Now that you have (or nearly have) completed American Literature I, I want you to think about the ancestry and heritage of American writers. We’ve talked a lot about how writers “speak” to one another; literature is a conversation as texts interact with others, and art reflects or mirrors the values of society. With that in mind, which two writers between 1620 and 1865 would you argue are the most important and influential for the development of American literature? Why? What key components and influences are factors in your decision, and what traits or markers lead you to that conclusion? One writer should be prominent before or during the American Revolution, and the other must fall between the American Revolution and the Civil War. You must draw connections between those writers and other writers of the era, examine social and political lenses, and clearly link the influencing writers to the prominent values of American literature.

Now that you have (or nearly have) completed American Literature I, I want you to think about the ancestry and heritage of American writers. We’ve talked a lot about how writers “speak” to one...

Now that you have (or nearly have) completed American Literature I, I want you to think about the ancestry and heritage of American writers. We’ve talked a lot about how writers “speak” to one another; literature is a conversation as texts interact with others, and art reflects or mirrors the values of society. With that in mind, which two writers between 1620 and 1865 would you argue are the most important and influential for the development of American literature? Why? What key components and influences are factors in your decision, and what traits or markers lead you to that conclusion? One writer should be prominent before or during the American Revolution, and the other must fall between the American Revolution and the Civil War. You must draw connections between those writers and other writers of the era, examine social and political lenses, and clearly link the influencing writers to the prominent values of American literature.

Apr 20, 2021