American Literature

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how, as the political and social climate has changed, American literature has evolved to include previously disenfranchised voices, such as Native-Americans, women, African-Americans and disenfranchised immigrants from many nations of origin. The paper then explores how we define an American writer and American literature.

From the Paper:

"The representation of both women and African American writers is not the only body of inclusion. Contemporary movements have made significant strides toward the inclusion of almost every immigrant group into the canon of American literature and into the body of publishing in general in history and contemporary works. These groups include Asian immigrants, Eastern European Jews, Germans, Italians and of coarse Native Americans who have a rich tradition of their own. Yet, we must remember that this is a relatively new experience and that for the majority of the development of "American Literature" the system was one of elitism that preferred almost exclusively the point of view of the Western white male."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Einhorn, L. J. (2000). Introduction. In The Native American Oral Tradition: Voices of the Spirit and Soul (pp. 1-10). Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
• Jung, Y. (2004). The New Americanist Intervention into the Canon. American Studies International, 42(2-3), 213.
• Levine, L. W. (1996). The Opening of the American Mind: Canons, Culture, and History. Boston: Beacon Press.
• McQuade, D. Atwan, R. Banta, M. Kaplan, J. Minter, D. Stepto, R. (1998) Harper American Literature, Single Volume Edition (3rd Edition) New York: Longman.
• Jay, G. S. (1997). American Literature & the Culture Wars. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

More papers on American Literature:

• Essay # 32524 : "The Evolution of American Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 131977 : "Symbolism in American Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 105736 : "The Nature of American Literature"
• Analytical Essay # 28327 : "African-American Literature"

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