Young Republic Flashcards
American Novel
At first imitations of British Novels
Sentimental Novel
Was meant to show the formula of virtue being rewarded, vice punished. Teaching women how to avoid scandals and errors, dangers of seduction etc. - shows the helpless situation of the 18th century women.
William Hill Brown
The Power of Sympathy; first American novel, told through letters.
Susana Rowlson
The Charlotte Temple - tells the story of a schoolgirl who gets seducted by a british officer, for whom she leaves Britain for America, where she gets abandoned, pregnant and dies. Reason must control passion.
Picaresque Novel
An episodic novel that features an unconventional protagonist traveling and getting into trouble. Major literary trend of the 18th century.
The Gothic Novel
Combines elements of horror, romance and mystery.
Charles Brocken Brown
First American gothic writer. Uses sentimental plot to explore obsession and darkness of human psyche. Influential in Britain (his works influenced the writing of Frankenstein).
Sensational violence, dramatic intensivity - was meant to educate the readers on their behavior and historical causes of actions.
Wieland
Charles Brockden Brown.
The titular protagonist (who represents enlightenment) starts hearing a voice in his head that tells him to do horrible things. He obeys - the novel critiques the pure belief in reason, because reason can’t always be used to understand the world.
Edgar Huntly
Charles Brockden Brown, captivity narrative (test of faith). Indians are shown as savage animals.
Philip Freneau
Transitional poet (romanticism was about to start as the 18th century was ending), points to romantic spirit (nature stuff) and writes about the American Revolution.
The Wild Honeysuckle
Philip Freneau. Presents a speaker who sees a honeysuckle, and talks about its beauty, the nature and how the flower’s life imitates human’s.
The Indian Burying Ground
Philip Freneau, describes the difference between the burying of the Natives (sitting position) and the colonizers (lying position) and the superiority of the Indian customs.
Thanatopsis
William Cullen Bryant. Nature as a Metaphor of Truth. The Brits were amazed by the quality of the poem.
To a Waterflow
William Cullen Bryant. Nature is the metaphor for an eternal truth. God guides the bird just like he guides the poet.
Washington Irving
Born in tolerant New York, but because of his stay in Britain he struggled with finding literary identity of his country, as it had no heritage (medieval ruins for romanticism etc.). Themes included:
- awareness of how nothing is permanent
- contrast between reality and imagination, inability to draw the line between the two
- no didactism
Washington Irving
Born in tolerant New York, but because of his stay in Britain he struggled with finding literary identity of his country, as it had no heritage (for example: how can romanticism exists if USA has no medieval foundation? And etc.). Themes included:
- awareness of how nothing is permanent
- contrast between reality and imagination, inability to draw the line between the two
- no didactism
A History of the New York from the beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Driedrich Knickerbocker
Washington Irving. A satire of serious historical pieces. Mixture of important and meaningless events, intermingled without any selection. Before it was published, Irving posted ads that suggested Knickerbocker was a real person.
The Sketchbook
Washington Irving. Collection of Knickerbocker’s short stories, such as “Legends of Sleepy Hollow” or “Rip van Winkle”.
James Fenimore Cooper
Author of Historical Romances, a pre-romantic author. Wrote The Pilot and The Spy.
The Leatherstocking Tales
James Fenimore Cooper. Tells the adventures of Hawkeye, a white child who was raised by the Native Mohican tribe.
Last of the Mohicans
James Fenimore Cooper. A sequel to The Leatherstocking Tales, set during the 7 year war.
Focusses on transport of two women in company of soldiers - Mohicans travel with them, one of them becomes a villain. Hawkeye becomes the prototype of an American Adam - pristine, innocent character, who embraces indian code of honor, and respects their culture.
