10.3 Themes and Styles in Early American Novels

Early American novels grappled with themes like individual desire vs. societal expectations, virtue, and consequences of transgression. These works explored the tensions between personal aspirations and social norms, often rewarding virtuous characters while cautioning against moral missteps.

Sentimentalism and didacticism were key literary techniques. Authors used emotional appeals to engage readers and reinforce moral messages. They also employed narrative strategies like epistolary format and third-person narration to convey their stories and lessons effectively.

Themes in Early American Novels

Themes in early American novels

Top images from around the web for Themes in early American novels

• 

  The history of Sir Charles Grandison (v.7, 22) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Rowlandson – Open Anthology of American Literature View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The history of Peggy Black (v.1, 132) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The history of Sir Charles Grandison (v.7, 22) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Rowlandson – Open Anthology of American Literature View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Themes in early American novels

• 

  The history of Sir Charles Grandison (v.7, 22) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Rowlandson – Open Anthology of American Literature View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The history of Peggy Black (v.1, 132) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The history of Sir Charles Grandison (v.7, 22) | Early Novels Database | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Mary Rowlandson – Open Anthology of American Literature View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Conflict between individual desire and societal expectations
  • Characters grapple with balancing personal aspirations and the demands of their society (pursuing a forbidden love vs. fulfilling familial duties)
  • Tension arises when individual desires clash with societal roles and expectations leading to internal struggles and external conflicts (a woman desiring independence in a patriarchal society)
• Importance of virtue
  • Novels emphasize the significance of moral uprightness and integrity as a guiding principle for characters' actions and decisions
  • Characters who adhere to virtuous principles are often rewarded or portrayed positively serving as role models for readers (a honest and compassionate protagonist triumphing over adversity)
  • Virtuous behavior is seen as essential for personal and societal well-being contributing to a stable and harmonious community
• Consequences of transgression
  • Characters who deviate from societal norms or engage in immoral acts face repercussions highlighting the dangers of straying from the path of righteousness
  • Transgressions lead to personal downfall, social ostracism, or other forms of punishment serving as cautionary tales for readers (a character's adultery leading to public shame and exile)
  • Novels demonstrate the negative impact of transgressive behavior on individuals and society emphasizing the importance of adhering to moral and social codes (a community unraveling due to the actions of a corrupt leader)

Sentimentalism and didacticism in literature

• Sentimentalism
  • Novels evoke strong emotions in readers to elicit sympathy and empathy creating a powerful emotional connection to the characters and their plights (tearful scenes of heartbreak and loss)
  • Emotional appeals are used to engage readers and reinforce moral messages making the lessons more impactful and memorable
  • Sentimental scenes and language are employed to create a powerful emotional impact heightening the reader's investment in the story and its themes (elaborate descriptions of a character's grief and despair)
• Didacticism
  • Novels explicitly convey moral lessons and teachings to educate and guide readers towards virtuous behavior and decision-making
  • Characters serve as moral exemplars or cautionary tales to illustrate virtuous or unvirtuous behavior providing clear models for readers to emulate or avoid (a pious and charitable character contrasted with a selfish and deceitful one)
  • Authorial intrusions or narrative asides are used to underscore the didactic purpose of the work directly addressing the reader and emphasizing the moral lessons (an author's commentary on the importance of honesty and integrity)

Narrative techniques of early novelists

• Epistolary format
  • Novels are structured as a series of letters exchanged between characters creating a sense of intimacy and realism (Pamela by Samuel Richardson)
  • Allows for multiple perspectives and a sense of immediacy and authenticity as characters express their thoughts and feelings directly to the reader
  • Enables characters to reveal their inner lives, conflicts, and development through their own words and reflections
• Third-person narration
  • Novels are narrated by an omniscient or limited third-person narrator providing a broader perspective on events and characters
  • Allows for greater flexibility in describing settings, actions, and character motivations beyond the limited scope of individual characters' knowledge
  • Offers a more objective and comprehensive view of the narrative, enabling the author to guide the reader's understanding and interpretation of the story
• Comparison
  • Both techniques offer different ways of presenting the story and engaging the reader, each with its own strengths and limitations
  • Epistolary format creates a more personal and subjective reading experience, allowing for a deeper connection with individual characters' experiences and emotions
  • Third-person narration offers a more objective and comprehensive view of the narrative, providing a wider context and enabling the author to shape the reader's perspective more directly

British influence on American literature

• Influence of British literary traditions
  • Early American novels drew inspiration from British literary genres and conventions, adapting them to the American context
  • Sentimental novels, gothic novels, and epistolary novels were popular forms adapted by American authors (The Power of Sympathy by William Hill Brown, influenced by British sentimental novels)
  • American authors emulated British literary styles and techniques, such as the use of elevated language, complex plots, and moral themes
• Adaptation and subversion of conventions
  • American authors modified British literary conventions to suit their own cultural context, infusing them with American settings, characters, and concerns
  • Novels incorporated distinctly American settings (the frontier, colonial towns), characters (Native Americans, Puritans), and themes (religious freedom, individualism)
  • Authors used British forms to critique or subvert colonial power structures and assert American identity, challenging British cultural dominance and forging a distinct American literary voice
• Reflection of American cultural context
  • Early American novels grappled with issues specific to the American experience, exploring the complexities of life in the New World
  • Themes of independence, individualism, and the formation of a national identity were prevalent, reflecting the ideals and struggles of the emerging American nation
  • Novels explored the complexities of American society, including issues of race (the treatment of Native Americans and enslaved Africans), gender (the role of women in colonial society), and class (the impact of social hierarchies and economic disparities)