American Literature for Secondary Schools
by
William B. Cairns
PREFACE
Teachers of English are fairly well agreed that most of the time spent in literary study should be devoted to literature itself, rather than to history, biography, or second-hand criticism. Yet many, and it seems to me an increasing number, feel that the student needs a brief general survey to aid him in grouping and correlating scattered facts, and to show things in their right proportions. This is especially true in American literature, where, if anywhere, the American student should correlate literary history with other history, and should see that American authors reflect in their writings national life.
This book is intended primarily for use in secondary schools where such a survey is offered in the third or fourth year of the course. It gives relatively few dates or unessential biographical facts, and only a moderate amount of formal criticism ; but it aims to show the continuous growth and development of American literature, to point out its connection with the American history which the student already knows, and to discuss in their proper relationships those authors with whom an American might reasonably be supposed to have an acquaintance.
A single brief term would be sufficient to study the essential parts of the text, and to illustrate them by reference to writings which the pupil has already read. The work will be far more profitable and more interesting, however, if the history can be enforced by a considerable amount of reading in the literature itself. The lists of readings and topics should furnish ample material for such an extension and enrichment of the course.
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