Monday, May 25, 2020

Common Themes in American Literature Essays - 471 Words

Common Themes in American Literature Common Themes throughout American Literature Many authors contributed to American literature between 1865 and 1914. Although these authors came from all over the country and lived different life styles, they still managed to include similar themes in their works. A theme is considered to be the main idea of the work, or a meaning behind the story. Within this period of American literature, three themes continued to emerge: the concept of true beauty, protection of nature, and perception versus reality. The first theme, the concept of true beauty is evident in The White Heron and The Real Thing. The White Heron presents a little girl torn between material items (money) or saving a†¦show more content†¦While the couple can only allow themselves to stand and look pretty. Each of the characters eventually comes to terms with the true meaning of beauty and it changes them both. The White Heron also advocates the second theme, protection of nature. The little girl becomes aware of the herons view and she is protecting nature by deciding to give in to the hunter and turn the bird in. Cochise writes in I am alone about the Spanish arriving and pushing them off their land. Although the Mimbreno Apache did not do anything themselves to destroy their land, the Spanish did reek havoc on it. Protection of nature is still a theme that is ever present in todays society and well as during the Reconstruction period. The final theme, perception versus reality is presented through The Yell ow Wall-paper and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. The woman in The Yellow Wall-paper is placed inside a room by her husband in order for her to get over her illness. While in the room she notices the wallpaper is tearing at the bottom and there seems to be a woman stuck behind it, so she begins to peel away at the paper. The womans perception and reality are confused, the woman behind the paper and the woman peeling eventually become one in the womans mind, but the woman peeling never realizes that she was the woman stuck behind the paper the whole time. In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge a man, Peyton Farquahar, is set to be hung.Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Innovators of American Literature1066 Words   |  5 PagesThe Innovators of American Literature From their critical assessments on how to improve themselves and to the American public that they influenced by their writings, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin illustrate American themes in their personal narratives that quintessentially make part of American Literature. Although they lived in different times during the early development of the United States of America and wrote for different purposes, they share common themes. 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