Early American literature consisted mainly of diaries‚ journals‚ short stories‚ and Indian creation stories. Since some of the language used was of older English and other languages‚ early American literature was difficult to read.<br><br>The first story I read was Spanish Explorers in the New World. This story was a journal of Cabeza de Vaca’s travels and discoveries in the New World. After having a shipwreck‚ he and his fellow sailors were made slaves of the Indians. They walked barefoot‚ bleeding
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American Literature begins in the early 1600’s with the written works of the new settlers coming from Europe to the New Land of America. Although the Indians lived in America before the first Europeans arrived; their literature was somewhat neglected due to it being transmitted orally with no written works. The American writings of the early seventeenth century possess no great artistic value; they are mainly valuable as a study in origins and understanding America’s early experience. During its
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Early American literature has a large and diverse style that reflects beliefs and traditions that come from the nation’s frontier days. The pioneer ideals of self reliance and “independence” appear in many American writings (Columbus 23). Several American writers have always had a strong tendency to break literary traditions‚ and invent their own. Through literary analysis‚ the audience is able to trace the dominant themes of opportunity and religion that contribute to American values in literature
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Final Paper Topic: While women once had few life options beyond isolation in the domestic sphere‚ what historical developments presented new opportunities for women in society? I. Introduction A. This paper will be written in essay form to explore historical developments which presented new opportunities to women. In our history women traditionally led and managed a domestic lifestyle that kept them in the home serving and caring for the family. Over the years‚ since the founding of our great
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Women generally did not fight in the revolution‚ and the traditional status of Eighteenth Century women meant that they were not publicly able to participate fully in the debates over the revolution. However‚ in their own sphere‚ and sometimes out of it‚ woman participated fully in the revolution in all the ways that their status and custom allowed. As the public debate over the Townshend Acts grew more virulent‚ women showed their support for the cause of freedom by engaging in certain "feminine"
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However‚ some women did indeed fight alongside the men in the battlefield. The most famous example would be the “Molly Pitcher” women‚ women who delivered water to soldiers in the war (Timmons). One of them was a woman named Margaret Cochran Corbin‚ who took over her husband’s cannon in battle after her husband was killed and after the war‚ received half a soldier’s pension for her services (Timmons). Another example would be Deborah Sampson‚ a woman who disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtlieff
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south from keeping up with the industrial and financial growth of the north. Leading up to the American Revolution women were socially and economically beneath men. They were expected to be diligent wives and mothers without legal rights‚ such as the ability to vote or own property. Women’s social and political roles began to change during the civil war bringing about greater rights for women. As women began to advocate for their own rights the women’s movement gained momentum to achieve equal rights
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Themes of Early American Literature Early American literature does a tremendous job of revealing the exact conditions and challenges that were faced by the explorers and later by the colonists of the New World. From early shipwrecks to the later years of small colonies barely surviving through dreadful winters‚ the literary works of the time period focus on some very recognizable themes. The theme of any given work – being simply the unifying subject or idea – is a very important element of any
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Early American literature is full of the spirit of individualism. This spirit can best be described by Emerson when he says‚ "Good men must not obey the laws too well". This view has long been an inspiration for future generations of Americans to start some of the greatest reformations of our history. Among the literary units that show support for Emerson’s idea‚ there are three that are more powerful at conveying this spirit. The Revolutionaries‚ the Transcendentalists‚ and the
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Values in Early American Literature "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life‚ liberty‚ and the pursuit of happiness‚" says the Declaration of Independence. This phrase encompasses three major values shown throughout early American literature. The strong belief in religion‚ freedom‚ and a strong will for a better life. Each piece had one or more of these themes
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