Roman to Real 2

Who is Dred Scott?

Slave who had spent a few years living in a free state with his master Dred Scott sued for his freedom, with the argument that living in a free state made him free Supreme Court ruled against him, and said "free blacks had no rights" Supreme Court's Dred Scott ruling appalled the Northern States, further dividing the North/South

Why is free verse appropriate for Whitman?

Sounds more like a conversation, easier to express many ideas in free verse

"I Hear America Singing" Summary

Talks to working people, each with a different "song" Song - happiness to work Americans take pride in their work All honest work is fufilling

What is the significance of these lines? There interposed a Fly— With Blue—uncertain stumbling Buzz— Between the light—and me

There interposed a Fly— With Blue—uncertain stumbling Buzz— Between the light—and me the imagery of the fly, his "uncertain stumbling Buzz" aptly portrays the author's uncertainty of not knowing what happens to people after they have died.

In "I Sit and Look Out," what is the purpose of cataloguing and parallelism?

each of the examples listed provides a listing of the oppressed, the neglected, the abused in society, and the injustice of many being poorly treated because they are poor, or because of their skin color: all this gives the poem a sad, depressing tone

What is the tone in the first stanza of "I heard a Fly Buzz when I died"?

expectant: the person is waiting, knowing at any moment he/she will die The Stillness in the Room Was like the Stillness in the Air— Between the Heaves of Storm--

What is the purpose of the structure in "Beat! Beat! Drums!"?

first and last lines of each stanza use obnoxious onomatopoeia to motivate the everyday imagery of people living their ordinary lives as depicted by the middle lines

Comparison of "A Noiseless Patient Spider" and "Beat! Beat! Drums!"

"A Noiseless Patient Spider: - very serene and reflective. Uses images of a soul unwinding, paths unwinding, and a peaceful spider doing its thing. "Beat! Beat! Drums!" - almost loud and very provocative; emotionally stirring. Uses imagery of people getting up to action and loud noises to rouse people

Why did Douglass include physical realities and emotional standpoints of himself?

it exposes the harsh reality and the damning effect it had on the slaves.

What is the overall tone of "I Hear America Singing"

one of joy and satisfaction

In "Song of Myself," what does grass symbolize?

regeneration of nature: all of nature dies, including people who come back as grass grass links people of all ethnicities because it grows everywhere

Follow the Drinking Gourd

the "Drinking Gourd" was an allusion to the Big Dipper that the slaves followed The slaves used the Big Dipper to guide them in their journey from slavery to freedom as part the Underground Railroad.

In "The Soul selects her own Society," which people does the Soul exclude?

the Majority as well as the Emperor

What is the significance of these lines: And then the Windows failed—and then I could not see to see—

the paradox of the Windows failing further enforces the idea that the speaker does know/cannot see what happens after death.

What literary device contributes to the tone of indifference (the Soul doesn't care) she feels toward an person as important as the Emperor?

the parallel structure Unmoved—she notes the Chariots—pausing— . . . Unmoved—an Emperor be kneeling

What is the tone of Stanza 4? Or rather—He passed Us— The Dews drew quivering and chill— For only Gossamer, my Gown— My Tippet—only Tulle

the tone is Stanza takes a depressing turn. As Death passes by, even the Dew shivers from the cold, and the rider realizes she is dressed for death

What is meant by the following lines: "Because I could not stop for Death--He kindly stopped for me"?

this is a paradox: most people do not prepare for death, but the poet is sarcastically stating that death is polite enough to stop for people who are not ready to die

Figures of speech/figurative language

uses imaginative language to suggest a special meaning or create a special effect

"Because I could not stop for Death--"

uses personification, extended metaphor, paradox and imagery to convey the journey people take before they die

What is ironic about the word choice? Then—close the Valves of her attention— Like Stone—

valve implies free flowing, such as water, meaning the Soul chooses when to be generous with her attention to someone and when to turn into STONE the stone imagery implies the Soul, when it chooses, can COMPLETELY shut people out

blank verse poetry

written in lines of iambic pentameter, but doesn't use end rhyme Most Shakespearean poetry is written in blank verse

How many more years would the war last for after Bull Run?

