LITR 4232 American Renaissance
Sample Midterm Answers 2006
Sample Answers to ID assignment
1. Identify and Signify – “Primitive Fears”
"In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen and towering. It stirred not, but seemed gathered up in the gloom, like some gigantic monster ready to spring upon the traveller.” If a story is designed to evoke our imagination, that is, to have the reader create a world within the recesses of his mind, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” not only fulfills this goal, but through the evocative imagery, the story alights our basic senses. In real life, the natural world does not gather the gloom, just because it is dark; nor is something that is large or oversized necessarily misshapen and towering. Through the vivid imagination of Icabod Crane, Washington Irving successfully creates a world that is entirely believable and yet perfectly unreal. While the passage above successfully paints a frightening moment, Irving’s skill as a writer seems to rest with his balance of the Gothic elements.
In fact, the passage above would work very well as a threatening opening to any horror story. However, the Gothic elements require a contrast of the light and dark elements. In terms of horror and humanity, this means that the writer must first indicate a sense of serenity or peace. Irving does this throughout the beginning of his story by describing the simplicity and normalcy of the town. With tones of brightness and abundance he writes, “The small birds were taking their farewell banquets. In the fullness of their revelry, they fluttered, chirping and frolicking from bush to bush, and tree to tree, capricious from the very profusion and variety around them." It is only after this setting of “okayness” that allows the reader to be truly horrified by the gathering gloom and misshapen monster. Instead of merely being afraid of something from the start, the contrast of the typical, safe town and the monstrous entity forces the reader to react in the back of his mind with “No! Of all places, why is it here?”
The European Gothic tradition used old buildings but American Gothic writers had to attach a culturally significant element without this ancient aide. Being an unexplored continent probably naturally gave rise to the relocation of Gothic ideas in the forest. The contrast between “Everything is fine, we’re in America now and we’ve made this place” and “This place is unknown, we are new here and we don’t really know what lies ahead” is perfectly illustrated through both the structure of Irving’s story and the choice of language he incorporates.
Additionally, American writers also had to invoke the ideals of American philosophy to allow their writing to be separate in voice, not just location, from British and European authors. In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, the reader follows the observations, trials and imagination of a typical American, Icabod. The bridge is not experienced by a group, but by an individual. The self-made man, key to American idealism, is suddenly confronted with the most impossible challenge. The supernatural is not a rational objective that can be overcome with tenacity or studiousness. It is a unique threat to the individual because it threatens his sense of power in the world. Similarly, the element of the Sublime can be profoundly individual. James Fennimore Cooper decorates his masterpiece, “The Last of the Mohicans” with a variety of sublime passages. One in particular that illustrates a focus on the individual is the following: "David alone formed an exception to these varying emotions. A gleam of light from the opening crossed his wan countenance, and fell upon the pages of the little volume, whose leaves he was again occupied in turning, as if searching for some song more fitted to their condition than any that had yet met his eye" (83). This short moment is profound and private; it is the essence of an individual experience. [KB]
A quick reading of any classic text usually shows a great story where larger-than-life characters do grand and extraordinary things. However, a close reading of classic texts also reveal many controversial issues and ideas which are hidden below the surface. In Last of the Mohicans, Cooper too discretely raises many sensitive issues such as class, gender, equality and race. Additionally, through the use of symbols, he signifies and highlights these struggles of humanity.
The passage I have chosen, from page 55, illustrates water as having a life of its own. In this case, even the first reading imparts a majestic and almost a Romantic or sublime feel, leaving the reading in awe of the power of nature. The setting is Romantic because the party is in a cave, close to a river, and is engulfed by nature. Though the setting is serene and majestic, it is also sublime because of the supernatural spirit of the water.
However, a closer reading of the passage brings to light many hidden symbols. In my opinion, the river water symbolizes the Indians who follow “no rule at all” and move as though by their own free will. Like the water, they have intertwined with nature and have the same fierceness and majesty as the forest. Because they have blended in with nature, it is hard for them to part from it and are “unwilling to leave the wilderness.” Being forced out of their homes by the white man has disturbed the calm and they are not one as before. “The whole design of the river seems disconcerted” and “having broke loose from order,” they are trying different things which are outside their nature.
Lastly, after the water or Indians will have “suffered to have its will for a time,” they will be taken back to the sea, or their final home. I think the “hand” which will collect them is the hand of their ancestors who wants to pull all the Indians back to the sea and relive them of their suffering.
