Bartleby responds that he would "prefer not to" do everything the narrator asks. This comes to also include exiting the premises and accepting money as compensation for leaving. Each time the narrator walks away from the interaction with a feeling like he cannot do or say anything more, although he is obviously in the position of power. Why does he feel this way? What is stopping him from taking control of the situation?
Given that Melville wrote with Romantic elements is it possible to portray Bartleby and the narrator as doubles, what could Melville be saying by doing this?
Does the Lawyer play a major role in the decline and eventual death of Bartleby in his "charitable" actions? Or does that responsibility lie in Bartleby himself for his apparent loss for the will to live? Is there another factor/player in this death?
Child uses romantic language and imagery in her Letters From New York, particularly when she addresses the poor and the wavering state of the economy. What effect does juxtaposing the urban with romantic language have on the issues she addresses? Why does she use this style and how does it help to get her points across?
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)?
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?
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)?
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?
How do the requests for equality between men and women resound throughout Bradstreet's works? Considering the time period/Puritan community, why was she not considered a threat to the society?
How do the writing styles of Bradford and Winthrop compare? Do you think their beliefs and religions have anything to do with this difference? Do the reasons for writing a history differ between the authors we read for Monday and today? What are their reasons for writing? Why did each include the stories and events they opted to include (ie. Bradford writing about Morton, Winthrop about Mrs. Hutchinson)?
How does Mary Rowlandson view Indians in general, and how does she differentiate between Indian men and women? To what might you attribute this differentiation? Also, how does Rowlandson view the relations and power balances between the sexes among Native American men and women?
In class on Monday we spoke of Smith's interactions with, and opinon of, the Native Americans and his motives for writing as he did (political reasons, author). Compare and contrast Smith's and Bradford's opinions of/interactions with the Natives, and their possible motives for writing about the Indians as they had done. Also, could their past occupations have played a deciding role in how they wrote about the natives (i.e. Smith was in army, Bradford was self educated and deeply commited to Puritan cause)
What factors may have had an effect on the Native American creation stories as recorded by Cusick and Thin Leather? Should these factors have any significant effect on how we read and understand these stories?
What role did christianianty play in regards to smiths' beliefs and attitudes towards the Natives ? How might subjecting the Natives to christian influence affect their view of the world/ beliefs/ traditions in a negative way?
In Native American Creation accounts, the "trickster" is often a prominent character. Do we find trickster characters in the Pima and Iriquois creation stories? How do you think these "tricksters" are to be viewed? Should they be reveared? Feared? Laughed at?
How does the death of Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon liberate the spirit of Clifford?
The reaction of the townspeople to Judge Pyncheon's death is rather mild once his demise is discovered. Do you think this reaction proportional when thinking about all of his positive contributions (i.e. being a well-mannered gentleman, fair judgment in his workplace, head of the Bible Society, etc.)?
Why do you think Hepzibah continues to refuse the Judge's help financially? Do you believe the Judge's intentions to be truely genuine? If not, what could other intentions or motives be for offering to help his cousin?
You will find the discussion question schedule here.
Members of group #1 (Leigh, Jesse, and Kelsey) should post their discussion questions on The House of the Seven Gables by noon on June 18th. Questions should be designed to prompt class discussion on major issues or themes from the assigned reading for the 18th. You may wish to bear in mind the assignment sheet for paper #1 in order to make your questions useful in preparing for that assignment.