American Literature

This collection is designed for teachers and professors creating or revising a comprehensive American Literature syllabus. We’ve gathered study guides on classic novels, plays, and poems by some of the most frequently taught American writers, such as Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Toni Morrison, and Louise Glück. If you’re looking for more contemporary texts, like Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam or The Color of Water by James McBride, you’ll find those here, too!

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Aging, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, African American Literature, American Literature, History: World, Politics / Government, Biography


Publication year 2009

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Fate

Tags Philosophy, American Literature, Self Help, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2015

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, History: U.S., American Literature


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, American Literature, History: World


Publication year 1920

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Self Discovery

Tags Classic Fiction, Jazz Age, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Roaring Twenties, Class, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

This Side of Paradise (1920) is a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was Fitzgerald’s first novel and became an instant hit, launching Fitzgerald into literary fame for its social commentary on a younger generation fueled by indulgence and materialism. This Side of Paradise is also a historical depiction of the Jazz Age, like Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, The Great Gatsby.This Side of Paradise follows Amory Blaine’s coming of age during prep school and four... Read This Side of Paradise Summary


Publication year 1862

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 1962

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers

Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, American Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government, American Literature

Throne of Glass is the first novel in the eight-book young adult (YA) fantasy series of the same name by author Sarah J. Maas. First published in 2012, the novel is loosely based on the Cinderella story. Throne of Glass was critically well-received. In 2016, Disney purchased the rights to a television adaptation. In addition to the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas is the author of a second High Fantasy series, A Court... Read Throne of Glass Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family

Tags Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction, Relationships, Grief / Death, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Tinkers (2009) is Paul Harding’s debut novel. It delves into the life of a dying man, George Washington Crosby, as he reflects on his past and his family history. The narrative weaves together George’s memories with stories from his father’s life, and it explores the themes of mortality, memory, and the interconnectedness of generations. The novel, which is considered literary fiction, won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2010 PEN/ Robert W. Bingham... Read Tinkers Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family

Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, American Literature


Publication year 1902

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Tags Naturalism, Education, Education, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction

“To Build a Fire” is a short story by American writer Jack London. It was published in Century Magazine in 1908, and this guide references the 1908 edition. An earlier version of the story was published in Youth’s Companion in 1902. It is one of London’s many adventure stories based in the Klondike, where he prospected as a young man. There are six film versions of the story.The story is set during the 1890s gold... Read To Build a Fire Summary


Publication year 1937

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Society: Class, Society: Economics

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Class, Disability, Poverty, Great Depression, History: U.S., Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World

Ernest Hemingway’s best-selling yet poorly reviewed 1937 novel, To Have and Have Not, reflects his growing disillusionment with the world following his experiences in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Written in piecemeal format during his travels, the novel was originally published as two separate short stories and a novella, and this disjointed formation is apparent in the continuity of the plot. Featuring Hemingway’s classic minimalism, the novel offers both the story of Harry Morgan... Read To Have And Have Not Summary


Publication year 1831

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Mythology, Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, History: World, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, American Literature, Southern Gothic, Education, Education, History: World, Historical Fiction

To Kill a Mockingbird is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel written by Harper Lee and originally published in 1960. The book is widely regarded as an American classic and, until recently, was the only novel Lee had published. To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by events and observations that took place in Lee’s hometown. Set in the Great Depression, from 1932 to 1935, the novel is narrated by a young girl named Scout, whose coming-of-age experiences closely mirror... Read To Kill a Mockingbird Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place

Tags Realistic Fiction, American Literature, Agriculture, Arts / Culture, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, Grief / Death, Diversity, American Literature, September 11 Attacks, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1962

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Language, Society: Community

Tags Travel Literature, Action / Adventure, American Literature, Animals, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Classic Fiction, Biography

Published in 1962, Travels With Charley: In Search of America is a narrative travelogue by John Steinbeck. The book follows a cross-country road trip the author took with his dog, a brown poodle named Charley. They travel in a camper-style pickup truck named Rosinante, which Steinbeck had custom built for the trip. Steinbeck embarked on the journey because he felt disconnected from the larger picture of American life after years of living in New York... Read Travels With Charley Summary


Publication year 1934

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Masculinity, Natural World: Food, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Classic Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, American Literature, Love / Sexuality, French Literature, History: World

Tropic of Cancer (1934) was Henry Miller’s third novel after the never-published Clipped Wings (1922) and Moloch: or, This Gentile World (1928). Miller referred to it as his “Paris book,” and it was wildly controversial for its candid depictions of sex. It was the subject of legal disputes and censorship attempts for decades, though ironically it has never been out of print. Tropic of Cancer brings together various genres, including autobiography, memoir, manifesto, and philosophical... Read Tropic of Cancer Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Magical Realism, Education, Education, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy

Tropic of Orange is a 1997 magical realism novel by Japanese American writer Karen Tei Yamashita. Taking place primarily in Los Angeles, the novel begins on the longest day of the year and spans the course of a week; it covers a magical event that begins in Mexico on the Tropic of Cancer and spreads north to Los Angeles. The story is told from the perspective of seven diverse principal characters; each character gets a... Read Tropic of Orange Summary