Journal Survey of Early American Literature

Journal Survey of Early American Literature

 Name : Rani Sailendra Class : BSI/III/F NIM : 1135030215

12/23/2014

The lecturer : Hasbi Assiddiqi, M.A.

  

Wed, 03rd of Sept 2014

#First Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

On the first meeting we study about Introduction to American Literature. According the syllabus we discussed about “introduction”, the activities are students’ obligations, scoring control, negotiation, and describing course.

First we were introduction each other between student and the lecturer, the lecturer introduced first that the name is Mr. Hasbi Assiddiqi, M.A. and then the student called one by one according the attandance book.

Second we discussed about the obligation, firstly the students are assigned to read the course before they attend this class, and if they not read before, they are not allowed to attend the class. Secondly the students assigned to make a daily note every week, about the activity in class and the course. Thirdly the students assigned to read the novels about american litrature, that the tittle of novels had given, we have to read 6 novels within one-semester and retelling to the lecturer if we done. But we have dispensation just read 4 novel. Two novels when midterms, and two on middle test. If you want to plus value you allowed to read two novel again.

Then we discussed about the scoring, the students have easier way to get the high score, if they finished retell the novels they can get the score, and do the assignment on time and attend the class min 75%.

And then we discussed the negotiation of the rule in class, that is to say the student not have to read six novels but they can read four novels in one-semester, and the two novels if they can, and that is can be extra value.

And the last we discussed about the course, that is the American literature. What is the American literature? American literature is literature that written in America, either on Dutch language, Indian language, Arabian language etc.

Mr. Hasbi asked us about America, what do you kow about america? And our answer are Obama, the Flag, developed country, movie, action, big country, liberal, football, and so on.

In this meeting we study about 13 colony:

1)      Virginia : founded in 1607 (James Town) exist by Captain John Smith.

2)      Massachusets(playmouth) : (1620)  by pilgrims, John Carter made a treaty called “Mayflower Compact”.

3)      Maryland : (1634) by George Calvert. ‘religious freedom’.

4)      Rhode Island : Roger William

5)      Connecticut : (1636) Thomas Hecker

6)      North Carolina : (1663) English novel

7)      South Carolina

8)      New York

9)      New Hampshire

10)  Pennsylvania : (1681) William Penn

11)  Delaware

12)  New Jersey

13)  Georgia (1733) James Othelpat

Wed, 10th of Sept 2014

#Second Meeting

Surver of Early American Literature

        Wednesday 06.50 WIB, according the syllabus we discussed chapter 1 “General Introduction to American Literature and Society” and chapter 2 “Native American voices”.

First we talk over about “American Folk Culture”. The first question is what is the English literature? English literature is literature that originally written in English. And then what is the American literature? American literature is literature that written in America, either on Dutch language, Indian language, Arab language and so on.

Folk culture : (Kesenian rakyat) usually called “folklore”.

Folk tales : (Cerita rakyat)

Folk culture composed of two category those are verbal and party verbal. Verbal example is Folklore and party verbal are games, ridddles and supersitions.

·         Folk narrative : myth, legends, folk tales, tall tales, fairy tales.

·         Folk songs : country, ballads, blues.

After that we discussed about the type of american culture those are folk culture, high culture, and pop culture.

1.      Folk culture, the characteristic of folk culture are :

-          usually handed down orally (legends, tales)

-          it’s creation by tradition and hearsay, handed down from generation

-          Anonyms

-          Create to give moral (human bliss)

-          Community equilibrium is the chief goal

-          Unrecorder

-          In the form of legends, tales, and songs

-          Everlasting

2.      High culture, the characteristic of high culture are:

-          Written (literature)

-          Created with both concept and theory as well as talent

-          Individual work

-          Created for an ideal

-          Acquistion of money, is not a chief goal

-          Recorded

-          In form of high literature fine arts

-          Everlasting

3.      Pop culture , the characteristic of pop culture are:

-          Writtenor oral transmitted by print broadcasting or other commercial

-          Not serious concept or idealism

-          Individual works most produced

-          Created to give pleasure, financial gain and popularity becamea the goals

-          Recorded and pattern

-          Temporal

Then after we talked about the type of american literature we read a story, the title is “The begining of Strawbery”.

The story tell about the first human in the world, husband and wife. Together they built a lodge at the edge of a dense forest, but like all humans do at times, they began to argue. Fist woman leave the first man and walking down the path through the forest. After the time past the first man began worry and looked for his wife, the first man helped by the Sun. The Sun found the fisrt woman still angry and the Sun tried tricked the first woman and grew the lovely bluberries, but the first woman still angry, and then the Sun grew some luscious blackberries and the first woman still angry, the Sun tried once again and grew the luscious rasberries but the woman not attention. Finally to attract first woman’s attention, the Sun caused to grow a plant that had never grown on the earth before the name is Strawberry.  And the woman finaly stoppes to pick one, tasted so sweet! Utterly delicious! And the anger fadecaway, and the first woman thought about her husband. And the they are welldone. And happy together again.

·         And then we discussed about the question for disscussion.

1.      Compare native American folklore above to indonesian folklore. What can you infert from the tale?

2.      Why do native American produce the begining tale’ above?

·         Summary:

-          Major role in the stories is often played by animals

-          Ordinary people, and places were divinities

-          Often include spiritual outlook base on the four directions

-          The early myths led into native legends

-          All were originally oral stories passed down for many generation.

Wed, 17th of Sept 2014

#Third meeting

Survey of Early American literature

On this day we not study in class because the lecturer have personal reason to not attent in the class. So we study autodidact by ourself.

No meeting in this Wednesday.

Wed, 24th of Sept 2014

#Fourth Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

            On fourth meeting we discussed chapter 3 the title “Literature of Exploration” and chapter 4 the title  “Colonial Period and Puritanism”. Why this meeting we learning two chapter? Because on the week before, the lecturer is not coming into the class, and we review on this meeting for replace the third meeting.

On Chapter 3 we dicsussed Literature Exploration, the Sub-Title  “The general historie of Virginia, New-England, and the summer Isles” by John Smith 1580-1631 and “history of Playmouth plantation” by William Bradford. On this meeting we analize about process of writing or stylistic Old English. We analize text History of playmouth plantation and this is the result.

Example :

Make(th) = make (s)

Ha(th) = ha(s)

Sai(th) = say(s)

Do(th) =do(es)

Sub(u)erte = sub(v)erte

Pra(e)tised = pra(c)ttised

True(ih) = tru(th)

Thou = they

Explanation : TH=S/ES, U=V, E=C sometimes.

Ø  Historical context of The general historie of Virginia, New-England, and the summer Isles by John Smith 1580-1631

In 1606 the English set sail for the colonies, and landed in Virginia on May 24, 1607. John Smih was an adventurous, young leader who was the captain of the ship and an extreme explorer. He eventually was able create peace with the Indians, and ultimately become friends with them.

Ø  Key point

1.      The Indiand kidnapped John Smith, where they threatened to kill and torture him.

2.      The Indians were fascinated by Snmith’s compasss, so he then educates them about the solar system. This saves John Smith from getting killed, and so they give him a feast and he is also treated with respect.

3.      In exchange for his death and also to be accepted as one of Powhatan’s son, John Smith agree to guide the Indians to Jamestown, where they obtain two guns from the British.

4.      In front of the entire tribe, Pocahontas save John Smith from being killed by Chief Powhatan.

5.      The British had muskets and advanced weaponry, while the Indians had club, targets, and bows and arows. This shows how much move civilized the British were than the Indians.

6.      Pocahontas were the first native to convert Christianity and move to England.

Ø  Historical context of History of Playmouth Plantation by William Bradford

1.      In 1620 settlers sailed across the atlantic on Mayflower, having procured a patent for settleman fro the Virginia Company of London.

2.      In November of 1620, the Mayflower landed at Playmouth Bay, outside the bouds of the british possession of Virginia. (James I England)

3.      The pilgrims were unprepare for the hars New Egland winter, and about half of the settlers died by March 1621.

4.      Those who survived owed their lives o the aid of some English-speaking native Americans, who taught the pilgrims how to grow corn.

