Who were the American literary giants and what were their contributions to American literature?

American literature has been enriched by the contributions of a number of literary giants. Some of the most notable ones include:

• Mark Twain: Considered one of the greatest American writers of all time, Mark Twain is best known for his novels "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." He also published several other books, essays, and short stories that made a lasting impact on American literature.
• Edgar Allan Poe: Known for his dark and eerie stories and poems, Edgar Allan Poe was a master of the macabre. Some of his most famous works include "The Raven," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Cask of Amontillado." Countless authors have been inspired by his writing style and subject matter.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson: A prominent figure in the American Renaissance, Ralph Waldo Emerson was a philosopher, essayist, and poet. His essay "Self-Reliance" is considered a seminal work of American literature, and he was also the founder of the Transcendentalist movement.
• Emily Dickinson: One of America's greatest poets, Emily Dickinson was a prolific writer who produced over 1,700 poems during her lifetime. Although she was mostly unknown during her lifetime, her poetry has since become an important part of American literature.
• Ernest Hemingway: A pioneer of modernist literature, Ernest Hemingway was known for his spare and direct writing style. Some of his most famous works include "The Old Man and the Sea," "A Farewell to Arms," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

These literary giants made significant contributions to American literature, helping to shape its development and influence countless generations of writers that came after them.