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"A Model of Christian Charity"
"For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill."
They are on a ship called the Arbella on their way to America. Winthrop is giving a sermon to emphasize the purpose of their travel. God has given them a job to go and be the chosen people to set the example for future generations. They will be scrutinized on everything they do, therefore they must be as righteous as possible and be good christians.
It reflects that they are very religous. -
Of Plymouth Plantation
"It was answered, that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courage."
Bradford is writing a third person retrospective for posterity to learn from their mistakes.
It reflects that they follow a strict moral code and they are the chosen people. -
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
"O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in."
Edwards is giving a sermon to his congregation in Enfield, Connecticut. He wants to instill fear to his subjects, that they should fear God because no matter what they do he controls their fate.
It reflects the fear of God and the idea of predestined fate. -
Speech to the Virginia Convention
"Give me liberty or give me death."
Henry is attempting to persuade the Virginia Convention to go to war with Great Britain because diplomacy has not worked.
It reflects the revolutionary spirit of the american patriot. -
The Autobiography
"I wished to live without commiting any fault at any time."
Franklin arrived at Philadelphia with no money and no friends and he tries to achieve moral perfection.
It reflects the age of reason because uses a logical process to achieve. -
"Thanatopsis"
"Thou shalt lie down
With patriarchs of the infant world--with kings,
The powerful of the earth--the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulchre."
This poem is an explanation of death. In a way it can be comforting, but it can also be scary. It concludes that death returns everyone to a unified oversoul, and that we will all be equal and at peace once again.
Thanatopsis is important to Romanticism because it evokes emotion of comfort about death. -
"The Devil and Tom Walker"
"Let that skull alone!"
Irving writes here a story about the temptation of the Devil on Tom and his wife. Tom strikes a deal with him, but in the end, the Devil wins, which Irving implies will always happen.
This relates to anti-Transcendentalism because of the Devil's persuading role as temptation of man. Tom and his wife have an inherent potential to sin. -
Nature
"To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society."
Emerson writes about the idea that truth can only be achieved by isolating oneself not only from other people but from their ideas.
This follows Transcendentalist ideals because it conforms to self-reliance, truth in nature, and personal feeling over reason. -
"The Minister's Black Veil"
"'Why do you tremble at me alone?' cried he, turning his veiled face round the circle of pale spectators. 'Tremble also at each other!'"
Father Hooper wears a black veil to represent his disguising sin. People freak out and think of him differently, but truly everyone has the same sin. They are simply not aware of it.
This relates to anti-Transcendentalism well because it implies that everyone is born with sin and can't escape the temptation. -
"Civil Disobedience"
"I heartily accept the motto— 'That government is best which governs least.'"
Thoreau is writing that one should not abide by a law with which one does not agree. An ideal government only has authority to the extent of keeping the people safe and nothing more.
This reflects Transcendentalist ideals because it emphasizes self-reliance and individuality. Truth is found through personal meditation, and rules should not be spoon-fed to society. -
Walden
"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity."
Thoreau isolates himself on Emerson's Walden Pond. He reduces his life to basic necessities in order to get the most out of life. He learns that to make the most out of life, one must simplify as much as possible like he did.
This adheres well with Transcendental viewpoints because self-reliance is drawn upon heavily, as well as individualistic thought and self-expression. Nature is seen as a source of truth. -
"A Cross of Snow"
"Such is the cross i wear upon my breast these eighteen years, through all the changing scenes and seasons, changeless since the day she died."
While everything in nature changes rhythmically, the one constant in Longfellow's life is the fact that his wife is dead.
This reflects Romatic thoughts because it emphasizes death while using feeling and emotion to communicate it. -
"The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls"
"The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveler to the shore"
Longfellow is writing here that man is temporary in a permanent nature. Nature erases the evidence that man even existed.
This is relevant to Romanticism because it has an admiration of nature and use of pathos writing style. Death is not seen as scary because it is a part of rhythmic nature. -
"The Yellow Wallpaper"
"I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of
you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the
paper, so you can't put me back!"
Gilman writes about the poor treatment when she was considered mentally ill. She thought there was a story behind the yellow wallpaper in her room, and eventually thinks that she came out of the wallpaper. She goes insane.
This follows realism because it calls for a practical treatment of the mentally ill (and women in specific) rather than an ignorant lock-and-key method
