LITR 4232 American Renaissance UHCL 2004 research proposals

I have yet to decide whether I want to do a journal or essay, but I have an idea for each, so I will see which one pans out. The journal does seem to be interesting in that it a new concept for me, yet I have had more experience with essays, and am therefore more comfortable in that area.

If I do the journal (Option 2), I would like to focus on the “musicality” of certain poets such as Poe, Tennyson, and any others I happen to stumble across in my research. We mentioned musicality in regards to Poe’s style of writing in class, and the idea of poetry as music struck me as interesting. If I can find sufficient information on this topic to propel me in the right direction and is enough to make up a good journal, I think that it will prove to be an exciting journal topic. I am not sure which poems I will use to illustrate this theme, but I’m sure our text and any poems recommended by the other professor you suggested will come in handy.

If the above idea does not work out, I have also considered doing the essay (Option 1). My essay subject would be on the different ways the gothic works in Poe and Hawthorne. We discussed how Hawthorne uses the dark and light of the gothic in relation to morality, and his use of the gothic in nature. This against the dark and light atmosphere of Poe’s gothic interiors, and his extensive use of the gothic colors of black, white, and red, seem, to me at least, to be an interesting subject for a research project under the theme of the gothic and it’s effect on the story as well as the reader. Not only would this topic coincide with one of the primary objectives of the course, it is something we have discussed at length, and is something I have come to be very familiar with and interested in.

Is it ok if I attempt the journal and switch later on if it does not go as planned? Is either topic to narrow? Or too broad? I think I might be ok with research for the essay, but are there any other poets you would suggest for the journal topic? Any comments or ideas you have will be appreciated. Thank you.

For my research project I would like to take my topic for my presentation a little further and expand on it. I would like to do the journal option and discuss the gothic. I am thinking that I will discuss its origins and the different authors that used this technique, and possibly talk about how it is used presently and some of the current authors that use the gothic.

The most emotional and interesting aspect of American Literature for me personally has always been the slave narratives. While this is also the topic I discussed in the essay portion of my midterm exam, I would like to examine more fully Douglass’ narrative, Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Since I had never previously read Uncle Tom’s Cabin before this semester, I would like to read more, if not all of it, for a better understanding of Stowe’s work. In the form of a journal, I would like to focus specifically on each work’s provided insight into the psychology and tenets of slaveholding, the denial of individuality and creativeness amongst slaves as a result of slavery, the power and impact of literacy and education, the process of self transformation, and the overall dehumanization of slavery.

I would not necessarily limit myself to these topics, and would like to know if you find all of the topics to be appropriate and interrelated within the three works? Also, would you propose any other appropriate issues of discussion and research? If you think I should focus more fully on two authors, rather than three, I could eliminate Jacobs, though I would like to include her. I mention this only because I do not know how in depth of an analysis you would desire for each work. Thanks for your help.

I propose to examine and discuss the haunting concept of "the romantic double" in the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The romantic double, also known as the "doppelganger", the alter ego or simply "the other" is prevalent throughout much of Poe's writings. A classic example can be seen in Poe's work, William Wilson, but one also sees the double in The Fall of the House of Usher and Ligeia. The double is a concept originating in Germany and was used by such authors as T.A. Hoffman (Sandman) and moved throughout Europe. Another classic example of the use of the double can be seen in the book Frankenstein by Shelley. The use of the double is based on "intuition" and "emotion" and frees the writer to reject intellectual and more rational thought and use the more emotional which Poe highly valued. It therefore is a device which releases constraints and allows the author's characters more freedom to move from the more mundane and rational to the irrational, the unexpected and the bizarre.

I am proposing to write a journal much like the Slave Narrative sample you have shown us in class. I would like to focus on two readings from class, Fredrick Douglass and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and one from outside of class, Nat Turner. I would like to focus on the historical background of the authors and the relation they may have with the main characters in the readings. And have one more section of the impact these writings have had on American History and Growth dealing with the abolition movement.

I want to write a journal about Walt Whitman and the bohemian underground. I don’t know anything about this subject yet, but it sounds interesting to me. I will use the Whitman texts we read in class and any other texts I can find. I don’t know much about Whitman, so I am hoping to learn more about him and this “underground” that is mentioned. To me, it seems like something that wasn’t publicized as much, which is more interesting to me than the classics. I’ve already read a lot of classics, and I want to learn about something new. Hopefully, I will find out enough information to write a good journal on it. I will try to find that book Beneath the American Renaissance. Are there any other texts from our class readings or outside of class that you can suggest that will help me in this project?

I would really like to try my hand at the journal option for this project. I've never really attempted anything like it before, and I think it would be a great way to tackle a project like this.

