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impact of african american literature
research on african american literature
impact of african american literature
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Classic works of literature are not arbitrarily deemed as such. In order to be regarded so highly, a literary work must demonstrate its ability to touch upon – and thoughtfully examine – important issues of a particular era (so to speak, a slice of time). A traditional canon is substantiated by consistent and legitimate acclaim, and while of course there is an underlying element of subjectivity, literary scholars tend to possess discerning taste. Blindly placing faith in the opinions of experts can be dangerous, however; trusting all of their judgments and assuming the entire literary canon is worthwhile to read would be a misstep. Ideally, by initiating readers with exemplary works, a unique taste is born and the reader can then pursue the literature of their choosing. A truly alluring work of literature is one that retains meaning no matter who the audience is – if the impact of the story only resonates with a small group, its scope (and message) is limited.
Perhaps the most dominant feature of ‘classic’ works is the presence of a particularly memorable character. Multi-layered, evolving characters enhance the progression of the story, but not in a perfunctory manner, and not simply as a device to move the story forward. Additionally, if a primary character is similarly constructed to the average reader, it legitimizes the plausibility of the work. By offering a portrayal of a character that is grounded in reality connects the reader – who may be able to relate to the character’s plight or triumph – and lends real meaning to the story. For instance, in Melville’s “Bartelby, the Scrivener,” the titular character is thoroughly downcast and displays no fun characteristics, but a great number of people can sympathize with the mis...
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...sic American storytelling, and their prodigious skill should not be overlooked. I would have enjoyed more exposure to African-American literature within the curriculum, as I find it a good deal of it saturated with authenticity and a very approachable (but sophisticated) prose. Although I can admit the inclusion of several prolific and respected female writers was rewarding and enhanced the scope of the course.
Ultimately, enforcing a strict traditional literary canon is logistically implausible, but holding reverence for outstanding literary works should be continued. In some ways, it is the natural progression of a well-rounded education: what sort of high school student should be exempt from reading “The Catcher in the Rye?” If we expanded this discussion to foreign writers, it becomes immeasurably and unflinchingly imperative to maintain a traditional canon.
...e insight to life or contain certain meanings that the reader must reconstruct in order to evaluate the text fully. Other novels are considered to be noteworthy because they exist within a specific literary movement, or because they reflect cultural change. However much one might argue that Erskine Caldwell’s God’s Little Acre and Chester Himes’ If He Hollers Let Him Go belong at the bottom of the literary ‘stack,’ they nevertheless employ the same concepts and exhibit the same characteristics that turn many other novels into works of ideal greatness.
Since the emergence of literature, thousands upon thousands of characters have graced our imaginations. From trouble maker Bart Simpson of the celebrated cartoon television series The Simpsons to Mr. Darcy of Jane Austen’s renowned novel Pride and Prejudice, the world has witnessed a plethora of characters in literature. Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, and Billy Collins, distinguished American poet, as well as countless other authors, share the utilization of characters in their literary works. The manner in which these authors use the literary element of characters varies immensely.
Parker, who wrote the script with Catherine di Napoli, has transported Melville’s story into a surreal contemporary nowhere world,” (Scott, 2001). The last resource being used in this research paper is an article wrote by Damon smith called “Poorly conceived “Bartleby” fails to bring characters to life”, this article discusses the drastic changes in the 2001 film “Bartleby”, compared to Melville’s original writings. Smith feels that these changes does not give Melville’s short story the justice that it deserves. These three sources are credible scholar articles that will provide comparative information to help support my thesis as well as primary points with this research. There are more differences in the movie and book that effect the way that the short story may have been perceive in its time. Parker takes a 18th century story and modernizes it to fit a culture that the viewers are in to help them to understand what Melville was trying to interpret in his writings. To some those drastic changes dampened the story and to others it made it more understandable and exciting. This research will show those differences as well as the similarities and show that the symbolism in both kinds of literature is the
In the short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” which was written by Herman Melville, the character named Bartleby is a very odd, yet interesting individual. In the story, Bartleby is introduced when he responds to a job opening at the narrator’s office. Although there is no background information given about him, it becomes very apparent that he will be the antagonist in this story. Unlike the usual image put on the antagonist, Bartleby causes conflict with a very quiet and calm temperament. This character’s attitude, along with the fact that he is a flat and static character, makes him a very unique antagonist, and this fact is shown through the way other characters approach and deal with his conflict.
