Tracing Americanness: An Evolutionary Narrative Review Across American History

Abstract

This paper critically reviews the emergence of the concept of Americanness, its evolution, and perspectives along the course of American history. The review also encompasses the interaction of the concept in American literary works, particularly American novels. A narrative review approach is utilized to review the origin of Americanness and its impact on American institutions, experiences, and literature. Through qualitative research methodology, the study undertakes to analyze the interactive relationship of the concept of Americanness and American literature through historical periods. Although Americanness at times shifts its meaning and nuances owing to different political, social, and cultural milieus, still some of the tenets of the concept of Americanness remain fixed, and their relevance attracts literary authors to incorporate the concepts in their celebrated works.

Keywords: Americanness, American novel, Interactive Framework, American culture and experience