Early American History and Exploration

The Conception of the American Landscape

• Amerigo Vespucci identified America as a new continent, not Christopher Columbus.
• The Vikings were the first white people to set foot on the American continent, but they did not conceive the idea of America.
• The British, specifically the Puritans and the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, first set foot on the American continent and formed the idea of America.

The Puritan and Pilgrim Experience

• The Puritans and Pilgrims faced struggles regarding their identity, location, and purpose, which is reflected in early American literature.
• The period from 1607 to 1775 is known as the Colonial Period.

Colonial Settlements

• The Puritans settled on the continent and formed colonies in what would become the United States.
• Notable works from this period include Columbus's letters and William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation".
• Benjamin Franklin and Anne Bradstreet were notable writers during this time.
• Phillis Wheatley, an American teenage black slave, emerged as an important writer, offering early insights into racial struggles in America.

The Revolutionary and Golden Ages of American Literature

• The Revolutionary Period (1764-1790) is recognized for its pivotal role in shaping American literature.
• The Early National Period (1775-1828) marks the beginning of what is now called American literature.
• The Romantic Period or Transcendentalism (1828-1865) saw the rise of romanticism in America, which took a unique turn compared to its European counterpart.
• Notable works from this period include Thoreau's "Walden", Walt Whitman's poetry, and Edgar Allan Poe's essay "The Poetic Principle".

Realism and Naturalism

• The Realism Period (1865-1900) focused on depicting everyday life and society with a more realistic approach.
• The Naturalism Period (1900-1940) continued to build on the foundations laid by realism but with a more intense focus on the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior.

Modernism and Post-Modernism

• The Modernist Period (1914-1945) was marked by significant changes in literary styles and themes, with a focus on breaking traditional forms and experimenting with new techniques.
• The Post-War Period (1945-1960s) is usually called the Post-Modern Period, although there is much disagreement about its exact boundaries.

Henry VIII and the Church of England

• Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he wrote a letter to the Pope seeking permission.
• The Pope denied his request, leading Henry to start his own church, establishing the Church of England and breaking all ties with the Catholic Church.

Protestantism and Puritan Ideology

• Protestants do not follow the Catholic Church's authority, so every scripture from that time up until today becomes a source of divine communication.
• In Puritan ideology, everyone has a personal covenant with God, with no mediator. Individualism is fundamental; the individual is the best source of understanding divine influence.

Pilgrims and Puritans in America

• Puritans favored reforms in the Church of England and tried to enforce these reforms, but their efforts ended in disaster.
• In 1630, Puritans left England and formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.

Early American Texts

• The first texts produced in relation to America were called the Narratives of Discovery.
• Important works include John Smith's "The General History of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles" and Native American texts.

American Identity and Literature

• French-American writer John de Crèvecœur's book "Letters from an American Farmer" asked, "What is an American?"
• Washington Irving's novel "Rip Van Winkle" is considered the first major literary work of America.

Literary Traditions and Influences

• Early American literature was influenced by European works such as Beowulf, knight romances, Dante's "Divine Comedy", and "The Canterbury Tales".
• Native American oral cultures and texts also influenced American literature.

Native American Cultures

• Native American oral cultures and texts did not view war as glorious, unlike European cultures.
• The image of women in Native American cultures was also different from European perceptions.

Slavery and Its Impact

• The native population was estimated to be between 50 to 100 million, but after 50 years, this number dropped to 3 to 5 million due to diseases, slavery, and torture brought by Europeans.
• The first slave rebellion in America was by eight African Muslims who killed nine Spaniards in Mexico.