American Literature Timeline Overview

Summary

This lecture provides an extensive overview of American literature from its origins to the 1860s, highlighting key literary movements and their historical contexts. It emphasizes the importance of understanding authors within their societal frameworks, discussing Puritanism, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and the influence of the Enlightenment. The lecturer also touches on the evolution of literature from utilitarian to entertainment, including the significance of Native American oral traditions and early slave narratives in shaping American literary identity.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture provides an overview of American literature from its earliest stages to the 1860s, focusing on the historical and cultural context of various literary movements and authors.
• 🕊️ The Native American period, prior to 1620, is characterized by oral traditions and stories, with variations in themes and characters across different tribes.
• 🌐 European exploration and early colonization introduced non-fiction writing, including journals, ship logs, and letters, which offer insights into early American myths and realities.
• 📜 The Puritan and colonial period emphasized religious influence, with literature dominated by utilitarian and instructive writings, including sermons and diaries.
• 🏛️ The Revolutionary period and early nationalism (around 1750 to 1815) saw a shift in writing to justify the American Revolution and explore the meaning of being American, influenced by Enlightenment ideals.
• 📖 Romanticism, overlapping with transcendentalism, celebrated individualism, nature, and imagination, with a blossoming of fiction, poetry, and short stories.
• 🌳 Transcendentalists believed in the inherent goodness of people and the importance of self-reliance, with many becoming abolitionists and prohibitionists.
• 👻 Gothic writers, on the other hand, were interested in fantasy and the supernatural, contrasting with the transcendentalist focus on rationalism and human potential.
• 📜 Slave narratives, ranging from 1770 to 1850, detailed the experiences of slaves, with early narratives focusing on religious redemption and later ones on the hardships of slavery and the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners.
• 📚 The lecture emphasizes the importance of considering the historical context in which authors wrote and how their works reflect or challenge the literary movements and societal norms of their time.
• 🔍 The course encourages students to think critically about the authors' intentions, the tensions between their works and the literary movements of their time, and the evolution of American literature towards the future.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the American Literature part one course?

The course focuses on an overview of American literature, examining the historical and cultural context of various literary movements and authors, and how they have evolved over time.

Why is it important to consider the context in which an author is writing?

Considering the context helps to understand the author's perspective and the influences on their work, including their reactions to past literary movements and their push towards future developments.

What does the instructor suggest about the perception of historical figures in the context of American literature?

The instructor suggests that historical figures, once considered heroes, may be viewed differently over time due to the discovery of problematic views such as racism or gender stereotypes.

What are the key literary movements covered in the American Literature part one course?

The course covers literary movements from the Native American period and European exploration to Romanticism, transcendentalism, and up to the Civil War period.

What is the significance of the 'pendulum' analogy mentioned in the script?

The 'pendulum' analogy signifies the swings in literary movements, where ideas and styles change dramatically from one extreme to another, reflecting the cultural and intellectual shifts of the time.

What is the role of oral traditions in the Native American period of literature?

Oral traditions in the Native American period were significant as they included songs and stories that were passed down through generations, often focusing on the sacredness of the natural world and the importance of land.

How does the script describe the transition from the European exploration period to the Puritanism and colonialism period in American literature?

The transition is marked by the establishment of colonies, such as the Jamestown Colony and the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, leading to the dominance of Puritan religious influence in literature.

What are some of the characteristics of the Puritan style in literature?

The Puritan style is characterized by its utilitarian and instructive nature, with an emphasis on plain and direct language, often focusing on religious themes and the importance of faith in daily life.

How does the script describe the shift in literature from the Revolutionary period to Romanticism?

The shift is marked by a move from highly ornate and rhetorical writing influenced by Enlightenment ideals to a focus on individualism, nature, imagination, and strong emotions, with a blossoming of fiction, poetry, and short stories.

What is the significance of the transcendentalist movement within the Romanticism period?

The transcendentalist movement within Romanticism emphasizes the inherent goodness of human nature, the importance of individualism, self-reliance, and the belief in an inner light or divine spark within each person.

How does the script address the issue of slave narratives in American literature?

