Meaning: This quote by Carl Doren, an American literary critic, reflects a significant shift in the focus of American fiction following the death of James Fenimore Cooper. Cooper, who was a prolific writer known for his frontier novels, played a crucial role in shaping the literary landscape of early America. His works often portrayed the conquest and exploration of new frontiers, particularly in the American West. However, Doren suggests that after Cooper's passing, there was a noticeable shift in the thematic content of American fiction. Instead of continuing to explore and conquer new territories, there was a shift towards a more introspective and localized focus, particularly east of the Mississippi River.

James Fenimore Cooper's influence on American literature cannot be overstated. His frontier novels, including the famous "Leatherstocking Tales" series, captured the imagination of readers with their depictions of the American wilderness and the rugged individuals who ventured into these untamed landscapes. Cooper's portrayal of the frontier as a place of adventure, danger, and opportunity contributed to the popularization of the Western genre in literature.

However, Doren's observation suggests that after Cooper's era, there was a discernible departure from the emphasis on the exploration and conquest of new frontiers in American fiction. Instead, writers turned their attention towards the cultivation of the already settled regions east of the Mississippi. This shift marked a transition from the outward expansionist focus of early American literature to a more inward-looking exploration of the existing social, cultural, and geographical landscapes.

The period following Cooper's death coincided with significant changes in American society and culture. The country was undergoing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and westward expansion. These transformations had profound implications for the national identity and the way Americans viewed their place in the world. As a result, the themes and concerns of American fiction began to reflect these changes, moving away from the romanticized frontier narratives of Cooper's era.

The shift in focus towards the cultivation of ground already marked east of the Mississippi River also reflects a broader cultural and intellectual shift in American literature. Writers and thinkers were increasingly drawn to themes of domesticity, urban life, and the complexities of the human experience within the confines of established communities. This introspective turn in American fiction mirrored the evolving social and cultural landscape of the nation as it grappled with the challenges and opportunities of modernization.

Furthermore, the shift in literary focus also coincided with the emergence of new literary movements and styles, such as realism and naturalism, which sought to depict everyday life and social realities with greater fidelity. These movements often eschewed the romanticized portrayals of the frontier in favor of more nuanced and unvarnished depictions of life in America's urban and rural settings.

In conclusion, Doren's observation about the shift in American fiction after the death of James Fenimore Cooper highlights a significant turning point in the thematic content and focus of the nation's literature. The transition from the conquest of new frontiers to the closer cultivation of already settled ground east of the Mississippi River reflects the changing social, cultural, and intellectual currents of the time. This shift not only marked a departure from the frontier narratives that defined early American literature but also signaled a new direction in which writers sought to explore and understand the complexities of American life within the boundaries of established communities.