What is Literature?
Literature is considered emotional, imaginative and contains many elements of figurative language that helps readers understand an overall idea. For centuries, literature has shaped the way many have recognized written work. Dating back to the 17th century, literature formed an overall attraction to the Colonial community as it appealed to emotions and sensitive-subjects through pleasing expressions. For many years, scholars have debated what exactly classifies a writing as literature or non-literature. Within the Colonial period, non-literature was expressed to voice historical and factual events, where literature explained overall emotion and sensitivity among various groups. Although a defined line has been drawn between
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Non-literature, can be detected as it often displays a narrative or story that contains many elements that do not appeal to emotion or images. In essence, non-literature is often seen as it is written in hindsight of personal experience. Consequently, Earnest explains, “A more subtle way to destroy literature is that practiced by those scholastics who turn it into a catalog of dates, types, and sources” (15). For example, Mary Rowlandson, a female figure within the 17th century, represents non-literature as she explains her experience of Indian captivity. Rowlandson’s piece of writing is not considered literature since she focuses on the factual and historical elements of her experience, rather than a narrative of an emotional encounter. Rowlandson introduces her narrative as “On the tenth of February 1675, came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaster” (127), showing a specific historical date. Similar to Rowlandson, John Smith, an important figure in the establishment of Jamestown in the 1600’s, wrote on account of his experiences with the building of his colony. “Smith newly recovered, Martin and Ratcliffe were by his care preserved and relieved, and the most of the soldiers recovered with the skillful diligence of Master Thomas Wotton our general surgeon” (Smith, 60). Due to Smith’s textbook-like writing, it …show more content…
Dating back to the Colonial period, literature was based on imagery, figurative language, and its appeal to emotion. Non- literature, however, details historical or factual events through its writing. Although there is a line between what is determined as literature or non-literature, it is a fine line as elements of both are found within each other.
Works Cited Earnest, Ernest. Forward to Literature: The Nature of Literature. D. Appleton-Century Company, Inc., 1945
Henwood, Dawn. “MARY ROWLANDSON AND THE PSALMS: The Textuality of Survival.” Early American Literature., Vol. 32, Issue 2, September 1997, Pg. 169-183. http://mendel.csuniv.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rlh&AN=5602623&site=eds-live&scope=site Accessed 20 January 2018.
Van Engen, Abram. “Advertising the Domestic: Anne Bradstreet’s Sentimental Poetics.” Legacy, Vol. 28, Issue 1, 2011, Pg. 47-68. http://mendel.csuniv.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hft&AN=510064483&site=eds-live&scope=site Accessed 20 January 2018.
Penner, Allen Richard. “Edward Taylor’s Meditation One.” American Literature. Vol. 39, Issue 2, May 1967, Pg. 193-199. http://mendel.csuniv.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=10212210&site=eds-live&scope=site Accessed 20 January
This journal, “Of Plymouth Plantation”, which was from Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 1, written by William Bradford between 1630 and 1651, and edited by Samuel Eliot Morison in 1953, describes the story of the pilgrims who sailed from Southampton, England, on the Mayflower and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. Those pilgrims were English Christians in the 16th and 17th centuries and religious separatists who saw no hope of reforming the Church of England from within; therefore, they hoped to separate from the Church of England and form independent local churches in another place. In order to , those pilgrims overcame many obstacles. The author had used the power of rhetoric, especially in the use of the three rhetorical
Literature has been around for many ages. There are many different types of literature fro. many different times. The way people write has changed throughout the years. American literature is commonly talk about because it is well liked, although sometimes it can be hard to understand if you are currently a student.
During the early colonial times of America, many authors wrote about the things they experienced during that time. Two well-known authors of that period were John Smith and Anne Bradstreet. Smith gave accounts of what he experienced during that period through prose, whereas Anne Bradstreet wrote about some things that went on her life through poetry. Smith’s writings have the purpose of telling what happened and providing the facts, whereas Anne Bradstreet does tell what happened, but she also looks toward the future in her writings. John Smith, the leader of the Jamestown Colony in America, wrote a book named The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles.
During the Puritan times gender roles in the society were very anti-feminist. Women were required to act as housewives and do womanly duties such as cook, clean, and take care of their children. Women had very little freedom as far as their rights were concerned also. Puritan writers, Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson both experienced the struggle of the anti-feminist movement. From their writings we see that they both were against anti-feminism and they tried their best to abandon the whole idea.
