William Cullen Bryant And Transcendentalism - 833 Words

â€Å"William Cullen Bryant is the author of Thanatopsis. Bryant was born in Cumington, Massachusetts, and began writing poetry before he was nine years old. Bryant’s family is Puritan family, when he was a child, he was often ill, and his father asked him to walk in the forest to strengthen his constitution, which gave him a keen interest in nature. Bryants position combines the impulses of the British romantic school and his own New England conservatism. His life gradually moved away from the Calvinism of religion, the political transition from federalism to unification and Jacksons democratic attitudes. He thought poetry was an art of association, it inspires readers imagination with symbolism rather than direct imitation of life, and†¦show more content†¦The transcendentalists believed strongly in the power of the individual. Their beliefs are closely linked to romanticism, but they differ from attempts to embrace or at least not oppose scientific empiricism. The transcendentalists wanted to place their religion and philosophy in their principles rather than on, or falsified, physical experiences, but from the inner spiritual or spiritual nature of the human being. The transcendentalists argued that society and its institutions, particularly organized religions and political parties, corrupt the purity of the individual. They believe that people are at their best when it comes to true self-reliance and independence. Before William Cullen Bryant was 17 years old, he wrote a poem called â€Å"Thanatopsis†. This poem is about death and nature how to related to each other’s. Transcendentalists is how the God, nature and men connect to each other, and in Thanatopsis, Bryant combined with death and nature, nature is our final destination of mankind, and human death will enter into the world where God is, he compared nature to God. Bryant not afraid of death, he thinks when he dead, he can go back to â€Å"her†, the nature. He feels death like a long sleep, we shouldn’t afraid of death, we can’t be treated death as pain. â€Å"but, sustained and soothed. By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave† (Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant ) â€Å" When thoughts Of the lastShow MoreRelatedThe Fall Of The House Of Usher1651 Words   |  7 PagesMason Eggers Mrs. Szwajkowski Junior English 200 24 March 2016 Romanticism/Transcendentalism Essay Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher,† Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil,† and William Cullen Bryant’s â€Å"Thanatopsis† illustrate several Romantic and Transcendentalist (and anti-Transcendentalist) traits. All of these authors are regarded as very important and influential Romantic writers. Their works are renowned all across the entire world. â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher†Read More`` Contemplations `` By Anne Bradstreet Essay1462 Words   |  6 Pagesnational church†¦ purging it of everything that harked back to Rome, especially the hierarchy of the Clergy and all the traditional Catholic rituals† (â€Å"John Winthrop† 165). Much like the Puritan period, the later nineteenth-century movement of Transcendentalism also took place in New England. However, there were some stark differences between the two. For instance, although a â€Å"religious quest†, Transcendentalists were not entirely motivated by religion. While the Puritans were devoted to reform andRead MoreDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant Essay447 Words   |  2 PagesDeath in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant When people ponder death they wonder about the unknown with trepidation. As a young man, William Cullen Bryant wrote the Thanatopsis. His thoughts progress from the fear of death to the acceptance of the event. People should not fear death because everyone dies and becomes a part of nature. A person should live life without fearing death and think of death as a pleasant rest. In the poem Bryant says, When thoughts/Of the last bitter hourRead MoreJohn Smith And Walt Whitman Essay1248 Words   |  5 Pagesinto the realist movement and nature was viewed not as an extension of god, but as a way to learn about ourselves and the world. opposition to romanticism. Three writers between these two time periods, Jonathan Edwards, Benjamin Franklin and William Cullen Bryant each have a different worldview based on their background and provide a transition between the Puritan and Realism movements. John Smith came to the new world with the Virginia Company in order to colonize the land and to start a new, economicallyRead MoreThe Language Of Nature In Thanatopsis By William Cullen Bryant712 Words   |  3 PagesIn his literary piece, â€Å"Thanatopsis†, William Cullen Bryant introduces his logic on why we should see the favorable circumstances within nature. He speculates his reasoning that there is an innate capacity to brighten up all of the sinister thoughts that frequently occur in our brain and consciousness. He elaborates that we shouldn’t take the time to endure the way of perturbing ourselves in relation to death, because death is unavoidable and imminent. Alternatively, we ought to take that time toRead MoreEarly American Literature Essay1511 Words   |  7 Pagesother writers to come. Around the same time as Irvings Rip Van Winkle, William Cullen Bryants Thanatopsis displayed a pantheistic view of nature as imbued by God (7th ed, p, 476). Bryant, jus t as Irving, saw the American landscape as an all-inspiring motivation for many of his stories. Bryants poetry focused on nature as a metaphor for truth established a central pattern in the American literary tradition (William). As America continued to grow and developed so did its writers. A majorRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1545 Words   |  7 Pagessociety believes is right. In Emerson’s short essay, â€Å"Nature†, Emerson describes nature as a place in which it provides protection from all calamities and disgraces. While in nature, he’s able to become relaxed and peaceful. In William Cullen Bryant’s poem, â€Å"Thanatopsis,† Bryant writes that although everyone will eventually die, death shouldn’t be feared, but instead embraced. While nature does bring death, it also provides care and a sanctuary, which clears our dark thoughts away. Although nature canRead MoreThe Spirit And Beauty Of Nature, And The Power Of The Natural World1172 Words   |  5 PagesThe Romantic worldview emphasized the glory and beauty of nature, and the power of the natural world. A branch within Romanticism was Transcendentalism and its followers believed that â€Å"unifying principles could be found in the natural world, which became a sacred space that pointed to the immanent presence of the divine† (Sayre 877). Aspects found in nature have the ability to cause an individual to have a revelation as to why their life is unpleasant and allows them to find their purpose in lifeRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 PagesSettlers’ Writings Highly religious and pragmatic - John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia; Pocahontas - John Winthrop, â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity†: â€Å"†¦ We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  - William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-50, pub. 1856) - Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), The Tenth Muse (1650), the first volume of poems published by a resident of the New World - Edward Taylor (1642- 1729), Preparatory Meditations (1682-1725Read More Puritanism: The People, Religion, and Poetry Essay4374 Words   |  18 Pagescommunicate something and rightly be interpreted by people. Though particular poets had different reasons for why it could be done, they all continued to operate as if it could be done. Without the theism of Puritanism, reading the book of nature became William Cullen Bryants Thanatopsis presents a personified nature to which everything and everyone is connected and belongs. In life, people are nourished by the earth and at death, people become part of it. He and other Fireside poets had a high view of nature

greek mythology essay - 1633 Words

Alexus Catalfamo 5-5-15 Mrs. Sommo Mythology Paper Period 6 Once upon a time, Odysseus and Penelope had decided to go on a honeymoon after he got back to Ithaca. His son had stayed to watch over the town while he and Penelope had gone to be alone in peace for once. While Telemachus was watching over Ithaca, Odysseus got into an argument with Zeus. Odysseus was devastated when he found out that Zeus had tried to eat all of his children. Odysseus had the upper hand in the argument for quite the while until within one split second; Zeus had struck Odysseus with his lightening. When Odysseus was struck he didn’t notice anything happen except for the factor of pain. Then one day Penelope got pregnant and†¦show more content†¦He knew that he would miss them but he also knew there was something he was put on this world to do. Duvall went out to sea. The first island Duvall ran into was Calypso’s island, the one Odysseus specifically warned him of. The moment Duvall noticed that it was calypso’s island he yelled with all the force possible in his lungs and time froze as if it was never going. He searched and searched until he noticed, something was moving... it hadn’t frozen with time. It was like Duvall’s powers had no effect on it. It was Hermes. Hermes looked at Duvall and said, â€Å"I helped you’re father off this island, don’t make me help you too†¦you’re time freezing only lasts so long you know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  So Duvall left, he sailed out to sea and unfroze time for calypso to live her life. As calypso lived on, she found foot prints one day, leading to Odysseus’ old ship and she knew that no one had been out there in a very long time. Over time Calypso studied her facts and had finally came to the conclusion that it had something to do with Odysseus. Even though no one is supposed to leave Calypso’s island she her self decided to take a little trip to go and talk to Odysseus. When she had arrived to Ithaca, she was looking rough. Odysse us and Penelope offered her food and water and let her get healthy again. Finally when they all actually sat down and talked, Odysseus said, â€Å"I did not return to your island, myShow MoreRelated Greek Mythology Essay1215 Words   |  5 Pages Greek Mythology Mythology was an integral part of the lives of all ancient peoples. The myths of Ancient Greece are the most familiar to us, for they are deeply entrenched in the consciousness of Western civilization. The myths were accounts of the lives of the deities whom the Greeks worshipped. The Greeks had many deities, including 12 principal ones, who lived on Mt. Olympus. The myths are all things to all people – a rollicking good yarn, expressions of deep psychological insights, wordsRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesGreek Mythology Odysseus, in Greek legend, a Greek hero, ruler of the island of Ithaca and one of the leaders of the Greek army during the Trojan War. Homers Odyssey recounts Odysseuss adventures and ultimate return home ten years after the fall of Troy. Initially, Odysseus was mentioned as the son of Laertes, king of Ithaca, although in later tradition Sisyphus, king of Corinth, was considered his real father, his mother having later married Laertes. At first Odysseus refused to accompany theRead More Greek Mythology Essay1090 Words   |  5 PagesThe characters in Greek Mythology can have several different interpretations. Among these characters are the dangerous, yet gorgeous Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs to captivate the minds of innocent travelers and bring them to their deaths. In Homer’s The Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s â€Å"Siren Song,† both poets give different portrayals of the Sirens. Homer believes the Sirens to be irresistible in order to establish men as heroes whereas Atwood depicts them as unsightlyRead More Greek Mythology Essay650 Words   |  3 Pagesthe world that surrounds him. What makes the sun rise and set? Why are there seasons? Where do things go when they die? To the ancient Greeks, there were simple explanations to all these questions – it was the gods! Things that seemed unexplainable could suddenly make sense when there were gods and goddesses involved. And these stories of the gods that the Greeks created to help make sense of the universe have survived the years to become a treasured and integral part of the history of the WesternRead MoreGreek Mythology Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagestheir share of beliefs. Greek mythology is the arguably the most popular region of study. In Ancient Greece every citizen had a patron that would protect them and pantheism was commonplace. The Romans admired the Greeks in their art and culture and even took different aspects of their gods. Polytheis m was widely accepted in all cultures so the seed of mythology bloomed. The time line of the creations of gods to the end of their reign is an important factor in Greek Mythology. Creation The creationRead MoreNorse Mythology vs. Greek Mythology Essay1069 Words   |  5 PagesNorse Mythology vs. Greek Mythology There are many mythologies in the world, and all of these have things in common as well as differences. A very popular mythology would be Greek mythology, Which many people know about it or at least know of it. Another not as popular mythology is Norse mythology; Norse mythology is the religion of the Norse people. The Norse people are the ancient people of northern Europe (Scandinavia, Iceland, Denmark, Northern Germany etc.) (World Book 259). A majorRead MoreLysistrat Greek Mythology Essay1023 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Turner Lysistrata Paper 1 Greek Mythology September 8, 2016 Introduction Lysistrata, written by Aristophanes, takes place during a time period when men dominate. This play brings up the battle of the sexes in a humorous way. In the play Lysistrata brings women from areas like Greece and Sparta that were involved in the Peloponnesian war to talk about her plan to end the war. Lysistrata’s plan was for all the women from the different lands to with hold sex with their lovers until the menRead MoreIsraelite and Greek Mythology Essay1132 Words   |  5 Pages The Works and Days is a Greek myth containing an appropriated version of the Israelites Ten Commandments from The Bible. Throughout Works and Days, the myth constructs a virtually identical set of rules pertaining to moral conduct; all which, if disobey, are punishable by Zeus. Both the Israelites and the Greeks believe that their Lord (for the Greeks, specifically all powerful Zeus) distributes retribution to those who disobey these moral rules of conduct. In both texts, these guidelines for Read MoreMonsters in Greek Mythology Essay1646 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most interesting qualities of Greek mythology is probably the depiction of monsters in the myths. However, these monsters are not all unique. In fact, they all fall into very distinct categories, making them almost the same. Most monsters in Greek mythology look and act in the same ways. Several monsters from these myths look the same in that they have very similar qualities such as being large, snake or human like. However, they are also very alike in that they behave in very similarRead MoreThe Gods of Greek Mythology Essay1325 Words   |  6 PagesIn Greek Mythology, perhaps one of the most rudimental yet one of the most important elements are the Greek Gods and Goddesses. The ancient Greeks created the stories about the lives and journeys of the Greek Gods, known as myths, simply as an endeavor to elucidate nature and all phenomena which were difficult to explain using modern science and logic. Thes e myths about the Gods were spread around the world by explorers and storytellers, and later merged with Greek religion. To this day, numerous

Essay on Textual Analysis of Writing Guides Essay Example For Students

Essay on Textual Analysis of Writing Guides Essay Let me introduce you to the main characters in the story of composition. Our hero—the protagonist—is known as â€Å"the writer,† who is supported by both the writing instructor—our hero’s mentor traditionally—and the reference guide. And of course, as is necessary in all good stories, there is the antagonist—the evil force that our hero must contend with; in this tale the â€Å"writing† will be the daunting task that is loathed and dreaded by our hero. Where once the teaching of composition was left primarily to English teachers, there are now other sources—namely reference guides on writing—that claim to have the formula for success. There are a number of publishers who have capitalized on employing rhetorical strategies of sarcasm and humor to gain a larger share of the reference guide market. In this paper I will examine a few of these writing guides—specifically: Barron’s Painless Writing, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Well, and Research Papers for Dummies—that have become so popular, extracting how they position the writer, the instructor and the writing process, as well as considering the usefulness of these texts for English 131 student1. It is clear that these books are appropriating similar generic features to appeal to a certain type of audience. Humor is the main component used by all, from the title that refers to the person using the book as a self-proclaimed â€Å"dummy† or â€Å"idiot†Ã¢â‚¬â€clearly an intelligent person would not be reading the â€Å"idiot’s guide—to the cartoons and jokes that fill the pages. On the cover and back of each book, they make their claims about what the offer the student. Each guide claims to provide advice that will â€Å"help† writers to â€Å"improve† or â€Å"transform† their writing with very similar language: . . ity, Montreal, Canada.http://www.masondissertation.elephanthost.com/. 2002 Miller, Richard E. As if Learning Mattered: Reforming Higher Education. Ithaca London: Cornell UP. 1998 Stygall, Gail. Ed. Academic Discourse: Readings for Argument and Analysis. Mason, Ohio: Thomson Learning Custom Publishing. 2000 Rozakis, Laurie. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grammar Style. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books. 2000. , The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Well. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books. 1997. Strausser, Peter. Painless Writing. New York: Barron’s. 1997. Woods, Geraldine. Research Papers for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc. 2002 Young, Richard. Arts, Crafts, Gifts and Knacks: Some Disharmonies in the New Rhetoric.   Reinventing the New Rhetoric. Eds. , Aviva Freedman and Ian Pringle. Ottawa: Canadian Council of Teachers of English, 1980. 53-60.

Romeo And Juliet - Victims Of Fate Essays -

Romeo And Juliet - Victims Of Fate? One view of the play sees Romeo and Juliet as victims of fate. To what extent do you agree with this? Having a complex plot, and too many deeply involved characters, we cannot simply state that Romeo and Juliet were purely victims of fate. The tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, and the play itself, are anchored on three notions: that of fate, chance and choice. Fate contributed, though it was not the sole factor in the deaths of the young lovers. The many ?unstoppable' events, Shakespeare's telling us of their love being told in the stars, and the ancient grudge between the families, are prime examples of fate being a part of Romeo and Juliet. Chance in the undetermined figure in Romeo and Juliet, with coincidence and misadventure playing in every readers mind as the many events unfold. Choice; vital decisions by each character, and judgments based on what an individual believed to be right or wrong, once again shows how many varied outcomes there may have been. At the end of the day though, due to fate, chance and choice, Romeo and Juliet committed suicide together, completing a tra gic five days in which they fell in love, married and eventually died. Romeo and Juliet, many believe, was a tragedy brought upon by destiny. Fate may well have brought Romeo and Juliet together, or at least contributed along the rocky path to their deaths. Many events were shaped as fate in Romeo and Juliet. If Mercutio was indeed destined to die, then perhaps the entire tragedy was unavoidable. Romeo, often foreseeing fate, indicates this as he tries to stop Tybalts and Mercutios brawling: Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! And again after killing Tybalt: O, I am Fortunes fool. Fate may have also had it that Friar John was unable to deliver the important message to the banished Romeo. These key events, among others, have extended the role of fate past the prologue. Fate by the stars, is given to us a factor in Romeo and Juliet's deaths. In the prologue where we are told, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their lives. From this, it is easy to see that Shakespeare wanted us to have the idea of Romeo and Juliet being killed by fate heavily weighing on our minds. Another look at the play being determined by the stars sees Romeo trying to alter fates destructive path: Is it e'en so? Then I defy you, stars!, Romeo exclaims, saying that fate has played role enough; he will dictate what is to come. Once inside the tomb with Juliet, Romeo again challenges fate: Will I set up my everlasting rest, or shake the yoke of inauspicious stars. Even as the stars supposedly hold the fate of Romeo and Juliet, the families of Montague and Capulet still have much to contribute. Once again, the prologue introduces us to fate, this time from a family perspective. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny?From forth the fatal loins of these two foes? Here we are again given the thought that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die, and that the bitter feud between their families has a major part to play. Especially by using the word ?from,' it tells us that as a result of the two quarreling families, there is destined to be a death toll. What's in a name? A love-sick Juliet complains of her ill-fate of being Capulet, as does Romeo of being Montague, when he tells a servant, Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. This illustrates as the story progresses, that like Juliet, he cares not of a name. The role of fate in their families' plans and histories, and by the stars, is shown in many instances, saying that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet may have been predetermined and unavoidable. Chance: coincidence and misadventure, may well have brought the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. The ever analytical Juliet ponders the role of coincidence in her new found love: My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Perhaps the irony of coincidence lies in the only true love each Romeo and Juliet found