...Personal Information Born Olive Marjorie Senior on December 23, 1941, in Jamaica; immigrated to Canada, 1991. Education: Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), B.S., journalism, 1967. Career Daily Gleaner newspaper, Jamaica, reporter and sub-editor; Jamaica Information Service, information officer, 1967-69; Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, public relations officer, 1969-71; JCC Journal, editor, 1969-71; Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies, Jamaica, publications editor, 1972-77; Social and Economic Studies, editor, 1972-77; freelance writer and researcher, part-time teacher in communications, publishing consultant, and speech writer, Jamaica, 1977-82; Institute of Jamaica Publications, managing editor, 1982-89; Jamaica Journal, editor, 1982-89; freelance teacher, writer, lecturer, 1989-; University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, visiting lecturer/writer-in-residence, 1990; Caribbean Writers Summer Institute, University of Miami, Florida, director of fiction workshop, 1994, 1995; St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, Dana Visiting Professor of creative writing, 1994-95; University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, writer-in-residence, 1998-99. Life's Work Jamaican-born journalist, poet, and short story writer Olive Senior is one of Caribbean literature's leading feminist voices. Her works, though written in English, remain heavily influenced by the region's patois, and draw heavily upon its oral storytelling traditions. In both her verse...
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...symbolized freedom from the oppression of slavery. It was described as the spiritual coming of age in which African Americans had a chance to express their creativity. The Harlem Renaissance is noted as being a literary movement were African Americans could celebrate their heritage and reveal the truth about their life and the first time their literature was taken seriously by critics and publishers. The birth of the Harlem Renaissance came out of Harlem, New York in the early 1920's, "it was a time for a cultural celebration. African Americans had endured centuries of slavery and the struggle for abolition." (U.S History, 2008) It is described as racial pride and an intense desire for equality. It represented a time by the end of the war in 1919 where African Americans was going to be much more aggressive than their prewar brothers. Harlem was considered the capital of the black world, because it attracted thousands of blacks from the South and the West indies. It provided economic and education for African American artist. In Harlem, people demanded respect from those who continued to keep racist ideas that resulted in the Harlem Renaissance; consisting of musicians, poets, novelists, intellectuals, and artist. Black intellectuals took inspiration from their African American heritage and through their works of creativity, which provided a racial uplift from their own communities. Harlem was the place for migrants from around the country, it attracted people that were in need of work...
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...March 14, 2014 Intro to Poetry 116w The Role of Race in Determining the Canonicity of Phillis Wheatley’s Works Over the years, the types of literary works considered to be part of the cannon have varied greatly but the criterion for selecting a canonical work seems to have stayed the same. According to American literary critic Northrop Frye, the canonicity of a work represents the admission of the work unto a “unified scheme” that is also “in accord with a permanent structure of ideas” (Hilton, 140). While poet Phillis Wheatley certainly focused upon the “permanent structure of ideas” that is most significant in our society- religion, freedom, integrity- she was fairly unsuccessful at achieving a canonical status for most if not all of her works. Wheatley’s achievements were undoubtedly impressive, yet much attention was paid to her race rather than her talent. While a canonical work by definition creates a powerful literary legacy, after her initial fame Phillis Wheatley was “no longer a revelation, unable to successfully commodify herself again, she died penniless and forgotten” (Flanzbaum, 79). Much of the controversy surrounding Wheatley’s work was brought on by accusations made by critics that she held a misguided racial identity, in which she identifies more with her white, privileged readers than her black peers. Even decades later, many critics of Wheatley’s work are still unable to see past skin color to see her work for what it truly is. It cannot be said for certain...
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...as Doveglion. Born in Singalong, Manila on 5 Aug 1908. National Artist in Literature. He is the son of Simeon Villa, Emilio Aguinaldo’s physician, and Guia Garcia. He graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) High School and enrolled at at the UP College of Medicine in 1925. Villa first tried painting, but then turned into writing after reading Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson. His poetry first gained fame—or notoriety—in 1929, when he was suspended for one year by the UP administration for the publication of “Man Song.” His penmame Doveglion (derived from “Dove, Eagle, Lion”) is based on the characters he derived from himself. These animals were also explored by another poet in Doveglion, Adventures in Value, a poem dedicated to Villa. Villa never finished his medical studies. In 1930 he won the Philippines Free Press literary contest for “Mir-i-nisa” and used the prize money to go to the United States. He enrolled at the University of New Mexico and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree and pursued post-graduate work at Columbia University. He taught poetry for a while at the City College of New York, 1964- 1973. He also worked in the Philippine Mission to the U.N., 1954- 1963, and became the vice consul in 1965. After he retired in 1973, he continued to teach professionals in his Greenwich Village residence. Villa started out as a fictionist, with “Footnote to Youth” and “Mir-I-nisa.” In 1932, “Untitled Story” appeared in anthology by Edward J. O’Brien...
