I would like to thank the Academy

I think this is how we felt starting off our journey in American Lit.

      

       So, here it is:  the last blog for this class. And, y'know, upon reflection, I have learned an awful lot about American literature, and, as noted in the above cartoon, none of us had any idea what we were doing from the get-go. So, before I thank everyone, I would like to relive some of the highlights of my blogs and this class period with you, and, more importantly, what I learned.

          I learned in one of my communication’s classes that one of the reason’s the media has such a powerful effect on us is because it is a media that is not designated to a specific time- we can read and connect with items anywhere, anytime and, then, because we are reading and finding a connection, we forge a bond with others through that medium. I think it’s true, and we learned through class discussions how the basic application of these texts parallel with our own lives; thus, we forged a relationship with one another and with the authors. I guess we figured out that Wishbone dog and the Reading Rainbow guy were right: the power is in the word.

          This class allowed for a lot of open discussion and feedback. We really got to make this course our own thing. During the creation story section, for instance, we were able to identify the Trail of Tears practically to our own knowledge of the material. We evaluated and compared where the Trail of Tears started and ended. We also identified how the Trail of Tears motorcycle is used as a sort of remembrance ride for those men and women who perished on the forced march. http://www.trailoftears-remembrance.org/ is the link to the Trail of tears motorcycle site.

          After looking at some of the creation stories, we were able to take those themes and try to make sense of how the New World explorers may have felt about coming to the new countries as well. We really considered how we would feel about leaving their English homes to make a new “home” in a place that was so brutal and unforgiving. In addition, we were able to identify how some authors’ seemingly “ancient” ideas or perception on the world could actually apply to us in today’s time as well.

          With the Ben Franklin lecture, we each picked a few of the sayings written by “Poor Richard” in Poor Richard’s Almanack that we could identify with. A lot of us picked out some of the sayings that applied to the importance of saving money and reaping the rewards later or how important it is to work hard now instead of procrastinating the work and regretting it later. What can I say? We are college students after all.

          The point is, though, we figured out early on in the class how similar we are-- the texts did not just connect us to one another as students; we connected with the authors and characters in an entirely different dynamic.

          Second, I learned a lot about research. Through class discussion, we would often bring up some “I don’t know, let’s check it out” points. Let’s be honest, at first, I foolishly thought that the constant need to “look it up” was a problem—I thought the teacher was always supposed to have the answer. By midterms, though, I found it refreshing. It was nice to check and double-check a source to be absolutely sure our research was not being misleading. The magical thing was, sometimes, we would find out more about an author because we would stumble upon something through our research as well.  

          The in-class research especially helped when it came time to do our own research for our blogs. By modeling the behavior we observed in class, we were able to apply and, thereby, find the same results in our own research. I liked that every so often we would look at Wikipedia to find the “gossip;” we never used any of the actual information from Wikipedia, but we did learn where to start and that’s what was so important.

          I will be the first to admit that my first blog was not the best. I was confused about Blogger’s features and had not one inkling as to what I was doing. I feel like I deserve a medal for even adding in those YouTube videos. By the second blog, I was determined to “one up” (actually 100 up) in my content. Maybe it was because the topic was easier or maybe I just had a better game plan and grasp to what I was doing, but I managed to find a lot more external links and pictures and include those in my blogs. I also got to take a trip down memory lane with Plimouth plantation.   I liked that through my research on Thanksgiving I learned about the pattern of presidents who had established the holiday (although the progression was not included in that blog), some of the basic Thanksgiving myths, and, also, how much the re-enactment site I, literally, grew up visiting had changed since I had last been there. 

