Native American Literature

Talking To The Moon: by John Joseph Mathews.

Reflection:
I chose this piece of literature because I felt like this was a story I could relate to. I also feel that this story correctly portrays the mindset of a Native American as he would strive to reconnect with his ancestral roots by living with nature. I was very surprised by this story because although Mathews tries to connect with nature, he almost seems to consider his situation a burden. For example, in the story he mentions how the wild animals in the forest are a danger to him, yet he also needs them to survive. It seems that his reasoning for choosing this lifestyle was to rid himself of the materialistic society of America at the time. He wanted to reconnect with nature, and live like a part of nature, rather than profiting from it, like the Americans living with him at that time. This is because, at the time, America was very industrialized and it seemed that Americans only used nature as a means of making money, such as harvesting trees for lumber, farming cotton for clothes, etc.

Journal Entry:
Dear diary, today I have discovered the true meaning of life. As I have been living in these woods, I have discovered that the materialistic views of the culture I descend from are unnecessary for survival. As I have been living in nature, I have noticed that the only things I truly need are food and shelter. Not only have I discovered the necessities for life, I have also manufactured a relationship with nature that is beyond the scope of most humans. I have discovered what it truly means to be "one with nature".

Application of Essential Question:

Although the Native Americans do not wish to acheive the American Dream, they are disregarded when the English settlers strive to acheive it. As the settlers make an attempt to start a new life in a new nation, their underlying greed takes over as they try to seize land from the Native Americans. As they conquer the Native Americans, the settlers set aside reservations for the Native Americans. By conducting this process, the Native Americans are stripped of their land while the settlers are acquiring land. All due to the strive for the American Dream.

Poems From The Puritan Era

Edward Taylor: Huswifery


Click the thumbnail above to view my poetry chart for this poem.

Reflection:

I find it interesting that Taylor used metaphor to relate himself to a spinning wheel. Not only that, he commanded God to use him, like a spinning wheel, to lead him through life and give him the ability to live a life through the will of God. In his poem, Taylor capitalizes specific words, believed by myself to be the tools God will use to meet Taylor's wishes. Combined with specific capitalization, Taylor also uses diction to help evoke a message of Puritan beliefs to the reader.


Diary Entry:
Dear diary,
I am very fascinated with the work of Anne Bradstreet. Her poems entertain me beyond belief. In fact, I think I might start writing poems. I shall start by utilizing my Puritan beliefs and connecting them with common items. I shall relate my beliefs to items such as chairs, cars, or maybe even spinning wheels. Here is my first attempt at a poem:

O Lorde, grasp with me a Firm Handle,
upon the Chair that I sit.
for I am anxious and excited with anticipation,
and I shall wait to be Seated within the eyes of you Lorde
if you may, you shall Build upon my Structure,
and Raise Me from belowe.


Excerpt:

“Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat; Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee. Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate, And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee. My Conversation make to be thy Reele, And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.”

MLA:
Taylor, Edward. “Huswifery” 10 May 1989. 20 Mar. 2008.






Anne Bradstreet: To My Dear and Loving Husband

Click the thumbnail above to view my poetry chart for this poem.

Anne Bradstreet: Verses Upon The Burning of Our House

Click the thumbnail above to view my poetry chart for this poem.

Reflection:
In Anne Bradstreet's poem, Verses Upon The Burning Of Our House, she constantly speaks of remorse and how sad it is that her house is burning, yet at the end she realizes that her faith is more important than everything in the house, including the house itself, and that no matter what she will always prevail through her faith.

Diary Entry:
Dear Diary,
Today I experienced the wonderful poems written by Anne Bradstreet. I read two poems: "To My Dear And Loving Husband", and "Verses Upon The Burning Of Our House". Both of these poems were very inspiring, and they both helped me maintain my constant connection with God. When I read her poems, I feel as if I am connected with God even more than ever! I can imagine that these poems are similar to what life will be like in heaven and I cannot wait to reach that life. I feel inspired that although her house burned down, she had not lost the most important thing: her faith. I am also intrigued by the poem she wrote to her husband and how she used paradox in order to evoke a single emotion, and that emotion is love. Maybe I should become a poet some day.

Excerpt:
"Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever."

MLA:
Bradstreet, Anne. "To My Dear And Loving Husband" 18 Mar. 2008. http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradhyp.htm.

Application Of Essential Question:
In this situation, Anne Bradstreet's American Dream consists of living a life through God's grace and [eventually] going to heaven. She achieved this dream by writing poems that intensified her faith and encouraged others to intensify their faith as well.

Of Plymouth Plantation

Of Plymouth Plantation: Chapter IX

Reflection:
This passage was very interesting. I was surprised at how descriptive the author was, as well as the vivid imagery that was used to describe the situation. The author also did a very good job at describing other people, especially in the beginning of the passage where he describes the man with a “lusty, able body”. However, the imagery was not the only thing that impressed me. I liked how the author effectively described the journey to America as it related to God. The author mentioned God, as well as faith, in this passage fairly often.

