Characteristics of

English –
American
Literature
Ildefonso, Princess Aquino
Presenter
English – American
Literature
What are the meanings?
What is English Literature?

English literature is the

collection of literary works
using the English language
written in Great Britain
and British colonies from
7th century to the present
day.
American Literature
American Literature

are the literary works

written and published in
America.
Characteristics of English Literature

FEATURES AND THEMES

English Literature
01 CLASSIC AND REFINED

It was passed by many generations yet, it NEVER

SEEMS TO GROW OLD.
 William Shakespeare

Famous
Writers Geoffrey Chaucer
English Literature
02 IT REFLECTS THEIR IDEALS,
BELIEFS, TRADITION
Most concerns:

● Political Organization
● War
● Validity of Family and
Marriage
● Rules of Society
The New Generation
and The Two Nations
(1844)
by Benjamin Disraeli
English Literature
03 Relatively Small- Scale
Literary works are often family-
based settings.

Example:

Romeo and Juliet by William

Shakespeare.

White Teeth (2000) by Zadie

Smith
 Most Common
Themes
 Intelligence of people
 Manners
 Big difference between the rich
and poor
 Plots on subjects
 Emphasis on Characterization
 Monarchy, knights
Pieces about the themes
Lancelot, the Knight if the The Knights Tale
Beowulf Cart by Chretien de Troyes by Geoffrey
Chaucer

01
Characteristics of American
Literature
American
Literature is a
young literature

Emerged in the 17th

century
 Most pieces disregard the traditional
writing styles and themes

 Focus more on contemporary

styles

 Have their own genre like

detective stories and science
fiction.
Famous works of Edgar Allan Poe

He is the Father of
Detective Stories

“ The Murders
in the Rue “The Mystery of
Morgue” Marie Roget”

The Purloined
Letter
 Focus on Individualism, Romanticism, Realism,
Modernism, Naturalism

Individualist Culture American Culture

Idea of one focusing on Idea where anyone who wishes

their own goals and desires to get successful, they can
rather that with group. achieve it by their own
determination.

Jenesse Williams “ The Glass

Menagerie” Benjamin Franklins’ Autobiography
More realistic in portraying characters

It shows the their definition of life.

New way of life and new nations’

consciousness.

Mark Twain – Famous writer

Culture, history, church, state.

Literary Works about Realism and Naturalism
 Thanks!
Do you have any questions?

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A. Ildefonso