We’ve moved along in American Literature, from the exploration of the sublime to

We’ve moved along in American Literature, from the exploration of the sublime to the supernatural and out into the wilderness. Give me your overall impression of the progression of the literature from the Gothic movement to now. What patterns do you see emerging? How do they all connect, theme-wise? How do they connect with historical situations, that you can see? What do you know about American Literature and America, now that you’ve made it to Realism?