          

          I am also really proud of the research I did with Edgar Poe. I began by looking at what I did know about him, double checked it, and listed it in my blog. Then, I spent a good hour trying to find some other little known facts about him. As a result, I found out that how to differentiate between his original signature and a fake (he did not like the “Allen” in his name and, thus, used only Edgar A. Poe when signing). learned that his now world- famous mustache came about during the last 6 years of his life and that the man who wrote “The Fall of the House of Usher”. I also learned about the Poe Toaster and the several myths that were associated with his death. It made so many of the topics in his book more real—it suddenly made just, I don’t know, it clicked. I made some real connections that, for the very first time, actually had me intrigued in some of Poe’s writing. 

          

          Finally, I learned how to critically apply that research to my knowledge of the text. I found through the research that I ended up reading more and more of the readings outside of the required selections. The background on the authors and the history thereof encouraged me to get to know the time period better. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love reading, but I figured out that I have read a lot more British literature and seemed to have bypassed the American literature section of history. I’m glad that the research helped me to “fill the gaps,” so to speak. 

          Because I had lived around the Boston area for so long, I already had an established “relationship” with Louisa May Alcott’s work, for instance. However, I got interested as to what type of writer she was when she younger. The result was my blog that examined some of her earlier writings and what type of publications she was writing for. I found out that her stories reflected some of her own real life events and, especially, with her beloved character Jo. 

          To sum it up, the class discussion helped me to understand how to start researching, the researching encouraged me to see the parallels with the authors and my own life, and the critical application only further my interest in the works and made me want to read (and learn) more.

          I’d like to thank the Academy for getting me here and starting me on this journey. I learned a lot more than I thought I would and I plan to use my Christmas break to catch up on some Poe and Alcott, and, maybe, a little bit of Thoreau and Emerson. Much love, y'all. Keep it classy.

Analyzing the early publications of Louisa May Alcott

Doing what she does: Imagining a story.

Although born in Philadelphia in 1832, Louisa May Alcott grew up in Massachusetts around the areas of Boston and Concord. As a result of her father's position within the Bostonian society as an educator, Alcott considered an array of writers as personal acquaintances. Think about it for a second: if you borrowed books from Ralph Waldo Emerson on the reg, had Henry David Thoreau as a personal tutor (and visited his home at Walden Pond), and lived just down the street from Nathaniel Hawthorne, don't you think you'd be a little bit better at writing than you are now?

Exactly.

Louisa May Alcott is perhaps one of the better known female writers of the Civil War era because of her unique writing style that directly addressed the important issues of the time, such as, gender roles and race dynamics. Moreover, her writing invited the reader to become apart of the story by inviting them to examine the issues from the character's perspective. In a way, she took a leaf out of her father's book and learned how to be an educator to the people by telling a story.

Her father is perhaps one of the main reasons of her success. It is reported he was quite intent on stamping out her unique outlook on life (i.e., her individuality). Her writing, then, frequently included character's with a certain level of, shall we say, hard-headness as they struggled to remain true to their own nature.

 Like her character Jo March from Little Women, Alcott struggled at first to write the way she wanted or to write for the "popular" readings (that, obviously, may earn more money). Alcott wrote for several magazines during her time; so, for this blog, I wanted to know what the various magazines were like. Was she writing for Southern Living or was she writing pieces that could potentially be featured in today's Smithsonian? 

Alcott's first poem was published in this magazine.

1. Peterson's Magazine: 
   This is the magazine that first began to accept Alcott's work in 1852. Similarly to Jo March, we could imagine Alcott's excitement about becoming a printed author for the very first time. The magazine was known for its delicate articles that addressed women's roles in society. It also offered handy tips for homes (look to the right, they're knitting).
   
2. The Lady's Companion Magazine:
   This magazine also followed along the same guidelines for Peterson's, in that, it offered expert advice for women and whimsical poetry and short stories for entertainment. Alcott's writings became an instant hit with this magazine. More importantly, because the magazine was printed monthly, Alcott was given more opportunity to build up her resume.
   
