American Literature: Literature Changed Over Time

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots” - Marcus Garvey. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of time in which racial pride and culture were thrust away in favor of a more traditional style of art. However, during this time, racial pride was best expressed through folk art via the means of relatable structure, understandable word choice and everyday subject matter. Common poets of the time chose not to imitate the formal and restrictive style of the European influenced “high art” and instead believed in a more down-to-earth, conversational style of writing. In these choices, poets began to shape a new form of art called “folk art” that gave readers content inspired by daily life

Gary Soto brings the impoverished, crime filled streets of the Mexican-American communities where he grew up to life by “evoking the harsh forces that often shape the life for Chicanos” (“‘Gary Soto’: Poetry Foundation” p. 1). He combines an archetypal young love poem with the concept of poverty to create the powerful poem: “Oranges” (1985). Soto also works with the notion of old age and the importance of life in his somber poem: “The Seventieth Year” (1986). Finally, he portrays the result of a young death through the affected family’s mourning in the solemn poem: “Avocado Lake” (1975). Through the use of powerful imagery, precise descriptions, and free verse poetry, Gary Soto’s poems evoke a sense of sympathy for the underprivileged Mexican-American community where he grew up, while telling a beautiful story.

by Countee Cullen and “Now and Then America” by Pat Mora display a common theme of following one’s own unique path. A person should not allow society and its standards to influence one’s individual beliefs. Figurative language, diction, and the poem’s structure are used to to demonstrate the theme of following one’s unique path.

Selena Quintanilla’s father once said, “We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans.” In today’s society, many have encountered the challenge of not being able to be who they really are because they fear not being accepted by others, more specifically their culture. But, what happens when an individual is part of two worlds that have just as many rules? Gloria E. Anzaldúa was a Mexican-American writer and poet who made a major contribution to the fields of cultural, feminist, and queer theory. Anzaldúa identifies as a Chicana and speaks different variations of Spanish, some of which she exhibits in her works. In her short story “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, she centers on the struggles of self-identity that

The settlers and the native people of America have contributed a good collection of books which constitute the body of American Literature. Any book written will register the life style of people, their food habits, culture, beliefs, system of education followed, the nature of children and their history. The books written by the writers from the United States of America have registered the expectations, hopes, future predictions along with warnings their fear for degeneration of moralities and the impacts of Industrial revolutions. American Literature was acutely carved by the history of the United Nations of America. In the beginning after a great revolution for more than a century and half America became the United States. Though at first

American Life today is reminiscent more of the age of The Romanticism period the first reason how American life today is still being reflected towards The Romantic period is through the values of the founding fathers. They took the basic ideas from The Romantic period that includes the ideas of vision and historical change. These basic ideas are still being represented every day in America that we are always a changing country, that we are always developing and that our people are the most important part of our country, these basic ideas we are still practicing 241 years later in America. The second reason The Romantic period reflects modern American life is through art and literature before the Romanticism period, books and art were written

The Harlem Renaissance was a period in American history, which occurred in the 1920s in Harlem, New York. The cultural movement was an opportunity for African Americans to celebrate their heritage through intellectual and artistic works. Langston Hughes, a famous poet, was a product of the Harlem Renaissance. One notable piece of literature by Hughes is “Dream Deferred”. However, the discussion of African American culture isn’t limited to the 1920s. Paul Laurence Dunbar showed the potential struggles of being African American in his poem “We Wear the Mask”, written fifty-five years prior to “Dream Deferred”. Both poems share similar tones and themes. “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes can serve as a sequel to “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar through displaying a cause and effect relationship which highlights the strength of neglect and disguises.