The script addresses slave narratives as an important part of American literature, discussing their evolution from early pamphlets focusing on religious redemption to later works highlighting the hardships of slavery and the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to American Literature

The script begins with an introduction to an American Literature course, emphasizing the importance of understanding authors and their works within their historical and cultural contexts. The lecturer encourages students to consider how past authors, despite potentially problematic views, were influenced by and reacted to the literary movements and societal norms of their time. A timeline of American literature is outlined, starting from pre-1620 Native American and European exploration periods, moving through Puritanism, the Revolutionary era, early nationalism, Transcendentalism, Romanticism, and leading up to the Civil War. The course will cover these periods, highlighting the evolution of American literature up to the 1860s.

05:01

🌐 Native American Literature and Early Colonization

This section delves into the Native American period of literature, focusing on oral traditions, songs, and stories with variations across tribes. It discusses the influence of ethnographers and missionaries in recording these narratives, as well as the themes of nature's sacredness and the importance of land. The paragraph also covers European exploration and early colonization, characterized by non-fiction writings like journals, ship logs, and letters that provide insight into the realities of the time. These writings often served utilitarian purposes, detailing the experiences and challenges faced by explorers and colonists.

10:03

🏛 Colonial Period and Puritan Influence

The script moves into the colonial period, dominated by Puritan literature that emphasized religious faith and daily life. Puritans are portrayed with a mix of enjoyment of life and serious religious conviction, leading to works that were utilitarian and instructive, such as sermons, diaries, and personal narratives. The plain Puritan style is noted, as well as the emergence of poetry that depicted romantic feelings and the importance of family. The paragraph also touches on misconceptions about Puritans and their actual beliefs and practices.

15:06

🗽 Revolutionary Period and Early Nationalism

The Revolutionary period is highlighted for its role in shaping American literature, with writers justifying the American Revolution and exploring the meaning of being American. The shift from the Age of Faith to the Age of Reason is discussed, with literature becoming more ornate and rhetorical. The utilitarian nature of writing during this time is noted, with examples such as The Federalist Papers and the Autobiography of Ben Franklin. The paragraph also mentions the emergence of the novel as a genre and the influence of European philosophers on American thought.

20:07

📖 Romanticism and Transcendentalism

This paragraph explores the Romanticism period, which saw a rise in fiction, poetry, and a celebration of individualism, nature, and imagination. Transcendentalists are discussed in detail, with their belief in the inherent goodness of people and the divine spark within. The paragraph touches on the connection between transcendentalist beliefs and movements like abolitionism and prohibition. It also contrasts this with Gothic literature, which had an interest in fantasy and the supernatural, mentioning authors like Edgar Allan Poe and works like 'Walden' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.

25:09

📜 Slave Narratives and Their Impact

The final paragraph discusses the history and evolution of slave narratives, from early pamphlets focusing on religious redemption to later works emphasizing the hardships of slavery and the hypocrisy of Christian slave owners. It notes the shift in focus from the 1700s to the Civil War era and beyond, with narratives increasingly calling for the end of slavery and supporting abolition. The impact of these narratives on society and literature is highlighted, with examples of influential works like '12 Years a Slave' and the narratives of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs.

Keywords

💡American Literature

American Literature refers to the body of written works produced in the United States. It encompasses a wide range of genres and styles, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and historical experiences. In the video, the theme of American Literature is explored through various literary movements and historical contexts, highlighting its evolution over time.

💡Historical and Cultural Context

Historical and cultural context refers to the social, political, and cultural environment in which a literary work is created. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the context in which authors wrote, as it influences their perspectives and the themes they explore, such as the impact of the Revolutionary War or the Age of Reason on early American writers.

💡Puritanism

Puritanism was a religious reform movement in the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to 'purify' the Church of England from its 'Catholic' practices. In the script, Puritanism is mentioned as a dominant influence in early American literature, characterized by a focus on God, faith, and moral conduct in daily life.

💡Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the early 19th century, emphasizing the inherent goodness of people and the importance of the individual, nature, and self-reliance. The video describes how transcendentalist writers, such as Thoreau, contributed to American literature by advocating for abolitionism and prohibition, and by exploring themes of individualism and the divine spark within.

💡Romanticism

Romanticism is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century. It is characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism, as well as glorification of the past and nature. The script discusses Romanticism in the context of American literature, noting its influence on the inclusion of fiction, poetry, and the celebration of strong emotions and imagination.

💡Slave Narratives

Slave narratives are accounts of the experiences of enslaved individuals, often detailing their capture, enslavement, and efforts to gain freedom. The video script mentions slave narratives as an important genre in American literature, particularly highlighting works like 'Frederick Douglass' narratives' and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' which contributed to the abolitionist movement and explored the tension between American ideals and the reality of slavery.

💡Realism and Naturalism

Realism and Naturalism are literary movements that emerged in the late 19th century, focusing on the truthful representation of everyday life and the impact of social and environmental conditions on individuals. The script briefly touches on these movements as the next phase in American literature following Romanticism, indicating a shift towards a more objective portrayal of society.

💡Modernism

Modernism is an artistic and literary movement characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing, often experimenting with new techniques and forms. The video places the modernism period in American literature between World War I and World War II, suggesting it as a time of significant change and experimentation in literary styles and themes.

💡Post-Modernism

Post-Modernism is a broad movement that developed in the mid- to late 20th century, reacting against the assumptions of Enlightenment thinking and modernism. It is known for its pluralism, skepticism, and self-reference. The script indicates that the post-modern period in American literature came after World War II, marking a continuation of the evolution of literary thought and expression.

💡Literary Movements

Literary movements refer to a group of writers and philosophers who share common ideas about literature and style. The video script outlines several literary movements, such as Puritanism, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and others, to provide a timeline and thematic understanding of how American literature has developed and changed over time.

💡Oral Traditions

Oral traditions are cultural expressions, stories, and histories passed down from one generation to the next through spoken language. The script describes the Native American period of American literature as being rich with oral traditions, which were later transcribed and translated by ethnographers, missionaries, and Native Americans themselves after colonization.

Highlights

Introduction to American Literature Part One, starting with the first lecture in the series.

The importance of considering the historical and cultural context of authors and their works.

The challenge of viewing authors through a modern lens, acknowledging their potential problematic views.

The concept of literary movements as a pendulum swing between opposing ideas.

Timeline overview of American literature, from pre-1620 Native American period to contemporary periods.

Native American literature's focus on oral traditions and the sacredness of the natural world.

European exploration and early colonization's impact on literature, including journals and ship logs.

The Puritan and colonial periods' emphasis on religious influence and the plain Puritan style.

The Revolutionary period's focus on justifying the American Revolution and early nationalism.

The shift to ornate writing and the use of rhetoric in the post-Revolutionary period.

The emergence of the novel as a genre and its utilitarian purpose in the early years of the United States.

Romanticism's celebration of individualism, nature, and imagination in contrast to the Age of Reason.

Transcendentalism's belief in the inherent goodness of man and the importance of self-reliance.

Gothic literature's interest in fantasy and the supernatural as a counterpoint to Transcendentalism.

The significance of early slave narratives in shaping the abolitionist movement and public opinion.

The evolution of slave narratives from religious redemption to a focus on civil rights and societal change.

The complex nature of literary works, which often combine elements from multiple movements.

The enduring impact of literature on societal views and the importance of understanding its context.

