The Awakening by Kate Chopin was not one that I could totally grasp what was going on right at first. I could tell from reading this story that Kate Chopin was a very independent woman, and one that probably did not have the easiest childhood. I read a little in our book and realized that the story was about a woman named Mrs Pontellier. I could also tell right away that Kate Chopin was obviously an realism writer. "Realism is the attempt to depict life as it actually exists, not as the author wants it to be in the present or the future, or imagines it was in the past" (Werlock). When Kate Chopin was writing this excerpt, it was during a time during/ after the civil war when women were trying to find themselves, and they were trying to figure out what they were supposed to be doing in life and also what they wanted from life. I saw realism when Kate said in the awakening, "Turning, she thrusts her face , steaming and wet, into the bend of her arm, and she went on crying there, not caring any loner to dry her face, her eyes, her arm" (Chopin, "The Awakening, 491). We saw in this passage by Chopin that she was just crying, and was not paying attention to anything else but her own thoughts. She was just sharing the what was really going on in her life, whether she wanted it to or not, and how it affected her so much emotionally. In the Awakening, Kate was just sharing about a woman named Mrs. Pontellier who was trying to find herself in a hard time.
Kate Chopin also wrote another writing that we can find in our American Literature textbooks called The Story of an Hour. The Story of and Hour and The Awakening are kind of similar in that they both are talking about a woman that is dealing with some very strong emotions, that are really important in her life. The main woman in this one is called Mrs. Mallard. Mrs. Mallard is a very upset woman and is crying in this excerpt, but we actually can figure out the main reason for her tears. She is crying because she really was coming to realize that her love was dead, and all that was going to go along with that. She was realizing that she was going to be all alone the rest of her life, and she was not going to feel any more love from him. "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself" (Chopin, "The Story" 555). I really pick up a lot of realism writing in this passage. I think that Kate Chopin was a realist writer, because in The Story there was just so much sad things and a lot of tears. She was just trying to depict life as it actually exists (Werlock).
Kate Chopin was a great realism writer. I enjoyed reading her stories, and I like how she showed through her characters what she was going through then. It was a hard time for women in the time that she was writing these excerpts.
Chopin, Kate. "The Story of an Hour." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 553-555. Print.
Chopin, Kate. "from The Awakening." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 491. Print.
Werlock, Abby H. P. "Realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Feb 16, 2011.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Willa Cather- O Pioneers and A Wagner Matiné
O Pioneers by WIlla Cather was a pretty decent expert, but not one that I thought was the interesting to me. I think it is just like all of the other stories in that time. All they talked about the whole time is the hardships that they went through, which i understand but at times that can get old. This story was about all of the hardships that the pioneers went through in that time, which from reading the title, I could tell what it was going to be about.
Realism, like most stories during this time, was shown in this expert, but I saw regionalism the most. I saw realism when they were explaining the hardships, and hard work that they had to put forth in that time. They really make you think about the things that they had to go through, and the hard things that they had to work through. I recognized regionalism in the part that they were talking about sitting by the sidewalks, and then I saw Illinois so that really stuck out to me. "The thing to do was to get back to Iowa, to Illinois, to any place that had been proved habitable "(Cather 489). The main thing that they were trying to say in the story right here was that they were not in the right spot in the country that they felt like was best for them. They thought that they should be in Iowa or Illinois, places for real men. They wanted to be at the places that they thought were to be more suitable.
I thought that A Wagner Matine by Willa Cather was a better story to read. I am a fan of music, so I knew when this story was talking about music that I would really like it. I think the stories that you can relate to are always the best. I think that this story actually kind of had an effect on me. Willa Cather showed that music has a story behind it. She also showed that each person might listen to a song and get something different from it. I really liked how she said that, because I really understood what she was saying. I was listening to Pink's new song, and I thought I knew what she was talking about, but then I heard a different meaning of it that she was trying to get across. So, when listening to music everybody gets a different view depending on the things that you have been through in your life. I think that A Wagner Matine was sharing realism with us, just by all of the emotions that she was showing. She shared with us how much music did to her in her life, and she would just listen and not have anything to say. She loved music. I thought that this was a pretty good story over all.
