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.
Thoreau and Emerson-
ReplyDeleteTheir writings exemplify the American Voice by talking about individualism and government ideas. For example Thoreau speaks of how individuals shouldn't let government get too much power. Emerson and Thoreau strongly support individuals standing up for what they believe in and trust themselves.
The writing shows how the authors were trying to remain true to themselves even though America was advancing rapidly at the time.
Their writing shows the struggle of individuals trying to keep their own beliefs in a society that wants to change them. It shows the desire to be happy without depending on anybody else.
None of the writings supported change or advancement in the country. They wanted to keep a simple way of living and traditional values.
Jessee, Jackson, Josh, Thomas
ReplyDeleteQuestions about the authors:
How does their writing exemplify the American Voice?
Simplicity of the writing (William Carlos Williams), nontraditional characteristics (Marianne Moore), freedom of individualistic thoughts (William Carlos Williams)
How does their writing show America at that time?
Change-Jazz Age (Marianne Moore), impersonal (Marianne Moore), rejects traditional writing conventions- Jazz Age (William Carlos Williams), objectivism (Wallace Stevens), Isolation and heroism (E.E. Cummings), The ability for women to write and do other things (H.D), hopelessness (Wallace Stevens)
What does their writing say about people and society?
Younger society rebels against old traditions, reflective on simple things, children will follow their parents footsteps, people are isolated, people don’t change, time will go on, heros are unwanted in society, there is a cycle that life will follow
What aspects of America are not reflected in the writing?
No arrogance, no hope, no industrialism, no urbanization, no social inequality, no mention of government
William Carlos Williams and Other Authors
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe American voice is represented by influential individuals that are striving for the American dream, using their freedom of expression, beliefs, ideas, and opinions.
1. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln was a major tragedy that occurred in America which influenced Walt Whitman’s writing style in his poem, “O Captain! My Captain!” Whitman describes Lincoln’s heroic figure and how the ship coming back to port depicts the victory of the civil war. Whitman’s poem, “Song of Myself,” grass symbolizes an individual and how individualism is important in society. In Whitman’s poem, line 69, he describes things to be equal no matter their qualities, “And the ant is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren.”
2. As urbanism took over the country, during the Civil War, individuals discontinued their typical daily lives resulting in a loss of guidance. This feeling is portrayed in Whitman’s poem, “O Captain! My Captain!”, as the captain on the boat is killed. The captain symbolizes Lincoln. A captain represents leadership, which is exactly what Lincoln had during this time.
3. Whitman’s writing says that the individuals are more important than society. If an important leader in the society dies, the society has a possibility to crash while the population mourns.
4. In all the writing the belief of society being much more important than individuals is not shown. All the poets/authors have focused on individualism.
Hannah, Olivia, Violet, Majel, Amber Pedersen
Dickinson and Bradstreet:
ReplyDeleteTheir writings provide an example of the American Voice through their expression in freedom and by expressing their individual rights through what they believe.
They show their time period through their writings because of what they believe and talk about in their writing. They express their belief and God and show the reality of death which was common in the Puritan and Realism time periods.
The writing showed how each author was raised, and how they wanted to change the society. They worked to live out their beliefs, and lived how they had been raised. Both authors lived to promote their beliefs through their writings.
None of the writings were based on the American dream; all the authors promoted living simply and with few materials.