We have spent some time in a literary period now, and as we embark on the summer, which for many of us will mean some intellectual independence--no more books selected by instructors!--I do wonder what you might read in this period. Of course, there is no obligation to read further, BUT you do have a "foothold" now or, to borrow a military term, a "beachhead."
Let's imagine for a moment that you are planning to launch a further incursion into the American Romanticism. To quote Admiral David Farrugut's famous Civil War battlecry, pronounced in 1864--incidentally, a few months after Hawthorne's death--"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"
A. Which of the authors that we read this semester might you pursue further, and what books by these writers would you consider picking up?
B. Which "battlefronts" are now effectively over? In other words, which authors will you leave to other readers, perhaps, those more wise or more foolhardy than you?
C. Which work could you envision yourself reading again twenty or thirty years hence? Why would you choose this work?
D. What work, if any, would you like to know more about?
E. Which of these authors would you be interested in learning more about?
F. Last question, which passages of these texts do you think will stay with you, that you will recall in your everyday life, everywhere, from here to there, until you reach Longfellow's "Ultima Thule."
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Let's see which authors would I like to read more of. Hm. I like Fanny Fern and Hawthorne the most I think. The novels they wrote appeal to me more than others stylistically. I will however be leaving Cooper behind. The Pioneers was not my thing.
ReplyDeleteConsidering all the novels we've read, If I were to pick one up again in twenty plus years it'd probably be Stowe's novel oddly enough. I don't like that novel, but I'd be interested to see how I felt about it reading it again later on in life.
I'd like to know more about Douglass' work, so I might consider reading his other two novels that are connected with My Bondage and Freedom. I want to see the differences between all three of them, as well as the growth in his writing.
One of the author's I'd be interested in learning more about would probably be Fanny Fern. Her writing is so different from others, and it's so easy to read and understand it makes the novel enjoyable. I'd like to know if her story is parallel to Ruth's, or if it's different.
What will stick with me? I'll remember scenes from My Bondage and Freedom definitely. That was the first time I've ever read a novel written by a former slave that incorporates a lot of facts about slavery. Some passages were heartbreaking, and others were inspirational. I like his theory that slaves can't be held responsible for their actions since, in essence, they are a product of their slaveholders. I'll also remember passages from Uncle Tom's Cabin. I'll remember the romanticisized passages as well as the influential Uncle Tom character and little angelic Eva.
If I were to puruse any of these authors further, I would go with Hawthorne. I liked the way he wrote and he is mysterious with his work. He managed to keep my attention and made me want to read more
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be leaving Cooper and Melville behind for sure. They were both very tough reads and I wasn't interested in the works at all.
I might see myself picking up either House of the Seven Gables or Ruth Hall again. Ruth Hall is not only an easy read, but it covers issues that aren't commonly used in novels (at least from the ones I have read). House of the Seven Gables is interesting and keeps the reader intrigued. At times it was rough, but it was a really enjoyable novel.
I think I would like to know more about Uncle Tom's Cabin. Although it wasn't one of my favorite novels, it is interesting how Stowe brings out her characters and the events that take place. I am curious where she gets a lot of her ideas that aren't based off factual things, or what really made her want to write about this particular topic.
I definitely would be interested in learning about Hawthorne. His style is uinique and he makes twists with ease as he continues to grab the reader's attention. From what I have read from him so far, Hawthorne is not really a hard read. He is just an interesting writer.
I'll remember the relationships between Phoebe and Holgrave, Hepzibah and Cifford and Cifford and Phoebe from the House of the Seven Gables. Hawthorne makes each of these relationships unique and neither has many similarities from the next. Each plays a different, but important role, and it is interesting to see how they come together throughout the novel. I'll also remember parts from Ruth Hall, more specifically the parts when she stands up to her boss at the paper then leaves, and how she handles situations to take care of her daughters.
a) I would like to read more Poe as I am already a fan of his poetry and really love Pym. I would also like to read more Hawthorne. I had a bad taste in my mouth after reading The Marble Faun (the only thing that semi-redeemed that one for me was actually being in Rome while suffering/reading through that one), but The House of the Seven Gables has got me back on Hawthorne's side. I want to read the Scarlett Letter and The Blithedale Romance. I would also like to read more of Cooper- possibly The Last of the Mohicans (although I heard its really hard to get through). Douglass is also fascinating and I might like to pick up more of his work.
ReplyDeleteb) I may leave Melville behind as well as a good chunk of Transcendalism...
c) As I said earlier I really loved Pym! I thought it was exciting, unpredictable, and memorable. I would pick it up again. I also think I would read The Pioneers and The House of the Seven Gables. Both of these stories intrigued me. I liked the setting and time period. Seven Gables had some great creepy/ghost story/ salem witch trails mystique about it and The Pioneers brought up some interesting arguments about law and nature. And Longfellow of course! Also Douglass.
d)I think I would like to know more about The House of the Seven Gables and its reception and peoples interpretation.
e) I would like to learn more about Cooper in that it is intriguing that he became a writer because of a bet with his wife (and clearly because he's a gifted writer.) And Poe is always interesting to learn more about!