4 years

What did Ralph Waldo Emerson call for?

A national poet that could make something original

"Beat! Beat! Drums!"

Call for action as demonstrated by the parallelism throughout each stanza . . . Rallies all the people, no matter what they are/were doing

Generalizations from conflict between Douglass and Covey

Conflicts: refusal to strip; failing to return with perfect cart; general awkwardness; failure to withstand working conditions; attempting to leave Covey Effects on slaves: dehumanized Effects on masters: dehumanized, brutalizing

What proof is provided that the Soul is very picky about whom she choose to spend time?

I've known her—from an ample nation— Choose One— hyperbole: from an entire nation, the Soul has chosen only one person

What is the extended metaphor in "A Noiseless Patient Spider"?

Just as the spider is "launching forth filament, filament, filament" toward empty space to connect to something that will give him security, so too, the Soul attempts "ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking" to connect to other souls.

What kind of literature was present after the Civil War?

Slave narratives - detailing the experiences of slaves Diaries and Letters - showed personal responses to events Ambrose Bierce + Stephen Crane - wrote stories focused on human tragedy of a war that destroyed many lives, even as it freed many more Fiction moved toward realism

In "Song of Myself 52," what tone is set for how Whitman views death?

"I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun, I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags. I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles. You will hardly know who I am or what I mean, But I shall be good health to you nevertheless, And filter and fibre your blood. Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you." When Whitman "shake[s] [his] white locks," his attitude is one of defiance. Rather than fearing old age, the old man will shake his white hair because he knows his death will not be the end of him. Death means he will be reincarnated as dirt/grass. So he challenges the reader to look anywhere there is dirt or grass if they are missing someone who has already passed. Nature brings Whitman peace because of her cyclical (everything come back in a continuous circle) nature.

In what respect is grass symbolic of both life and death?

"They are alive and well somewhere, The smallest sprout shows there is really no death, And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it, And ceas'd the moment life appear'd. All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier." Death allows grass to grow, and when we see grass, it gives us hope of a new beginning because the grass reminds us of the circle of life as nothing every really dies . . . it just comes back again, as grass.

Provide examples of parallelism and its effect on the overall message in "I Hear America Singing"

"the carpenter singing . . . the mason singing . . . the shoemaker singing" all emphasize the joy and unity they experience performing their own jobs.

Paradoxes in Dickinson's poetry

- "Success is counted sweetest": "Success is counted sweetest / By those who ne'er succeed" (lines 1-2). People who have never succeed appreciate and know success better than those who do.

Who was John Brown?

-Abolitionist who killed 5 pro-slavery men in Bleeding Kansas raided Harpers Ferry (Federal arsenal) to try and start a slave uprising Regarded as a saint to some (i.e. Henry David Thoreau) and as a devil to others (i.e. Nathaniel Hawthorne)

When the child asks "What is grass?" what is Whitman's response?

1. "I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, of hopeful green stuff woven" using a metaphor, Whitman liken grass to a flag (a piece of cloth), meaning the grass a symbol of regeneration out of which everyone is woven 2. "it is the handkerchief of the Lord," an extended metaphor in which the Lord is like the girlfriend who gives her boyfriend handkerchief, so that he will have something that reminds him of her. God has left us a reminder of who He is through the grass (handkerchief) he left on earth. 3. "I guess the grass itself a child, the produced babe of the vegetation" the grass is a baby Mother Nature left behind 4. "I guess it is a uniform hieroglyphic . . . Sprouting alike in broad zones and narrow zones" it is a signs that because it grows EVERYWHERE, grass is what connects us to each other regardless of our race/ethnicity/group to which we belong

Frederick Douglass

1817-1895 Worked in the home of Hugh and Sophia Auld of Baltimore, Maryland Learned to read from Mrs. Auld, forced to stop by Mr. Auld Studied The Columbian Orator in secret Escaped to the North by disguising as sailor 1838 - settled in New Bedord, Massachusetts, Lectured about experiences as slavery Rose to international fame with publication of autobiography Went on two-year speaking tour of Great Britain, friends bought his freedom Settled in Rochester, New York and founded North Star (antislavery newspaper) During Civil War: Advised Lincoln, recruited first African-American soldiers Appointed to many gov't posts, like U.S. marshal for District of Colombia and minister of Haiti Continued to fight for women's rights (early defender), blacks, land reform, public education until death

