utline of ‘RICAN TUREcharren 1 cuarren 2 © tesgmia Group Lines cuapren ‘adage nett po e iyo ly yma, ene han Corian ior a ee CHAPTER 5 per pir of ee er cence 6 Pad he td St of ei by vores carrer 7 SBN O-5a2-74S02-0 cuarrer 9 Set Mot Lecomte cuarren 10 ect cuarren 11 charren 12 cuapren 13) cHapren 14 cHarrer 15 ‘cuapeee 16 cuapren 17 Contents Colonial Beginnings ‘The Birth of a Nation ‘The Rise of a National Literature An American Renaissance ‘The Boston Brahmins ‘The Civil War and the “Gilded Ase! ‘The Bra of Realism and ‘Naturalism Al the Turn of the Century ‘The Turning Point of American Literature Poetry from 1900 through the 19308, The Writers of the “Lost Generation” ‘The Thirties ‘The Forties and Fifties The Sixties and Seventies The Twentieth-Century Black Writer Drama Popular Fiction Glossary of literary terms ‘Table of historical and literary events Index 6 a7 a sa as 97 209 1s va 161 vs 105 an 2s 235 248 250]GENERALL HISTORIE ign Newsinlc Sef ign Ccpcetde Adar sued Government inlbegining Assess peels Frat isto fr Captian Sui’ Gone Hic of gas, ie Exod the Sey Chapter One Colonial Beginnings Thesory of American literature begins inthe early 1600, lng before there were any "Americana. The east writer were Englishmen Aesribing the Eoglshexploationand colonization fhe New World (America) rwosas uaRtors Brief td Tru Report of he New-Foand Land of Vg (1588) was only the feof many such works, Back in England, people planning to moweto Virginia ot New England weil read th boos as rave guides. But this wax dangerous because sich Tooks ofen mined fete with fantasy" For example, one writer (ania wooo) lame that he had seen bonsin Mosacset, et probable thar these "true epors” hada second kind efreader. People ould certainly ead them as tales of adventure and exierent, Lake modern reader of science ftion’, they coukd enjoy imaginary ‘oyages to places they could never vst in eat. Theweiingsofearrars newt 1580-1631)profably sated readers ofboth Kinds Areal aventuter, he had fought the Tus in Hungary, wherehe was wounded and taken poner He wassold a slave and esaped by kl his master. In 1607. e help fou” Jamestown the Set English colony in America. Although the details “are not always eotrect, his Tine leon of Virgin (160) ana Diartionof New England (1616) ae facinating "advertiemens Whi ty to pera the reader sete in the New Word The Puritans for sastance sade his Desi of New Bond carly and then decided to sett deve i 1620. Smith wa often bowsabout his own adventures inti books. His Geral Misr of Virginia, ‘Nea Beaded ote Same Ise (24) comes estoy this seve iby bei ian pines. The stor s probably untrue, but iis ter frst fom Amevc an Iiterature. His Ezabetbar syle Jputalvayseae snvead, and spectrin wasstrangeeven othe ‘Scere century. Sil, he en tll good try ‘go great stones were brought before Powhatan (the Fon Ring"): then as many as could desgged him (Si to them, id theron ai ised, and beng ead wit het la, 0 eto hi brains, Pocahontas, the Kings dearet caughen, othistendin her arms and ll down he nn ed upon hi tosave him om death: wherea® the King was contented? he ic te Alon Gom the bginng asthe English setled log the Adan const of America, thee were important clleences between he Southern andthe New Engl colonics, In the South, enormous farnsor plantations’ wed he abo a backslaves oqo alc, ‘he rich and port plantation wee were slow to develop lteraturet ther own They preteen npored om England Tuein New England, the Portansctershad come tothe New World inert orm a exity base onset Chris bei Like the PortansinEnaane who were ging agit the Engh in sea tht lasted fa ye, they bere eh unity ould Ir baseon the lw Gx There they had ar stionger see of nity and ota “shared prpone, Tis was one othe ress wy false and literature developed auch faster tha the South Harvard the fist clleg in he cls, was founded ear Bom in \eyinordeanse Praises Ta einige in \merica was started there in and Aner fs newspaper ‘unin Benton in 1304, os ‘The mostnterting worksafNew England Partan erature were sores To the Purtans bistory developed acon toes Cte LP wince ie oi Ri Amc fring lene 0 fori and plan” In all of dei early New England histories, they saw New England a the “Promised Land” of the Bible The central drama af Intory was the sruggle between Christ and Satan (Of Plymouth Plait oy win taauront (1590-1657) isthe most interesting of che Puritan histories, Tt describes dhe Patan’ Aliculeltions with the Tntians, I alo deseies thie dfclties luring thet enter, when half dhe smal elony ce. This al told in the wondesal “plain style” which the Pitan ane In fonder to present the “clear ight of ruth” to uneducated readers Piritan writers vended elegan language. The examples they used ‘vere dawn either fom the Bile a om he everyday ie of farmers find Fishermen, At the same timey Bradford's history i deeply Jntuencel by the hei that God nets everything that happens Each event he writes about begins with It pleased Gel toThe Hit of a Bagland by ons wasrunor (1588-1649) nabioin {he “plain sige": But ici a Ks cheer Winthrop wa the fist governor of Massachusetts Bay Coton and ie most the Pastas ‘writer, waa minster all his ie, Hs writing syle star eo He rarely shows shock ur eines, even when he esribes scenes of great tinappines. Sometimes, the dryncw uf his “plain syle” ery eetve ‘This is his description ofthe New Englanl cost whet he arrived om June 7, 1530 Werhad now fair sunshine weather and wo pleasant asweetaie dil much fresh as an eherecameasmel off shove tie the Smell of garden, Lie othe Puritan historians, Winthrop believed that most events oul he een asa sign fom God. For example hen sae waa found and killed ina chureh, people saw this a the victory of New hgland religion over Satan, “The fist Puritans were not very democratic, The Wonder Woking Prien of io’ Saxo i Nav Fala (1630), by ewan jounsen (151672) defends the ham laws sade by the Puritan teers Eversbody hic toobey these ere laws, Heliersin athe forms at Christianity were called “snakes” oF even wore names, Panta soriety wana “theocracy: the laws of weit an he laws eign were the same. Those who broke te laws were punished severly Survey of the Same of Church Discipline (1648) by tnoas oORER 1500-167) the mos famous statement ofthese Pitan la Les severe wa jon corron’s Wy ofthe Chu of Chis New Eagan 45), I et, bythe beginning ofthe +7a08, newer Puritan ea ‘were becoming important to the development ul democracy ‘Even inthe early days, some writers were struggling hand gaint the Puritan theory. ARNE WUToMNGON (1560-164) ad Roce ‘win (1605-1685) both dese 3 eer religious enviroment Rogers, who wet offi establish sows colony in Rhee land wat "specially important. His Bandy Tenn (161) became a fat statement ofthe case fr religious Geedor, Takin, feed wat ‘only “good intel”, ewan ncesary condition for“the genet and evelopment ofthe wal The New Englanders were quite sce keeping the abate “pity” of Puritans during the easy, diicl day f seen Buc wien the Indians were no longer danger, ee dark forest ad become farmland, and more comfortable stemens had grown uy Puritan stretnens began to eax. The change was