How would you characterize (in general) American literature written through the year 1865? What about these chronologically and stylistically diverse works of literature have made the greatest impression on you?
What debt to British and European literature and indigenous oral tradition do you see in the literature of this period of American history? Which works, authors, and events do you think were most significant to the development of the literature that serves as the basis for the literature written in American since the end of the Civil War? How has this course aided you in developing your understanding of and appreciation for earlier American literature? What changes to this course might benefit students enrolled in future sections?