Question

How are American literature and the American identity interrelated?

Answer 1

American literature and American identity are very closely connected. One influences the other in many different ways. Identity influences literature in the sense that most writers write about their own personal experiences, their ways of life, their goals and their dreams, and all of this is impacted by their identity. For example, authors such as Anne Bradstreet described the ways of living in the country that she identified with, and through her writings, these became integrated into an American identity.

On the other hand, literature can also influence identity. For example, the writings of Walt Whitman identified the struggles and joys of the common American man. This identity did not exist before, or at least it was not celebrated in this way. Through his writings, Whitman created a conscious idea of what it meant to be an American.

Answer 2

American literature can be argued to generally portrays features of American identity because American literature is the source of inspiration towards building of a nation (American identity) ,in other words its like a reflective mirror to society.