American Literature: Romanticism   Student Midterm Samples 2015 midterm assignment 3. Web Highlights

Niki Bippen

great go-to manuals

“Gaining a Deeper Understanding through the Works of Others”

James Simpson “Jonathan Edwards and the Ecstasy of Horror”

I really enjoyed this one because not only did he choose Jonathan Edwards, but he chose my favorite section from the sermon.  James’s entire midterm was easy to read, interesting, cleverly worded, and down to Earth. I love how he explained his initial reaction to the piece and how years later, he was desperate to have the same experience with it he did when he was younger. I had never thought to link parts of the sermon to “sexual ecstasy” nor did I ever consider “a building crescendo of the ecstasy [in that passage] orgiastic… orgasmic” but it is a clever interpretation if nothing else.

            However, I felt like I might choke to death on his third paragraph.  While the bulk of his essay reads smoothly and has a nice flow, this particular paragraph is choppy.  The amount of dashes that occur towards the end of said paragraph are more than just an unwelcome eyesore and I fail to see how he connects his experiences as “an old veteran of Pentecostal churches” and “expressive religious ceremonies” to the passage he chooses from Jonathan Edwards.  While I am sure there is a connection, he falls short of providing us a way to get from point A to point B.

Joseph Bernard “Nature: Sunshine or Sadness?”

            Just like Dr. White, I am a sucker for interesting titles and this one drew me in instantly. Joseph’s opening line “nature has captivated the mind of man over the course of history, although in different ways” captured my attention and encouraged me to read on because it seemed very much so like something I would use to introduce my topic. I loved his interpretation of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Whitman and felt he did a great job connecting them all and linking them to American Romanticism as a whole. “Thoreau’s individualistic tendencies compliment Emerson’s admonitions to “blaze your own trail” and discover one’s own purpose in life…” paragraph is great and I had never really considered the fact that “Thoreau was more humanistic in his approach, seeking to meditate upon the wonders of nature” as opposed to Emerson.  

Joseph Bernard “Ascending to the Heavens”

            Admittedly, I chose Joseph’s short essay because I really enjoyed the first one I read of his and assumed I would also like this one.  I was right.  Joseph’s interpretation of Walt Whitman’s “There was a child went forth” is spot on.  He states that the poem “is not only a pleasant read in terms of flowing diction and vivid imagery, but it is also a study in fundamental aspects of two Romantic elements: the internalization of nature’s characteristics and the upward( as well as outward) march of Transcendental thought” and I could not agree more.  Throughout the piece, Joseph adequately substantiates his claims and links back to the themes flawlessly.

When reviewing all of these, I gained a deeper understanding of the terms and themes from class.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming in class when the professor has such a broad, deep understanding of the material and presents it in a way that goes over one’s head.  Having someone who is on your level of understanding present the material in a more relatable fashion makes it easier to understand. It also helps if you do not want to be “that person” who raises their hand in class and puts everyone on hold to ask what others would deem a dumb question.  In short, these are great go-to manuals when you are struggling to understand material presented in class.