American Literature

Matt’s take on the trickster figure encompasses multiple characters throughout Chestnutt’s The Passing of Grandison which could possibly signify an underlying theme throughout the work. I focused primarily on Dick Owens being the master manipulator of the entire ploy and plot, but, with the inclusion of characters such as Charity Lomax and Grandison himself, another picture is painted, one of several underlying motives rather than a single one. I agree with all of Matt’s assertions on the various bunch of characters because, in a way, they all hold manipulative characteristics that are presented through their actions. Lomax accomplishes getting Dick into committing a great and heroic act by slyly suggesting certain negative aspects of Dick's character as well as the the brave abolitionist who was captured. This displays the trickster using language as power and cunning instead of strength. The same is presented when Dick succeeds in obtaining permission from his father to bring a

Charles Waddell Chestnut's The Passing of Grandison and Paul Lawrence Dunbar's An Ante-Bellum Sermon both display two extremely different viewpoints of slavery in the South while also encapsulating similar portrayals of trickster figures that manipulate the masses with colorful language, sharp intuition and ingenuity, as well as the stereotypes slavery has created in American society.  The language that's used by Dick Owens as well as the speaker in An Ante-Bellum Sermon   elicits a certain response from the people they speak to. For example, in Dunbar's writing the speaker states  "Dat I's preachin' discontent. 'Cause I isn't; I'se a-judgin' Bible people by dier ac's..." The narrator is aware of his audience's stance as Christians and capitalizes on this by referencing the morality of the Bible as well as questioning those that follow it who promote slavery. The same manipulative use of language and suggestion i

Matt's interpretation of Kate Choppin's last line in  The Storm   is an original perspective in that it may be what the elusive author meant with the final statement. The true definition of happiness is up to the viewer, and, with each person holding differing moral standpoints, exceptions, religious restrictions, or polygamous ideals, that happiness is either raw and honest or artificial and a charade. It also forces the reader to analyze morality's toll in the story, for dishonesty and infidelity cannot be forgotten/  Matt's specific viewpoint on the happiness stated at the end of the story is different than mine in that it takes into consideration the morality of the situation as well as if the affair were to continue. We did, however share the same disdain for the dishonesty represented in the story. I focused more on how impending truth, future heartbreak, and ignorance being bliss temporarily builds a false happiness that will only lasts momentarily. This c

The Ignorance and Impact of War Mark Twain's The Private History of Campaign That Failed and Ambrose Bierce's Chickamauga are two extremely different Civil War stories, one chronicling a band of inexperienced southerners and their cowardly escapades through Missouri and the other that lays out the story of a boy who stumbles upon the aftermath of the Battle of Chickamauga. However, there are similar concepts expressed through both the stories such as the ignorance of war, the adventurous spirits yet inexperience of those ready to participate, and most importantly the impact of war. Twain not only displays an ignorance of true war throughout his actions but also admits it when stating "I should say about half of us looked upon it in much the same way, not consciously perhaps, but unconsciously." This refusal to look at the actuality of the situation and what could come paints the true picture of inexperience and unawareness of the repercussions war brings a