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(2016
midterm assignment) Sample Student Midterm Answers 2016 #3: Web Highlights |
LITR 4328 |
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Clark Omo
Analysis and Response: Web Reviews
American Romance has nothing to do with actual lovemaking or savage passion as
Karin Cooper makes clear in her essay “American Romantic Literature: Not the
Lovey Dovey Mush You Might Expect”. In this essay, Cooper examines the themes
prevalent in the literature of the American Romance era, as well its many
characteristics and signature attributes. She begins with stating that the
themes that make Romantic Literature Romantic are ubiquitous in many of the
entertainment mediums that currently inhabit our society’s social sphere. She
differentiates the definition of Romantic from the more commonplace term,
romantic. Finally, she spends time explaining and summarizing several
characteristics of Romantic Literature (the sublime, child innocence, and
connection with nature). She ends by reinforcing her above idea that these
themes are still alive and well in our world with the following statement: “this
literature written almost two centuries ago was the foundation of many of our
stories that we all still enjoy today.”
First, Miss Cooper identified some very key ideas that we have discussed
in extenso throughout our time in
this course. The fact that Romance still slakes our lusts for entertainment is
most definitely true. She does a good job of bringing each of these terms she
has selected into focus and making them substantially more accessible in terms
of understanding their mechanics. I found this especially true in her
explanation of the “sublime” characteristic of this literature. However, I do
have reservations about this piece. Most are grammar issues, some of which
hindered the rhythm of the piece so much so it became more of a
staccato than it had to be.
But overall, she did an excellent job of examining and catalyzing her
points down to the tiniest grain. She provided a useful viewpoint, and made the
mechanics inherent to American Romantic Literature more accessible to the
average reader.
In
her essay “Romance: It’s Not What You Think”, Miss Glidden finds herself in much
the same state of mind that Miss Cooper was in while writing her essay. Like
Cooper, Glidden did not know how to react to American Renaissance Literature.
She says she wasn’t sure what the American Renaissance was, but then connected
the term “Renaissance” with its meaning of a period of growth or rebirth. She
goes on to further explain how the course changed her outlook on the American
Renaissance and how the material greatly expanded her previous notions of many
of the terms and mechanics discussed in the class. She goes on to identify
essential characteristics of the Romantic genre and identifies her struggle to
separate the definitions of “romantic” and “Romantic”. She comments on how the
resources provided in the class, including the style sheets, deepened her
understanding of the material. Lastly, she comments that she had an excellent
experience in the course. She learned a good deal of new things and now
possesses a more honed ability to identify the characteristics of Romanticism
that currently and overwhelmingly permeate today’s entertainment.
As
with Cooper’s essay, I appreciate the growth the two authors record in regards
to their knowledge of the American Renaissance. Both authors, as evidenced by
these essays, clearly learned something. Much so in Glidden’s case. She has
gained an essential analytical skill in taking this class: the ability to
identify common themes, even if it’s restricted to literature. That is what I
like most about this essay. Glidden displays her development very well, and has
clearly gained the ability to break down Romanticism’s themes in literature. I
also liked how she defined Romanticism: “It envelop[e]s everything from true
love to bloodied revenge.” This comment is very true indeed. Again, there were
some grammar issues, and some of the sentences and points didn’t fit well
together. But, overall, Glidden developed her ideas well and included some very
interesting observations that I did enjoy.
Zach
Thomas brings an interesting point to light in his essay, “Romanticism Feeding
Realism”. In this essay, Thomas examines the relationship between the literary
styles of Romanticism and Realism with his words, “Realism is the structure that
holds the story together while Romanticism is the free-spirited details that
make the story enticing to read.” He goes on to explain the dynamics of this
relationship by using Emerson’s essay “Nature” with the chosen line: “But when a
faithful thinker, resolute to detach every object from personal relations, and
see it in the light of thought, shall, at the same time,
kindle science with the fire of the
holiest affections, then will God go forth anew into the creation.”
Thomas explains that Romanticism “masks” the presence of Realism in this work.
He
goes on to use the story of Rip Van Winkle as another example of this linkage
between Romanticism and Realism by asserting that the world around Rip is that
of a Realist, while Rip himself is a relic of the Romantic age. Thomas finds
this relationship again in The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow through the challenge Ichabod Crane faces in conquering the
affections of the Van Tassel girl. While Ichabod imagines his quest as that of a
Grecian adventurer’s, in reality it is an “uphill battle” with a thousand odds
that are not in his favor. Thomas also mentions
The Last of the Mohicans as an
example. Cooper’s balancing of a Romantic narrative with actual historical
backgrounds brings to the literary mouth a flavor that is both Romantic and
Realistic. He uses Poe’s “Ligeia” as an example as well, but, as Thomas
acknowledges, the Realist narrative is not overtly (perhaps not even covertly)
present in this story. Finally, Thomas binds this all together with reminding us
how Romance provides the sunlight to the story while Realism provides the dirt.
Overall, I enjoyed the thesis of this essay. It is one I overwhelmingly agree
with. Realism and Romanticism work well together as they dance across the page.
Romanticism provides the sweeping adventure, the amazing scenery, and the sheer
power that a story needs to reach its full potential. Realism reminds the reader
that these stories are often reimagining the world around us. However, that is
not to say that they must work hand
in hand. A story can be purely Realistic or it can be inviolably Romantic. But
Thomas’s theory still works. On the negative side, again grammar is a primary
issue with this essay. Also, some of the paragraphs were not properly
transitioned, and some of the ideas could have used a little more development.
Concluding, the idea behind this essay’s argument was, for the most part, well
put. It just could have been carved with more finesse.