F)Looking back- I always think about passages from Pym (the islanders, the storms, the entombment in the hull, the cannibalism, the Dutch ship with dead bodies and the fun I had reading it!) also, I like that scene in The House of the Seven Gables when the Judge is dead and all the ghost/spirits in the house seem to come alive!
A. I am definitely interested in reading more Melville. I want to tackle Moby Dick... right after I finish Ulysses. Oh the things I get myself into...
ReplyDeleteB. I'd say I'm going to have to leave Fanny Fern to someone else, just because there were too many lone tears. It was an interesting read, and a nice one after all the heavy subjects we tackled all semester, but it's just way too sentimental for me, and honestly I really don't like Ruth (bring on the hate).
C. I could see myself re- reading The House of the Seven Gables twenty years down the line. It was pretty moody, even though nothing happened, and it's not as heavy and moralistic or philosophical as the other books. I did miss something on my first reading anyway- somehow I missed the part where it was his uncle Clifford had been accused of murdering. Not my proudest moment, but maybe it will get me to read it again.
D. I'd like to know for sure what happened at the end of Arthur Gordon Pym, but I suppose no one will ever be sure of that.
E. I am sort of curious about Melville, only because I thought he enjoyed a fair level of fame in his lifetime. I was surprised to find that he really didn't.
F. The passage that stuck with me the most was from Uncle Tom's Cabin. I can't remember a specific moment (although I know there was one, which seemed at the height of it all), but I was struck at one point, by the utter horror of the situation, and I don't think I'm likely to forget that knowledge anytime soon. It's not a good thing that will follow me now, but that's the one specific thing that sticks out in my mind.
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" I like the quote, too. I'm going to carry this around with me for the rest of my life.
A. I have come to understand that my feelings on Cooper differ greatly from most, if not all, of the people in class. For some reason I found myself very interested in The Pioneers, but it took a while before I cared for it. Cooper's level of detail in everything he describes can be a bit jarring at times, but after pushing through the early parts of the text I found myself getting used to the style. Once I got used to Cooper's style, I really started to enjoy the characters and the story, and now being used to his style I'd like to give The Last of the Mohicans and The Deerslayer a read.
ReplyDeleteB. I think it's safe to say that I'm done with the Transcendentalist writings. I didn't get any satisfaction out of reading those writers, something that can't be said about just about everything else we've read.
C. I can definitely see myself reading Longfellow many years from now. I just get the sense that I will always have the time and patience for the simple, yet effective works of Longfellow, and that is something I can't say about any of these other writers, besides Poe.
D. Once again, I find myself very interested in The Pioneers. I would like to further explore Natty Bumppo and learn how The Pioneers fits in with the other texts of the Leatherstocking Series.
E. Of all these writers, I already know a decent amount about Poe, but he is such a complex person that I don't think I'd ever know enough about this tortured soul.
F. In terms of subject matter, I won't soon forget just about everything from My Bondage and My Freedom. Douglass' brutal honesty about the events of his life and the lives of the other slaves around him were just downright chilling at times.
Ugh, a long list of questions. Well, guess we'll do this one at a time...
ReplyDeleteA. I think I would probably pursue Hawthorne later. Having already read The Blithedale Romance and now The House of Seven Gables, I'd like to see what else he has to offer. I know many of my friends have read the Scarlet letter already (since they were insane and took honors English courses), so I would be most intrigued to see how it is.
B. To my daughter (who doesn't exist), I leave Herman Melville. To my son (who also doesn't exist), I leave the other part of Melville that is even worse than the part I gave my daughter because he's a rebellious sonuva-nevermind.
Seriously though, I'll leave Herman Melville alone. Israel Potter wasn't necessarily a bad read, but if it was one of the easiest of his novels, I'm not going to pursue him any further. I'll leave that to Hannah.
C. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. I'm always intrigued by the works of Poe, and his only novel, flawed as it was, is no exception. I wonder what other mysteries and revelations it holds in store after a few decades of meditating on it?
D. Nothing in particular comes to mind, though once I lose my sanity, I could try and force my way through the Leatherstocking tales and see how they relate to their progenitor, The Pioneers.
E. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Hasn't he been neglected long enough? Not to preach to the choir, but it's time for a revival.
F. A particular moment in My Bondage and My Freedom, where Douglass has his revelation about knowledge and how important it is. The truth shall set you free indeed. As long as we remain informed and knowledgeable, than nothing can overcome us, and I think that is a lesson we can all take to heart.
That's all she wrote.