Discover the world of American Literature when you visit this site. This resource offers lessons, units, genre studies and more.

Online syllabus for a college Pre-Civil War American Literature class with links to information about each class lesson. These lessons contain some good teaching ideas and background information about a number of famous authors, much of...

Use the text excerpt and video "Wakefield" by Nathaniel Hawthorne to identify and understand the characteristics of American Romanticism.

Read the full text of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" on this site for free. With links to other short stories by American authors.

This site from the African American Literature Book Club provides a great narrative on the life of Olaudah Equinao entitled, "They Carry Off As Many As they Can Seize." The text is somewhat in-depth and worth checking out on the subject.

A side-by-side timeline of political and social history alongside literature of the time period. A very interesting look at the literature that reflected the times.

A proponent of social and environmental rights, Henry David Thoreau is featured in this brief biography highlighting his contributions to literature. See Teaching Tips and Author Questions for discussion ideas.

Bernard Malamud is praised for his contributions to Jewish American literature in this brief biography. Click on "Bernard Malamud Activities" for related artifacts and activities.

The Antislavery Literature Project is a collaborative electronic publishing venture that provides educational access to the literature and history of the antislavery movement in the United States that is crucial to understanding African...

Prompted to write so as to raise his family out of debt, Herman Melville, acclaimed American author of the nineteenth century is portrayed in this brief biography. See "Herman Melville Activities" for related materials.

Drawing attention to the role of women in marriages, social differences between Europeans and Americans, old money versus new, near the turn into the twentieth century we read about author Edith Wharton. Click "Edith Wharton Activities"...

Read the full text of Mark Twain's short story "The Private History of a Campaign That Failed". With links to other short stories by American writers.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is featured in this brief biography highlighting his Puritan family background which inspired his thought provoking writings of the nineteenth century. Click on "Nathaniel Hawthorne Activities" for related resources.

Poet and mentor Ezra Pound is the focus of this brief biography highlighting his works and energy for new artistic movements of the early twentieth century. Click on "Ezra Pound Activities" for related materials.

This site focuses on Zora Neale Hurston including a bibliography, the video [2:30] "Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun" and links to 11 of her books including her most famous work There Eyes Were Watching God.

Truly American literature based on American legend, native scenes, and American culture began to find a place in the 1820s. Read about three of the American writers that introduced American literature to a reading public.

Background information about the literary traditions of the pre-Colonial and Colonial period. Includes information about Native American oral traditions and Native American cultures. Follow the links to the Early American era and to...

Accomplished Native American author Leslie Marmon Silko is featured in this resource. Some of her writings include "Ceremony" and "Laguna Woman." Click on the "Leslie Marmon Silko Activities" tab for class activities and a collection of...

This is a phenomenal resource. It allows the user to create a reading list of quality children's literature based of choices such as reading level, type of book, genre, ethnicity, gender, etc. In addition, one can determine if a book won...

This site focuses on Ann Petry including a short biography, the video [10:12] "Ann Petry and Harlem's History" and links to seven of her literary works.

This is a succinct biography of Claude McKay, infamous Harlem Renaissance poet who expressed the need for the African American community in America to speak out against racism. See "Claude McKay Activities" for related materials.

This is the text and video reading of the poem "The Indian Burying Ground" by Philip Morin Freneau, an American poet, nationalist (also known as Federalist), polemicist, sea captain, and newspaper editor sometimes called the "Poet of the...

A concise and in-depth biography of the American poet known as Claude McKay (1890-1948 CE). McKay was one of the key members of The Harlem Renaissance Movement.

Poet laureate Langston Hughes is featured in this brief biography highlighting his vast collection of writings, particularly his poetry, which drew upon racial and self awareness in America. See "Langston Hughes Activities" for related...