...Phillis Wheatley was only 12 years old when she first published her poems. Phillis Wheatley became well-known poet, and was not only was she the second published African-American poet nonetheless as she was the first published African-American woman. So the question is how this 12 year old slave girl becomes so gifted in poetry and English writing when it was not okay for slaves to learn how to read and write. In 1971, when Phillis was about eight years old, when she was captured and taken away from her parents, soon after that she was bought as a slave. “The child was a victim of the largest involuntary human migration in history. She had been kidnapped from her family in Africa and forced to spend up to two months crossing the Atlantic. She now faced land again at last (Carretta, 2011)”. “Phillis reached Boston in 1761 at the peak of the annual season for selling imported slaves (Robert). There has been a great deal of confusion about when and by whom the future Phillis Wheatley was first sold in Boston. “The advertisement for the human cargo that included the future Phillis Wheatley first appeared in the Boston Gazette on 13 July 1761, repeating almost verbatim the advertisement from the year before...
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...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 that without the attention paid to her race, Wheatley would have earned...
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...Have you ever heard of Phillis Wheatley. She is one of my favorite poets. in fact , she is one of the first african american woman to write, and publish a poem. Phillis was bon in Senegal/Gambia. Phillis had lived her sweet life, with her loved one’s until one day she was captured. Im sure she never thought that there would be benefits from this, coming from stories of africans being enslaved and living in harsh condition. Considering she was only seven or eight at the time must have been terrifying experience. John Wheatley had purchased the young girl and named her Phillis. Her job was to be a personal servant for Johns wife Susanna. She was very astute and they caught onto that quick. The wheatley family encouraged Phillis to learn how to read, and write. Susanna, and her two young ones taught Phillis how to read, and write. “Wheatley received lessons in theology, English, Latin and Greek. Ancient history was soon folded into the teachings, as were lessons in mythology and literature.” states the article “Phillis Wheatley Biography” Phillis was one special little snowflake for the time. Slaves were not encouraged to learn literature at the time. They feared that the slaves would fight back with their knowledge. Owners were scared that if they could read news...
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...Phillis Wheatley was a slave that soon later on she became a author. Phillis was born in 1753 in Senagal and brought here to the Americas. She was 8 years old when this happen to her. Phillis was kidnapped and brought here to be sold. A man by the name of John Wheatley purchased her. John brought the little girl so his wife could have a servant. Mrs. Wheatley did not train Phillis as her servant because the little girl was very smart. When she was younger Phillis did not have the best of health. Phillis’s masters taught her many subjects. The people who brought her were I guess you could say they were very ice masters because they taught her and made as one of their own. Phillis adopted their last name Wheatley because she felt so close to them. She was still a...
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...Phillis Wheatley is now viewed as a renowned and world-famous poet- but she didn’t start out that way. As a young girl, she was brought as as slave to the New World on a slave trade ship that was returning from Senegal, Sierra Leone and the Isles de Los, near the coast of Guinea. She was purchased by Susanna and John Wheatley who named her after the ship she was brought on- the Phillis. Although she did not yet speak English, they noticed her aptitude for learning and taught her to read and write. Phillis published her first poem at the age of thirteen and continued to rise to success and fame after that. Her ability to wrap religious sentiments in short and well constructed couplets caught the attention of people everywhere, from America to England and Europe. Unfortunately, with the appreciation and recognition came insistent incredulity that an African woman could write so well. Henry Louis Gates Jr., a twentieth century professor who specializes in analyzing...
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...Phillis Wheatley: The Life of a Mastermind The African American intellectual prodigy, Phillis Wheatley once stood on the slave block awaiting sale. In 1761 at the age of seven or eight, Phillis was purchased by a Boston merchant, Mr. John Wheatley, for his wife. Mrs. Wheatley chose Phillis, young as she was, because of her" humble and modest demeanor” (Odell 9). Mrs. Wheatley initially hopes to train Phillis to replace the aging house slaves and to be her companion, since Mrs. Wheatley's daughter, Mary, would soon be old enough to leave home (Richmond 15). The turning point for Phillis Wheatley was that she was fortunate enough to be educated. This was an amazing blessing to her because it was uncommon for free women in this...
