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(2015
midterm assignment) Sample Student Midterm Answers 2015 #3: Web Highlights |
LITR 4328 |
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Hilda Cruz
The identity crisis of America
In reviewing the web highlights of other students for
this assignment, I was able to make connections with American history, current
events, and literature. As many
other students, I initially had a very superficial knowledge of romanticism and
its significance in my life. The connection to nature was identified in Amanda
Duarte’s post The Romantic Umbrella.
She reiterated Dr. White’s message that the romantic theme is present in all our
surroundings. It is up to us to pay attention to the written words in literature
and the scenery of our daily lives to unearth the reason for our existence.
“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through
the man, in spite of real sorrows” by Emerson.
This quote in Amanda Duarte’s post relates to how we-as
humans- enjoy, seek out, and need nature to continue forward in our daily lives.
Amanda correctly identifies how our society has forgotten to “stop and smell the
roses” which I believe is a primary cause of the decline in our personal health.
Emerson’s description of this delight not a simplistic emotion, but a WILD
emotion that rushes in the body of every human being.
I love the way he captures the authentic connection that must exist in
order to survive profound disappointments of daily life.
I agree with Amanda’s comment that our loss of nature always leaves us
desiring more of it. Just as our
loss of childhood is a physical, mental, and emotional upset when adults face
the realities of illness, death, and sorrow. Every human being undergoes this
transition and every human being must learn to cope with it.
In Jennifer Hamilton’s
Who Am I?
I realized that I was not the only one to question myself in this way at
one point of my life. Greater
still, I concluded that this questioning process has been around for generations
before me and that I was normal in my examination.
As Rip Van Winkle stated,
“I’m not myself – I’m somebody else – that’s me yonder –
no – that’s somebody else got into my shoes – I was myself last night, but I
fell asleep on the mountain, and they’ve changed my gun, and everything’s
changed, and I’m changed, and I can’t tell what’s my name, or who I am!” the
challenge of identifying with our surroundings debilitates our delight in
existence. Jennifer also recognizes that
each generation goes through the same turmoil of identity crisis and this will
continue to reoccur as long as man exists on this earth and science continues to
expand.
“How I travel on that path and where I go on that path
will be decided by me and only me and that freedom is something I wouldn’t have
any other way in a course like this.” By Jonathon Nguyen.
This phrase in
This one Time in Literature Class caught my attention. For in life and in
literature, I must decide how to interpret words and actions.
As my search for authenticity deepens, the gap between my heart and mind
dwindles and is filled with possibilities for the future.
This course is the map needed to unearth the true struggles in society
and focus on giving meaning to the future.