As for the topic of my project, I am planning on doing something involving Mexican-American authors. I read through the introduction to the Spanish America section of our textbook, and it sort of cemented me to the idea of studying Mexican-American authors of the time period, as I really do not know that much about them, or their writing. I think it would be interesting to delve into the world of Mexican-American writing culture, from the places it was published, to the kinds of works created, such as the "corrido," and the lasting impact its had on Mexican-Americans, then and now. Does this sound all right?

I am considering expanding my mid-term topic and researching “Comparing Christianities”. Maybe I could find some well known pro-slavery preachers of the day and compare the faith they claim with the faith they practiced. Also, I would see how this compares with the faith of the slave. It would be interesting to see why the slave looked for hope in the very thing that was used to enslave them. Please let me know if you think this will be a dead end, I am open to suggestion.

First I would look to Frederick Douglass’ autobiography and examine it for passages, hopefully contrasting it to conflicting sermons. Similarly I would look to Stowe, and Truth to further support my search and thesis that there is a true faith that can rise in a people enslaved by Pharisees.

Let me know if this is ok, as I said, this is just an idea. I dont know if it would work better as a journal or an essay, but I am leaning towards essay.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a classic novel that addressed the issue of slavery. This novel illustrates “Romanticism”, “Sublime”, and “Gothic”. I would like to explore these topics concerning the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I would also like to research some more facts about the actual life of Harriet Beecher Stowe. This background could help greatly and would contribute to my overall research. The facts of Harriet Beecher Stowe would help me get a better understanding of why she may have written this book with characteristics such as “Romanticism”, “Sublime”, and “Gothic”. Facts already known about Ms. Stowe are limited to date of birth and death, daughter of a preacher. I have also learned that she worked as a teacher with her sister. I am really excited about exploring this book and author. This novel has always been on my list of top 5 books to read.

Keeping on the path of my presentation I would like to dig a little deeper into Ralph Waldo Emerson. Some of the things I would like to find out may include more about are the life that he led, his influences, and of course elaborate on his style of writing. I would also like to touch a little more maybe on the gothic and sublime state of his writing. If I can find enough information on it I would like to find out the impact that he and his writing had on the American renaissance period. I am planning on writing this paper in the essay format not journal. If you have any information or questions to help me elaborate on this idea please do not hesitate to forward them on to me.

I decided to look into how romantic authors describe religion, or things related to religion. We see it in Douglass's narrative when he talks about religious slaveholders being the most cruel. Cooper has David Gamut, the "mastery of psalmody". Sojourner Truth uses religion as a platform to convince her opposition that her views are correct. It is most predominant with Hawthorne. His stories are often intertwined with religious thought.

I want to see what techniques each of them use when writing about this topic. Do they use the Gothic and Sublime? Do they use it to romanticize about the past? I think it would be very interesting to see how it plays into their writings. Do you have any other suggestions for how these authors use religion? Are there other romantic authors that could be helpful to me?

I believe that the normal research paper route would be best for me. I am more comfortable with this type of writing and think that I can fit this topic into a paper fairly easily.

After careful consideration, I have decided on what my research topic would like to be. I would like to research romanticism using the research journal format. More specifically, I want to trace its roots, its major authors, and how it has affected and changed literary works throughout history. I have been fascinated with this genre, and want to learn as much as I can about it.

I want to attack this project in two parts. My first part would be to check the Internet for any websites or links to this genre, and glean a running history from this. Secondly, I would check bookstores for any magazines or books that can help me strengthen my historical outlook on this genre. I believe that using the web and any books or articles that I can find will make my historical look complete, and give me an uncompromising edge. One question though: Do you know of any literary works that research literary genres? I am not to sure where to look for those. Thanks for your consideration

I would like to further examine the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson in a research journal. This would probably cover his basic philosophy and major writings, as well as the deep impact he made on the American literary scene. Thoreau, Whitman, and others who were influenced by Emerson might be touched on, as well as writers and thinkers who resisted him. Overall, the beginning focus of the project will be on his place in the canon and the Emersonian tradition which he started.

In my reader presentation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, I touched upon the style used to introduce the sublime into the text. While I am not yet sure of how to present it, I would like to expand my study of this introduction of the sublime to the other works we are studying in class. I want to analyze how different writers may or may not have different approaches. Maybe through analysis I will find different styles of introducing the sublime into literature other than Irving’s use of contrast between reality and the supernatural.

My first instinct was to write an essay because I am used to the format and I didn’t have any idea of how to approach the journal style. After the direction given in class I feel tempted to explore the unknown and try the journal. In regards to how I might structure the journal writing, I would have the introduction, 3 pages (1 for each author) examining 3 passages by writers who use the sublime in their text, 2-3 pages of exposition on the technical background of writing sublime material (as found through research), 3 pages of research on the use of the sublime by each author (hopefully finding some material where the author’s explain their technique), and the summary and conclusion.

