14 authors associated with freedom in literature:

Question 1

18th and 19th Century Authors:

Benjamin Franklin
(1706–1790):

Answer 1

• Literary Style: Known for his pragmatic and straightforward writing style, often utilizing aphorisms and wit.
• Contributions to Freedom: Franklin’s autobiography emphasizes self-improvement, individualism, and the pursuit of liberty. His political activism played a crucial role in advocating for American independence.

Question 2

18th and 19th Century Authors:

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

Answer 2

• Literary Style: Celebrated for his free verse poetry, unconventional use of language, and expansive, democratic themes.
• Contributions to Freedom: “Leaves of Grass” is his seminal work that celebrates individualism, democracy, and the vastness of America. Whitman’s poetry embodies inclusivity and personal freedom.

Question 3

18th and 19th Century Authors:

Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) & Harriet Jacobs (1813–1897)

Answer 3

• Literary Style: Both authors employed vivid, narrative-driven prose to document their experiences.
• Contributions to Freedom: Douglass’s “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” and Jacobs’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” provide poignant firsthand accounts of the struggles for freedom and dignity in slavery.

Question 4

Mid to Late 19th Century Authors:

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864)

Answer 4

• Literary Style: Known for his dark romanticism and exploration of moral allegories.
• Contributions to Freedom: “The Scarlet Letter”
  portrays Hester Prynne’s defiance of societal norms, challenging moral and religious authority in pursuit of personal freedom.

Question 5

Mid to Late 19th Century Authors:

Mark Twain (1835–1910)

Answer 5

• Literary Style: Renowned for his humorous and satirical writing style, capturing colloquial language and regional dialects.
• Contributions to Freedom: “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
  critiques societal norms and racism through the character of Huck Finn, who seeks personal freedom and moral integrity.

Question 6

Late 19th to Early 20th Century Authors:

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

Answer 6

• Literary Style: Known for her concise and introspective poetry, often exploring themes of nature, death, and individual consciousness.
• Contributions to Freedom: Dickinson’s poetry look into the complexities of personal freedom, challenging societal norms and conventions.

Question 7

Late 19th to Early 20th Century Authors:

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) & Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Answer 7

• Literary Style: Both transcendentalists used philosophical essays to advocate for individualism and self-reliance.
• Contributions to Freedom:
  1. Thoreau’s “Walden” reflects on simple living in nature and civil disobedience
  2. Emerson’s essays emphasize** self-reliance and non-conformity**.

Question 8

20th Century Authors:

Langston Hughes (1902–1967)

Answer 8

• Literary Style: Known for his vivid poetry, jazz-influenced language, and focus on African American experiences.
• Contributions to Freedom: Hughes’s works celebrated African American culture, advocating for social equality and artistic freedom during the Harlem Renaissance.

Question 9

20th Century Authors:

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)

Answer 9

• Literary Style: Recognized for his Gothic fiction, exploring themes of the human psyche and the dark aspects of human nature.
• Contributions to Freedom: Poe’s writing look into the complexities of personal freedom and individual morality.

Question 10

20th Century Contemporaries:

Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) & Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997)

Answer 10

• Literary Style: Representatives of the Beat Generation, known for their spontaneous and experimental writing styles.
• Contributions to Freedom:
  1. Kerouac’s “On the Road” embodies the Beat philosophy of freedom and non-conformity.
  2. Ginsberg’s “Howl” critiques societal norms, advocating for personal freedom and expression

Question 11

20th Century Contemporaries:

Theodore Dreiser (1871–1945) & Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951)

Answer 11

• Literary Style:
  1. Dreiser employed naturalism, depicting characters influenced by social and environmental forces
  2. Lewis used satire to critique societal conformity.
• Contributions to Freedom:
  1. Dreiser’s novels highlighted the limitations of personal freedom in deterministic societies,
  2. Lewis critiqued conformity and societal constraints