In this edition of the Virtual Times we will study literature from the Civil War era. In the literature of this period, you will see division, conflict, and changes: these challenges shaped our country significantly.

• During this dark period of our history, writers were either deeply affected by the atrocity, or heroism of war, or totally isolated from the carnage. Poetry and short stories seemed inappropriate to convey the horrors of war. A turn from romantic idealism led writers into a new realistic literature.
• After the war, writers focused their work on social and economic issues. The business of rebuilding a nation brought literature that dealt with characters from different regions facing hardship, or moral issues. Realist writers were more focused on the world around them as opposed to getting in touch with the individual psyche.

• when the important events of Civil War period in North America occurred.
• when the authors of Civil War America lived.
• when the pieces of literature you will study were written.

Become an investigator as you use the Internet to find out more about these events, authors, and literary works.

The following link is provided, so you can famliarize yourself with the events of the Civil War period. Please click on the link and read about this extraordinary era in American history. You will then see a timeline game (or interactivity) that will assist you in taking the timeline quiz (located in the assessments area). You are sure to do well on the timeline quiz if you can match the dates with the according events below: