19th century american literature:
1. Using the following quotation from
“Civil Disobedience” as your basis, write a 650-word essay that discusses Thoreau’s philosophy of individual resistance:
“If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth- certainly the machine will wear Out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than
The evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter -friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn” (134).
2. Using the following quotation From “The Birthmark” As your basis, write a 650-Word essay that Addresses The connection between Aylmer’s pursuit of female Perfection and Hawthorne’s views on American Puritanism:
“He conducted her back and took leave of her with a solemn tenderness which Spoke far more than his words how much was now at stake. After his departure Georgiana became rapt in musings. She considered the character of Aylmer, and Did it completer justice than at any previous moment. Her heart exulted, while it Trembled, at his honorable love -So pure and lofty that it would accept nothing Less than neither perfection nor miserably make itself contented with an earthlier Nature Than he had dreamed of. She felt how much more precious was such a sentiment than that meaner kind which would have borne with the imperfection for her Sake, and have been guilty of treason to holy love by degrading its perfect idea to The level of The actual; and with her whole spirit she prayed that, for a single Moment, she might satisfy his highest and deepest conception. Longer than one Moment she well knew it could not be; for his spirit was ever on the march, ever Ascending, and each instant Required something that was beyond the scope Of the Instant before” (190).
In writing your response for BOTH questions, do NOT merely summarize the quotation: you must Advance an interpretation or analysis of it within the context of the larger work from which it is drawn.
ALSO, Organize the analysis around a central argument or “thesis” and provided textual evidence to support its claim.