3. The Atlantic Monthly:
   Getting in this magazine was today's equivalent of a football star playing in the Superbowl: it meant you had finally made it in the world.  Alcott's 1860 short story entitled "A Modern Cinderella" is what got her into the big game. Interestingly, the story served as a sort of prequel for her future March sister characters and story line. Although Jo March (who seemed to model more of Alcott herself) did not make an appearance in the work, her sister's attributes- meek, quiet, kind, dreamy- did. This was also the first time Alcott had a piece published her own name and not a pen name.The magazine loved her work so much that Alcott became a sort of "regular" for them.
   
   
   Her characters reflected the need to remain a sense a propriety and decorum, much like her early stories. Alcott wrote for magazines that would sell; she understood that before she could write the "heavy stuff" she had to earn her street cred amongst her peers and, better yet, the audience. Once she had established herself in the writing world, Alcott was able to expand upon her writings and emphasize social issues that concerned her. Through it all, though, Alcott remained true to her own personality by writing pieces that interested her; things that made people stop, think, and wonder.

Admiring Frederick Douglass

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."   

Frederick Douglass 

I always heard Douglass was a great thinker; he was just one of those men that is just oozing with words of wisdom from birth. I have read parts of his Narrative, but, apparently, I missed the most important part: the beginning. Without understanding how much Douglass observed and experienced as a child, it is very hard to grasp the entirety of the man's character.

For those of you who do not know some of the background of Frederick Douglass here are some quick facts, some important facts about a man who had a monumental life.

The North Star was one of the first newspapers written by a black man in the U.S.

• Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in approximately 1818 (the exact date of his birth was never confirmed), was separted from his mother almost immediately (who died when he was 7 years old), and never knew his father, though, he suspected it was a white man.
• Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 upon reaching New York City.
• He is considered one of the most well-known abolotionist leaders. Some of you may recognize his name in conjunction with The North Star, one of several publications (in this instance, a newspaper) he wrote during his lifetime. The North Star's purpose was to "be devoted to the cause of Liberty, Humanity and Progress...with the purest motives" (The North Star, 3 December 1847; Reprinted in Philip Foner, ed., Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass, vol. 1 link here).

That's it. That is Frederick Douglass in four sentences. From those sentences, he seems to have a rather uniform life when compared to other slaves. Nowadays, it seems like high schools, middle schools, and, sometimes, elementary schools have required readings on famous men and women who were once slaves. What, then, makes Douglass so special?
Douglass is the man who took an initiative from the beginning. When he reflects on his childhood memories, it seems like he was, to steal a cliche, wiser than his years. He never saw his mother, never knew his father, watched as his aunt was beaten by a cruel master, was denied the right to an education, spent nights hungry or cold, and consistently whipped or beaten for any "wrongs" he committed against his master.

Douglass, however, observed his surroundings and carefully calculated his escape. As a young boy, Douglass overheard his white master instructing his wife,

"If you teach that n----- how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no alue to his master." 

Those words are the driving force behind Douglass' decision to become literate. When he was a child, it meant tricking the younger white children he played with in the street to teach him to write new letters and make new words. As he grew older, it mean applying for a university education. Douglass, you see, understood that knowledge truly was power. That reading and writing were the ways by which he could ultimately escape the treacheries of slavery.

Then, it hit me: how do American universities or secondary schools honor Frederick Douglass? Are there any programs initiated? Any scholarship funds open? How many high schools in the United States are named after him?

The answer to all of them: too many to count. Literally. There are tons of scholarship funds in his name and way too many high schools named in his honor. There are even honor societies named after him, or, at the very least, inducted him posthumously.

The House recently voted to erect a monument in D.C.

The most amazing, and most current item I found, was a bill that was past by the House of Representatives on September 10th, 2012. That's correct: there are still people honoring him today. More importantly, however is how they intend to honor his memory. Plans are underway  in Washington, D.C., the United States Capitol, to erect a monument of Frederick Douglass. To see the page about the House of Representatives proposal, click here.