Both O Pioneers and A Wagner Matine by WIlla Cather showed us realism. They both showed the different emotions that were going on in that time, even though they were totally opposite. One was talking about hardships, and one was talking about how she thought so highly of music.
Cather, Willa. "from O Pioneers!" American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 489. Print.
Cather, Willa. "A Wagner Matinée." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 521-526. Print
Realism, like most stories during this time, was shown in this expert, but I saw regionalism the most. I saw realism when they were explaining the hardships, and hard work that they had to put forth in that time. They really make you think about the things that they had to go through, and the hard things that they had to work through. I recognized regionalism in the part that they were talking about sitting by the sidewalks, and then I saw Illinois so that really stuck out to me. "The thing to do was to get back to Iowa, to Illinois, to any place that had been proved habitable "(Cather 489). The main thing that they were trying to say in the story right here was that they were not in the right spot in the country that they felt like was best for them. They thought that they should be in Iowa or Illinois, places for real men. They wanted to be at the places that they thought were to be more suitable.
I thought that A Wagner Matine by Willa Cather was a better story to read. I am a fan of music, so I knew when this story was talking about music that I would really like it. I think the stories that you can relate to are always the best. I think that this story actually kind of had an effect on me. Willa Cather showed that music has a story behind it. She also showed that each person might listen to a song and get something different from it. I really liked how she said that, because I really understood what she was saying. I was listening to Pink's new song, and I thought I knew what she was talking about, but then I heard a different meaning of it that she was trying to get across. So, when listening to music everybody gets a different view depending on the things that you have been through in your life. I think that A Wagner Matine was sharing realism with us, just by all of the emotions that she was showing. She shared with us how much music did to her in her life, and she would just listen and not have anything to say. She loved music. I thought that this was a pretty good story over all.
Both O Pioneers and A Wagner Matine by WIlla Cather showed us realism. They both showed the different emotions that were going on in that time, even though they were totally opposite. One was talking about hardships, and one was talking about how she thought so highly of music.
Cather, Willa. "from O Pioneers!" American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 489. Print.
Cather, Willa. "A Wagner Matinée." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 521-526. Print
Robert E. Lee - Letter to his Family
I read Letter to His Son by Robert E. Lee in our American Literature Textbook. I thought it was kind of hard to follow along at first, because old things like that I do not follow with very well. I think that it was kind of confusing, but then I started to get it. I also thought just by reading the title at first that it was kind of cool that he was sharing things that were really important with his son. I would hope to think that his son would appreciate what he had to say, and hopefully his dad had a great affect in his life.
"I will not, however, permit myself to believe, until all ground of hope is gone, that the fruit of his noble deeds will be destroyed, and that his precious advice and virtuous example will so soon be forgotten by his countrymen. As far as I can judge by the papers, we are between a state of anarchy and civil war. May God avert both of these evils from us! I fear that mankind will not for years be sufficiently Christianized to bear the absence of restraint and force. I see that four states have declared themselves out of the Union; four more will apparently follow their example. Then, if the border states are brought into the gulf of revolution, one half of the country will be arrayed against the other. I must try and be patient and await the end, for I can do nothing to hasten or retard it" (Lee).
In this passage in our American Literature Textbooks, you can tell that Lee was writing this letter to his son during the civil war. Lee wrote this to his son after his son had sent him a book called Life of Washington in the mail (Lee). Robert E. Lee was going through a hard, rough time in his life right then when they were writing back and forth. I could tell when reading this that Lee's son probably sent this book to him, because I think the book related to Robert E. Lee a lot at that point in his life. The big issue that Lee was sharing with to his son, and everyone else for that matter, was about the North and the South in America at that time during the Civil War. I think that Robert E. Lee not only shares with us realism in this letter to his son, but also regionalism. "Then, if the border states are brought into the gulf of revolution, one half of the country will be arrayed against the other" (Lee). I think this line in the letter to Robert's son was a great example of regionalism, because regionalism deals with certain regions and things that go in those places. The regions in this circumstance was the north and the south. That was a big issue that was affecting Robert E. Lee in his life. I think that it also shares realism with us too. "I will not, however, permit myself to believe, until all ground of hope is gone, that the fruit of his noble deeds will be destroyed, and that his precious advice and virtuous example will so soon be forgotten by his countrymen" (Lee). This line is realism, because Lee was sharing with us the feelings that he had towards this book. He was not going to let anyone change his mind, and he has his own views and he was okay with that.
