The Humanistic Art of Writing and American Literature

Life is incomplete without the study of humanities. Humanities offer individuals various views regarding the often-ubiquitous perceptions wrought by the human mind, offering understanding of how the individuals’ mind works. American literature is a certain type of humanity that gives insight to the ideals of our culture throughout history, though often, few think of its definition or the reasons why it is studied. By pausing to give the world surrounding us a more in-depth look, individuals can define American literature, the reasons why it should be studied, and the various ways it can be studied.

By its nature, American literature does not always have a clear definition. In the Highline Course Descriptions, literature 223 is “The study of American literature from 1945 to the present” (1). Much as we in Craig’s class have learned, this leaves the span of American literature’s study open to likes of both instructor and student. As such, it is better for students to define individual assumptions about what American literature means to them.

Through defining both American and literature separately, it can be better understood what American literature can actually mean. To be American, according to Princeton’s wordnet, is to be a native or inhabitant of the United States (2). If using such a definition, the door of American writing is opened to anyone inhabiting the United States for an extended period of time. This explanation could even title temporary tenants in the borders of North or South America to be considered American. However, the 1970 edition of Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language defines American as “of, in, or characteristic of the U.S., it’s people, etc.” (3). The doorway that was previously opened by Princeton’s definition closes the slightest. Instead of using the term American to define the Americas, it rather defines inhabitants of the United States. However, this poses another problem in itself. Because the United States is a melting pot, it remains hard to define what is characteristic of its people beyond the majority of those who preside there. The United States was founded on immigration and the mixture of cultures, thus allowing the title of American to be bestowed upon anyone with a desire to live in America. Personally, I believe American to be something that negates cast, race, gender, and age: it surpasses the pedagogical ideals of learning and grants opportunity to all who may come. There is no true ‘American’ in the United States, per say, rather than the subtexts of endlessly mingling cultures. Essentially, to be American in my eyes is to be a person of any culture placed within the borders of the United States.

Half of this subtly complicated term has been defined; however, order to accurately define American literature, literature must also have a clear meaning. Literature can be described as creative writing of recognized artistic value as well as the humanistic study of a body of literatures (2). From this, it can be believed that any written work an individual or group feels strongly about can be considered literature. Essentially, literature exists as any written work any individual cares about.

Combining the definition of literature with American provides the term we have been given. American Literature would thus be the study of any distinguished written work by an author who lived and wrote that work while staying any extended amount of time in the United States of America. Such a definition can open the eyes of those who study American literature to the backgrounds of the literature itself, as well as the authors. In such a manner, students may become slightly more fascinated with the pieces they study. 

However, people may wonder why they should study literature. Literature, in itself, provides an escape from reality. Azar Nafisi has said that “the most important thing about literature [is] the way it takes you away from where you are in order to have a look at the world differently” (4). Through studying written works, people can better see the world from multiple perspectives and attitudes, as Earnest Hemmingway and his vague but blunt phrases or Shirley Jackson varying overtones of a darker reality with a descriptive bluntness. These works provide insights on the writer’s perception of reality and the ideals of their time. Through their work, they often offer views differing from that of the reader regarding cultures and the world as it is today. Moreover, written works provide readers with the context of politics as well as the mindset of the who individuals inhabiting the beside them (4). By removing oneself from the reality of various situations, new perspectives can be provided. Various different matters can be shone in a multitudinous of lights and shadows, painting new and everchanging pictures for all readers. In itself, literature provides readers with a grasp on a meaning of what it is to be human. David Lick, a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College, wrote that “my goal is to learn as much as I can about the human condition and what it really means to be human in all aspects” (5). Each person is unique in his or her ideas and perspectives. Reading literature allows any individual to experience these other perspectives with an undue closeness. With the different views of others, one can grow to understand the uniqueness of the human personality and its individual components. By escaping reality to observe the diverse ideas relating to any single subject, the context of thought and politics can be made rational by humanity.

Through various ways the important subject of literature can be studied. Literature should be studied by comparing the author’s intended messages with the inferences students gather regarding the piece. This goes beyond simple symbolism of specific events, though such can clue in the innuendos of the characters thoughts and the author’s perceptions of reality, to the feeling of the overall piece. Adjectives and verbs describe the attitudes felt toward subjects and serve to create an overall sensation in the reader’s mind. Deriving the correct sensation and thus comparing it with what the author’s original intention was can prove to be an enlightening experience. Some students, like David Lick, may attempt at first to perceive literature as a science, with rigid complexities rather than looking to it as an art (5). Really, literature is open to interpretation, such as all pieces of art are. There’s no real right or wrong, even when knowing the author’s intentions. Truly, it is all a matter of feeling. By studying literature as interpretations of sensation and each work as multitudinous pieces of a singular art, students can better grasp the complexity that is literature. Students should perceive it with an open and welcoming mind.

American literature is any renowned work writing by someone considered American, studied because it provides a different perspective on life, context of politics, and the meaning of humanity, and learned as an inference and art form. Studying this subject will help students grasp the history of American culture as well as an understanding of literature. Perchance after the class ends, students will recognize how much of a gift literature truly is.

 1. "223 American Literature: 1945-Present." Highline Catalog. 18 Aug. 2008. Highline Community College. 22 Mar. 2009 .

2. "American." Wordnet. Princeton University. 22 Mar. 2009 .

3. Guralnik, David B. Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language. World Company, 1972.

4. Pennington, Miranda. "Author examines the importance of literature in students' lives." The Ithican 7 Sept. 2007. Ithica College. 22 Mar. 2009 .

5. "Why Our Students Study Literature." Department of English. Gustavus Adolphis College. 22 Mar. 2009 .