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(2016
midterm assignment) Sample Student Midterm Answers 2016 (index to #2 samples) #2b: Short Essay (Favorite Term) |
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Kimberly Loza
The Baroque Obsession
In my learning experience so far within this class, one term has always
stood out to me and even by looking back at some of the examples that we have
discussed in class. I would consider the Baroque style to be quite fascinating
to me not just in literature, but in the other numerous forms that we have seen,
such as architecture and in art. I think the reason why I find the Baroque style
to be so interesting is because it so over the top and dramatic and actually
quite beautiful. For me that is something that we don't really see that often in
our day and time, which may explain why it is so capturing to me. Like when I
look at structures like St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican or paintings by
Caravaggio, I can help but feel the amount of expression and emotion that it
represents.
However, when looking at forms of literature the also represent this
style, I become even more captivated by it, especially when reading Anne
Bradstreet. For example, when looking at her poem “To My Dear and Loving
Husband”, you can just the amount of love and emotion that she is trying to
represent by the use of over the top language that she uses. For myself, it just
makes the reading so hard to put down because love this type of expressive
literature. This style is so hard to find in today's form of literature because
not everyone gravitates towards the dramatic, but for myself I do and it is
really interesting to think about.
Even by looking at my own culture when reading works from Sor Juana Inez
de Cruz it's actually for myself quite inspiring. Her poem “You Men” uses such
dramatic language in both English and Spanish that we can feel her pain, anger,
and frustration. For me personally, it made me feel proud to be a Latina because
women at this time were not encouraged to be making the statements that she was
expressing in her writing or were not even encouraged to write at all. So, for
Juana Inez to be expressing herself in this way is quite inspirational because
she puts herself out there and Bradstreet does the same thing as well even
though her work is more expressive towards God. It can still show how incredible
this was to be doing for a woman in this time period.
The Baroque for me is such style because it is so over dramatic and
expressive, which is something that we don't see quite often. We marvel at
structures that represent this style because they are so beautiful and
elaborate. Like the writings of Bradstreet and Juana Inez, which their use of
language also represents this style and should be seen as inspirational for
women because these women did something that was not encouraged at this time
which was to be expressive, dramatic, and over the top.
