Modernist Nonfiction

When writers write about themselves or the world around them, they are not only telling their readers a personal story but are inadvertently—and sometimes purposely—sharing things about their society, culture, and time period. Literary works that tell about an actual person and employ direct experience share a great deal about the world in general. From the early accounts of explorers, to journals and letters, to speeches and highly complex novels, narrative pieces are an important part of American literature and the American Dream.

In this topic, you will read two different examples of Modernist nonfiction and explore the characteristics of fictional prose found within each.

Essential Question

• What are the characteristics of literary nonfiction?