Discussion Questions for

American Contexts: "Who Reads an American Book?"

1.) According to the texts included in this section, what are the particular problems facing American writers? How do these texts propose that these problems be solved? What are the responsibilities of the audience, the bookseller or printer, and the writer in reaching a solution?

2.) According to the writers and editors included here, what constitutes an "American" book or subject? What are the characteristics of an American book or subject? Do these writers generally agree?

3.) One might argue that in the process of defining an American literature, the texts included in this section also define an American national character and value system. Choose at least one text from this section and discuss the nature of this American national character and to what extent these ideas persist in today's culture.

4.) Choose one characteristic of American literature offered in this section and demonstrate how a text from the chapter "Literature for a New Nation" upholds, complicates, or rejects this characteristic. For example, William Tudor discusses the importance of both the landscape and early American history to an American national literature. Demonstrate how one of the fiction writers or poets responds to Tudor's ideas.