What's American about American literature ?

The term "literary canon" refers to a classification of
literature. It is a term used widely to refer to a group of literary works that are
considered the most important of a particular time period or place. For example, there
can be a literary canon comprised of works from a particular country, or works written
within a specific set of years, or even a collection of works that were all written
during a certain time period and within a certain region. In this way, a literary canon
establishes a collection of similar or related literary works. Typically, works are
organized by “period” for example, such as the Early National Period from 1775 to
1828.

The Early National Period of American Literature saw
the beginnings of literature that could be truly identified as "American". The writers
of this new American literature wrote in the English style, but the settings, themes,
and characters were authentically American. In addition, poets of this time wrote poetry
that was relatively independent of English precursors. Three of the most recognized
writers of this time are Washington Irving, James Fennimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan
Poe.

Scholars who specialize in certain periods publish
anthologies containing works that they deem important or essential to a particular
period. The publisher "Norton" has compiled several anthologies containing what they
believe to be the canon for a particular era and periodically updates them. One recent
development in literature is the addition of female authors to well-established canons.
(There are online lists as well.)