I am not sure if this is how Cooper intended the passage to be interpreted. But then again, as Dr. White once said in his lecture that study of literature is not what the author has in mind but what the reader has in mind. [ND]
I know I’m truly immersed in a story when I get goose bumps, and that is exactly what happened when I read the passage in The Last of the Mohican when the traveling party hears the strange noises from outside their cave haven. As Cooper described the dreadful sounds coming from outside, I projected them onto my own life, and felt as though I was in the cave with the characters. As we have discussed in class, a principal indicator of gothic is the contrast of light and dark, and while this scene may not have screamed gothic, I think the emotions it provokes are indicative of the gothic form.
In this scene (chapter 6-7), the reader becomes relaxed while the group sings and reminisces – the mood here can be described as light. Then, in true gothic form, the lightness of the traveler’s situation is bombarded with the darkness of the mysterious noises from outside. A previous student writes, “Cooper does not even wait until the song is over, no the horrible noise interrupts it, placing the darkness directly in contact with the light.” The mood of the scene toddles back and forth between light and darkness… When the group exits the cave, Heyward is entranced by the beauty of nature, once again creating a light mood in the presence of darkness. Cooper does a great job of calling upon these opposing feelings of light and darkness in the reader, and has created a scene that is exceedingly gothic. [MJ]
The passage that I chose for this portion of the midterm comes from Uncle Tom's Cabin, (Pg 2512) The Martyr:
“The savage words none of them reached that hear!—a higher voice there was saying, “Fear not them that kill the body, and, after that have no more that they can do.” Nerve and bone of that poor man’s body vibrated to those words, as if touched by the finger of God; and he felt the strength of a thousand souls in one. As he passed along, the trees and bushes, the huts of his servitude, the whole scene of his degradation, seemed to whirl by him as the landscape by the rushing car. His soul throbbed, --his home was in sight, --and the hour of release seemed at hand.”
This passage is referring to Uncle Tom’s death in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. . . .
This passage also gives meaning to the Sublime elements of Literature. Uncle Tom’s death is that of a very hostile and unthoughtful act of brutality, yet the situation is handled with great calmness and contentment. This brings a beautiful aspect to his death, which in turn glimmers with the Sublime element. [AM]
In Chapter 33 after the deaths of Cora and Uncas, Colonel Munro makes an attempt to convey his feelings to the Indians. He asks Hawkeye to translate the following:
“Say to these kind and gentle females, that a heart-broken and failing man, returns them his thanks. Tell them, that the Being we all worship, under different names, will be mindful of their charity; and that the time shall not be distant, when we may assemble around his throne, without distinction of sex, or rank, or colour!” (347)
Munro’s brief speech is without a doubt romantic as described in Objective 2 of our course objectives. He desires to express the possibility of a future wherein the race or sex of a person is irrelevant; a future in which everyone will live in happiness and harmony. Perhaps Munro wishes to provide himself and the others with an escape from the reality of the situation, which would indeed be romantic. Regardless of the reason for Munro’s statement, Hawkeye soon provides a realistic response: “To tell them this, [. . .] would be to tell them that the snows come not in the winter, or that the sun shines fiercest when the trees are stripped of their leaves!” (347).
Hawkeye’s response jolts Munro from his romantic escape into reality through the form of the sublime. Hawkeye’s response is sublime because his examples involve a change in nature so drastic that it would involve a supernatural event to prevent snow from coming in the winter. If the sun shines more fiercely when the trees have no leaves, the trees would burn up, destroying the nature so closely identified with the Indians. In short, what Munro speaks of will grant the white man joy, but would cause the red man intense pain. This is one definition of the sublime as indicated in Sara Hardwick’s class presentation.
This passage stands out to me because this novel was written in 1826, at a time when it was socially acceptable to be racist or sexist. The mere mention of total equality on any level was bold. Today, the same conversations cause tension. There is more equality today, but essentially, Hawkeye’s response is right. One only has to look at the current state of the American Indian Nations. Over the years, American Indian nations have been systematically pushed off their land and relegated to life on reservations. Even today, the government is forcing a group of American Indians off their “promised land” so that the government can drill for oil! Munro’s attitude was noble; romantic. He meant well, but what Munro was describing is a Utopian society – which is fundamentally impossible. Hawkeye knew this. He seemed to realize that, in an attempt to create a perfect world, everyone must have the same ideas and perspectives, but because everyone comes from a different culture or background, Munro’s wishes were and are impossible.
