Fu Li Department of Foreign Languages HIT at Harbin,History of American Literature,What is literature?,Literal meaning As an Art Source Significance,America Literature,American literature mainly refers to literature produced in American English by the people living in the United States. It is conventional to define American literature as literature produced in American English by American citizens.,Basic Qualities,Independent Individualistic Critical Innovative Humorous,Why Read Literature?,For pleasure For relaxation For knowledge For artistic appreciation To confront experience,Approaches,Analytical approach Thematic approach Historical approach,Native American Literature,Background,Columbus,Three Periods,Traditional Literature Transitional Literature Modern Literature,Stories, Folktales & songs,Alanson Skinners Folklore of the Menomini Indians (1915) William Joness Kickpoo Tales (1915) Paul Radins The Trickster (1069) Natalie Curtiss The Indian Book (1970),Three Periods,Traditional Literature Transitional Literature Modern Literature,Translation,John G. Neihardt, Black Elk Speaks (1932); John Joseph Mathewss Wahkon-tah: The Osage and the White Mans Road (1932); John Deer and Richard Erodess Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions (1972).,Three Periods,Traditional Literature Transitional Literature Modern Literature,Novels, Short Stories & Poetry,Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins Charles Alexander Eastman Chona John Rollin Ridge Emily P. Johnson Alexander Lawrence Rosey,James Welch N.Scott Momaday Louise Erdrich Leslie Silko Gerald Vizenor Russell Bates,Literature of Colonial Settlements,Wrote to attract new colonists Wrote to show Gods grace and favor toward them Wrote to record experiences,Questions for Contemplation,Puritanism Why the early American literature neither American nor literature? What do you know about Benjamin Franklin?,