History of Canadian Literature

History of Canadian Literature

Canada is situated at the Northern parts of America. It is the second largest country in the world. The natives of Canada were called the aborigines. It is a land with mountains, lakes, vast landscape, natural resources, plenty of snow. The land often faces winter season (cold plenty of snow).

Survival, Identity crisis, alienation, depression of colonisation are some of the major themes found in Canadian literature. This literature originated in Canada. This country was once colonised by the British. Before invasion there was oral, folk, songs to pray God. People lived intimate with nature.

Canadian literature focused on religious and nationalistic themes. This literature is written in English and French languages. The common theme explored in Canadian literature is the “Garrison Mentality”. This term was first used by a critic named Northrop Frye. Margaret Atwood enriched the Canadian Literature with her work “Survival”. In this work Atwood recounts the “ Garrison Mentality “ of Canadian settlers. She asserts that they experience a terror of the soul towards nature.

The native Canadian lived in harmony with nature. They obeyed the rule and laws of nature. The settlement of British people turned the land unfriendly. They started to wage war against nature. Mankind tries to dominate nature. But nature turns furious towards mankind.