Transcripts

hi everyone and welcome to American

Literature part one this is the first

lecture in our series and we're going to

be looking at an overview of American

literature so let's get started

before I get into the timeline and then

I explain each different literary

movement I want you to think about what

is going to be one of the driving

questions for our course our authors and

their Works cannot be seen in isolation

so I think we have a tendency as I'm

recording this in 2020 there's a lot of

issues about the past and people who

um were thought of as wonderful people

and heroes of American History or

American literature and then as we look

back at them we say well look this

person did some things well but they

also had very racist views or maybe they

believed in gender stereotypes or maybe

they

um were in some way sort of problematic

but what I want you to do for this

course is think about the context in

which the author is writing many of the

authors even though they're not quite as

Progressive or open-minded or tolerant

as we are today

we're really ahead of their time so

we're going to be talking about for each

book the historical and cultural context

in which the author is writing so what

literary movement or school of thought

came before what literary movement or

school of thought is the author a part

of as they write how are there some

tensions between the author and these

literary movements of the past or

during the time when they're writing and

then how are they reacting to the past

and their current time to push forward

into the future if you think of this

idea of like a pendulum swinging from

one end to the other a lot of times

we'll have a literary movement that

starts here and then people are like no

those thoughts and ideas are horrible

and we're gonna swing over in this

direction and then sometimes people

swing right back right so that is

basically one of

to erase that that's basically one of

the thoughts that I'd like you to keep

in mind where were we where are we and

where are we going for each of the books

that we are going to be reading

so let's take a look at the Timeline I'm

going to go through each one of these

literary movements and describe it in

more detail but just so you have a

general overview

pre-1620 for American literature that's

going to be the Native American period

and European exploration so really

before the colonies were fully

established

1492 Columbus arriving in the Bahamas

1607 the Jamestown Colony being

established

and then the Mayflower Landing in 1620

kind of moves us into our next period of

puritanism and colonialism

now

after that period

um coming into the American Revolution

we have the Revolutionary

um and early nationalism sometimes this

is also called The Age of Reason last

till about 1815 and then we begin oh

there we go the Revolutionary War took

place and then also after the world of

1812 which would be that early

nationalism period

then in around 1830 to 1860 we have

transcendentalism

which kind of happens around the same

time as Romanticism so when we get to

those we'll talk about how they have

some similar features

at the same time

from the 1770s to the 1860s we also see

a lot of slave narratives and we'll be

reading one of those for this course we

of course then have the Civil War taking

place

1861-1865 and that is where the first

half of the the pair of American

literature classes this is where our

class will end

so American literature part one at our

school goes from the beginnings to the

1860s part two picks up after the 1860s

and then we see realism and naturalism

um up here we see the modernism period

during World War One really from World

War one through the Great Depression and

up until World War II and then after

World War II is the post-modern period

so if you're interested

um after this course what you've learned

about the literature the culture The

History of the United States you can

continue and take American lit too as

well

but let's just focus on the literary

movements that we'll be covering

oh I forgot about the Contemporary

period

some people think we're still in

post-modernism and some people think

that it's a little bit different but

that's that's a question for for

American lit 2 to answer

all right so our Native American period

is really before 1620 although there is

obviously Native American literature

taking place throughout the history of

the country but this particular study

features a lot of oral traditions of

songs and stories the original authors

were unknown the written accounts

actually come after colonization so what

happens is that you have a number of

ethnographers people who are interested

in culture and also some missionaries

who are going out into

um interacts with the Native American

tribes

and some Native Americans themselves who

learn English or French or another

European language and begin to translate

some of their songs and stories what

ends up happening is that you have a lot

of differences between these stories

because they are oral Traditions so

creation stories such as myths and

totems if you look up

for example

Native American creation story and let's

say you're you're looking at a

particular tribe

um you can find websites you can find

things on YouTube you can find

um various depictions of the same story

and they'll all be quite different and

then you can read the YouTube comments

about people arguing that that's not the

story that they learned because they're

they're coming from the oral traditions

we have an archetype of trickster or

conjurer a lot of times in those stories

so those

songs and stories

focus on the natural world as being

sacred the importance of land and place

and again as I said the variations

entails so characters settings and

themes that might be between different

tribes or races

there are just some pictures the

trickster coyote a trickster is an

interesting character that's kind of a

moral

um

they can get away with things that

regular people can't because they're

outside of morality but they're not evil

necessarily

creation folk tales

and

um this is just a depiction of New York

the Six Nations homelands prior to the

colonists coming in

so you can see the Algonquin the Mohawk

the Oneida the Oneonta the Cayuga and

the Seneca

so also at this point you have European

exploration and early colonization so

this featured a lot of non-fiction

writing things like journals shiplogs

letters military records and reports

um and they come from really a wide

variety of sources now if you're

interested in this

I used to teach these things but I think

that they're much more fitting for an

American history course and a lot of

times our history classes will look at

primary sources so things that came from

the time period like journals and

shipblocks and letters and you can

really see the truth behind a lot of the

American myths so what was Columbus's

Voyage really like why was he taken back

to Spain in Chains and who was bartolome

