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Gavin Walton
- August 12, 2024
This course, study.com English 102: American Literature, aims to provide you with an extravaganza tour through American literary history. As a result, you will trace literary characteristics from the colonial period up to the present era in your American literature course. From the passionate writing of the first American authors to the complex forms of contemporary poets’ style, this class provides an opportunity to understand the latest ideas and attitudes in American literature.
In this class, you are prepared to meet authors and movements of quite diverse sorts. You will have to look at some texts that belong to the Romantic Period, Harlem Renaissance, and Contemporary Period. You should prepare for character analyses, themes and motifs discussions, and historical background descriptions. The course will push you to think not only about what is written but also about the significance and the effect on culture. By the end of the course, the student will be able to clearly understand American literary evolution and will be ready for the tests with the ability to comprehend the texts’ importance and meaning.
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Overview of Study.com English 102 Class 📖
The study.com: ‘English 102: American Literature’ treads through the development of colloquialism. The overall objective of the course is to give a detailed insight into the manner in which literature has depicted and impacted American culture right from the colonial phase to the present age.
The American literature division is going to begin with the ideas of major periods in American literary history. It encompasses introducing colonial literature which forms the basis of American literature and going up to such phases as the Romantic period, modern American literature, and the contemporary period. These periods have their own trends in the style, the themes, and the historical background that influenced the literature.
Key Periods Covered:
- Colonial and Early National Period: The knowledge of these works will help you realize how American literature started with a brief exposition of the themes and styles of the early periods.
- Romantic and Dark Romantic Literature: Here you will witness how the American writers covered passion and the desire for an inner character, as well as the appeal to the sinister side of people.
- Modernist Prose and Plays: The Romantic period of literature turns from the neat, clear, and logical telling of the story and searches for a new way to depict the world and new ways of living in it.
- Contemporary Literature: This is where you will learn how today’s writers work and develop their pieces in relation to modern society and literary new trends.
Another component of the class is the analysis of the works of significant American writers. The key texts will be analyzed, including those by such major authors as Nathaniel Hawthorne, who used to explore the issues of morality and the nature of humans, and Zora Neale Hurston, who contributed greatly to understanding the African American people and their culture. The course will deal with these authors in regard to their great use of literary elements to give solutions to social/personal questions; the authors will be introduced in a full view regarding their contribution to American literature.
Focus on Key Authors:
- Nathaniel Hawthorne: Guilt and redemption are among the topics that Hawthorne highlighted in his books such as “The Scarlet Letter”.
- Mark Twain: Some of Twain’s most famous literary works are characterized by strong tones of satire and keen observation of American society.
- Zora Neale Hurston: Phenomenon: Of her works, this researcher will analyze her depiction of African American culture and self-definitions, especially in the novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God”.
Besides, periods, and authors, you will have to analyze the secondary task which is related to the literary devices. This also refers to being able to explain how authors Incorporate symbols, images, and plots in their works for effect. You will also use the methods of comparing and contrasting in order to understand how various aspects of the works in question contribute to their themes and intended messages.
Literary Techniques:
- Symbolism: Discover the techniques, through which the symbols can be read as semantic references in the literature
- Imagery: Examine how the element of grading builds up impressions and offers themes. Narrative Structure: Realize the effect that various types of narratives have on the reader concerning the ways in which the story is told.
Altogether, the course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive view of American literature and its evolution from the beginning to the present time. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with major periods in literary history, important authors, and some critical approaches that will be of immense help to you while writing examinations and essays.
Week-by-Week Study Guide for Excelling in English 102 📝
To excel in “Study.com English 102: American Literature,” a structured study plan is essential. Breaking down your preparation into manageable weekly tasks can make the process more organized and less overwhelming. Here’s a week-by-week guide to help you navigate through the course content effectively.
Week 1: Foundations and Early American Literature
- Read: Chapters on Colonial and Early National Period in Literature.
- Tasks: Focus on understanding the historical context and major themes of early American writings. Pay special attention to authors like Jonathan Edwards and Anne Bradstreet.
- Practice: Review key terms and concepts using flashcards. For visual learners, check out CrashCourse’s American Literature Playlist on YouTube for engaging overviews.
Week 2: Romanticism and Dark Romanticism
- Read: Chapters covering Romantic and Dark Romantic literature.
- Tasks: Analyze major works by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Take notes on their themes, symbols, and styles.
- Practice: Use Quizlet’s Flashcards for Romanticism to reinforce key concepts and vocabulary.
Week 3: Transcendentalism and Realism
- Read: Chapters focusing on Transcendentalism and Realism in Literature.
- Tasks: Examine works by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry James. Compare their views on society and human nature.
