"American literature has never been content to be just one among the many literatures of the Western World. It has always aspired to be the literature not only of a new continent but of a New World"

This quote by Christopher Dawson speaks to the ambition of American literature to be more than just another literature of the Western World. It suggests that American literature has actually always sought to be the literature of a brand-new continent and a brand-new world, instead of just another part of the Western World. This ambition is reflective of the spirit of the American individuals, who have actually always sought to produce something new and different from the rest of the world. American literature has actually been a reflection of this spirit, striving to develop something unique and distinct from the rest of the world. It has sought to capture the spirit of the American individuals and the new world they populate, and to produce something that is genuinely American.