Mark Twain received his name while working as a riverboat pilot. Mark Twain really means "Two Fathoms" or that it was clear for the boat to keep going. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. We find racism or rather slavery ways to be of great controversy. In that time the through of a black and white equal was absurd. An example would be, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn we see a boy who leaves his home to be away from his abusive father and runs into a slave with whom he travels down the Mississippi with. This slave becomes his friend and they both treat each other equal. That was so controversial, especially in that time, because of the ways of society and their beliefs on how wrong this was. In many things throughout the book we find irony displayed. One example being when the runaway slave, Jim, calls Huck "white trash". This irony is there to show in different ways how stupidities, follies, abuses, and so on are put up to ridicule and contempt so that it shows the usage of poking fun at others and society in which one lives (paraphrased from http://www.123helpme.com/assets/15702.html). Irony is shown in real life too, not only in stories like the ones of Mark Twain.
A little bit about the background of Mark Twain will show you his reasoning for the way he portrayed slavery. Twain was raised Missouri, a slave state. His father had had few slaves come through their home and his uncle had had twenty slaves. So as we can see he saw slavery first hand just when he was around family. When he was younger he witnessed a murder of a slave by his owner for the reason of "just having done something awkward". This impacted his view on slavery and writings.
^Twain said once in a letter, "I reckon I had better black my face, for in these Eastern states, n***s are considerably better than white people."
^"The skin of every human being contains a slave."
^In "The Lowest Animal," Mark Twain wrote: "Man is the only Slave. And he is the only animal who enslaves. He has always been a slave in one form or another, and has always held other slaves in bondage under him in one way or another. In our day he is always some man's slave for wages, and does that man's work; and this slave has other slaves under him for minor wages, and they do his work. The higher animals are the only ones who exclusively do their own work and provide their own living."
Quotes- work cited- http://classiclit.about.com/od/marktwainfaqs/f/faq_mtwain_slav.htm
His view on slavery is easily portrayed through this and that also with his views in life and ways of writing. A few facts are that he was born on November 30, 1835. He married Olivia Langdon having four children of which one that lived. The one child that lived they named Clara and she had but one child that also died. He published more than thirty books in his career. Also, his most known books of today are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
More Gothic Notes.
*Unity of Effect- single overall feeling
-Poe was very structured in his writing and everything had a purpose and was intentional
-even settings played part
*Poe's particular genius was for exploring the strange and fantastic, conveying, psychological terror through carefully chosen details and events. (Gothic Elements)
*Mood- feeling or atmosphere
Poe's mood building techniques:
^detailed descriptions of settings through use of imagery and figurative language
^precisely chosen words and phrases
^the use of a narrator who both observes and participates in the events recounted
-Poe was very structured in his writing and everything had a purpose and was intentional
-even settings played part
*Poe's particular genius was for exploring the strange and fantastic, conveying, psychological terror through carefully chosen details and events. (Gothic Elements)
*Mood- feeling or atmosphere
Poe's mood building techniques:
^detailed descriptions of settings through use of imagery and figurative language
^precisely chosen words and phrases
^the use of a narrator who both observes and participates in the events recounted
The Fall of the House of Usher.
An old friend sends a letter to the narrator informing him that he is in need of help. Like a good friend should (no matter if they have not seen or heard from each other in so long) he went to visit the his friend. The man was Roderick Usher. The family and house are connected somehow, and since the family is dying or meant to, the house is also going to "die" or come to it's end. Roderick and his sister Madeline are the last Ushers alive. Roderick has a mental disability that causes him to bury his sister alive. He has gone mad. Madeline had a disease that was trance-like. It had to do with paralysis which at times made her seem dead because she would not wake up and her pulse could not be felt. Using this to his advantage Roderick attempted to kill her because it would end her suffering. She wakes up entombed, but escapes driven mad by this she finds Roderick and ends up killing him and herself. The narrator feels as if he is going crazy too when this is occurring around him. He has had enough and runs from the house. While turning back he sees the house collapse and sink into the ground symbolizing the death of the curse.
^retribution from the grave in a way fits with Madeline.
^retribution from the grave in a way fits with Madeline.
The Signalman.
-Written by Charles Dickens
-Specter- ghost
The signalman seems to be having problems with hauntings or a ghost. The ghost is seemingly trying to warn him of bad happenings, but he cannot stop these bad things. A man is walking by and sees the signal man and soon befriends the man in a way. He is interested in these hauntings or strange happenings that the signalman informs him of. He tells about the how he keeps seeing this ghost right before the train comes leading to terrible events. In the end the signalman hears the ghosts warning again and with his curiosity in trying to stop it he goes down to the tracks. He does not hear the train coming. The train's instructor is yelling for him to to move and the man he befriended is at the top of the hill too. He is yelling for him to "Watch out!". These warnings are mixed, however, with the ghosts and the signalman doesn't even notice. He is hit by the train and dies. After all of this we see that the ghosts warnings were actually the warning of the signalman's own death.
