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This question is primarily aimed at my 'Introduction to American Literature' class, but replies are welcome from anywhere...

What work of American literature has been most influential in defining your conception of the United States (that is, what is your prime literary “Founder,” to use the Their America vocabulary)?

My own choice is Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). I first read it as a kid, and it gave me an immediate and enduring sense of fundamental differences between Canada and America. The latter seemed, in comparison to my safe but bland home in Northern Ontario, romantically dynamic, mythically alive, and, even in its hinterlands, electric with possibilities for adventure, intrigue, trouble. Every place in America was somewhere, and promised infinite pathways to other somewheres, too.

I remember paddling down the Big Pine River, not long after reading the novel, and wishing that its wooded shores might be capable of bringing forth a runaway in need of help, a pair of royal charlatans, or even a vigilante mob. Nothing so vivid could happen here, in adventureless Thunder Bay, I felt, for the real action was all down south (in there America).

More or less, it still feels that way.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" was the first novel I encountered that really made me think about how I viewed America, and more specifically, the "american dream".

I always found it intriguing that Fitzgerald explored and exposed the problems that the "american dream" held. It was the first time I came across something that painted it in a more negative light then positive, and this really stood out for me. While this novel still exists in a realm of fantastic parties and immense wealth, there is something more real about this story then many others. It offered me something new and for that reason, Fitzgerald sticks out as a major literary founder for me.

Jack Kerouac's "On The Road"

"On The Road" for me is a quintessential American novel. Kerouac, one of the pioneer authors of the beat generation, illustrates life in post-war (WWII) America. This novel chronicles Kerouac's journeys across America as he and his friends search for something greater than what they already have. This quest the characters in Kerouac's novel embark on to find a seemingly ultimate freedom, a higher purpose, really captures the essence of America for me. Kerouac's adventures embody the powerful, essential theme of freedom that is part of the foundation of America. "On The Road" is one of my absolute favourite novels and without a doubt Jack Kerouac is a key literary founder in the realm of American literature.

I also think Gatsby for me is an American “literary founder” of sorts. I agree with Leah that it is one of the first novels that ultimately paints a different picture of America—Fitzgerald dismantles the idyllic, nostalgic notions of America (similar to what Geoff described). He does it in a way that enchants our sensibilities resulting from preconceived notions of America as Winthrop’s “city upon a hill”, and then tears them down in the face of corruption.

Gatsby is indeed a story of the corruption of the American dream, or rather the ultimate realization that it is only a façade. Through the perspective of the stock character and unreliable narrator Nick, we see the American dream through his eyes, in all its glamour and lustre—a life of enchantment that is always just out of reach. Gatsby’s absence for much of the novel seems to reflect this unattainable aspect of the American dream—that it is reserved for the elite, or perhaps that it is simply a hollow pursuit (which I think becomes the resonating theme Fitzgerald speaks to). Gatsby himself is a symbol of the American dream in the context of the economic prosperity and consumerism of a capitalist’s paradise. The cynical disillusionment of the novel is reminiscent of T.S. Eliot’s writings, if we compared America to the “cactus land” that a population of “hollow men” (Americans) inhabit. In this way, living in a society characterized by economic fertility is ironically positioned against the resulting sterility of the psyche, and of human progress. We see such in a love destroyed by social status and wealth.

The famous concluding line of the novel, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther […] So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” The passage aptly articulates that the concepts of individualism and exceptionalism that are bound up within the idealistic package of the so-called American dream, are precisely so—a dream. The “orgastic green light of the future” seems perpetually suspended in the future, and receding time is evoked in the imagery of receding tides, emulating America’s inability for real progress, making the American dream unattainable, in its ceaseless thrust back into the past.

My first taste of American literature, at least that I remember, is E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web". It was my absolute favourite book when I was a kid; I read it over and over and over again, and it never became boring. I grew up in the countryside surrounded by farms, and every spring I would find two or three baby spiders making their webs outside of my bedroom window. Because of that, the book was really relatable.

The book offers a glimpse into the simple, rural American life which, now that I think about it, differed from my childhood experience in many ways. I think I noticed it when I was a kid but never thought much about it. Whether the characters were going for a swim in the river, going to church, playing on a rope swing in the barn, or attending a county fair where people gather from all around the state, there's just something about this lifestyle that reflects on American ideals and values. Family, friendship, patriotism, working hard to be successful, sacrifice...all of these are core American values and, to a younger version of myself, defined what the perfect American family is all about.

