1) Romanticism's beliefs of optimism and individualism is shown in the writing by the emotions and feelings of a particular character. In other literary works, such as Gothic and Southern Gothic, emotions are shown just not as often as Romantics.
2) Romanticism has to do with nature, love and freedom. Gothic Romanticism is dark, gloomy, and has very creepy characters who are usually dealing with a self pain. Southern Gothic Romanticism takes place in the deep south, and the typical country folk are seen. The character that is seen of suspicion usually rises from the towns curiosity, and they are typically secluded. These works are different because they all have different self values. For example, Romanticism revolves around love, while in Gothic Romanticism, a happy ending is not promised. In other words, Southern Gothic, usually with a secluded character, is different from Gothic because the villain is easily seen throughout the story whereas Southern has suspicion. All of these literary works are the same, because they all revolve around a typical person dealing with some type of misfortune or condition. They all have a character striving for something they want, whether it's love(Romanticism), pleasure(Gothic), or justice(Southern Gothic).
3) Southern Gothic Romanticism wasn't necessarily a "new" creation. It responded to the other literary movements by pulling qualities from Romanticism and Gothic Romanticism. As seen in "A Rose for Emily", there was love, yet there was death. Emily had fallen in love more than once, but the town failed to see what was really going on behind closed doors. This expresses both Romantic and Gothic traits. It manipulated Romanticism by these combined qualities. It was seen as something new, although really it was just two and two put together.
4) The American culture encouraged the dark sides of Gothic and Southern Romanticism, simply by feeding off of it. America liked the new twist in literature. This huge movement took place in the 1800's where a lot of change and new technologies where taking place. It was just another thing that was changing, and it was encouraged.
5) The writings of this time period reflects on the writers of today. This time was open to new ideas, and new writers can take what was old and make it into something new. What the authors of today are doing, is no different than what the authors of the 1800's were doing. For example, Dracula, is now seen as a corny, stupid interpretation of a vampire compared to works like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. Both time periods took something from the past, and made it the new future.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Romanticism: What is it? "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."
1) "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow," by Washington Irving, catches the imagination of readers today. When the story comes to an end, the reader can conclude two different stories. One being that Ichabod Crane was in fact caught by the headless horseman, or that Brom Bones pulled a great prank and he resides elsewhere. This story is does not have an exact ending, but an indirect statement on what really happened to him, and the reader has to imagine. It makes the reader question the ability of supernatural forces, and if they are indeed fact or fiction.
2) "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," by Wallis Willis, captures conditions of slavery, but it also relates to today's society. This song expresses the need to escape the physical conditions of slavery. Yet it does not describe any pain, it relates to knowing that the soul is heavenly bound. Willis shows religious hope and faith. Even in the worst of conditions, the knowledge knowing there is a better place, a refuge, does not cause the slave to break down. It keeps them going. As seen in a religious sense, home can be where your family waits, or where your heavenly family waits. This song relates to modern day America, because it's common to be in a situation of worry and doubt. That constant knowledge needs to be going through the mind that things will get better, even in the worst conditions.
2) "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," by Wallis Willis, captures conditions of slavery, but it also relates to today's society. This song expresses the need to escape the physical conditions of slavery. Yet it does not describe any pain, it relates to knowing that the soul is heavenly bound. Willis shows religious hope and faith. Even in the worst of conditions, the knowledge knowing there is a better place, a refuge, does not cause the slave to break down. It keeps them going. As seen in a religious sense, home can be where your family waits, or where your heavenly family waits. This song relates to modern day America, because it's common to be in a situation of worry and doubt. That constant knowledge needs to be going through the mind that things will get better, even in the worst conditions.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Southern Gothic Romanticism: "The Life You Save May Be Your Own", and "A Rose for Emily".