5.      After that terrible first winter, Playmouth quickly grew and prospered. 

6.      Within a fewvyears, the colony expanded into Cape Cod and the southeastern part of modern Massachusetts.

Then the chapter 4, Colonial period and Puritanism, we discussed about Cavalier and Puritan, and poem To my Dear and Loving Husband.

            In early American literature there are two literature, the Cavaliar literature and Puritan literature. Cavalier is supporters of Royalist and oppoonent of Puritans. They are aristocrat people who see life from an aristocrat perspective. Cavalier planters’ deepest interests were likely to be social, economic, and political rhater than religions. Cavalier literature by Byrd “The History of the Dividing Line” he expalins about how people at that tie live in society.

 And Puritan are people who want to purify the practice of Christianity. They came to America to practice Christianity according to their own lights.one of Puritan writers is Anne Bradstreet. Her poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband”. From tis poem we can see clearly that her poem is very religious one. She prizes her husband, metaphorically ‘more than Mines of Gold’. It means that she loves her husband very much, to Bradstreet, loving her husband can reach spiritual richness.

Wed, 01st of Oct 2014

Fifth meeting

Empty...

NO CLASS.

Wed, 08th of Oct 2014

#Sixth meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This morning we learned chapter 5, Literature in the Southern and Middle Colonies. This chapter explained about narrative slave. Literature i the southern and middle colonies colors with the exploration of the land. This exploration called frontier. This chapter tell us about “the secret history of the line” by Willim Byrd and the Autobiography of Omar Said the tittle “From Omar to Sheikh Hunter”.

In this week, Mr. Hasbi told us about the mid examination. He told us the question which will appear on the test. He gave the information that next week on the mid exam, he will ask the question which it is related to the book about survey of early American literature. We must study about the author of the Belleslettress, the period, the title of the history and the conclusion of the story. After that, Mr. Hasbi given us the video about the patriot film.

After we discussed about it then we watched that film, the title is “twelve years slave” together in the class, because that film tell us about slave in early american. This film recovered chapter 6,7,8 and with this we have not read a lot of the course. This film about slaves, freedom, industrial, romanticism, and the same film also title “uncle Tom’s cabin”.

After told us, we show this film during the time of the class is over. This film showed the hard situation of the England and American. On this film, I hear that is have been the Indian war. In this film, contained the family. This family has seven children with the one and only father who loved the family. Gabriel is the son of this family, have brave characters and think better off the half of people. He persuade all of them to follow him, and attack the redcoats. I think he success on his job, because time is over, so Mr. Hasbi was stopped the activity on the class, and remember us that next week is the mid examination.

Wed, 15th of Oct 2014

#Seventh meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This meeting we learned chapter 6 Democratic Origin. We asked by our lecturer, did us read the course of study for today? And then we given several questions to make sure that we are understand the course. The question are :

1.      How did Paine’s view of government conected to his arguments for revolution?

2.      How is the American different from a European?

3.      Why is American the most perfect society by Michael Gillaume Jean de Crevecoeur?

4.      What kind of country Indian Pieces?

Answers :

1.      Negative. Because the governments is cruel and wickedness.

2.      In American there is no aristocratical families, no courts, no king, no bishops, no ecclesiastical dominion, no invicible power giving to a few a very visible one, no great manufactures employing thousands, no great refinements of luxury.

3.      Because they claims they are the most perfect society now existing in the world. Here man is free ought to be, nor is this pleasing equality so transitory as many others are.

4.      American are the western pilgrims, who are carrying along with them that great mass of art, sciences, vigour, and industry wich began long since in the east, they will finish the great circle.      

29th of Oct 2014

#8th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

            Today we held Midterm Survey of Early American Literature. And after that we were retell novell.

05th Of Nov 2014

#9th Meeting  

Survey of Early American Literature

Today I was late to attent my class because I’m overslept. I should attent my class at 06.50 am but I got up at 06.45 am so I am hurry and go to campus, finally I’m arrive in my class and the lecturer already in the calss, how lucky I’m allowed to attend the class.

This meeting we discussed chapter 9 Romantic Period : Transcendentalism. First we talked about the definition and then characteristic romanticism and trancendentalism and some stories.

Romanticism is the name given to those schools of thought that value feeling and intuition over reason. For example beauty and the beast. Characteristic romantic work those are freedom, emotions, natural, unspoiled beauty, imagination (for example spongebob), nationalism, young, idealist, young spirit (the expendable), different with the other common habitual, folklore, isolation from social life (for example is harry potter).

Romanticism in Indonesia is at 1945.

Some definition aboout transcendentalism:

- Transcendentalism is a literary movement in America which believes that the spirit of God and universe are one.

- James Early said transcendentalism is a view tht basic truths of the universe lie beyond the knowledge that trancendentalist regards as the mere appearnce of things (1973:163).

- Transcendentalism is a variant of puritaism doctrines. However, it encourages people to be severe and to aspire to themselves.

American transcendentalism was born in Boston with the estabilishment of the transcendal Club of Boston in 1836.

We talked about work by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the title is “Nature”. This story tell us about nature, soul, peace, between human and nature. Like the quotation “to go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.” “but if a mann would be alone, let him look ath the stars.” “Nature always wears the colors of the spir.” So if we need some inspiration or spirit we have to go to see nature. We discussed about those quotation.

Then we talked about “solitude” by Henry David Thoreau. Relation between Emerson and David Thoreau is master and student. Emerson as master and David as a student. When David have a confusion he ask advice from Emerson and Emerson give him advice to see a nature to have a clear mind, and then he went to the woods, the name’s Walden woods. In this woods David Thoreau isolation himself from the social life, he stay for two years, two months, and twenty two days. He not bring anything except axe, tools for write and clothes. He actually life from the nature.

The result from the meditation in nature is “Walden” which is the critical about people who servant by life in the world.

Finally the time was over and Mr. Hasbi told us to make 5 groups to discussed chapter 10, every groups have to discussed one poet of the chapter 10.

  

Wednesday 12th of November 2014

#10th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This meeting all groups in the class is presentation, all is five groups discussed about poets stories in chapter 10. The title in the chapter 10 is Romantic Period : the poets.

Group 1st discussed poet “To Helen” by Edgar Allan Poe. The second group is discussed about “Song of My Self” by Walt Whiltman, the third group discussed about “A Bird Came Down the Walk (328)” by Emily Dickinson, the fourth group discussed about “The Yellow Violet” by William Cullen Bryant, and the last group is group fiveth discusssed about “The Children’s Hour” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

This meeting I was part of first group which discussed about poet that title is To Hellen by Edgar Allan Poe. The people of first group are Rani, Ridwan, Rega, Ria, Rihma, and so on.

            First is To Hellen. "To Helen," first published in 1831 and revised in later years, Poe displays an early interest in the theme of female beauty to which his later works often return. He wrote this poem in honor of Jane Stith Stanard, the mother of his childhood friend Rob, although he later wrote a different, longer poem of the same name to Sarah Helen Whitman. Jane Stanard had recently died, and, through his writing, Poe sought to thank her for acting as a second mother to him. The Helen of the 1831 poem embodies a classic beauty and poise, and by using Jane Stanard as the inspiration, Poe celebrated the latter woman as one of his earliest loves. The poem opens with the speaker comparing Helen's beauty to some ships that transported a lonely wanderer back home. In the second stanza, the speaker again compares himself to a lonely man for whom Helen's beauty has functioned like a saving grace (this time, her hair and face remind him of ancient Greece and Rome). In the third stanza, the speaker describes Helen standing in a "window-niche", looking like a statue and like a beautiful woman from Greek mythology (Psyche).

            . The second is “Song of My Self” by Walt Whiltman. Walt Whitman's 'Song of Myself' is one of the most important poems in the American canon, important for both its use of language and its vision of equality. He explains how much he loves the world, especially nature, and how everything fits together just as it should. Everything is good to him, and nothing is bad that doesn't contribute to some larger good. Nature has patterns that fit together like a well-built house.

            Third is “A Bird Came Down the Walk (328)” by Emily Dickinson. "A Bird came down the Walk" is a short poem by Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) that tells of the poet's encounter with a worm-eating bird. The poem was first published in 1891 in the second collection of Dickinson's poems. Helen Vendler regards the poem as a "bizarre little narrative" but one that typifies many of Dickinson's best qualities. The poet encounters a bird on the walk who eats a worm, drinks a dew from the grass, and steps aside to let a beetle pass. The bird then glances about, apparently frightened. The poet offers the bird a crumb but the bird takes flight. The poet observes that the flight of the bird is "softer" than that of a boat being rowed on the water or that of butterflies plunging soundlessly into space.

            Fourth is “The Yellow Violet” by William Cullen Bryant. This poem starts off interesting with an oxymoron as the title. The poem is titled “The Yellow Violet”, when violets are in fact a lavender color, or a softer shade of purple. William Cullen Bryant can easily identify as a Transcendentalist writer, which qualifies him to write about the nature of life. This poem exemplifies his Transcendalist style as he writes about a blooming yellow violet in order to describe the world surrounding him.

The last is “The Children’s Hour” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. First published in the September 1860 edition of The Atlantic Monthly. The poem describes the poet's idyllic family life with his own three daughters, Alice, Edith, and Anne Allegra: "grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, and Edith with golden hair." As the darkness begins to fall, the narrator of the poem (Longfellow himself) is sitting in his study and hears his daughters in the room above. He describes them as an approaching army about to enter through a "sudden rush" and a "sudden raid" via unguarded doors. Climbing into his arms, the girls "devour" their father with kisses, who in turn promises to keep them forever in his heart.

Wedsnesday 19th of November 2014

#11th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This meeting is without the lecturer because of some reasons, but we have prepare our source, that is chapther 11, Romantic Period about Fictions. Almost same with last week that this meeting we have to presentation every groups, but this meeting the groups devided into 4 groups.

First group discussed about “Mrs. Bullfrog” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, second group discussed about “Rip Van Winkle”  by Washington Irving, third group discussed “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper and fourth group discussed “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

I was part of fourth group and discussed about Uncle Tom’s Cabin.because I have already read the novel, I know what the novel’s about, and I helped my friends who not know about the novel yet.

The theme of this novel is “Freedom”.This novel tell us about life cycle of uncle Tom, uncle Tom is a slavery and a strong man who obedient his religion Chistianity, good man and honest. The story is very interesting because every part is written very detail, touched, and make us like experiences by ourselves. This novel not just tell about uncle Tom, but many characters is part of this story is have story for each other, like Evangeline, a little girl who is very good child and honest and have different character from the other children because she have a thought like an adult. George Harris who fight for his freedom and his family. About Topsy a naughty slave and many other.

So I write down the characthers in the novel because so many characther in there, and I just wrote the important people in there and I know the characthers, those are: Uncle Tom, aunt chloe, Arthur Shelby, Emily Shelby, George Shelby, George Harris, Eliza Harris, Harry Harris, Ausgustine St. Clare, Evangeline (Eva), Mis, Ophelia, Marie St. Clare, the Quaker, Senator and Mrs. Bird, Tom Loker, Mr. Halley, Topsy, Simon Legre, Cassy, and Emmeline.

Wedsnesday 26th of November 2014

#12th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

First group discussed about “Mrs. Bullfrog” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, second group discussed about “Rip Van Winkle”  by Washington Irving, third group discussed “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper and fourth group discussed “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

First “Mrs. Bullfrog” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne's work titled 'Mrs. Bullfrog' contains multiple folkloric elements. Some of these elements include transformations of character and physical appearance, taboo, talismanic object, and mysteries. Hawthorne centers the narrative on the title character who is married to Mr. Bullfrog. Mr. Bullfrog is instructed not to object to his bride's looks. She possesses a natural grotesque look; he is also instructed not to touch her curls. With this in mind, Hawthorne's work represents a marriage tale and it explores multiple themes regarding the marriage relationship. One significant sub-theme under the marriage relation is the idea that many feel it is important to make an effort to preserve the marriage even when there is uncertainty. In addition, Hawthorne suggests that mates are misguided in their search for the perfect mate. By the end of 'Mrs. Bullfrog,' Hawthorne encourages the reader to maintain a flexible attitude towards marriage and the marital relationship, which involves emotional sacrifices.

Second “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving. Like many of Washington Irving's other famous stories, 'Rip Van Winkle' was inspired by German folklore. The general plot of the story, a man who mysteriously sleeps for 20 years to find himself in a changed world, is easy enough even for children to understand, which is probably why its story line has often been adapted in other works and forms of entertainment. Even my personal first encounter with the story was an old Pac Man cartoon version called 'Pac Van Winkle.' And there's a reason this story is still so fun to read. It has all the fixings of a great story: a nagging wife, dogs, guns, ghosts, liquor and of course, long, gray beards.

Third “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper.The story is about a dying tribe called the Mohicans in which only two are left as well as one adopted white man. These three men refuse to enter the militia for Britain in 1757 for they want freedom. On their way to Kentucky, they intercept Indians attacking a small regiment of British including the two daughters of an British Colonel on their way to a fort. The three men lead the survivors to the fort while two love stories take place but the French and Indian War continues.

The last is “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly, is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman. Uncle Tom's Cabin is dominated by a single theme: the evil and immorality of slavery. While Stowe weaves other subthemes throughout her text, such as the moral authority of motherhood and the redeeming possibilities offered by Christianity, she emphasizes the connections between these and the horrors of slavery. Stowe sometimes changed the story's voice so she could give a "homily" on the destructive nature of slavery (such as when a white woman on the steamboat carrying Tom further south states, "The most dreadful part of slavery, to my mind, is its outrages of feelings and affections—the separating of families, for example."). One way Stowe showed the evil of slavery was how this "peculiar institution" forcibly separated families from each other.

Wedsnesday 3rd of December 2014

#13th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This meeting we discussed chapter 12, Realism and Industrial peiod. Today was my turn to presentation, because the day before when I and my friend want to retell the novel “Tortilla Flat” in the office face to face with Mr. Hasbi, we instead to retell in front of the class while the time Mr. Hasbi to teach in the class, because the novel that we wat to retell is by chance same with the course in the class.

I did the presentation with myfriends they are Primanita, Rini Oktaviana, Reyka, and Siska Oktaviani. We are focused about realism in the Tortilla Flat. Tortilla flat is the story about a group of men who all come together in friendship and in drink. They have no money, no jobs, and no ambition. They do have each other, but that does not make for an interesting novel. The one thing Tortilla Flat does have going for it is the fact that it is completely unlike most of his other works. There is no morality story or expose of conditions of life for the underprivileged. Still, other than a picture of friendship, Tortilla Flat does not offer the reader much in the way of actual plot or action. Steinbeck fans will be impressed by his deviation from his standard writing. Those who remain on the fence about Steinbeck’s supposed genius will do well to leave this one alone.

After that we talked about realism, different about realism and romanticism. Mr. Hasbi showed us the powerpoint about realism.

Realism:

-          Realism Begins in France, as realisme, a literary doctrine calling for “reality and truth in the depiction of ordinary life.

-          Realism began in America as Local Color.

-          Characteristics of Local Color.

-          Themes in Local Color.

-          Characteristics of Realism

-          Themes in Realism

Naturalism: A Harsher Realism

-          Scientific, Biological or Darwinian  Determinism

-          Psychological Determinism

-          Historical Determinism

-          Objectives of Naturalism

-          Themes in Naturalism

-          The Ultimate Problem in Realism.

After disussion about realism we told by Mr. Hasbi that at 23th of December we would have been final examination and we have to gather the journal.

Wedsnesday 10^th of December 2014

#14^th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

NO MEETING

Wedsnesday 17^th of December 2014

#15th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

NO MEETING

Tuesday  23rd of December 2014

#16^th Meeting

Survey of Early American Literature

This meeting we gathered the journal Survey of Early American Literature to Mr. Hasbi.