very low and wa noteasly recognized by Nee Englanders atthe time By looking at the ‘arly history ofthe Mather fail in New Engl, wean ec how the Puritan tuition’ grew wesker and weaker RICKARD MATHER (1596-1009), the founder of his famiy ia “America, was greatly adimited as a eypical strong Puritan mnie Another preacher, whokrcw Richard Mather wel describe hiway lof preaching as “very plain, stadioualy avoiing obncure” tx” IxoteAse MATHER (1039-1725), his son, was leader of the New England theocracy wi it began to fll apart st the en of the seventeenth eentary. He wat ako a minister at North Church in Boston, the most powerflchurchia New England The 16go was he time ofthe great witcheral® pai In the ww of Sale, Mawach ‘ets, young gir and lonely old women were atested ad puton rial switches A number of these people were put to death for “selling their souls” to the Devil, Incense Mathers best-known book, Roarkale Prices (1684, tell ws mc about the pyeholgiel ‘vironment ofthe ne. The book filled withthe Puritans strange bli, To Mather and other Puritan, witcherat andl ther forms of ‘sl were an abolutely real part of everyday ie Theresse's som, TION MATHER (1665-1728), eae the rst famous ofthe faily. He had “an asane gen for adverding himself": He wrote more than 40 works. Whenever something happened wo him in his fe, Coton Mather wrote a religious bok When his frst wile died published" along semon called Death Maie Bay avd apy. When hse daughter died, he wrote The Bet Way of Living, Which is to Die Diy. Mon of thee works were quite short and ae ofl nerest to usta. But sme, sch asi tons ‘Magalia Chit Amerivens 172), were very long ad were public inmany volumes. He was certain that his lange work, The Ange! of hg emily mk mage fea ee nt, th pnd oe pe aBeas wrtenin 1723, wn “pron one ofthe mes lok tha have ren publi inthe Waa Bath bok ass ao inser ie fthisrange sd ten uplean man, Ox een rey Pak hp spl Ge Whee Dain in stomach or tet echt awa how be hd! broken Edt hi sachs Daing i at ya he ‘him, including his own children. ae The mot feintng prt his Magulia Cie Amma the ion ofthe Sale wiht He make cea tat he ly tev ht hi wa ween Halon atl England wailed with esp rom el A the see te ied tht the nth vt ben a ae and hei fod that they were Sally stopp 4 The writings of Cotton Mather show bow te later Puritan writers nosed away fom the "plain syle” of thei grandfathers. The language is complicated and filled with strange words trom La oud”, ordinary people Although Mather called his stsle "a loth ‘sully fond it hard eo rea Tn the writings of the earliest Pusitans, we afen find poems on religious themes, aM anatsrase (1612 12) was the fs eal Neve England pot Her eat oe Lael Sprang Up ln Aner (550) contained he fst New World poems published in England. None of her early poems are very good. Her later poe writen with harming spi, show her proge ntheart. She refusesto sng ‘oC Wary of Captains, and of Kings. Instead she gives ura ook oto the heart ofa se The poetry of cass. wiocLaswon (163¢-1705) on the oer tude meant wo fight readers wth picture ofthe day when thePuritan God wil age mankind. The sound i often ugly, but the images ie power [No heart so bud, bu now grows eld ‘und almost dead with ear Some hide themselss if Caves and Del, in places undergrad ry a The pocty of soveaRd ravton (65-1720) was unknown 0 Americ trary historians ul 957 Wet daring the lt year ofthe Puritan theocracy some ote fn pocey write th Ceti Amr Like Catton Slaten Taylorhoped racer the “Partan Way" Mather wanted stomge ees fort. “Taylor however was concerned with tein spa io! Purr belo He erate ich, unusual images Yo ep hiker “see ‘ear usieand el eelgsactne” none poe, eds tay ‘cin pole, They tearate "A Black Sam that oie verare" Sometimes sounds quem tna poe abo the tating ane, Whoin hs Bin ly ed “Throughout Aten history, venin the twentieth entry, there tus may deepen io emo On oe Int fm, ellod the “Great Awakening" began abt Treacher George White toured the oun ling page “repent and bese by the New igh" The errs offs pwns (170173) werewpowerl and igening hat he ‘heh was cen led witha ane crying: "Te Go that lds Jouve theft ol much ase ds aspie or same lotr int over theese you ea. sermon fom ch thistine sake, Sime te Han of dy od 1959, 8 {amin fristerary quay aterin be, Edad developed ito teat theologian, oF religions philsopher, his Brom of Wil 754) he ted to build a philosophy based on the Puritan ith, The Pastas aited stience ax “he sty of God's material eatin”. Edwards developed hi idea further He said that there ‘wae close ration bet knowledge of the physical world and rowldge ofthe spittual world This ea created a bridge betwen the ld strict Puritan soviety and the new, fee culture which eame Inter, with ts sentie study of the world ‘Alikough lterature developed far moe slowly the South han in Dew England, few early writers are worth mentioning. Ta Vieni, onexranventey 167} 1722) wrote intligendy about nature and fovkety. His Hiry and Prev Stal of Vigna (4705) writen ina Plain, clear syle, mixing wild humor with scinti observation Although he was astong defender of black slavery, hisseton on the Indians of Virginia re of race hated. Even more amusing i the sry the Dis Line by wuss nym (163-1744) Writing or Landon audiences, Byrd used humorand eal odes ie ang thei ine (orfrontie)breween Ving seed areas ad the ‘ep forest. Hisopnions about the Indians were surprisingly Hera” forthe ime. He ele that the English should mary them ater tha Fgh them, Hed similarly eral view of lack: “We all know tht very bright Talent ay be lodged wader # dark Skin” These eae were certainly not abated by the majority of Southern Plantation onesLfocast ink ta ie eencelare ke “ies NOY oes (oer eatin rh ii fo Amini he Base Mase of tr Chapter Two The Birth of a Nation The mont memorable writing in cightsenth-centory Arserica wat done by the Founding Fathers, dhe men who led the Revolution of (775-1783 an who wrote the Consution' of 79, None of them seere writer oftion, Rather, hey were practical philosopher, ad heir ment ypial pred was dhe piel pamphlet They bath sdimired and were active in the Eutopean "Age of Reason” oF lighten They shared the Enlightenment belie that hima imeligence {or “eason") could waderstand bath aature aed man, Unlike the Puritans ~ who saw man as a sinfl flure — the Enlightenment hikers were sre man could improve hime They veanted to erate happy society based on justice and feedor, “The writings of wenjams raaNKLES 170-1790) show the Eight amen spittin Ameri atts best andl ost optimistic. His syle ‘ite morern and, eve today, his works rey to read. Although hestronly disagreed withthe opinions of te Paritans, hs works show ‘retry to thet "plan syle” At the same time, there something “antlterary” about Franklin. He had o king foe porty and hat writing shoudl slays havea practical purpose ‘We ean ace dese ident even in his aie work the Deged Papers 1722), written hen he was only sixteen, These ae a series of shor pieces which are very funny, bt fallofmeal avi praising honey find attacking deunkennes, et). His Por Riko inna (1732 757) gives similar