What are two common themes in american literature?
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Common Themes in American Literature Common Themes throughout American Literature
Many authors contributed to American literature between 1865 and 1914. Although these authors came from all over the country and lived different life styles, they still managed to include similar themes in their works. A theme is considered to be the main idea of the work, or a meaning behind the story. Within this period of American literature, three themes continued to emerge: the concept of true beauty, protection of nature, and perception versus reality.
The first theme, the concept of true beauty is evident in "The White Heron" and "The Real Thing". "The White Heron" presents a little girl torn between material items (money) or saving a …show more content…
While the couple can only allow themselves to stand and look "pretty". Each of the characters eventually comes to terms with the true meaning of beauty and it changes them both. "The White Heron" also advocates the second theme, protection of nature. The little girl becomes aware of the heron's view and she is protecting nature by deciding to give in to the hunter and turn the bird in. Cochise writes in "I am alone" about the Spanish arriving and pushing them off their land. Although the Mimbreno Apache did not do anything themselves to destroy their land, the Spanish did reek havoc on it. Protection of nature is still a theme that is ever present in today's society and well as during the Reconstruction period. The final theme, perception versus reality is presented through "The Yellow Wall-paper" and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". The woman in "The Yellow Wall-paper" is placed inside a room by her husband in order for her to get over her illness. While in the room she notices the wallpaper is tearing at the bottom and there seems to be a woman stuck behind it, so she begins to peel away at the paper