1) Southern Gothic Romanticism is a sub-genre of Gothic Romanticism. Southern Gothic stories mainly take place a small town in the deep south, where chicken and dumplings, corn bread, and rocking chairs in front of a perfect sunset are seen. Characters of this genre are your gossip women who need to know everyone, and a villain is typically seen. The villain is usually secluded, where suspicious start to arise. A perfect example would be Boo Radley from, "To Kill a Mocking Bird". Although he wasn't really a villain, he was made evil by the suspicions of the townspeople. In the stories, "A Rose for Emily", by William Faulkner, and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own", by Flannery O'Connor, many Southern Gothic traits are shown. Both take place in a small town in the South. Also, they exhibit a character of suspicion. Emily was hardly seen, for she had suffered many loses in her life. She rose to suspicion easily when her appearance became rare. When she died they realized they weren't fools for being afraid, for she held Homer's corpse in her home. Mr. Shiftlet was scanned by Mrs. Crater many times. She was tense at first, but he eventually gained her trust. She was stupid for doing this, when he abandoned Lucynell at the diner. The stories also both relate to Romanticism and Gothic Romanticism. Traits of Romanticism are seen between the couples Homer and Emily, as in relation to Lucynell and Mr. Shiftlet. Although this trait is changed instantly to Gothic when one abandons the other, as seen when Homer is killed and Lucynell is abandoned.
2) Emily got away with her crime, because it was undetected until her death. How she got away with it? The people in a way, kinda helped her with hiding her crime. First of all, the smell was complained about in the town, and they put a stop to it. Faulkner writes, "It smelled of dust and disuse--a close, dank smell." They put a stop to this. Instead of confronting her, they secretly sprinkle lime around her yard occasionally. If they wouldn't have tried to cover up the smell as they did their lack of interaction with her, they would discover that Emily wasn't as innocent as she seemed. Secondly, she didn't have much of a family. Therefore, there were less witnesses. Faulkner states, "They had not even been represented at the funeral". And last of all, people were too scared to even approach her. She hadn't done anything terribly awful to the townspeople, it's just that the curiosity of her life in general drove the town nuts. Faulkner shows their unwillingness to talk to her face to face when he writes, "The men did not want to interfere, but at last the ladies forced the Baptist minister-- Miss Emily's people were Episcopal-- to call upon her." When the people of the town witness what Emily had been hiding, they learn that their suspicions were in fact, what they should have approached in the beginning.
3) Flannery O'Connor explains how the hitchhiker scene with the young boy and Mr. Shiftlet, "Makes the story work." It does indeed. The young boy reflects who Mr. Shiftlet once was, before he comes to realization of his wrong doings, when he makes his way back to Mobile. The eagerness of rebellion thrives in the young boy. Mr. Shiflet sees his young self in him. He grieves about how he left his mother, who he explains as, "an angel of Gawd". Mr. Shiftlet wouldn't have changed his ways if it weren't for the sake of that short scene.
2) Emily got away with her crime, because it was undetected until her death. How she got away with it? The people in a way, kinda helped her with hiding her crime. First of all, the smell was complained about in the town, and they put a stop to it. Faulkner writes, "It smelled of dust and disuse--a close, dank smell." They put a stop to this. Instead of confronting her, they secretly sprinkle lime around her yard occasionally. If they wouldn't have tried to cover up the smell as they did their lack of interaction with her, they would discover that Emily wasn't as innocent as she seemed. Secondly, she didn't have much of a family. Therefore, there were less witnesses. Faulkner states, "They had not even been represented at the funeral". And last of all, people were too scared to even approach her. She hadn't done anything terribly awful to the townspeople, it's just that the curiosity of her life in general drove the town nuts. Faulkner shows their unwillingness to talk to her face to face when he writes, "The men did not want to interfere, but at last the ladies forced the Baptist minister-- Miss Emily's people were Episcopal-- to call upon her." When the people of the town witness what Emily had been hiding, they learn that their suspicions were in fact, what they should have approached in the beginning.
3) Flannery O'Connor explains how the hitchhiker scene with the young boy and Mr. Shiftlet, "Makes the story work." It does indeed. The young boy reflects who Mr. Shiftlet once was, before he comes to realization of his wrong doings, when he makes his way back to Mobile. The eagerness of rebellion thrives in the young boy. Mr. Shiflet sees his young self in him. He grieves about how he left his mother, who he explains as, "an angel of Gawd". Mr. Shiftlet wouldn't have changed his ways if it weren't for the sake of that short scene.
Gothic Romanticism: Criticism of human nature.
