Defining "Major American Authors"

Does society shape an author’s writing or does the author’s writing define society—or both? Does enjoyability and popularity deem an author “major” or simply designate them as “great” authors? To be considered a “major American author,” requires writing that encapsulates the pulse of any combination of American culture, religion, society, or politics, and is widely received and influential enough to have made a significant impact and lasting impression upon society. The various works studied throughout the semester capture key aspects of what it means to be “American,” that while unique to the periods these pieces were written, continue their timeless unraveling of our American legacy.

We began the class reading Frederick Douglass’ The Heroic Slave and Herman Melville’s Benito Cereno. Both of these authors provide timely novellas steeped in cultural, societal, and political relevancy to the 19th century. Specifically, we were introduced to the primary issues of their time—the institution of slavery; racial, cultural, and social disparity in the North and South; and tensions in the years leading up to and surrounding the American Civil War. Not only were these themes largely relatable to the readership, featuring identifiable characters; but the moral dilemmas and political agendas critical to America’s eventual civil rights evolution are clearly identifiable undertones. For example, Douglass’ The Heroic Slave was specifically written for the readers of the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society as an example of how the rebellion aboard the Creole “is part of a revolution and therefore fundamentally American” (Douglass, back cover), which emphasizes the historical importance of the anti-slavery movement, as well as, the influence and value of Douglass’ perspective.

Also highly valued for its unique artistic expression crystallizing the “unwritten” American Civil War and capturing the introspective heart of American sentiment is the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville, and Walt Whitman. Through her use of the words “autumn; scarlet rain; sprinkles bonnets; and rose,” Dickinson presents a more delicate and universally accepted imagery when describing a bloody battle in “The name – of it – is “Autumn”—” (lines 1, and 8-10). In Melville’s “The Portent” and Whitman’s “A Sight in Camp,” an increase in military references (Melville’s foreshadowed battles of Shenandoah Valley and Whitman’s backdrop of a military camp) are representative of the authors’ closer ties to the repercussions of war and indicative of a more war-versed audience. Additionally, the three poets’ use of religious symbolism throughout their writing highlights the importance placed on American religious beliefs during that time (e.g., Whitman’s introduction of the image of Christ Himself, drawing a direct correlation between sacrificial religious symbols to that of the sacrificed soldiers). Each of these poetic perspectives poignantly captures the essence of our American Civil War lineage.

Buried within the self-explorative avant-garde works of Henry Adams’ The Education of Henry Adams and Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, are influential and progressive literary pieces that serve as introductions to American industry, technology, philosophy, and art against the relevant political landscapes of their respective times. On point social and political themes also serve as backdrops for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited, featuring a character’s moral journey after the 1929 stock market crash that led to America’s Great Depression, which parallels Fitzgerald’s own life; as well as, in the search for self-identity amidst racial inequality addressed in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. These works feature both characters and themes still widely applicable to the modern audience.

Greatly influenced by American life, these authors, among many others, have made significant and relevant literary contributions which have stood the test of time; tackling complex moral and social issues of yesterday that still deeply resonate today. Their heritage has been permanently woven into the historical fabric of America, serving as the family albums of our forefathers and blueprints for American legacy. The historical relevancy and sheer magnitude of timeless influence is what defines each of these authors as “major American authors” and is why their work will continue influencing American generations for years to come.

It is widely accepted that providing one concrete definition of a “major American author” is a nearly impossible task. This definition is flexible and opinionated, and the criteria that one critic or audience may consider will generally differ throughout other groups. This criteria of a major American author varies extensively; some readers grant this title only to those who have received awards, while others argue that an unrecognized author has an equal amount of potential. Historical content, prevalence, and time period are also considered to be among the essential components necessary for branding someone as a “major American author.” Though I support these previous claims, the most crucial factor is the representation of the values of Americans within their writings. A major American author is one who laces the values of American society within their works and impacts their readers by presenting to them the core of American culture and moral code.

