KatieLantz

For those of you who would like a preview for tonight's class, here is an original tune by yours truly. Enjoy!

American Literature

EL 266

"It startled and won the applause of the South, it interested and won the admiration of the North; and after a confused murmur of protest, it silenced if it did not convert the Negroes themselves" (Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, chapter 3, para 2)

Wow. I am so surprised to hear these words coming from W.E.B. Du Bois. The first parts of this chapter are nothing but praise for Booker T. Washington and his struggles to get the African American population onto its feet.

I guess I had always thought of Du Bois and Washington as enemies because of their difference in opinions. Du Bois was a well educated northern man, while Booker T. Washington came from a slave family in the south. Both men were free and making great advances for the African American community, but differed in opinions about how to educate their peers. Du Bois lobbied for a professional education and as his Wikipedia article suggests, Du Bois was the "father of Pan-Africanism."

This praise was short lived, as Du Bois later goes on to say:

Washington distinctly asks that black people give up, at least for the present, three things,--
        First, political power,
        Second, insistence on civil rights,
        Third, higher education of Negro youth,--
and concentrate all their energies on industrial education, the accumulation of wealth, and the conciliation of the South. This policy has been courageously and insistently advocated for over fifteen years, and has been triumphant for perhaps ten years. As a result of this tender of the palm-branch, what has been the return? In these years there have occurred:

1. The disfranchisement of the Negro.
2. The legal creation of a distinct status of civil inferiority for the Negro.
3. The steady withdrawal of aid from institutions for the higher training of the Negro

 Wow..... What a transformation from his earlier praise. W.E.B. Du Bois took his argument full force by first complimenting Washington and then by breaking down his achievements.

EL 266

"In design, beauty, and general finish the Negro Building was equal to the others on the grounds" (Washington, Two Thousand Miles for a Five Minute Speech para. 24)

EL 266

"How could someone so talented be so blind, so arrogant, so bigoted?" (Foster 233)

Yes, I agree. But are they really being blind, arrogant and bigoted? Maybe we are not looking at the work in full context.

I fell like, as I was reading literary criticism of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn people were saying this about Mark Twain. Some people who did not recognize the satire in his story took him as being racist. I think this is a bunch of crap.

Seriously? I mean, the guy made some great jokes on society. Lighten up, take a second look.

"And this leads to the point of the last chance for change story... can this person be saved?" (Foster 230)


No. The answer is no. That is all I can think of as I read this passage. Honestly, I don't believe in "last chance for change" because there is truly never a last chance when it comes to change. People are continually changing. Sometimes that change comes to late, but there is never a last chance.

Another part of me wants to say that some people just don't change. Foster referenced a story which the narrator's brother served time for drugs and has since changed his life to become a jazz musician. The narrator  only  reconnected with his brother after the death of his daughter. While this sounds nice and wonderful, this is not real life. I hate that people always talk about the "last chance for change" stories when they speak about drug culture. That is how lives get ruined.

Talk to any relative of a drug user and they still refer the previous drug user as an addict. Once an addict, always an addict. Believing in the last chance for change will only hurt you more. I used to be one of those people who was always looking for the happy ending. It took many years to realize that sometimes there just aren't happy endings. You can't waste your life on someone who cannot help them self.  "Last chance for change" stories simply add to the addicts plea for sympathy. When they say they are doing better,  that they have  changed, you can never truly be sure.

I'm not sure why I decided to take this into a rant, but I guess I have a hatred for "last chance for change" stories.

EL 266

"Racial discourse maintains that the 'Negro' exterior is all that a Negro really has" (Smith 365)

Which is exactly why Jim goes against the idea of a "negro." By including Jim in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twian shows that Jim is more than simply a "nigger." Jim has a family that he cares for, intelligence to question Tom Sawyer's foolish plot and the compassion to take care of Huck Finn. Jim has much more than the "Negro exterior."

However it is important to note that, "Jim is not Uncle Tom" (Smith 367). Yes, he patiently endures the afflictions placed upon him by Tom Sawyer, but he is not being portrayed as a figurehead for Chirst. On the contrary, Jim has hs own faults. I think Twain's representation of Jim was a very "middle of the road" type. Jim is not a saint, but he is certainly not just a slave.