- Practice: Create a comparison chart to highlight the differences between Transcendentalism and Realism. For additional insights, watch Ted-Ed’s Transcendentalism Explained.
Week 4: Modernist Prose and Plays
- Read: Chapters on Modernist Prose and Plays.
- Tasks: Study the characteristics of Modernist literature through authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Faulkner. Focus on narrative techniques and thematic elements.
- Practice: Review key Modernist works and their significance. Use Quizlet’s Modernism Flashcards for quick revision.
Week 5: Modernist Poetry and the Harlem Renaissance
- Read: Chapters on Modernist Poetry and the Harlem Renaissance.
- Tasks: Analyze major poems by poets such as T.S. Eliot and Langston Hughes. Explore the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on American literature.
- Practice: Engage with poetry analysis guides and watch The Poetry Foundation’s Modernist Poetry Videos for detailed explanations.
Week 6: Contemporary Literature and Key Authors
- Read: Chapters covering Contemporary Literature and key authors.
- Tasks: Focus on the themes and styles of contemporary authors like Tennessee Williams and Maya Angelou. Compare their works with earlier periods.
- Practice: Summarize key works and themes in bullet points. For additional resources, check out CrashCourse’s Modern Literature Videos.
Week 7: Review and Practice
- Review: Go over all chapters and key concepts studied so far.
- Tasks: Use practice exams and quizzes available on Study.com’s English 102 Course Page to test your knowledge.
- Practice: Revisit any areas where you feel less confident. Use flashcards for quick reviews and look up additional resources if needed.
Week 8: Final Preparation
- Read: Revisit any challenging chapters or concepts.
- Tasks: Focus on essay prompts and practice writing responses to potential exam questions.
- Practice: Review all flashcards and notes. Watch Review Videos on YouTube for last-minute tips and clarifications.
By following this week-by-week study plan, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle your “Study.com English 102: American Literature” exam with confidence. Remember to pace yourself and make use of the resources provided to reinforce your understanding. Good luck!
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Recommended Free Resources for Extra Study 📂
While you have access to the rich content on Study.com, sometimes additional resources can offer fresh perspectives and aid in understanding challenging concepts. Here are some free resources to complement your Study.com course:
YouTube Channels:
- CrashCourse: This channel offers engaging and informative videos on various American literature topics. Check out their American Literature playlist for concise explanations and visual aids.
- Ted-Ed: Ted-Ed’s literature videos provide deep dives into specific literary techniques and historical contexts. A great place to start is their video on Transcendentalism.
Quizlet Flashcards:
- American Literature Flashcards: Quizlet has a variety of flashcard sets created by other students and educators, covering everything from early American literature to modernist poetry.
- Modernist Poetry Flashcards: These flashcards can help you quickly review key terms and concepts related to modernist poetry.
Online Literature Guides:
- SparkNotes: SparkNotes offers comprehensive summaries and analyses of many American literary works. Use their guides to reinforce your understanding of major texts.
- Shmoop: Shmoop provides detailed summaries, character analyses, and theme discussions for a wide range of American literature. It’s a great tool for quick reviews before exams.
Educational Websites:
- Poetry Foundation: The Poetry Foundation’s website is a treasure trove of information on poets and their works. Check out their resources on Modernist Poetry.
- The Literature Network: This site offers full texts of classic American literature, as well as author biographies and literature forums. It’s useful for reading primary texts and engaging in discussions with other literature enthusiasts.
By leveraging these free resources, you can enhance your understanding of the course material and gain diverse insights into American literature. Combining these tools with your Study.com coursework will prepare you thoroughly for your exam and deepen your appreciation for American literary traditions.
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Essential Topics to Master🔑
Familiarizing yourself with the topics considered important in American literature is a good way of passing your test. To make it easier for you to understand the key topics, we will give a detailed explanation, a comparison of the concepts, and finally real-life examples in this section.
- Modernism vs. Postmodernism
Modernism and Postmodernism are two significant movements in literature. Here’s a comparison to highlight their differences and similarities:
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Aspect
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Modernism
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Postmodernism
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Time Period
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Early 20th century (1900-1945)
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Mid to late 20th century (1945-present)
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Themes
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Alienation, fragmentation, loss of faith in traditional values
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Irony, pastiche, questioning reality, mixing of genres
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Style
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Stream of consciousness, unreliable narrators, fragmented structure
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Metafiction, paradox, playful narrative styles
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Examples
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"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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"Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
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Modernism arose as a response to the extremities of the early part of the 1900s, and depicts the internal musings and disjointed forms. In contrast, postmodernism revels in the confusion, and toys with the storytelling methods to ask the audience questions about that reality.