advice. Almanacs, containing much seal information for farmers and sailor (about the next years weather ea (ides) wee popular form of racial erature. Topeterthe Bible and the newspaper, they were the oy eeuding matter in ‘most Colonial hosel Fas sade his nana inetesting by ‘creating thecharater"Poor Richard” Each ew edition continued simple but eaististory aout Richard, his wie a fama. He alr inched many “sayings about saving money and working hard Some ofthese ate known to mos Aneica ody Upstuggard and waste not iin the rave wil be seeping ough God helps thm who help themeles In 1757, Franklin collected together the est of his sayings, making them intoan esay? called Te Ie 0 Walt, This ie book became me ofthe beseallers' ofthe Western werd and was translated in Daring the first alfoPhis adult fe, Franklin worked a. printer of ks and newspapers ue he was an energetic? man with wide interests Assent, he wrote important esayvon lect which were widely read and admired in Europe, His many invention, his Popularity asa writer and his diplomatic activity in support ofthe American Revolution made hit worldlunuus inhi own litime Although Franklin wrote agree, almont lof his esportan works are quite shor He invented one type f short prose which treaty infuenced the development storytelling form in Americ, fall the “hoax or the “tll tale” (ater made famous by Mark Twain: sce p. 79). A hoax i funny because sso clearly Be his Wend af Naar x Amara, Frathln reports “the grand leap ofthe ‘whale up thefall of Niagara which vested by ll wo have see vec the inst spectacke ia Nature” During the Revolution, he ped this form of humor into a powerll propaganda tol lor American independence apy. The is parc ofthe mf hit ie up 0 sy seal book was his Ati Franklnvo Tegan in 177, an entertaining dees farlymatoad, Fhe secon past was writen in 4784 when Franklin @ manana he s¥lelomore serous Franklin now realizes the parte has played in American bso and writes sou mel ‘or the improvement ofothen” As te au sbiography of “the father the Vanes it 2 book opt val The pein! jst before the sata he Revolution sw a Hood of plums This wx ly inthe form pamphlets ater Than newpaper, because te ppt was hep to pu andthe Suton ihe ede did not hve oe be se, os on (725, Ta ev oe eur propaga who ed lent language more treason in is aceon Brith police Other pondpenLO She Ospntse Nesliesd nue As Aiea saving Exped wit eis of Vii ied ow Enlnd 1735-16) Adamslater came theses President of te United Sts. Other pamphlecriters, ke ewer seamen [1929-1795 ad oan Ltowano (1749-1850) wom kr the proBrih ke Mos ofthe men had teapot the United State ater the Revolution e vsewaiea ‘The greatest pamphletwrier of American Revolution snoaas tae 957-1h worn in alan Wen eth soey bi met Benjamin rankin in Lamon and ws puedo gto Arca Two years later, he wrote Camm Sane [90 the ot sry inprtnt pase in Ameran hier, eens thinking and exctng language lly nied Ameo elas ‘ssn England He seme to epee wha the rears helo haa been secre hinking' "There sometang aut in soronag 4 continent (nea) to be pespetely® revered by ay and Brin)” Revween 1796 and 8, be sued sri of thsteen | pamphlets, called The Criss. The Cris 1 appeared the day after the) | | ‘American leader, General George Washington, was defeat i the ate of Long Islnd. 1 contains ee mos amis page in all of Paine’ eis ‘hese ate the mes tha try men's The summer soleer ad the sunive parity in this xt, ink Com the sevice of his counery. "Tyranny ike Hell, snot easily conquered Prine was ao ative inthe French Revolution and wrote a famous Aefease of eh revolution too The Right of Mon (1594-2) ‘Only owas yervensox (1749-1826). the chief author of dhe Drain f Iden, was a nportan a writer forthe American nse ae Paine. ‘Thanks to Jefleron's beawtfel syle, the most Linporeantdacumest” i dhe plital history of dhe United Stasis sha fine workoiterature Although twas written dringa dificult Time inthe war, the Dilation is surprsngly fe fom ermtional snprals. Iisackarandlogial tatementafwhy America wanted it indepetdence.Jeffenon made no attempt tobe original. Rather, he ult upon the ideas of sich plowophers ax fob Locke. ‘The Dislaration wae revised eights ines Delo it was nally signed on July 41776 ‘Soot afer the war, eferson wrote one of he best descriptions of catly Americas Nv on he State of Vigna (1984-785). Althouse himself was. Southerner (and owned slaves atone ime), eatacked the aavery system, saying that “nothing more certainly writen in the book of fie than that thxe people ate tobe ee" "Jelleron was deeply influenced by the eas ofthe Enlightumett He beieved tha man did not have to depend on Gee to improve he ‘srl and should woe hisown windors oda the improving by himsl ‘Ava typical Ealigtenmeat thinker, Jefferson believed that all Ihumanity is naturally good: "Nature has implanted inourbreasta loveat thers a sense of duty to ehem, a ioralinstinet.” On theater hand, he was aad thatthe commercial presute of ey ie would Scenaestoy this gore. Only hote eho labor inthe eth col be the basi truly demorrate vce. Jllesonsa ate heat 10 American democracy in the thinking of the "Federals", who favored strong central government forthe new American republic lsome Federals even wanted to make George Washington king!) “The Federalts wanted a form of government and society which ‘wold not easily pet. Jeflerson, however fet the people show be ble to change the form of thee socety whenever Whey thought it ‘necesay. He eves accepted the idea that new American revolution ‘ight happen someday: "A litle rebelion now and then good Ahing, and as necenary inthe political world as sora i the phate” he Fedo Paes (787-1788) were the major documents of shoseoppone to felleron thinking The authors of those eight -ive fssays are famous in American history. ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1757 Boa powerful writer who opposed “extreme democracy”, wrote Sitissoneot the esp. Written cal, eae tle, ame of them ae sill studied by Amesean students In Revolutionary America both prosean poetry hada pie or “praetical” prpone. fata HROSEAC 175212) was perhaps the beat poet of tis ne: He war aluon pola journal, and thisdeeply influenced bisealy ptr. From the begining, he wrote the case ta American independence with strong patriot leling. I is poem Piantes of Caanbas (1771), he mised gloom desripions of mature ‘with sharp artacks on ict granny: Daring the war, he wroteabout American pats lle in bate: “None reve in sucha nse to di,” He bum foughton an American sip and was captured by the Brits, Mewrtesabout thisexpevienceinhis Bish Piso Skip (178) Hunger and thet to work oat wor combine And mouldy bread, an flesh of rotten swine! After the war, he wrote poetry supporting Jefferson against the Federalist his lst and best phase, he turned to poety about ature, In The Wild Howe Sule (1785), thi Bower becomes 3 symbol for unnoticed beauty which quickly passes sway, The lst Ines ofthe poem compare the shores of human life to that ofthe Hower For when you die you ae the same; The space beren, is but an hour, “The Hail duration of Hower, ‘Hut to Frenen, “death no mote than unceasing change”, In