Many schools ban the work because it uses the word, "nigger," but I think this is a fantastic time to bring up the discussion of racism. If teachers would include the study of Jim as a person, and the actual contextual use of the word, they would be able to discuss the satire of Twain's language. On the other hand, that may be too tough for a high school class....

EL 266

" The afflicted character can have any number of problems for which heart disease provides a suitable emblem.... Socially it may stand for these matters on a larger scale, or for something seriously amiss at the heart of things" (Foster 209)

Ha, nice pun Foster!

Anyway, I do believe that this is true. Many characters have "heart problems" that siginfy something else is amiss. Take the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allen Poe. His heart beating so loudly and harsh that he was forced into confessing his sin. His heart wanted to tell the truth and was ready to burst open to do so!

Also, in other works, many people have a "bad heart" in the literal and figurative sense. Scrooge, the main character of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was only convinced to change his ways by the third ghost, Death. His heart was bad in a literal sense that he was on his death bed, and also, his heart had been bad throughout the story because he was a rude, selfish person.

EL 266

"Of course, concern over lower-glass delinquents continued and was simply compounded by fears that the sons of respectable, bourgeois families were also threatened by corrupting models of bad boy behavior in and out of texts" (Mailloux 45)

While I can see this point in relation to Huckleberry Finn, I don't see a huge connection here. I mean, I don't think Huck's behavior was extremely delinquent, he was simply a child without parents and stability. Yes, he did swear and lie and steal watermelons, but was he really such a bad role model?

Throughout the novel Huck struggled with issues of morality and always seemed to make the right choices. He was a mischievous boy, who many critics of the time misunderstood. They should have taken the time to focus on the real moral images in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and not harped on the bad role model presented in Huckleberry.

EL 266

"Well, den, you k'n git yo' money when you wants it; kase dat wuz him" (Twain 320)

It is here that we find the true fate of Huckleberry Finn's Pap. Apparently he had been dead the entire time Huck was floating down the Mississippi with Jim. But what I find even more interesting is that once this line is said, Huck moves from that subject to talking about Tom Sawyer so quickly. No emotion, no extra thought, nothing is said about Pap. Huck doesn't tell us if he was happy, sad or unfeeling, he just continues right on to the end of the story.

This leaves me wondering how much he truly cared for Pap. He quotes him often while floating down the river. "Pap always said it warn't no harm to borrow things" (Twain 124). Here it seems as if Huck is already speaking of Pap as dead (past tense). Maybe in his own mind, Pap was dead to Huckleberry Finn. Huck was now free and obviously had no plans of going back to live with him, but it still seems like there was some bond there. Huck mentions that for a bit he enjoyed living with his father and he, "didn't see how [he'd] ever got to like it so well at the widow's" (Twain 90). This lasted for a short time, but once Pap had too much alcohol, Huck decided it was time to leave.

I'm still ambiguous about just how much Huck cared for his father. I think he enjoyed the freedom of his father's lifestyle, but knew he was better off somewhere else. He never mentions missing his father though out the novel like Jim is mentioned lamenting over his family. I think maybe Huck just wanted his freedom more than he wanted the love of a parent.

 Blogging Portfolio II - American Literature

Book topics include: How to Read Literature Like A Professor, selected poems of Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson, Uncle Tom's Cabin (Play Version), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and more! I have included links to entries from my own blog as well as from classmates' blogs. The portfolio demonstrates coverage, depth, interaction, discussion, timeliness, xenoblogging and contains a wild-card entry.

Coverage: A complete list of blogs thus far.

Free at Last : The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Introduction by Smith, H. N.)

Liar, Liar : The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 11-35)

Camping : How to Read Literature Like a Professor (Interlude, 21, 22)

Huckleberry Finn: Holden Caulfield?  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 1- 10)

Uncle Tom's Cabin, II Uncle Tom's Cabin (Xenoblogging)

The Heart of a Child Uncle Tom's Cabin (Entire Play)

Geography is Everything How to Read Literature Like a Professor (18, 19, 20)

Trains and Horses Emily Dickinson, Selected Poetry

Recluse Emily Dickinson, Selected Poetry

Real and Imaginary Poetry Edgar Allan Poe, Selected Poetry

The Raven: Good or Bad? The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Quit Being so Selfish! How to Read Literature Like a Professor (13, 14, 15)

Brain-Rot Walden (Chapter 2 and 4)

The Choice is Ours Walden (Chapter 13 and 18)

Depth: Blogs that I have gone into detail about and have drawn specific conclusions about plot, characters, or the story in general.

