Work with your group to answer these questions about the author(s) that you have been given:
*Overall Question: How does their writing exemplify the (or an) American voice?
*How does their writing show America at their point in time?
*What does their writing say about people and society?
*Thinking of all, what aspect(s) of America are not reflected with the voices so far?
Authors: *Dickinson and Bradstreet, Whitman, Thoreau and Emerson, William Carlos Williams and other modern poets
When you comment, put the author(s)'s name(s) at the top of the comment and then your answers.
Andy, JMae and Chase
ReplyDeleteEmerson and Thoreau exemplify the American Voice by being respectful while expressing their ideas and belief systems.The display American Voice by standing out in their individualism, which may come out as a bit arrogant, but they're just expressing their beliefs. They believed in the ability to change your mind and opinions but remaining firm in their opinions. They wrote about being one with nature and respected and admiring it for all of its glory. They wrote about how they were displeased with the expansion of urban life and the shrinking of peoples involvement with nature.
The voice of the good of government wasn't represent in a good light.
Walt Whitman
ReplyDelete*Overall Question: How does their writing exemplify the (or an) American voice?
He talks about Abraham Lincoln a lot, which is very American. He also talked about how an individual can greatly affect society. Whitman expresses his opinion which is American. He shows themes of Individual vs. Society.
*How does their writing show America at their point in time?
He talks about Abraham Lincoln and the civil war, which is very appropriate for his time period. In song of myself, the child might represent America, still growing up. Just like the country was at this point in time.
*What does their writing say about people and society?
Whitman thinks that individuals matter more than society in general. He doesn’t believe in conforming, but being true to yourself. Society should care about each individual, and not always take the majority opinion.
*Thinking of all, what aspect(s) of America are not reflected with the voices so far?
These poets only talk about what happens in American society, they don’t talk about anything that happens outside of the country. They don’t talk about any real world events, they also don’t talk about our capitalistic economy, which is a big part of America.
-Kevin, Mason, Dan
The American voice definition our group came up with was "Seeking the importance of the individual and the impact they have on society through the use of non-traditional writing characteristics. The writing of William Carlos Williams and other modern poets (such as Marianne Moore, E.E. Cummings, and Wallace Stevens) all show aspects of this definition. Wallace Stevens describes different ways to see a black bird, which also portrays how different individuals have different perceptions on life. He wanted to show that society is amde up of various individuals, but yet is entirely made of "blackbirds". Imagery was an important device he used. William Carlos Williams describes his society as (literally) sickly. Disease flourished, and the doctor wrote about modern issues using extended metaphors. Society was dying out, but not necessarily evil - it was hopeful of a better future, if anything. E.E. Cummings free verse to rebel against traditional writing, and extended metaphors in order to make the reader think "outside of the box". He thought normal society was a hum-drum concept, and that individuality was the most successful (and possibly "immortal") thing someone could achieve. All the writers we talked about in class forget to write about racial issues, which is not a relevant issue at the time (they were still being dehumanized).
ReplyDeleteMeg Rod, Briena Jensen, Spencer Louis
1.Dickinson shows hope in her poems and expresses her views on religion in her poems because she's a nonconformist.
ReplyDelete1.Bradstreet focused on God in her poems and expressed her point of view on things and obtained an education even though women weren't supposed to do these things in this time era.
2-3. Dickinson shows the way society behaved towards an individual and society judges people who are different from the majority.
2-3.Bradstreet was convinced that she was not supposed to be as smart as men, and that she proves that even though she was a women she could get an education and write poetry.
4.It doesn't talk about racism, minorities, gay marriage, etc.
Yana, Gauge, Joel, Megan.^
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