Realism
1850s - 1890s
Influenced by the events preceding and following the Civil War, literature from this period is less philosophical in nature than the romantic period and more cynical and questioning. This period reflects a concern for the everyday experiences of the common man.
Featured author for this period...
Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin- biographical information from the Kate Chopin International Society.
We'll watch School House Rock's "Sufferin' Till Suffrage" in class and you can check out the lyrics here. (Check out the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.)
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement 1848 - 1998 - scroll down to read "A Declaration of Sentiments is Drafted". This is a great resource from the National Womens' History Project with a wealth of information about the ongoing struggle for Women's rights spanning over 150 years.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Short Story: "The Story of an Hour" p. 642
Even more to explore...
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce- an informative resource from the Poetry Foundation.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Short Story: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" p. 518
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane- interesting information about Crane from Biography.com.
Stephen Crane- links to some of Crane's works as well as biographical information from the Poetry Foundation.
Casualties of Battle- An informative source and connection to "An Episode of War" from the National Park Service: Antietam, National Battlefield- Maryland.
Series: A Most Horrid Picture- another informative source and connection to "An Episode of War" from the National Park Service.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Short Story: "An Episode of War" p. 486
Mary Chestnut
Documenting the American South: A Diary from Dixie, as Written by Mary Boykin Chesnut- comprehensive resource from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Excerpt from Diary: "Mary Chestnut's Civil War" p. 550
Frederick Douglas
Africans in America Resource Bank: Frederick Douglass- an interesting site from PBS
The Frederick Douglass Papers - from the American Memory section of the Library of Congress online.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Excerpt from Autobiography: "My Bondage and My Freedom" p. 506
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Paul Lawrence Dunbar- biographical information as well as links to some of his works, from the Academy of American Poets.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Poem: "Douglass" p. 652
Poem: "We Wear the Mask" p. 654
Stephen Foster (composer) & George Cooper (lyricist)
Stephen Collins Foster- interesting biographical information from the University of Pittsburgh
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Song: "Willie Has Gone to the War" -p. 491
Warren Lee Goss
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Excerpt from Journal: "Recollections of a Private" p. 554
Bret Harte
Bret Harte- from the University of Washington, biographical information and links to e-texts.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Short Story: "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" p. 592
Stonewall Jackson
Virginia Military Institute: Stonewall Jackson Resources
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Letter: "An Account of the Battle of Bull Run" p. 558
Robert E. Lee
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial- this National Park Service site will let you explore the memorial and learn more about Lee.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Letter: "Letter to His Son" p. 535
Abraham Lincoln
The White House: Abraham Lincoln- interesting biographical information
The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Speech: "The Gettysburg Address" p. 532
Speech: “Second Inaugural Address” p. 533
Public Document: “Emancipation Proclamation” p. 541
Audio Book/MP3
The Gettysburg Address is available as "literature for your eyes and ears" through LoudLit.org!
Randolp McKim
Documenting the American South: Randolph McKim- A Soldier's Recollections: Leaves from the Diary of a Young Confederate with an Oration on the Motives and Aims of the Soldiers of the South- a comprehensive resource from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Excerpt from Diary: "A Confederate Account of the Battle of Gettysburg" p. 556
Spiritual
Negro Spirituals- an interesting site with lots of information about the history of early gospel songs.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Traditional: "Go Down, Moses" p. 500
Traditional: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" p. 498
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth Institute - sponsored by the Michigan Humanities Council.
A Narrative of Sojourner Truth, A Northern Slave- full e-text from the University of Pennsylvania.
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Letter: "An Account of an Experience with Discrimination" p. 561
Reverend Henry M. Turner
Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience - Selected Textbook Resources:
Nonfiction: "Reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation" p. 559
Mark Twain
Excerpt from Nonfiction: Life on the Mississippi p. 576
Short Story: “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” p. 581
Overall "Text to World" & "Text to Text" Connections for this Literary Period
American Memory Timeline - from the Learning Page at The Library of Congress, this link will help you connect American history to American literature.