The Hoss of Night (1779), he writes Hil sik co plains, and man returns wo das, “That daxt supports reptile! ofa lower Each changeful atom Takes some new fort, to pers in an boar Poet ofthe Revlutonary era een imitated the “neoclassical” siyleael themes ofthe great English poets. This sty wa ell ake From ancient Greck and Roman writers. Usually they wrote i couple, but they alo experimented with other frm, lke blank ‘verse, The neoclascal pees ten wed ol: frkioned language in {heir poetry: Words like “blade” and "ced were prefered to the mone. common terms, “bale” and “hone”, Unfortunately, few American neacaseal poets were very gad, and none of them were The “Connecticut Wit were rather more conservative in both Uhciestyle and polis. They were Americas very rt poetic “ile” Although they were song supporters ofthe American side in the Revolution, they hated the democratic philosophy of Paine and ing teat re ea ‘tpn an eg enJefferson. Mo ‘Cavin in tei religion, of them were Federale in their politics and the thrcetnajor Connecticut Wis, His met famous pct wae of Ametian education, The Pages of Dun (4773). Tie ihe aventres of Tom Brailes, who tes the leg po University becawe hei oodullfr vie”. Then, becominga sl teacher, he "res with case and uaconcer |"To teach what wee ine eald lean,” Osher sil charartersin the poem ined “Dick Hayebrain” and. "Mig Harriet Simper”. Another story poem, M Fingal (776) tade Trumbull amoweduing the Revolution, This long, umes storys sein a sall Mastochusets tn. Mt Fingal at fie a supporter af he British, finally comes to believe that the Americans will win their war fr independence, On another lve however the poemisasatite af thesily lage publ speakers we Aote fhe Wits as TIMOTHY IGM [1752-11 7)- He was the sranon of onathan Edward ae p12) anda minitr bine, He trrote in the neolasicl syle of Alexander Pope the seat English Poet) Some of hi theres are rather Puritan In The Tremp Tafeiy (1788), he dewies Satan's efforts throughout history conquer Gol sereatutes, i Gaal i794, he ries persia thereader thatthe New World far beter than the OM. To hi, ype was land of poverty America wasa land of happiness, while Eu TOL BARLOW (1754-112), the third famous Wit, was diferent frm theres, He hd hop o make a Hving by his poetry, but so learned that tiswasstlimpasable in America, His Visio Clb "7 isa tony Tea with th Pattie poem. He compares the evation af the en Inca chvlzaion was the H the Enulih cok highest achieement® of “mere human’ progress ‘The English, efit of hur inegence, guided by God. ka nig poem even longer anal i Th Calbia Ion i foe 1 Yo Bora Most modern critics agsee it sone of the worst long poem in America Uierature: In 178, Barlow went to France, where he became a supporter ofthe French Revolton, writing poems hich stacked kingy a arstceate™ He ne allowed Napoleon ding is atack on Rusia and died of peumonia daring te reteat from Moston istestlovedl poem, however, has nothing to do with plies Te Hy Pading (1393) 4 huwotous and reli description of the taking of fivorte New England desert (hasty pudding Fin in your bow dhe mi abundant ake The drop swith care alg the silver lake You take of ping1 is what we call a mockcheroie poem, because it ues heroic, coelesialangwage and ryt, usually used for very importa “abject tsribe something unimportant and everyday. The effet often very funny Inthe yeursinumesiatly after the Revolution, there were alo rome hopeful beginnings in drama, Although French and Spanish ‘Cathie priests hae used drama for religious education among, the Indias, drama developed very slowly in the English calorie. The Neve England Pitas, and some other Protestant group, believed thatthe theatre was" invention ofthe Dei”, bad forthe moral the people In the Sout, faraway fom the Puritan influence, there were afew theatres America's ft theatre was in Wills, Virginia. twowas comeney's Prine of Pee (writen in 175 reduced in 1363) war probably the fist American play tobe rofessionally produced, But wasn't uel afer Independence that American theate became intersting \witiaw DUNLAP (1765-1039) wat the most active playwright withsuchsuecesl lass The Faller (178) His nde 1798), base ‘om the life ofa British sp is considered is best ply. Ti Contet (287) by Rovags svean (1757-1826), was the Rist come by an American author using characters from his owt connty. The “eontrast” of the play ie between the sly Britkh manners of Me Dimple and the Arierican manners of Colonel Manly. "Their rivalry forthe love of young lady is ofcourse, wom bythe American, The Plot of The Cnasti seria to many Brie plays ofthe time. Bat Introduces an entirely new character “type” the Yankee. Manly’ Yankee servant, Jonathan extremely elEconfident, except with women. Hels yery patsogc and eather puritanical in his moral His speech very colorful Being areal democrat, he completely ignores las distinctions. We can stl see bie type in America plays and movie tay The development of de new American personaly canalo be seen in the wridngs of, eotom sr. jouw i exévecoren (0735-483). Some might object eat he wae not rally an American and tt wi aie ana sy th hg eg ni el several of his important works were written in Feeneh, rather than English Thisis true, Ducitisalso tre tha For mos of his adult ie he ‘considered himelfan American, He was born a Frenchaitcrat and twentio America in 175. In 1764, heseted dows aa farmer in New ‘York State He was aguint the Revolution when ie broke out and {eturned to France tit was ever Mists fen drcan Farner 782) contain one of the eat explanations of the American petsonalty, and are sill wiely read. fn one leer, he asks Whats his American, this new man? leaving behind him allisancientpejadies, and manners reeves ew ones from the new mode" of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys ad the new ra he hold, CGrévecoeur id not describe America as utopia, nor did be expect ito become one. Yet he stv fir more hope and health ina ‘Society where “individuals ofall nons are melted into anew rae of ten’ than in thelr, led wcities rope. Atthe same time he tras afraid that this happinen would be desteoyed by the Revolution, Tn his States of Eighth Contry Ane (not published wl 1925) hheexplins these fears, Tn the mest portant ad interesting pat Slee, Crévecneur describes the tragedy" of prople who have bee ddstroyed bythe lawlsanes ofthe Revoluon, Neighbors, who were fonce frends, bumed each other's Houses and Killed each others Eames To Crtvecocur the ideal American was quite diferent: 3 social man who co-operates wih his neighbors, wile earning his own living fom faringpag of the ot iti Cle Bet nh Cast Mains Chapler Three The Rise of a National Literature In the carly years ofthe nw eepublc, thee was dinagreement about Iw American Hterature should grow. There were thee diferent prin al view. One group wae worried thst American Iieratate st Ecko national fling, ‘They wanted books which expressed the spevial character of the mation, not books which were bassd on uropen enlture, Anoter group fel that American iterate wae tou young to declare ie independence from the Brith Iiterary tradition. ‘They