Category: american literature

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Sarah Kemble Knight and Calls for a Distinctly American Literature

During our discussion of Sarah Kemble Knight’s Journal, I asked students to think about a broad topic regarding the first publication of Knight’s text in 1825 in relation to calls for a distinctly American literature during the early part of the nineteenth century. I have written about this before in regards to the turn towards Native American characters and more specifically King Phillip; however, … Read More Sarah Kemble Knight and Calls for a Distinctly American Literature

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Sarah Kemble Knight and Spirituality

Every semester, I enjoy teaching Mary Rowlandson’s Narrative in relation to Sarah Kemble Knight’s The Journal of Madam Knight because Rowlandson plays into students’s perceptions of women’s role during the colonial period and early part of the eighteenth century and Knight works to dispel their preconceived notions that women did not have much agency during the period. As well, Knight provides a a counter … Read More Sarah Kemble Knight and Spirituality

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Harriet Jacobs and the Cult of True Womanhood

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Frank Yerby countering the Cult of True Womanhood in his “costume novels.” (An extended version of this piece can be found on the Unlikely Stories website.) Today, I want to take a moment and explore a nineteenth-century text that seeks to counter the view that black women could not live up to the ideals set forth … Read More Harriet Jacobs and the Cult of True Womanhood

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Mary Rowlandson and Identity

Mary Rolwandson’s A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson: A Minister’s Wife in New-England: Wherein is set forth, The Cruel and Inhumane Usage she underwent amongst the Heathens for Eleven Weeks time: And her Deliverance from them. Written by her own Hand, for her Private Use: and now made Public at the earnest Desire of some Friends, for the … Read More Mary Rowlandson and Identity

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Navigating Two Worlds: Samson Occom and William Apess

I am always amazed at the similarities between texts in class. I pair texts together for a reason, but it is always satisfying when other similarities and points of discussion arise between paired texts. This happens all of the time, and when I taught Samson Occom (Mohegan) and William Apess (Pequod) last week, new aspects arose that strengthened reading the two authors, separated by … Read More Navigating Two Worlds: Samson Occom and William Apess