Journal Responses

(Rom 1) Background Questions

(Rom 2) After reading Washington Irving’s "Rip Van Winkle" explain why this short story is classified as juvenile literature.

(Rom 3) Explain the contrast of Poe's characters, Montressor and Fortunado, from his short story "The Cask of Amontillado."

(Rom 4) Discuss Nathaniel Hawthorn’s use of symbols in "Young Goodman brown."

(Rom 5) Describe the struggle of a slave mother in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s excerpt from Uncle Tom’s Cabin

(Rom 6) As described in the selection, “Trancendentalism” 362-254, explain the focus of this concept.

(Rom 7) Discuss Emerson's intense individualism and keen insights into American culture through the assigned selections.

(Rom 8) Explain the concept of communal life as described in Elizabeth Peabody—455-456 “[Labor, Wages, and Leisure]” and Charles Dickens—456-458 from “American Notes: The Mill Girls of Lowell”

(Rom 9) Compare and/or contrast the woman’s rights as discussed in Elizabeth Cady Stanton—458-460 “Declaration of Sentiments” and Sojourner Truth—460-462 “[Aren’t I a Woman?] with the rights women enjoy today.

(Rom 10) In what ways does Thoreau's "Walden" illustrate the transcendental ideal of literature?

(Rom 11) After reading pages 61-562 and explain what inspired the literature of the Romantics.

(Rom 12) After reading pages 779-783, first list the humanitarian reforms that take place during this time, and then explain how the Jeffersonian democracy influenced these reforms.

(Rom 13) Though the theme of William Cullen Bryant’s "Thanatopsis" is death, discuss how he reveals his love of nature throughout the poem.

(Rom 14) Discuss the distinct characteristics of Romanticism that you find in the following Fireside Poets: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Oliver Wendell Holmes.

(Rom 15) What picture do you get of Native Americans from reading “The Speech of Red Jacket” and “The Song of Hiawaytha”?