Walt Whitman

1819-1892 Grew up in Long Island (rural) and Brooklyn (crowded) Dropped out of school at 11 years old Worked as office boy, typesetter, printer, newspaper editor, school teacher, carpenter, and journalist Published some poems and short stories in 1840s Inspired by Emerson Started working on Leaves of Grass in 1850s, quitting journalist Revised, rewrite, expand Leaves of Grass 1892 - 9th and final version published (nearly 400 poems) Celebrated all aspects of American life Leaves of Grass shocked many because of the new style; made people throw it out (John Greenleaf Whittier burned it) Leaves of Grass regarded as most influential book of poetry in American literature Had Thomas Edison record him reading one of his poens

Emily Dickinson

1830-1886 Bedroom overlooked village graveyard Born into well-to-do family Stood in awe of Father, who was stern, imposing, committed to Puritan ideals Distant from mother, close with older brother (Austin) and younger sister (Vinnie) 1847 - attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary Left after 1 year, missing family and resented church Would feel torn between own convictions and religious beliefs (seen in many poems) Became devoted to poetry in 1850s Jotted down ideas during the day, between chores Wrote during night Meditated between life and death Gradually withdrew from world, but entertained occasional visitors and kept correspondence with friends and family Last 16 years, dressed only in white Feared she might go blind because of eye problems Sometime signed letters "Uncle Emily" 1775 poems posted posthumously by Vinnie

What happened in Bleeding Kansas in 1851?

1850s Violence between Northerners and Southerners to decide if it would be slave or free state Kansas was neutral and as statehood was approaching, Northerns sent voters for K to be come free state while Southerner sent voters to vote the state in favor of a slave state.

Who was Charles Sumner?

1856 - Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner gave a speech against slavery and then was beat with a cane by Preston S. Brooks (Carolina congressman) in a meeting of politicians

When does the grim reality of war actually strike?

After the Battle of Bull Run, thousands are dead and wounded, with Union soldiers fleeing the battle.

What was the mood during the initial stages of the Battle of Bull Run?

Almost festive Soldiers picked blackberries and drank from the creek; the wealthy came in carriages with champagne and picnic baskets, mistakenly thinking the event would be an afternoon "show" The Union acted as if they were going to a small afternoon party, not expecting the bloody attack by the South, which left thousands of men dead on the battlefield. This event helped both sides realize the reality of war.

Who were some other the Realism writers of the Civil War era?

Ambrose Bierce, Stephen Crane, Jack London, and Willa Cather

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Biblical allusion to Elijah who rather than dying was taken to heaven by chariots that picked him up and transported him to heaven. Negro slaves found comfort in the thought of going to heaven after having suffered so much pain/suffering on earth.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again!

Biblical allusion: If Eve upset everything at the beginning of Creation, then SoJourner Truth is encouraging Black slaves to rise up and stand up for their rights.

"Ain't I a Woman" Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

Biblical allusion: Jesus was born of Mary who conceive miraculous without having slept with a man because God had placed the Christ child in her womb. Mary gave birth to Jesus, but was engaged to be married to Joseph The angel Gabriel visited both Mary and Joseph separately to tell Mary that she was chosen to carry the Christ child.

"Go Down Moses"

Biblical allusion: Moses was sent by God to try to convince the Pharaoh in Egypt to "Let my people go." Although Moses grew up alongside Pharaoh's son, when Moses become an adult and found out that he was actually Hebrew born, he was horrified and fled Egypt. Years later, God calls Moses to free his people, the Hebrews from Pharaoh's oppression. Only after the tenth plague (Every Egyptian lost their first born child) did Pharaoh give in to Moses' demand to let the children of Israel go out of the land of Egypt.

What is similar between Whitman and Dickinson?