Lee, Robert E. "Letter to His Son." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 384-385. Print.
"I will not, however, permit myself to believe, until all ground of hope is gone, that the fruit of his noble deeds will be destroyed, and that his precious advice and virtuous example will so soon be forgotten by his countrymen. As far as I can judge by the papers, we are between a state of anarchy and civil war. May God avert both of these evils from us! I fear that mankind will not for years be sufficiently Christianized to bear the absence of restraint and force. I see that four states have declared themselves out of the Union; four more will apparently follow their example. Then, if the border states are brought into the gulf of revolution, one half of the country will be arrayed against the other. I must try and be patient and await the end, for I can do nothing to hasten or retard it" (Lee).
In this passage in our American Literature Textbooks, you can tell that Lee was writing this letter to his son during the civil war. Lee wrote this to his son after his son had sent him a book called Life of Washington in the mail (Lee). Robert E. Lee was going through a hard, rough time in his life right then when they were writing back and forth. I could tell when reading this that Lee's son probably sent this book to him, because I think the book related to Robert E. Lee a lot at that point in his life. The big issue that Lee was sharing with to his son, and everyone else for that matter, was about the North and the South in America at that time during the Civil War. I think that Robert E. Lee not only shares with us realism in this letter to his son, but also regionalism. "Then, if the border states are brought into the gulf of revolution, one half of the country will be arrayed against the other" (Lee). I think this line in the letter to Robert's son was a great example of regionalism, because regionalism deals with certain regions and things that go in those places. The regions in this circumstance was the north and the south. That was a big issue that was affecting Robert E. Lee in his life. I think that it also shares realism with us too. "I will not, however, permit myself to believe, until all ground of hope is gone, that the fruit of his noble deeds will be destroyed, and that his precious advice and virtuous example will so soon be forgotten by his countrymen" (Lee). This line is realism, because Lee was sharing with us the feelings that he had towards this book. He was not going to let anyone change his mind, and he has his own views and he was okay with that.
Lee, Robert E. "Letter to His Son." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 384-385. Print.
Sojourner Truth – And Ain‘t I a Woman?
And Ain't I a Woman was a speech delivered by Sojourner Truth in 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio (Truth). "Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman" (Truth). I think the author Sojourner Truth was just trying to let out her feelings in this speech, and let people know that women are just as good as men. She is a woman herself, and she can do the same work that men can do. I think she is almost saying her that she has done more than a man, she works hard and could take the lashings and she has born thirteen children. That many children is not easy by any means. Hearing that part of the speech by Sojourner Truth was very touching, and it is something that every girl has wanted to say at some point. Women always get the stereotype that we all need to stay at home, take care of the house, and keep track of children. I think that this shows realism. She was not afraid to just let out her real feelings, she wanted people to know that what was happening was not okay, and women needed to be treated just like men. "I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well" (Truth). Right here in the passage it shows us realism, because she is sharing with the people that she delivered this to what she went through everyday.
Of course, just like most writings in this time, it was based on slavery. I think that that is pretty understandable. Sojourner Truth had obviously been raised in a time where slavery was all around and a part of her life. "I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me" (Truth). I think that this statement really shows us realism right there. I think slavery really affected her life, and she wanted people to say that and really just be honest and share with them how it really feels like. I think the reason that she went on to work for the Underground Railroad, was because she did not want slavery to affect everyone else's life like it did hers. She really got her words across in a great way, and this poem was pretty moving to see a woman like that be able to say all of that.
I think Sojourner Truth had a lot of influence on people then. She wrote an amazing poem that moved a lot of people, not only women, and helped with the Underground Railroad. I think this realism writing was a great one, and one where the author, Sojourner Truth, was really able to deliver a great message. We have not been through what she had to go through, but we know that slavery was awful. I totally understand the reason she wrote a great speech like this.
Truth, Sojourner. ""AIN'T I A WOMAN?" BY SOJOURNER TRUTH." Feminist.com. Web. 15 Feb. 2011..
