This lesson focuses on Countee Cullen, a Harlem Renaissance poet who based his works on Romantic poets and downplayed racism. It features links to three of his poems: "From the Dark Tower," "The Loss of Love," and "Saturday's Child." It...

This lesson focuses on the Harlem Renaissance poet Claude McKay and two of his poems: "If We Must Die" and "The Tropics of New York." It offers a short bio and links to the two poems, and then explains the style and meanings of the poems.

This lesson focuses on the Harlem Renaissance poet Jean Toomer and his poem "Reapers." It features a short bio, a link to his poem, and lists of leveled questions to help analyze poetry: Surface level, Deeper level, Application level,...

This lesson focuses on the Confessional Poets: Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, and Robert Lowell, who all suffered from depression which is reflected in their poems. It gives short bios of each poet and provides a link to one poem from each:...

This lesson focuses on the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut which portrays the year 2081 in a society where all people are equal and the same. Links are provided to the text and a study guide for the story. Students are...

This lesson focuses on Alice Walker and her short story "Everyday Use," which explores the generation gap between a mother and daughter and the relationship among a mother and her two daughters. Links are provided to the text of the...

This site provides a very interesting article about Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and how the rise in realism in American literature is seen in his novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Students learn about the American Dream through various texts. They explore how foundational American literature treats the topic and consider different perspectives.

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.

This biography of Harlem Renaissance writer Dorothy West includes a video [2:42] of West in New York and links to book reviews for all of West's works.

Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin tells the intimate coming-of-age story of the Portland, Oregon, housewife and mother of three who forever transformed American literature by bringing science fiction and fantasy into the literary mainstream....

Describes the beginnings of American poetry, beginning with a publication in 1610. Click through the 18 sections to get the full picture. Extracted from The Cambridge History of English and American Literature.

A survey of the Quaker writers from the Colonial period extracted from The Cambridge History of English and American Literature.

Arguably one of the most accomplished American in history, this brief biography features Thomas Jefferson and his written contributions to American literature. Click "Thomas Jefferson Activities" for related materials.

Lengthy, detailed biography of Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, from the Oxford Companion to African American Literature.

Regional author, Rudolfo Anaya, is featured in this brief biography highlighting his contributions to American literature which draw upon his experiences as a Mexican American. See "Rudolfo Anaya Activities" for related resources.

Baltimore County Public Schools provides a compilation of resources to aid research on the concept of American individualism as evidenced in American literature of the nineteenth century.

A bibliography collection of literature by and about African Americans. Includes a selection of memoirs, fiction and non-fiction work.

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.

In this American literature (1900-2000) creative research paper project, each student creates an original work of American historical fiction using his/her knowledge of the research process. Students identify and address the ways...

Part of an American literature timeline that describes the naturalism movement, including information about its founders and notable authors during that time.

Writer Gwendolyn Brooks is presented in this biography for her contributions to African American literature. Click on "Gwendolyn Brooks Activities" for related artifacts and activities.

Author Ralph Ellison is presented in this biography for his contributions to African American literature. See "Ralph Ellison Activities" for further information.

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...