Bryce Snell English 2 Doucet December 1, 2009 Part 3: I enjoy Langston Hughes’ piece “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” because it is a piece that uplifts and has a proud history behind it. Langston Hughes who has written in many genres and for many occasions is a well known writer. While he is best known for his works during the Harlem Renaissance he had his part in community and political work. While never admitting to actual participation, Hughes was a follower to the Communist Party. With the past full of oppression, the Jim Crow laws and segregation in many public forms, Hughes was a strong advocate for equal standards and work groups.
Siddhartha as a Hero's Journey Herman Hesse's book, Siddhartha lends itself perfectly to a hero's journey. His journey is long, painful, and dangerous, but Siddhartha comes out better because of it. The book was written by Hesse in 1922 and based on a character set in the 500 BCs. It is odd that the book applies to modern India just as it applied to the India of 2 millennium ago (when Siddhartha supposedly lived). This, coupled with a captivating story line makes this a fun book to read, as well as an interesting point of view into early Indian culture.
Each ghostly reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father,“ spoke the powerful tribe leader. His passion is expressed towards the developers of a construction plan for the European immigrants of the time. He’s feared the day when people of an unfamiliar race would come to take over his reservation, and now that day has come. The imagery, personification, and symbolism in his writing is shown to let the reader feel the power of emotion underneath his words, feel the way he felt, make them think differently than they did before, and to simply be moved.
Twain shows that while there are people who view slaves as inferior, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gives great example that shows a human side. Twain’s novels should never be banned from schools. School children everywhere should be allowed the opportunity to read about young Huck and his adventurous journey down the river with his loyal companion and friend, the runaway slave,
A journey suggests a trip, movement from one place to another, including all the experiences undergone along the way. Journeys can further be classified as either, an inner or physical journey. Physical journeys involve movement from one place to another. The way we choose to tackle the obstacles of such a journey, expands our intellectual and emotional horizons by broadening our understanding of the world around us. Inner journeys however focus more on self exploration and on reflecting on our past experiences beyond normal everyday life.
I always believed that the rights song at the right moment could change history.” These famous words were uttered by Pete Seeger, one of Americas most influential folk singer and songwriter of all time. Pete Seeger was a man who not only had a passion for reestablishing folk music but using the power of his lyrics to stimulate social change. From the Civil Rights movement to the struggles of the Vietnam War, Pete Seeger used his passion for music to entertain millions and make a difference in society. Peter Seeger was born on May 3, 1919 in Patterson, New York. With both of his parents being music professors, Pete Seeger’s love for music
His clothes are tattered and his appearance is not very good since he is a runaway slave without many clothes. He is kind to Huck and acts as a father to him during the trip down the river. His purpose is to gauge the growth of Huck and to cause him to see slaves as people. “... [Jim] would steal his children -- children that belonged to a man ... a man that hadn’t ever done me no harm.” Tom Sawyer - Tom is a friend of Huck. He is a little older than Huck.
He took on an active and contemplative lifestyle. He soon took the form of a country-bumbkin hero resembling Paul Bunyan. Abe began working as a ferryman for Offut, and during which uncovered one of the biggest obstacles of his life. It was during Abe’s ferry trip to New Orleans when he saw his first slave-auction. This was a major turning point in Abe’s life due to the fact that it opened up his eyes to the world around him and put that goal for change into his mind.
The Jungle Upton Sinclair does an amazing job reflecting the life of a poor immigrant and his close friends from Lithuania in the novel “The Jungle.” The imagery he uses not only focuses on the challenges of his caravan of immigrants, but also for the majority of lower class American population. From corruption to abduction, Sinclair displays the harsh time poor immigrant peasants suffered through. America was the land of the free, and was also known for its success and promising life, but what Sinclair mainly drives in on, is how this perfect country was only nice to the ones running it. Throughout this drama filled novel, Sinclair tracks a family from Lithuania that is trying to get over to the United States. Like many others, Jurgis and all of his eleven companions were in search for a happy successful life, but only came to find struggles and hardship.
Along with a black slave called Jim, they embark on a journey together down the Mississippi River. Life on the raft is empowering because the river becomes a freedom motif as it carries them away from confinement and abuse, juxtaposing with the idea of the shore being symbolic of danger and social tyranny. Huck escapes the brutality of his drunken father and ‘sivilizing’ restrictions of St Petersburg, and Jim the degradation and racism of slavery. Huck has been affected by the stereotypical opinions of the society of the time, and has preconceived notions of black people and their rights. The journey is a unifying experience that allows them to recognise a common humanity.