There is already a bridge running across the Potomac River, but many people believe that it just isn't enough to thank a man who inspired millions. I couldn't agree with them more.

Fanny Fern: Did you know there's a book about her?

     Fanny Fern also known as Sarah Willis began her career as a newspaper journalist in the mid-1850s. Traditionally, journalism, especially, during the 1800s, was an industry dominated specifically by men. Therefore, the pen name "Fanny Fern" was greatly so she could be successful because it helped to protect her from any readers that would be less than enamored with her writing or gender.

First, though, we need to go over some background information on this remarkable woman. Born in 1811, Sarah Willis grew up in Maine and went to a private school in New Hampshire when she was 16. Her mother's love of poetry probably influenced Sarah's own love of writing as well. Sarah Willis was married twice; her first husband died from typhoid fever and her second husband ended because of a divorce, chosen by Fanny, by the way. Sarah Willis began writing for various New England newspapers to help support her and her children (her family disapproved of her divorcing her abusive husband). She wrote her first book Fern Leaves and adopted the pen name Fanny Fern to protect her identity. Her second book placed her in the running as one of the top female writers of her time with her unconventional style.

Fanny Fern influenced the 1920s suffragist movement.

The interesting thing about Willis, though, is how observant she was. After her first husband passed away and her second husband divorced her, Willis learned to make her own way. More importantly, she had to raise her children in an acceptable, profitable way. She wrote about topics that interested her, and, consequently, noticed that most of the readers of periodicals (the old school word for magazines) were, in fact women. Willis and her self-reliant endeavors understood better than most how hard it was for a women to live in a man's world. The short story we read in class entitled "Male Criticism on Ladies' Books" is a key example of that. Her topics became the basis for some feminist thoughts and, later, some very feminist actions that would lead to some changes of great magnitude in the United States political system. In fact, infobarrel.com noted Fanny Fern as one of the top three founders of the feminist movement because of her emphasis on the natural abilities women possessed in a business world. Later, that emphasis on equality between men and women would be seen in the women's suffragist movement in the 1920s. To read the article, click here.

Debra Benegan is the author of the Fanny Fern novel.

You know what really got me though? Fanny Fern was less popular than Harriet Beecher Stowe even though she sold more books and appealed to a broader audience base. Most people who know about the author named Fanny Fern only know her because of college classes. Honestly, Stowe's popularity more than likely balances out because of the importance of the Civil War. The point is this though: there's a book. No, not a textbook; I mean a real, live, actual  book about Fanny Fern. The book is entitled Shame the Devil by Debra Benegan
and it made an appearance on the New York Times listing. The link to the article is here.

Fanny Fern had an interesting life that allowed for many women to connect with her. They saw her determination and strength as an inspiration for themselves, and they strove to emulate her mannerisms and outspoken opinions. Fanny Fern was more than just a female writer, she was a role model for the young, the old, the employed and the jobless.

Edgar A. Poe: the original emo

 Emo, goth, misunderstood, and gloomy aren't just words to describe an teenager full of inner-angst, like Allyson Reynolds from the Breakfast Club or JoJo the animated character for the Dr. Seuss film "Horton Hears a Who." 

Nope, emo, goth, misunderstood, gloomy, maybe just a little bit crazy are also words to describe a famed poet and author who can adequately be deemed the creator of the misunderstood cult following.

The originator of inner angst.

If you would please stop and reflect on what you know about the man, the legend, Edgar Allan Poe. 

We already know some of the basics about Poe:

1) Poe was born on January 5, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Baltimore, Maryland on October 7, 1849.

2) He married his thirteen (That's right, you read it correctly: 13) year old cousin when he was twenty-seven (27).

3) He had a slight, kinda big obsession with the human psych. Meaning, how does a supposedly rational human being on the outside become such a grotesque villain?

4) He wrote some of the best prose novels and short stories, but, quite literally, was underpaid for them. Take "The Raven," for instance, Poe only got paid $9 for the manuscript.