-Specter- ghost
The signalman seems to be having problems with hauntings or a ghost. The ghost is seemingly trying to warn him of bad happenings, but he cannot stop these bad things. A man is walking by and sees the signal man and soon befriends the man in a way. He is interested in these hauntings or strange happenings that the signalman informs him of. He tells about the how he keeps seeing this ghost right before the train comes leading to terrible events. In the end the signalman hears the ghosts warning again and with his curiosity in trying to stop it he goes down to the tracks. He does not hear the train coming. The train's instructor is yelling for him to to move and the man he befriended is at the top of the hill too. He is yelling for him to "Watch out!". These warnings are mixed, however, with the ghosts and the signalman doesn't even notice. He is hit by the train and dies. After all of this we see that the ghosts warnings were actually the warning of the signalman's own death.
The Raven.
This poem was written by Edgar Allen Poe and is a story over a man grieving the loss of his love when a raven appears saying over and over"nevermore". One important part that makes the story is when the man asks the raven a question he knows the answer to (because the raven always says "never,more"). This sadness is what the man likes and asks this because of that.
-The raven is a bird of prophecy
-They have long been associated with mystery, evil omens, and death.
-End rhyme: similar or identical sounds at the ends of lines
-Internal rhymes: rhymes within a line
-Rhyme scheme: the basic pattern of the end rhymes (A,B,C,B,B...)
-The raven is a bird of prophecy
-They have long been associated with mystery, evil omens, and death.
-End rhyme: similar or identical sounds at the ends of lines
-Internal rhymes: rhymes within a line
-Rhyme scheme: the basic pattern of the end rhymes (A,B,C,B,B...)
The Masque of the Red Death.
Allegory- two layers of meaning, literal and figurative in the story have these meanings (most of the persons, objects and events stand for abstract ideas or qualities)
-Prince Prospero and chosen others secluded themselves in a castellated abbey to keep away from the disease (plague)
*happiness inside - "Red Death" outside
-Prince decided to have a ball with those who were inside
-According to the story the buildings had apartments that were irregularly disposed so that it made the vision embraced but little more than one at a time
-Sharp turns were every 20 or 30 yards, at each a novel effect. To the right and left a Gothic window was in the middle of each wall that looked out to a closed corridor (stained glass)
-Each room had separate color schemes, except for one. It was all black, but had scarlet red colored panes.
-Not one apartment had a lamp and no light emanating the room, but in the corridor there were braziers opposite to each window. The rays projected through the stained glass windows illumining the rooms.
-Something about the black room made some fear entry. There was a gigantic ebony clock in this room also.
-Each time it chimed people stopped almost nervous, but went back to what they were doing after it stopped.
-The duke's (or Prince's) tastes were strange, peculiar, and some thought him mad, but not his followers.
-Masqueraders in this are compared to dreams and a madman's fancies. None venture into the 7th room.
-While the other rooms are filled with excitement or at least until the clock chimes again this time striking 12 strokes and they stop waiting for it to end.
-During this chiming, however, some start to realize a masked figure that had not been seen before. They find surprise and soon terror then horror.
-The prince was angered at his presence. He had out "Heroded" Herod.
-The prince orders his people to seize this stranger, but they do not.
-He runs through the apartments being chased by this stranger and the others do not help.
-A dagger is pulled and the prince is killed.
-Then the people seize him, but only to find nothing under the figures costume.
Thing/Possible Meaning/Possible Lesson
*Prince/ even a prince dies eventually/ position won't save you
*Abbey/ sort of safe haven/ walls can't protect you from everything
*Seven rooms/ all rooms had life, but black/ there are many seasons of life
*Clock/ life is a ticking clock/ days are numbered
*Stranger/ bringer of death/ can't escape death no matter what you do
-Prince Prospero and chosen others secluded themselves in a castellated abbey to keep away from the disease (plague)
*happiness inside - "Red Death" outside
-Prince decided to have a ball with those who were inside
-According to the story the buildings had apartments that were irregularly disposed so that it made the vision embraced but little more than one at a time
-Sharp turns were every 20 or 30 yards, at each a novel effect. To the right and left a Gothic window was in the middle of each wall that looked out to a closed corridor (stained glass)
-Each room had separate color schemes, except for one. It was all black, but had scarlet red colored panes.
-Not one apartment had a lamp and no light emanating the room, but in the corridor there were braziers opposite to each window. The rays projected through the stained glass windows illumining the rooms.
-Something about the black room made some fear entry. There was a gigantic ebony clock in this room also.