Free at Last : The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Introduction by Smith, H. N.)

The Heart of a Child Uncle Tom's Cabin (Entire Play)

Geography is Everything How to Read Literature Like a Professor (18, 19, 20)

Recluse Emily Dickinson, Selected Poetry

Real and Imaginary Poetry Edgar Allan Poe, Selected Poetry

 

Interaction: Comments I have posted on the blogs of peers that have sparked discussion or added insight into what was being discussed

Katie Lantz: Uncle Tom's Cabin, II- Yes, this is my own blog, but I have responded to comments and feel that it was significant enough to be placed here.

Kayla Lesko: Dickinson Post II

Jennifer Prex: Temporary Longing

Jessica Pierce: The Free Raft

Heather Mourick: Relationships

Jamie Grace: Are We Going to Disappear?

Discussion: Blogs of mine that have sparked discussion online or in class.

Brain-Rot Walden (Chapter 2 and 4)

The Raven: Good or Bad? The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Geography is Everything How to Read Literature Like a Professor (18, 19, 20)

Trains and Horses Emily Dickinson, Selected Poetry

Huckleberry Finn: Holden Caulfield?  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 1- 10)

 

Timeliness: These blogs have been posted early enough to spark discussion before class.

Liar, Liar : The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 11-35)

Uncle Tom's Cabin, II Uncle Tom's Cabin (Xenoblogging)

The Heart of a Child Uncle Tom's Cabin (Entire Play)

Geography is Everything How to Read Literature Like a Professor (18, 19, 20)

 

Xenoblogging: These are comments I have left on the blogs of peers that demonstrate an understanding of the post and promote or encourage discussion.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, II Uncle Tom's Cabin (Xenoblogging) - With this blog, I tried to foster a discussion within the class about the relationship between Eva and Pearl. I thought that it went well, and we actually discussed this in class.

 

Comment Primo:

Heather Mourick: Relationships

 

Comment Informative:

Jamie Grace: Are We Going to Disappear?

 

Comment Grande:

David Wilbanks: Which Pallas?

 

Wild Card: An entry of my choice!

Oh, Annabel Lee....:  A blog discussing film adaptations of Annabel Lee and why I think "George Higham" when the poem is recited.  

Okay everyone, so after watching the poem recitations in class, I have a confession to make. I cannot listen to any rendition of Annabel Lee without hearing the voice of the characters from George Higham's film adaptation of the poem... courtesy of Dr. Arnzen and Introduction to Literary Study.

I searched around on Youtube to find a link to the movie, but alas no luck. I did however remember about a spoof on the film done by Kayla Lesko, Karyssa Blair, Christina Celona, and Jed Fetterman. It's great and you should check it out. The spoof starts about 2:25 into the video.

Here you are!

EL 266

"For not only does the River connote freedom; the Shore connotes slavery, bondage in a more general sense than the actual servitude of Jim" (329)

This point kept coming back to me throughout the novel.

River = freedom, fun, good; Shore = slavery, bondage, bad....

When Jim and Huck are floating down the river they seem to have a good time and nothing really harms them. It is only when the come to the shore that they face people like the king and the duke, and get into trouble. Huck says, " You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft" (Twain 177). Indeed, he felt like he was able to be free and at ease on the raft, but that was not so on the shore. Huck was always feeling uncomfortable and uneasy at the Widows place. "It was a rough time living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; so when I couldn't stand it no longer, I lit out," remarks Huck (Twain 70).  He wanted out, away from the Shore.

Even for Jim, the shore didn't just represent slavery. On the shore he had his foot bit by the snake, he was forced to live in the swamp while Huck was with the Grangerfords, and he was taken prisoner on Silas Phelps' Farm. The land was just no good for him either.  While on the River, Huck and Jim seemed to have much more peaceful times. In fact Huck says, "two or three days and nights went by; I reckon I might say they swum by, they slid along so quiet and smooth and lovely" (Twain 177). On the river Huck and Jim were equals, both sharing in the work and traveling together.

 

EL 266

"I reckon you ain't used to lying, it don't seem to come handy; what you want is practice" (Twain 245)

The passage above, spoken by Levi Bell to Huck Finn, during the inquisition of the king and duke, was taken as an insult by Huck! How dare this lawyer tell him that he did not know how to lie! That's what his whole adventure consisted of, and Huck thought he was darn good at it too.

I think this passage plays into the morality issue of Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck is torn between his mischievous side, and the part of him that wants to do right. Earlier in the story he had wanted to do the "right" thing by turning Jim in, but decided against it. Huck still struggled with this issue throughout the story. At one point, when Huck found out that Jim had been sold by the king, he decided that he would "go to hell" rather than give Jim's chance at freedom. Huck was taught that by lying about Jim's whereabouts and true owner he was committing a large sin. But I think the good deed he did was far greater.

Despite his white lies, Huck was trying to save Jim. Even though they ended up in quite a few tight spots, Huck talked their way out. So I think, in this instance, his lies may be for the best.

"Everywhere you look, the ground is already camped on" (Foster 187).

Yes, I have heard this before Foster. I remember you mentioned this in the chapter when you talked about how ideas originated with Shakespeare and the Bible. It seems we are getting redundant here....

But I really did like how he went through and explained how different writers deal with this fact. Some pretend their work is totally original while others fake amnesia... but does this really work? 

EL 266

"You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," but that ain't no matter"


Yes, these are the words of Huckleberry Finn not of Holden Caulfield, but they sound so much alike! When I began reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I was struck by how similar the two are!

I had read both Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in high school, but never made the connection. In fact I am sure that I may not have made the connection now, except for the fact that I read Catcher in the Rye last semester during Young Adult Literature.

In truth, both characters have a lot of similarities. Both are dissatisfied with their current lives and embark on a journey. While Holden only goes to New York City, Huckleberry Finn finds himself rafting down the Mississippi. Along the way both encounter obstacles and must overcome them, taking away personal significance from these experiences. They really do parallel each other, and even the attitude seems to be the same. Holden and Tom Sawyer have the same, "tough guy" type of speech. They are a very angst(y), young type of protagonist.

"Do you know who made you?" (Uncle Tom's Cabin 91)

This was the same question posed to Pearl in The Scarlet Letter...

Does anyone else think it has some significance or see a pattern here? Maybe the authors were trying to tell us something about religion at the time... How do the situations these questions are posed in make them different?

Just trying to see if I can get a conversation going here. If you have any thoughts, feel free to post them!

EL 266

"Because it makes so many more round you to love, you know?" (Uncle Tom's Cabin 90).

When little Eva was asked why she preferred slavery, her response was, "Because it makes so many more round you to love, you know." Already at this point in the story she had taken quite a liking to Uncle Tom, and when she says this she was sitting his lap, decorating him with flowers. In her own mind, his status was of no meaning, and he was just another friend to her. He had saved her life when she fell off the boat, so she trusted him completely.

Marie, on the other hand, would have nothing to do with Uncle Tom. When she saw her daughter place a kiss upon Tom's cheek, she was appalled. This just goes to show how much age changes our view on things. If we could all be a little more childlike, like Eva, the world would be a much better place.

.

El 266

"And we feel that those novels and stories couldn't be set anywhere but where they are, that those characters couldn't say the things they say if they were uprooted and planted in, say, Minnesota or Scotland." (Foster 164)

If writers didn't have a specific place in mind when creating their stories, we would all be in trouble. Some stories simply have to be set in a particular location.

Take the Lord of the Rings for example. If these characters were placed anywhere else other than Middle Earth, the whole plot just wouldn't make sense. JRR Tolkien created the perfect place for them in this regard. The Shire is the perfect serene, small spot for Hobbits, while Mordor gives that suspenseful, dangerous feeling. Rivendell is truly one of a kind and would not make sense in a place like Pennsylvania or India.  In fact, I think the whole meaning of the story would change if it were set somewhere else. Each place has certain significance, or else the writer would not have created it that way.

Also, I think that I attach certain characteristics to characters from a certain place. With the Elves in LOTR, I know they are from Rivendell, and that gives them a certain majestic, ethereal feel. The Hobbits are a more down-home character, and I think the earthen homes and family oriented society help to shape the way we look at them.

So yes, location is key to any story. It shapes characters and gives readers something more to identify with.