Canadian Literature

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The study of Canadian writing, including poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.

Aboriginal Literature: Literature written by the indigenous people of Canada, highlighting their stories, culture, and history.
Canadian Identity: The cultural aspects that define Canada, including its history, politics, and social structure.
Immigration Literature: Literature written by people who have immigrated to Canada from different parts of the world, highlighting their experiences and struggles.
Regionalism: Literature highlighting the unique features of different regions of Canada, including their people, customs, and landscapes.
Canadian History: The events, people, and ideas that have shaped Canada's development and identity, including colonization, immigration, and political movements.
Multiculturalism: The cultural diversity of Canada, highlighting the different ethnic, religious, and linguistic communities that contribute to Canadian literature.
Gender and Sexuality: The study of literature related to gender, sexuality, and identity in Canada, including the experiences of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups.
Ecology and Environment: The ways in which the Canadian landscape, wildlife, and environment have influenced and been portrayed in Canadian literature.
Postcolonialism: The study of the legacy of colonialism in Canadian society and literature, including the impact on indigenous people, immigration, and cultural assimilation.
Nationalism: The study of the concepts of patriotism, loyalty, and national identity in Canadian literature, including the impact of national symbols and ideals on Canadian society.
Indigenous Literature: Indigenous Literature in the context of Canadian literature and Area Studies refers to the literary works produced by Indigenous authors that reflect their unique experiences, cultures, histories, and struggles with issues of identity, colonization, and sovereignty.
French-Canadian Literature: French-Canadian Literature focuses on the literary works produced by francophone authors in Quebec and other French-speaking regions of Canada, exploring themes of language, identity, and cultural distinctiveness.
English-Canadian Literature: English-Canadian literature refers to literary works produced in English by authors from Canada, focusing on the unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural identity of Canadians.
Acadian Literature: Acadian Literature refers to literary works written by the French-speaking Acadian communities in Canada, exploring their cultural identity, historical experiences, and linguistic heritage.
Caribbean-Canadian Literature: Caribbean-Canadian Literature explores the cultural intersections, diaspora experiences, and identity formation of individuals with Caribbean heritage living in Canada through their literary creations.
African-Canadian Literature: African-Canadian Literature focuses on the experiences, identities, and cultural expressions of Black Canadians through the lens of literature.
Asian-Canadian Literature: Asian-Canadian Literature examines literary works by Canadians of Asian descent, exploring themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and the experiences of Asian communities in Canada.
Jewish-Canadian Literature: Jewish-Canadian Literature explores the experiences, identity, and cultural themes of the Jewish community within the Canadian context, often delving into topics such as migration, assimilation, religion, and the impact of the Holocaust.
LGBTQ2S+ Literature: The topic of LGBTQ2S+ literature in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature examines the representation, experiences, and cultural contributions of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities within Canadian literary works.
Multicultural Literature: Multicultural Literature in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature explores the representation and celebration of diverse cultural identities, experiences, and perspectives within Canadian literary works.
Northern Literature: Northern Literature is the exploration of Canadian literature that delves into themes of isolation, resilience, and the unique challenges and beauty of life in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.
Postcolonial Literature: Postcolonial Literature explores the effects of colonization, decolonization, and the aftermath of colonialism on societies, cultures, and identities.
Women's Literature: Women's Literature in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature refers to the exploration and analysis of literary works written by and about women in Canada, examining their unique experiences, perspectives, and contributions to the literary canon.
Environmental Literature: Environmental Literature explores the intersection of human culture and the natural world, focusing on the relationship between humans and their environment in Canadian literary works.
Genre fiction (such as science fiction, mystery, and romance): Genre fiction refers to a category of literature, including science fiction, mystery, and romance, that follows specific conventions and formulaic elements to entertain and engage readers.
Children's and Young Adult Literature: Children's and Young Adult Literature in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature explores the diverse literary works written for and about young readers in Canada, analyzing their themes, cultural influences, and impact on literary traditions.
Drama and Theatre: The topic of Drama and Theatre in Area Studies and Canadian Literature involves the examination of Canadian plays and theatrical performances as means of exploring cultural, social, and political aspects of the country.
Poetry: The topic of Poetry in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature explores the rich and diverse traditions, themes, and voices that shape the poetic landscape of Canada.
Historical Literature: Historical Literature in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature examines literary works that depict or reflect significant events, periods, or themes in Canadian history.
Memoir and Autobiography.: The topic of Memoir and Autobiography in the context of Area Studies and Canadian Literature involves analyzing personal narratives written by individuals, exploring their life experiences and identities, and their contribution to understanding Canadian culture and history.
"Influences on Canadian writers are broad both geographically and historically, representing Canada's diversity in culture and region."
"Canadian literature is written in languages including Canadian English, Canadian French, Indigenous languages, and many others such as Canadian Gaelic."
"Canadian literature is often divided into French- and English-language literatures, which are rooted in the literary traditions of France and Britain, respectively."
"The earliest Canadian narratives were of travel and exploration."
"The three major themes that can be found within historical Canadian literature are nature, frontier life, and Canada's position within the world."
"All three of these themes tie into the garrison mentality, a condition shared by all colonial era societies in their beginnings."
"...sometimes erroneously thought to apply mainly to Canada because a Canadian intellectual coined the term."
"In recent decades, Canada's literature has been strongly influenced by immigrants from around the world."
"Since the 1980s, Canada's ethnic and cultural diversity has been openly reflected in its literature."
"By the 1990s, [Canada's literature] was widely appreciated around the world."
"Influences on Canadian writers are broad both geographically and historically, representing Canada's diversity in culture and region."
"Canadian literature is often divided into French- and English-language literatures, which are rooted in the literary traditions of France and Britain, respectively."
"Canadian literature is written in languages including Canadian English, Canadian French, Indigenous languages, and many others such as Canadian Gaelic."
"The earliest Canadian narratives were of travel and exploration."
"The garrison mentality...a condition shared by all colonial era societies in their beginnings."
"Sometimes erroneously thought to apply mainly to Canada because a Canadian intellectual coined the term."
"Canada's literature has been strongly influenced by immigrants from around the world."
"Canada's ethnic and cultural diversity has been openly reflected in its literature."
"By the 1990s, [Canada's literature] was widely appreciated around the world."
"Influences on Canadian writers are broad both geographically and historically, representing Canada's diversity in culture and region."