1) Rodrick's nerves, weakness and fears caused Madeline's transformation of a vampire. Poe writes why Rodrick wanted to see the narrator. "It was, he said, a constitutional and a family evil, and one for which he despaired to find a remedy- a mere nervous affection, he immediately added, which would doubtfully soon pass off. It displayed itself in a host of unnatural sensations." The reader can interpret from these couple of sentences, that supernatural events were taking place in The House of Usher. The family evil was the curse of the vampire. The remedy was putting Madeline under the home. Nervous affection would pass off, as said by Rodrick, but by the end off the story the reader discovers that it did not. Host refers to Madeline, and unnatural sensations would be the craving of blood. It is also seen in the story that the worse Usher gets, the more powerful Madeline becomes. Usher whispers to himself over and over how he has heard her underneath, suffering. Yet he does not save her, instead he weeps and becomes more fragile. When Madeline finally makes her appearance, they both die once she reaches him. It's as though Ushers true weakness was face to face with him, and he let it take over.
2) The Gothic Fiction writers show a clear, direct criticism of human nature. Nathaniel Hawthorne criticizes lust in, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment". The 3 gentlemen, and the widow, easily drink the water of The Fountain of Youth, longing to be young again. He warns them not to turn to their youthful past, but they do not listen. They start a riot. Dr. Heidegger then says after the potion wears off,"Well--I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it--no, though it delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the lesson ye have taught me!" Hawthorne gets the fact across that lust is a nature that is easily rebounded, for which he does not like. Edgar Allen Poe criticizes the human nature of easily believing, in his work, "The Masque of Red Death." Although this terrible plaque spreads in the country, it takes one person, Prince Prospero, to influence these people that all is well. Instead of going frantic and being protected, he throws a Masquerade Ball. When the plaque comes in a figure of a person, the Prince whom all looked up to, dies as soon as he makes contact. When the people go to attack this cloaked Red Death, they die as well. It took just one individual to decide the fate of the rest. Lastly, Poe also criticizes the fact that as humans, it's easier to fall into darkness than it is to rise to light, as seen in,"The Fall of the House of Usher." Although Rodrick Usher knows that something unnatural is seizing his twin sister Madeline, he fails to overcome the problem. Instead of facing his fear, he withers and dies in it. Poe writes, "I will not deny that when I called to mind the sinister countenance of the person whom I met upon the staircase, on the day of my arrival at the house, I had no desire to oppose what I regarded as at the best but a harmless, and by no means an unnatural, precaution". At this moment, the narrator and Usher are doomed. With their lack of taking charge, all falls down, including The House of Usher. The Gothic writers have a similar criticism. They all recognize the "go to" feelings of humans. Instead of sitting down having a clear thought process in times of trouble, they let their fears and insecurities compel them into the wrong actions. The writers recognize more downfalls of human nature, than the good traits.
2) The Gothic Fiction writers show a clear, direct criticism of human nature. Nathaniel Hawthorne criticizes lust in, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment". The 3 gentlemen, and the widow, easily drink the water of The Fountain of Youth, longing to be young again. He warns them not to turn to their youthful past, but they do not listen. They start a riot. Dr. Heidegger then says after the potion wears off,"Well--I bemoan it not; for if the fountain gushed at my very doorstep, I would not stoop to bathe my lips in it--no, though it delirium were for years instead of moments. Such is the lesson ye have taught me!" Hawthorne gets the fact across that lust is a nature that is easily rebounded, for which he does not like. Edgar Allen Poe criticizes the human nature of easily believing, in his work, "The Masque of Red Death." Although this terrible plaque spreads in the country, it takes one person, Prince Prospero, to influence these people that all is well. Instead of going frantic and being protected, he throws a Masquerade Ball. When the plaque comes in a figure of a person, the Prince whom all looked up to, dies as soon as he makes contact. When the people go to attack this cloaked Red Death, they die as well. It took just one individual to decide the fate of the rest. Lastly, Poe also criticizes the fact that as humans, it's easier to fall into darkness than it is to rise to light, as seen in,"The Fall of the House of Usher." Although Rodrick Usher knows that something unnatural is seizing his twin sister Madeline, he fails to overcome the problem. Instead of facing his fear, he withers and dies in it. Poe writes, "I will not deny that when I called to mind the sinister countenance of the person whom I met upon the staircase, on the day of my arrival at the house, I had no desire to oppose what I regarded as at the best but a harmless, and by no means an unnatural, precaution". At this moment, the narrator and Usher are doomed. With their lack of taking charge, all falls down, including The House of Usher. The Gothic writers have a similar criticism. They all recognize the "go to" feelings of humans. Instead of sitting down having a clear thought process in times of trouble, they let their fears and insecurities compel them into the wrong actions. The writers recognize more downfalls of human nature, than the good traits.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?- Socratic questions
1) What was the name of the boy that Connie hung out with, and eventually decided she liked him?
a. His name was Eddie. It is written, "... and her mind slipped over onto thoughts of the boy she had been with the night before and how nice he had been with the night before and how nice he had been, how sweet it always was..." (Oates).