In the style of a journal, I would like to write on the topic of transcendentalism. I remember learning about it in British literature at the community college, and I remember talking about one being with nature and how nature is sort of divine. I would like to learn more about it because I find it interesting, but it still seems to be a bit of a blur. If I decide to go through with this topic, I would explain the definition of transcendentalism which seems to be enormous and vast, how it started, transcendentalists' view and what they do, a brief biography of the fathers of transcendentalism, and maybe point out some examples of transcendentalism in their work or at least some titles of their work that exclusively works with transcendentalism. The references I picked up so far are mostly books and a few internet articles, one of which you linked us to in class. What other direction would you suggest or is this already sufficient enough? Are there any sources that come to mind that might help with the direction I'm taking with transcendentalism? I am also thinking about whether I should do the essay on the prevalent usage of transcendentalism. I would show examples by authors, especially Thoreau, Emerson, and Fuller, how it works, and its effect on the reader or the subject itself.

I choose the journal option for my research project. I would like to research and journal Whitman and the bohemian underworld. When I hear the word bohemian I think of funky. I like funky and different so I think this topic will keep me interested and will allow me tons of different avenues to talk and research about. Since I enjoy Whitman's poetry very much, I want to research his life a bit and others that were a part of this underworld. I will use articles, magazines, and books, but my research on the Internet has not been very promising. I do not know good key terms to use that will help me find a bohemian underworld in Whitman's time and not underworlds presently in 2004. Could you direct me some good terms to search with? I also would like to look at pictures of this time to help me better understand this underworld of bohemian people. I could also get interested in the sexual aspects of Whitman's poetry and the people that were a part of this bohemian lifestyle. These are my main interests on how to tackle this topic. One reason I am attracted to this topic is because the idea of a bohemian lifestyle interests me. I am all about disregarding conventional standards of behavior, so I am curious to research more on this funky topic. HOWEVER... after today's class I am interested now in Hawthorne and the Puritans... I don't know what to do, stick with my first instinct or go with this new interest. It seems like total opposite sides of the spectrum (bohemians vs. Puritans) but I really enjoy Hawthorne and those strict Puritans. Would a comparison of the two be possible? I have no idea.

I am interested in the slave narratives and the insight that they give into American history. I am particularly interested in Frederick Douglass’ narrative. Douglass is a powerful writer and his story is fascinating. I want to write an essay focusing on Frederick Douglass’ narrative. In my essay I want to explore Douglass’ use of animal imagery in order to portray the dehumanizing aspects of slavery. I have found some supporting sources and background information on Douglass that I feel will be helpful in writing my essay.

The Gothic and the Uncanny are often connected and at times even overlap. I would like to trace the similarities between the Gothic and the Uncanny. I want to consider a few Gothic writers (perhaps some European) and discuss passages that most exhibit the uncanny. In order to have some unified purpose, maybe I can continually refer to Freud’s essay “The Uncanny.” I want to try the journal format, so if this seems too much like an Essay please suggest a way to discuss the “Uncanny” as a journal. Thanks

People across the country and across the globe have enjoyed various forms of literature for hundreds of years. But there has been one form that stands out, more for its bizarre, high emotional impact than anything else, above most others, especially lovers of Washington Irving, Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe to name three. The form or genre in question is Gothicism. Gothicism can be defined as “conformity to or practice of the Gothic or a style of literature characterized by the use of desolate or remote settings and macabre,” (Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). The Branches of Gothicism to be discussed are the super natural, suspense and horror. To illustrate these examples, Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow will be used for the supernatural, Stephen King” IT for horror and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart for suspense. With each of these works, I propose to explain each of these genres of Gothic literature by discussing what we covered in class and what books I find have a direct connections to what we discuss in class, to illustrate the importance of Gothicism as a mainstay of our culture, of how Gothicism plays a role of what we are taught and what we teach and of how what we call Gothicism is passed on to future generations.

Upon reviewing the instructions for the research project in the class syllabus, I was initially unable to decide on a specific topic, but elected for Option #1, as I prefer a more in-depth analysis of a single subject Mulling over several possible topics, I turned to the text in order to catch up on my reading and accidentally discovered my focus. Though a life-long admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, I had somehow managed to make it to this point having never read Ligeia. Poe’s story was by turns enthralling and terrible, and made such an impact on my mind that I decided immediately that it should be the subject of my research project.

Accordingly, I would like to construct my project around an intensive analysis of the roles of romance, the gothic, and the sublime in Edgar Allan Poe’s Ligeia. After tracing these individual elements through the story, I will examine how they contribute to the overall effect of the tale. My primary text will be that of the story itself, included in the Heath Anthology of American Literature. Secondary sources may include critical essays and biographical notes on the author himself. Do you think this topic will fit well into a research paper format? And, if so, have you any suggestions about possible secondary sources?