American Literature Since The Civil War - 1948 Words

Kimberly L. Perron Professor Carly Zeller American Literature Since the Civil War 27 October 2016 Mid-Life Nostalgia When pondering what it means to be an American, one can think of a seemingly endless list of defining qualities, characteristics, and themes. When these themes are put into writing, they have the power to unite communities and create a shared understanding of life as an American. E.B. White examines some of these themes of American culture, such as the American tradition of summer vacation, the commonly experienced mid-life crisis, anxiety about change, and fear of one’s own mortality. E.B. White’s â€Å"Once More to the Lake† is a memorable piece of American literature that continues to be relatable today because of its emphasis on growing old and facing one’s own mortality, as told through an American lens. The essay takes place during summer vacation in the early 20th century. The speaker has fond memories of summertime when his father rents â€Å"a camp on a lake in Maine and took us all there for the month of August,† (Wh ite 1). This practice is continued â€Å"summer after summer—always on August 1st for one month,† (White 1). The speaker has fond memories of the summertime, and describes in great detail â€Å"the fade proof lake, the woods unshatterable, the pasture with the sweet fern and the juniper forever and ever, summer without end† (White 3). Summer vacation is something that most Americans can relate to and has been a staple of the American way of life forShow MoreRelatedWar : A Breath Of Change1715 Words   |  7 PagesWar: A Breath of Change in Literature World War II was a time of horrors, hardships, sicknesses, and deaths for people all around the world. It was, simply put, a time that showed what terrible acts mankind was capable of. The end of World War II left families scarred, brothers dead, and countries ruined. 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The process was gradual, reflecting the periodic fluctuations in the history of American society. In this process, the Civil War provided a dramatic point of cleavage. In 1865 at the end of the Civil War many ofRead MoreWalt Whitman and the Civil War Essay955 Words   |  4 Pages Walt Whitman is a famous poet in American history and the founder of free style of writing poem. He was well-known with his work of Leaves of Grass and Drum-Taps. Walt Whitman was inspired to write poems about Civil War and changed his style of writing after experiencing the horrible result of the war. Walt Whitman was born in West Hills, Long Island, on May 31, 1819. He is the second son of eight siblings in the family. In his early life, Whitman received a formal education until age of 11 becauseRead MoreThe American Dream Through Literature1496 Words   |  6 PagesDespite it not having a name until 1931, since the birth of our nation, there has been a concept of the American Dream. 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These ideas all share a common theme that O’Connor brings to the table in â€Å"A Late Encounter with the enemy, along with â€Å"The American SouthRead MoreWilliam Faulkner s A Rose For Emily1181 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Faulkner s A Rose for Emily iconic American literature? Faulkner uses setting, theme and plot to show the ways â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is an iconic American literature. Faulkner saw the Forum magazine with his short story he wrote, â€Å"A Rose for Emily† and found out that was his first national publication. The Mississippi Writers Page says, â€Å"The man himself never stood taller than five feet, six inches tall, but in the realm of American literature, William Faulkner is a giant† (MWP). In â€Å"A