Neoclassical Lit Neoclassicism Is Immediately Apparent in

Neoclassical Lit Neoclassicism is immediately apparent in the visual arts and in architecture. In literature, neoclassicism entailed the revival of Classical Greek ethics, philosophy, and political ideals. Neoclassical literature sometimes drew on direct allusions to ancient Greece and Rome, using imagery of elements like statuary of gods. Because Reason fared prominently in the literature of ancient Greece, Reason also became a hallmark of neoclassical American writing. Thus, neoclassicism was an integral part of Enlightenment writing and literature.

One of the ways neoclassicism became a part of the American literary quilt was via the revival of original Greek and Roman texts. Insight into the roots of classical thought allowed American writers to apply ancient principles to their modern needs and concerns. Therefore, Greek concepts of reason, democracy, and ethics became fused with the American sense of liberty. A Christian perspective prevented the neoclassical writers to do away with God entirely, but there was an increased expression of humanism and other Renaissance and Enlightenment ideals.

It was within the neoclassical tradition that was borne the political documents that formed the foundation of the United States government. While neoclassicism flourished, an equally as influential, if not ironic, trend also swept through the literature of early America. That trend was the Great Awakening. Sermon writers like John Edwards expounded on the angry Christian God, inspiring fear and submission into listeners and readers. The Great Awakening represented an almost totally opposite sentiment from neoclassicism.

Whereas neoclassicism represented reason and the pursuit of enlightenment from a humanistic perspective, Christian fundamentalism represented a return to dogma and superstition. These two concurrent trends in American literature and culture persist until this day. Although Benjamin Franklin may not fit in squarely with the neoclassical tradition, there are certainly neoclassical elements in his writing. The straightforward and sensible nature of Franklin's writing and worldview make him an American neoclassicist.

Stories like "The Speech of Polly Baker" show that there was a growing interest in transforming social institutions for the better. The American concept of secular self-governance was neoclassical. In "The Speech of Polly Baker," Franklin points out the weaknesses in American society with regards to outmoded social norms based on superstition instead of reason. The American neoclassical literary tradition diverged from its British counterparts because of these conflicting parts of the colonial identity: religion vs. reason.

Independence united these two factions, whether they dwelt within an individual or collectively throughout the New World. The writings of Thomas Paine, Jonathan Mayhew, and Patrick Henry reveal the ways Americans conceptualized and communicated their.