An author who gives their audience the ability to recognize the values and standards of our society is treasured, as they provide knowledge of culture, moral code, and viewpoints of the American people. These knowledges are lauded, as they allow America as a whole to share similarities, as well as allowing foreigners to understand to our societal beliefs. A major American author is one who gives individuals from all over the world an opportunity to connect with American society, even if they are unfamiliar with the perspectives and values they share. One author who has been helpful in representing our values is O. Henry in his “The Municipal Report.” The way O. Henry depicts slavery in the story proves to the audience that, America, as a whole, has gotten past this appalling issue. The use of the a black man as a protector over a white woman represents the efforts American society has made to brush away slavery and our racist past. Contrasting the positive efforts of America, O. Henry also uses name-calling and stereotypes within the story that illustrate racism. These elements assist in providing a realistic story as they reveal the actuality that some racism remains within our society, as well as exposing some of its imperfections. Authors such as O. Henry, who accurately portray our societal values, earn the label of a “major American author” because they are a positive impact, aiding in the understanding of American values and thus creating an intercultural relevance and connection between Americans and foreigners.

Emily Dickinson is also considered “major American author,” as she too expresses the values in American society within her literature. Her poem “It Feels A Shame To Be Alive” represents the gratitude and sincerity Dickinson felt towards the soldiers fighting in the Civil War and depicts the appreciation Americans typically have towards those who sacrifice their lives for the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of our society. The poem is successful in revealing our society’s gratefulness for its loyal citizens, and and allows the audience to recognize the moral values we consider to be essential, which is why Dickinson earned the label of a “major American author.”

It is not about how prominent the author is, the amount of publicity they receive, or how many people read their works. In this particular situation, the term “major” is not viewed as something prevalent, but something influential. A “major American author” represents American societal values in their literature and creates a sense understanding that permits its audience to connect with the society as a whole. The story does not need to have historical relevance or even a slight truth as long as it reaps the benefits of portraying America’s values. A “major American author” is someone who establishes and represents within their writings the virtues and principles that are of utmost importance in American society.

What deserves the Title

There shouldn't be a strict formula for the classification of Major American Authors because it would restrict creativity for those aspiring to attain the title. With that said, some loose guidelines for the selection process are given by the following argument.

Major American author: how can this title be systematically given based on the background of a writer, and the content and significance of their writing. Noting the books that were chosen for this class, they need strong historical references. Slavery was a hot topic in America for a long time. It led to the United State's only civil war and is still a touchy subject today. The way slavery was instituted and organized in the States was also unique because slave owners bred the slaves. It makes sense to give an author this distinction if they can write about this time period well, for the sake of capturing this solitary case of slavery. Additionally, it must address a problem with American society, make it known to the reader, shed some light on it, and possibly present some ideas on how to improve the situation. If the book makes people aware of a corruption, there will likely be a call to action. Slavery is yet again a great example of this criteria. The injustice and immorality involved with suppressing a group of people based on the color of their skin is an obvious violation of human rights, and thus a good problem to appeal to the ethics of the American people via writing. Authors who have the power to persuade readers to overturn these problems in society should earn this title.

But after all these are just considerations, what it really comes down to is how the reader receives the book. If they can find their own personal values in it, then the book will probably be a favorite of the reader. When a majority of people favor the book, and the author is American, the obvious result is that the writer is a major American author.

There is one author that eludes these guidelines entirely, but she is still deemed major. That author is Gertrude Stein. Her autobiography does not make the United States a better place to live and the only history lesson the reader may receive is the kinds of styles of art and artists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. So why was she major? This just goes to show that there is in fact, no formula for the distribution of this title and any author can attain it if they are clever enough.

The Great American Author

Determining the criteria of a great American author is a difficult and ambiguous process. There are many things that can be considered, argued and alluded to, but what it boils down to, in my opinion, is the story itself. An American writer can become great if he or she is a great writer, but just as easily can achieve this exalted status by sheer good fortune. Still, there are aspects of writing that set some authors apart from the rest, whether their work consists of fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose.