Both were rule breakers and didn't follow the rules for writing poetry or the topics poetry should address. Whitman wrote long, rambling free verse lines with no rhyme or rhythm and wrote about whatever he wanted. Dickinson's poetry was short concise to convey complex messages. She wrote about nature, love, and death. Both poets are hard to categorize because their poetry is so different from other Romantic or Realistic poets.

How is death personified in "Because I could not stop for Death"?

Death is personified as a polite driver who patiently comes to take people on their last journey in life before they die.

Main elements of Douglass's style and credibility

Douglass establishes his credibility through his word choice; for example, he introduces his first severe whipping using "The details of this affair" (Douglass 560), imparting a sense of impartiality.

When did the war end? What were the results?

Ended April 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse Around 618,000 men dead (almost the same number that died in all of the the wars the US has ever fought) South was in ruins, scarred by gutted houses, burned bridges, uprooted railroad lines

What style did Whitman write his poems?

Free Verse: His lines were loose and rambling, his language colorful and vigorous,

Inverted parallelism

He utilizes reversed parallelism in lines 99-100: "how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man" (Douglass 564). The reversal of ideas summarizes the breaking and reparation of his honor and freedom as a man.

"A Noiseless Patient Spider"

Human soul = spider Surrounded by emptiness, the unknown Human soul's activity compared to spider making a web

What caused the Civil War?

Lincoln (against slavery) is elected president Southern states secede and formed Confederate States of America Siege on Fort Sumter (Union fort) was the official start

Whitman Tone

Manual Labor - Whitman believes that manual labor is honorable. The Soul - Whitman sees the soul in a positive, retrospective light - though he honors the Self, he also sees it as always unwinding and improving. Himself - Whitman compares grass to a sign of God, a flag of his disposition (goes with his mood), a pure child, a graveyard, and a "uniform language" that everybody understands. Each suggests that Whitman sees glass as divine, sensitive/ connected to man, innocent, never-ending (hard to explain, but think about the poems about the earth taking back the dead), and universal. War - He views war as deafening to the senses and overwhelming. Also everyone should participate

What were the effects of the siege of Fort Sumner?

Many went to join the cause (Civil War), believing they could be the "Romantic hero" they had read about.

What was the greatest fear of soldiers at the beginning of the Civil War?

Missing their chance to become heroes because the war would end too quickly

Difference between the North and South

North - relied on manufacturing, financial services, trade, industry South - agriculturally driven,, believed states should control own affairs (because of their heavy dependence on slaves for labor), important crops: tobacco, cotton, sugar cane

What is the purpose of the "Beat! Beat! Drums!--blow! bugles! blow!"

Onomatopoeia sets the tone of a sense of urgency for people to join the fight.

What are some names of battle sites in the civil war?

Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Vicksburg

How does the poem end?

Since then—'tis Centuries—and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity— the speaker of the poem has always known that Death was inevitable/inescapable

How does Douglass's personal experiences illustrate some classic American ideas?

The American ideal of revolution against tyranny is embodied in Douglass's fight with Covey: Douglass resists against his Master, denying the need for leadership and denying the notion that he can be made beast; for example, "he had used me like a brute for six months, and that I was determined to be used no longer" (Douglass 568).

What was one of the most notable accomplishment of the Civil War? What two documents made this accomplishment possible?

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.

What is significant in Stanza 2 of "I heard a Fly buzz when I died"?

The Eyes around—had wrung them dry— And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset—when the King Be witnessed—in the Room— The focus is on the grieving ones who are waiting for the person to die: they are at peace with the person dying because the person will be with the King (God)

What is the extended metaphor and its effect in "I Hear America Singing"

The extended metaphor is one of the workers being a part of a choir in which each person sings (works) his own part of the song (job) to form a unified, beautiful sounding chorus, a beautiful country unified in working to the best of his/her ability in forming a great nation

What were two changes in Americans' way of thinking were brought about by the Civil War?

The idea of equality and freedom were what came out of the Civil War.

