1

Huckleberry Finn

Image: Pedro Forester Da Silva

Mark Twain has given us some of the most iconic characters in our country's literature, and Huckleberry Finn is one of them.

He stole our hearts as the main character of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), where his experiences and charm made him unforgettable. Adventurous, independent, rebellious (rightly so), and very smart, "Huck," as he is called in the novel, surprises us with reflections and critiques on the society of his time.

Huck not only escapes an abusive home but also makes an incredible journey down the Mississippi River in search of freedom. Along the way, he forms deep connections with those he meets, making it impossible not to feel attached to him.

2

Atticus Finch

Image: Scott Graham

When discussing classics of American literature, it is impossible not to include in the list the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee.

And if there's one thing this novel has to offer, it's some unforgettable characters. At the center of it all is none other than Atticus Finch. Atticus is described as an honorable lawyer with a profound commitment to justice and equality, serving as a moral beacon in a society defined by its lack of both. He always stands up for his principles , even when they go against the dominant norms.

One of his most iconic lines in the novel is a phrase that defines him very well: "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

3

Holden Caulfield

Image: Hiroyoshi Urushima

J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye (1951) is undoubtedly a landmark of American literature. And one name that has stayed with us forever is Holden Caulfield, the novel's unforgettable protagonist.

With his characteristic red hat , Holden Caulfield is the definitive teenager: rebellious, curious, somewhat cynical , selfish, and mischievous. As he roams New York City after being expelled from several prep schools, we are witnesses of his intense and often smartly critical thoughts and experiences. However, despite his disillusionment with the world, Holden demonstrates a deep sensitivity .

4

Jay Gatsby

Image: Hardini Lestari

Published almost 100 years ago, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925) has become one of our classics , portraying life during the Roaring Twenties and inspiring many film adaptations. Jay Gatsby, with his ambition, idealism, and charisma, gets all the attention in this novel as an enigmatic character who is proof of the majesty of its author.

Much like Dante's Beatrice, the character of Daisy Buchanan inspires in Jay Gatsby an almost obsessive love that drives him to make key decisions and take powerful actions throughout the novel. It is this passion that fuels his rise to wealth and eventually leads to his downfall.

5

Tom Sawyer

Image: Lawrence Chismorie

Endlessly reproduced in other art forms, Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is one of the most representative characters of American literature.

The first and most famous book featuring the Missouri boy is, of course, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), but we also see him in the sequel named after his friend, a character we have already talked about: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884).

Despite his mischievous nature and penchant for getting into trouble with his tricks and pranks, Tom is a clever and independent boy who constantly seeks out new adventures.

6

Scarlett O'Hara

Image: Lizelle De Wit

Gone with the Wind (1936) by Margaret Mitchell is a title everyone has heard of, whether you've read the book or not. Its characters have also become famous beyond the pages of this iconic novel.

One of them is none other than Scarlett O'Hara, the central character of this story. The novel portrays the American South during and after the Civil War , where Scarlett O'Hara, shaped by her circumstances, appears as a self-centered and spoiled character. However, as the story progresses, Scarlett evolves, showcasing her tenacity , determination, and protective spirit when she sets her mind to something. You probably remember the iconic line, "Tomorrow is another day."

7

Dean Moriarty

Image: Rémi Jacquaint

A fundamental member of the so-called Beat Generation , Jack Kerouac gifted us with one of the most famous novels in American literature: On the Road , published in 1957.

One of his most remembered characters is Dean Moriarty, who was based on a real person , Neal Cassady, a close friend of the author. Moriarty embodies some of the most outstanding characteristics of the Beat Generation, portraying an enthusiastic, adventurous, free-spirited, energetic, and charismatic character. With such a personality, it's no surprise that Dean Moriarty creates unforgettable moments and becomes an important figure in the story.

8

Hester Prynne

Image: Chris LaBarge

Hester Prynne, from Nathaniel Hawthorne's acclaimed novel The Scarlet Letter (1850), is undeniably one of the earliest and most significant female characters in our country's literature.