believed the Unied States ould sc isl 8 2 new branch of English eltue. The hil group als fl that he ell fora rational erature was a make, To them, good Hlerature was Univeal alwaysrsing above he tinea place mereit war write, The argument continued fr alata hundred years without any dear decison, Aa America iterator grew and were the greatest nites found a way to combine the bes qualities of the Terture of the Ole and New Works, They aio gave thei works the universality of great Ieratuee Novels were the first popular literature of de newly independent United States This wa sstnishing® because almost no American syelswere writen beloe the Revoliton, Likedeama, the novel bad Thc cored a "dangerous form of Kteratare by the American Partans Novelspt “immoral” ideainto the heads young peopl In England, bowtver, the Pitan writer John Bunya had published reat novel-ice work, The Prin’: Popes (parte, 1678). The teenth century became period of greatnessfor the English novel tvth writes lke Duel Defoe (Rabi Cru), Samuel Rickardvon(lars) and Henry Fielding (Tom Jon Ththecaly days ofindepenence, American novels served a weil purpose. Unlike por, the language of tse novela spate dred to ‘rdinary American They used vealnc deals go deseribe the reality ‘ot American li. They heljd Americans se theneeves a4 single tation At the sme ime, the eatest American nonelintehad to be ‘ery eae. Many Anmericans sil ipproved ofthe novel Tn fay, the fst American novel, wtliaa MILL axons’ Poe af Smad (158), was suppressed as “morally dangerous” som after i was Published, As a ret, novelists tie ard to make thet books ftceptable, They Elle therm with morale advice and religions sentiments sosanna xowson (1 7fe tha alle her Charo Temple (i791) a “tle of wth” and made readers cry over the sa fate of | young gil “Ted inc si ‘Madre Chialy (1790-1815) by com MENHY mRACKENRIDOE 748-1816) was the Best importa nove, Like sauna Rowson, Brackenridge wanted achieve "reform n moral nd mates {he people™ The hook i a series of adventuse in which the author Taughs at America’s “backwoode™ cult, His target include religious and national groups (ae Quakers, the Ii, the Indian), aston avery, sword or gunfight), and occupations aw, religion, medicine). The weaknees of American detnucracy are alo de scsi Asin Dot Qua, by the Spanish writer Cervantes, the ero travels around the enunty with islow-las servant, He experiences problemseverystepafthe way. Although thas been called ene a the ‘reat frgoten books of American literature, the avekwatd structure snd logue” of Modem Chay make i rader bard to reat today Another novelist who described the nation’s western frontier ovuntry was ous IMLAY 17541820). His Emgrnt (1798) farly example of Jong line of American novels which showed American cUltare wo be more natural an simple dan theo ultre ‘Europe. An English family moves to America t vein frontier seulement Weseehow some members oft family are able to change Che Bratt ‘heir way offen find happiness. Others hold om ko the “fae ol ‘ales of English society and ate vuined ar more interesing and important is the work of enakies snoceoes sac (1771-180) His interest in the pychology of Toeror® greatly inluenced sch writers as Hawthorne and Poe may sear later. Like thee eo writer, Brown had the ability to deeb Enmplcated (and often crac} ids, Wild (1958), Browns best iowa work, was a psychological "Gothic noveP” in the European style The hero lives in a wor of horror: murders are commited, people speak with he voices often or suddenly explode nto Mates, Acinallofhis works, Brown storied with emotional power "Me rineteentorcntury eit, “tling you of with hs Bie ated.” Seduction’ isthe central theme of kis Ormond (1709) in which the ‘silwelcerisfinallilled bythe heroine. The theme Ard Mera 799) nthe inerdcion ofa youn man w the world sev. The hem le, lung aeiminal genius, but tey al etay"OUTLINE OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 9 him, Towards the ead, the novel becomes moriie when the her decides to spend he resto hie ding god. Egor Huy 179) like many of Brown other works, has elements ofthe horror story the murder of lange umber of people by the Indian sleepwalking: and the insanity ofthe hero and nattator, Hy Inthe mascexctingseene, Hundy wakes wpin the otal ackneso | fave eas bensleepwaling) wherehe ust fight a mountain lon Line by litle Brown's heroes discover that they can neither tnderstand nor direct ther own lve Life is “eisestons"™ and Hhuminting” Tis kee shat way by the moral blindness of humanity. With this philosophy, i noe surpesing that Brown spent his las years writing pla pamphlet against te optimistic plilesopy oF Thomas Jefferson. OVAL TVL4R, whom we have already mentioned a the author of the play The Ganras alo wrote one of tebe realistic nove this petod. The heros Algerie Cape (1749) works om ashipcary ing lack slaves to America. Then hn ship sinks adhe ie sade slaveby pirates The themecf the novel nan attack on the American sovernment fori support of slavery. Tntheeany parcot the nineteenth century, New York City wasthe centerofAmerlean writing, Fries were called “Knickerbocker, and the period fom tea eo tgo is known the “Knickerbocker fra” of American literature The name comes fom 4 His 9f Nae rk by DiedickKikerboce (oq), by wasanxrOn RVING (138 185). Ivins book rated alot ofincrestin the local history of New York, butt wasa humorous ratherthan aserious history ofthe city. To the pele, he writes that his purpone “to clothe toni scenes and places and familiar asne with imaginative and whimsical” ascete ations” Irving actually vented many ofthe event and legends! hhe writes about inthe book. The sda wa o give the eon af New York Cityaspecil “ocala” But more importantly, the bookies tet pin yd Suh fa ew, acces Washington ting masterpiece of comedy which laughs at the Puritans and at New York's eaty Dutch governue. One auch governor i described asa san who had almost nothing tosay, and who worried more about his ‘own idigecon than the problems of his ety Testu he was a man shut up within hime ike an oyster, ind rately spoke. but heaitwar claimed that he seldom aid fobs thing. ‘Washington Irving's next important work, The Skch Bu (B10) ‘contains tw ofthe Bewtsoved tris fom American iterate: Rip Van Winkle nd The Land 9f Sey Holl. Te plots ofboth tries are based od Geran fl tle, But Irving fils them with the “eal color” of New Vork’s Hudion River Valles. Even toda, dhe real ples he mentions ate asociated with his stores, The Catal “Mountain ou the western side ofthe Histon Vale, arestl bought ‘of ar the place where Rip Van Winkle fll asleep fr twenty year. Serpy Hollow, jut northofthe ty, ist famous asthe place where, late one night, Ichabwat Grane war chased by he “Headle4 itt fom Eig Rip Van Winkle Horseman. [this lststory, asin many fhisers, Irving contrasts the personality ofthe New England "Vankecs” with that othe New Yorkers, Ichabod Crane, a New Englander made comie figure He i grey and superaious, The “Healew Hreman™ who Irightens him out ofthe valley x not real. He was isnt by local New Yorkers, n oder to fighten outsiders Thal, Te Sch