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...and Phillis Wheatley were very important people and they accomplished so many things. Francis Scott Key was born August 1, 1779 in Frederick County, Maryland and died from pleurisy at the age of 63 on January 11, 1843 in Baltimore, Maryland.His nationality was American. He was born to Charlton and Captain Key on the family plantation of Terra Rubra. His father was a lawyer, judge and officer in the Continental Army. Francis Scott Key was educated at home until the age of 10. He attended Annapolis Grammar School. After grade school, he went on and studied at John’s College. In 1803, he returned home to set up a legal practice in Georgetown. At that time it was an independent municipality within Washington D.C. He died from pleurisy at the age of 63. He witnessed the British attack...
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...Women’s Roles Then and Now Kimberly Lane Dr. Ed. Yancey HUM-World Culture II November 24, 2011 Phillis Wheatley was purchased by Peter Gwinn as part of a cargo of slaves in a region his employer describes as “Sinagall,” most likely today’s Senegal. She was brought to Boston around seven years old to market of John Avery; there Mrs. Susanna Wheatley purchased the diminutive and sickly Phillis. When Phillis came to the Colonies, she did not speak any English, but she quickly learned to read and write Latin and English. John Wheatley, her master, said she was able to read the Bible fluently in sixteen months. Susanna Wheatley and her daughter Mary did not have a scholarly interest themselves but simply fostered Phillis’ interest in Alexander Pope, Milton, and Homer. Phyllis joined the Old South Meeting House in 1771, solidifying her Puritan faith. The Wheatley family took pride in their “experiment” and showed Phillis off to other prominent families in the Boston Area. Her role as a young woman in the family was complex. She had few domestic tasks, but was still the property of Mr. and Mrs. Wheatleys. She had privileges that other slaves seldom had, such as a lighted and heated room. Kenny Williams’ quotes friends of the family as saying that she “dined modestly apart from the rest of the company...where she could certainly expect neither to give nor receive offense.” Her role was unclear in the family and in society in general: “She inhabited a strange, ambiguous twilight...
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...RESEARCH PAPER Phillis Wheatley's work presents an excellent example of the triumph of optimism over experience. Who is Phillis Wheatley? That is what I asked myself upon learning of a reading assignment. We were assigned to read Phillis Wheatley’s poem “On being brought from Africa to America”. Prior to reading the poem I decided to research the life of Phillis Wheatley. I did this so that I could have a better understanding of what I was about to read. This is why I imagine one of her poems was chosen for reading in our Stories of Immigration course. In the next few sentences I will share with you some of Wheatley’s experience in America. You will discover some of the hardships Wheatley faced. I ask that as you read and think of the experiences that are being described, place yourself in Wheatley’s shoes. What would you do? How would you feel? Would you choose to live a life of optimism or pessimism? Phillis Wheatley was kidnapped at a young age; stripped from the arms of her mother, taken away from the only land that she knew. We all have heard of the dreadful voyage from the west coast of Africa to the eastern American coastlines. Upon landing, Phillis took an immensely negative experience and was able to find something good out of the ordeal. I am not so sure that I would have been able to do or see the sun shine through the rain as Phillis was able to. I am close to my parents and Lord knows how much I love and need my mom. Imagine the thought of no longer...
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...What do you think about Phillis Wheatley and her accomplishments? Me and plenty others believe that she was an amazing woman and I will explain more on her throughout this essay. It all started out when Phillis was bought by John Wheatley as a personal servant for his wife , Sussanah. Then, they had named her Phillis Wheatley, and they educated her. She became very smart, but she wasn't able to interact with the Wheatley's, neither was she able to interact with the other slaves. Her owners were most probably worried that if the did let her interact with the other slaves they would of found a way to escape with the other African Americans. So she was always isolated. She already published a volume of poems at the age of twelve. That...
