Literary Influence

Definition

Literary influence refers to the way in which one author's work impacts the writing style, themes, and ideas of another author. This influence can be seen through shared themes, stylistic choices, or even direct references between texts. In the context of American literature, literary influence often highlights how writers respond to and reshape each other's works, particularly in their exploration of identity, nature, and the human experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson were contemporaries whose works reflect both similarities and differences influenced by their personal experiences and societal contexts.
2. Whitman's free verse style and focus on the collective human experience contrast with Dickinson's more introspective and compact poetry.
3. Both poets grappled with themes of identity and existence, drawing on different influences from their lives and the cultural environment of 19th century America.
4. Whitman’s use of cataloging and an expansive approach to poetry can be seen as a reaction against the more restrained forms used by poets like Dickinson.
5. The interplay between Whitman’s celebration of democracy and Dickinson’s exploration of individual consciousness showcases how literary influence can create a dialogue between differing perspectives.

Review Questions

• How do Whitman and Dickinson exemplify literary influence in their respective works?
  • Whitman and Dickinson demonstrate literary influence through their distinct yet interconnected approaches to themes like identity and the human experience. While Whitman's work is characterized by its expansive style and democratic ideals, Dickinson's poetry focuses on personal introspection and brevity. Their differing styles reflect how they were both influenced by the cultural currents of their time but also sought to carve out unique voices that challenged conventional forms.
• In what ways does intertextuality manifest in the poetry of Whitman and Dickinson?
  • Intertextuality in Whitman and Dickinson’s poetry reveals how both poets respond to each other's themes while employing different techniques. For example, Whitman's call for unity can be contrasted with Dickinson's individualism. Their works may reference similar concepts such as nature or mortality, but they approach these ideas from opposing angles—Whitman through collective celebration and Dickinson through solitary reflection. This interplay enriches our understanding of both poets' contributions to American literature.
• Evaluate the impact of Romanticism on the literary influence seen in Whitman's and Dickinson's writings.
  • Romanticism significantly impacted both Whitman's and Dickinson's writings by emphasizing emotional depth, nature, and individualism. Whitman embraced these Romantic ideals through his celebration of the self and the collective spirit of humanity, while Dickinson's poetry often reflects Romantic themes in her deep explorations of inner life and nature. The tension between their differing expressions of Romanticism illustrates how literary influence operates not just as imitation but also as a creative response that allows for diverse interpretations within a shared cultural framework.

Related terms

Intertextuality:

The relationship between texts, where one text references or echoes elements of another, creating layers of meaning.

Allusion: A reference within a literary work to another work, person, or event, enriching the text by creating connections.

Romanticism:

A literary and artistic movement emphasizing emotion, nature, and individualism, which influenced many American writers during the 19th century.