Renaissance poets

Edgar Allan Poe

Life (1809-1849).- Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston and was orphaned at a young age. He was raised by John Allan in Richmond, Virginia, though never formally adopted. He briefly studied at the University of Virginia and West Point, but financial and personal problems interrupted his education. He struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout his life, dying under mysterious circumstances at age 40 in Baltimore.

Influence in His Era.- Poe pioneered the modern detective genre and mastered psychological horror. His theory of the "single effect" revolutionized short narrative. He greatly influenced French symbolism and authors like Charles Baudelaire, who translated his works into French.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping...

The Raven

Major Works.- His most famous stories include "The Raven" (1845), "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839), "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843), "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), and "The Pit and the Pendulum" (1842). He also wrote important critical essays like "The Philosophy of Composition" and "The Poetic Principle."

Learn more

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-allan-poe

Emily Dickinson

Life (1830-1886).-

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, into a prominent family. She lived most of her life secluded in the family home, rarely leaving after age 30. She studied at Amherst Academy and briefly at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. She maintained extensive correspondence with friends and family but avoided direct social contact. She died at 55, and most of her nearly 1,800 poems were discovered after her death.

Influence in Her Era and Beyond.- Though little known in life, Dickinson revolutionized American poetry with her unique style: innovative use of punctuation (especially dashes), irregular meter, imperfect rhymes, and concise but powerful language. Her work profoundly influenced modern poetry and poets like Hart Crane, Sylvia Plath, and Adrienne Rich.

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all...

Hope is the thing with feathers

Major Works.- Her best-known poems include "Because I could not stop for Death" (712), "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" (288), "Hope is the thing with feathers" (314), "Wild Nights – Wild Nights!" (249), and "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died" (465). Her poems explore themes of death, immortality, nature, love, and solitude. She published only about 10 poems during her lifetime.

Learn more

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-dickinson

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Life (1804-1864).- Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, into a family with deep Puritan roots. His great-great-grandfather John Hathorne was a judge in the Salem witch trials (Nathaniel added the "w" to his surname). He studied at Bowdoin College where he was classmates with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce. He worked at the Salem Custom House and briefly lived at the utopian Brook Farm community. He married Sophia Peabody in 1842 and they had three children.

Influence in His Era.- Hawthorne was a central figure of the American Renaissance and pioneer of the American psychological novel. He explored themes of guilt, sin, redemption, and human nature with unprecedented psychological depth. His work influenced authors like Herman Melville (who dedicated "Moby Dick" to him) and Henry James. He developed the technique of American "romance," distinguishing it from European realism.

"There is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable that it has the force of doom, which almost invariably compels human beings to linger around and haunt, ghost-like, the spot where some great and marked event has given the colour to their lifetime..."

The Scarlet letter

Major Works.- His most important works include "The Scarlet Letter" (1850), considered his masterpiece, "The House of the Seven Gables" (1851), "The Blithedale Romance" (1852), and "The Marble Faun" (1860). He also wrote excellent short stories like "The Minister's Black Veil," "Rappaccini's Daughter," and "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment." His "Twice-Told Tales" (1837) established his literary reputation.

Learn more

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/nathaniel-hawthorne

https://americanliterature.com/searchpage

North America's origins

To understand the history of North America, we must look a bit further back into the history of the English language, and then delve deeper into the inhabitants themselves."

First visitors

Norht America has been a melting pot of cultures ever since the first settlers came to the land approximately 14,000 years ago. The exploration history dates back more than a millenium and involves people from all over the world.

The very first people seated here weren't Europeans. It's widely accepted that the fisrt settlers were hunter-gatherers that came here from the North Assia Mammoth steppe via the Bering land bridge.

Many researchers show in their investigations that the first people who visited America for first time were Scandinavian Vikings during their explorations journeys during the 10th century, wich later resulted in the norse colonization puting them here in America around 500 years before Columbus.

England in the 17th Century: Why Puritans Fled to America

England in the early 17th century was experiencing intense political and religious upheaval under the Stuart monarchs. King James I (1603-1625) and his son King Charles I (1625-1649) both strongly supported the Anglican Church (Church of England) and viewed religious dissent as a threat to royal authority.

