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In Dickinson’s poem 320 [258] on page 2567, what is contradictory about the expression “Heavenly Hurt� in the second stanza? What do you think Dickinson is trying to express through this apparent contradiction? What effect does this hurt have? How could a “Slant of light� hurt?
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was certainly a great autobiographical narrative from this historic period, but do you think that Lydia Maria Child altered some key aspects of Jacobs narrative to capture more readers of this time period? If so, how do you think the narrative was altered in such a way and why?
Discuss the author's presentation of her black & white characters, particularly through language. Do you think this was an acceptable point of view at the time? What affect do these literary devices have on the reader (of her time and ours)?
The final exam study guide is posted here.
You will find the assignment sheet for Paper #3 here.
You will find the assignment sheet for Paper #2 here.
You'll find the lecture notes on the American Renaissance here.
You'll find the lecture notes on neoclassical writing and women authors here.
You'll find the lecture notes on Enlightenment era authors <here.
You will find the notes on Early American Literature here.
What is the true opinion of slavery offered by Herman Mellville in "Beneto Cereno"?
In the movie "Amistad", did you think there was any significance of Cinque standing in front of and speaking so closely with Morgan Freeman's character while telling the story about killing the lion? Why or why not?
Cereno's apparent mental illness is given much attention when Captain Delano first boards the Spanish vessel: "His mind appeared unstrung, if not still more seriously affected." (2410) Delano attributes his "suddenly pausing, starting, or staring, flushing, paling, twitching his beard, distempered spirit", fits of near fainitng, etc. as owing to having been "chained to one dull round of command". Is it so easy to write off his decayed mental state to simple stagnation or is there a deeper force at work here? What sort of social stigma would mental illness, or the appearance thereof, have raised in Melville's contemporary audiences?
(Sorry this is late - computer was down and had to find an alternate)
The tone at the end of the narrative is exceedingly cryptic. The last exchange between Captain Delano and Benito Cereno begins to moralize on the events of the narrative but is cut off, at least in conversation. Based on this last conversation and the concluding paragraphs, how might the text be dealing with questions of race relations? And what might be interpreted of Cereno's relationship with his captors, particularly Babo?
Much of Benito Cereno is centered around race and the division between black and white. Why, then, are we introduced to so much gray at the beginning of the story ("everything gray," "surface like waved lead," "the sky seemed a gray surtout," "gray fowl," "gray vapors," etc. on p. 2405, and the word is not used again after p. 2430)? Does Melville mean to establish a certain mood, foreshadowing, symbolism, etc?
In Whitman’s Song of Myself he writes about 28 young men bathing, with a woman watching from her house (section 11). Can Emerson’s “transparent eyeball� be compared to this woman? Why or why not? Additionally, while nature is an obvious similarity between Whitman and Emerson, what other similarities are seen in their works?
In Whitman's, Song of Myself there are several instances where he explains how he's one with nature or a part of it. He also discusses "The Poet" on page 2224. These are also concepts Emerson addressed within his writings. Does it seem that Whitman's writings about nature could be comparable to that of Emerson's? If so, how? Also, what is the importance of these references to "The Poet" used by both writers?
Once Thoreau finishes his cabin he compares it to Mount Olympus and calls it a paradise, is there any reason other than pride to draw these bold comparisons to a self-made, slightly unfinished at the time cabin?
In the section of Walden that we read for today, Thoreau states that he "wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover I had not lived." In what ways does he criticize the capitalistic society prevalent in America, and how does he feel one should deliberately live?
Earlier this week we read Emerson who referred a few times to the concept of the poet being one with nature, only certain people having the ability to have a real connection with nature, etc. Does Thoreau's work give us a glimpse of this character that Emerson mentions? Why or why not?
Poe often uses Gothic themes as central topics in his short stories and poetry. What is the significance of this? Why does Poe use the death of a loved one, strange, and unearthly settings, animals that have sinister character, and ominous meanings to common objects, in his stories and poems? Does it have anything to do with his personal life (It has been inferred that Poe was insane/and or an alcoholic as a result of his difficult childhood/life)?
Why do you think Poe left his narrators unnamed? What is the significance of their having no name? Also, what is the significance of Roderick being a twin in The Fall of the House of Usher?
Emerson suggests that everything in the world is intimately united to each other and everything comes from the same Supreme Being. He also says that humans "Predominate over all other forms [of nature]." This view seems rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition. How do we reconcile this idea of humans being superior with Emerson's belief that religion, ethics, and traditional ideas of human learning and higher knowledge are inferior to the "Reason" we attain through communing with nature?
What does Emerson truly mean when he states that "Few adult persons can see nature?" Is this idea based solely on God's will of mind and matter, or on some other aspect of man.
In "To His Excellency General Washington," Wheatley refers to America as "Columbia"--a feminized personification of the "land Columbus found." As the Norton anthology points out, Wheatley's use of the term marks its first-known appearance in print. Why might Wheatley have been interested in coining this description of America? How does she describe "Columbia" in her poem? What does the ideal of "Columbia" seem to signify for her?
While both the Native Americans and the introduction of slavery are used to exemplify turmoil caused by the British in the colonies, why are the Native Americans neglected in the draft of the Declaration, while the abolition of slavery is included?
All the authors we were assigned for today were writing to a particular body of people for a specific reason. Discuss the different motives or intentions Paine, Jefferson, and Hamilton/Madison had in their writing and how their strategies for persuading the people differed because of these reasons. Which of these authors do you believe was the most successful in effecting the opinions of the people and why?
Common Sense and The Crisis Pamphlets were not published at the same time, but deal with similar topics. In Common Sense, Thomas Paine writes anonymously and is signed as "the Author", while The Crisis Pamphlet we read gives us Thomas Paine's identity, if not exactly by name, then by dates and events.
Is this because Thomas Paine feels those around him becoming bolder and he feels now is the time to call those around him to action? Or is he taking the chance that others will act once they realize it is a countryman (but not Englishman) of theirs that feels the same oppression?
How could "suppressing those essays most unsympathetic to the American cause" benefit Crevecoeur at the time of publication (p. 595)? Also, what could motivate other diversions from the truth (such as claiming his father came to America on p. 600)?
In To those Who Would Remove to America, is Franklin's audience one he is trying to influence to come to America or are his intentions to dissuade those who are not religious? If the former, how might this be compared to the early settlers stance on strangers?
In the excerpt from Byrd's diary, he is quite repetitive. It almost has a rhythm to it. Is there a reason for his style of writing, and is there much we can learn from his diary?
Taylor's writing presents an extremely interesting use of his choice of content and poetry itself when putting the two together. Do you think that this is an effective approach? Could his message be stronger because appeals to more people when using this method?
Byrd's journals have a strong tie to religion and daily prayer. In contrast, Knight's journals do not mention religion nearly as much and are presented from a much more secular view point. How do these contrasting styles affect the reader? Do you think that these journals are read differently in the present day compared to their original publication date (19th century)?
In Edward's sermon he changes both the structure and tones from the introduction portion to the application portion. Do you think this would play into how the Sermon was perceived by Edward’s Congregation.
Throughout both Knight and Byrd's narrative and short journals they gave us a view of the culture around them. What are some principal differences between the two writers and possible motives for their writings?