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The Resource A new world of words : redefining early American literature, William C. Spengemann

A new world of words : redefining early American literature, William C. Spengemann

Creator
Summary
Early American literature has traditionally been defined as writings in English by residents of the land that later became the United States. Thanks to this definition, it has only a modest reputation: "early" has come to mean "less"--Less American and less literary than American literature proper. In this book, the author redefines early American literature, calling it writings in English that reflect or have been influenced by the discovery, exploration, and settlement of the New World. The book discusses that linguistic criteria should have precedence over national origin in determining the national literature to which a given work rightfully belongs, and from this perspective he examines a variety of works in new and provocative ways. He analyzes Milton's Paradise Lost as an American poem that reflects the impact of the discovery and settlement of America on seventeenth-century religious culture; traces the semantic development of the English word Columbus from its first written appearance in 1553 to its identification with the United States after 1780; and compares in detail Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, William Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," and Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, viewing them as comparable - and American - writings, all concerned with comprehending the displacement of the remembered Old World by an altogether new one
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xi, 254 pages
Contents
  • Early American Literature as a Period of Literary History
  • John Smith's True Relation and the Idea of American Literature
  • Paradise Lost: Milton's American Poem
  • Columbus: The Early American History of and English Word
  • Franklin in His Element: The End of Early American Literature
Isbn
9780300057942
Instance
Label
A new world of words : redefining early American literature
Title
A new world of words
Title remainder
redefining early American literature
Statement of responsibility
William C. Spengemann
Creator
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
Early American literature has traditionally been defined as writings in English by residents of the land that later became the United States. Thanks to this definition, it has only a modest reputation: "early" has come to mean "less"--Less American and less literary than American literature proper. In this book, the author redefines early American literature, calling it writings in English that reflect or have been influenced by the discovery, exploration, and settlement of the New World. The book discusses that linguistic criteria should have precedence over national origin in determining the national literature to which a given work rightfully belongs, and from this perspective he examines a variety of works in new and provocative ways. He analyzes Milton's Paradise Lost as an American poem that reflects the impact of the discovery and settlement of America on seventeenth-century religious culture; traces the semantic development of the English word Columbus from its first written appearance in 1553 to its identification with the United States after 1780; and compares in detail Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, William Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," and Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, viewing them as comparable - and American - writings, all concerned with comprehending the displacement of the remembered Old World by an altogether new one
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Spengemann, William C
Index
index present
LC call number
PS185
LC item number
.S67 1994
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Franklin, Benjamin
  • Milton, John
  • Smith, John
  • Columbus, Christopher
  • Franklin, Benjamin
  • Colón, Cristóbal
  • Franklin, Benjamin
  • Milton, John
  • Smith, John
  • Colomb, Christophe
  • American literature
  • Canon (Literature)
  • Littérature américaine
  • Chefs-d'œuvre (Littérature)
  • Letterkunde
  • Amerikaans
  • Literatur
  • Aufsatzsammlung
  • United States
  • United States
  • USA
Label
A new world of words : redefining early American literature, William C. Spengemann
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Early American Literature as a Period of Literary History -- John Smith's True Relation and the Idea of American Literature -- Paradise Lost: Milton's American Poem -- Columbus: The Early American History of and English Word -- Franklin in His Element: The End of Early American Literature
Dimensions
22 cm
Extent
xi, 254 pages
Isbn
9780300057942
Lccn
93021015
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
System control number
  • (OCoLC)28711050
  • (OCoLC)ocm28711050
Label
A new world of words : redefining early American literature, William C. Spengemann
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Early American Literature as a Period of Literary History -- John Smith's True Relation and the Idea of American Literature -- Paradise Lost: Milton's American Poem -- Columbus: The Early American History of and English Word -- Franklin in His Element: The End of Early American Literature
Dimensions
22 cm
Extent
xi, 254 pages
Isbn
9780300057942
Lccn
93021015
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
System control number
  • (OCoLC)28711050
  • (OCoLC)ocm28711050

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