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...Ivana Barac Professor Harold ENGL 2131 22 March 2016 Phillis Wheatley was an African slave that was brought to America in the mid to late 1700’s. Her new slave owners in Boston had an immensely unique relationship with her. They taught Wheatley how to read and write which eventually led her to become an influential poet. She has created many poems in her life regarding her outlook on slavery. In one particular poem, “On Being Brought from Africa to America”, Wheatley shows her positive and uplifting stance on slavery. CARRETTA, VINCENT. "Phillis Wheatley: Researching A Life." Historical Journal Of Massachusetts 43.2 (2015): 64-89. America: History and Life with Full Text. Web. 22 Mar. 2016. Vincent Carretta created an article to detail the life of Phillis Wheatley which ultimately assists readers in understanding why she was so uplifting in her poetry. He begins with a brief introduction on her early life and background. Shortly after discussing Wheatley’s early life, Carretta brings in a new perspective on her stating, “The literary quality and the political significance of her writings have been challenged since the eighteenth century” (Corretta 66). The statement he presents shows an interesting view when dealing with a poet who is so significant in literature. He later speaks of Wheatley’s husband and other trips she had taken away from Africa. The situations Carretta informs readers on brings insight on Wheatley’s life and how/why she became the type of woman...
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...School Environment Analysis Vanessa Kawa Grand Canyon University * * * * * * Phillis Wheatley Elementary school is located in Miami, Florida and is a part of the Miami-Dade County Public School system. The school is located in the center of Overtown, one of the most poverty stricken communities in Miami Dade County. The majority of people that live in the community live in government subsidized housing. According to Urban Mapping (2011), Overtown is made up of 75% African Americans, 20% Hispanic, and 3% Caucasian. The average income per family is approximately $13,355 and the crime rate is 27% higher than the actual city of Miami (Urban Mapping, 2011). The buildings are dilapidated, graffiti and trash is ramped, and many vagrants live along the streets. Phillis Wheatley Elementary school is one of one hundred and eight schools that are a part of the Education Transformation Office (ETO). ETO is a support team that is committed in growth and improvement of schools that are deficient in the state assessment test. They use data to drive instruction, send curriculum support specialists on a weekly basis to provide guidance, and provide academic resources for our school, such as technological resources, books, equipment, and so on. The students at Phillis Wheatley Elementary school have many social/emotional issues related to their life outside of school. The students come to school angry, hungry, unkempt, poor hygiene, and academically...
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...weaved in the way of life may mark their fellow citizens who embrace an alternate religion as backstabbers. Others outside that nation may call them mentally programmed. Wheatley was in this circumstance, and she attempted to persuade individuals this wasn't valid. The poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" represents this point. Wheatley wrote in the first line, "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land.1" Could she truly have implied that Africa was characteristically a Pagan area? She had when she composed these words received the Christian religion. Christians who truly accept what the Bible says normally trust that individuals...
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...I was given reasons to cherish the life I have today. Women are the back bones of this world and they are the motivation for one woman to another. Over the years women have created hope for many and through that hope freedom was gained, because it’s mind over matter! I was asked the question How does power, freedom, and choices relate to Women’s Literature? Well power, freedom and choices relate to woman literature physically and emotionally in many ways. The women that I have had the opportunity to learn about in Women’s Literature 150 are extraordinary women. The choices that they have made in their lives were dramatic ones, which led to the power and the freedom that women today have. Women such as Margery Kempe, Anne Bradstreet, Phillis Wheatley, Mary Wollstonecraft, Isabella Baumfree, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Jane Austen, Harriet Jacobs, Kate Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Books, Sylvia Plath, Jamaica Kincaid, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, and Adrienne Rich, all played a significant role in why most women no longer visualize themselves less valuable than men in our societies, and I will give reasons through words from some of the women above to explain how power, freedom and choices relate to women’s literature from the past and today. In the time that these women were growing up men were superiors to them. Women were not a loud a voice, they were slaves to their husbands, housewives, cooked, cleaned and tended to their children or others...
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...Phillis Wheatley, a slave from Gambia, was the first black poet in America to publish numerous books and poems during the late 1700s. She was not treated as a slave as much as other slaves coming from Africa because her owners, the Wheatleys, took an immense interest in her being educated, (Andrew Spacey, Owlcation.com). Writings from the Latin, Greek and the Bible helped her learn to read and write. Her poems that would make her popular were influenced by famous poets- John Milton, Thomas Gray and Alexander Pope, (Jennifer Benka, Poets.Org). After releasing various poems, getting acknowledged by George Washington, and being nationally acclaimed all over the Colonies/ England, her poem, “On Being Brought From Africa to America,” brought mixed feelings on the attitude...
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