Theses writings were for personal use and despite their wishes were eventually published. Because of this, their writings showed true emotion and not that for entertainment or religious persuasion. Once released to the public their experiences were valued and passed on for generations to come. There was many simulates in the works of Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson’s describing signs from God to appreciate the nature, family and most importunely to put God first. Because of these signs and resulting tragedies, Anne Bradstreet and Mary Rowlandson had a very positive outlook on life and inspired many to follow and appreciate the simple things in life.
There are many different forms of literature out in the world. They come in forms of novels, short stories, articles, and poems. They help people by allowing them to be informed about certain topics and they even make people forget about their daily lives while they enter a totally different world. If literature never existed nobody would obtain new information, they wouldn’t escape reality, famous authors wouldn’t be famous, and publishers wouldn’t be publishing any great works of art. What makes literature, literature, is its wide use of imagery and symbolism.
(Emanuel and Fuchs, 2005). References Emanuel, E. & Fuchs, V. (2005). Solved! Washington Monthly, Vol.
No one is capable of choosing their emotions; they come as a result of human nature. This can be seen in our behavior throughout life, from the way babies cry when they miss their parents to the reckless actions of teenagers when they feel the urge to rebel. People begin expressing their feelings before they even start crawling. It is an involuntary reflex that comes naturally and continues to our dying breath. The ability to feel emotion is an aspect of humanity that transcends generations.
The arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas is dramatically captured through the many writers who attempted to communicate what they saw, experienced and felt. What is more, the very purposes of their treacherous travel and colonization are clearly seen in their writings; whether it is poetry, history or sermons. Of the many literary pieces available today, William Bradford and John Winthrop’s writings, even though vary because the first is a historical account and the second is a sermon, stand out as presenting a clear trust in God, the rules that would govern them and the reason they have arrived in the Americas. First of all, William Bradford provides an in-depth look into the first moment when the Puritans arrived in the Americas. In fact, he chronicles the hardships they face on their way to Plymouth, yet he includes God’s provision every step of the way.
Their strong religious values aided them in the survival of the struggle they experienced during their lives. They were two different women with similar struggles but with different situations. Although Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet both had unique struggles, both women were able to overcome their difficulties through similar faiths. Mary Rowlandson was a woman that relied on God. Rowlandson is comforted in her “low estate” by Biblical passages that [take] hold of her heart” and enable her to survive (Mary Rowlanson’s Captivity and the Place of the Woman’s Subject).
Analyzing Captivity Stories: How Different Tones Support Different Themes In A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, Mary Rowlandson retells her story as a captive of the Wampanoag Indians. In Louise Erdrich’s poem “Captivity”, Erdrich responds to Rowlandson by telling a story about a captive of a Native American tribe through the eyes of the captive. Throughout their stories, both authors utilize diction to produce a specific tone that conveys their overall theme. Through analysis of both authors’ diction choice, it is evident that Rowlandson’s hopeful tone supports her theme of exclusive belief in God, whereas Erdrich’s desperate tone supports her message that beliefs are susceptible to change.
The Norton Introduction to Literature, edited by Kelly J. Mays, W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, pp. 1781-1844. Harris, Laurie Lanzen. “Overview: A Raisin in the Sun.” 1990, go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=2&docId=GALE%7CH1430001629&docType=Work+overview&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=&prodId=GLS&contentSet=GALE%7CH1430001629&searchId=R5&userGroupName=avlr&inPS=true.
Megan Rochelle Professor Devin Pizzino English 10 November 2015 Title The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a personal account, written by Mary Rowlandson in 1682. In her accounts, Rowlandson tells the readers of what life in captivity was truly like for her. Mary Rowlandson ultimately lost everything by an Indian attack on her town of Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1675.
67, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 94-100. EBSCOhost, lrcproxy.iccms.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=53300776&site=eds-live.
Furthermore, by using end rhyme, Bradstreet symbolically shows restraint. In the same way that a poet controls oneself by specifically using end rhyme, the poet is controlling her emotions when dealing with a sad experience and accepts her mortality. Similarly, in “Verses Upon the Burning of our House,” proof of Bradstreet’s faith is indisputable. After being initially distraught at her house burning down and losing all of her belongings, Bradstreet recounts how she reorients herself and blesses “His name that gave and took,