Major: American Literature
Studying American literature allows you to put your finger on the pulse of the nation's culture. In fact, you’ll examine more than novels and other formal literary genres; you’ll also study oral folklore, literary criticism, and maybe even TV.
As an American lit major, you’ll experience the excitement of current American writing, which is moving in new directions. Authors with multicultural backgrounds are bringing new experiences and words to their work. And writers of all backgrounds are experimenting with traditional forms and borrowing from popular culture. The literature students of today will determine how this modern writing will be seen in the future.
Students in American literature examine the literature and literary development of the United States, from the colonial period to the present.
Did You Know?
- Many students choose American literature because they want to focus on contemporary writing and examine how literature relates to culture and history.
Are You Ready To...?
- Read a lot -- possibly up to 500 pages in a week
- Come up with your own interpretations of texts
- Research topics related to literary texts as well as others’ interpretations of those texts
- Understand abstract ideas about the nature of literature and its relationship to society
- Write several papers for each course
- Take part in class discussions
It Helps to Be...
A creative person who loves to read and analyze texts of all sorts. You should also have strong written and oral communication skills and like to work on your own.
College Checklist
- Does the school have a department of American literature?
- If not, can you major in American literature through the English department? Or can you concentrate your studies in American literature while majoring in English?
- Typically, how many courses in American literature are offered each year?
- How many students are in each course? Besides lectures, are smaller seminar courses (classes emphasizing student discussion and research) offered?
- Does the department embrace the idea of using literature to study culture?
- Does the program offer courses in emerging fields such as ethnic American literatures?
“The beauty of American literature is the opportunity to examine critically the sense of 'national character' Americans like to claim.”
Brett C. Millier, Reginald L. Cook Professor of American Literature and Chair, Department of American Literature
and Civilization, Middlebury College
Course Spotlight
You'll probably begin your studies by taking surveys of American literature. These courses often cover large stretches of literary history.
For example, you may take a class in which you focus on early American literature. In this course, you'll likely look at documents by the Puritan founders of the country before moving on to poetry and prose by the likes of Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville, and freed slave Harriet Jacobs. You'll probably have to turn in a few short papers and take a final exam.
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