1) Characteristics of American Literature: Essay Example

First, American literature reflects beliefs and traditions that come from the nation’s frontier days. The pioneer ideals of self – reliance and independence appear again and again in American writings. American authors have great respects for the value and importance of the individual. They tend to reject authority and to emphasize democracy and the equality of men.

Second, American writers have always had a strong tendency to break with literary tradition and to strike out in their own directions. Writers of other countries seem to absorb their national literary traditions without giving them much thought. But in the United States, many authors have rejected the old in order to create something new.Third, a lively streak of humor runs through American literature from earliest times to the present. In many cases, a dash of salty humor saves a serious theme from becoming too sentimenta