Genres and Tradition in American Literature

• Contrast the major periods, themes, styles, and trends and describe how works by members of different cultures relate to one another in each period

• Evaluate the philosophical, political, religious, ethical, and social influences of the historical period that shaped the characters, plots, and settings.

For the rest of this lesson, we're going to look at how literature has developed in America. America is a pretty new nation, and it has a unique history. Because of this, the writing styles, genres, and the themes American writers use also have a unique flavor.

In this instruction we'll look at genres and traditions in American literature. Remember that genre is just a fancy word that means "kind" or "type." Fiction comes from the author's imagination. Nonfiction is based on facts.