^{Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/photos/book-read-old-literature-books-1659717/}

If you’ve never read older texts before, know that reading early American literature may be a different experience for you.

First, please understand that these texts were written between two and five centuries ago, many from the perspective of a dominant white, male culture.  Texts written from this perspective often consider those who are not part of the dominant culture in ways that are totally inappropriate by today’s standards. However, it’s important to read original, unedited versions of these texts, because language itself helps you understand the world views and cultural contexts in which these texts were created. (And know that “understand” does not mean “condone.”)

Second, please know that “American” means all groups and ideas.  The readings in this text represent the experience of Native Americans, Slaves, African Americans, European explorers, Colonists, and more.  They represent different philosophies such as Calvinism, Enlightenment ideals, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and more. America has always been a heterogeneous society; the literature included in this course represents this multiplicity of groups and ideas.

Third, there is so much more to American literature 1600-1865 than what you see in this text. While the text strives to be representative, there’s only so much that can be included in one text before it becomes unwieldy.  If a literary time period or particular author interests you, know that there are many additional texts available online as well as in print. You’re encouraged to read more widely and pursue your interests.

Finally, older styles of writing may take more time to read and understand, simply because their styles tend to be more elaborate than what we’re used to now. But after a while, you should be able to get into the cadence of the language.

The video below contains useful information about the “why” and “how” of reading American literature.

^{Video by Lance Eaton. Introduction – What Is American Literature? YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbug5gtVIw}

Strategies for Reading American Literature 1600-1865

Reading this range of literature will feel very different from reading anything written today. You will find that the forms, the styles, and the content are, to one extent or another, foreign to what you experience in most contemporary literature. Reading literature this old requires that you read with an open mind and let yourself experience the many voices, private and public, that speak through these selections.

As you read, you may find the following strategies helpful in understanding the texts and gaining a greater appreciation for the context of these older writings.

• Read slowly and carefully. Don’t try to rush through the readings. Schedule adequate time to read without pressure, and to reread when necessary. Remember, having to read a piece more than once is not bad – it just takes a bit more time.
• Read out loud. Sometimes older works, written using longer sentences than we are used to, are easier to follow if you read out loud, saying and hearing the sentences. This practice also helps you to appreciate the emphasis, cadence, and poetry of the lines.
• Supplement your reading. Sometimes reading a book about the period, seeing a movie set during the same time, or reading secondary works about the text can help you find new ways to appreciate and understand the work.
• Consider the context. Think about the historical events happening at the time the text was written. Also consider the writing situation – the writer, the purpose for writing, the intended reader – and speculate on the public’s response to the writing at the time.
• Look up words as needed. You can often define unfamiliar words by the sentence context, but if you can’t and you feel that the unfamiliar word is important, look up the word. If this process breaks up the flow of your reading, go back and read through the work a second time, without the dictionary interruptions.
• Don’t be fearful of unfamiliar works. Students sometimes feel baffled by writing that can’t be categorized in terms of their prior reading experience. A reader used to short, rhymed poems may be surprised by Whitman’s long, complex un-rhymed lines.  A reader used to short, concise fiction may be taken aback by Poe’s rich descriptions and lush settings. Realize that writing comes in all forms and styles and enjoy the experience of engaging with new and different expressive styles.
• Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything you read. Some of this reading may be difficult, e.g., something like Emerson’s essays exploring philosophical issues. If after reading this kind of writing you feel as though you don’t understand everything, don’t give up. Simply write down the elements or ideas with which you felt comfortable, then go back into the text and reread. Try to understand as much as possible, but know that it’s o.k. to have some questions and uncertainty. Experts have questions – and questions often lead to more productive reading and understanding.
• Enjoy your reading! You probably like to read already – so enjoy this time capsule of readings from decades ago. These texts can help you understand American literary history, this country’s development, and our contemporary relationship to society, nature, art, religion, each other, and ourselves.