Of course, just like most writings in this time, it was based on slavery. I think that that is pretty understandable. Sojourner Truth had obviously been raised in a time where slavery was all around and a part of her life. "I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me" (Truth). I think that this statement really shows us realism right there. I think slavery really affected her life, and she wanted people to say that and really just be honest and share with them how it really feels like. I think the reason that she went on to work for the Underground Railroad, was because she did not want slavery to affect everyone else's life like it did hers. She really got her words across in a great way, and this poem was pretty moving to see a woman like that be able to say all of that.
I think Sojourner Truth had a lot of influence on people then. She wrote an amazing poem that moved a lot of people, not only women, and helped with the Underground Railroad. I think this realism writing was a great one, and one where the author, Sojourner Truth, was really able to deliver a great message. We have not been through what she had to go through, but we know that slavery was awful. I totally understand the reason she wrote a great speech like this.
Truth, Sojourner. ""AIN'T I A WOMAN?" BY SOJOURNER TRUTH." Feminist.com. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Go Down Moses, & Keep Your Hand on the Plow
"Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan,
And WHAT did I see,
Comin' for to carry me home,
A band of angels comin' after me,
Comin' for to carry me home" ("Swing").
This is the chorus for Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. I have heard of this poem before, and I actually think that it is a pretty good poem, and one that really has a lot of meaning behind it if you really know what this anonymous person was talking about. I know from reading this poem in the past that it was written during the time when they had the underground railroads. I think that this tells us that this poem is obviously sharing regionalism, because it is focusing on the area that they were in. During this time of the underground railroads, people were just worried about being home and that is all that they wanted. I think this speech meant a lot to the people that were around then, because it was sharing about their lives and how they just knew that those angels were for them to take them home, so not only does it show regionalism but it also shares realism. I think it showed realism, because this author was sharing real life events during this time that affected everyone, and was causing people to be unhappy.
When Israel was in Egypt's land
Let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
Let my people go
Go down (go down)
Moses (do down Moses)
Way down in Egypt's land
Tell old, Pharoh
Let my people go!
Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said
Let my people go
If not, I'll smite your first born dead
Let my people go! ("GO Down Moses Lyrics").
These words are the lyrics to Go Down Moses. I think that Go Down Moses is related to regionalism. I can tell from reading this passage that the writer was probably an African American that had probably escaped from slavery for a little bit, and was just wanting to be set free. I think it represents regionalism, because their is a place that they want to be and that place is home. They share their feelings, and they just want to be free.
Keep Your Hands on the Plow was a good read, and I had never heard of that one before. I noticed that this one too was talking about slavery, and that they needed to keep their hands on the plow and just keep pushing forward, and eventually it would all be over with. "Got my hands on the gospel plow, Wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now, Keep your hands on that plow, hold on" (Keep Your Hands on the Plow Lyrics). I think this also shows regionalism and realism. I think that they were just being honest and talking about what was going on in their life right then, it that place where they could not stop working.
All three of these lyrics had a lot in common, because they were all about slavery. I think that they all showed us regionalism and realism. They were brutally honest at times about sharing what was really going on in their lives. They also shared how certain areas were free, but some were not. Slavery was a big issue in that time, and I can see how that was probably a big subject to talk about, and some people just needed to share their feelings then.
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Lyrics." Scout Songs: Song Lyrics for Boy Scouts Songs, Girl Scouts Songs, and American Patriotic Songs. Web. 10 Feb. 2011..
"Go Down Moses Lyrics." Music-Lyrics-Gospel. RecordFly LLC. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. http://www.music-lyrics-gospel.com/gospel_music_lyrics/go_down_moses_586.asp.
"Keep Your Hands On The Plow - GospelSongLyrics.Org." GospelSongLyrics.org - Lyrics and Music to All Your Favorite Gospel Songs. Web. 15 Feb. 2011..
Comin' for to carry me home;
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Comin' for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan,
And WHAT did I see,
Comin' for to carry me home,
A band of angels comin' after me,
Comin' for to carry me home" ("Swing").
This is the chorus for Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. I have heard of this poem before, and I actually think that it is a pretty good poem, and one that really has a lot of meaning behind it if you really know what this anonymous person was talking about. I know from reading this poem in the past that it was written during the time when they had the underground railroads. I think that this tells us that this poem is obviously sharing regionalism, because it is focusing on the area that they were in. During this time of the underground railroads, people were just worried about being home and that is all that they wanted. I think this speech meant a lot to the people that were around then, because it was sharing about their lives and how they just knew that those angels were for them to take them home, so not only does it show regionalism but it also shares realism. I think it showed realism, because this author was sharing real life events during this time that affected everyone, and was causing people to be unhappy.