I originally posted a slightly different response to this question, but as I gave the matter more thought, one text came to mind again and again. The literary passage which most epitomizes the American spirit for me comes from a speech given by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1910. The speech was entitled "Citizenship in a Republic," and the passage I've cited is often referred to as "The Man in the Arena."

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Americans see themselves as men and women of action. While it may be a fair critique that we sometimes rush into action without sufficient reflection, I sense that Americans would much prefer to act intemperately rather than sit back armchair philosophizing. While recognizing the jingoistic overtones, I believe this passage appeals to a wider, everyday notion of the pragmatic, "get 'er done" dimension of American exceptionalism.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald stands out as my first proper and thought-provoking introduction to American literature. The first time I read it, I was more interested in the drama of the story and the era in which it occurs. Upon a second, and more critical read a year later, I was fascinated by the way the "American dream" was portrayed. It was the first time, without the assistance of a teacher/professor that I could make out symbols for my own. I had already been fascinated by America's "Roaring Twenties," and I was interested in the sharp contrast between the brightness and fullness of the novel's aesthetic components (Gatsby's luxurious life/parties) and its empty and broken characters. Gatsby as a twisted manifestation of the American dream has the ability to fascinate and haunt. Gatsby makes it clear to the reader that there is a price to building ones' self on the promise of this dream. He is a dramatized account of this, but it was illuminating to read about this character who, for Nick Carraway, is the epitome of hope and innocence, while in fact having built himself on a foundation of hard criminal activity. It speaks to ideas of representation, that you are what you put out into the world. It is not only your success you can alter, but the very way you are received in society. This idea is shattered in the end, as it is not Gatsby's actual crimes, or the persona he adopted that he is remembered for, but rather a crime he did not commit. Gatsby is a grim portrayal of the American dream, where you can just as easily build yourself, or watch everything you have made fall apart.

The first book (well, in this case, play) that gave me an idea of “The American Dream,” and what The United States of America is like was "Death of a Salesman" by literary founder, Arthur Miller. When I read this play in grade twelve, I discovered some of the desires that made up The American Dream. The American Dream consists of wealth, having a well-to-do nuclear family, being well liked, and having extravagant, nice things.

After examining the text in class, my teacher brought forth another theme of the American Dream; the idea that one can become rich if they try hard enough. That no matter what their past was, or where they came from, that they could start anew and become wealthy. The idea that one can become rich if they try hard enough is also shown through the character Bernard, because Bernard becomes a lawyer. He says he started at 19, and got rich by the age of 21. Bernard becomes rich, but does not do it in an honest fashion. This is an instance in which The American Dream is challenged in “Death of a Salesman.” Sure, a man can start from scratch and make a lot of money to provide for his family, but doing it in an honest and genuine way is another story. Bernard does not become rich by being a genuine guy. Much like Gatsby, Bernard becomes rich by doing sleazy, dishonest work. Bernard does not become rich in the so-called “honest, all American way.”

The idea of rags to riches mentioned above was brought forth through the father and protagonist of this play, Willy Loman. Loman believes that you will go far in life if you are charming, attractive, and personable. Loman pushes these beliefs onto his sons. Although he does this, Loman’s philosophy on how to go far in the business world backfires in the end, when he gets fired from his job. This play challenges The American Dream because, once Loman gets fried from his job, he is no longer able to provide for his family. This means that man, who is “supposed to be” the breadwinner of the family is now out of work.

Lastly, America’s need for consumption and how it helps man achieve their ideal American Dream comes forth in this play. In the United States Declaration of Independence, the phrase, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” has helped Americans shape their lives for decades. In this play, Willy Loman is concerned with what his family’s life looks like form the outside. Loman creates a façade, trying to hide ugly truths about his family from the rest of the world. He is interested in material consumption and the belief that one can find happiness through material possessions. By doing this, Loman takes advantage of what new, modern America has to offer. He consumes and attempts to sell products, but, as mentioned above, this backfired. His superficial qualities in life get him in trouble in the end.

Because of the above reasons, Arthur Miller’s, “Death of a Salesman” gave me an idea of The American Dream, and what happens when it all goes wrong.

