LITR 4232:
American Renaissance
University
of Houston-Clear Lake, spring 2002
Student Presentation Summary
Discussion
Notes: Devon Kitch
My
presentation discussed objective 1: to use critical techniques as a way to study
popular and representative literature, objective 2, in regards to the sublime,
and objective 3 to use literature as a basis for discussing the subjects of
equality, gender and the family.
Frances
Sargent Locke Osgood was born in Boston in 1811. Her poems seem to explore the
sentiments associated with motherhood. "Ellen Learning to Walk"
appeals to those, especially those with children, and seems to show potential
aspects of the sublime by portraying both the excitement of a father watching
his daughter take her first steps, and the possible remorse of not being able to
help her. The idea of the sublime can also be seen in Little Hand. It
appears to tell of the author’s memories of a child that has passed away.
This seems to be seen mostly in
We
missed the voice’s play,
That
warbled through our hours of gloom,
And
charmed the cloud away.”(Stanza 1)
“We
wandered sadly round the room,
No
relic could we find,
No
toy of hers to soothe our gloom,--
She
left not one behind!”(Stanza 3)
“Dear
hand! Though from the mirrors face
Thy
form did soon depart,
I
wore its welcome, tender trace,
Long
after, in my heart!”(Stanza 7)
There is not much information to be found on Fanny Fern, yet I found that
she was born in Maine in 1811. Her early works were autobiographical pertaining
to the deaths of her husband or her children. Some of her writings read as slave
narratives, such as "Soliloquy of a Housemaid" and "Hints to
Young House Wives." These two pieces are very moving, especially to people,
women, that feel oppressed. The sentimentality of her writings falls into the
category of popular literature, in that people both then and now can relate to
the women in her prose. Her works tend to appeal to idea of independence for
women.
Throughout the passages the reader is able to discern the messages of the
two writers and can see the differences in their writing styles. Whereas Fern
tends to be very outspoken in her opinions, Osgood is subtler with her message
of independence.
Discussion:
Rhonda-
References to losing children stirred up her emotions because she lost a son and
a granddaughter within six months of each other. Since she knew what it was like
to lose a child, she really hit it on the head.
Dr.
White- The poem is so effective that
you really know what it felt like, whether you previously experienced it or not.
Rhonda-
Compared the poem’s emotion to the Yates trial. She liked Fern the best and
noted that she was well liked by Hawthorne. This led to a discussion about
Fern’s many different names.
Popular Literature-
This aspect was introduced by Dr. White.
Reani-
I can see it and can relate to it.
Diane-
Adolphus… has sentimental aspect to it. It reminds me of Virginia
Wolfe.
Michael-
Sentimental effect.
Val-
Reaches out to the average person.
Dr.
White- With popular literature, you
can usually relate to it without much effort.
Reani-
Fern is a fun read, but once you’ve read it, you’ve read it.
Val-
Fanny Fern is the type that would just pick up the kids and leave, whereas
Osgood would just deal with it if she were unhappy.
Rhonda-
Osgood was writing for her daughters.
Reani-
I think both of them were writing autobiographically.
Rhonda-
Once again we see that is common and important to write about things that you
know.
Reani-
Women are still going through the same things today.
Angie-
Parallels make it popular.
Michael-
Being the only male in class, he tries to take up for himself amidst all the
male battering!