Colonial Literature analysis of Pleasures of an American Farmer by St. John de Crevecoeur

1. Colonial Literature analysis of Pleasures of an American Farmer by St. John de Crevecoeur By Grant Janke and Wes Howard

2. Pleasures of an American Farmer • Published in 1782 • Most popular book written by De Crevecoeur • About an American farmer, which is his life aspiration • Progresses into an opposition of slavery with each letter • Creates a persona named James who is writing to his friend in Europe

3. Epistolary Novel? • A Epistolary Novel is written in a series. • The most common form is in letters. • The Pleasures of an American Farmer is a series of pretend letters sent to a man in Europe by a man in America. • De Crevecoeur uses the letters as a literary device to pose as a American farmer.

4. De Crevecoeur's definition of American/s • De Crevecoeur envies the American farmer. • He also wants to be one. • He believes Americans are the “Pilgrims of the west”. He idolizes American farmers for their simple though respectful life.

5. “American Dream” • His view of the “American Dream” was to be a farmer who was married, owned land, who worshipped, had children, and lived in simplicity in a new world. • His emphasis on having a respectful and good name is evident throughout the book.

6. The Revolution’s Effects • He would not take sides with Britain nor America. He was imprisoned for 3 months as a American spy. • When he returned to America, he found that his farm was destroyed and his wife died. • His children were taken away and he eventually regained custody of them.

7. “Melting-Pot” • De Crevecoeur also created the well known metaphor for America as “Melting-Pot” . • “Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world” • He talks about how America is were multiple cultures live together in harmony and order.

8. The End

9. Works Cited • "Michel-Guillaume-Saint-Jean de Crevecoeur." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 02 Nov. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/142841/Michel-Guillaume-Saint-Jean-de-Crevecoeur>. • De Crevecoeur, St. John. Pleasures Of a American Farmer. 1782. Print. • Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. "What is an Epistolary Novel?." wiseGeek. N.p., 08 September 2010. Web. 2 Nov 2010. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-epistolary-novel.htm>. • Mrs. Tomblin