NAV - Literary Time Periods

Literary Time Periods

American Literature is divided into Literary Time Periods based on the time in history, themes, purpose, and style of writing. Many of the literary periods mirror larger literary periods that were occurring in Europe, but American Literature also branches off into its own unique styles.

American literature traces the path of American narrative, fiction, poetry, and drama as they move from pre-colonial times to the present day. The first literary works of the English-speaking people of North America consisted mostly of journals, sermons, and histories. Poets such as Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor also emerged.

Much of the literature in our country also reflects what was going on at that particular time. The literature of the Rationalists represents their desire to be free from the rule of England. Our founding fathers expressed these feelings in political documents and persuasive speeches.

Romanticism saw the first short story evolve. The father of the mystery story, Edgar Allan Poe, captured his readers through his use of remote settings and psychologically deranged characters. The Transcendentalists often referred to as the first, true hippies, recorded their beliefs about nature and individualism through essays and poetry.

The Civil War dominated the thoughts of America and its writers during the Realism time period. It was a time when fiction represented real-life events, and regionalism and naturalism made their entrance. The rights of women and African Americans were also predominant themes found in literature in the late 1800s.

The turn of the century saw a new focus in literature. Themes such as the American Dream and literature that represented the thoughts and feelings of Americans during World War I were popular.

New styles of poetry appeared with imagist poetry and free verse. Modernism moved away from more traditional themes and styles found in earlier literature.

Postmodernism, which consists of literature written after 1950 through the present day, reflects more multi-cultural literature and literature written by women. Dramas became even more prevalent, and science fiction displayed a changing technological world.

Please view the Literary Time Periods Chart located to the right for additional information on the time periods in American literature.

Below, you will find a review of the American Literary Time Periods. Spend time familiarizing yourself with these terms, as the ideas govern the whole of American Literature.

 

Literary Time Periods Self-Assessment

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.