Fiction and Short Stories - 14 Chapter Notes | Crash Course for UGC NET English Literature PDF Download

Introduction to American Literature

Colonial Foundations

American literature includes all the writings produced in the English language within the United States and its earlier British colonies. This literature has its roots in the early migrations and settlements, particularly the Puritan migration, which played a crucial role in shaping a unique American culture and literary tradition.

Puritan Migration and Early Settlements

• The Puritan migration from Europe to America marked the beginning of a distinct American culture and literature.
• Before the Puritans, there were earlier European explorations of the Americas, such as Christopher Columbus ’ voyage in 1491.
• European nations competed for territory in the Americas, leading to various exploration and settlement attempts, including Sir Walter Raleigh ’s expedition in 1584 and the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1606.

The Enlightenment Influence

• After 1700, the Enlightenment brought a new way of thinking about God, nature, and humanity to America, emphasizing scientific reasoning and rationality.
• Influenced by European thinkers like Isaac Newton, the American Enlightenment, represented by figures like Benjamin Franklin, focused on reason, practicality, and material success.

St. Jean de Crévecoeur: Celebrating American Democracy

Romantic American Literature

• St. Jean de Crévecoeur (1735–1813) was a notable figure of the American Enlightenment.
• A friend of Benjamin Franklin, Crévecoeur shared similar values and perspectives.
• In his classic work, Letters From An American Farmer (1782), he praised the practice of democracy in America, highlighting its enlightened nature.

Major American Novelists

James Fenimore Cooper and Washington Irving were among the early American writers who played a significant role in shaping American literature after 1700. The period from 1800 onwards is known as the Romantic period in American literature, characterized by a focus on emotion, nature, and individualism.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, and Herman Melville were prominent writers of this period, each contributing unique perspectives and styles to the literary landscape.

After the Civil War in 1865, Mark Twain and Henry James emerged as significant voices in American literature, reflecting the changing society and culture of the time.

The modern period of American literature continued to evolve, with writers like Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and Arthur Miller addressing contemporary issues and the complexities of American life.

Washington Irving

• Washington Irving, born in 1783 and passing away in 1859, was one of the earliest American authors to achieve global recognition.
• He famously dubbed New York City as Gotham, which translates to "goat's town."
• Some of his significant literary contributions include:
• Salmagundi (1807), a literary magazine.
• The History of New York from the Beginnings of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty (1809), written under the pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker.
• The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon Gent (1819).

Famous Tales by Washington Irving

American Folklore

• Rip Van Winkle (1819): A story about a Dutch man who wanders into the Catskill Mountains, meets some peculiar little people, drinks with them, and returns home to discover that 20 years have passed.
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820): A famous tale set in a mysterious village.

Bracebridge Hall

• Bracebridge Hall or The Humorists, a Medley (1821): A work inspired by Aston Hall, showcasing humor and character sketches.

Tales of a Traveller

• Tales of a Traveller (1824): A collection of stories from a traveler's perspective.
• Short story: 'The Devil and Tom Walker' (1824): A story about a man who makes a deal with the devil.

James Fenimore Cooper

An American author from the early 1800s, known for his novels about life in America. Some of his famous works are:

• The Spy (1821): A story set during the American Revolution.
• The Leatherstocking Tales (1823-1841): A series of five novels featuring Natty Bumppo, a white man raised by Native Americans, who explores and defends the American wilderness.

Other Notable Works

• The Pioneers (1823): A tale about early settlers in America.
• The Last of the Mohicans (1826): A story set during the French and Indian War.
• The Prairie (1827): A tale about life on the American plains.
• The Pathfinder (1840): A story about a guide in the wilderness.
• The Deerslayer (the final novel of the Leatherstocking Tales): The last story in the series, focusing on Natty Bumppo's early adventures.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

An American writer known for his essays promoting self-reliance and individuality, as well as his role in the transcendentalist movement. One of his important works is:

• Nature (1836): An essay exploring the principles of transcendentalism and the relationship between humans and nature.

Essays

Colonial Romanticism

• First Series - 1841 and Second Series - 1844 (includes Self-Reliance, The Over-Soul, Circles, The Poet, Experience among other important works).
• The American Scholar - 1837: A speech delivered to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard College.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864)

• An American writer from New England. He began writing stories as a college student, but published his first fictional work after returning to Salem.
• Fanshaw - 1828
• The Scarlet Letter - 1850: This work vividly depicts the life of the Puritan community in the 17th century, rich in allegory and Christian symbolism.
• His first collection of stories - Twice-Told Tales - 1837
• The Scarlet Letter - 1850
• The House of the Seven Gables - 1851
• The Blithedale Romance - 1852: Based on his experiences at Brook Farm.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)

• He was an American writer and literary critic, best known for his poetry and short stories. Poe is considered a key figure in American Romanticism.
• His major works include:
• Tamerlane and Other Poems - 1827
• Al Aaraaf - 1829
• The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - 1838 (his only complete novel)
• Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque - 1839
• The Black Cat - 1843
• His other short stories include:
• The Tell-Tale Heart - 1843

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Gothic Poetics

He was a poet, critic, and editor, who was the first to introduce the short story as a genre in American literature. He introduced the modern detective story and was the first to write a tale of a cryptographic puzzle.

Some of his famous stories are:

• The Cask of Amontillado (1846)
• The Fall of the House of Usher (1839)
• The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)
• The Purloined Letter (1845)
• The Pit and the Pendulum (1842)

His famous poems were:

• ‘The Raven’
• ‘Annabel Lee’
• ‘A Dream Within a Dream’
• ‘To Helen’
• ‘Lenore’

The Philosophy of Composition (1846; essay)

In this work, he argued for the poem's unity of effect, stating that ‘the death of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most beautiful thing in the world’. He uses his poem, Raven, to illustrate the proper way to compose a poem—emphasising that it should not be too lengthy—and asserts that short stories are superior to novels.

