The problem of Canadian literature

Characteristics of Canadian literature

The highlights of modern Canadian literature.

The mystery within the mystery

Part of the advertising campaign for the novel was that the artwork in the American version of the bookjacket held various codes, and that the reader who solved them via the author's website would be given a prize. Several thousand people actually solved the codes, and one name was randomly chosen to be the winner, with the name announced on live television, Good Morning America, in early 2004. The prize was a trip to Paris.

Canadian literature may be divided into two parts, based on their separate roots: one stems from the culture and literature from France; the other from Britain. Each is written in the language of its originating culture. However, collectively this literature has become distinctly Canadian.

Canada’s literature, whether written in English or French, often reflects the Canadian perspective on: (1) nature, (2) frontier life, and (3) Canada’s position in the world, all three of which tie in to the garrison mentality. Canada's ethnic and cultural diversity are reflected in its literature, with many of its most prominent writers focusing on ethnic life.

· First, Canadian authors often emphasise the effect of climate and geography on people's lives.

· Second, frontier life as cultural myth is frequently observed, as many authors evoke the westward march across Canada. Others document the drama in the lives of fishermen. The ever-present northern frontier is also widely used, with the constant expansion in the Arctic.

· Third, many Canadian writers reflect upon Canada's position in the world. French Canadians often feel surrounded by their English-speaking neighbours; they determinedly preserve their own institutions and culture. Similarly, English Canadians frequently feel surrounded by the people and culture of the United States. Many novels and poems show how Canadian writers regard such problems.

Canadian identity is closely tied to its literature. Leon Surette writes, "a disproportionate amount of commentary on Canadian writing has been cultural history (or prophecy) rather than truly literary commentary."

Because of its size and breadth, Canadian literature is often divided into sub-categories. Traditionally, there are at least three ways that critics and scholars have chosen to categorise Canadian literature:

· The most common is to categorise it by region or province.

· Another way is to categorise it by author. For instance, the literature of Canadian women, Acadians, Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and Irish-Canadians have been anthologised as bodies of work.

· A third is to divide it by literary period, such as "Canadian postmoderns" or "Canadian Poets Between the Wars."

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