Literature Timeline

By Nathan Genetzky
2000 B.C-A.D 1620
Of Plymouth Plantation
(1856)
 Written by William Bradford
 Of Plymouth Plantation represents the religious struggles of the
Puritans as they abandon Britain for the New World. The Story
also goes through the relationship between the Indians and the
settlers. Being Hostile at fire it develops to the sharing of
knowledge that could easily be accredited for the pilgrims survival
through winter. They went as far as to form an alliance, in which if
one was attacked the other would aid them. I think this piece
describes the time period because the relations with Indians
changed toward hostilities in later years. We forced the Indians
into submission and forced them to accept our values, this is
highly contrasted to that time period when we were escaping
Britain's attempt to push their religious beliefs onto us.
1620-1800
The Crucible (1953)
 Written by Arthur Miller
 The Crucible is a play about the Salem Witchcraft
trials, trails and prosecutions based purely on
accusations. Although the purpose and the desire for
fairness in the Judicial Branch’s core values have not
changed very much this story is an example of how the
moral views of a culture can sway the values thought to
be concrete. Though events such as these we have a
better grasp on how to avoid such injustices from
occurring in our justice system by requiring more
evidence and providing more guidelines and laws to
prevent false prosecutions.
1620-1800
The Declaration of
Independence (1776)
 Written by Thomas Jefferson
 The Declaration of Independence was a key document
in not only our history but for freedom and democratic
seeking countries all over the world. The document has
been referred back to in arguments again slavery and
with the woman’s suffrage movement. The
“Declaration” ‘declared’ our freedom from British rule,
which was significant because at that time Britain was
an empire. Thomas Jefferson lists the injuries and
usurpations against the American people by the British
tyranny.
1800-1855
Walden (1854)
 Written by Henry David Thoreau
 Walden is based on Thoreau’s time at a cabin on
Walden lake in which he attempts to live by his individual
beliefs rather than follow those forced on him by society.
He rejects the views he claims as materialistic,
attempting to live simply. He states that an honest man
can count his estate on his fingers. He also rejected the
idea of the postal service, saying that nothing important
has ever been sent over it. I think perhaps its just that he
was never important enough to receive any though this
may be a little judgemental. He goes on to rant that news
wastes our time, I can hardly imagine what he would
think of the internet. He uses many aphorisms or general
truths about the world in brief statements.
1800-1855
Self Reliance (1841)
 Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson
 Self Reliance is a piece urging non-conformity and
individualism, to keep the independence of solitude even
among a crowd. I think this is a growing issue when in a
democratic government the only really benefit can become
from the expressing of separate and individual opinions and
beliefs regardless if misunderstood, the conformity and
bandwagon style voting would lead us farther from the goal
of democracy. I greatly agree with his statement “good and
bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this”.
He goes on to say that instead he goes by his own ‘moral
compass’ so to say. He thinks that to contradict ones self is
ok as long as the opinions your have are from strong
thought, things change, opinions may as well.
1855-1925
“Much Madness is Divinest
Sense” (1862)
 Written By Emily Dickenson
 “Much Maddness is Divinest Sense” is Emily
Dickenson’s attempt to put her opinion on the
conformity of society. She believes society
shuns those that are different even if the
different is “good” because they reject the
social norms. This writing leads me to question
about other aspects of her life and her social
Interactions. I think that if she were in today’s
society she would have felt more accept by
joining in with other outcasts of societies.
1855-1925
The Great Gatsby (1925)
 Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald
 The Great Gatsby does an excellent job of transitioning
from the previous romantic views about love, to a more
modern view of love and marriage. In the duration of
the plot there are multiple affairs ranging from mere
lust to deep affection that has grown over many years.
This story draws parallels between the desire for
happiness and the desire for wealth. I think this story
also connect with the moral views of the time because
even though Daisy and Tom cheated on each other
they stayed together in marriage.
1900-1940
“How it feels to be Colored Me”
(1928)
 Written by Zora Neale Hurston
 “How it feels to be Colored me” is a great example of
childrens’ innocents of Cultural and Political affairs;
Racial tensions were still evident in the South. This
piece is especially important as a piece of Literature
in the Harlem Renassians because it talks of the
Black’s role in society to be equal to everyone elses.
When Zora talks of the contents of her “brown paper
bag” and how the content is barely different from the
“brown paper bag”’s that each American has.
1940-Present
“In Response to Executive
Order 9066” (1942)
 Written by Dwight Okita
 “In Response to Executive Order 9066” is a story of
one of the most shameful moments of American
History, from the point of view of a 14 year old girl. The
girl knows little of the significance of this event as we
would see it; but she feels the sting of the betrayal of
her best friend and accusations of being a traitor. I
think the Point of view strengthens the message of the
book because she doesn’t understand the ‘Reason’ for
the relocation, so the piece appeals directly to our
emotional appeal and lets us feel the pain and
alienation the Japanese felt in this time.
1940-Present
“Teenage Wasteland”
(1984)
 Written by Anne Tyler
 I think this story displays the contrast in family relations
compared to how it had been a generation before. The story
is focused on the problems the teenage faces with friends,
school, and self esteem. The problems foil those of the
parents, in which they struggle between how to treat their
son and the disciple they should enact to lead him towards
the right path. This story attempts to make us question our
view of the parents and the situation; are the parents too
controlling or are they just doing their best to make sure
their son doesn’t go down a bad path? Many of us, being
teens have the point of view similar to that of the son;
Sometimes it helps to try to put ourselves into another view
when looking at a situation to provide us with more insight of
what they could possibly be thinking.
Publication Dates
 The Plymouth plantation 1856
 The Crucible 1953
 The Declaration of Independence 1776
 Walden 1854
 Self Reliance 1841
 Much Madness is the Divinest Sense 1862
 The Great Gatsby 1925
 How it feels to be colored me 1928
 In Response to Executive Order 9066 1942
 Teenage wasteland 1984