Literary Analysis
American Literature
Literary Analysis
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Choose at least one Literary period
American Romanticism: 1800-1840
 Transcendentalism: 1820-1860
 Dark Romantics: 1840-1860
 Realism: 1865-1900
 Modernism: 1900-1940
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Literary Analysis
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Choose at least one example from each period
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Romanticism:
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Transcendentalism:
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Dark Romantics:
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Romantic Poetry
“Nature”
Walden
Poetry of Whitman
Poetry of Poe
“Young Goodman Brown”
“The Black Cat”/ “Masque of the
Red Death
Literary Analysis
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Choosing the texts (continued)
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Realism:
Bridge”
“Celebrated Jumping Frog…
“On the Damned Human Race”
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek
“The Real Thing”
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Literature of Fitzgerald:
“Babylon Revisited”
“Winter Dreams”
The Great Gatsby
Philosophical Descriptions
Romanticism
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Heroes: were larger than life; led simple lives; were morally
strong; had high ideals; were somewhat untamed but adaptable,
avoided “city” life; women usually represented domestication.
Themes: focused on the Truth of life, highlighted moral
constants and simplicity, honesty; clash between modernization
and traditions, rural vs. urban.
Settings: were usually in the “past” and/or in the untamed
wilderness that tested the main characters. Usually showed the
profound differences between rural life and industrialization.
Philosophical Descriptions
Transcendentalism
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Themes: focused on the internal struggle to the attainment of
Truth, serenity, morally sound thinking. There is a belief in a
Divine Soul/God and that man must forever struggle to find this
“purpose”. Education, Freedom, Equality, are all valuable.
Settings: almost all literature focuses on the value of untamed
Nature. It is through the inner-workings of Nature that man can
find the Divine Soul.
Characters: although few works of fiction are Transcendental,
the essays, poems, etc. usually focus on simple characters, who
strive for perfection through hard work and discipline and a
communion with Nature. Individuals are simple and self-reliant.
Philosophical Descriptions
Dark Romantics:
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Themes: similar to Romanticism, these stories usually focus on
some moral issue. The difference is the Dark Romantics see the
evil in the world as very tempting and prevalent. These works
often show the dark side of human existence. Man is not always
“good” but has the potential for evil and sin.
Settings: are broad ranging. Settings often highlight the tests that
face man, morally and ethically. Eerie, tense, “urban” settings
evoke some of the conflict
Characters: certainly show internal conflict, turmoil, moral
challenges; usually have a dark secret or gnawing conflict.
Philosophical Descriptions
Realism
 The rise of literature from various social classes and
minority perspectives, “Everyman” characters/heroes
 Regionalism—Perspective of the common people of
various regions. Often shown through dialogue and
dialect. Believable characters, situations, and conflicts.
 Naturalism—Looks at Man’s often contradictory
experiences. Morality does not necessarily lead to
proper behaviors
Philosophical Descriptions
Realism/Ultra-realism
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Themes: deal with the realities and complexities of the modern,
ever-changing, and very diverse of life. Sometimes even the
mundane and minutia of life is highlighted—Mountains out of
Molehills
Characters: many of these characters are very normal in most
every way— Everyman. Deals with the Questions of Existence
or more complex issues
Settings: run the gamut. Realism in its modern form has settings
in past, present or future.
Philosophical Descriptions
Modernism/Post-modernism
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Theme: Man vs. the world. The universal conflicts of literature are almost
always present here. The “hero” is often alone in the world and tested
repeatedly. The emptiness of the modern world is prevalent. “Wasteland”
Imagery—Dream vs. Reality. The ugliness of the modern world is bubbling
often just underneath the surface of a seemingly idyllic action. Morals and
traditions come into questions.
Characters: Struggle to come to grips with the modern world. Not traditional
hero. Flaws permeate the characters. Some “dark” side is evident if not
outwardly noticeable. “Grace under pressure” is another kind of hero.
Setting: Modern world. Conflict is all around. Many stories set in wartime,
post war, Europe, big cities, “new” South, industrial/economic blight. Simple
times aren’t so simple.