Introduction
As a society embraces modernization and technological advancements literature also experiencing changes. (Doren 47). Literature is a form of art that is used to depict society as the author sees it, or as the society ought to see it. Therefore it becomes imperative that as the world changes due to various factors, literature will also change because people’s experiences and perceptions also change. Literal work is a good source of studying various aspects of the society in the past.
However as new forms of literal styles and forms emerge, there is a higher risk that past literal works may be buried in oblivion. Most literal works in America, of the past centuries especially the minor ones, have been lost and are totally unavailable to the modern society. Most previous works of research have only concentrated on works by famous authors, although other minor authors may have also contributed significantly to the developments in literature that is visible in the contemporary America.
Literature is unique in terms of perception and presentation and therefore never grows old. Studying literature should be done in a way that allows for the comparison between literal styles of different ages and how they influenced by the events that took place. Therefore this paper will look at the American literature from the time of colonization by the Europeans, and how various events social and historical have shaped the American literature, making it unique among other literal works from other parts of the world. (Trent 36-58)
Colonial America
Before the advent of settlers from Europe, American literature was spread over the vast wilderness and the literature had no known identity or culture. However, with the coming of Europeans from diverse cultures and traditions, the American literature was molded into a distinct form of literature having unique characteristics and traditions that were able to respond to social and historical dynamics. The spirit of Americanism was born as the Europeans from different cultures underwent changes, being motivated by unlimited opportunities, and eventually giving birth to American culture. The emotion experienced by these settlers was that of Awe.
This can be seen in Scott Fitzgerald’s work when he wrote “The Great Gatsby.” The persona attempts to put himself in the place of the first Dutch settlers and imagines what they must have felt the moment they set foot in America. He says that they must have been awe struck at the sight of the continent, in comparison to where they were coming from and even the persona cannot comprehend the tranquility they must have felt. Most of the settlers had fled either persecution from Europe or were just looking for a new beginning and this newly found land gave them hope and imagination. During this period, literature attempted to define America and described the opportunities available.
After the establishment of the first printing press in 1539, literal works were found in form of letters, journal and short stories. During this period mush of literature was written by the puritans who wanted to establish their beliefs and traditions in America. Books in this period included: The Ten Muse Lately Sprung up in America by Anne Bradstreet in 1650, The Day of Doom by Michael Wigglesworth in 1662. Most authors were clergymen.
Post Colonial America
During this period authors had began to become more comfortable with America and this was evident in the diversity and boldness in their work. Authors were writing dramas, plays, fiction, and poetry and were even trying literal criticism. Although American writers, were still writing in styles they borrowed from Europe, it was evident that the events happening in America, such as expansion and slavery, were more influential. The plays depicted adaptations from the European styles and the novels that were similar to the gothic styles of Romantic writers. However, it was not long until American writers with distinct styles began to command recognition and respect from European writers.
The first American writer to be internationally recognized during this period was Washington Irving. Irving not only opened doors for other Americans in terms of appreciation and recognition, but also created market for American writers internationally. Irving was quickly followed by James Fenimore Cooper, who with his works such as the Leatherstocking Tales, helped to inform the world about the myths that existed in America and how that American landscape and culture could inspire poetry.
Another famous writer was Ralph Waldo Emerson who became materialistic in blending what was happening in Europe into the American literature. He was able to define American in terms of Romanticism thereby keeping American literature with developments in the world. Furthermore Emerson was also able to critic the religious beliefs of the previous Puritan writers. Writer in this period attempted to dismantle the Puritan ideas that had been grounded in Americans mind. Works in this period included Moby Dick by Herman Melville and works by Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau. (Bradbury and Richard 15).
Civil War
During this period, the American society experienced remarkable developments that transformed it from a simple agrarian society to a more sophisticated industrial society. However, the two mostly written events during this period were the civil war and World War 1. The events of the wars awakened American writers, who up to this period had adopted an outward approach of depicting the American society to the outside world, to a more inward approach that was aimed at reconciling Americans after the civil war. Writers began addressing democracy in their works because of the test that democracy had undergone during the civil war.
As a result realism was born. Writers influenced by the need to be realistic included Henry James and Mark Twain. There were also other writers who were influenced by naturalism and they included, Theodore Dreiser, Jack London and Stephen Crane. These writers having seen the repercussions of the civil war were more geared towards depicting the American society as it really was: the results of the technologically advancements on the social and economic rights of American and the inequalities that were emerging in the society. (Emerson 134).
1st and 2nd World War
The two wars brought a new aspect in the American society, which was: external aggression. This aspect prompted the American to meditate on their social and political standing from a global perspective. The result was that there emerged diverse philosophical belief in attempt to come up with a more modern America that would be influential in the globe. Consequently writers also began to be creative in an attempt to put American literature in the global map. Writers during this period included, William Faulkner, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost and Willa Cather. An example of a remarkable work was by Eliot whose poetic prose style in ‘The Waste Land’ was imitated by many European writers. (McDonald 96).
Conclusion
American literature began with the discovery of America and it has been sustained by continual rediscovery of Americans. American writers began humbly by describing the American landscape and the opportunities it offered. It later evolved to describing the American society and finally managed to place American literature in the global map. It is evident that American literature was greatly influenced by events that occurred in different periods in the society and it is for this reason that it becomes easy to analyze American literature in terms of events rather than by using different authors.
This is because the literature regardless of the fact that it was written by talented authors, these authors were influenced by the dynamics that the American society was going through. Therefore the fact that literature is a reliable way of studying history is greatly substantiated by the findings of this research.
Works Cited
Bradbury and Richard, Ruland. From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature. New York: Routledge, 1991.
Doren, Carl. American Literature: An Introduction. California: U.S. Library Association, Inc., 1933.
Emerson, Everett. American Literature, 1764-1789: The Revolutionary Years. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1977.
McDonald, Gail. American Literature and Culture, 1900-1960. New York: Black Publishing, 2006.
Trent, William. The Cambridge History of American Literature. London: Bibliolife, 2008.