post #10

As I read “Learning to Read” by Frances EW Harper, I had an instant realization of how lucky I am to be able to read.  I cannot even remember far enough back to tell you how I felt when I was learning to read. But as much as I would like to say that I was as persistent as Harper, I sadly cannot guarantee it. My generation is so blessed to live in a society where so much emphasis is put on education for everyone. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to spend sixty years of your life without knowing how to read and understanding the power of literature. This is especially hard to imagine considering the power of literature was right in front of Harper but her masters forbid her of her right to learn. When she describes the way they tried to attain books to read, I feel horrible for denying them the right to learn. This poem just makes me realize how important it is for everyone to learn to read at an early age. Not only for the sake of their own learning, but for the sake of our ever growing nation, we need the highest percent of people educated in order to be successful.

Post #9

The very first connection between today and the years after the Civil War that stands out to me in the reading is the power of popular culture.  The book states that right after the civil war Elizabeth Stuart Phelps wrote a novel to console the grieving country. At that time novels were arguably the most prevalent form of popular culture so Phelps’s novel really united the entire nation. Currently, music is one of the most prevalent forms of popular culture and it has united the country in times of grieving.  A strong example of when music united the nation is after 9-11 when Toby Keith released his song, “Courtesy Of the Red, White and Blue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNrdmjcNTc&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TLm2WKw4kaq3Q).  After 9-11, America was in a state of grieving and Keith’s song helped Americans release some of the built up anger.  Politically, I also see some connections. Controversies with counting Presidential votes arose after the Civil War and they also arose in 2000 between Bush and Gore.  The next connection I see in the reading is how innovation and technology change the way Americans live. The lightbulb, automobile, telephone, radio and airplane dramatically changed the American way of life back then. All those innovations promoted population growth and a rising living standard. Now, technology and innovations are changing the American way of life again. Take the iPhone for example, six or seven years ago I would have never thought about checking my email right from cell phone, let alone streaming television on it! There are so many ways that we are connected to the years 1865-1914, you just have to have an open mind to see the parallels.

Post #8

For this response I have chosen to adopt the persona of a southern slave holder and compare, contrast and react to two texts. The first text I have chosen is John Brown’s “Last Speech.”  John Brown states that he had peacefully moved slaves from Missouri to Canada, which we know is untrue because he actually led a raid into Missouri. As a southern slave owner, I would have a strong dislike for John Brown. Southern slave owners needed slaves to maintain a profitable plantation and they believed that inequality was a natural part of life.   Brown also states that his act was worthy of reward, not punishment.  Once again, the southern slave owner would be enraged at this statement since they believe that slaves are property and stealing them should not be rewarded.  The next text I examined is Jefferson Davis’s Inaugural Address.  In his speech, Davis promotes all aspects of the government that the southerners want out of it. As a southern slave holder, I would be really in tune with what Davis.  He does not oppose slavery in his speech which would have negatively affected his credibility with his people. These are two texts that come from very different perspectives, and would have two very different reactions.

Post #7

“The Slave Mother” by Frances E. W. Harper is a poem displaying what a mother of a slave goes through when her son is taken from her as if he was not even hers to begin with.  “The Slave Mother” is packed full of imagery so, naturally, I will analyze this aspect.  The stanza uses harsh words such as “shriek,” “wildly,” and “despair” to dramatize the visual and audible aspects of a heart breaking.  I think the placement of this stanza is important at the beginning of the poem because it lets the reader know bad the mother’s heart is hurt before you know the actual reason.  The second stanza explores the imagery of a first glance at the heartbroken mother with the words “fragile form.” Fragile form makes me think of someone in a state of increased vulnerability, which is exactly how I think Harper wants us to imagine the mother. The next stanza provides a vivid picture of the mother’s eyes.  I believe that the eyes are the pathway in which you really understand a person so the vivid image Harper presents is crucial to understanding the mother’s despair.  Later, in stanza five and six, Harper describes the reason the mother is extremely heartbroken. She gives the most factual reasons why the son should in fact belong to the mother such as it is the mothers blood running through the sons veins and the mothers is the one who braved the pains of birthing him. How can someone argue with such factual reasons? Harper incredible use of imagery in “The Slave Mother” is beyond convincing, in my eyes, that a son being taken away is a mother’s worst nightmare.

Post #5

In each of these works, An Indians Looking-Glass for the White Man and Indian Names, the theme of equal Indian rights is discussed prevalently.  In An Indians Looking-Glass for the White Man, William Apess uses great detail and imagery to get his message across.  In order to show his readers that Indians are equal to white men Apess starts his paper with the quote, “God who is the maker and preserver both of the white man and the Indian.”  Since most white people at the time were Christians, bringing God into your argument is a good way to relate to your audience.  Apess then informs the reader of the current situation of the Indians still in New England.  The kids are poor, naked, and half starved while the mothers are being seduced and raped by the white men.  Apess says he has heard enough from white men stating that Indians should be treated fairly as equals and that it is time to see the example.   He reminds white men that they are outnumbered by people of color fifteen to one; maybe as a way to scare them into equal treatment. He even goes as far as reminding white me of how unjust they have been in the past by robbing the Indians of their land. In the poem, Indian Names by Lydia Sigourney, Indian rights is also presented.  Sigourney uses a different strategy, logic, to get her point across. Her basic point is that America belongs to the Indians just as much, if not more than, the settlers.  She demonstrates this by reminding the reader that most natural land forms and landmarks are named after Native Americans.   Both of these authors are deeply passionate for Indian rights and it is clearly seen in each of their works.

Post #3

In his short story “The Wife,” Washington Irving focuses on a young couple truly in love. He describes a situation in which the young couple is tested by a fall into poverty.  Through the couple’s reaction to this adversity, Irving is able to depict American values regarding marriage, women, and economics. In regards to marriage, Americans value the love and support of a woman through times of good and bad. They also value a man that provides for his family, whether it is a luxurious lifestyle or not. Consistency is very important to Americans when it comes to marriage.  Americans value a woman who can bring a man up from the depths of depression when he has hit a low point in his life.  For economics, it is apparent in the story that Americans value the love and support of their family greater than that of material things. Sometimes Americans overlook the simple things in life and it takes adversity to reveal the basic thing in life that makes you happy; a loving family.

Early American Literature

When I think about the development of America and American society, literature and more importantly, the print culture, is not the first thing that comes to mind. I think about wars and the industrial revolution. But when you really think about it, most developments in American society were spread around the nation by print. Newspapers were the only way current issues and news traveled in the early days of American development. If it had not been for the printing culture, it would be crazy to think America would be as unified and intelligent as it is today.  Whenever this country needs to come together and make a stand, whatever the cause may be, mass media is responsible for that unification. And without the print culture, we would not have mass media today. Reading this intro really puts into perspective how important the print culture was in the early stages of America. I just hope that more people come to understand how important early American literature was to the development of the United States. With that in mind, I hope more people take the time to read and understand early American literature.