Journal #12

"Let it be understood that I have not failed to notice it, and to be not only flattered by its universality, but further very grateful that I have had the opportunity to know the real American people, quite distinct from those who have assumed this honored name when it suited their selfish ends."

I chose this sentence because it illustrates the authors appreciation toward the hospitality of the American people. The kind welcoming of the American people negated  previous stereotypes (of Americans) she had once heard of. The ending of this sentence, "...quite distinct from those who have assumed this honored name when it suited their selfish ends" also reflects the clear distinction between the "real" Americans and those fulfilling the stereotypes of the American people. Hence their were Americans who truly influenced the author while others fit the stereotype as she had expected.

Journal #10

Frances E.W. Harpers poems, "Learning to Read," provided me with insight on reading within the African American/ slave community. From the context of the poem, Harper reflects the struggles of learning during a time of great divide. African Americans wanted to learn to read but the whites feared what might become of it. The perception of slaves by white slave owners was so twisted that they believed reading would unite the slaves and cause a rebellion. In the second stanza of the poem" Harper writes "Our master always tried to hide book learning from our eyes; knowledge didn't agree with slavery-'twould make us all the wise." This stanza clearly reflects the ideology of white slave owners during the time and shows the fear they had in watching slaves learn to read. This poem also reflects a sign of hope. By the end of the poem the narrator has learned to read because she constantly and passionately wanted to learn to read and now that she can read she "felt as independent as the queen upon her throne."Regardless of the circumstances she taught her self to read, she did not let her masters or the "rebels" bring her down and she was resilient in a time of struggle.  

Journal #7

The writings of Harper and Whitter both advocate social reform, specifially the ablation of slavery. Although Harper was born free of slavery and Whitter was a Quaker, they both sought reform and racial equality. They made their voice heard through the use of writing and publication and made an everlasting impression among the community. In the poems I read, I analyzed their use of imagery in respect to relaying a message to the audience. Whitter's poem, "The Hunters of Men" is a great poem that talks about slavery and how we are hunting our own people based on pigment of skin. "And woman, kind, woman, wife, widow and maid, for the good of the hunted, is lending her aid: her foot's in the strirrip, her hand on the rein, how blithely she rides to the hunting of men." This is a great line from the poem in which Whitter uses even a womans involvment as a cry for help. He states that even these kind woman are taking inniatitve to support their husbands and slavery. It's as if the world is going crazy because woman are finding themself involved/supportive of slavery. In Harper's poem she uses imagery to reflect a slave mothers pain after her child is taken away. "She is a mother, pale with fear, her boy clings to her side, and her kirtle vainly tries, his trembling form to hide."

Journal #5

A single theme repeated through all three texts would be Native Americans and the struggle for equality. The topics of writing during this time varied but the plight of Native Americans was recognized. In Lydia Sigourney's poem, Indian Names, she writes about the Native Americans and how although every thing was stripped from them, they have not been forgotten."Ye say, they all have passed away, that noble race and brave, that their light canoes have vanished from off the crested wave; that 'mid the forests where they roamed there rings no hunter's shout; but their name is on your waters, ye may not wash it out." Sigourney's poem connected with the ideas of William Apess and his struggle to restore the Native American people. In An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Men, Apess ask his audience what his Native American people have done to deserve such punishment. In the story Apess talk about the men who are agents, or overseers from Massachusetts appointed to govern the natives. "Many of them are unfaithful and care not whether the Indians live or die; they are much imposed upon by their neighbors, who have no principle. They would think its no crime to go upon Indian lands and cut and carry off their most valuable timber, or anything else they choose..." Apess goes on to ask why their rights and property are not protected like the white man. It is easy to see the struggle the Native Americans face and the fact that their land was taken from them unjustly. These three works reflect that struggle and the call for justice.

Journal #4

Symbolism is all around us. It is an idea used to invest meaning into a particular symbol or subject. We encounter symbols everyday weather we realize it or not. From religion to Disney movies we can detect certain symbolism and its specific message, much like "The Tenth of January" by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in which she uses symbolism to convey a meaning beyond the plot and characters. For example, Phelps uses symbols and images of blood to foreshadow a change in Asenath's mind during the story. The repition of symbols is another pattern one may notice with varying authors and writters. I don't know if it's because the book was beat into my brain as a sophmore in highschool but everytime I think of symbolism I think of The Great Gatsby and the "green light." This is a great example of symbolism in which the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. The symbol is repeated throughout the book very much like Phelps symbol of blood/light/sun (bright features) in the story "The Tenth of January." One example of the blood symbol is used when the river in the story is described as bloody/red on the day of the fire. This is symbolism that not only holds a certain meaing  but also foreshadows the events of the Pemberton Mill fire.

Journal #1

I believe my identity is a result of my time and place. I was raised in a conservative home and I believe this idea alone has influanced my ideas of what it means to be an American. I am very proud to be an American and I am very thankful for the oppertunities this country allows me to experience. Sometimes I think we, including myself, loose sight of how fortunate we are to live in this country though. The first time I really experienced or was exposed to the idea of American identitity was September 11, 2001. I was only in 5th grade but I still remember its impact. Before that event I hadn't really thought of America as a whole becaus I felt very safe in my own little world in Columbus, Ohio. Looking back on it now, there was a lot I didn't know. I don't think my idea of American identitity has changed but I do find myself questioning what I do believe. When I hear about all the corruption in politics and government it does make me question our country. At the same time though it is hard to forget all the freedom and oppertunity we have. There are some countries where everything is censored and no individuality can be expressed. I am a creative person and I love art, I can't imagine a world where I couldn't express myself. I love my country and I will always stand by her through thick and thin. I am proud to be an American

Journal #2

I am part of the digital era; a period when information is only a click away. As I was reading the introduction of American Literature I couldn't help but analyze the progression we have made throughout history in terms of "print culture." By 1639 colonial print shops were in small operation, generally producing 800-1,000 finished sheets in a day. Today I can acess infinite amounts of information through multipule sources of media (newspaper, internet, phone, television, etc.) In todays day and age we are all about instant access. Something could occur half way around the world and within minutes the event becomes a global story. This idea made me think back to the colonial period and how time was viewd differently. During that time period they didn't have the access like we do in the digital era. When something was printed it could only travel so fast. Benjamin Franklins books as well as the works of others took a much longer time to travel throughout the colonies as well as make there way over seas to Europe. It is truly amazing to see the progression we have made throughout histroy in terms of print and its distribution.