My first encounter with American literature was the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. The play’s proclivity to the “American dream” sent me back in time to a moment in my early childhood when three students in the grocery store asked my father for a quote on “what the ‘American dream’ meant to him,” for a school project.
Having had this experience, I always believed that the American dream was something open to interpretation, something arbitrary, and something everyone had a different idea about. However, upon reading Miller’s play at thirteen, my understanding of the American dream was challenged and resulted in Death of a Salesman greatly influencing my understanding of what America was, and what Americans strived for. My understanding of the American dream shifted from “health and happiness for my wife and children,” as my father described it, or “a debt free future where I can buy a coffee everyday if I want to,” as described by a fellow shopper in the produce section that day, to an elusive and unattainable dream of respect and financial success, of a man “[knowing] what he [wants] and [going] out and [getting] it,” (Miller) even if it makes him gravely unhappy.

In High School I became enamoured with the glamour of 20th century american Author's like F. Scott Fitzgerald, his wife Zelda as well as Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. I couldn't get enough of their exciting and glamorous stories that spoke to a kind of world that was fun and adventurous and beautiful even though it was evidently wrought with psychological and social issues. And while my first introduction into american literature was probably J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" which I read and did not at all understand when I was probably about 13. The author and novel that really very much created a distinction of American Literature (funnily enough) was Gertrude Stein's book; "Paris France". The novel is an account of Stein's time spent in Paris and the french country side right at the dawn of the second world war. What better way to understand the distinction Americans make between themselves and the world than by reading a book in which an american tries to define it for you. Stein uses her distinctly simplistic prose style (often referred to as having been 'made beautiful' later on by Hemingway) to recount her experiences in the french capital. Stein talks about her everyday experiences with the locals and her attempts to understand them and represent them in text. For me this text is quintessentially american in the sense that Stein (the american) tries to distinguish and understand the french people as 'other' than the american people while living among them. Treating them as subjects rather than as individuals. The prose style as well demonstrates a penchant for the classical american sense of 'exceptionalism', Stein tries her best to create a new writing style in order to distinguish herself (and american writing in general one could argue) from other styles of "english" writing, which of course originated in Britain long before there was anybody in "America" who was writing in english.

For me, my most significant encounter with American literature was in grade 10, when we read To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee. It was the first time that I could fully understand a novel and analyze the deeper meanings of what it going on.
This novel dealt with serious issues of Southern parts of the United States – all that were very real. It gave me an idea of the hardships that people of colour had to deal with. Their struggle was one that was difficult and hard to believe. I never understood how Americans could treat those who are black in that manner. Atticus Finch was such an inspiring and heroic character, who taught readers great lessons on compassion and empathy. One quote that always stood out to me was, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This meaning was one that my mother always told me, to help me understand that it was important to not judge others and respect them.
I feel like this classic is extremely important for people to read because it can teach them a lot of things. Especially in today’s society and all of the prejudice that goes on in America (and the rest of the world), it is important for people to know that there is a sense of hope and change to come.

As I can see has been the experience with a lot of people, my own worldview has been too steeped in American culture for me to understand many works as distinctly American. Growing up I consumed mostly American media about American people living in America. As a child without any real bearing on the country I live in aside from being physically located inside of it, “America” seemed like a realer world than my own. I read The Catcher in the Rye in middle school and was, I think, relieved to hear an American voice call out as fake a spectacular nature of socializing I associated with my own and my peers’ mimicry of (almost always American) media. I haven’t read the novel in a long time, and whatever understanding I have of it is certainly not very sophisticated, but reflecting on it now I think I really appreciated Holden’s own explicit participation in the behaviour and culture as he called it out—I’m recalling some cinematic fantasies (nursed to health by a crush after being shot by a pimp?) and his attraction to a “phoney” girl. I think this kind of hypocrisy gave me an idea of the way my culture and behaviour was influenced by American media, but also some understanding that “America” was an idea I personally participated in? It’s especially interesting now to think of Holden’s fixation with and romanticization of childhood and nature in relation to authors like Emerson and especially Thoreau, in their belief in a sort of youth and innocence outside of culture that can be accessed in communion with the natural world, or even in meditation on cultural works and objects. I’m sure there’s something to say about the way that project is frustrated in The Catcher in the Rye, but I’d definitely have to revisit the novel to cash it out.

