Wikipeida

Some professors discourage the use of Wikipedia as a viable scholarly and pedagogical resource. I don't. Each of the authors you will read this quarter include links to Wikipeida in these modules.

Wikipedia is an online hypertextual encyclopedia that anyone can edit. The methodology behind this encyclopdia, in my opinion, is ideal; rather than an entry being written by one or two authors, entries are written (and updated) by a collective group of authors from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Be aware that many Wikipedia authors are not professional scholars or experts in the field, object, person, story, etc. on which they are writing, and every now and then hackers and trolls like to vandalize entries with incorrect information. For the most part, however, Wikipedia is a reliable and useful resource. To read more on this issue, see Criticism of Wikipedia.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While I encourage the use of Wikipedia, under no circumstances may it function as a viable secondary source for any kind of formal writing. Viable secondary sources must have clearly demarcated authors and be published in reputable online or print journals.

Reading & Comprehension

Read Washington Irving's “Rip Van Winkle” (953) & “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (965).

Read William Cullent Bryant's “Thanatopsis” (1045) & “The Prairies” (1048).

Read William Apess's “An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man” (1051).

Themes

AMERICAN REVOLUTION, SLOTH, TIME, NATURE VS. CULTURE, MAGIC & MYTHOLOGY, PRESERVATION OF TRADITION, IMAGINATION, IDENTITY, HISTORICAL CHANGE, SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION, MYTHOLOGY, THE SUPERNATURAL, AMERICAN LANDSCAPE, MUTABILITY.

Discussion Topics & Questions

Read the opening paragraph of Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" (953). Note Irving’s diction. How does this paragraph set the tone and scene?

Does "Rip Van Winkle" have a moral? What is it?

What are the similarities and differences between "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"?

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a famous story that has firm roots in the American collective conciousness. If you haven't read it before, what was your knowledge of it? Is the story what you thought it would be? How much of "Sleepy Hollow" concerns Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman?

In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," Irving writes long descriptive passages that often regard nature and the landscape. What is the purpose of these passages?

The following terms are generally associated with (but not limited to) poetry: alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, rhyme, rhythm (closed form and free verse), accent, meter, diction, tone, voice, symbolism, imagery and theme. Refer to this glossary for definitions and more terms.

Bryant's “Thanatopsis” is an elegy. What are the conventions of an elegy? What elements of “Thanatopsis” meet those conventions?

How do the themes of perception and nature factor into Bryant's "The Prairies"?

Assignments

Minitheme #1: Write a minitheme on Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and submit via WebCT. Remember to structure it after the sample on The Matrix. Bring a hardcopy of the minitheme to class on Wednesday, Sep. 16. In the future, always bring hardcopies to class as you will often be asked to discuss your minithemes. DUE DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m.

Discussion #2: What is the thesis of William Apess's "An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man"? What techniques and supporting evidence does he employ in order to defend this thesis? Does he make a good case? 250-500 words. DUE DATE: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m.