De La Casas and how did he play a role

in what happened to Columbus and after

how were the natives really treated when

they first came into the Caribbean

um not well but you can get a lot of

detail from those writings there's a lot

of information

about what life was like back then for

example from the Diary of Cortez what

did he see why was he traveling to the

area he was traveling what was he trying

to find or accomplish

um Native American responses to attacks

and invasions and they really focused on

preserving the memories of their

experiences communicating their

experience to others who may follow or

who may provide financial support

um so for example

when you look at a ship log

um or a journal or a diary from that

time they were they had patrons who were

sending them out on these Journeys so

some of their writing is to tell their

patrons hey here are the riches of the

land and sometimes how we can exploit

them and

um and to get information to them for

further financial support distance

difficulties in communicating over time

and distance because they were gone for

quite longer periods of time

that is

um a picture I wish it was labeled this

is a picture of various

Journeys to the New World by different

um Explorers so you can see Cartier

Columbus

Vespucci Hudson

um all different places that they that

they went

um that's a depiction of

explorers needing a tribe of Native

Americans for the first time you can see

that they're putting up a cross that

they have the three ships

um of Legend and that they're being

given things

the New England Sabbath in the winter

going to Sunday

church and again some of their some of

their roots

all right and then we come into the

colonial periods this is really where

our class

um at least this semester that I'm

recording this this is where our class

is going to pick up newly arrived

colonists who create Villages and towns

that establish new governments while

protesting the old ways in Europe these

people were religiously oppressed by

kings and queens who enforce their

religious beliefs on to their people

literature of the period was really

dominated by the Puritans and their

religious influence with an emphasis on

God and the need for faith in daily life

now there's a lot of um misconceptions

about Puritans and it's interesting

because we'll also be looking at a book

that depicts Puritans um a couple

hundred years later but the Puritans

really it's not that they didn't enjoy

life because they did they have poetry

that describes a lot of the Romantic

feelings toward each other they have

poetry about you know the love the

romantic love between husbands and wives

and things of that nature

but they also had some other beliefs

that

um made them seem quite a bit more

serious and many of them were

that they needed to show their faith in

their daily lives

um by

doing acts of good service

which then led to them sort of

criticizing some of the people that they

did not feel were doing these things

which then in turn led to the witch

trials and some of the things that

they're a little bit more famous for but

writing a lot of their writing was

utilitarian and instructive sermons

Diaries personal narratives and they

were known for the plain Puritan style

so being simple and direct they also did

have some poetry and stories but all of

these had a religious emphasis

um this is a depiction of sinners in the

hand of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards

um up there and people are falling down

and fainting and wanting to be saved as

he as he preaches

there it is

um and Bradstreet wrote quite a bit of

poetry

and her work really shows what it was

like to be a Puritan woman at that time

so concerns about religion but also her

family her domestic sphere her children

um some of the children that she lost

and the Heartbreak over that and the um

struggles of trying to do good in the

world which is something that I think

everybody can relate to

the revolutionary period from about 1750

to about 1815 as I said during the

Revolutionary War and then also through

the war of 1812. a lot of the writers in

this period explain or Justify the

American Revolution

just after the revolution this period

becomes known as early nationalism and

writers begin to ponder what it means to

be an American so some of the books that

we are reading fall into this period and

one of them

will have a lot more of a European

flavor because America is such a newly

formed Nation

um the other book that we're going to be

looking at really is considered

um an important part of American

literature because it has more of an

American feel so it's set in very

distinct part of the newly formed United

States and there are so still in both

books some of these themes what does it

mean to be American

um what do we have

to look at in terms of Faith versus

reason and not that those things can't

go together but reason in science as

opposed to just faith alone

um philosophy political science even

though we're looking at fictional works

these are still important themes to

consider so influenced by these

Enlightenment ideals colonists by the

end of the 18th century try to establish

a new and revolutionary political order

based on Democratic principles and

writing begins to shift from being plain

and straightforward to highly ornate so

a lot of the people during this time are

using rhetoric

rhetorical strategies to argue or to

persuade and even in fiction some of

these rhetorical devices are still used

um many

many people are still writing things

that are considered utilitarian so

things that are meant for specific use

pamphlets speeches letters the first

book that we're going to look at is a

seduction novel so the the utilitarian

purpose

in Charlotte Temple is to help young

women not be seduced right that's kind

of the purpose and the author's message

is going to be a lot more important to

her than the in some ways than the

actual story itself

by the time we get to the book Wieland

by Charles Brockton Brown he has a lot

of philosophical themes relating to

early nationalism and

um kind of the opposition of the Age of

Reason versus the previous Age of Faith

but

he also is much more concerned about the

story and his book is a lot more

Americans said Pennsylvania

um and we start pushing into the next

period of literature later on with

romanticism

so here are some of the other works on

The Federalist Papers you may have

looked at high school the autobiography

of Ben Franklin they were influenced by

people like Rousseau and Voltaire

philosophers like uh is depicted down

here and we begin

to have the novel come up as its own

separate genre but again as I said it's

still kind of for a purpose just telling

a story isn't going to be enough at

least not for people during that period

of time and then we come to Romanticism

which kind of overlaps a little bit

which is why Charles Brockton Brown's

novel kind of falls in the middle

um

as it was published in 1798.

