Introduction
American literature is famous for many outstanding authors who have influenced modern culture’s development. Throughout our lives, we read books, but only some highlight for themselves the most important aspects that affect the impression of the author. In this essay, I will analyze five authors who not only impressed me but are indeed proud representatives of American culture.
Discussion
We start with Mark Twain, whose writings have had such a profound impact on the world that he is practically the father of American literature. The author’s secret lies in his innovation, which he patented during his active writing career, demonstrating his individuality. In his works, he uses dialects: “I risk two-and-a-half she don’t [survive] anyway” (Twain, 1872, p. 105) because he created his style, reflecting the author’s position and the American mentality. His works speak powerfully to me because he wrote pieces for ordinary people, combining humor and morality, glorifying American literature worldwide, and becoming an increasingly influential author.
The following authors I find essential to consider are Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, as they have also influenced American literature and are its representatives, but they are entirely different people. These two authors can be called opposites that attract and represent an exciting pair for comparative characteristics. Like the heroes of the works, the author enriches the soul of readers: “You furnish your parts toward eternity,/ Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul” (Whitman, 1892, lines 130-32). The author encouraged and reformed the literary language without fear of expanding the scope of American poetry and experimenting. At the same time, Dickinson is called a melancholic and private person; some even call her a dark poet. These sentiments can be seen in some lines, such as: “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” (Dickinson, 1961, line 1). She may have been well known after her death, but her importance for developing American literature has not diminished. These authors sound entirely different, but to me, they enrich the soul, so they play a powerful role in my perception of literature with whom I feel a personal connection.
The last two authors we consider are Thomas Stearns Eliot and Henry James, representatives of complex American literature. Eliot can rightly be called an intellectual who deals with rather difficult themes in his works and uses complex epithets that the reader can interpret differently. A notable example of this phenomenon is the famous line: “This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper” (Eliot, 1925, lines 97-98). In this passage, we can notice the notes of modernism inherent to the author, who developed this direction in American culture. James is also interested in the complexity of his writing but is known for his rich language and good erudition. The author adhered to moral and ethical ideals, as seen here: “Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost” (James, 1884, p. 585). Both authors were intellectuals who glorified American literature as something aesthetic and profound, and the meaning of their writings reflects contemporary society. Reading these works is valuable because they touch upon simple truths that humanity sometimes forgets and high themes that are important in literature and connected to each human being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my chosen authors impressed my perception of American literature’s global development and popularization. Each brought something new to the cultural world and declared America a country with talented people. All authors present aspects in poetry or prose. They are people who can understand the multifaceted nature of American culture as a whole and draw personal conclusions in life, including those relevant to modern generations.
References
Dickinson, E. (1961). Final harvest: Emily Dickinson’s poems. Little, Brown & Co.
Eliot, T. S. (1925). The hollow men. Glencoe Literature British Literature.
James, H. (1884). The art of fiction. Longman’s Magazine 4.
Twain, M. (1872). The notorious jumping frog of Calaveras county. George Routledge & Sons.
Whitman, W. (1892). Song of myself. Leaves of Grass.