The Poetic Principle (1848; essay)

In this essay, he views poems as creations meant for the sake of poetry itself. The approach should be purely aesthetic, with the aim of providing pleasure to readers. He argues that any work with a moral purpose is committing a heresy.

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

He is a humanist who played a role in the shift from transcendentalism to realism. His works include:

• Leaves of Grass (1819–1892): A collection of poems that celebrate the philosophy of life and humanity.

His most famous poems about the death of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln are: ‘O CAPTAIN! My CAPTAIN!’, ‘When Lilacs Last in the Doryard Bloom’d’, ‘Hush’d Be the Camps To-Day, This Dust Was Once The Man’ (1865).

Herman Melville (1819–1891)

He is a novelist, poet, and short story writer from the American Renaissance period. His literary works include:

Typee: A Glimpse into Polynesian Life (1846)

Island Adventures

• This novel catapulted Herman Melville to fame, earning him the reputation of the 'man who lived among the cannibals.'
• In this work, Melville critiques the efforts of missionaries to civilize the so-called savages, offering a different perspective on Polynesian life.

Omoo: A Tale of Adventures in the South Seas (1847)

• Omoo is another significant work by Herman Melville, continuing his exploration of life in the South Seas.

Moby Dick or The Whale (1851)

• Dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Moby Dick" follows the journey of a sailor named Ishmael.
• The story centers on Captain Ahab's obsessive quest for revenge against Moby Dick, a giant white whale that had previously destroyed Ahab's ship and bitten off his leg.

Mark Twain (1835–1910)

• Mark Twain was a man of many talents: a printer, riverboat pilot, journalist, humourist, lecturer, publisher, businessman, soldier, and, most importantly, a writer.
• The name ‘Mark Twain’ was his pen name; his real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, which refers to a nautical term indicating a depth of water.
• Twain was not only a prolific writer but also a significant cultural figure in America.
• He first became well-known as a humourist, with his comic stage performances playing a crucial role in shaping his public persona.
• As time went on, Twain evolved into a distinguished writer and social philosopher, although his humorous persona remained an integral part of who he was.

Major Works

• The Gilded Age (1873): A satirical work co-authored with C. D. Warner, critiquing the corruption and greed prevalent in nineteenth-century America.
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876): Mark Twain's first solo venture into fiction, inspired by his childhood experiences in Hannibal, Missouri.
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884): A sequel to Tom Sawyer, this novel addresses serious issues such as racism and moral dilemmas while continuing the adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.

Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Cultural Journey

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) continues the story from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It is set in a time before the American Civil War (1861-65), which was primarily about slavery and the rights of states to maintain it.

Other Works by Mark Twain

• The Prince and the Pauper
• Life on the Mississippi
• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
• The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson (novel)

Henry James (1843-1916)

• Early Life and Career : Henry James grew up in New York City and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Like many American writers, he wanted to establish himself, starting with travel writing. He wrote about not only America but also England, France, and Italy. In 1875, he published his travel essays as Transatlantic Sketches and his stories under the title 'The Passionate Pilgrim and Other Tales', introducing key themes that would appear in his later works.
• His Novels : James's first novel published in book form was 'Roderick Hudson' (1876), which tells the story of an American sculptor blending his innocence with European experiences. He believed that the core of fiction was contrast, but at the heart of his stories, he explored deeper meanings, searching for identity. This quest is prominently featured in 'The Portrait of a Lady' (1881), which follows Isabel Archer, a young woman from Albany, New York, eager to see, try, and know. The story unfolds across England, France, and Italy.
• More Works : The Golden Bowl (1904), The American Scene (1907)

William Faulkner (1897–1962)

Literary Nostalgia

Early Life William C. Faulkner, born on September 25th in New Albany, Mississippi, had a lackluster secondary education. However, he formed a friendship with Phil Stone, who was four years older, and together they explored a wide range of classic and contemporary literature.

Early Works

• Faulkner's literary career began with the publication of his first novel, 'Soldiers Pay,' in February 1926.
• His second novel, 'Mosquitoes,' set in New Orleans, followed in April 1927.
• In 1928, he released his third novel, 'Flags in the Dust.'
• Faulkner continued to produce notable works, including:
• 'The Sound and the Fury' (1929)
• 'A Rose for Emily' (1930)
• 'As I Lay Dying' (1930)
• 'Light in August' (1932)
• 'Absalom! Absalom!' (1936)
• 'Go Down Moses' (1942)

Despite his literary contributions, critics often describe Faulkner's writing style as confusing and dull, suggesting a sense of ambiguous irresponsibility in his work.

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)

Literary Waves

Ernest Hemingway was an American writer known for his work as a journalist, novelist, and short story author. In 1954, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His writing often explored deep and complex themes, including:

• The impact of intense experiences
• The harsh realities of war
• The dynamics of relationships between men and women
• The concept of nothingness
• The celebration of core values

Major Novels

Some of his most significant novels are:

• For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)
• The Sun Also Rises (1926)
• The Old Man and the Sea (1952), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953

Short Stories

Hemingway's journey into short stories began with:

• In Our Time (1925)

Other notable works include:

• A Farewell to Arms (1929)
• To Have and Have Not (1937)
• Across the River and Into the Trees (1950)
• Island in the Stream (1970), published after his death

Additional short story collections feature:

• Men Without Women (1927)
• Winner Take Nothing (1933)
• The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936)