-Each time it chimed people stopped almost nervous, but went back to what they were doing after it stopped.
-The duke's (or Prince's) tastes were strange, peculiar, and some thought him mad, but not his followers.
-Masqueraders in this are compared to dreams and a madman's fancies. None venture into the 7th room.
-While the other rooms are filled with excitement or at least until the clock chimes again this time striking 12 strokes and they stop waiting for it to end.
-During this chiming, however, some start to realize a masked figure that had not been seen before. They find surprise and soon terror then horror.
-The prince was angered at his presence. He had out "Heroded" Herod.
-The prince orders his people to seize this stranger, but they do not.
-He runs through the apartments being chased by this stranger and the others do not help.
-A dagger is pulled and the prince is killed.
-Then the people seize him, but only to find nothing under the figures costume.
Thing/Possible Meaning/Possible Lesson
*Prince/ even a prince dies eventually/ position won't save you
*Abbey/ sort of safe haven/ walls can't protect you from everything
*Seven rooms/ all rooms had life, but black/ there are many seasons of life
*Clock/ life is a ticking clock/ days are numbered
*Stranger/ bringer of death/ can't escape death no matter what you do
Danse Macabre- Dance of Death.
-Written by Steven King
-psychology terror
~big bug behind the door theory
~curiosity of whats behind the door
*whats behind the door is never as scary as getting to the door (suspense, anticipation)
-psychology terror
~big bug behind the door theory
~curiosity of whats behind the door
*whats behind the door is never as scary as getting to the door (suspense, anticipation)
The Devil and Tom Walker.
A pirate named Kidd buried a treasure near the swamp long ago. He was hung and therefore never came back to retrieve it. The Devil now watches over it.
-Tom Walker and his wife live in England, but are not vey well off. They are greedy and always try to cheat each other out of money.
-One day Tom cuts through the swamp because it is faster in order to reach his home. When he comes across a fort he decides to sit down for a moment to rest. He begins to start poking around with his staff in the mold or rotten vegetables.
-Then his staff comes across something hard which is found to be an old Indian skull with tomahawk and all.
-While he is looking at it he hears a voice warning him to leave it be.
-The stanger appears, but does not seem to be of any race. Not Indian nor negro, but with black all over the figure.
Devil's appearance- black har, dingy and sooty face, an axe over his shoulder. Also, Red Eyes.
-He began to notice thast the trees in the forest all had names on them which portrayed the lives of people. The devil had control over the lives.
-When he finds out about the treasure he wants it and begins to ponder what he could do to get it.
-The devil leaves a fingerprint on his forehead that will not go away.
-When Tom returns home he tells his wife of this encounter and she wants the treasure for her own. She wants him to sell his soul so they can have it.
-He will not thouugh, but only because he wants to disagree with his wife. She then decides sh will go on her own then.
-She meets with the devil and has to come back with a "propitiatory" offering or all of that she owned that had value. She went again and was never seen again. Many stories weree told on what happned to her, but no one can know for sure.
-It was said that Tom went bcak and found his wife's apron with a heart and liver inside not the valuables as expected.
-Tom thought that the devil had killed her, but she put up a fight since he found some of her hair. (May have been because she was so sassy and greedy). Tom was actually relieved that his wife was gone it was one more thing off his back.
-Tom then decides he will do anything to get the treasure so he does make the promise. He becomes a broker/usurer in Boston and becomes very rich.
-He did things that would impress others like building a big house.
*He begins to start fearing his afterlife when he gets older. This results in him becoming an avid churchgoer and seems to go a little mad.
-A customer that he had driven penniless makes him angry one day when he makes the uge mistake of saying "The devil take me if I have made a far thing!" or that if he had made even a penny. (sarcastic) The devil then appears and takes him away by horse to the swamp. It is said by some that he was taken to the fort and it burst into flames leaving his belongings to ash.
-Tom Walker and his wife live in England, but are not vey well off. They are greedy and always try to cheat each other out of money.
-One day Tom cuts through the swamp because it is faster in order to reach his home. When he comes across a fort he decides to sit down for a moment to rest. He begins to start poking around with his staff in the mold or rotten vegetables.
-Then his staff comes across something hard which is found to be an old Indian skull with tomahawk and all.
-While he is looking at it he hears a voice warning him to leave it be.
-The stanger appears, but does not seem to be of any race. Not Indian nor negro, but with black all over the figure.
Devil's appearance- black har, dingy and sooty face, an axe over his shoulder. Also, Red Eyes.
-He began to notice thast the trees in the forest all had names on them which portrayed the lives of people. The devil had control over the lives.
-When he finds out about the treasure he wants it and begins to ponder what he could do to get it.
-The devil leaves a fingerprint on his forehead that will not go away.
