LITR 4232 American Renaissance 2012 final exam—Answers to Question A1 "Review Learning" or "Review Romanticism" final exam assignment

Velma Laborde

A1. Mid-length essay

American Renaissance Course: Completing Perspectives

          One of the most valuable things reinforced for me in this course is the importance of looking at things from every angle. The organization of the course was extremely helpful for this. By including historical information in each section that directly related to the assigned texts, it gave an additional way of looking at the writings. Instead of focusing solely on terms and style, it encouraged us to think of how the literature, as well as the terms, fit in with what was happening in America at the time. I had read some of these texts before without any knowledge of the American Renaissance or the history of that time period. Re-reading them in that context completely changed their meaning and allowed me to read them closer and come away with much more insight. It also helped with understanding the terms of the course like, romanticism, gothic, sublime, sentimentality and transcendentalism. I had a basic knowledge of these terms, but the course structure of focusing the texts and historical information around these terms kept them continuously in focus and helped me associate more closely with them. Understanding the terms of the course along with the different historical perspectives and information encouraged a more critical analysis of the texts as well as the period.

          An example is learning about the Mexican-American war and its ties to the American Civil War. Reading about those wars and then reading texts written about and by the American Indians, their perspectives, the slave readings and even Lincoln, forced a different reading of the texts. It was then possible to look at the text through a complex combination of terms, style, history and entertainment and how all of those things work together. If literature is studied solely in one frame or another, like strictly style, then a complete analysis is not possible. The best example of this would be our readings on Lincoln. Lincoln's speeches stand alone and can be read as romantic simply by his choice of language and his message. However, when Lincoln's speeches are coupled with America's history and the perspectives of him by other writers; the analysis of his speeches changes into something more dynamic and complex.

          The complexity introduced by different perspectives and historical information is what encourages critical thinking and opens minds to things that may not have been considered before. An example is reading about the Mexican-American war and then reading literature written from the perspective of a Mexican Indian. It encourages a well-rounded view of not only the literature, but America and the West. This is an especially important skill not only in Literature, but in all studies. I will pursue my MA in Cross Cultural Studies and it is always important when reading or learning about other cultures to remember that there is always another way of looking at things.

          This American Renaissance course has helped me not only learn about the texts and terms associated with that time period, but it reminded me to always remember to consider another way of seeing things. This course had a bigger picture focus while still remaining centered on the terms that make American Renaissance literature so special. The terms are not just part of the literature; they are part of the period reflected in the literature. This course has reminded me that a complete understanding of something, or as complete as possible, is best found when you have information from many angles to compare; that is when a true critical analysis happens.