Instructor Garnett
ENG 241
2 June 2015
Gratitude of Ash Phillis Wheatley drew attention in 18thcentury for being a black slave, and a prodigy child who wrote poems and songs. She was born in Gambia, Africa and brought to Boston as a slave when she was seven or eight years old, and became slave of John Wheatley’s wife more likely as companion. When Phillis Wheatley was acknowledged as feeble and brilliant by John Wheatley’s wife, Susanna Wheatley, she felt affection toward her. Therefore, Susanna Wheatley’s daughters taught Philllis how to read and write. Furthermore, she delivered her honest opinions through her writings. She became the first African American writer to publish a book of poetry even though other slaves were forbidden to learn to read and write at that time. Her ability to write
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“Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a Savior too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew” (Baym at al. 764). She introduces her slavery as a positive for it let her to know about God and shows gratitude toward her owners. One day, her master, Susanna, saw her writing on a wall with chalk, then Susanna discovered that she was an intelligent child, so she educate her in reading and writing, even English literature, Latin and the Bible. However, “Some view our sable race with scornful eye” (Baym at al. 764) as she was brought from her pagan land, and heard some people saying “Their color is a diabolic dye” (Baym at al. 764). This statement evokes of feeling empathy to the readers. If this poem was read by salves or black, they will would be able to agree upon her even though she was living in a different situation as other slaves. This does not only apply to Africans but also people in authority. She wanted the politicians who had the power to know how it feels to be called and treated in certain
Phillis Wheatley and Robert Smalls may not be a notable name in today’s history, but their stories are remarkable none the less. While Robert Smalls became famous for his bravery and actions, Phillis Wheatley became famous through her written words. Against all odds, these two African-American’s went and did what was called the impossible for people of their race in their times of history. Phillis Wheatley was brought to Boston, Massachusetts on the ship, The Phillis, in 1761 when she was just seven or eight years old. Phillis was small, frail, nearly naked, and could not speak a word of English when she arrived in America.
The reader can express from the novel that Phillis Wheatley was a lucky slave that her slavery gave her life a big turnaround. Phillis Wheatley gain the title of being the first African American that became a poet, she was kidnapped at the short age of seven to be sold to a wealthy family in the Boston slave auction in 1761 and later was brought to America. Phillis had the chance to receive an education due to Susannah Wheatley, Phillis was taught to read and write as well as being able to know the Bible. She was a smart child that took advantage of her slavery and took advantage of every opportunity she had to write about freedom, slavery and religion through her writings in poetry. For her it was the voice of expression she had of being able
In some of the works that Phillis Wheatley created she does not directly criticize slavery in her poetry she only accepts that it exists. In her poem On Being Brought from Africa to America she acknowledges that racism exist in America she states “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,” (Para 5) this reflects how people viewed slaves as being subhuman. As Wheatley continues to the next line stating “Their colour is a diabolic die." (Para 6) using quotation marks this shows an elaboration on her point that there are negative societal views on black people. I feel the reason she wrote this way is in the eighteenth century people did not view Africans as human beings they were seen as being creatures.
Douglass describes Sophia from being an open-minded young woman, accepting of racial differences and promoting justice, to a narrow-minded woman with clouded judgment in regards to those of his Black race. As Douglass settles into his Baltimore style of living with the Aulds, Sophia takes it upon herself to teach Douglass his ABCs. Although that would seem normal for a White child, for a Black child during the nineteenth-century, that was strictly off-limits. Hugh Auld is swift to take notice of this, and immediately puts an end to the beginning of an education Douglass had been vying for for so long. Just as Sophia teaches Douglass just three letters of the ABCs, Hugh Auld goes on a tangent of racial slurs and detrimental stereotypes about Black people and their access to literacy to Sophia, which whilst disheartens Douglass, reveals to him the power of literacy.
This fact does not vindicate those who condemned her – the existence of a dynamic defense in her favor shows that original thoughts were not unheard of – but it does help explain what might otherwise seem a series of inexplicably cruel, inauspicious events. The institution of slavery was responsible for young Celia’s tragic end, and hers was just one tragedy of the many that make up slavery’s long
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” This phrase credited to Edward Bulwer-Lytton has often been repeated in various forms since the 1840s; however, it takes for granted one important element: literacy. The written word has no power beyond the literacy of the audience. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Fredrick Douglass recounts his journey to literacy and its impact on his life. The article showcases his endeavor to learn to read and write and the power it brought him while living in a country that tended to look down on his race.