Bok contin thirty-two stories, The majority are ‘on European subjects, mwtly English, Like many inportat ser tan writers afer hi, vig fou thatthe eh ler clr of the (O¥d Wort gave him alto material fr his tsi, Few of histories ate relly orginal. "We are-4 young people,” he explains in the preice!, “and must ake our examples and model fom the exiting ‘ations Europe.” Notsurpisinly. many of ving later works did jus tha, Beige Hall) is caletion of es abate ol Fashioned English countryside Thestoriesin Talrofa Tree (1824) sre etn Europe, T1826, Irving went ta Spin and lived there fo sine time, The Allama 1832) one of his bet works reels the Tegends ofa great Spanish palace, where he ved for many months Teal hisistren, The Life and Vayage of Cistphr Caos 108) sid The Congest of Grade (ag) were writen daring ths period. Trving wa theft American to eam bie iving through iterature, He jwasalmost as popularin Europeashe wasathome. But there were tnany who erie his work. He himself considered “feng” ad langage a more impartant clemeats in his art than stor or ‘haracter He egarded the story simply "asa (pice frame on which Teich my mates". Aer his death, his reputation Bogan to Aiecine. But ever tay, we conte to be charmed by Teving’s ‘worse and the pleasant sonality behind them. (OF the other Knickerbocker ries, ly aus ABMKE PAULING 1778) worth mentioning here, Hisbest nove, The Dasa’ Fire (183, eam amusing sate setin Colonial America. While be handles hie American characters well he expeeses pleasant socal opinions (hei antcIndian and prolavey ‘Neither Wathington Irving nor any of the other Kniekerboekes sealy ie wo speak fr the whole county. For them, the America ‘wort tend! to stop at the borders of New York State. aus Frsivons cooren (1789-1851), on the her hand, wanted to peak forall America, Along is books are not een ae grea erste, fey contain rch thought erticsen of American society In over thirty novel and several works of nonfiction, he pointed out the est prof American society and the American peramalty and severely Uricized the worse parts, In Earope, be became known ar he Amenean Walter ott. Like Set heweoteadventuestoviestiled ‘with historical etal.) But eis did not please Cooper becaune he Considered his works to be completely originalOUTLINE OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 3 tough many of Coopes’s bestow works are also set in New York State, thet characters ave “Americans”, not simply "New Yorker. He describes sick American character eypes as the pioneer the Indian and the Yankee slot. But the problems they Fearenotsiniply American problems. They are problems faced by proplecverywbere, They (18a his et sere nose, shout bam who moves back and forth between Arserican and Bids ‘ampe during the Revolution, sling things to both sides, He iva tragic character, since alment everyone knows he is ally spy. But ‘thich sd she spying for The Ameria are sre he working for {he British a he ale hi several times fut ek George Washington's mest oval agent Bt this secrete hep almost he ‘end. Up to his death, he sill isuerstoa ae istrusted by his fallow countrymen The Piers (1823) was the fit novel of Cooper's frnous "Leathersiocking” series, sc in the exciting pevied of America’ movement westward. Natty Bumppo. wt i ften called Leaherstockng) appears in all he novel inthe seis ad neo the bestknown characters in Amesican Beratre, He is typical American pioneer figure Me is master ofall hells needed olive And huntin theforet. Hehasanunsally deepovefornatare and is Suid of destroying it. His sympathy for all peopl, including the Indians alo wna. Race cofice expecially between whites and Indians- was common in America wi the end ofthe nineteenth Ecotury. Cooper makes thisconit x constant theme throughont the series He filly his novele with battle scenes beween whites ad Indians. But both the author and his character, Natty, clearly Alsapprove uf those who are simply Indian haters, Suc people are lvays sea asthe wort sort of American, because they hil both Snimals and humane “for the spre oi (Cooper's ins even thebad” on, aealmost alvaysbrave In general heaven Teligne int two tyes. He "gow ons Tike Uneas and Chingachgook (Natys best fiend) are loyal and alectonate. Some eis complain that they are too goal al that CCoopersave them, wrongly, as “noble savages" The “bad” ones are fled with ei aed ean be trated Sel there i aways a sadness in Cooper's depiction ofthe Indians. They area dying rae, sce feed co the advance of whiteculture, Atthe ame time, Cooper seme te be warning all of humanity tht his cul he the feof oer In The Powers, we see Naty sold age He and Chingachyook, non’ drunkard, have lst the grace ad sky ofthe yout, But Chingactgook gets hack some af his nobity by seturiag tothe religion of his people bere dying. The novel as beautiful scenes Aeseribing the seasons and bie in a frontier village. The author combines history adventore and local esta into what he call "3 Aesritive tale" The La ofthe Mein (1826), oe of America’s ont famous novel, shows Natty at a much younger age Ii a ‘acting sory, ll afaction, Character fight and are taken prboner, thenescape o are eseued, Uneas, the Mohican sthelast ois ibe He replaces Natty a the hero in the lst Ralf of the novel. Unicast lille bythe ei Indian, Mage, lt The Pra (ha), Natty inno {nis ihe. Hee tooo for ero, But Cooper makes him seen like Moses the Bible as he quis group of eter other ew homeland, His beloved forests have all een eared and ae now nla. To escape “cization”, he mast now ive on te eles plain, In The Pathinder (1840), we again see Naty a6 young man, He almost marisa ie ealled Mabel Danan, but decides to tar to his ife in the wilderness. Cooper also changes his hero's manner speaking, making him » kind of backwonds philoopher. The idea thay havebeen to make hima more artuetive igure fr Mabel But it ‘wasnt very succesful ad thedalogue ofthis ove soften severely ‘icied, The Darl (ngs) shows Natty in his early wets, ‘tthough we see his Kl bi iat Tadian, his exental goodness ontrased wth the Fadia hates Hurry Harry and Thomas Hutter [A the eral ofthe novel vast the rene fs main event ileen ‘Sears they happened: Heads only tiny pee of ded ebbow Wehich had belonged wa gi who once Fved hi. The reader shaves aty’sfecing of radnes about the past pi pl et ipn Th Patio of hems in Jes Pine The viewry of ine and “civliation” over the wildness Seautlly described by Cooper, Hisweaknenesasa writer, homer, ave alot as well noe a his strengths, He fs mnt succes a ‘eenes of violent action or of nighttime terror and mystery. Bat his ‘haracter descriptions ate often unsatiscior. His deserptions of women characters whom le always calls ema”) ane expecially trek, Only few fee are interesting as individuals, We rarely etadeepkaokat hireharacters Inc, almost allo them have he Ste interns and need: housecleaning and love, Ocessinally there area problens with Coopers deserptons of acon scence, Mark Twain, in his famous eay Paxman Cop's Lilerary Often ferely attacks him for bad mistake he mas in a scene in The Dranaer group of Tins try to jump down onto a riverboat ma tre, Arcorng