um the writing here begins to include

more fiction and poetry there are much

fewer philosophical

and political Treatise by this time the

nation is formed and literature starts

to be a form of entertainment so it's

not just seen as being used for

political or religious or educational

purposes which really would have been

important to the Puritans especially to

um two movements before the Puritans

would have thought that fiction

might be considered lies and therefore

it might be evil in some ways so poetry

is okay as an established art form and

as a way to express emotions a lot of

the poems of that period as I said were

about daily life some of them are like

interpretations or thoughts on on pieces

of scripture but

that is the countries coming together a

lot of the thinkers were really focused

on

um how can we find political freedom and

now we have a little bit of room to

breathe so we can uh have really this

philosophical reaction against those

previous decades where reason and

rational thought and also

um the the religious aspect really

dominated the works and they start to

celebrate individualism nature

imagination creativity intuition and a

focus really on strong emotions so

understanding

before Freud a little bit of that

psychology why do we think the way that

we do we have a lot of symbolism

in these works and a complete

blossoming of short stories novels

poetry and most of the books that we're

going to be looking at are from this

particular period

um in part because they're more

interesting and there's a little bit

more to talk about and also in part

because as I said a lot of the

non-fiction works you'll look at in a

history course

so the subsets of Romanticism

transcendental

um transcendentalist writers have a

belief that man's nature is inherently

good that all people have within them a

Divine spark or an inner light that

produces individualism and therefore we

should be self-reliant many of these

writers became abolitionists and

prohibitionists because

slavery denied the Divine spark enslaves

and so they said look these are people

many of whom have become people of faith

and many of whom have taught themselves

how to write how to write their own

they've written slave narratives

describing their experiences

and their quest for freedom and slavery

is denying this in people and therefore

it is a bad institution that we should

abolish we should get rid of it

in terms of prohibition

they felt that alcohol LED people away

from their Inner Light so it dulls the

senses it makes people act strange or

funny it does not help them come to a

better version of themselves

the

transcendentalists have a lot of other

beliefs as well but we'll get to that

when we talk about those particular

writers

Gothic writers kind of on the opposite

end another type of Romanticism they

have an interest in fantasy and the

supernatural so the book that I

mentioned before we lived by Charles

Brockton Brown he does have an interest

in rationalism in the Age of Reason he

also has an interest in fantasy in the

Supernatural so you can see both of

these kind of competing for our

attention throughout his book it's

really interesting the evil thoughts of

man

which contrasted with the

transcendentalists who really looked at

the

um the benefits of mankind the great

works that they are capable of so when

we get into

a book like

um Walden by Henry David Thoreau is a

transcendentalist book he would have

considered himself a transdentalist he's

talking a lot about nature and a lot

about individualism and self-reliance a

book like

um Uncle Tom's Cabin has some

transcendentalist themes but also a lot

of other shades of Romanticism

particularly a type of writing called

sentimentality which we will discuss

when we get to that book

so my point is that a lot of these

writers you can you can see just by a

few examples that I've given you they're

not just all one thing

um Frederick douglass's work is a slave

narrative he has some transcendentalist

beliefs

um it seems he has some features of his

writing that are romantic and others

that are a lot more realistic which kind

of pushes forward into the next

phase of American writing with realism

so

um yeah so look you know look at that

pendulum and where people are and what

aspects of these that they're using

um here are some quotes from

transcendentalists do not go where the

path may lead go instead where there is

no path and leave a trail

I went into the woods because I wish to

