American Literature I Fall ‘09

I stumbled upon an animated version of “The Fall of the House of Usher” it is a fantastic version of the horrific and exhilarating work of Edgar Allen Poe. The story is mostly silent with subtitles however this only serves to enhance the intensity of Poe’s work. “The Fall of the House of Usher” is a beautiful piece of work from the twisted mind of Poe. Poe arouses the emotions and the senses with his words. One can vividly see the words of Poe come to life in this version of his epic story.

I hope you guys are just as riveted by it as i am.

Farisha

I found a site that had some more Whitman facts if anyone is interested
Walt Whitman

http://www.waltwhitman.org/

Mark Twain wrote this book during the post-Civil War period when there was an acute white reaction against blacks.  The common beliefs of white people were that blacks were sub-human.  Twain shows in his book that Jim, a black runaway slave, who is better than many white people, who consider themselves civilized and human.  He displays that Jim is a loving, kind, and selfless person even though he is not considered as a person in the society. 

Throughout the story, Huck is in moral conflict between the received values of the society in which he lives and his own valuation of Jim’s friendship and human worth.  Huck makes a moral choice that he thinks is right, the society thinks is wrong.  Huck’s expression is: “All right, then, I’ll go to hell.”  He decides to help Jim even though it is considered as a wrong thing to do based on the society.

                                                                                            Rupa.

The most funny part that I have found in this story is when the narrator is about to enter into his own office, Bartleby responses from inside of the offce “Not yet; I am occupied.”  I was trying to imagine such a situation like how unexpected it can be when someone like the narrator is about to enter into his or her own office, and then a person like Bartleby who has even no right to stay in the office, tells the owner of the office ‘come back later.’  The narrator’s expression is: “I was thunderstruck.”  The narrator was shocked by seeing Bartleby in his office even after telling him to leave his office.  I have found Bartleby an extremely unusual character.

                                                                                        Rupa.

Hi Guys,

            This is a picture of a Gothic Building.  It is located on lexington Ave between E25th and 26th street.

                                                       Rupa–

Bartleby is a scrivener, a person who copies papers by hand.  The book brings out that he is

inscrutable meaning that he cannot be read.  Bartleby is the person who you may see and spend time

with everyday withour still knowing who he truly is.  This story is a paradox becuase Bartleby had to

copy for his job and had to understand things but no one can understand him.  Bartleby stands at a

liminal point between Turkey and Nippiers, Turkey is way off to the left and Nippers to the right.

When one of them are working hard during the day the other own is not on visa versa and on the

other hand Bartleby is at the office and available 24/7.  I loved this story, Bartleby stood up for what

he wanted to do and what he didnt want to do.  His famous words “I would prefer no to”  made me

laugh throughout the whole story.  I kept thinking to myself that this man had nothing but through is

words commanded everything.  Every character in the book addressed their attention towards Bartleby.

In this book it was obvious to see that many of the characters were not literate.  One word that stood out from the rest was the miss spelling of civilize (sivilize).  Many characters had very strong stands about their beliefs regarding slaveryand black people.  The thing that is very funny was that they were all illerterate though acting as the smartest people in the world.  Many of their reasoning were outrageous for example Huck’s father tried to reason that a black Professor was trying to pass as a white man.  “There was a free niger there, from Ohio; a mulatter, most as white as a white man.” (page37)  Pap also tries to point out that Ohio was a slave state when it never was.  Pap thought that he was inferior to the black man who was obviously smarter and more educated then he was.  “cant sell a free nigger till he’s been in the state six months”  this line gives evidence that Pap was a reneger and so was society.  Besides Pap, we come in counter with fake people such as the Duke and the King. (imitators, copycats, counterfeits.)

The relationship between Jim and Huck is remarkable.  To come from completely different backgrounds at a time when slavery existed shocked me, although at times we heard racist remarks from Huck towards Jim.  ” Well, he was right, he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a nigger.”  Huck states about Jim regarding Jim escaping before being sold by Ms. Watson. 

Huck finds himself standing at a liminal moment when choosing what is ethical or not.  Between societies view at the time regarding slavery and his friend Jim.  Huck had to decide if he was  going to stand by his friend despite his race or take the easy road and stand by the beliefs of most white people at this time.   Mark Twain says,  ” All right then, I’ll go to hell.”  On the surface, to society it seams as though Huck is doing wrong by trying to help Jim when actually he is doing what is right. 

This take on American History was a part of Bowling for Columbine. It may be somewhat exaggerated but i think it’s funny and relavent to some of the readings we have done like The Scarlett Letter and Frederick Douglass.

Farisha

It is unfortunate that black people in America had the start they did in this country.  Africans were sold by their own people in Africa in exchange for many products.  Then through the middle passage millions of Africans arrived to America,  and have been here for generations.  African Americans have been trying to play catch up for decades due to the persecution they received during slavery.  Frederick Douglass is an example of a black man who was persistent and optimistic during his time working on a plantation in his young years.  Although he was born into slavery he knew he had the capability to be more than an disrespected plantation worker.  Douglass sorted out any way possible for him to educate himself and this lead him to be one of the greatest black writers to date.  It also lead to his unhappiness because he now knew his worth as a person.  No more was he just another slave but one who could read and write.  The difference between the average slave and one who could educate himself was not only impressive to many white readers but shocking.  At the time when he published his autobiography it was illegal for black people to learn how to read. Douglass persevered and became a figure for many to look up to with respect and gratitude.

.

I just stumbled across this great site about Whitman’s Brooklyn in the 1850’s. It may inspire a podcast…

 http://www.whitmansbrooklyn.net

And here’s another great resource:

 http://www.whitmanarchive.org/