I would have to agree that the Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder was my first introduction to American Literature. I read it at such a young age that I can recall believing that it was set in Canada, where I am from, as my knowledge of geography at the age of nine was abysmal and we read it in school. I never really thought of the distinction between America and Canada at a young age and this applied to literature as well, so for me the story of Laura Ingalls could have been set on the Canadian prairies or in the woods of the Muskoka region.

The work that has been the most influential in shaping my conception of America was definitely Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. When I read it at the first time I had already read ~Great American Novels~ like Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, but none of them resonated with me like Lolita did. I’m a first generation Canadian with a very proud and patriotic British background, and I was raised to believe, like Humbert Humbert does, that Americans are typically brash, uneducated, foolish and superficial. Humbert openly shames Charlotte Haze, Lolita’s mother, as being nothing more than a housewife, while she idolizes Humbert’s educated, European sophistication. However, by the end of the novel, Europe seems to be the enemy. Europe (Humbert) debases Lolita (America). He criticizes American culture as being vulgar, yet he is the one raping a child. Humbert bores Lolita with references to art, culture and history, and Lolita eventually leaves him for the American Quilty. Maybe there is no room in American culture for flamboyant sophistication, and maybe Europe is holding on too tightly to their illusions of grandeur. Lolita was the first work of American literature that really made me see Americans in a different light.

In regards to which author made a great contribution to American Literature, I too would say John Steinbeck. In addition to "The Grapes of Wrath", I also found "Of Mice and Men" and "East of Eden" to be quite remarkable. "Of Mice and Men" portrays the complexity of having mentally-unstable friend. Steinbeck challenges the reader to contemplate to what end should George should support Lenny and ultimately were his actions justified. In "East of Eden", Steinbeck portrays three generation lines between two families. The extensive nature explaining multiple character perspectives and connections reveals how a story is not limited to one perspective, despite the narration it is told in. This framework can easily be related to Faulkner's work "As I Lay Dying". Notice the diversity within these novels. "East of Eden" is an epic bildungsroman which includes multiple biblical allusions. "Of Mice and Men" is a novella which tackles a complicated issue in mental instability and how others can react to it. "Grapes of Wrath" portrays a realistic ordeal which many families during that timeframe had to endure: adapting to life in the great depression era. John Steinbeck's ability to cover such a variety of topics makes him, for me, one of most remarkable contributors for American literature.

I'm going to have to agree with a majority of the comments above and say that Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" most profoundly struck me as a literary work that defines a greatly important aspect of America and what the nation stands for. Before reading the novel, I thought that the American Dream stood for independence, with an emphasis on the importance of of making something of oneself through hard work and perseverance. However, after completing the novel, I questioned exactly what the American dream entailed, and whether or not people are still figuratively chasing it. I was under the impression that simply merit and hard work are simply not enough to achieve the American Dream, which has merely become consumed with materialism and the selfish pursuit of pleasure. Another theme of the novel, cheating of many forms, made me wonder if this was the the only way to achieving the American Dream, or if the American Dream itself is about cheating your way to success. There is also a plethora of economic and social imbalances, one of which involving the relationship between Tom and Daisy that struck me as having significant importance. Both individuals come from a wealthy background and appear to have a very successful life together that is consumed with materialistic success. It would appear that both successful individuals are living, breathing examples of what the American Dream is all about. However, both individuals feel the need to cheat on each other in order to find happiness. Essentially, they find happiness with people whose lives are quite different from their own, lives that are not as much infatuated with materialism (and if it is, it is of a false facade in Gatsby's case). What then, does it mean to be happy as an American living in the mid 1920s?

I afree with most of the responses on "The Great Gatsby", as a fundemental literary work for understanding the American Lifestyle. I rad the book in high school the first time, and before that I was not familiar with, or had an understanding of the concept of the "American Dream". However, after reading it, I got a better understanding of it. It is one of the few books taht focus more on the darker aspects of dreams and desires, not just in general, but also in terms of human nature as well. An example would be Gatsby obtaining his wealth and his obsession with Daisy. And while it does focus on the American Dream as the central theme, it still manages to focus on the dark themes of humanity as well, such as murder. What is interesting is, that all characters in the novel are flawed to some extent. While all novels and literary works show some kind of a flaw in their characters, "The Great Gatsby", places more emphasis on them, such being greed, manipulation and deceit.