When Israel was in Egypt's land
Let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
Let my people go
Go down (go down)
Moses (do down Moses)
Way down in Egypt's land
Tell old, Pharoh
Let my people go!
Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said
Let my people go
If not, I'll smite your first born dead
Let my people go! ("GO Down Moses Lyrics").
These words are the lyrics to Go Down Moses. I think that Go Down Moses is related to regionalism. I can tell from reading this passage that the writer was probably an African American that had probably escaped from slavery for a little bit, and was just wanting to be set free. I think it represents regionalism, because their is a place that they want to be and that place is home. They share their feelings, and they just want to be free.
Keep Your Hands on the Plow was a good read, and I had never heard of that one before. I noticed that this one too was talking about slavery, and that they needed to keep their hands on the plow and just keep pushing forward, and eventually it would all be over with. "Got my hands on the gospel plow, Wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now, Keep your hands on that plow, hold on" (Keep Your Hands on the Plow Lyrics). I think this also shows regionalism and realism. I think that they were just being honest and talking about what was going on in their life right then, it that place where they could not stop working.
All three of these lyrics had a lot in common, because they were all about slavery. I think that they all showed us regionalism and realism. They were brutally honest at times about sharing what was really going on in their lives. They also shared how certain areas were free, but some were not. Slavery was a big issue in that time, and I can see how that was probably a big subject to talk about, and some people just needed to share their feelings then.
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Lyrics." Scout Songs: Song Lyrics for Boy Scouts Songs, Girl Scouts Songs, and American Patriotic Songs. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
"Go Down Moses Lyrics." Music-Lyrics-Gospel. RecordFly LLC. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. http://www.music-lyrics-gospel.com/gospel_music_lyrics/go_down_moses_586.asp.
"Keep Your Hands On The Plow - GospelSongLyrics.Org." GospelSongLyrics.org - Lyrics and Music to All Your Favorite Gospel Songs. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.
Abraham Lincoln- The Gettysburg Address
"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this" (Lincoln). The Gettysburg Address that Lincoln delivered during the Civil War was really related to realism. He was sharing this speech in a time where people were really upset about the battle that was going on, that was affecting everyone's lives. He delivered his speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at the battlefield to soldiers, soldiers families, and people that were there already there or had heard that he was going to be giving the speech.
This next part of Lincolns Gettysburg address really shows us a great example of realism. "But in a larger sense we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here"(Lincoln). I think that this part of Lincoln's speech really hit hard for some people. He showed me that this was a realism writing, because he was using real life events that were going on around them, and was telling them that they can not take something like this lightly. He was also just being honest and admitting things that were hard to face at that time. He was honestly just being real and telling them that they have to face the facts that we have lost people and they have fought for us and risked their lives so that we could have freedoms.
"One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God"(Lincoln). In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address he was really upset that people were still wanting to have slaves, and no body was totally just stopping people from having slaves. This speech really shows realism, and it is amazing to see the details Lincoln gave us that shared the real life things that the slaveholders were thinking or the things that the slaves had to go through. I think the point where Lincoln says that they pray to the same God really showed me realism. He was letting people know that we need to face the facts and realize that no matter what your color, we all should be treated equally because we are all the same especially in God's eyes. While giving this speech Lincoln really was dealing with emotions and feelings of everybody during this time. He knew that they should think about God and what he would of thought of some of their behaviors.
Lincoln's writings are really good writings that we all need to read. He made a huge influence on our country, that still affects us today.
Lincoln, Abraham. "Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln Civil War Speech." American Civil War History Timelines Battle Map Pictures. Web. 10 Feb. 2011..
Lincoln, Abraham. "Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address." NetINS Showcase. Web. 10 Feb. 2011..
This next part of Lincolns Gettysburg address really shows us a great example of realism. "But in a larger sense we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here"(Lincoln). I think that this part of Lincoln's speech really hit hard for some people. He showed me that this was a realism writing, because he was using real life events that were going on around them, and was telling them that they can not take something like this lightly. He was also just being honest and admitting things that were hard to face at that time. He was honestly just being real and telling them that they have to face the facts that we have lost people and they have fought for us and risked their lives so that we could have freedoms.
