Series:

Backgrounds to American Literature

2 total works

Cover of Backgrounds to American Literature Set
"Backgrounds to American Literature" examines the history, development, and people integral to the evolution of American Literature. Ideal for middle and high school readers, this set places American Literature in its historical, cultural, and social context. Each volume explores a particular period's political, religious, cultural, economic, and social trends and discusses how they affected the literature of the time. From romanticism and transcendentalism to realism and regionalism, these engaging volumes completely cover the backgrounds of the major periods of American Literature. Each volume also includes: a glossary of terms related to the period; a biographical glossary; sidebars with extracts from notable works, biographical anecdotes, and more; a timeline of social, literary, and historical developments; recommended works for further reading; and, illustrations relating to the literature of the period and more. Accessible and easy-to-use, this set is ideal for students seeking a deeper understanding of American Literature.
The volumes include: "Colonialism and the Revolutionary Period: Beginnings-1800"; "Romanticism and Transcendentalism: 1800-1860"; "American Realism and Regionalism: 1860-1910"; "American Modernism: 1910-1945"; and, "Contemporary American Literature: 1945-Present".

Cover of Colonialism and the Revolutionary Period, Beginnings-1800
As American literature developed, it was influenced by a number of factors, such as the wilderness, religious beliefs, ideas about morality, and Enlightenment philosophy. Covering the first 300 years of American literature as well as the literature of the Puritans, the American Enlightenment, the American Revolution, and more, this volume discusses the writers and works of the American colonial and revolutionary periods. Writers covered include: Joel Barlow, William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet, Hannah Webster Foster, Olaudah Equiano, Cotton Mather, Thomas Paine, Edward Taylor, Phillis Wheatley, Roger Williams, John Winthrop, and more.