Summary of American Literature I Works

Governor John WinthropIdeas about how the Puritans should treat each otherGod has made some of mankind poor/rich, powerful/not1. hold conformity in variation and difference2. manifest the work of spirit against oppression3. every man needs the bond of affectionJustice and mercyLaw of Nature vs. Law of GraceShow kindness or God will ruin the colonyReason, question, answer, objection, answerSocial contract and social class hierarchy

Captain John SmithUsing merit to advance - no idlenessFaithful people will waste time converting othersEmbrace employmentRaise your kids even if they hate youIf he doesn't execute everything perfectly, you never have to read his work again

J. Hector St.

John de CrevecouerRejoice that one lived at the time America was founded"Train of pleasing ideas"No aristocracy, only fairness - American dream"American" not just a race but a man that recognizes the wealth of differencesEuropean foreigner - citizen - welcomeAccepting WHITE people without looking at exact race

Anne Bradstreet2 sisters arguing by a riverSpirit: lives only on meditation, no sinful pleasuresFlesh: values material possession2 aspects of human natureSpirit prefers AMBITIONPuritan reassurance in doing the right thing

Anne BradstreetListing things the pilgrim will never do again - death

Anne BradstreetWoman's point of view - feminist criticismImagery of happy marriage, unification, love>goldMan is receiverMarxist- why does the speaker feel the need of reward and repayment, comparing love to material wealth?Low key insecurity

Olaudah EquianoAfrican in London, autobiography by former-slave1789: well-known in abolitionist circlesComes from nation of dancers, musicians, poetsCame from freedom??Sold over and over again - saw white men as wastefulGiven new names like Gustavus Vassa

Phillis WheatleyRecently left shores of Africa - slave poetCompares herself to Harvard studentsRecently brought from "land of errors" ad the students have world's best wisdom and "sons of science"Race and devout Christian - enslavement is a deadly sin

Phillis WheatleyBlack slaves can be Christians tooGod saved meRefined

Philip FreneauPursue imaginationAmerican quest for freedomSearching for your own answersControls the mind

Philip FreneauSees the brutality of slaveryHell and fearTorture Devil

Philip FreneauPondering the existence and duties of our lives

Washington IrvingMythHenpecked husband helps everyone but his familyGoes into the woods and falls asleep for 18 yearsComes back and everything has changedSHORT STORY - NEW GENRE

Washington Irving

William Cullen BryantRevising our human relationship with deathUnconcerned with what happens afterwardsNature can help ease dark thoughtsEveryone will die and be reunited in the groundDeath is a happy, dream-filled sleep"Communion" with Earth's visible featuresMeditation on deathAnnouncement of change - away from rationalism

William Cullen BryantAs fresh as before Adam sinnedMan has no part in this glorious workMagnificent earthly creaturesPeace can be broken as easily as it is formedAlone in the wilderness - experience the beautyBees humming - civilization to comeCOMMUNION WITH NATURE AND PAST

Herman Melville

Herman MelvilleISOLATIONISM IN AMERICABartleby: clinical depression, abandonment from society, worked at Dead Letter Office, repetitive "I prefer not to"Narrator: feels responsible for him, understand, better interaction, motivation, human nature and caringWhat is the meaning of communication?

Edgar Allan PoeIdentity: physical vs. mental - self explorationFear: fear is scarier than the thing to fearIsolation: extremely isolated familyHouse = house AND family

Edgar Allan PoeMadness is just "over acuteness of the senses"All of us have good and badLogic? sanity vs. insanity

Edgar Allan PoeGrief doesn't end or leaveTrusting perceptionDark bird sitting on the head of the goddess of wisdom

Ralph Waldo Emerson1. Nature2. Commodity3.

Beauty4. Language5. Discipline6. Idealism7. Spirit8.

ProspectsPurpose: foundation of transcendentalismEspouses a non-traditional appreciation of natureCommunion with nature - finding God in natureKingdom of man over nature - domination

Ralph Waldo Emersonself = individualitySelf = unified self - all connectedTrusting yourselfBelieving that what's in your heart is the same as everyone else = geniusVirtues are expectations not rulesNo law is sacred except for natureCommunion with nature

Henry David Thoreau"That gov't is best which governs least" turns into:"That gov't is best which governs not at all"In jail for not paying taxes to support the Mex-US war

Henry David ThoreauInstinctFeeling and thinking cultivate sinEarnest, pure, simple lifeComplex human emotion vs. simple conscience

Henry David ThoreauShort life of 45 years - short poemLiving, not uttering - TranscendentalismTrying to dictate how your life will go is complicatedPoem of life is an extensive burdenGO LIVE YOUR LIFE DON'T SPEND IT RECORDING IT

Walt WhitmanSec 1 : ground rules, I am you, you are meSec 2 : you can't learn everything from books, go discoverSec 3 : all history is history of the present momentSec 6 : what is grassSec 11 : widow watches men batheSec 20 : mysteries of natureSec 21 : poet of the body, poet of the soulSec 50 : past and present wilt, he contradicts himselfSec 52 : proud of himself, waiting for us to catch up

Walt WhitmanStar : Venus falling in the sky = dead manLilacs : full bloomed = vital natureHermit Thrust : natural place = pure and holy nature

Walt WhitmanGO LEARN SOMETHING FOR YOURSELFLectures, charts, diagrams aren't needed sometimesWe would learn better by doing - kinesthetic

Frederick DouglassIdentityQuest for freedomFreedom of the mind leads to freedom of the bodyLearnt to read from his mistress and kids on the street"Brutalize" = make people into brutes

Emily DickinsonPrivate poemsInspired aspiring writersSeeks authentic "self"Rebel - the dark was a momentary inspirationCliché crazy woman in the attic