This module introduced the national desire to create a unique and ″democratic″ and NEW literature. Democratic Literature, it was thought, would be a new form of literature and express the new ideas and spirit and culture of democracy. It would be a literature to represent the ″new″ people of America. For this writing, select one of the readings from this module, summarize the reading, and discuss whether you think this work of literature is ″new,″ and expresses the ″democratic spirit″ of the new nation. On the other hand, you may also argue that a particular work of literature is NOT new or does not express the democratic spirit. Your writing should have two parts. One part should state and briefly summarize the main elements of the work of literature. (Summarize does NOT mean ″retell the story.″ It means ″relate the main elements: writer, form, setting, narrator/speaker, subject, theme, etc., all briefly organized into a succinct paragraph.″ One part should discuss your thinking about whether THIS work seems like a NEW ″American″ form, one that would satisfy the readers of that day?
