- Course Type CLEP
- Subject Composition and Literature
- Level Introductory
- Length 8 Modules
- Video Length 7h 23m
- Reading Pages 165
- Institution Modern States
ABOUT THIS COURSE
American Literature surveys prose and poetry written in the United States from colonial times to the present. The course emphasizes knowledge of major literary works and authors, while also developing your ability to interpret poetry, fiction, and nonfiction prose.
This is a free, self-paced Modern States course with no prerequisites. It is aligned to the CLEP® American Literature exam and is designed to prepare you to succeed on the test and earn college credit at no cost.
Modern States originally developed this course in collaboration with Mr. Simpson. Ann M. Pelelo, Ph.D. of Clarke University supported course enhancements published in 2025.
Course Overview
American Literature Course Overview - Modern States
| Module | Topic | Video Length | Total pages of required reading |
| Module 1: About the Test 00:10:52 total video length 0 total reading pages |
1: Exam Structure | – | – |
| 1.1: Framework of the Exam | 0:10:52 | 11 | |
| Module 2: The Colonial and Early National Period (Beginnings – 1830) (15 %) 02:00:33 total video length 23 total reading pages |
2: The Precolonial Period through the Early National Period | – | – |
| 2: The Precolonial Period through the Early National Period | 0:01:38 | – | |
| 2.1: Early European Exploration and Writing | 0:13:01 | 11 | |
| 2.2: The Colonial Period (1620–1776) | 0:01:17 | 12 | |
| 2.2.1: The First Years | 0:13:31 | – | |
| 2.2.3: The Puritans | 0:23:20 | – | |
| 2.2.4: Preachers | 0:13:28 | – | |
| 2.3: The Early National Period (1750–1820) | 0:00:44 | – | |
| 2.3.1: The Early National Period Part 1 | 0:06:53 | – | |
| 2.3.2: The Early National Period Part 2 | 0:22:41 | – | |
| 2.3.3: The Early National Period Part 3 | 0:24:00 | – | |
| 2: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 3: The Romantic Period (1830–1870) (25 %) 01:54:34 total video length 21 total reading pages |
3: The Romantic Period (1830–1870) | 0:00:42 | – |
| 3.1: Unique American Literature | 0:00:56 | 10 | |
| 3.1.1: Historical Context | 0:05:20 | – | |
| 3.1.2: Writers of Prose | 0:14:24 | – | |
| 3.1.3: Writers of Verse | 0:14:25 | – | |
| 3.2: American Romanticism | 0:00:52 | 11 | |
| 3.2.1: Origins, Explanations and One Great Writer | 0:10:53 | – | |
| 3.2.2: Transcendentalism | 0:20:33 | – | |
| 3.2.3: The Fireside Poets | 0:07:06 | – | |
| 3.2.4: More Writers of Prose | 0:15:36 | – | |
| 3.2.5: Even More Writers of Prose | 0:13:24 | – | |
| 3.2.6: More Writers of Verse | 0:10:23 | – | |
| 3: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 4: The Period of Realism and Naturalism (1870–1910) (20 %) 01:02:45 total video length 13 total reading pages |
4: Realism and Naturalism (1870–1910) | 0:00:54 | 13 |
| 4.1: Historical Context | 0:04:31 | – | |
| 4.2: Kirkland, Davis, Alger, Twain and Howells | 0:15:52 | – | |
| 4.3: Bierce, James, Jewett, Chopin and Washington | 0:14:00 | – | |
| 4.4: Chesnutt, Gilman, Garland, Wharton and Du Bois | 0:11:23 | – | |
| 4.5: Robinson, Dreiser, Crane, Dunbar and Cather | 0:16:05 | – | |
| 4: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 5: The Modernist Period (1910–1945) (25 %) 01:24:20 total video length 19 total reading pages |
5: The Modernist Period (1910–1945) | 0:00:46 | 19 |
| 5.1: Historical Context | 0:02:27 | – | |
| 5.2: Drama | 0:07:34 | – | |
| 5.3: Prose | 0:00:36 | – | |
| 5.3.1: Stein, Anderson, Porter and Hurston | 0:13:09 | – | |
| 5.3.2: Larsen, Fitzgerald and Faulkner | 0:10:02 | – | |
| 5.3.3: Hemingway, Steinbeck and Wright | 0:10:47 | – | |
| 5.4: Poetry | 0:00:46 | – | |
| 5.4.1: Johnson, Frost, Lowell and Sandburg | 0:08:25 | – | |
| 5.4.2: Stevens, Williams, Pound and H.D. | 0:10:09 | – | |
| 5.4.3: Moore, Eliot, McKay and Millay | 0:08:25 | – | |
| 5.4.4: Cummings, Toomer and Crane | 0:05:32 | – | |
| 5.4.5: Brown, Hughes and Cullen | 0:05:42 | – | |
| 5: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 6: The Contemporary Period (1945–Present) (15 %) 00:36:54 total video length 78 total reading pages |
6: The Contemporary Period (1945–Present) | 0:00:37 | – |
| 6.1: Historical Context | 0:01:50 | 18 | |
| 6.2: Prose | 0:08:18 | 24 | |
| 6.3: More Prose | 0:09:32 | 15 | |
| 6.4: Poetry | 0:06:58 | 21 | |
| 6.5: More Poetry | 0:06:20 | – | |
| 6.6: Drama | 0:03:19 | – | |
| 6: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 7: Terms, Verse Forms and Literary Devices 00:07:53 total video length 0 total reading pages |
7: Terms, Verse Forms and Literary Devices | – | – |
| 7.1: Terms, Verse Forms and Literary Devices | 0:07:53 | – | |
| 7: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 8: Writing the Essays 00:04:39 total video length 0 total reading pages |
8: Writing the Essays | – | – |
| 8.1: Writing the Essays | 0:04:39 | – | |
| 8: Summary | – | – | |
| Course Conclusion | – | – |