The most important characteristic of a great American author is the timelessness of his or her work – quality over quantity, if you will. William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and Mark Twain all wrote numerous novels during their well-documented careers, but had each only written The Sound and the Fury, A Farewell to Arms, and Huckleberry Fin, respectively, it is hard to imagine that they would not be recognized for the genius they possessed. A parallel illustration can be found in music. Some of the greatest songs ever recorded are what we call “one-hit wonders,” but that doesn't take away from that doesn't take away from the historical significance of that one hit. It is likely, though, that if someone does something great, he or she is doomed to repeat it – or at least try to – and that's why “great” authors are generally categorized by repeated success.

Like all others who make great achievements, the great American author is a forward thinker. A unique style can separate a story that is similar to others and give a story a unique value that is absent in others like it. Usually a story is great, and thus it's author, if it has a meaning that the majority can relate to. Great American authors have the ability to make the subject matter relevant to readers regardless of what the story is about. Most of the people that read the first chapter of Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man, likely had never stepped into a boxing ring, yet everyone understood what the narrator was going through. The best authors convey the message.

So what makes an American author great? It's an open ended question and one that really doesn't have a right or wrong answer. As is the case in any endeavor, a man or woman's greatness is determined by the impact that he or she has on society. And if an author makes an impact, a great impact, through his or her work, then I would argue that they fit the criteria.

Final Exam

After taking the class Major American Authors my view on what a “major American author” is has changed. Before entering into this course I believed a major American author as a writer who is well known throughout the United States. As I look over what has been read and discussed throughout this course my idea has now formed to believe that a major American author is someone who has had a significant influence in American literature.

My first perception of a major American author was a person who was prominent in society. The word “major” is what shaped my definition of an American author. I believe a writer is major when they are well known and a household name throughout the United States. When we began the course we read Frederick Douglass’ The Heroic Slave. He is the perfect example of the type of authors that I believe we were going to read. His name is used in every early American history course since elementary school. Also, his narrative is a common piece of literature that many students read in their high school and college years. Since he is an important figure in American society, one is compelled to take the meaning of his work seriously which is an important quality in a major American author.

As we came towards the end of the course, we read Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Tolkas who completely transformed my view of a major American author. While at first I thought that a major American author is someone who is well known, I now believe them to be a person who has a significant influence on other writer’s in American society. Since Stein was a mentor to F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemmingway, her influence brings curiosity to look into her work more. After reading The Autobiography of Alice B. Tolkas, her chaotic structure made me think what about her influenced these other great writers. While I am still not able fully understand her influence, since she had an effect on what we consider great writes makes her a major American author. Without her, the way we know and appreciate these authors such as Ernest Hemmingway may not be the same.

Finally, I found that in order to be a major American author, their work has to be timeless. A timeless piece of work is something that will have relevance whatever century, decade or year it is read in. Frederick Douglass will forever be important in history for his impact with the abolitionist movement. The The Heroic Slave told a story of certain incidents that happened. Douglass’ elements teach current generations about the reality of slavery during his time. He tells the story of one man account to reach freedom from the life of oppression he faced and the point in which he had enough. Also, he showed the power in slaves as they stand up against those inflicting pain on him. With Gertrude Stein, her story of Alice Tolkas tells the story of their adventures together. He accounts with many artist and writers, especially Picasso and Matisse. Since she had an intimate relationships with these men and many others, one become more intrigued in order to find out more about these people. As long as others are interested in these artist and writers, he work will forever be relevant. The stories of both authors keep the timeless aspects which allow them to become Major American Authors.