Hester defies the norms of her time by having an illegitimate child, making her a target of dramatic criticism and punishment from her contemporaries. Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, the story unfolds in a society defined by strict rules and oppression. In this context, Hester Prynne appears as a strong woman who endures the severe judgment of her time with courage.

Despite her harsh circumstances, Hester Prynne is described as a powerful, dignified, and empathetic character with extraordinary sensitivity.

9

Santiago

Image: Anastasiya Chervinska

Another undisputed classic is Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea , published in 1952.

Santiago is the central character in this novel, which explores various aspects of the human condition in depth. Santiago, the old man of the title, is a fisherman who has gone many days without catching a single fish. Faced with diverse challenges and, above all, his own physical limitations , Santiago is described as a strong character of great constancy , dignity, and resilience who has a strong bond with the sea and its mysteries.

The character's perseverance shines through in his battle with the giant marlin , which stands as one of the most important moments in this story.

10

Ishmael

Image: Richard Sagredo

Continuing our journey along the sea, let's talk about one of the most iconic narrators in American literature: Ishmael. His name is perpetuated in the very first line of Herman Melville's great novel, Moby-Dick (1851). Who could forget the iconic opening: "Call me Ishmael" ?

Ishmael serves as the first-person narrator of one of the most memorable tales in literature, a sailor distinguished by his profound, analytical, and reflective personality.

Though he shares few details about his background or appearance, Ishmael masterfully narrates the events aboard Captain Ahab's whaling ship , giving us a unique perspective on the events.

1

87 steps

In case you haven't counted them, there are exactly 87 steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. But why does that number matter? Although the National Park Service says it wasn’t intentional, many people connect it to the opening line of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago...", a coincidence that's hard to ignore.

2

Hidden underground chamber

The Lincoln Memorial is more than what you see at first glance; there’s an entire hidden world beneath it. That’s right! Underground lies a large chamber built as part of the monument’s foundation. Giant concrete columns support the structure above, and there are also narrow corridors where workers once walked. You can even find graffiti and markings left by those builders in the early 1900s. Although the public can’t visit this space yet, the National Park Service has said it hopes to open it in the future.

3

A pyramid?

Can you imagine a giant pyramid rising over the landscape of Washington, DC? It’s hard to picture, but it could have happened. Among the many design proposals for the Lincoln Memorial were some extravagant ideas, including a huge pyramid. In the end, the Greek temple design we know today won out.

4

The typo

To err is human, and the Lincoln Memorial is no exception. As you may know, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address are engraved on the interior walls. But the carver made a small mistake when transcribing the Second Inaugural Address, writing "euture" instead of "future" in the line "high hopes for the future." Although the error was corrected, people say that if you look closely enough, you can still see it.

5

Lincoln's friends made it happen

For years, several proposals to build a memorial to Abraham Lincoln failed in Congress. Fortunately, Senator Shelby Collum and Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon joined forces to get the final bill approved. These men had known Lincoln and felt that a memorial to Honest Abe was both fitting and necessary.

6

Who is Thomas Jefferson looking at?

It’s well known that the statue of Thomas Jefferson inside his memorial faces north toward the White House and the Washington Monument. But there’s another interesting interpretation. Also to the north is the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the south side of the US Treasury Building. Since Jefferson and Hamilton were once colleagues who later became political rivals, some like to imagine that Jefferson’s bronze likeness is keeping a cautious, almost "watchful eye" on Hamilton.

7

FDR specifically requested the Jefferson Memorial

Since the early 20th century, there had been talk of building a memorial to honor Thomas Jefferson. But nothing moved forward until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933. An admirer of Jefferson, FDR pushed tirelessly for the project until Congress approved it. But he was not only the one who requested it; he even delivered the dedication speech when the memorial was completed in 1943.

8

10,000 pounds

We all know Jefferson was a great man, but do you know how big his statue is? It stands around 19 feet tall and weighs an astonishing 10,000 pounds; that’s a lot of bronze! Originally, the statue was a painted plaster model because, when it was dedicated in 1943, metal shortages from World War II made bronze unavailable. Four years later, in 1947, the bronze statue we see today was installed.

