American Literature - Revised Edition - Early American and Colonial Period to 1776

Sep 18, 2026

Revised Edition outline of American literature from the Early American and Colonial period through major movements up to contemporary poetry and prose. Chapters cover key eras including 1776, the Democratic Origins and Revolutionary writers, the Romantic period (essayists, poets, and fiction), the rise of realism, modernism and experimentation, and later anti-tradition shifts in poetry and realism in post-1945 prose. The text also includes a glossary and index, with front matter on publication staff and the author’s background.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages179

Reading Time4 h 36 min

AccessFree to download

Early American and Colonial Period to 1776

Democratic origins and revolutionary writers, 1776-1820

The Romantic Period, 1820-1860: Essayists and poets

The Romantic Period, 1820-1860: Fiction

The rise of Realism: 1860-1914

Modernism and experimentation: 1914-1945

American poetry, 1945–1990: The anti-tradition

American prose, 1945–1990: Realism and experimentation

Contemporary American poetry

Contemporary American literature glossary

Index

~~ ~~ Outline fo AMERICAN LITERATURE ~~ ~~REVISED~~❦~~EDITION~~ ~~ AMERICAN LITERATURE REVISED EDITION EARLY AMERICAN AND COLONIAL PERIOD TO 1776 DEMOCRATIC ORIGINS AND REVOLUTIONARY WRITERS, 1776-1820 THE ROMANTIC PERIOD, 1820-1860: ESSAYISTS AND POETS THE ROMANTIC PERIOD, 1820-1860: FICTION THE RISE OF REALISM: 1860-1914 MODERNISM AND EXPERIMENTATION: 1914-1945 AMERICAN POETRY, 1945–1990: THE ANTI-TRADITION AMERICAN PROSE, 1945–1990: REALISM AND EXPERIMENTATION CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN POETRY CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN LITERATURE GLOSSARY INDEX 3 14 26 36 47 60 79 97 121 136 157 163 PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE STAFF WRITTEN BY: KATHRYN VANSPANCKEREN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: GEORGE CLACK MANAGING EDITOR: PAUL MALAMUD CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: KATHLEEN HUG ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER: THADDEUS A. MIKSINSKI , JR. PICTURE EDITOR: JOANN STERN Front Cover: © 1994 Christopher Little ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kathryn VanSpanckeren is Professor of English at the University of Tampa, has lectured in American literature widely abroad, and is former director of the Fulbright-sponsored Summer Institute in American Literature for international scholars. Her publications include poetry and scholarship. She received her Bachelors degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Ph. D. from Harvard University. The following text materials may not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder.“In a Station of the Metro”(page 63) by Ezra Pound. From Ezra Pound Personae. Copyright © 1926 by Ezra Pound. Translated and reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”(page 65) by Robert Frost. From The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem. Copyright 1923. © 1969 by Henry Holt and Co. , Inc. , © 1951 by Robert Frost. Reprinted and translated by permission of Henry Holt and Co. , Inc. “Disillusionment of Ten O’Clock”(page 66) by Wallace Stevens. From Selected Poems by Wallace Stevens. Copyright 1923 and renewed 1951 by Wallace Stevens. Reprinted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. “The Red Wheelbarrow”(page 66) and “The Young Housewife”(page 67) by William Carlos Williams. Collected Poems. 1909-1939. Vol. I. Copyright 1938 by New Directions Publishing Corp. Reprinted by permission of New Directions. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”(page 69) by Langston Hughes. From Selected Poems by Langston Hughes. Copyright 1926 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. and renewed 1954 by Langston Hughes. Reprinted by permission of the publisher. “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”(page 80) by Randall Jarrell from Randall Jarrell: Selected Poems; © 1945 by Randall Jarrell, © 1990 by Mary Von Schrader Jarrell, published by Farrar Straus & Giroux. Permission granted by Rhoda Weyr Agency, New York. "The Wild Iris" (page 125) from The Wild Iris by Louise Glück. Copyright © 1993 by Louise Glück. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc. "Chickamauga" (page 126) from Chickamauga by Charles Wright. Copyright © 1995 by Charles Wright. Reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC. "To The Engraver of my Skin" (page 129) from Source by Mark Doty. Copyright © 2001 by Mark Doty. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc. "Mule Heart" (page 130) from The Lives of The Heart by Jane Hirshfield. Copyright © 1997 by Jane Hirshfield. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc. "The Black Snake" (page 131) copyright © 1979 by Mary Oliver. Used with permission of the Molly Malone Cook Literary Agency. "The Dead" (page 132) is from Questions About Angels by Billy Collins, © 1991. Reprinted by permission of the University of Pittsburgh Press. "The Want Bone" (page 133) from The Want Bone by Robert Pinsky. Copyright © 1991 by Robert Pinsky. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc. Yusef Komunyakaa, "Facing It" (page 134) from Dien Cai Dau i

FAQs

What historical periods does the outline of American literature cover?

It spans the Early American and Colonial period through 1776, then moves through 1776-1820, 1820-1860, 1860-1914, 1914-1945, 1945–1990, and finally contemporary American poetry and literature.

Which topics are addressed under the Romantic period?

The outline separates the Romantic period into essayists and poets, and a separate section for Romantic fiction.

What reference materials are included in addition to the literary periods?

The publication includes a glossary and an index, and it also lists publication staff and author background in the front matter.

Sep 18, 2026

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