The Church of England, established by Henry VIII in the 1530s, had become the official state religion. By the 1600s, it retained many Catholic-like practices that reformers found objectionable, including:

• Episcopal hierarchy (bishops appointed by the crown)
• Elaborate ceremonies and rituals
• Ornate church decorations
• Required use of the Book of Common Prayer
• Mandatory attendance at Anglican services

The Puritans

The Puritan migration to America was not simply about seeking new opportunities, but rather a desperate flight from religious persecution, economic hardship, and political oppression in Stuart England. 

Puritans believed the Anglican Church was still too similar to Catholicism and wanted to eliminate what they saw as "popish" elements.

Faced with this oppressive environment, many Puritans saw America as their only option for practicing their faith freely:

• Massachusetts Bay Company (1629) provided legal means for migration
• John Winthrop and other leaders organized the Great Migration
• Economic opportunity combined with religious freedom
• Covenant theology suggested God was calling them to establish a "New Jerusalem"

Between 1629 and 1640, approximately 20,000 Puritans left England for New England.

The pilgrims

The Pilgrims were Separatists - a radical Protestant group that completely broke away from the Church of England, unlike Puritans who wanted to reform it from within. They believed the Anglican Church was so corrupt that it couldn't be saved and formed their own independent congregations.

Originally part of a Separatist congregation in Scrooby, England (around 1606)

Led by William Brewster and pastor Richard Clyfton

Faced persecution in England for refusing to attend Anglican services

In 1608, they fled to Leiden, Holland seeking religious freedom

First written framework of government in what would become the United States

Democratic principles: Government by consent of the governed

Self-governance: No royal governor or outside authority

"We whose names are underwritten... do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation..."

The first Thanksgiving

It wasn't what we imagine today. It was a 3-day harvest celebration in October 1621 with about 50 surviving Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans.

The menu was different. Likely waterfowl, venison, seafood, corn, and vegetables - probably no turkey as the main dish, and definitely no pumpkin pie or mashed potatoes.

The real story is both more dramatic and more complex than the traditional narrative - showing incredible hardship, cultural cooperation, and survival against overwhelming odds.

52 of the 102 passengers died during the first winter

Entire families wiped out

Only 4 adult women survived out of 29

Many children became orphans

Burials Done secretly at night to hide their weakness from potential Native American attacks

Currently impact

Thanks to the convergence and integration of various cultures, the United States as we know it today came into existence—impacting even pre-existing cultures. It is undeniable that the formation of a nation does not happen overnight nor is it an easy process. However, when societies learn from other civilizations and adapt their knowledge for mutual growth, it becomes possible to build a strong and remarkable nation.

The arrival of foreigners to the ancient North American lands brought about significant changes that are appreciated today. However, it is also important to recognize that ancestral knowledge and culture have been lost over the course of historical development. This loss is concerning, as it is essential to remember where we come from and how things began—something that many people today have unfortunately forgotten.

Sources

https://www.travelhx.com/en/stories/history-of-settlers-in-north-america/

https://www.thecollector.com/lanse-aux-meadows-vikings/

https://www.mayflower400uk.org/education/the-mayflower-story/

https://academic.oup.com/ehr/article/138/593/898/7468169?login=false

https://mayflowerhistory.com/primary-sources-and-books/

https://www.pilgrimhall.org/pdf/TG_What_Happened_in_1621.pdf

https://teachinghistory.org/nhec-blog/23572

Educational videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTW9ockM8I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e5aY_JSuNI

Revolution and Letters: Literary Echoes of the Independence of the United States

Forging a New Identity Through Literature and Revolution

At the end of the 18th century, American writers began to express a spirit different from that of the early colonists. A single event captured their attention, and the Americas they inhabited were no longer an uncharted wilderness, but a rapidly changing society seeking to define its national identity.

The American Revolution not only transformed society but also fostered a new literature that sought to define national identity. Authors of this era did not simply narrate colonial life but actively participated in the construction of a national consciousness. Their pens became intellectual weapons that championed the ideals of liberty, independence, and self-determination.
This generation of writers faced the unique challenge of creating a national literature that distinguished itself from the European tradition while establishing the cultural foundations of a new nation. Through political pamphlets, philosophical essays, public letters, and early attempts at American fiction, these authors forged the foundations of what would later become a distinctively American literary tradition.