Some Southerners glorified their life while other Southern writers told the truth harshly like Mark

The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a classic 20th century story -that period was also known as the “roaring twenties”- which critiques the vision of the American Dream people in general have. At that time, the idea of a free market, and industrial revolution provided the opportunity for many to seize the market and people were starting to see that they could become rich without having any type of restriction. New York city was the centre of this wealth-creating society. After the war, this movement generated new opportunities and ambitions for people wanting to start a wealthy upper class life. That period of time was all about alcohol, partying, gambling, fashion, and money. The Great Gatsby presents its characters as having living the American Dream. However, it is only a belief; the behaviors they have and decisions they take only leave them with a false perception of life and lifestyle. The Great Gatsby relates to the corruption of the American Dream for those materialistic people who were after money. Fitzgerald reveals the idea of corruption in the American Dream through conditions such as wealth and materialism, power and social status, and relationships involving family and affairs. He uses examples of this corruption to show the reader that people are willing to lie, betray others, and commit crime to be able to live a ‘better and fuller’ life.

Arguably one of the most complex works of American Literature, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald displays a satirical United States taking place in the early twenties in New York. The roaring twenties often portrayed a happy time immediately following World War 1 however, it gave off a false feeling of joy and many people were truly unhappy. Even though Nick Carraway shows a realistic image of himself, The Great Gatsby encompasses an illusion created in this time period and portrays this image through the atmosphere surrounding the actions of its characters; it ultimately shows a conflict against reality, identical to that to the early 20th century.

Jimmy Santiago Baca primarily uses a sarcastic tone in “So Mexicans are Taking Jobs from Americans,” to get his message across that Mexicans are not simply stealing jobs from Americans. Many consider the topics and ideas that the poem tackles too political for discussion; however, Jimmy decided to share his ideas anyways. Jimmy Santiago Baca tries to make his strong argument in his poem by sharing what he sees in the overall situation. Jimmy is also trying to persuade others to think the way he does by using a sarcastic tone throughout the poem. Depending on the reader, the poem can either be effective or ineffective based on the reader’s views. However, the purpose of the poem may also be to spread the frustrations and hardships that Mexicans

The Romantic Period was an artistic, literary movement that started in Europe at the end of the 18th century. The Romantic movement was partly a reaction to the industrial revolution that dominated at that time; it was also a revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment and reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature.

The theme of self delusion is followed closely when in relation to The American Jazz Age. An era of economic success and the composition of the American dream promoted a social hierarchy and affinity for wealth. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows the life of Jay Gatsby, an affluent bootlegger with the single goal of creating a life so attractive to the woman he loves, she will leave hers behind. Passing by Nella Larsen explores the life of Clare Kendry, a woman born to a black mother, living as a white aristocrat. Ignorance of reality is explored by both Fitzgerald and Larsen; living within a delusion is presented as dangerous, making the truth difficult to accept. The delusions of Jay Gatsby and Clare Kendry are illustrated through their shared dream of living an unobtainable life and the consequences

The 1920s in America is regarded as an exuberant era of prosperity, fast cars, jazz, speakeasies, and wild youth. This era is the setting for the novel The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald illustrates the 1920s as a period of decadence and decay as a quest for the American Dream and the inherent belief in work ethic were eroded by a new set of values. Fitzgerald suggests that the search for the American Dream can lead to emptiness, despair, and death. To begin, Fitzgerald demonstrates how the hunt for the American Dream can lead to emptiness when Jordan baker states “’He says he’s read a Chicago paper for years on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy’s name.’” (Fitzgerald 64). Jordan is referring to Gatsby in this

The Roaring Twenties, so they call it, was a period of economic prosperity marked by lavish parties, daring ventures, and urban frenzy, seemingly appearing as the pinnacle of American opportunity. However, with the people’s growing confidence in achieving economic success, the American Dream was distorted into a primarily materialistic achievement, rather than an individualistic one. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the effects of the deteriorating morality of the 1920’s through the life of an ambitious young man by the name Jay Gatsby. The employment of colors to symbolize purity, romanticism, and corruption delineates the conflicting aspects within Jay Gatsby’s American Dream. Despite chasing a wholesome, white