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Literature Influence On American Literature

Decent Essays

“A Tale Intended to be After the Fact…” is how Stephen Crane introduced his harrowing story, “The Open Boat,” but this statement also shows that history influences American Literature. People wanted a language and writing style that was distinctly American, different from Great Britain. Noah Webster published Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828. Previously, words’ pronunciations and spellings differed from area to area. In other words, people made up words and wrote them however they liked. Webster’s dictionary made American-English more consistent, as well as unique from Great Britain. Abraham lincoln once said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. “ Throughout history, there have been connections on literary works from different times. The connection is that History, current events, and social events have influenced and affected American Literature. Authors, and their work are influenced by the society surrounding them. Authors have used experiences they have lived in or taken out of history to help create and personalize their writings. Writing styles are also affected by the current trends and opinions of the time they show. By reading American Literature, we have seen the diabolical treatment of slaves, the destruction and trauma caused by wars, and the ruin of eras such as The Great Depression. Literature is so very important to our generation

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