I found that the Romantic Era really piqued my interest because of the supernatural elements involved. I found that I was able to use my historical brain more in this era than in the Restoration Era. Gothic imagery is very dark and gloomy, but it really stands out to me. I enjoy reading those … Continue reading Kubla Khan
Northanger Abbey
I had a lot of fun reading Northanger Abbey. Before reading this, I had never read any Jane Austen books, so I had no idea what the expect. I didn't even know about this story; the only book by Austen I had ever heard about was Pride and Prejudice. But overall, I really enjoyed the … Continue reading Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abby: Catherine As An Outsider
I believe that Catherine is an outsider in the world she’s growing up in. She doesn’t fit in with the other people around her, nor does she act or behave like them. When she tries to change into the person everyone wants her to be, the person she is not, Catherine fails miserably because she wasn’t made to be … Continue reading Northanger Abby: Catherine As An Outsider
Deja Vu All Over Again (Oroonoko Blog Post)
Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko, or, the Royal Slave (1688) gave me a serious case of the Intentional Fallacy this week, folx. While the fantastical and hideous work of sort-of fiction had no trouble captivating me, I kept noticing descriptions and literary devices that rung bells from English courses past. The story is jam-packed with style benchmarks that … Continue reading Deja Vu All Over Again (Oroonoko Blog Post)
“Was it a Vision, or a Waking Dream?”
One of the most interesting themes I've noticed in these Romantic-Era texts is the focus on the unknown. This week's readings were especially loaded with images of vast, dark abysses where the happenings of Earth are determined or overseen by a shadowy entity. Many of these images are implied to have been conjured up in … Continue reading “Was it a Vision, or a Waking Dream?”
Equiano
One of the many themes I found to be quite interesting in this piece was the theme of identity. As a slave, Equiano is not considered a human being. To others, he is considered a piece of property. By being considered a piece of property, he technically has no identity, and even if he does, … Continue reading Equiano
The Tyger
For my blog post today, I chose to talk about William Blake's poem The Tyger. A fun fact I learned recently about this poem is that it is considered to be one of the most famous poems William Blake ever wrote throughout his career. To begin, I liked this poem because it directly connects to … Continue reading The Tyger
Woodsworth, Burns, and a Changing Perspective on Art
Prior to the romantic period, art (and, more specifically, artistic writings) was something that was separated by class. Largely due to the lack of access to texts, a small group of people could actually read and write texts, thus limiting the audience and perspective of each piece of writing. There was an emphasis on things … Continue reading Woodsworth, Burns, and a Changing Perspective on Art
Life and Death – Innocence and Experience
The songs of Innocence and Experience are a collection of poems that were written by William Blake in the 1780s. Innocence and Experience contrast each other within these works to represent childhood and adulthood, or even darker, life and death. Both of these sides work to highlight the need for light and dark - they … Continue reading Life and Death – Innocence and Experience
Close Reading of Ode to a Nightingale
John Keats captured by heart with the dark beauty this poem is laden with. I want to make it a song, put it on a record player and slow dance to it, glass of red wine in hand. The language is so sleepy and sorrowful. But… he doesn’t mention a nightingale anywhere in the poem. … Continue reading Close Reading of Ode to a Nightingale
Rethinking Modern British Literature 