It is through this passage, as with the entire novel, that Cooper’s Mohicans is a classic. In accordance with Objective 3 as “a basis for discussing subjects of American culture,” Cooper’s work conveys a “writer’s conflicted presence in an anti-intellectual society.” The theme of equality of race and sex in Mohicans was truly before its time in pre-Civil War society. However, through Cooper’s genius he was able to reach ageless audiences, by addressing both literary and cultural issues through fiction, and his novel speaks to today’s readers just as strongly and effectively as it did to Cooper’s original audience. [JO’G]
Someone Do Something
"The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others, as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders, serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God. A very few, as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men, serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it."
Strong words, indeed. Given the circumstance relating to the time at which it was written, particularly in regards to slave owners and the Mexican War, the words have particularly grave consequences. These consequences have been exponentially increased over time, and have great relevance to our own time period. Particularly relating to, and as a result of, the "War on Terror"..
Our class discussions have attempted to describe, identify and label certain patterns in American Literature, primarily within the mid 19th century. Gothic and Transcendentalism are the labels that seem to have the most relevance to this particular paragraph, and to Thoreau's writings that we have examined in class. To describe government employed persons, mostly politically involved ones, as likely to serve the Devil as God, certainly has a Gothic aspect to it. Although "Resistance to Civil Government" is mostly described as being either Transcendental or Romantic in nature, this particular sentence, and paragraph, portrays a sinister aspect to simply "going with the flow". This sinister Gothic "undertow" attempts to lay responsibility not only on those in power, but to the ones simply observing and not taking responsibility, and by doing so, have thus cooperated with the Devil Himself. Sinister behavior by complacency, and lack of action.
The evil and sinister aspects of slavery to the modern individual in the 21st century is obvious, and it is easy for said individual to have 20/20 hindsight..."Of course I would have objected to slavery, and would've have done what was appropriate." We cannot, however, underestimate the power and influence that society has on an individuals decision making abilities. This is markedly true today, as our government progressively removes our civil liberties, takes part in war under false pretenses, and fails to see the need to support citizens, such as in New Orleans, when it was/is desperately needed. Still, it can, and often is described, as being un-patriotic to question these decisions, particularly the war in Iraq, and domestic spying on American citizens.....
"and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it."
This, all the while, yellow "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS'' stickers, manufactured in China, adorn SUVs that get 15 miles to the gallon, while kids are getting their heads sawed off in Iraq, to support this "need". Has the driver even heard of Thoreau, much less see what is ACTUALLY happening? Who do you think Thoreau or any of our "Founding Fathers" would perceive as being the true patriot... the one questioning, or the one with the sticker?
"They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs"
The context of Thoreau's words directly influence its sublime nature and the quantitative quality of this nature. Literally, the consequences of questioning our government, can lead to Totalitarian techniques such as domestic spying. This has become a sad reality, and MUST BE CHALLENGED. This is a different perspective than I had 10 years ago, and I would have been affected less deeply, than say, 10 years ago. This sublime nature has been "released" more effectively, as a result of the context in which it was read. TODAY.
All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now. [KP]
The passage I have selected is from Cooper’s The
Last of the Mohicans, from Chapter Six to the beginning of Chapter Seven (pp
61-63).
I’ve known I wanted to write about this passage since I first read it. It has stayed with me through the course this semester due to its Gothic and “sublime” elements. The setting of the forest, combined with the “mysterious cries,” give Cooper’s work the Gothic element of Romanticism. Hawk-eye’s use of metaphors and analogies of his experience in the forest give these objects life – a more menacing life of their own – that also enhances the Gothic feel of the passage. Cooper’s use of light and dark being played through the moonlight also are examples of the Gothic: “The moon had risen, and its light was already glancing here and there on the waters above them;’ (p 63). However, Cooper also uses elements of the “sublime” with this passage through the use of dark and mysterious forces. The spiritual element is “sublime” because the cries they hear cannot be explained – they seem to be “other worldly.” When Duncan steps outside and hears the cries again – this time recognizing what the cries are – there is a “sublime moment” with this experience; it is a sublime moment of relief from wonder: “The scout and his companions listened to this simple explanation with interest of men, who imbibe new ideas, at the same time that they get rid of old ones, which had proved disagreeable inmates” (p 64). In Julie O’Gea’s presentation, she explains “[t]his novel is packed with examples of the Romantic, the Gothic and the sublime. They involve not only physical descriptions of people and places, but are also embodied in actions and sounds.” These sounds described in the passage are elements of the Gothic, but the reactions and relief of the party, once the sounds are identified (and even before they’re identified), have elements of the “sublime.” Cooper’s use of descriptive language not only gives inanimate objects life, but it also pulls the reader into the mind and emotions of the characters involved in this Gothic and sublime experience. [BM]