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(2017
midterm assignment) Sample Student Midterm Answers 2017 #3: Web Highlights (Index) |
LITR 4328 |
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Alisha Blue
Applying a Modern Outlook through Review
By
reviewing Julicia Beharry’s “Mother Nature through the Eyes of
Emerson”-Transcendentalism, (2010); Baisha Kreuzer’s Analysis of Sonnet – To
Science (2013); and Sarah Hurt’s “The Lamplighter, More than just a bestseller”
(2015), I was able to get a better understanding of correlation to the authors
we are studying to this day.
Beharry’s essay focuses on the literary devices in which Ralph Waldo Emerson
demonstrates. She mentions that Emerson uses themes of transcendentalism,
correspondence, and the role that nature plays in his writing. Together, the
three devices work together to create literature to which we value still to this
day. I can appreciate how Beharry applied modern-day contexts to the literature
we are studying now. While she states, “We have done exactly what
transcendentalists/romantics harped not to do, replaced nature with technology,”
we can certainly see some truth to this. We, as a society, have seemingly taken
a step back from nature, and often rely on technology as entertainment and
communication. There’s a reason why we hear people say, “Back in my day…” that
often concludes with some form of nature. (Riding bikes outside, walking to the
store, etc.) From Berharry’s essay, while she explained the terms, I also took
away how far we have evolved from this time period, but also quite possible,
subconsciously yearn for it.
Similarly, Baisha Kreuzer takes a contemporary approach when applying Edgar
Allan Poe’s Sonnet- To Science.
Kreuzer implores us to “unplug once in awhile and find solace in nature,” as
Poe’s sonnet declares the intrusions that science has on art. Perhaps in this
instance, technology can be related to science, as nature is to art. Poe, in
this instance, then closely aligns to Emerson’s
Nature by emphasizing the sort of
“un-romance” that’s associated with science. Kruezer references the line: “Hast
thou not dragged Diana from her car,” and goes on to say that Diana is perhaps a
metaphor for the arts, where the “thou” would symbolize Reason, or realism.
Perhaps another correlation made to Emerson and Poe, where they each emphasize
the powerful aspects of nature and creativity, is Sarah Hurt’s interpretation of
Susan Warner’s Wide, Wide World.
While the novel is abundant with the theme of Nature, Hurt also emphasizes the
religious aspect to the novel. Previously, in Emerson, we’ve seen aspects of
religion in a sense, and certainly Poe references mythology. Warner, then,
strongly emphasizes the protagonist’s need to be good; obedient to her faith.
Hurt states, “I saw this as a further connection to a desire for spirituality at
the time.” This desire draws directly on the notion of re-enchantment, steering
away from science and reason (The Enlightenment), and yearning for a more
spiritual aspect.
Overall, these three students helped me to take away a better understanding of
how all of these literary works are unique in their own way, but also how they
attribute to the American Renaissance. By reviewing each of their models, it was
interesting to see their opinions and interpretation on the works we are
studying. Furthermore, those students that can apply it to a contemporary aspect
show us why we are still identifying with these authors and how it is that they
build on the foundation of American culture.