2) Why does Connie's mother show Connie little affection?
a. It is written in the story that Connie's mother is jealous of her looks, due to her loosing hers of old age. Although that's written in Connie's view. The reader may believe it's because of Connie's selfishness, her lack of behaving and interaction with her family. It is written, "She wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home"(Oates).
3) How different is the discipline of parents in the 21st century, compared to the story?
a. Connie's parents were not very strict. "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?", mentions a lot of youth running around. In the 21st century, to see a lot of kids outside is quite rare because they're inside catching up with new technology and inventions. It is written, "The father of Connie's best girl friend drove the girls the three miles to town and left them at a shopping plaza so they could walk through the stores or go to a movie, and when he came to pick them up again at eleven he never bothered to ask what they had done.
4) How does Connie's response explaining a girl as "dope", connect to how the author wants the reader to treat people?
a. Connie pretty much doesn't care for anyone but herself. She spends a lot of time on her appearance, and she cares very little about how her parents view her. The reader can infer that the way you treat somebody to reflect your own image, can come back and hurt you in the future. It's ironic that she calls someone "dope", then she hears Arnold say to Ellie, "You miserable dope". Connie's character is reflected in Arnold at that moment when he yells at Ellie. She sees through her eyes how she has treated people in the past. Everybody should be treated with compassion and kindness, because that's the human thing to do. Treat others the way you want to be treated!
5) What is ironic about the characterization of Arnold Friend?
a. When Oates explains Arnold, the reader(me) is drawn in. She explains, "...tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed the hard small muscles of his arms and shoulders". Connie is pulled in by his appearance, although she doesn't give in and go outside just yet. She looks past the outside and sees that he's not safe. The author wants the reader to do the same thing that Connie did, not falling for physical features, because the inside may be an ugly mess.
a. His name was Eddie. It is written, "... and her mind slipped over onto thoughts of the boy she had been with the night before and how nice he had been with the night before and how nice he had been, how sweet it always was..." (Oates).
2) Why does Connie's mother show Connie little affection?
a. It is written in the story that Connie's mother is jealous of her looks, due to her loosing hers of old age. Although that's written in Connie's view. The reader may believe it's because of Connie's selfishness, her lack of behaving and interaction with her family. It is written, "She wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home"(Oates).
3) How different is the discipline of parents in the 21st century, compared to the story?
a. Connie's parents were not very strict. "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?", mentions a lot of youth running around. In the 21st century, to see a lot of kids outside is quite rare because they're inside catching up with new technology and inventions. It is written, "The father of Connie's best girl friend drove the girls the three miles to town and left them at a shopping plaza so they could walk through the stores or go to a movie, and when he came to pick them up again at eleven he never bothered to ask what they had done.
4) How does Connie's response explaining a girl as "dope", connect to how the author wants the reader to treat people?
a. Connie pretty much doesn't care for anyone but herself. She spends a lot of time on her appearance, and she cares very little about how her parents view her. The reader can infer that the way you treat somebody to reflect your own image, can come back and hurt you in the future. It's ironic that she calls someone "dope", then she hears Arnold say to Ellie, "You miserable dope". Connie's character is reflected in Arnold at that moment when he yells at Ellie. She sees through her eyes how she has treated people in the past. Everybody should be treated with compassion and kindness, because that's the human thing to do. Treat others the way you want to be treated!
5) What is ironic about the characterization of Arnold Friend?
a. When Oates explains Arnold, the reader(me) is drawn in. She explains, "...tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed the hard small muscles of his arms and shoulders". Connie is pulled in by his appearance, although she doesn't give in and go outside just yet. She looks past the outside and sees that he's not safe. The author wants the reader to do the same thing that Connie did, not falling for physical features, because the inside may be an ugly mess.
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