Overview of the American Literary Timeline

Summary

This video offers a concise overview of the American literary timeline, exploring key periods from the Colonial era to contemporary writing. It begins with the instructive Puritan literature of the Colonial Period, transitions to the patriotic themes of the Enlightenment, and highlights the imaginative spirit of the Romantic Period. The Realistic Period responds to the aftermath of the Civil War, while the Modern Period challenges traditional norms, influenced by World War I. Finally, the video hints at the evolution of contemporary literature, setting the stage for deeper explorations of each literary period.

Takeaways

• 📜 The American literary timeline begins with the Colonial Period (1660-1776), characterized by Puritan writing that emphasizes instructive themes related to religion, ethics, and survival.
• ✊ The Colonial Period ends with the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which leads to the Enlightenment Period (1776-1825), focusing on patriotism and the formation of a national identity.
• 🌟 The Enlightenment writing promotes American values and political agreement rather than religious instruction, paralleling the quest for a new American character.
• 🎨 The Romantic Period (1825-1865) shifts focus from political themes to imaginative freedom, celebrating spontaneity and nature while increasing fiction and poetry.
• 🖋️ Transcendentalism (1835-1860) emerges within the Romantic movement, highlighting individual conscience and a closer relationship with nature, rejecting materialism.
• ⚔️ The Civil War (1861-1865) marks the end of the Romantic Period and the beginning of the Realistic Period (1865-1910), characterized by honest portrayals of ordinary life.
• 💔 Realism responds to the devastation of the Civil War, focusing on dark themes and rejecting the melodrama of Romanticism in favor of everyday experiences.
• 🌍 The Realistic Period concludes with the onset of World War I (1914-1918), giving way to the Modern Period (1890-1945), defined by disillusionment and a break from traditional norms.
• 💡 The Modern Period features experimental writing techniques, including stream of consciousness and existentialism, exploring new perspectives and audience relationships.
• 🌆 The Harlem Renaissance (1918-1930) and The Lost Generation (1918-1930s) are significant subgenres that arise during the Modern Period, shaping contemporary literature.

Q & A

What is the timeframe of the Colonial Period in American literature?

The Colonial Period lasts from 1660 to 1776.

What are the primary characteristics of Puritan writing during the Colonial Period?

Puritan writing is instructive in nature, focusing on nonfiction literature that reinforces church authority and emphasizes themes of ethics, responsibilities, and survival.

What major historical event marks the end of the Colonial Period?

The Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775 to 1783, marks the end of the Colonial Period.

What themes are prominent in the Enlightenment Period (1776-1825)?

Prominent themes include growing patriotism, the formation of a national identity, and a focus on political and philosophical issues.

How does the Romantic Period (1825-1865) differ from the Enlightenment Period?

The Romantic Period shifts focus from political and philosophical themes to imagination, spontaneity, and the exploration of nature and individual freedoms.

What subgenres emerged during the Romantic Period?

Two notable subgenres that emerged during this period are the Gothic subgenre and Transcendentalism.

What is Transcendentalism and when did it occur?

Transcendentalism is an American philosophical and spiritual movement that occurred from 1835 to 1860, emphasizing the individual conscience and a close relationship with nature.

What historical events are encompassed by the Realistic Period (1865-1910)?

The Realistic Period encompasses the Civil War, the Reconstruction era, and the early years of the Jim Crow era.

What distinguishes Realism from Romanticism?

Realism aims for honest and accurate portrayals of ordinary life, rejecting the sensationalism and melodrama characteristic of Romantic literature.

What are the main characteristics of the Modern Period (1890-1945)?

The Modern Period is marked by disillusionment from World War I, experimentation with narrative forms, and philosophical exploration, including existentialism.

What notable subgenres arose during the Modern Period?

Notable subgenres during the Modern Period include the Harlem Renaissance and The Lost Generation.

What event signifies the transition to Contemporary Writing?

World War II (1939-1945) signifies the transition to Contemporary Writing.