msnoel.com

Melissa W. Noël  
Cleveland High School  
English Department  

American Literature

I have great respect for British literature, but my heart remains with American authors.  Maybe it's because I relate to their great rebellious nature, but I appreciate the nonconformity within the themes of American literature.  It's true, the earlier the literature, less interesting it is, but the further away from the British rule, the more fascinating it becomes.

It's after the Colonial period that the rebels start to make the literary style truly unique and, well, American. Ralph Waldo Emerson must have shocked the British with his unique views when his writings reached the grand old isles!  By the time that Walt Whitman crossed the ocean blue, I doubt the British knew how to handle us!  Oh Walt!  I can't wait to tell you about him!

Together we will explore the great authors of American Literature from the pre-colonial era to the modern period.  I think you'll have fun as you watch our rebels shock the rigid Brits!

I am trying to create a few webpages for the major American authors. Visit these pages to learn more about these authors and to get worksheets, handouts, and lessons that I've written. Here's what I have so far:

N. HawthorneE. A. PoeW Whitman

Here's a link to other pages that I've created for authors and major works:
Major Works

"Things do not change; we change." -- Henry David Thoreau