-When Tom returns home he tells his wife of this encounter and she wants the treasure for her own. She wants him to sell his soul so they can have it.
-He will not thouugh, but only because he wants to disagree with his wife. She then decides sh will go on her own then.
-She meets with the devil and has to come back with a "propitiatory" offering or all of that she owned that had value. She went again and was never seen again. Many stories weree told on what happned to her, but no one can know for sure.
-It was said that Tom went bcak and found his wife's apron with a heart and liver inside not the valuables as expected.
-Tom thought that the devil had killed her, but she put up a fight since he found some of her hair. (May have been because she was so sassy and greedy). Tom was actually relieved that his wife was gone it was one more thing off his back.
-Tom then decides he will do anything to get the treasure so he does make the promise. He becomes a broker/usurer in Boston and becomes very rich.
-He did things that would impress others like building a big house.
*He begins to start fearing his afterlife when he gets older. This results in him becoming an avid churchgoer and seems to go a little mad.
-A customer that he had driven penniless makes him angry one day when he makes the uge mistake of saying "The devil take me if I have made a far thing!" or that if he had made even a penny. (sarcastic) The devil then appears and takes him away by horse to the swamp. It is said by some that he was taken to the fort and it burst into flames leaving his belongings to ash.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Gothic Literature Notes.
Gothic Literature- characterized by grotesque characters, bizarre situations, and violent events. Originated in Europe. U.S. in the 19th Century. Notable authors were Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Celebrations of the Self-
Romanticism- Writers saw limitations of reason (reaction to Puritanism), celebrated original spirit, emotions, and the imagination of basic elements of human nature. Splendors of nature inspired the romantics more than the fear of God
-fascination with supernatural
1) limitations of reason
2) individual spirit
3) emotions
4) the splendors of nature
5) imagination
6) fascination with the supernatural (Henry Longfellow and Washington Irving)
Typical Romantic~
7) atmosphere
8) sentiment
9) optimism
Transcendentalism- derived in part form German Romanticism, was based on a belief that "transcendent forms" of truth exist beyond reason and experience. (faith) "belief in something beyond physical"
-every individual is capable of discovering this higher truth on his or her own, through intuition
American Gothic- cavernous Gothic cathedrals with their irregularly placed towers and stained glass windows intended to inspire awe and fear in religious worshipers.
-gargoyles- creatures (statues) crouching on corners and crevices of Gothic cathedrals. Acts as a mascot, they warded off evil spirits from them you will get a good idea of the kind of imaginative distortion of reality that Gothic represents.
- the imagination of writers leads you to the threshold of the unknown-that shadowy region where the fantastic, the demonic, and the insane reside
Dark side of Individualism-
-romantics see hope
-Gothics see potential evil
-dark medieval castles or dark decaying estates provided setting for weird and terrifying events
*Poe- male narrators are insane; female characters are beautiful and dead (or dying)
-extreme situations: not just murder, but live burials, physical and mental torture, and retribution from beyond the grave.
- from Poe only through extreme situations people revealed their true nature
*Hawthorne- examined the human heart under conditions of fear, greed, vanity, mistrust, and betrayal
Celebrations of the Self-
Romanticism- Writers saw limitations of reason (reaction to Puritanism), celebrated original spirit, emotions, and the imagination of basic elements of human nature. Splendors of nature inspired the romantics more than the fear of God
-fascination with supernatural
1) limitations of reason
2) individual spirit
3) emotions
4) the splendors of nature
5) imagination
6) fascination with the supernatural (Henry Longfellow and Washington Irving)
Typical Romantic~
7) atmosphere
8) sentiment
9) optimism
Transcendentalism- derived in part form German Romanticism, was based on a belief that "transcendent forms" of truth exist beyond reason and experience. (faith) "belief in something beyond physical"
-every individual is capable of discovering this higher truth on his or her own, through intuition
American Gothic- cavernous Gothic cathedrals with their irregularly placed towers and stained glass windows intended to inspire awe and fear in religious worshipers.
-gargoyles- creatures (statues) crouching on corners and crevices of Gothic cathedrals. Acts as a mascot, they warded off evil spirits from them you will get a good idea of the kind of imaginative distortion of reality that Gothic represents.
- the imagination of writers leads you to the threshold of the unknown-that shadowy region where the fantastic, the demonic, and the insane reside
Dark side of Individualism-
-romantics see hope
-Gothics see potential evil
-dark medieval castles or dark decaying estates provided setting for weird and terrifying events
*Poe- male narrators are insane; female characters are beautiful and dead (or dying)
-extreme situations: not just murder, but live burials, physical and mental torture, and retribution from beyond the grave.
- from Poe only through extreme situations people revealed their true nature
*Hawthorne- examined the human heart under conditions of fear, greed, vanity, mistrust, and betrayal
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