Image of the city in American literature during the first part of the 20th century

Abstract

This bachelor paper examines the image of the American city in the first half of the twentieth century. It focuses on the elements such as historical background, urban development and socio-cultural aspects which helped to form the overall image of the city. Particular attention is devoted to the social and cultural factors, primarily to the minorities. These are analyzed in the practical part. Selected features are demonstrated on the city of Chicago. Furthermore, they are reflected upon in detail in the novels of the American authors Upton Sinclair - The Jungle and Richard Wright - Native Son. They are set in the literary genre of the era, and compared according to their similarities and divergences in relation to the image of the city.