What makes a Major American Author? When first asked this question, I already knew what it meant to me. It is not how many Pulitzers someone has won or how many books have been sold, it is how did I feel at the end of the book and would I read it again? However, others may not agree but that is exactly my point. All people are different and enjoy different things. Certain authors are very popular and people decide they are considered “Classics” but why? I may not enjoy an author but that doesn’t make them a bad author or not major. The cliché, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is the way we should look at this question. It is through personal judgment what makes an author great no matter what the Wall Street Journal or Barnes & Noble’s says.
“And adds Picasso with a sigh, even after everybody knows they are good not any more people really like them than they did when only the few knew they were good” (Stein, 88). Picasso could never express the situation better. To be honest, I am not a person to go with what everyone deems worthy of time. I enjoy authors that create a world I can escape the rest of the world. Edgar Allen Poe may be deemed insane and morbid, but his works differentiate from most which creates a mystique. Important qualities for works I read contain a plot with equal imagery as dialogue. For such reasons, I enjoy some play writes as Arthur Miller but his work for The Crucible was lacking the fast pace story I enjoy. Nicholas Sparks The Notebook may be one of my favorite books. Romance and true love qualifies for the top of my list yet I also love stories with happy endings. In Spark’s other books, they end tragically. I may praise it while reading but I would never reread it. Every person’s major author has the readers begging for more and trying to go through the wardrobe as the children of C.S Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
The books and authors you read display your desires and wants. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of the books you read anymore than the clothes you wear. I enjoy romances with happy endings with little to no major conflict. The Major American Author’s List consists of who each person sees deemed worth no one else but you.

Final Exam- Considering Major American Authors

When I chose this class, I was curious as to what would constitute a major American author. Previously, I believed that someone was considered a major author, because their work was considered major or impacting/popular. In other words, the author was famous because their piece of work had become famous. Their work would not have to be classified under any certain category, but it would have to be popular among many and I automatically assumed that most of the time such works would be awarded. So my notion going into this class was that we would be focusing on popular authors such as Fitzgerald or Faulkner; authors whom I have heard a lot about and who I have known to be taught widely. This class however completely changed my point of view on the topic of major authors. I do believe that major authors are authors that have become popular and are widely known, but this class helped me answer why for several reasons. Firstly, it is evident that major authors help relay an important message to an audience. We have seen this in Benito Cereno as well as in Heroic Slave. We were exposed to the central messages of the importance of slavery and the need for the abolishment of slavery. Secondly, all the books we have read during this course take on a historical role. It seems likely that in order to be an important piece of literature, their must be some historical information. This was evident in all the books we have read this semester. In Douglas and Melville's books, the topic discussed was slavery. We were given an inside look into slavery from two different perspectives. With the poetry we focused on, we discussed poems that dealt with the Civil War. With Gertrude Stein we discussed an important historical/social moment and that was the coming about of various art forms. In Henry Adams, we discussed different historical aspects such as his background, and the technological boom and advancement of American society. Thus, all the literature we focused on this semester had a historical background. However, I don't believe that this is true or is necessary for all great works of literature. In other words, history played a huge role in our literary class, but doesn't always play a huge role in other major authors work. I think that their are different aspects or things that authors can focus on and provide great works. Our class, however, focused on literary pieces that offered historical content. It was up to Kelly to choose the major American authors and she chose them based on the historical peices they provided. After this course, while reflecting, I feel that what makes an author "major," really depends on the reader. I don't think it is necessarily fair to say that one author is major and another is not. I have read many works from various American authors, whom I think should be considered major, yet they are not. I think it's a personal opinion. I do believe that this course should be taught at the university because it has certainly opened up my eyes. I think that "major American authors" is so broad, and their are so many authors that can be found under this title, that this course helps in focusing in on some. As I said earlier, I would not have read these texts on my own time, nor would I have considered them to be works from major authors. Yet, now I can truly say that they are important reads and I do consider them major authors. I think that this class is essential at UNC because it helps individuals such as myself break the stereotypes of what makes an author important, and helps further enhance ones understanding of why pieces of literature hold such value. I have really enjoyed this class and I think it is beneficial for all to take because it truly helps one understand what a major American author is, and it helps illustrate that various individuals think authors are major for one reason or another. Quite frankly, their is no wrong or right response when answering what makes a major American author, it's all a personal opinion.