Volume E Revolutions Romanticism Realismequiano Narrative ✓ Solved
Volume E Revolutions Romanticism Realismequiano Narrativemelvil
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Cleaned assignment instructions:
Analyze the given literature works within the context of revolutions, Romanticism, and Realism. Focus on developing a strong central thesis about the literature, emphasizing the setting as the most important aspect. Avoid lengthy plot summaries and instead concentrate on providing an argument or interpretation supported by the texts. Use in-text citations following author, year, and page number format. When citing a source for the first time, include a brief explanation of the source; subsequent citations can omit this explanation. Do not include outside research or extensive background information, assuming the reader is familiar with the assigned texts. The paper should be approximately 1000 words with at least 10 credible references, and include in-text citations.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The Power of Setting in Romantic and Realist Literature
The intricate relationship between setting and thematic development in literature often reveals the core of human experience during tumultuous historical periods such as revolutions, Romanticism, and Realism. This essay explores how the setting functions as a fundamental element in shaping the narratives of Equiano's "Narrative," Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener," and other selected works, illustrating their role in expressing the transformational moods and socio-political contexts of their eras.
Equiano's "Narrative" (Equiano, 1789, p. 45) vividly depicts the Atlantic slave trade, with the ship's cramped, oppressive environment embodying the dehumanization inherent in slavery. This physical setting is not merely a backdrop but a catalyst for Equiano's emotional resilience and quest for freedom. Similarly, Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" (Melville, 1853, p. 113) presents a mundane office setting that becomes a symbol of existential despair and societal indifference, emphasizing the alienation characteristic of modern urban life.
The Romantic era's emphasis on individual emotion and nature finds expression in William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience" (Blake, 1789-1794). Blake's idyllic settings of innocence contrast sharply with the corrupted, chaotic environments of experience, capturing the spiritual and moral dichotomies that define Romantic thought (Blake, 1789, p. 10). Wordsworth's poetry (Wordsworth, 1800, p. 75), often set in the natural landscapes of the Lake District, underscores the restorative power of nature and the importance of setting in shaping human consciousness.
Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" (Coleridge, 1816, p. 5) exemplifies the Romantic fascination with exotic and fantastical settings, illustrating the imaginative potential unleashed by nature's sublimity (Coleridge, 1816, p. 5). Such settings serve as a fertile ground for exploring the creative mind's capacity to transcend mundane reality, a hallmark of Romanticism's celebration of individual imagination.
On the other hand, the advent of Realism shifts the focus towards detailed, often gritty settings that depict everyday life and social realities. Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" (Tolstoy, 1886, p. 45) utilizes the setting of Ivan's sickroom and funeral to underscore themes of mortality and the superficiality of social norms. Ichiyo's "Separate Ways" (Ichiyo, 1897, p. 12) portrays the transient urban life of Tokyo’s lower classes, highlighting societal disparities and personal struggles within a rapidly changing society.
What fundamentally unites these works is the strategic use of setting as a mirror and a mold of inner states and societal conditions. In Equiano's narrative, the setting underscores the brutality of slavery; in Melville's story, it reflects individual alienation; in Romantic poetry, it embodies spiritual and emotional exploration; and in Realist texts, it grounds the narrative in tangible social realities.
Therefore, setting is not merely a descriptive element but a vital component that shapes thematic development and emotional resonance across these literary movements. Appreciating this aspect enriches our understanding of how literature articulates human experience amidst revolutions, societal shifts, and artistic endeavors.
References
- Blake, William. (1789-1794). Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.
- Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. (1816). Kubla Khan.
- Equiano, Olaudah. (1789). The Narrative of Olaudah Equiano.
- Ichiyo, Higuchi. (1897). Separate Ways.
- Melville, Herman. (1853). Bartleby, the Scrivener.
- Tolstoy, Leo. (1886). The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
- Wordsworth, William. (1800). Lyrical Ballads.