American Literature Movements and Authors

The video explores the evolution of American literature over 400 years, divided into key periods: Colonial, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, and Contemporary. Each period is characterized by unique themes, notable authors, and representative works, reflecting the cultural and historical context of the time.

What is the primary focus of American literature in its earliest days?

• Dramatic plays about colonial life

• Poetry about the American landscape

• Practical nonfiction by British settlers

• Fictional stories about Native Americans

Who wrote the first African-American book?

• Sojourner Truth

• Frederick Douglass

• Harriet Beecher Stowe

• Phyllis Wheatley

Which author is known for inventing the modern detective story?

• Walt Whitman

• Edgar Allan Poe

• Herman Melville

• Nathaniel Hawthorne

What is a key characteristic of the Naturalist Period in American literature?

• Emphasis on political themes

• Use of abstract language

• Depiction of life as it truly is

• Focus on romantic ideals

Which novel critiques the American Dream during the Modernist Period?

• Long Day's Journey into Night

• Their Eyes Were Watching God

• Native Son

• The Great Gatsby

What movement sought to create a uniquely black consciousness in literature?

• Civil Rights Movement

• Black Arts Movement

• Harlem Renaissance

• Transcendentalism