to Cooper’ description, homer, the boa longer under the ee. iil, none af Cape's lenses” sesiously ‘poi the reader's enjoyment of hi sores, ‘Cooper wns aio one of he fst writers of ea stores in America, Thwe novels have clement of bos romantic’ and reali The suthorisa romantic when hedesribesthesudden change weather the beauty ofthe oan, std the mysterious shied seamen. The realism comes from Cooper's pera anledge o the sag he ha thew sailor in his youth, The Pit (1824) ist in Revolutionary ties. Ti kindof Leathertocking tal et om these, with eee ttl narrow ecapessed awe ald sailor sina to Natty Buroppo imhiseld age. The Red Rew (1837) a tale of pirate adventutes, ako et in Revelutonary times. ‘From B26, Cooper spent yeven year in Europe. But he was angered by the wa Englishmnenspoke unfavorably about his county uv in defense he wrote Noto of the Amerie (188). Back in America, Cooper became a political conservative. His fuily had tpen pat of the farming arnocracy and he wrote the “Litlepage Tally” to support this group, In these three novel, The Cainer gs Sta (145) al The Red (18465) be depicts he ree tthe “common man” in a democracy. He regets the passing of| Americas landowning aristocracy and the rie of «new clas, the neyrabere The era of Irving and Cooper had hie important voice, that of he pote WILLIAM CULLEN Ra (1794-1878). Although his grandOUTLINE OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 5 | parents al been Puritans, Bryan's ow philosophy was democratic {nd liberal. Asa poet, he died th old neocasca sye- He agreed With the Romante poets of Europe such a+ Enlanc’s Wordsworth) thatthe new poetry shout nt simply copy ee forms and idea ofthe ansient clases Rather, it should break aay fom the old pater. ‘The new hind of poetry should help the reader to understand the wor! though histemotions. For Bryant, ke oder Romantics, “the fica spring of portry i emotion”, and its aim i tind new, “higher” kind of knowledge Hist reat poo, Tanaispis (187), shows the deep Romantic spirit o Bryant in is youth, In this aos blank vere asterpice, ature and death are devi sith a gentle sadness, The ttle i Gree oe “vew ofeath Bryans ew that death ithe abaoluce nd ofthe iva ‘And, lost cack human race, surrendering up ‘Thine individual beng, tha shale go ‘To mix forever withthe clement “To bea brother tothe insenible rock pg ea se ing ih th lime ang A fist, dis might seem a cold and tsiing ought. But 3x he explains in later poem, the life of man spat the wonder Me of ‘nnture asa whole. The individual oa snot alone but, an he sayin Fovet Hy 1825), par "the sof hs wide universe” lt all otis poetry exprenes his excitement atthe idea of being part uf something so vast Te Pairs (1832) a emotional desertion of the huge fatland of the American Mid Wes: Lat they setch, In sry undulations Car any, AS the ocean, in his gente sell Stood stil, with all hie rounded Pillows Be, And motions forever. Tn such poems as The Fla of Yes ane The Laie of Tine Bryant responds the hagenes of ine with similar emotions, Sena Bryant was alo a writer with a deep social comeience, As a sesspper eit, he Fught hard fr the right of he laborer and of ‘lacks, In sh poems as Te Fin Gi Lame ad The Arian Ch, pines the qualities that unite al people. But its is nature poetry sole ne eead with the greatest please today. Furthermore, this poetry prepared the way forthe Transeendemals™ writes who ‘vould son bring Armenian Kteraeure the atenton ofthe world "Athoughliterature developed far ore sloaly nthe South than in ‘he North ete were a fe important writers In Seale Bare (12), yous recy kasAeoy (17951870) remembers he ud Souther soclty af his youth mother novels, Kennedy wi greatly influenced by dheworkso irWalter Seo wnat ator snes (186-1890, the best ofthe “romancers ofthe old Sut was also an adie of Scott But in is ies novel, The Toma (1835) be erated a highly 1 work of iterate. His subject sa tribe of Indians which Slowly being destroyed by the advance of white society: Unlike Cooper, who was snore interest in inividual, Simms dseibes India society as whole, Ther castors and prychology are saced incall The hook stint iterate sod history: Sins bleed that itis the ans only whe i the true historian”iste fr The Ra, gr Alo P's mo os oon Chapter Four An American Renaissance In the tigor and jo, he font of American society was quichy moving toward ee west. Following inthe path of Brackenridge and Cooper writes were beginning wlaokat he western rons fo ens foe literature about American fe. But inthe eis along the ean ‘ast the older ideal ofthe nation aya Ani community wast ry much ave. The ling there was that the cultures Maeschy {est and Virgins Ought eo be the models of ational else At this time, Bento sed it neighboring towns and villages wete filed with intellectual excitement and activity, Harvard, in nearby Cambridge, was no longer the only place deeply intersted in duration, ‘The powerful fd ow rather conservative) Noh neice esc, unde by Harvard profesor Edward Channing in 18, was also busy spreading Has. And since 1826, eraveing Teecrers had been bringing Knowledge abut culture and sence to both the city andthe New England countryside. There was a Usefl Kovomlege Saciety, a Natural Mistry Society andthe Mereandile [Library Association, Thanks to then, many New Englanders became reglaelecture-goer Aang the younger people, there was much talk abou the “new spiritual era-The youngimtelcetualot Boston west diated with ‘held patriotism. America's power and wealth did notinteest them They wanted to explore the incr il They stuied the Grech German and Indian pileephere Many kept dares about hie ives and feng. Other became vegetariars or nui Tn the center of this activity were the Transcendentaias, TheyOUTLINY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 4 formed! x movement of fings and bei rather th pilsopiny, They reed both the conservative Praia thee Tneetre td the newer, Koel faith of Untarianisn, They sae both religions a "neat, cold, Hem”. Althuugh they respected ‘Cvs for the wisdom a his teachings they thought of he works Shakespeare andthe grea philosophers at equalyimportan The Transcendental ed to nd dhe uth hengh lng ad inition? rather than tough lg. Orestes Brownson, an early 5 hecapacicy of knw rth nuts --an oder of knowledge transeening he senses" Henry David Thoreau put moe simply "Windom dees not iapect it whol The Transcendental Sea, cath ir, sound, sitence Pant, quadeuped, bird By one misc enchants ‘One deny sive Inmany ways, nature ital ws their “ile” Bie cols, ees and sw had special meaning for them. Natural images like these ‘created a hind of language. Hhroegh this language they discovered ideas already plate in the hua sl All dings in Nature are beau ypes tthe soul that wil ‘ead them ject hat speaks to the senses was mean ar the soul ni ath Wale Emr Hory Desi Tors Tn 18,6, natn watno socwso (1-18) founded the Tre seendental Club" 16 magazine, Te Da, wax often etc fries ‘aque’ or silly eas, Sil it was the tre ve of ther eons and Telings Fora time the ovement had a experimental community the Brook Farm Insite. But this came to an end when the