- The Harlem Renaissance
Contemporary American literature often revolves around characters searching for their identity amidst social pressures, employing a literary style known as Expressionism to externalize internal emotional experiences.
Characteristics:
- Focus on internal emotional states
- Use of symbolism and metaphor
- Non-linear storytelling
Themes:
- Quest for Identity
- Struggle against societal norms
- Emotional and psychological exploration
Example:
- “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger: This novel is about Holden Caulfield, a teenager who experiences the issues of teenage hood plus the death of his brother. On this background, the novel deals with such topics as isolation, self-identification, and lost childhood. The choice of the first-person perspective and Holden’s unique character make it easy for the readers to emotionally subscribe to his psychological turmoil.
The issues of Identity and Expressionism are quite important in the contexts of contemporary literature to study the process and the strategies that are used by characters to discover themselves and the ways in which their inside world is represented in the literary pieces through experimenting with the forms. Thus, it makes students see the inner psychological facets of literature and its portrayal of human life.
- Southern Gothic Literature
Southern Gothic literature delves into the peculiar and dark aspects of life in the American South, using its unique setting to explore themes of decay, human psychology, and societal issues.
- Setting: Decaying plantations, eerie small towns, or old mansions.
- Characters: Flawed, eccentric, or grotesque figures representing societal issues.
- Themes: Decay, death, the supernatural, and the grotesque.
Example:
- “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams: Features Blanche DuBois, representing the decline of Southern aristocracy. Blanche’s tragic descent into madness highlights themes of decay and the grotesque.
Here, you can see the social relevance of Southern Gothic literature which provides the background for its darkness: the literature is intriguing to study. The themes of the Southern Gothic definition revolve around the analysis of people’s psyche and their interaction with the environment in terms of social decay.
- The Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was a literary movement of the 1950s and 1960s that rejected conventional norms and sought to explore new forms of expression and consciousness.
Characteristics:
- Stream-of-consciousness writing
- Spontaneity
- Exploration of spirituality, sexuality, and drugs
Themes:
- Rebellion against societal norms
- Exploration of the human condition
- Search for meaning and authenticity
Example:
- “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac: An important piece of literature that can be associated with the Beat Generation’s aesthetics. The book revolves around Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, who are described as two young boys hitchhiking across the country: The novel portrays the essence and the themes of the novel wanderlust and searches for the purpose. It deals mainly with freedom, the exploration, and the abandonment of the values of society.
Thus, the subject’s focus on liberation from social norms and perceiving more extensive horizons makes the Beat Generation a thought-provoking and powerful trend in American literature. From the given points, it can be unveiled that its role could be traced in other literary and cultural works; thus, the topic is significant for research.
By familiarizing yourself with these topics and their relevance, these ideas will not only assist you in your exams but also heighten your appreciation for the vast wealth of American Literature.
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Frequently Asked Question❓
Q: What are the most important topics to review for the exam?
A: Key topics include major literary movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and Modernism, notable works and their authors, and significant literary techniques. Focus on understanding these movements and how they influenced American literature.
Q: How can I best prepare for the character analysis assignment?
A: Review the main characters from the major works covered in the course. Pay attention to their development, motivations, and interactions. Consider using flashcards to remember key traits and their significance in the plot.
Q: Are there any free resources to help with studying?
A: Yes! Here, the best way to supplement the information is to watch videos of literary recapitulations on the YouTube channel CrashCourse or use flashcards from the Quizlet application/site for learning the literary periods in particular. Services such as SparkNotes provide plot synopsis and critical information about the works.
Q: What should I do if I’m struggling with understanding a literary concept?
A: Try breaking down the concept into smaller parts and relate it to examples from the texts you’re studying. Utilize online forums or study groups to discuss the concept with peers. Additionally, review relevant lessons and seek out supplementary materials online.
Q: How can I make my study sessions more effective?
A: Set specific goals for each study session and use active recall techniques to test your knowledge. Mixing up your study methods, such as combining reading with practice questions, can also help reinforce your understanding.
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Final Thoughts📄
In summary, excelling in your English 102 course on American Literature involves a deep dive into various literary periods and their defining works. Learning the complex themes, characters, and literary devices from different periods such as the Colonial Period to the contemporary literature period will automatically increase your chances of getting excellent scores in your assignments and exams.
Staying on schedule and working with the suggested outside sources, which are also arranged by the week, will make your learning process more systematic and effective. As always – keep studying and interacting with the materials of the course – this will help you the most. Approach the given pieces of American literature with passion and the desire to learn more about this area of literary studies. If you are prepared and if you take the right attitude towards the course you will be able to thread through all the difficult parts. Good luck, and happy discoveries on the fascinating path of American literature!