Key literary figures of the revolutionary era

The revolutionary period gave rise to extraordinary writers who not only documented the struggle for independence but also helped shape the emerging American identity through their powerful and persuasive words. These authors, with their diverse voices and innovative approaches, played a central role in fostering revolutionary thought and inspiring collective action.

Thomas Paine: His pamphlet Common Sense (1776) was a turning point in public opinion. Written in accessible and passionate language, it urged colonists to break free from British rule and embrace the idea of self-governance. Paine’s writing was instrumental in galvanizing support for the revolution among everyday citizens.

Benjamin Franklin: A true polymath, Franklin used his wit and wisdom in essays, letters, and publications like Poor Richard’s Almanack to promote Enlightenment ideals such as liberty, reason, and civic responsibility. His literary contributions helped lay the intellectual foundation for American democracy.

Phillis Wheatley: As the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry, Wheatley’s work was groundbreaking. Despite being enslaved, she wrote eloquent poems that celebrated freedom, virtue, and the revolutionary cause. Her poem honoring George Washington gained national attention and symbolized the universal yearning for liberty.

Thomas Jefferson: Best known as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s writing combined Enlightenment philosophy with a bold vision of human rights and national sovereignty. His Notes on the State of Virginia further showcased his literary and intellectual depth, blending political theory, natural science, and cultural commentary. Jefferson’s eloquence helped define the moral and ideological framework of the new nation.

These writers did more than reflect the revolutionary spirit—they actively shaped it. Through pamphlets, poems, essays, and declarations, they used the written word as a tool of resistance, persuasion, and nation-building. Their legacy endures not only in the founding documents of the United States but also in the enduring belief that ideas—and the words that express them—can change the course of history.

🧠 Personal Analysis:

What fascinates me most about this literary period is how these writers transformed themselves from colonial subjects into architects of a new nation through their words. The courage required to break with centuries of European literary tradition is undeniable: these authors, in essence, declared cultural independence alongside political independence.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense perfectly exemplifies this transformation. Rather than using the complex, aristocratic language typical of European political discourse, Paine wrote in simple, accessible prose that any farmer or merchant could understand. This wasn’t merely a stylistic choice—it was a revolutionary act that democratized political thought.

The diversity of genres during this period—from Benjamin Franklin’s witty essays to the powerful poetry of Phillis Wheatley—reflects the urgency these writers felt in defining American identity. Every form of writing became a tool for nation-building, proving that literature can serve purposes far beyond entertainment.

What I find most remarkable is that these writers didn’t simply document history—they actively shaped it. Their pamphlets persuaded colonists to support independence, their essays articulated the principles of democracy, and their letters helped maintain unity among the colonies. Literature became a weapon as powerful as any musket in the Revolutionary War.

 🌐 Connection to the Present

The revolutionary writers of the 18th century remind us that words have the power not only to reflect society, but to transform it. Today, as we continue to wrestle with questions of identity, justice, and democracy, the legacy of these early American authors feels especially relevant. In a world shaped by social media, political polarization, and global crises, we’re once again witnessing how literature—whether in the form of op-eds, protest poetry, memoirs, or blogs—can spark dialogue, build communities, and challenge power structures.

Just as Thomas Paine made political philosophy accessible to ordinary citizens, today’s writers strive to democratize information and inspire civic engagement. Voices once marginalized, like Phillis Wheatley’s, now echo loudly in a literary landscape more inclusive than ever before, pushing forward conversations on race, gender, and equity. And in a time when facts are contested and narratives weaponized, Franklin’s commitment to critical thinking and public reason has never been more vital.

The revolutionary era teaches us that literature is not just a mirror—it’s a forge. In every era, writers are the quiet architects of change, chiseling out new possibilities for how we see ourselves and the world around us.

Sources Consulted
📚 To learn more about the beginnings of American literature:

https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/educational-magazines/literature-and-arts-revolutionary-era
https://literopedia.com/what-is-the-revolutionary-period-in-american-literature
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/revolutionary-literary-period

📖 Discover the writers of the Revolutionary Period:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Paine/In-Europe-Rights-of-Man
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/common-sense
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Franklin/Public-service
https://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/history/franklin.html
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillis_Wheatley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Thomas_Jefferson

📺 Educational video about the American Revolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHi4dbW7wNY&t=25s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh3XbtHFagU