9

Once a popular beach

Before becoming the site of the Jefferson Memorial, the Tidal Basin Beach was a popular beach in Washington. That's right; at the beginning of the 20th century, the area was used for swimming, boating, and picnics. This, coupled with the need to cut down some cherry blossom trees for construction, sparked controversy and turned some people against the project.

10

Created by a landfill

Before the Jefferson Memorial could be built, the area had to be transformed. The Tidal Basin was originally shallow and surrounded by marshland, so workers filled it with material dredged from the Potomac River to create a stable foundation. Definitely a big effort.

1

Legal drinking age

Image: Elevate

When was the first time you tried a beer? Probably at 21 or later. While that's completely normal here in the US, it can seem a bit strange to people in other parts of the world. Why? In America, you can vote, serve on a jury, and even get married in some states at 18, but you still can't legally buy alcohol until you're 21. In many other countries, the legal drinking age is 18—or even younger—and that's why they find our law unusual.

2

The faces of real estate agents

Image: Tierra Mallorca

We're used to walking through a neighborhood and seeing signs with real estate agents' faces in front of homes for sale. But in other countries, that's pretty unusual! In many places, real estate transactions are more impersonal; you deal with an agency, not a specific person. Here in the US, we like to put a face to the name. Getting to know the person helping you buy or sell a home feels more personal and trustworthy. It makes sense, right?

3

Our coins

Image: Shot by Cerqueira

Many of us don't even notice this until we travel abroad, but some of our coins don't actually show their value! Sure, you'll see words like "Five Cents," "One Cent," or even "One Dime," but there's no actual number printed on them. When you think about it, that's kind of strange, right? Especially when most countries display the value on their coins using numbers.

4

American flag everywhere

Image: camera obscura

In many countries, their national flag is used only for formal or official purposes, but that's not the case in the US. We tend to see the American flag literally everywhere, not just at official functions or holiday celebrations, but also on all kinds of products and imagery. From T-shirts and caps to food packaging and even swimsuits, our flag is a constant presence in everyday life.

5

No bad words on TV

Image: Kevin Woblick

If you're in America and turn on your TV right now, you'll find everything from romantic scenes to shows about zombies or violent crimes, but you'll rarely hear any bad language. Our television generally doesn't include insults or swear words, while in other countries they often do, even in shows that air during times when children might be watching.

6

Dinner before 8 PM

Image: Or Hakim

Depending on the region, dinner in the United States is often served before 8 p.m., and sometimes even before 7 p.m. But in many other countries, that's considered too early. In Latin America, for example, most people eat dinner between 8 and 11 p.m.!

7

The Imperial System

Image: Jarosław Kwoczała

We Americans use miles, feet, pounds, and degrees Fahrenheit, but this is often very confusing for visitors from other parts of the world. We are totally used to the Imperial System, but in most countries, the Metric System reigns supreme, with everything measured in meters, kilometers, kilograms, and degrees Celsius.

8

Big portions

Image: mafe estudio

Large portions are deeply ingrained in our daily lives. Whether it's restaurant meals, snack packs, or soft drinks, everything tends to be bigger in America. This can be surprising for foreigners who come here and order food, since in many other countries, dishes are smaller, and the custom of taking leftovers home after eating at a restaurant isn't as common as it is in the US.

9

Turkey pardon

Image: Tyler Donaghy

The pardoning of the turkey by the US president is a big event for many Americans. But in other parts of the world, where Thanksgiving isn't celebrated, it can come as a surprise. To foreigners, this formal ceremony involving a turkey might seem quite strange. Since Thanksgiving traditions aren't part of their history, this custom is uniquely American.

10

Alumni homecoming

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

Perhaps you've had the chance to participate in Homecoming, the annual event that celebrates university spirit with parties, sports games, and other activities for students returning to campus. While it's a big part of our college tradition and communities are deeply involved, it's quite different in other parts of the world, where the return to school usually happens with little fanfare.