Assignment 1:
1. You have read the poems of Anne Bradstreet and one poem by Edward Taylor. Both poets are early colonists from England, and both were Calvinists with distinctive attitudes about the sinner and redemption. I made reference to these Calvinists in a previous email. Also, both of these writers were poetically related to the English Metaphysical Poets of the 17thCentury. These poets chose subjects for their poems that could be described by certain poetic devices: similes (comparisons using like or as); symbols (a person, a place, an objet that stands for or represents something); imagery that provides words and phrases toencourage our senses to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel texture more vividly; and most importantly the metaphor that is a direct comparison between the subject of the poem and something else. Each poet has a perspective on some aspect of the family. Each poet creates a strong speaker who can express thoughts and feelings to the audience of readers.
Choose two poems by Bradstreet. Foreach one, identify what you believe the speaker's perspective on the subject and using the above, identify the poetic devices that help to convey the meaning of the poem. Discuss and use illustrations from the poem.
Choose the poem by Edward Taylor on wedlock and children. Do the same as in the Bradstreet poems.
Assignment 2:
You have read the work by Black Hawk and the letter that Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote to Van Buren. Both of these are in response to the aggressive American policies of securing lands from the Native Americans.
Answer the following:
1. Who is Black Hawk?
2. What is the date of this essay?
3. Who is to be the recipient?
4. Why is he writing this essay?
5. What is his tone of voice-there may be various tones within the essay?
6. What has upset him?
7. How does he feel about the situation?
8. How do you respond to this essay?
For each question provide not only your answer, but also an example and if relevant a quotation in support of your answer.
Answer the following:
1. What is the purpose of Emerson's letter? What precipitated this letter?
2. From the introduction and the letter itself, characterize or profile this giant of American literature.
Each answer should be supported by specific references to the text of the letter or to the introduction.
Especially Mother:
I gave you this Native American writer to assist you with the reading of Lullaby. This work is not fiction but more like a memoir that reflects upon important matters in the writer's life, suggesting that the reader form opinions about the life of the author and what the author thinks and feels.
1. Who is the author-what from the introduction and the selection do you infer?
2. How was she educated?
3. Why did she write about her mother and her tribe?
4. Compare any features of this selection with Lullaby.
Again, support your answer by using details from each work.
Lullaby
Reading of the story introduction too.
The story is told to us in 3rd person limited to the character of Aya, ForChato and the government doctors, wehave to learn about them on our own speculation
Answer:
1. Who is Jimmy? What happened to him? How did it affect Aya? Why is his blanket so important in the story? What is its significance at the end of the story? What is significant about blankets in Native American Culture?
2. Describe Chato from his early life to his supposed demise? Why did he ranch and learn English?
Why did Aya resent Chato learning English? How did this learning English affect their marriage?
Is the story about assimilation and its effects?
3. What do you think motivates the government doctors? Why did they not return the children? Were they aware of the effects upon the Native Indian family?
4. Characterize Aya. Who is she-her thoughts and feelings?
Again, support all answers with examples and reasoned analysis.
Young Goodman Brownby Nathaniel Hawthorne
Assignment 3: Parts I & II
This story has been viewed as an allegory such as Aesop Fables where there is a clear relationship between a person, place, or object and a particular meaning-for example, a murky swamp equals entrapment.
A more sophisticated form of allegory is less definite, ambiguous as to what the person, place, or object means. The swamp becomes a source of what-does the swamp become symbolic imagery, suggesting something to you?
Consider the following:
1. Hawthorne's ancestors were prominent Puritan Calvinists, believing in the depravity within all humankind and predestination.
2. Hawthorne wished to disavow their beliefs and to show the danger of these religious attitudes as they affected the individual, family, and society.
Goodman Brown is affected by his religious beliefs. He is aware of his sinful nature and that all humans have inherited sin because of the "Fall." He believes evildoers or followers of the devil should not be in his midst; he must avoid all contact with them.
The story is a journey into the deep woods that suggest the unknown and possible danger. He motivated to leave his wife and family-a safe haven. Why? Do many of us travel into an insecure world that has potential dangers? What can sustain us when we are being exposed to these dangers? Is it Faith in ourselves, others to help us, and a source of strength in God?
The forest is full of ominous things, including the guide with the snakelike rod/cane.The imagery increasesthe mood and atmosphere of the story. As the journey continues to the Satanic religious service and as Young Goodman Brown sees members of his community and church arriving, he begins to become agitated, culminating with the appearance of his wife Faith and the floating of the innocent pink ribbons.
What has happened?
1. Does he lose the Faith that sustains? Why? What happens as a result of his loss of Faith? How does he react to his wife and family and community? What does his life become?
2. How do you think Hawthorne viewed this man's decision to isolate?
3. Does his desire to live isolated an effect of his religious beliefs?
4. Would you agree that not all societies have sane guiding principles? According to Hawthorne did these Calvinist Puritan societies support sane guiding principles?
5. What happens to individuals and families in insane societies?
6. Write your response and interpretation of the story, expressing your opinion about its meaning, supported by details from the text.
Questions 1-6 are Assignment 3: Part I.
Barn Burningby William Faulkner
This is a post civil war story, the location is the rural south prior to the beginning of the twentieth century. Blacks were free, plantation owners had the land but limited capital and hired workers, and there were independent white and black small farmers who owned their land.Abner Snopes is poor and white and uneducated formally; he supports the family by being hired by the landowners to cultivate and harvest crops. He is a sharecropper who is provided with a shack and essentials from the community store; when the harvest is in, there is a tally of what he owes the farmer, and a settlement is made. Frequently, for various reasons, they have to move to another farm.
1. Describe Abner, his physical appearance, his mannerisms, his temperament, and his role as father. You must refer to specific references in the text.
2. Who are the other members of the family with a brief characterization of each one?
3. The opening scene exposes the conflict in the story. Faulkner uses stream of consciousness to let us know what is going on within Sarty who is very young and illiterate. Describe what Sarty is so concerned about during the trial-use references from text.
4. Why did Abner burn the barn? What motivates him to respond to what he feels has been insulting to him?
5. Look at Sarty's description of the deSpain residence. How does he view this new farm?
6. What insults Abner? What does he plan to do?
7. Describe the moral conflict in Sarty- blood and right and wrong.
8. Describe the ending scene of the story. What does it suggest Sarty' s future to be? Use the text to support.
9. How does this story relate to ourtheme of family?