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...biographer whose works present the diverse heritage of the Filipino people.Joaquin was awarded a scholarship to the Dominican monastery in Hong Kong after publication of his essay “La Naval de Manila” (1943), a description of Manila’s fabled resistance to 17th-century Dutch invaders. After World War II he traveled to the United States, Mexico, and Spain, later serving as a cultural representative of the Philippines to Taiwan, Cuba, and China.Starting as a proofreader for the Philippines Free Press, Joaquin rose to contributing editor and essayist under the nom de plume “Quijano de Manila” (“Manila Old-Timer”). He was well known as a historian of the brief Golden Age of Spain in the Philippines, as a writer of short stories suffused with folk Roman Catholicism, as a playwright, and as a novelist.The novel The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1961) examines his country’s various heritages. A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1966), a celebrated play, attempts to reconcile historical events with dynamic change. The Aquinos of Tarlac: An Essay on History as Three Generations (1983) presents a biography of Benigno Aquino, the assassinated presidential candidate. The action of the novel Cave and Shadows (1983) occurs in the period of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos. Joaquin’s other works include the short-story collections Tropical Gothic (1972) and Stories for Groovy Kids (1979), the play Tropical Baroque (1979), and the collections of poetry The Ballad of the Five Battles (1981) and...
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...This is a 3-page paper on the role of Greek and Roman literature and the role it plays in today’s society. THE ROLE OF GREEK AND ROMAN LITERATURE Over the years, literature of ancient Greece and Rome has affected art, religion, philosophy, science and mathematics, medicine, drama, and poetry profoundly. It has served as a basic model for the development of later European literatures and, consequently, the writings of the historians, geographers, philosophers, scientists, and rhetoricians are read today as sources of historical information and enjoyment. Alfred Whitehead, the famous British philosopher-mathematician, once commented that: “[A]ll philosophy is but a footnote to Plato” (Comptons Encyclopedia). A similar point can be made regarding Greek literature as a whole. The Greek world of thought was far ranging and ideas discussed today have been previously debated by ancient writers. In fact, until recently, in Western culture, an acquaintance with classical Latin (as well as Greek) literature was basic to a liberal education. Roman literature such as epic and lyric poetry, rhetoric, history, comic drama and satire (the last genre being the only literary form that the Romans invented) serve as today’s backbone for a basic understanding of expression and artistic creativity, as well as history. Greek comedies such as those of Naevius and Andronicus, as well as historical writings in epic poems (First Punic War), tell the story of Rome and its conquests and served...
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...that in some way has connected them to writing about what we define as the American Midwest. “If the Midwest is to act as a region, it must know what it is. It must define itself. It needs a unifying portrait, a communal myth. To paint this portrait, we look to our writers, especially our novelists (Longworth, 2010, pg. 1).” Joy Harjo is an example of a writer whose work uniquely defines the Midwest through her heritage, values, accomplishments, and social and political views. Joy Harjo is a particularly interesting writer whose accomplishments and values can help you to understand a great deal about how and why her writings define her as much as she defines them. “Joy Harjo was born in 1951 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Native American and Canadian ancestry. Strongly influenced by her Muskogee Creek heritage, feminist and social concerns, and her background in the arts, Harjo frequently incorporates Native American myths, symbols, and values into her writing. Her poetry tends to emphasize the Southwest landscape and need for remembrance and transcendence (Poetry Foundation, 2010, pp. 1).” After reading the poem, “The Woman Hanging From The Thirteenth Floor Window,” by Joy Harjo, one can begin to picture how her history and beliefs have influenced her writing. This poem brings you in to the mind of...
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...Michael Estes Professor Wallace English 101 17 July 2012 Feminist Criticism Literary criticism is an analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of any literary work that can be applied to novels, poetry, essays, and various other forms of literature. There are numerous types of literary criticism including archetypal, Marxist, and readers-response. The theory of feminism criticism, another type of literary criticism, originated in France and the Netherlands and emphasizes on gender inequality and female's social roles. Feminism criticism can be seen as many forms of literary expressions such as poetry, essays, short stories, and novels. Feminism can also be examined through current events, fictional, and how those two are correlated. W.E.B. DuBois was an author who wrote the essay, "Double Consciousness." One can interpret feminism criticism from his text. "After the Egyptian an Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh-son..." This can be interpreted as females come after everybody else. In other words, society puts all others -- Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians -- ahead of females. For example, as terrible as they were treated, African-Americans received the privilege to vote in 1868, fifty years previous to the women receiving similar rights. As seen above, feminism is not always directly displayed so one must interpret it from the text. "Karintha," written by Jean Toomer, is a fictional story about a young...
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...poem in 1921. He attended Columbia University, but left after one year to travel. His poetry was later promoted by Vachel Lindsay, and Hughes published his first book in 1926. He went on to write countless works of poetry, prose and plays, as well as a popular column for the Chicago Defender. He died on May 22, 1967. CONTENTS Synopsis Early Life Growing Success A Continuing Life of Letters Death and Legacy QUOTES "An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose." – Langston Hughes « prev1 / 14next » Early Life James Mercer Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents, James Hughes and Carrie Langston, separated soon after his birth, and his father moved to Mexico. While Hughes’s mother moved around during his youth, Hughes was raised primarily by his maternal grandmother, Mary, until she died in his early teens. From that point, he went to live with his mother, and they moved to several cities before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. It was during this time that Hughes first began to write poetry, and that one of his teachers first introduced him to the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman, both whom Hughes would later cite as primary influences. Hughes was also a regular contributor to his school's literary magazine, and frequently submitted to other poetry magazines, although they would ultimately reject him. Hughes graduated from high school...
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...Course Title Course Code Pre- requisite Credits : : : : World Literature Lit 02 Lit 01 3 Units Vision-Mission Statement : Instructor : Email : Office : Consultation Hours: MWF Venue : Consultation Rm. I. Course Description: Socorro D. De Jesus, Ph.D. Associate Professor 1 socorro_dejesus@hotmail.com General Education Faculty Rm, 2 nd floor, St. Anselm's Building 1 The course will introduce students to the writings of persons from selected countries across the different continents of the world. Students will gain an understanding of literary concepts to be able to interpret, analyze and evaluate various genres. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to learn and appreciate the cultural heritage that is articulated from each literary text. II. Course Objectives: At the end of the semester, the students should be able to : 1. read and understand representative literary texts from various continents in the world. 2. analyze literary texts using the various approaches in literature. 3. employ critical thinking skills. 4. appreciate the...
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...R. Sarenka Smith 13 December 2013 Race, Civil Rights, and Literature—Paper #3 Cultural Heritage Through the Creation of Art and Language: Recovering Ancestral Identity in Paule Marshall’s Praisesong for the Widow “People who can’t call their nation. For one reason or another they just don’ know. Is a hard thing. I don’ even like to think about it.” --Lebert Joseph, Praisesong for the Widow Paule Marshall’s autobiographical article “From the Poets in the Kitchen,” published a month before her novel Praisesong for the Widow, describes stories from her childhood that reflect the immigrant experience, addressing the constant presence of the Caribbean and its influence on Marshall’s life while growing up in the United States. Marshall’s mother and her female friends, immigrants from Barbados, would gather in the Marshall kitchen after their days of working in low-paid jobs to chat, gossip, and “tackle the great issues of the time” including the economy, politics, war, and their nostalgia for home. They discussed their adopted home, America—acknowledging both the racism they endured, and also the wealth of possibilities that the country offered. These women and their stories were, for Marshall, the origins of her fiction. She asserts that a writer’s ability to render everyday speech is derived from close listening, and the talk that “filled the kitchen” additionally functioned as a kind of therapeutic catharsis, a release of creative energy. The special kind of...
