyry 451 Fahrenheit

22 The southern writers XX c Explored the fate of individual within family or community and focused on balance between personal growth and responsibility of a group. Robert Penn Warren - showed a life-long concern with democratic values as they appeared within historical context All the kings men focused on darker implications of American dream as revealed in this thinly wailed account of career of a reporter and sinister southern senator. Shows how modern man suffers from loss of religious faith Allen Ginsburgh free form poetry, free style. His poetry almost always has a message defending drugtaking and homosexuality or attacking American society and politics. Used spontaneity in his poetry. Catherine Ann Porter perfect short stories, symbolic realism

death Salliger - The catcher in the rye, 9 stories James Jones From here to eternity
Naturalism the idea that art and literature should present the world and people just as science shows they really are.

23. The beat generation Allen Ginsburgh, Gregory Ceasy, Jack Kerouack. Beat poetry is oral, repetitive, effective in reading, the most anti established form of literature, a cry of pain and rage of what the poets see as the loss of Americas innocence and the tragic waste of human and material resources. Allen Ginsburgh often called a modern Whitman because he uses free-form poetry to praise free lifestyle. His poetry almost always has a message defending drugtaking and homosexuality or attacking American society and politics. Used spontaneity in his poetry. Jack Kerouack is influenced by the idea of spontaneity. Wrote the novel On the road in a few weeks a story of a group of beats who traveled westward across America. Symbolically it is a trip from the unfree city to the emotional, spiritual and physical freedom of the west. In the latest novels he also describes people on the road but their trip has a deeper, religious meaning. William Burroughs was a heroin addict. His novels are a complete dreamworld filled with terrible nightmares. He breaks up images, sentences and words and recombines them in new ways. Gregory Ceasy One flew over the kockoos nest Beats called themselves so because the felt beaten by society and because they liked strong beat of jazz. They lived today, enjoyed drugs, sex and wild trips. Capote Breakfast at Tiffanys, In cold blood analyses the brutal mass murder in the American Heartland that read like a work of detective fiction.

24. American comedy of ethnic minorities. Mexico-american, Spanish-Carribean population and PuertoRicans maintain vital and distinctive literary traditions. Mexico-american poetry has a rich oral tradition in the corrido or ballad form, very powerful when it red aloud. They can have Spanish & English words. Rodolpho Gonzales, Lorno Servantes, Cary Soto, Alberto Rios, Nicky Jouvani. This poetry is highly personal dealing with feelings and family members of community. Indian writers - Traditions of shamanistic song place a vital role in their cultural heritage. Simon Ortiz hard, hitting poems on history Roberta Hill Whiteman colloquial language stories about hunting Lyrical poems Loise Erdridge novelist dramas African american Amiri Barako novelist, poet, dramatist, polititian I know why the caged bird sings Toni Morrison Beloved, The song of Solomon, Alice walker womanist The color purple the story of love between 2 poor black sisters that survives the separation over years. It is interwoven with the story of how the shy, ugly and uneducated sister discovers inner strength through support of female friend ( )

25. American poetry of 50s -80s Recent directions in American poetry include the language poets loosely associated with Tembox magazine. Bruce Andrews They stretch language to reveal its potential, ambiguity, fragmentation and self-assertion with chaos. Ironic and postmodern, they reject ideologies, dogmas, conventions and doubt the existence of transcendent reality. They propose open forms and multicultural texts, appropriate images from popular culture, mass media and fashion. Performance oriented poetry, jazz improvisation, mixed media work and European surrealism have influenced many U.S. poets. Lory Anderson hit U.S. which uses video, acoustic and music choreography and space age technology. David Antin ethnic poetry entered the mainstream with rap music poetry slams open poetry reading contexts that are held on alternative art galleries and literary book stories. New formalists champion return to form, rhyme and meter. The formal school is associated with story-like-press