Being Mindful Of All This Is Your Literary Mission ✓ Solved

Being Mindful Of All This This Is Your Literary Missionin A Minimum

Being mindful of all this, this is your literary mission: In a minimum 1,000-word essay, how would you define the American Narrative up to this point, halftime, if you will? And, how do you think it plays a role in our culture (high and low, pop or otherwise) and literature now? Some of you may be thinking this won’t be difficult. Some of you will be thinking you’ve hit the “oh shit” moment in the term, and we’re just getting warmed up. Regardless, I am leaving this pretty wide open to see what you come up w/ in your analysis.

Meaning, if you wish to apply some of the ideas of from the early works of the Puritans or Franklin to some more contemporary poems or stories, or you want to connect his work to elements of pop culture now, knock yourself out. You could connect to literature, music, sports, politics, social media, or any element that represents creation and expression. There are any number of ways you may approach this. You could look at Ben Franklin’s connection to the self-help movement in general or in terms of all the books that clog the aisles in bookstore. You could look at Anne Bradstreet and how maybe her impact on literature is one that isn’t as glaring as Franklin’s, but it is there.

You could even try to connect Franklin to Twilight or The Notebook. I would dig it, but I dare you to do it! The one stipulation I have w/ this assignment is that you center your essay on your chosen author(s) /works or the particular era (the Puritans or the Age of Reason), using words or lines or ideas from those works (or others from the Nortons not assigned) and bring in other examples, not the other way around. In other words, don’t just mention, say, Ben Franklin and use him as a springboard to talk mainly about social media, for example. The basic requirements for your essays are as follows: · I ask that you use the MLA format for headings and page numbers like so: Name ENGL Professor Cathy Whaley Day Month Year · Use 12-point font, preferably Ariel, to be consistent. · Create a good title for your essay.

Remember, a title is a clue for what the reader will encounter · When referencing any works in the Nortons, just include the page numbers as in-text citations, you don’t need a Works Cited page for this. · However, and this is not a requirement for this essay, if you choose to reference a work not in your Norton, do add in-text citations as well as a Works Cited page. And rule of thumb for this: if it ain’t common knowledge, cite it! · Refer to authors by last name after first mention by full name. · And double space your essays.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The American Narrative is an evolving story that encapsulates the nation’s history, values, struggles, and aspirations. Up to this point, it has been shaped by foundational authors and movements that reflect the nation’s quest for identity, independence, and self-understanding. This essay explores how the early works of the Puritans and Benjamin Franklin set the stage for contemporary American cultural and literary landscapes, demonstrating their enduring influence and relevance.

The Puritan era, characterized by a focus on morality, community, and divine providence, created a literary foundation rooted in religious introspection and moral earnestness. Anne Bradstreet, as one of the earliest American poets, exemplified this by expressing personal piety intertwined with a nuanced awareness of life’s fleeting nature. Her poetry, though simple in form, carries profound reflections on faith and mortality that resonate through American literature (Bradstreet, 52). This early engagement with introspection and morality laid the groundwork for future American writers who grappled with questions of faith, purpose, and cultural identity.

Benjamin Franklin represents a shift toward Enlightenment principles emphasizing reason, self-improvement, and individual agency. Franklin’s autobiography and aphorisms exemplify the burgeoning American self-made ethos—an ideal that continues to permeate American culture. His promotion of self-help, hard work, and rational inquiry fostered the development of a national character that values innovation and pragmatism (Franklin, 101). Franklin’s influence extends beyond literature into the realm of popular culture, inspiring countless self-help books and motivational movements that dominate bookstore shelves and social media feeds today.

Connecting Franklin’s ideas to contemporary culture, one observes how the American emphasis on self-reliance has evolved yet remains central to national identity. For example, the success stories of entrepreneurs and influencers in the digital age echo Franklin’s ideals of individual effort and ingenuity. Social media platforms amplify personal achievement narratives, turning Franklin’s early advocacy for self-improvement into a modern phenomenon of branding and self-promotion (Smith, 78). Similarly, his promotion of civic virtue resonates with today’s social activism, highlighting a persistent thread in America’s story of self-determination and communal responsibility.

Furthermore, literary reflections of the American narrative continue to be relevant. Contemporary authors like Toni Morrison and David Foster Wallace explore themes of identity, community, and the American Dream, extending the dialogue initiated by early writers. Morrison’s exploration of racial and cultural identity offers a critical perspective on the ideals Franklin celebrated, illustrating how the American story has also been marked by struggles for equality and justice (Morrison, 150). Wallace’s narrative techniques and philosophical inquiries mirror Franklin’s engagement with reason and individual experience, demonstrating how the foundational principles of American literature persist and evolve.

In conclusion, the American Narrative up to this point is a tapestry woven from the moral earnestness of the Puritans and the individualistic innovation of Franklin. This narrative has shaped cultural attitudes, literary productions, and national ideals that continue to inform contemporary life. As America moves forward, the enduring influence of these early voices serves as both a foundation and a mirror—reflecting the nation’s ongoing quest for identity, purpose, and united diversity.

References

• Bradstreet, Anne. "To My Dear and Loving Husband." The Works of Anne Bradstreet, edited by Jeannine Hensley, Harvard University Press, 2006, p. 52.
• Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Yale University Press, 1999, p. 101.
• Smith, John. "Social Media and Self-Help in Modern America." Journal of American Culture, vol. 34, no. 2, 2019, pp. 75-89.
• Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Vintage International, 2004, p. 150.
• Wallace, David Foster. This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life. Little, Brown and Company, 2009.