"Success is counted sweetest"

The only people who appreciate success are those who tried but failed. Imagery of a battle Purple army won=capture the other army's flag They don't get the true meaning of their victory The dying dude on the ground's appreciates victory because he didn't win "The distant strains of triumph / Burst agonized and clear!" The other army is gloating;

What is significant about Stanza 3? I willed my Keepsakes—Signed away What portion of me be Assignable—and then it was There interposed a Fly—

The paradox is that while she as a human is performing an important job (assigning who will get belongings once she has died), a fly (an insignificant creature) literally interrupts her.

Changes in literature after the Civil War

The realities of the Civil War made the ideas of Romanticism unrealistic and made Realism more attractive. Readers were no longer interested in reading about heroes and adventures because they wanted to read about real life and struggles. Writing was marked by honesty, unsentimental (not concerned), and ironic.

Why were the slave narratives of the time so important?

The slave narratives were first hand accounts that gave readers the truth about the horrible treatment of slaves by their Southern slave owners.

How can both poets be seen as?

Transitional because they moved Americans from Romanticism to Realism

How did Bleeding Kansas acquire its name?

Undecided as to whether to be free (Union) or join slave states, mobs from neighboring Missouri swarmed into Kansas to cast illegal pro-slavery ballots. Ongoing feuds between proslavery vs. antislavlery settlers earned the state the "Bleeding Kansas" title.

Aftermath of the Civil War

United States became more wiser and somber (serious) The US became a united nation, indivisible, with justice for all

How did Dickinson write her poetry?

Used compressed lines and complex imagery to explore personal themes of death, love, immortality, & nature

What is implied in the imagery depicted in Stanza 3?

We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess—in the Ring— We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain— We passed the Setting Sun— The parallelism implies that the activities we take for granted all remind us that those activities will all stop one day just as the setting of the sun occurs every day

What is meant by the imagery in Stanza 5?

We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground— The Roof was scarcely visible— The Cornice—in the Ground— The imagery is that of casket

What is the tone of "I Sit and Look Out" "I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men at anguish with themselves, remorseful after deeds done, I see in low life the mother misused by her children, dying, neglected, gaunt, desperate, I see the wife misused by her husband, I see the treacherous seducer of young women,

depressing, tragic, heart wrenching

What are the differences between Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson?

Whitman - big, bearded, outspoken and was well known, wrote about current issues and events Dickinson - shy and reclusive (did not socialize with ANYONE, lived her entire life in New England, wrote about her own thoughts Walt Whitman was outgoing and vocal and knew about everything and was involved in voicing his opinion about current events. Emily Dickinson was quiet and did not socialize with anyone but chose to live in her New England home, writing about her own ideas and philosophy through her poetry.

Metaphors

Whitman compares grass to a gift from God, a flag of his disposition, a child, a universal language, and a graveyard*. Respectively, these metaphors suggest that Whitman views grass as divine, "spiritual" (connected to humans), innocent and pure, and universal and unifying. - Remember all of those death poems about how when we die, we go back to the earth.*

Whitman Imagery

Whitman creates an image of a socially-united America as well as a focus on agriculture and craftsmanship. Today, citizens do not strive to serve their country and others, and the general culture is more globalized.

Provide an example of cataloging and its purpose in "I Hear America Singing"

Whitman lists all the different workers-mechanic, carpenters, masons, etc. to emphasize that idea that America's greatness lies in the various occupations hold and the pride in doing well at their assigned tasks.

"Song of Myself 1" implies what message and tone?

Whitmans celebrates who/what he is because he is a part of Nature. He wrote this poem at 37 and decided that to enjoy life, he needed to set aside the rules/dictates of society and just follow his own voice/conscience, allowing Nature, instead, to guide him through life's journey. "I loaf and invite my soul, I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air," All of life's answers can be found in allowing his soul to mediate on looking at a blade of grass because he is made from the same stuff that grass is made from.

How did people react to the attack on Charles Sumner?

William Cullen Bryant wrote about this, outraged (most of the North was outraged too) Southern newspapers applauded the attack

What is the tone of "Because I could not stop for Death"?

a very thoughtful, polite look at the moments before someone dies