"One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God"(Lincoln). In Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address he was really upset that people were still wanting to have slaves, and no body was totally just stopping people from having slaves. This speech really shows realism, and it is amazing to see the details Lincoln gave us that shared the real life things that the slaveholders were thinking or the things that the slaves had to go through. I think the point where Lincoln says that they pray to the same God really showed me realism. He was letting people know that we need to face the facts and realize that no matter what your color, we all should be treated equally because we are all the same especially in God's eyes. While giving this speech Lincoln really was dealing with emotions and feelings of everybody during this time. He knew that they should think about God and what he would of thought of some of their behaviors.
Lincoln's writings are really good writings that we all need to read. He made a huge influence on our country, that still affects us today.
Lincoln, Abraham. "Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln Civil War Speech." American Civil War History Timelines Battle Map Pictures. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
Lincoln, Abraham. "Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address." NetINS Showcase. Web. 10 Feb. 2011.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Frederick Douglas- The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro
Frederick Douglas gave his speech to a white audience in Rochester, New York on July, 5, 1852 (Douglas 336). I thought this was a funny first thing to read, because the title of Douglas' writing made me think that it was going to be all about African Americans, but then it says that he delivered his speech to a room full of just whites. I read a little clip from our Glencoe American Literature books, and I could really get some details that were from the realism writing period.
"The blessing in which you, this day, rejoiced, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn" (Douglas 336).
I think just this paragraph its self you can tell that this speech that he spoke was obviously a great example of realism. I think that he was just trying to share things that were real in his life, and things that were actually going on for him in his life. He gave this speech to white people to share with them just how it really was for some African Americans at that time. He wanted to know that they should be happy because they are very lucky, because the African Americans on that day were in a mourning state because of all the things that they had to go through in that time. I also see hints of naturalism style in his speech, because he was saying all of his people so therefor it was almost a heredity and environment thing, that made the African Americans the way they were. "The sunlight that brought you light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me" (Douglas 336).
"What, to the American slave, is your fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim" (Douglas 336). This sentence in his speech right here says a lot. I think this is a statement that would have stopped me in my tracks if I was there in Rochester, New York on that day. It just shows you how real that things are for them. The African Americans were not treated well at all then, and it was time for some of them to hear that. I think this shows realism because he was sharing his real life examples and giving details of just how exactly the Fourth of July was for them.
"There is not a nation on earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour" (Douglas 336). After I read this statement, I finally realized how the whole speech was just so relative to realism and naturalism. I think he was interested in writing about something that was important to him in his life and talk about things that he knew the most about. I do not think he just pulled this speech out of no where, I think he had been thinking about it for awhile.
Douglas, Frederick. "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 336. Print.
"The blessing in which you, this day, rejoiced, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn" (Douglas 336).
I think just this paragraph its self you can tell that this speech that he spoke was obviously a great example of realism. I think that he was just trying to share things that were real in his life, and things that were actually going on for him in his life. He gave this speech to white people to share with them just how it really was for some African Americans at that time. He wanted to know that they should be happy because they are very lucky, because the African Americans on that day were in a mourning state because of all the things that they had to go through in that time. I also see hints of naturalism style in his speech, because he was saying all of his people so therefor it was almost a heredity and environment thing, that made the African Americans the way they were. "The sunlight that brought you light and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me" (Douglas 336).
"What, to the American slave, is your fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim" (Douglas 336). This sentence in his speech right here says a lot. I think this is a statement that would have stopped me in my tracks if I was there in Rochester, New York on that day. It just shows you how real that things are for them. The African Americans were not treated well at all then, and it was time for some of them to hear that. I think this shows realism because he was sharing his real life examples and giving details of just how exactly the Fourth of July was for them.
"There is not a nation on earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour" (Douglas 336). After I read this statement, I finally realized how the whole speech was just so relative to realism and naturalism. I think he was interested in writing about something that was important to him in his life and talk about things that he knew the most about. I do not think he just pulled this speech out of no where, I think he had been thinking about it for awhile.
Douglas, Frederick. "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro." Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 336. Print.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)