live deliberately and to

front only the essential Facts of Life

and see if I could not learn what it had

to teach and not when I came to die

discover that I had not lived

um Edgar Allan Poe would fall into the

gothic realm of this particular literary

movement The Scarlet Letter is also a

romantic book many people have heard of

that one as is Moby Dick

some of the some of the classics there

so early slave narratives were really

printed as books or short pamphlets and

again

um

it's saying 1770 to 1850 when we get to

reading Frederick Douglass we'll talk

about how that really went on until the

1950s where people who had

um then were quite elderly but who had

been slaves gave a lot of their

narratives to talk about their

experiences but the early narratives in

the 1700s were really short books or

pamphlets they focused on religious

Redemption moving from paganism to

Christianity most of the writers were

born in Africa unlike some of the later

books where people were born in the

colonies or born in the United States

and some described leaving of their own

free will and being grateful for the

opportunity to come to the new world and

be converted to Christianity I want to

be really clear that some or many of

these writers may have been coerced

um they there's also some who were

really in indentured servitude so before

the laws of slavery changed

um indentured servitude would not have

been unusual in other countries where

people were taken captive and held for a

period of years or if they were in debt

in some way or they pledged themselves

to work for so many years before being

let go

so the early slave narratives a lot of

people now see them as kind of

problematic but they're very interesting

to study to see

um and try to figure out what exactly

what was going on other narratives

describe being in Africa before being

kidnapped and held again almost as

prisoners of War

later on

they focused on the hardships of slavery

being both American and captive

Frederick Douglass has a wonderful

um speech in addition to his books

called what to a slave is the Fourth of

July that really exemplifies this

um

tension uh I am an American but I'm not

an American I am in a country that says

that there should be freedoms and yet I

am not free they focus on what readers

can do to change themselves in their

society and they really demonstrate the

hypocrisy between Christian words and

the actions of the slave owners they

were

beginning to increase in popularity and

we're more widely published particularly

as we lead up to the Civil War as

um

people

as people became more passionate about

ending slavery

they gave way to also fictional novels

and poems in the slave narrative style

that further supported abolition so

Uncle Tom's Cabin which we'll be reading

is an interesting book because again as

many of these in some ways it was really

ahead of its time arguing for the

abolition of slaves and in other ways

she

um still has some some racist beliefs

that are not in keeping with our time

today but would have been part of the

belief system and schools of thought in

which she was living

but she really drew a lot from various

slave narratives to develop that story

and we'll talk about

um the the real life of some of the

people that inspired her characters as

well they continued as I said as after

slavery ended well into the 1950s more

and more people who had been born into

slavery were willing and able to tell

their stories and the focus at that

point was civil rights and further

progress so yes we came ahead of slavery

but we are in a situation where we're

not allowed to live in certain

neighborhoods we're not allowed to go to

certain schools we're not allowed to

vote even though

um technically on paper we should be

allowed to vote right so

um that particular writing project had a

very large impact

so here are some examples

um

these are some early ones

12 Years a Slave you may have heard of

there's Frederick Douglass

and that's Harriet Jacobs who wrote

um Diary of a slave girl

oops

okay so that is the basic overview

um I hope that you have a pretty good

idea of some of the features to look for

with different books that we're going to

be reading and as we go into each book

we'll be talking more about how they fit

into these literary Traditions so I just

wanted to give you a good overview of

what those Traditions were and the

timeline and I am interested to see your

thoughts on our first