The marriage of the masculine and the feminine into one, at times, indistinct sphere produces what Gene Laskowski calls a “masculine sentimentality” in his dissertation of the same name; curiously called, he adds, as “sentimentality is commonly associated with the tender landscape of feminine” (Laskowski 4). Laskowski calls for a broader understanding of gender in Melville’s works, which need to be “liberated” from their prescribed gender definitions (Laskowski 4). I hope to extend Laskowski’s argument in adding further evidence of “masculine sentimentality”, particularly in Moby-Dick.
Characterization has been established as an important part of literature as it allows authors to fully develop characters’ personalities, allowing readers to understand the characters and their actions. In the poem Judith, the author uses adjective phrases to describe Judith and Holofernes’ personalities. The diverse contrast in their nature highlights the heroic qualities in Judith, which teach the reader to have faith in God, as that is where her courage and strength stems from. Therefore, characterization can further be used as a technique to establish major themes in a work of
The infamous ending statement in Herman Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener,” “Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!” (Melville 34), signifies not only the tragic demise of the character of Bartleby, but the dismal ruin of mankind as well. This enigmatic statement can be applied to both “Bartleby the Scrivener” and Melville’s other short story, “Benito Cereno.” Both stories are narrated by unreliable characters, leaving further questions on whether or not the Lawyer was genuinely trying to help Bartleby when he showed signs of depression or if the one-sided story of Captain Delano truly portrayed the slaves and their motives for taking over Cereno’s San Dominick. In each of Melville’s short stories, there is an obvious grayness about each tale, the plots of both stories start out slow and unsuspicious, but are then revealed through a dynamic change in events, and each novella has ultimate realities that are hidden through appearances. Together, “Bartleby the Scrivener” and “Benito Cereno” are stories that possess a deep meaning within them which is intended to make the reader question the definition of human nature.
Excellence has always been a virtue revered by society. Writers throughout the ages have tried to capture the essence of excellence in their works, often in the form of a title character, who is the embodiment of perfection, encapsulating all the ideal traits necessary for one to be considered an excellent member of society. However, the standards for excellence are not universally agreed upon. On the contrary, one man's idea of excellence may very well be another's idea of mediocrity. Yet, human nature is constant enough that by analyzing different literary "heroes", one can discover the standards of excellence that are common to different peoples.
Fox-Genovese, Elizabeth. “The Claims of a common Culture: Gender, Race, Class and the Canon.” Writing as Re-Vision: A Student’s Anthology. Ed. Beth Alvarado and Barbara Cully. Needham Heights: Simon & Schuster P. 1998. 15-23.
Often times, one’s impression of something is based on people or things that ‘stick out,’ or are memorable. People in the spotlight in contemporary popular culture, such as: musicians, writers, actors and other celebrities, are purposely making themselves ‘stick out,’ so that these people are memorable, or become more famous by heightening their national profile with outrageous statements, outfits, and actions. Literature, rather than using outrageous statements or actions, uses different kinds of characters and their corresponding actions to make works more memorable. J.D. Salinger, in his novel The Catcher in the Rye, uses the character of Holden Caulfield, a rebellious adolescent, and his stream of consciousness to captivate and relate
Murphy, B. & Shirley J. The Literary Encyclopedia. [nl], August 31, 2004. Available at: http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2326. Access on: 22 Aug 2010.
“In my estimation a good book first must contain little or no trace of the author unless the author himself is a character. That is, when I read the book I should not feel that someone is telling me the story but t...
“Classic” is a term used to describe many things, such as a defining moment or a memorable book. When a book is described as a classic, it persuades new readers to discover why it is so memorable to those who have read it before them. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, is a common example of a literary classic, studied in classrooms all over the world today. Peace Like a River is a newer novel by Leif Enger, one that may very well become a classic in the future. It is an immensely profound novel that presents a new way of looking at the role of miracle in today’s lives. However, how would a novel like Peace Like a River, become a classic similar to To Kill a Mockingbird?
It is common in today's media-driven society to reach into the past for inspiration and ideas. A trend has developed where original works are transformed into other mediums. For example: books are turned into movies and/or plays, movies are turned into weekly sitcoms, and cartoons will spawn empires (Disney). These things happen so often that an audience rarely stops to question the level of authenticity that remains after these conversions. Perhaps it is only when a project is not well received that people begin to think of the difficulties involved with changing a work's genre. Using Gulliver's Travels as an example, discrepancies and additions in the movie can be contrasted with Jonathan Swift's original text.
Moby Dick, written by Herman Melville, is believed by some to be the greatest literary works of all time. The book takes place in the 1840s and seems greatly advanced for its time. Herman Melville uses many literary techniques that bring about severe imagery as well as insight and education to the readers. One concept that is conveyed in Moby Dick is the journey itself. This is broken into the physical journey, the spiritual journey, and life’s journey.