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Characteristics and Common Genres of English and
American Literature
Survey of American and English Literature (University of Southern Mindanao)
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CHARACTERISTICS AND COMMON GENRES OF ENGLISH - AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGLISH LITERATURE- these are the collection of literary works written in Great Britain and
British Colonies from 7th century to the present day.
AMERICAN LITERATURE – these are literary works written and published in America.

America was colonized by British people that is why the written and published works during
British Colony in America was part of English Literature.

There is no American Literature during the colony and after their independence, that was
the start of American Literature.

For the difference of the two, English Literature is written in British English and for the
American Literature, it is written in American English.
1.2.1 Characteristics of English Literature
1. Classic and Refined

Since English literature emerged earlier than other literature, literary works are classic
because they were written hundreds of years ago, and it was passed by many
generations, it never seems to grow old. Many English writers such as Shakespeare and
Chaucer were found valuable from generation to generation. There is something in English
literature where the works of the author transcends from time to time and still relevant up
until today.
2. Literary works reflects about their ideas, beliefs, and tradition

We know that English Literature is described chronologically like old, English, and all other
years or periods of literature. Most of their works show their concern on the society such
as political organization, war, the validity of family and of marriage. Others also wrote
about their political views and the rules of society.

One example is <The New Generation= (1844) and <The Two Nations= by Benjamin Disraeli
which talks about the huge economic and social gap between the privilege few and the
deprived working classes.
3. Relatively Small-scale


Other characteristics that are often we can recall about English Literature is that the scope
of the piece mostly is small-scale or family-based settings.
The most common example here is the story of <Romeo and Juliet= by William
Shakespeare which is about family. Another example is <White Teeth= by Zadie Smith
(2000) and the story is about two life-long friends who settled to raise their families.
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1.2.2 Most Common Themes in English Literature

In English Literature, most featured are about the intelligence of the people, manners, and
the big difference of the rich and the poor.

They also portray plots on the subjects and gives emphasis on characterization.

Moreover, they feature stories about government, which is monarchy, about knights,
heroes, images of kings and queens especially on the medieval periods and Anglo Saxons
period.

Example of pieces are Beowulf, Story of Lancelot, The Knight of the Cart by Chretien de
Troyes, and The Knights Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer.
1.2.3 Characteristics of American Literature
1. American Literature is a young literature

Since Americans was colonized before it only emerged recently when they gained their
independence hundreds of years ago in the 17th century.
2. Most pieces disregard the traditional writing styles and themes

Because of the British Colonialism in America, they tried to resist anything from
colonialism that is why traditional style were disregarded.

They are focus more on contemporary style and writers have this modern taste in writing
pieces of literature.

They tried to make their own genre like writing detective stories, science fiction, and
techniques like the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe who is the Father of Detective stories.
Edgar Allan Poe’s works where it talks about mysterious settings and detective
stories: <The Murders in the Rue Morgue= <The Mystery of Marie Roget= <The
Purloined Letter=
3. Literary works focus on individualism, romanticism, realism, modernism, and naturalism

Americans have a great respect for the value and importance of an individual and also in
democracy.

Their society has this called <individualist culture= which is the idea of one focusing on their
own goals and desires rather than acting upon within a company or a group.

This idea is reflected on writings and literary works of writers in America and one example
is the story from Jenesse Williams entitles= The Glass Menagerie= that tackle about the
individualism of Americans.

Another theme from American has this touch of <American Dream= which is the idea where
anyone who wishes to get successful, they can achieve it by their efforts and hard work,
determination, and perseverance.

One example of this is <Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography= who is a hardworking boy who
became successful, rich, and famous. More of the themes is about social rebellion, and
culture clash.
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4. More realistic in portraying characters

In most of their literature, it shows about their definition of life which is the new way of life
and new nations consciousness.

Mark Twain is one of the writers who liberated America to a creative and more realistic
perspective in writing.

In American Literature, they portray about their culture, history, the church, and the state.
Example of Literary Works about Realism and Emphasis on Naturalism.
Mark Twains’s works: < The Adventures of Tom Sawyer= (1876) <Life on the
Mississippi= (1883) <The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn= (1884)
1.2.4 Common Genres of English-American Literature

Every literary genre has their own characteristics that may varies depending upon their
concept and the way they appeal to the readers.

By definition, literary genre is a type or category of literature. On the other hand, subgenre
refers to a smaller category of literature.

Literary genre and subgenre do bring significant contribution to the readers, authors, and
to the literature itself.
Common Genres of English Literature
1. Drama

Drama is a literary composition that is intended for performance. It is also a generic term
that refers to the different forms of presentation that are meant to inform, to educate and
to entertain the audience at the same time.

A well-known play or a work of drama for the English literature is Romeo and Juliet by
William Shakespeare (father of English literature).
2. Fiction

Fiction involves literary works that are created from the imagination and is not presented
as fact.

One example of fiction is the novel of Jane Austen entitled Pride and Prejudice.

It is a romance type of fiction novel that shows how the two characters come to accept the
goodness of each other despite of their pride and prejudice.
3. Poetry

Poetry is a type of literature, or artistic writing, that attempts to stir a reader’s imagination
or emotions.

An example of well-known poetry specifically an epic poem is the Iliad and the Odyssey
by Homer. These works are said to be the earliest form of epic in the history of English
literature.
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Common Genres of American Literature

Similar to English literature, American literature is also composed of genres such as
fiction, drama and poetry. Here are the notable works per genres.
1. Fiction
For the genre of fiction, Mark Twain has a well-known novel entitled The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn (1884). This novel talks about slavery and racism which is very American in
nature.
2. Drama
For the genre of drama, there is this work of Margaret Mitchell entitled <Gone with the Wind=. This
drama has a touch of romance and talks about American history, specifically significant
happenings during the American civil war.
3. Poetry
Poetry is very significant during the American revolution because Americans used it as their
weapon in stating their arguments and in celebrating their heroes in verse and songs. Some of
the said poetries are Yankee Doodle, The epilogue and Nathan Hale.
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