5) His critically acclaimed works are often dark and gruesome. He wasn't a huge "happily ever after" fan.

Here are some things you may not know about Poe:

Edgar Allan Poe's mustache was a late edition.

1) His wife's sudden illness and equally sudden death at a young age is the reason he wrote in such a dark voice. Who can blame him?

2) Did you know Poe went to West Point? Yup, he did. He was also top in his class at the University of Virginia even though he frequently attended class drunk.
3) Also, y'know that big mustache he has? He didn't have that until the last few years of his life. Funny, somehow an unshaven Poe just doesn't seem like the ideal writer for the "Tell Tale Heart."

3) Poe's death is as mysterious as some of his novels. What historians know for sure is Poe left Richmond, Virginia, for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 27, 1849. He was found "in great distress" in Baltimore on Oct. 3 and passed away in Baltimore Hospital on Oct. 7. For a long time (and after several myths came about), fans and critics alike believed Poe had died due to alcoholism. The University of Maryland Medical Center, however, believe Poe may have died from rabies.

 Click here to find out more.

The "Poe Toaster" notoriously left gifts in honor of Poe.

Poe, then, has enough "quirks" to make him "cool" enough to be followed by a legion of fans. These fans have proven to be loyal to him even after his death. The renown "Poe Toaster" is a perfect example. Every year, on Poe's birthday, from 1949 until 2010, a single, heavily hooded man would visit Poe's grave early in the morning. He would silently leave behind a half empty bottle of cognac and 3 red roses. The man who dropped off the gifts at Poe's grave has yet to be identified and has, supposedly, passed away after missing 3 consecutive birthdays in the past few years. I have listed two separate articles for you to read further about the mysterious Poe Toaster. Please go here  or here.

A true Edgar Allan Poe signature.

Another quirk that made Poe cool enough to be followed? Poe's signature has started a whole lot of copy cat signatures. The best way to be sure you're looking at the original star's signature is to be sure it is signed "Edgar A. Poe." Poe was notorious for the rocky relationship he and his stepfather shared, so, he dropped the new middle name after severing ties with his stepfather. If a signature is signed Edgar Allan Poe, you may need to double check your sources. 

Finally, you know you've made it big in the 21st century when, a full century and a half later, you have managed to create and maintain your own twitter page. Poe's twitter page has, in turn, spurred a renewed interest in his works and in quirks. He's inspired bands and, perhaps, most importantly, a movie will be released later this year entitled The Raven, starring John Cusack. The movie will follow a Baltimore detective as he attempts to track down a murderer inspired by Poe's works.  

The E! True Hollywood Story: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Adrien Brody

PBS has called him the  "Sage of Concord" and YouTube has created several dozen audio clips of his readings. Ralph Waldo Emerson, if you look at him purely based upon today's media, is quite literally a celebrity of his time. 

Emerson was a guy with charisma and a whole lot of talent. He was kinda like George Clooney- only with Adrien Brody's nose.
Actually, comparing Emerson to Clooney is a little unfair. Emerson speaks of his philanthropic efforts as duties, or dues, that he is required to pay because of his public image. Clooney, on the other hand, really does want to help people. The fact that Adrien Brody and Emerson have the same nose is still something that cannot be denied.

In Self-Reliance, Emerson addresses society's limitations and the "necessary" daily activities of life as two key components that force an individual to take the great leap forward in becoming individuals of worth that could, y'know, actually help society become something bigger and better than what it was before.

Based upon his writings in Self-Reliance, it sounds like in today's world he would only be a really great motivational speaker for the college circuit. It turns out, though, that Emerson knew a thing or two about public speaking AND knew a thing or two about self-reliance.

First, after losing his wife and returning to America after a two year hiatus in England, Emerson began a sort of tour, or circuit, as a lecturer.

