Question

Respond in a well-organized essay. Answer is written in complete sentences. In the middle of the 19th century, political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville claimed, "The inhabitants of the United States have...properly speaking, no literature." Based on what you learned in Semester A, is this statement accurate? Evaluate the contributions of two or more writers in this semester to the development of uniquely American literature. What genres, subjects, themes, settings, or characters did these writers develop?

example:
I believe his quote is not accurate as there are various levels and intricacies within literature and no definite requirements or standards. Many different grammar and syntaxes could be used about anything written and thus could be considered "literature".
I compared Mark Twain (regionalism/realism) to Edgar Allen Poe (gothic and romanticism). Compare their writing styles (Twain's dialect vs Poe's use of punctuation), themes (Twain writing about life in the American West vs Poe writing about death, burials etc) and how they created or brought their character to life.
Both of these authors chose a unique but different way to bring their message to their readers, but it does not mean either of their writings is not considered "literature".

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

I believe that Alexis de Tocqueville's statement claiming that the United States had no literature in the 19th century is not accurate. There were various writers during that time that made significant contributions to the development of uniquely American literature. Two such writers are Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe.

Mark Twain, a key figure in American literary realism and regionalism, created stories that depicted life in the American West in a vivid and realistic way. His use of dialect and vernacular language in works such as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" contributed to the development of American literature by capturing the distinctive voices and experiences of characters from that region.

On the other hand, Edgar Allan Poe was known for his gothic and romantic writing style, focusing on dark and macabre themes such as death, burials, and madness. His use of intricate language, vivid imagery, and symbolism in works like "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven" brought a unique and haunting quality to American literature.

While Twain and Poe had different writing styles and themes, both authors made significant contributions to the development of American literature by creating memorable characters and settings that captured the essence of the American experience. Twain's focus on realism and regionalism depicted a unique American landscape and way of life, while Poe's gothic and romantic elements brought a dark and mysterious tone to American literature.

In conclusion, the statement made by Alexis de Tocqueville claiming that the United States had no literature in the 19th century is inaccurate. Writers such as Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe played a crucial role in shaping uniquely American literature by introducing new genres, themes, settings, and characters that reflected the diversity and complexity of the American experience. Their works continue to be studied and appreciated as important contributions to the American literary canon.

Answer 2

write it so that it is easier to understand

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

I disagree with Alexis de Tocqueville's statement that the United States had no literature in the 19th century. There were indeed writers during that time who made significant contributions to American literature. Two of these writers are Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe.

Mark Twain, known for his realistic and regional stories, depicted life in the American West in a detailed and authentic way. His use of different dialects and local language in works like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" helped portray the unique voices and experiences of characters from that area.

Edgar Allan Poe, on the other hand, was famous for his dark and romantic writing style, focusing on themes like death, burials, and madness. His use of detailed language, vivid descriptions, and symbolism in stories such as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven" added a mysterious and haunting quality to American literature.

Although Twain and Poe had different writing styles and themes, both writers made important contributions to American literature by creating memorable characters and settings that reflected the American experience. Twain's emphasis on realism and regionalism showcased a distinct American way of life, while Poe's gothic and romantic elements introduced a dark and intriguing tone to American literature.

In summary, Tocqueville's claim that there was no literature in the United States in the 19th century is not accurate. Writers like Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe played significant roles in shaping uniquely American literature by introducing new genres, themes, settings, and characters that captured the richness and diversity of the American experience. Their works are still revered today and are regarded as essential parts of the American literary tradition.

Answer 4

use terms that are simple and easy to understand.

Answer 5

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

I don't agree with Alexis de Tocqueville's idea that the United States had no literature in the 19th century. There were writers at that time who made important contributions to American literature. Two of these writers are Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe.

Mark Twain wrote stories that showed life in the American West in a very real and detailed way. He used different ways of speaking and words from different regions in works like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" to show how people in those areas spoke.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote stories with a dark and romantic style, focusing on things like death, burials, and madness. He used a lot of detail in his writing in stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven" to create a mysterious and scary feeling.

Even though Twain and Poe wrote in different ways and about different things, they both helped make American literature better by creating characters and places that showed what it was like to live in America. Twain showed what life was like in certain parts of the country, while Poe added a spooky and exciting feeling to American stories.

In short, Tocqueville was wrong to say that there was no literature in the United States in the 19th century. Writers like Mark Twain and Edgar Allan Poe helped make American literature special by writing about new things, in new ways, that showed the interesting and diverse experiences of living in America. Their stories are still loved today and are a special part of American literary history.