Transendentalsts divide! int wo groupe: tone intent soa reform, and chore (ike Emerion and Thoreau) who were more intersted inthe individual. Th 13, Emerson published Nola, the clearest statement of Transcendental ideas, ithe stated that man shoul note nate rmetely as something to be weds that man's relationship with ature trade the wea of wsfunes, He saw an iniportant diference letween andsening (ing things only according to the Sense) and "Reso When the eye of Reason opens... tines and sunfies Iecame transparent and are no longer see cases al eit are seen through them, The brat moments o ie ae these“The sow sale of the book showed ose small in numbers the “Transcendental really were, In 1837 Emenon gave a famous specs Harvard Univesity: The American Scolar Me atacked the Influence of eadion and the past, and ealed for a new burst of American creativity. "Ta him, the word scholar dno refer tothe than of "book learsing”, but to the original thinker, Such man novshimeef trough ntution andthe sty of mature, otf tks ‘al, handsome man, Emerson began his earers se Unitarian minister, Even affer he lett the minstry and turned away from Christianity, he remained a kind of “preaches he was an enor= ‘mous popula letarer Fis he wuld "deposit ieasin i jour (hich he alld "my bank account”) and tien he developed his lectures fom the notes in his joural. Next, he rewrote them nto sesay,SoRetian (11) sone of dhe mest mous ofthese lecture) ‘say and is widely edn American high stool tay Thee is fille with memoeable ins, uns go most Americans ‘Tobeievein your own thought, tobetieve that what issue for yon in your private ert is true for all men, ~ tha i ena To be great st be misunderstood A fol comsinteney i the hoby bin of ee minds Equally importa is Emerson's essay The OvrSn! (as). The “OverSoul” h"that unity. within which every man's particular beings contained and mud ane witha things lowing ot of that unity, "Manistee whone sources iden.” From the Over Soa ome aides and intelligence: "We donot determine what we think, We only open our senses and safer the net to se 1a his exay The Pot (tig), Emerson desribes the pct asthe “complete man”. The poet resus tan ud Uanaghts. A good poet Ielprus “mount to paradise By the stasay opie + ne i ii Fee thae the font ofa poet should grow owe ofits thought. "This Iecamte each poem “has an architecture ofits own “Avec as Wal Whitman, Emerson helpedopen American portry to new posites His poetry ie offen errze as beng asked fin! uel. But fr hen pote’ dd no always have to produce ess sounds, Har sounds could be wed to surprie theca. He {hointrduced the nation tently new pox material such asthe Hingis that we arealwaysreborninto this world each die wedi This the theme of his Bat: the eed slayer think he ays (Or i he slain’ think he sain, They knoe not wel these! way W keep ad pas, ad ca agai, ut perhaps hes est own athe author of the Cond hm, which Celebrates the Butte of Concord during the American Revolution, The lat line of the st stanza” i aniar to most Americans iy the rude? bridge that ated dhe Hoos “Th Hag to Aprils ineeze unl, Here once dhe embattled? farmer stood "And fied the sho heard sound the world Another tterary gant who lived in Emerson's hometown of Concord hits miles west of Boson) was mnsky navi tuowEAD [ney Bhs). Ava young man at Harvard, Thoreau hd been deply teflon by zeading Nt and remained a pare Transendentale [Realise He an Emer hel many sii pisos: hey eve Tooke alike and for two years Thoreau lve in Emerson's home Emerson often remarked thatthe Younger mats eas seemed like continuations of is own, Over the years, however the relationship ‘ica ineresinly iia. Tn 1, Thoreau wrote ofa meeting brewer the te i whi: Emerson "ld ine what already knew” ‘Thoreau fle that he had wasted his timehe Emerson, Thoreancreated his lectures and books rom notin scarey kept orn: "My journal sth forme which would else spillover andruntoxeante.” But whathe wrote there and ins books "sas writen in afar morelivelystylethan Emerson's Emerson wre shout nature in the aburact"™. Thoren, however, was a exper enced woodsa and his works ate filled with details about plans, fives and wii In uy, Thoreau was aeested and pt in ji fr one night because Ine had reused to pay is taxes. Ht was a protest gaat the US goverument’ aceptaner of slavery in the South snd is wa with Mexico. He wrote about his experince in jl in hit say Ce Pisobeioe (1846) ‘As Isto considering the walls of said stone nd the iron rating” whieh strained thei, leoul nthe being sre withthe oishnes the insttion which cated nea i were lesh and bones wo be locked up As dey could not Feach me, they had rely to pani my bay. ‘The theme of his work “that we should be mien Hirst and subjects aferward” ~ made ita great inflame om Tolstoy, Gandhi and Martin Luther King. I iprbably the es-known American eay outside he United Seats rom 145 o 1847, Thoreau ved alnein hut he bil or inset ‘nthe north shore Walden Pon few niles rm Concord Wile thre he wrote A Wek on he Curd and Merial ir The bak is loosely nani around the tory ve rip which he had once takew with hs brother. Most of the material 3 actually fon his oumal. One ert has called ts heap of goa ings athe than bok” various icusionsinclade a etalog offhon te Concord River the poeuy of Homer fights with Indian snd the Transeetalen- talist meaning of sounds Late, in 854, Thoteau wrote bis wor-fmous Halden, about his stay inthe pondhide hat. Initsownstrange ay, itisone ofthe rests works af American iertute. On the surface speaks only of thr se ing a ie practical side ofving alouein the woos, ofthe plants, aienals and -nsetsone finds there, and ofthe changing seasons But in fat ei completly Transcendent work. The autho isto “ive through ‘he ssble wo theinisble through the temporal othe etrnal™ He ejects the things ordinary people desire in if, such as money and prsewions Instead, he eanphasives” the search for trie wisdom ‘While civilization has been imposing ou hom thas ot equally improved those who vein them,” Tre enjoyment comes only when ‘one throw off all unnecesary things. Deering hi te home, fe Sys, "My best room always ready fr ompany was the pine woud behind my howe.” Walden i a hopeful book, encouraging Propet eadincere,joyouslives, The autho sees the world smote ‘wonder han i convenient; more beaut tha is weil” Thoreau’ poetry ia ess important than Emerson's, Heseemsto apologize fortis fact when he wets "My he hs ben the poem 1 ‘would have wie / But Feu ot bat ive and ater" it” Many of ‘Thoreau’ powe'” sentences, however, sud Uke poetry. Somne ae ow famous sayings in our literature ‘The mass of men lead lve of quiet desperation? Avi you cou Kil time without injuring eternity Throughout the Hom his interest sence increased But he always fa bate difference between himself and the cientie naturalist 19185, hewrote,"Mancannotaffordtobea naturalist, Took t Natiredivertly- Turns the man ofsciene to stone” Alo ‘round this tie, Thoreau became deeply intersted inthe Abii ist" movement. His home Became a meeting place for antiaavery| vous He was an active member ofa group stich helped slaves ‘ape to freedom: