“American Literature helps me to expand the boundaries of my own experience.”
This was the focus of this semester’s work in American Literature. The work and understanding I have obtained from this unit over the course of the semester have led me to believe that American literature has the capacity to teach us, as humans, something about our own lives and consequently ourselves—spiritually and physically. These lessons, which I am eternally grateful for, at first seem so simple and became more complex the more I studied them. For example, when we were learning about Transcendentalism, we were taught the significance of nature as an aspect of our lives and its potential to cause self-actualisation and enlightenment were remarkable. We began with Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, Martin Luther King Jr, James Baldwin, Du Bois and ending with Robert Frost, Robert Lowell, T.S Eliot, William Faulkner and postmodernist artists and authors such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Frank O’Hara, John Ashbery and Jackson Pollock. Despite the time difference (from almost one to two centuries apart) of these brilliant authors, poets, and artists existed in, it astounds me to believe that their works are still relevant in contemporary society. Ultimately, all these dynamic poets, authors, and artists who defiantly challenge their societal values and culture has led to many great works that are universally relevant to contemporary society. That is, these works assisted me in expanding the boundaries of my own experiences.
We began our journey in American literature with American Indian Writing. Professor MG contrasted the spiritual emptiness of contemporary American culture and the spiritual richness of what is left of American Indian culture. This alone has made me question, why can’t American culture be more open to the lessons and culture that American Indians practice? I personally don’t think that there is a “superior” culture or tradition, more so, the existence of many diverse cultures and traditions allows other cultures to learn and appreciate something that they never once thought of. For example, contemporary American culture should expose themselves to the richness of insight and understanding about the significance of our relationship with the land (as American Indian culture has practiced). By doing this, not only both cultures benefit but also the planet along with future generations. I also found our analysis of Native American Indian Writing had a clear subversion of the dominant materialistic culture. Their writing was also in harmony with many “main-stream” American writers such as Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, and Dickinson.
Next, we made a brief stop to the transcendentalists in 19th Century America. It’s spiritual aspect and the push for authenticity in human experience is what I found extremely engaging. We then examined two influential individuals that “led” the transcendentalist movement—Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The exposure to this topic has inspired me to strive for a meaningful life and at the same time, to seek understanding in myself and the world around me. Emerson and has inspired me so much that I decided it would have been a great essay topic. We were given readings of Emerson and Thoreau and It was perhaps the more enjoyable readings I have ever come across in a literature unit. A sentence (in Chapter 2 ‘Where I Lived, and What I Lived For’) from Thoreau’s novel “Walden” has personally moved me: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see If I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived”. Thoreau’s sentence has inspired me to live my life deliberately and with purpose. Ultimately it has helped me to expand beyond the boundaries of my own experience to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
After revisiting Walt Whitman and Emily Dickenson, we moved on to Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Reading Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn gave an insight to the racism that still lingered after the abolishment of slavery. We continued to discuss free expression and total acceptance of genders and cultures in America. This week, we explored the great works of Martin Luther King Jr, James Baldwin, Du Bois and Toomer. I distinctly remember discussing Du Bois quote “The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line” for one of my weekly blog topics. I personally think the term “colour line” is something we invent to discriminate others and illusion ourselves to believe that we are “above” another human. Hence, I encourage everyone to help this as it is everyone’s issue, not just the issue of the discriminated. I personally believe that everyone is created equal regardless of their difference. Needless to say, American Literature has not only expanded the boundaries of my own experience but has also encourage me to abolished racist limitations that can result in the acceptance of individuals from various cultures and backgrounds.
Afterwards, we explored the contrasting worlds of Robert Frost and Robert Lowell. They are both iconic poets of North America in the Twentieth Century. I personally found Robert Frost more appealing since he was the inheritor of the transcendentalists and possessed the energy of Walt Whitman to express his deep connection to the American landscape and its power to open the human spirit. This, of course, was what Emerson attempted to discuss in his essay “Nature”. Contrastingly, Robert Lowell was deeply enmeshed in the tyrannies that controlled his whole life. In his Confessional Poetry, his profound exposition of these tyrannies is his way to express his deep appreciation and gratitude for his given life. We then made a quick stop at American Modernism. We looked at William Carlos, Charlie Chaplin and lastly T.S Eliot’s Four Quartets. The semester ended with William Faulkner and The Beats, New York School and Postmodernism. Ultimately, this semester has been a wonderful exploration of America’s history and the magnificent works of great American poets, writers and artists. With this unit coming to an end, I wanted to express my gratitude for the lessons that Professor MG and Dr. JB has taught me. Lessons that have and forever will expand the boundaries of my own spiritual and physical experiences.
Links to my Blogs:
Best Creative Blog:
http://www.lostinliterature1.wordpress.com/category/american-literature/creative-blogs/
Best Critical Blog:
http://www.lostinliterature1.wordpress.com/category/american-literature/best-critical-blog/
Peer Reviews:
http://www.lostinliterature1.wordpress.com/category/american-literature/all-peer-reviews/
Summative Entry:
Summative Entry (American Literature)
LOST IN LITERATURE 