Phillis Wheatley is another author in American literature who represent two traditions at ones- the black American literatury and the black woman's tradition. In her poems she was using sarcasm and irony as a tool to fight the moral of society and her anti- slavery stance became more powerful for free life. For example, on her poem" On Being Brought from Africa to America" she said " They color is a diabolic dye, Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refined, and join the angelic train". She became well known for her origine as a slave and in the direct way she compare the color with diabolic dye to tell us the people do not mater from the colore they were living to enjoy the Anglican church and belive in the God. To put diabolic dye and join the church in the same train, she showed her intelligence in her writting and she added her attention to deliver her message.
I. Introductory Paragraph and Thesis Statement Phillis Wheatley has changed the world of the literature and poetry for the better with her groundbreaking advancements for women and African Americans alike, despite the many challenges she faced. By being a voice for those who can not speak for themselves, Phillis Wheatley has given life to a new era of literature for all to create and enjoy. Without Wheatley’s ingenious writing based off of her grueling and sorrowful life, many poets and writers of today’s culture may not exist. Despite all of the odds stacked against her, Phillis Wheatley prevailed and made a difference in the world that would shape the world of writing and poetry for the better. II.
According to Mistress Hugh, “education and slavery were incompatible with each other” (Douglass, 33). Although Mistress Hugh had stopped teaching Douglass how to read, the seed of knowledge had already been planted. In the years that followed, his hunger for knowledge did not dissipate. Douglass devised various methods to learn to read and write in very clever ways.
Metaphors are an influential piece to the literary world due to, “the process of using symbols to know reality occurs”, stated by rhetoric Sonja Foss in Metaphoric Criticism. The significance of this, implies metaphors are “central to thought and to our knowledge and expectation of reality” (Foss 188). Although others may see metaphors as a difficult expression. Metaphors provide the ability to view a specific content and relate to connect with involvement, a physical connection to view the context with clarity. As so used in Alice Walker’s literary piece, In Search Of Our Mothers’ Gardens.
Religious Effects Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral by Phyllis Wheatley was the first book to be published by a black American, and “On being brought from Africa to America” was probably one of the most famous poems included in the book. It discusses Wheatley’s experience of being taken as a slave, and the religious effects of the experience. Religion played a great role in shaping Wheatley’s outlook on many subjects. “On being brought from Africa to America” expresses religion’s effect on Wheatley through her word choices and the overall message of the poem.
Breaking Social Boundaries The era of the 1920s was a pinnacle time in American History and the literature that was produced from this era showcases the social change happening. This was the time of social upheaval where the people were challenging social boundaries. The values that had been sought after in the period before this were becoming less and else prevalent in the new society. There are many viewpoints of this time period so the literature of this time was very diverse and many works showed the changing cultures.
“Letter to My Master, Thomas Auld” explores Frederick Douglass’ view of slavery and Thomas Auld, his former slave master, in a smart and emotionally charged letter originally written in 1848 and published in the abolitionist newspaper North Star. Throughout the letter, Douglass uses his own experience as a slave to drive his views, often using sarcasm and a dark recognition of his trials to drive his own view of slavery; that slavery should be abolished and that it is inhumane and cruel. Douglass’ decision to publish this paper in the North Star allowed him to bring to light his experiences to push other readers of the newspaper towards an abolitionist stand point by bringing his first-hand accounts of slavery forward and explaining, at times
To understand the real meaning of a literary work, we need to look into the meaning of each word and why the author has chosen these particular words and not different ones. Close reading of literary works helps us understand the author’s thinking and understanding of the time they lied in. One of the American poet and author of the 18th century, Phillis Wheatley, she was one of the most famous poets who changed the life of most Americans. Wheatley’s most famous poem is “On Being Brought from Africa to America”. To look in more detail into this specific poem, first thing is the language that she uses, second the form and style of the poem, and lastly what message she is trying to get to her audience.
Shall we go? Shall we leave Africa?” Some wanted to leave at that time, she noted, and some “have gone already.” She herself, she said, varying between a desire to be