Introduction
What makes American literature important? As you venture through this WebQuest you will discover new ideas about our American history and its literary importance.
Task
You will focus on a certain era of American literature. The sites you will use for your search are found in this WebQuest.
Process
Literary Periods:
SEAT 1: Rationalism/Age of Reason
SEAT 2: Gothic/Romanticism
SEAT 3: Transcendentalism
SEAT 4: Realism/Regionalism
SEAT 5: Modernism
SEAT 6: Postmodernism
Using a total of 7-10 sources, you will identify:
* The major themes the authors dealth with in their writing (message or purpose of writing)
* What made your era unique
* Type of literature (poems, journals, speeches, short stories, etc.)
* Popular writers
* Historical events around your era
Use the following Internet resources:
Useful Sources for All or Many Eras:
A Site That Compiles Many Other Links to Sources Involving American Literature
Timeline of Dates and Important Authors/Historical Events
Glossary of American Literary Terms (Many of You May Find Your Era is a Term)
Enlightenment/Age of Reason Best Sources:
Lots of Enlightenment Info From Our Old Friend Sparknotes
The “Intellectual Roots of American Revolution” Came, in Part, From Enlightenment Ideals
Gothic Best Sources:
Interesting Comments on American Gothicism
A Few Descriptions of Gothic Authors/Works
Romanticism Best Sources:
Definition and Basic Info on American Romanticism
Lots of Great Info on American Romanticism
Good Info and Easy-to-Read Lists of Important Traits of Romanticism
Nice Overview of American Romanticism
Transcendentalism Best Sources:
Great Overview of Transcendentalism
Compilation of Links to Information on Transcendentalism
Another Good Overview of Transcendentalism
Succinct Overview of Key Transcendentalist Ideas
Realism/Regionalism Best Sources:
Succinct Overview of Key Realist Ideas
Overview of American Regionalism
Modernism Best Sources:
Succinct Overview of American Modernism
A Look at Modernism From a Poetry Perspective
History of the Emergence of Modernism and Its After-Effects (This Site Does Not Directly Refer to“Modernism”, But When It is Describing Anything from About 1910 On, It Is Referring to What We NowCall Modernism)
Postmodernism Best Sources:
Brief Overview of Important Facts About American Postmodernism
Evaluation
You will be evaluated in two ways:
Using a total of 7-10 sources (cite each source after information), you will identify:
* The major themes the authors dealt with in their writing (message or purpose of writing)
* What made your era unique
* Type of literature (poems, journals, speeches, short stories, etc.)
* Popular writers
* Historical events around your era
| Time Period Representation |
Best The time period was described and explained throroughly using the webquest. |
Good The time period was described but perhaps not explained in an in-depth manner using the webquest. |
Could Be Better The time period was not fully described and explained by using the webquest. Significant pieces of imformation may be missing. |
Meh The time period was not described using the webquest. Major pieces of literature were missing. |
Conclusion
After researching, you will hopefully have a better understanding of the American Literary Periods.