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...Common Literary Techniques in Poetry Kevin R. Wakefield ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Cicely Young October 7, 2012 Common Literary Techniques in Poetry According to the Free Dictionary (2012), poetry is defined as “A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme”. The tone of a poem exposes the approach of the author that he or she wishes the intended audience to capture. These feelings may be of happiness and joy, anguish and sorrow, or simply a comical approach. Oftentimes, foreshadowing and personification lead to a very vivid image being revealed as the author attempts to invoke a certain feeling in the intended audience. Thus, the tone is set, and as in the short poem entitled Boy at the Window (Wilbur, 1952), one can feel the anguish of both the parent and the child as the snowman cries. As the author begins to foreshadow the poem, hints of what’s to come are being revealed to keep the attention of his or reader. The reader may feel one way at this point, but often that reader may change his or her mind at a later point as the events of the story being told unfold. “Seeing the snowman standing all alone” (Wilbur, 1952) evokes to this reader of a wintry afternoon that a child has spent outdoors happily playing in the snow, creating a snowman that implies...
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...creation that can tell truths gracefully, subtly through narrative, poetry and the movement of characters on a stage. Any imaginative act suggests possibility, and this is another reason to continue studying literature" (Florence Dee Boodakian). Literature has been the most influential art in the history of man. It passes down information from one generation to the next and unites all people from different places with a diverse culture. For examples, in Shakespeare, Walker, and Frost's works, it teaches and inspires us in lots of ways; emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. It also initiates change throughout our lifetime. It affects how people live and see the world in a bigger picture; another example of Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" it inspired and touches the hearts of many, that heritage is what binds one’s culture. Literature instills the skills needed by an individual to analyze critical things, to make a significant impact and differences in their lives and future. Literature is not a repository old scrolls and tomes, but great laboratory where the relation between man and the environment has been analyzed, experimented with and redefined over the history of civilization. The act of reading literature can change and shape how we perform and study things. Literature is the expression of oneself and the social life and thoughts through language that resemble one's heritage and culture. Poetry is unique because of its universality that goes beyond the social...
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...James Smith Prof. K. Allens ENL 102- 63 10 October 2013 “I wondered Lonely as A Cloud” By William Wordsworth (1770-1850) The second of five children born to John Wordsworth and Ann Cookson, William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 in Cocker mouth, Cumberland (Heritage). Wordsworth's father, even though rarely present, taught him poetry, comprising of Milton, Shakespeare and Spenser. Though Hawkshead School was Wordsworth's first involvement with education, he was taught to read by his mother, while attending a tiny school of poor standard in Cockermouth (Everett). "I wandered lonely as a cloud" proceeds in the Lake District of Northern England. This area is famous for its hundreds of lakes, stunning breadths of season daffodils In Wordsworth's poem of topic, he begins in the first stanza the memory of a time when he meandered over the valleys and hills, "lonely as a cloud." Finally, he came across a crowd of daffodils stretching out over almost everything he could see, "fluttering and dancing in the breeze” (Cambridge). In the second stanza, the author delves into more elements about the daffodils. They reminded him of the Milky Way, maybe because there were so many flowers swarming together that they seemed to be never-ending. The author speculates that there were ten thousand daffodils, which were "Tossing their heads in sprightly dance" (Gill). The third stanza, the speaker compares the surfs of the large lake to the waves of daffodils swaying in the wind. While...
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...Roots Seamus Heaney was born in 1939 in Northern Ireland. Heaney wrote Death of a Naturalist in 1966. Death of a Naturalist included the poem “Digging”; it is the first poem of the collection. “Digging” is a free verse poem written in first person narrative. Digging contains eight stanzas containing two couplets. In Seamus Heaney’s poem “Digging” the narrator is comparing his digging to his ancestors. The theme is heritage; the narrator takes a look back at his heritage to examine his career choice. Heaney shows the theme using symbols. Using digging as a metaphor for writing, Heaney shows the connection of the narrator with his early life on the farm and the lives of his father and grandfather.In the first stanza, Heaney introduces the readers to the narrator’s pen, which the narrator is content to hold as he finds a sense of belonging and comfort. The pen is described as a weapon, “snug as a gun” (L2), this gives the impression that the pen fits naturally in his hands and symbolizes a form of protection from the criticisms about his choice of “being a writer” (Miller). The pen also symbolizes “fate” (“Pen”). Writing is his fate instead of farming like his ancestors. Even though the narrator chooses not to become a digger, he still finds a similarity between the two occupations. The narrator recognizes that his skill with a pen is compatible to his father’s skill with a spade, as he suggests his pen symbolizes a spade to which he can “dig with it” (L 31). The narrator is...
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