Art enthusiasts often study various eras in history, where the great masters produced works in common with certain themes of their time. For instance, under a basic study of art history, you would encounter the eras of Gothic art, as well as the Impressionist era and the Renaissance. Interestingly, American literature has also unfolded with common writing themes throughout certain eras of time.
When we speak of American Literature, it is understood to mean works that were written in America and in English. If you trace the history of literature in America, you no doubt will also acquire knowledge about the history of events that were unfolding throughout the country during the eras that certain pieces of writing were published.
The Colonial era is the first main period of American Literature
Writing analysts typically refer to the first main era of American Literature as ”The Colonial Era,” because the writers of this time were colonists—primarily British citizens who had traveled across the sea to begin a new life in the regions that ultimately became known as ”The 13 Colonies.” Famous authors of this time, include Cotton Mather and John Winthrop, as well as Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley.
The Revolutionary writers came next
Following the Colonia era, American Literature entered its Revolutionary era. As one might expect, many novels of this time have undertones of war and politics. The Revolutionary era lasted approximately 35 years. ”The Federalist Papers” and ”The Declaration of Independence” are two of most well-known pieces of literature in this era.
The Early National Period lasted from 1775 to 1828
During the next main era of American Literature, writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and James Fennimore Cooper made a name for themselves. It was also during this era that the first American comedy was written for a stage performance. As American poetry was being established, readers could sense underlying issues that were not typically present in British poetry, which tended to focus on etiquette and manners.
American poetry, on the other hand, focused on patriotism, national events, social issues and political matters. A comparison of the two styles undoubtedly demonstrates the differences between the two cultures.
Make way for the Romantic era of writing
You may more commonly hear this era called The Renaissance. Many literary experts say that this period of American Literature is the greatest of all. It was during this time that famous classics, such as ”Moby Dick” and ”The Scarlet Letter” were written.
Mark Twain is known for his work during the Realistic Era of American Literature
America experienced another war as the Early National Period of writing became the Realistic Era. Readers of post-Civil War novels would come to know Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Lovers of poetry enjoyed the works of Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and others. It was during the Realistic era that Ernest Hemingway wrote ”A Farewell to Arms,” and Jane Austen wrote ” Pride and Prejudice.”
Several more literary eras were to come. We encourage you to research the topic, if you haven’t already, to learn more about American Literature eras and to get an overview of how daily life in America, as well as political, cultural and social events, have influenced some of the world’s most prolific writers throughout many centuries. Do you have a favorite period in American Literature? If you could become a writer in any time period, which would it be?