Diary Entry:
Dear Diary, it is day 8 of our journey across the Atlantic. Earlier today I spoke with some of the crew members, and they told me stories of their families back at home. As I re-entered my cabin not too long ago, I thought about those families. What would happen to them should our ship crash? What would happen to my family? I pray to God that I will never find out, and that we should have a safe journey. It seems that every day I am praying to God for a different reason. I just hope we make it to America safely.

Excerpt:
"In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings, was, with a roll of the ship, thrown into sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth. In all this voyage there died but one of the passengers, which was William But ten, a youth, servant to Samuel Fuller, when they drew near the coast."

MLA:
Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. 14 June 2004. 18 Mar. 2008
. http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm.

Application of Essential Question:
The author of this passage is definitely hopeful in his quest for the American Dream. Like many others, the author is journeying to America in search of a better life. The author is hoping that when he arrives in America he will be able to successfully start a new life and thus, achieve the American Dream.

Jon Edwards - Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

Reflection:

This was a very interesting sermon. The main reason why I found this sermon so interesting is that Edwards didn't hold anything back. He didn't try to hide anything, he just said everything point-blank. Just the pure boldness of this sermon caught my attention, and I was very surprised from everything he said. One of the main things Edwards was trying to convey to the audience was the pure power that God has. Not only that, he can easily unleash a wrath upon you by placing you into hell. I was very interested in this idea because I did not think that anybody would speak of this so freely, as if he didn't care one bit. Further, I was deffinitely surprised as well by the reasons one person may be cast into hell. After reading this sermon, I am almost scared! I feel as if I must watch everything I say and do in order to stay out of hell!

Diary Entry:

Dear Diary, today I witnessed one of the most intense speeches ever. The speaker, Jon Edwards, scared me to death with all the talk about going to hell. Now even I, an honest Christian that lives a humble life, am scared of going to hell! I must use what I learned today in his speech to ensure that I will reach heaven. I will now do anything I can because after hearing that speech I fear that so many people may soon find themselves in an unfortunate situation that may result in them being sent to hell.

Excerpt:
"There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. -- He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God's enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces."

Edwards, Jonathan. “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God”. Oct 16. 2004. Mar 27. 2008<http://www.piney.com/JonEdwSinHands.html>

Application of Essential Question:
In this speech, Jon Edwards instills fear in the audience so that the audience can then utilize this fear to achieve the American Dream for themselves. This is made possible by the fear that is then transitioned into hope (as in hope to get into heaven, because in the speech Edwards makes it seem as if everyone is going to hell) and that hope is used to strive for a better life.

Slave Narrative

Reflection:
In this passage I was very interested in the way that Equiano described the situation he was in. However, I feel very sympathetic towards his situation. Equiano, a slave, was taken away from his family in England, and this must've been hard for him, especially since he was discriminated against. The white settlers did not care for his, or any of the other slave's, feelings throughout the travel across the Atlantic. He was subjected to harsh living conditions along the travel, and I can't believe he survived. It makes me sad to even think about what it was like living on that ship, or even the smell of it.

Diary Entry:
Dear Diary, oh woe is me. I have been traveling on this boat for too long. So many lie dead, and many ill. I hope that the same fate does not fall upon me. I am nervous. I hear tales of a "New Land" that we are journeying to. Unfortunately I am going to remain a slave, but I will be serving a different master. Hopefully this master will teach me how to read and write. A slim chance of this, I know, but I still have hope.

Excerpt:
"During our passage I first saw flying fishes, which surprised me very much: they used frequently to fly across the ship, and many of them fell on the deck. I also now first saw the use of the quadrant. I had often with astonishment seen the mariners make observations with it, and I could not think what it meant. They at last took notice of my surprise; and one of them, willing to increase it, as well as to gratify my curiosity, made me one day look through it. The clouds appeared to me to be land, which disappeared as they passed along. This heightened my wonder: and I was now more persuaded than ever that I was in another world, and that every thing about me was magic. At last we came in sight of the island of Barbados, at which the whites on board gave a great shout, and made many signs of joy to us. "

MLA:
Equiano,Olaudah. Olaudah Equiano. 27 Jan. 2003. 3 Apr. 2008.
http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/extract3.htm.

Application of Essential Question:
Unfortunately, Equiano was not able to achieve his American Dream, unlike many before him. Although Equiano had hope, he was trampled on in order for other people to achieve their American Dream. Thus, one might say this is a "dog eat dog" society in which only one can reign supreme.

