Recently, a colleague posed a challenging question: If you could only teach 5 classic American authors, who would you choose?
My first instincts were to list a series of compelling contemporary authors: Maggie Smith, Julia Alvarez, Nikki Giovanni, or Jamaal May.
However, my colleague stopped me and clarified. She was looking for classic American authors, so I set out to choose 5 classic authors. As I made my selections, I looked for individuals who made a significant contribution to American literature. I looked for individuals who shaped American literature, pushed it in a different direction, and who would be appropriate for a high school classroom.
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Early American Authors
As I was speaking to my colleague, I surprised her by suggesting William Cullen Bryant. Yes, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry made significant contributions to American rhetoric, and Phillis Wheatley was the first Black American poet.
However, Bryant was insistent on establishing an authentic and unique American literature. In particular, “The Planting of the Apple-Tree” uses a familiar symbol to capture the growth of the United States and, symbolically, the birth of American literature. Similarly, “To a Waterfowl” portrays the birth of American Romanticism. Finally, I love teaching “Thanatopsis” because students always connect it to the Marvelverse. Grab all 3 of poems today!
In many ways, Ralph Waldo Emerson builds on Bryant’s vision. Unlike Bryant’s Romantic era, Emerson is the father of Transcendentalism, a distinctly American literary period. The two pieces I often incorporate are excerpts from “Nature” and “Self-Reliance.” For one, “Nature” helps students see the relationship between Romanticism and Transcendentalism. Additionally, “Self-Reliance” cements the individual spirit of American literature and presents the Oversoul in a unique way. The Ralph Waldo Emerson instructional pack includes both of these excerpts.
American Visionaries
When I think about classic American authors, Emily Dickinson is at the forefront of my mind. Few American authors were as prolific. Furthermore, Dickinson’s blank verse, slant rhyme, and idiosyncrasies pushed American literature forward.
To introduce Dickinson to my students, I use this Crash Course video, which walks students through “I Heard a Fly Buzz–When I Died.” I then build on this with the poem “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers.” I enjoy this combination of poems because it builds on familiar themes in a refreshing manner. I’ve gathered all three of these resources here.
Like Dickinson, Walt Whitman is a classic American author whose work changed the literary landscape. Perhaps more than any author on this list, Whitman left an indelible mark on American literature. His use of free verse and catalogues captures the rhythm of American life in an authentic and relatable manner.
Over the years, I’ve taught different sets of Whitman’s work, choosing what my students need based on their strengths and the calendar. Here are my favorites:
- “America”
- “Song of Myself”
- “I Hear America Singing“
- Preface to Leaves of Grass
- “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer“
- Or, you can grab all of these titles in the Walt Whitman Bundle
The Wildcard
As I was trying to answer my colleague’s question, I struggled to decide on my final choice. I had two final classic American authors in mind. First, I thought of Stephen Crane because his work captures the dismay at the end of the American Civil War. However, I ultimately decided on Edwin Arlington Robinson.
You might be asking, what? Who?
I know, this is an unconventional choice, but Robinson’s poems are memorable for students. The shock factor at the end of “Miniver Cheevy” or “Richard Cory” sticks with students. Like Crane, Robinson captures the shifting mood of American life after the Civil War, but the characters at the heart of Robinson’s work are so vivid and captivating. I have bundled these two famous poems with “Luke Havergal.”
What other classic American authors would you choose?