Second, Emerson was forced to bear the burden of losing his first wife, his mother, two brothers, aunt and dealing with other personal tragedies like the loss of his home after a devastating fire.

When you look at his background, you can see why Emerson voiced some of his concerns the way he did. In "Self-Reliance," Emerson stresses that individuals, young and old, cannot rely strictly on the church, culture, society, or the arts to bring them forward as mature adults. Emerson argues each sect fears the originality or creativity because it's different.

Really, it's not that different from today's time.

Today, people have to look like Nicki Minaj or Lady Gaga to get attention, but most of society deems those two as too extreme.

Today's society demands a balance between old and new. An understanding to learn from past mistakes that will, in turn, lead to success.
An understanding that personal achievement should be marked by one's own standards and not by the terms of others.
An understanding that a man or woman should stand by his or her personal decisions.
An understanding that although books or (certain) television programs can offer a person knowledge, it is up to that person to take that information and blend it into a thought that can be used in his or her daily life.

Emerson isn't just speaking to his society. He's speaking to every society. He's telling people, like you and me, to stand up, stand proud, and adhere to the values you find most important. Finally, once a person has learned to value his own self-worth, then, and only then, will he become a true asset to society.

That's why Emerson is a true motivational speaker. He's telling people throughout that years, "Baby, you were born this way."

Comparing Bradford's Plimoth with today's Plymouth.

"Of Plymouth Plantation" penned by William Bradford describes the hardships that the pilgrims faced when they first landed in the Cape Cod area. He recounts in detail their sacrifices (such as the seven who cared for the sick during a particularly harrowing winter), defeats (their inability to make homes for themselves their first season), and triumphs (learning to plant corn) .

Having lived in Boston when I was younger and visited the "real live" Plymouth Plantation, I'm always struck by the stereotypical views modern day Americans have painted about the pilgrims. I frequently rely on the texts from Bradford to remind myself that everything is not as it is really painted.

Some of the events or ideas that have aided the misconceptions of the Pilgrims include: 

• The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: 

          Please don't give me wrong, I LOVE watching the Rockettes kick it, but, really, it offers the idea of a whole bunch of really happy people learning to live together in harmony. When, in fact, there was probably a whole lot of "he said, she said," illness, feuding, and hormones flying around.

• Children's Coloring Books:

          Starting at the tender age of 3, children begin coloring

pictures of Native Americans and pilgrims holding hands and sitting at the first Thanksgiving meal together. 

•    Elementary School Text Books:

          These books cite passages from Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation," but they focus more on the relationship of Samoset and Squanto uniting with the Pilgrims to give and teach them of their craft. Although it has been proven that two Indians named Samoset and Squanto did indeed help the Pilgrims, I find it extremely doubtful that their presence was greeted with such Christian grace, warmth and charm. In addition, many textbooks create the impression that all of the Pilgrims who came from England were Puritans. As evident through Bradford's account, people like, Morton of Merrymount, were not of a religious faith at all.

And, finally,

• The Thanksgiving Holiday

          Children and adults alike are led to believe that Thanksgiving has been seen as a national holiday since, well, the 1600s. In actuality, it wasn't until Abraham Lincoln signed the 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation that the day became a national holiday. Upon further reflection, Abe was probably aiming to unite two vastly different sectors of the U.S to promote unity as seen firsthand by the Native American tribe and Pilgrims.

Some of America is attempting to change these perceptions of the first settlers of Plymouth. The best example, and one that I can say I personally experienced, is Plymouth Plantation. Actors live out daily activities, describe personal experiences, and wear the clothing just like the Pilgrims did. Visitors to Plymouth Plantation can walk to the Wampanoag village and learn to carve out canoes and, similarly, speak to the them. Visitors can see Plymouth Rock and begin to grasp, maybe just a little bit, what a typical day in the life for these people was like. I would highly recommend checking out this link http://www.plimoth.org/ to take a virtual tour of the site and see what this "living museum" has to offer.