Revolutionary Period

Patrick Henry:

Reflection:
In this speech Patrick Henry effectively utilizes persuasion. When Henry notes that disregarding an inevitable war to treason, he is using ethos, and he is appealing to ethics as the audience believes that treason is morally wrong. Also, when Henry says "give me liberty, or give me death!" he is appealing to the audience's emotions, or utilizing pathos. Logos is present in his speech as well when he notes that the war has already begun, and it would be ignorant to remain idle while they are killed. After reading this speech, I definitely feel empowered and I feel as if Henry was very effective at using persuasion. I can understand how someone would want to join the fight after listening to this speech. Also, Henry speaks similar to the way that Paine writes because he mentions that we must not "stand by" and wait to die, he states that we must fight.

Dear Diary,
"...give me liberty, or give me death!": the words of Patrick Henry. Today I witnessed one of the most empowering speeches I've ever heard. In his speech, Patrick Henry discussed the issue of freedom from the British ministry, and how we must obtain this freedom. According to Mr. Henry, the war has begun and we must fight. It is unsettling to think of this, but he must be right. It only seems logical that the British are already on their way here, ready to fight, and so we must retaliate. There is no other option. If I am not to fight, I will commit treason as I will let my country down. I must fight for freedom.

Excerpt:
"There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free--if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!"

MLA:
Henry, Patrick. "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death." Sep. 1999. 7 Apr. 2008. http://www.liberty-page.com/foundingdocs/givemeliberty/main.html.


Thomas Paine:

Reflection:
In this selection, Thomas Paine analyzes America's current state of liberty and how we must utilize God in order to keep it. Paine repeatedly states in many different ways that God will help us. He makes it seem as though Britain is the devil, and we are holy, and thus we have the strength of God on our hands. Although this seems similar to propaganda, I believe that this type of writing was very necessary at that time in history. I believe that if Thomas Paine, along with others, had not gone to such lengths in order to get this point across, we would not be living in the same situation that we are in now. In this article Paine is very similar to Henry in the way that they both mention that God will help the Americans in order to persevere over the British.

Diary:
Today I picked up my copy of The Crisis, and I was very interested in the message the author was trying to convey. Thomas Paine, the author, states that God is on our side, and we must use this power to our benefit. He compares Britain to "a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker," and believes that they are a threat to us. According to him, we should not remain idle while God is willing to protect us. I feel the same way and I believe that if we wait too long, Britain will overpower us. As Patrick Henry said, "we must fight!".

Excerpt:
"Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he."

MLA:
Paine, Thomas. "The Crisis, No. 1." 23 Dec. 1776. 7 Apr. 2008. http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Rosemary_Dibben/English11/NewNation/PaineCrisis1.pdf.

Essential Question Application:
In this situation, both Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine have hope for America. However, they both believe that the American people need to strive against Britain's physical opposition in order to achieve this freedom, and thus, the American Dream can then be accomplished.

American Dream - Elders

Elder #1: Holly Murray
Relation: Mother
Location: North Carolina
Age: 38

Q: How have you accomplished your American Dream?

A: Well, when I moved to Wilmington, I decided to go to school. I wanted to be a nurse, but nursing school would’ve taken too long, and I wanted to get a job fast so I could support us. So, instead of being a nurse, I decided to be a paralegal because that would allow me to get a job fast and then I could support us. However, I got laid off three times as a paralegal, and I eventually decided to get an MIS degree. I wanted to get a degree in MIS because at the time it was a good job that would pay well and it would be more secure than my last three jobs. Unfortunately, when I graduated, MIS wasn’t as good of a job as it previously was, and jobs were scarce so I decided to get another paralegal job.

Q: So would you say that your American Dream is to support your family?

A: Yes.


Elder #2: Paul Murray
Relation: Grandfather
Location: West Virginia
Age: 68

Q: How have you accomplished your American Dream?

A: Well, there are three main things that I used to accomplish my American Dream. The opportunities I have had, the chances I have had, and the education I have had have all led me to accomplish my American Dream. After college, I got the opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia and that was how I became very successful. After that, I got the chance to come back to America and build bridges for the army, and that was the second time I was successful. So, the three things that led me to accomplish my American Dream were chance, opportunity, and education.


Elder #3: William Johnson
Relation: Friend
Location: Arizona
Age: 34

Q: How have you accomplished your American Dream?

A: Well, the most important thing to me is education. After I got out of high school I married my high school sweetheart, and it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it caused some major problems. I found myself in situations where I had to support us and it was too much of a struggle for me, so I decided to go to college. I got a degree in Electrical Engineering. That degree paved the road for me to be successful, and I have been able to support myself, my wife, and now my two children. So, I would say that…my American Dream was made possible by education.

Q: How much do you make as an Electrical Engineer?

A: I make enough.


Reflection:
After reviewing my interviews, I noticed that although my elders came from all across the country, they all mentioned that education was the key to their success. This leads me to believe that although the American Dream may seem to be a 'touchy' topic as it may be seen as "materialistic", all of my elders chose a more humble approach as they mentioned the successes they have achieved, rather than the successes they haven't achieved. In conclusion, my elders were very honest in their answers and they chose a less materialistic approach to answering the question than others.