Survey of American Literature

        Survey of American Literature         Write an essay in" rel="nofollow">in response to one of the followin" rel="nofollow">ing questions. If you wish to devise your own topic, you may do so as long as your topic 1) analyzes at least one of the assigned readin" rel="nofollow">ings and 2) relates the analysis to somethin" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in your personal life or modern-day America more generally. These two elements are reflected in" rel="nofollow">in all the suggested topics, and you will need to address them both to get a good grade. You may want to consult with me if you decide to develop your own topic.   1. In “Model of Christian Charity,” John Win" rel="nofollow">inthrop refers to the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a “city upon a hill.” Explain" rel="nofollow">in the meanin" rel="nofollow">ing of this simile, and discuss its legacy in" rel="nofollow">in American culture, particularly its in" rel="nofollow">influence on at least one later text/speech. Discuss the relationship between Win" rel="nofollow">inthrop’s statement and American exceptionalism. Consider whether it’s positive, negative, or some combin" rel="nofollow">ination of the two that many Americans thin" rel="nofollow">ink of the nation as a city upon a hill. Be sure to provide a reasoned argument and evidence for your position and to take the opposin" rel="nofollow">ing poin" rel="nofollow">int of view in" rel="nofollow">into account.   2. Choose one of the poets we’ve read: Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, Phillis Wheatley, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, or Emily Dickin" rel="nofollow">inson. Highlight a theme the poet explores that is relevant to somethin" rel="nofollow">ing you have experienced in" rel="nofollow">in your own life. Describe your life experience, how the poem explores such experiences, and what you learned from the poem. In discussin" rel="nofollow">ing these issues, be sure to examin" rel="nofollow">ine the poet’s style, how s/he uses figurative language to explore the topic, etc.   3. We have met a variety of types of in" rel="nofollow">individuals from a variety of walks of life while readin" rel="nofollow">ing the material in" rel="nofollow">in this course. These in" rel="nofollow">include but are not limited to Native Americans, colonial explorers, Puritans, Foundin" rel="nofollow">ing Fathers, slaves, slaveholders, lawyers, and scriveners. Choose one of these types of people or any other that drew your in" rel="nofollow">interest while readin" rel="nofollow">ing. Expand on what you learned about this walk of life by doin" rel="nofollow">ing a little library research on the topic. Explain" rel="nofollow">in how the literary works that address them reflect on what life was like for this group. Back this element of your paper up with detailed analysis of the work. Then, reflect on what learnin" rel="nofollow">ing about this group helps us understand about our own society.     4. Compare and contrast Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin" rel="nofollow">in and Frederick Douglass’s Narrative as works of abolitionist literature. Which is the more powerful critique of slavery, and why? Be sure to take the opposin" rel="nofollow">ing poin" rel="nofollow">int of view in" rel="nofollow">into account. What could politicians or social leaders today learn from the methods used by the author you chose?