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Thesis and Outline for Essay: Modernism or Postmodernism Assignment
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ENGL 202
T O E M P THESIS AND UTLINE FOR SSAY: ODERNISM OR OSTMODERNISM EMPLATE
I. First, select the literary texts from Modules 5, 6, or 7 you’ll be comparing and identify the two
topic they have in common. Possible topics might include freedom, alienation, race, identity,
individualism, equality, power, death, love, gender, family, religion, work, and money.
I will be analyzing how both “The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughs and “Poetry by ”
Marianne Moore show the impact and perspective of art in the early twentieth century.
II. Second, ask yourself how the texts or authors describe, present, or view the shared topic two
differently—in tone, message, form, writing style, or something else.
While in “Poetry, the author presents the art of poetry (and literature) as a way to escape ”
reality into a beautifully crafted fantasy by the author, “The Weary Blues” presents the
art of music as both an escape from th dullness of existence as well as an outlet to e
express that dislike.
III. Third, ask yourself why the texts differ, particularly the different historical moments or two
circumstances in which the texts were produced. Out of this consideration, craft your thesis
statement answering the question: How do [your chosen readers] differ in their handling of [their
shared topic], and what circumstances contributed to these differences?
a.
I will analyze how the history and desires of both authors influenced their writing as
shown as well as how impactful cultural events influenced their desires and therefore
their writing.
b.
Both “Poetry” by Marianne Moore and “The Weary ues” by Langston Hughes Bl
demonstrate the impact of the arts in the early twentieth century; “Poetry” by expressing
literature as an escape from life, d “The Weary Blues” by highlighting music as an an
outlet for discussing e events of th life.
IV. Fourth, select your organizational pattern: block format (discuss one text in the first half of
the paper and discuss the other text in the second half of the article) or alternating arrangement
(in each paragraph, discuss one aspect of each text—the first text in the first half of the section,
the second text in the second half of the paragraph—alternating back and forth throughout the
paper).
I will utilize the block method.
V. Fifth, craft your outline based on your chosen organizational pattern and flesh out that outline
with evidence from your literary texts. After the outline, list the two literary texts and selected
three secondary sources in a working bibliography.
Thesis Statement:
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Thesis and Outline for Essay: Modernism or Postmodernism Assignment
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ENGL 202
Outline
I.
The poem “Poe ” by Marianne Moore highlights literaturetry ’s ability to provide an
escape from the events of reality while still maintaining a genuine nature.
a.
“poets among us can be 'literalists of the imagination” (Moore, 1919/1950).
i.
Poetry addresses the contemporary issues of the day with a unique style
that offers partial escape – does not directly address the issue. Insteada it ,
it uses themes and techniques to make its point and let the reader think.
b.
“Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one discovers in it after all, a
place for the genuine” (Moore, 1919/1950).
i.
The meaning behind the poetry is genuine; therefore, the words are picked
for a reason and meaning.
II.
The poem “Poetry” by Marianne Moore is impacted by the rise of modernist literature
and her perspective on human nature and women’s rights.
a.
Modernism features the rejection of the standard and known forms of rhyme and
language. Instead, it takes on an experimental nature (Baggett, 2014).
b.
“We do not admire what we cannot understand” (Moore, 1919/1950).
i.
Marianne ore sought out change and new things throughout hMo er
lifetime; she advocated for women’s rights, shown through elements of as
her poetry (Arckens, 2016).
III.
The poem “The Weary Blues” highlights the blues as an art form that can serve as an
outlet for one’s frustrations in life.
a.
“Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues!” (Hughes 1925/1941).
i.
Lanston Hughes describes the song as coming from the man’s soul –
showing that this art form (music) is a way to express inner thoughts and
troubles.
b.
“In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone I heard that Negro sing, that old
piano moan-- "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self. I's
gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf” (Hughes,
1925/1941).
IV.
The poem “The Weary Blues” is impacted by the author prominent convictions for ’s
social justice and the style of the modernist movement. literary
a.
Modernism often lements reality (Baggett, 2014).
i.
(see quote b above) – the ’s song is one of despair as he sings that he man
is not satisfied and wishe e was dead (Hughes, 1925/1941). s h
b.
Langston Hughes advocated for racial and gender equality, as he was considered
the first black male feminist of American letters (Joyce, 2004). writer African
i.
He often portrayed black female characters as physical and spiritual heroes
and hopeful and resilient – something few poets had done before
(Fernández-Alonso, 2022).
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Thesis and Outline for Essay: Modernism or Postmodernism Assignment
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References
Arckens, E. (2016). “In This Told-Backward Biography”: Marianne Moore Against Survival in Her
Queer Archival Poetry. Women’s Studies Quarterly, 44(1/2), 111–127.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/44475169
Baggett, M. (2014). English 202, Week five, Lecture three [Video]. : Modern n PoetryAmerica
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University online.
Fernández-Alonso, A., & Barros-Del Río, M. A. (2022). Gender and race in langston hughes'
poetry of the spanish civil war. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(6), 671-
683. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1927682
Hughes, L. (1941). . Negro Caravan. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from The Weary Blues
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GCCO&u=vic_liberty&id=GALE|FBMQOR969667802&
v=2.1&it=r&sid=mindtap-embedView&asid=db060f32&sPage=15027322. (Original
work published in 1925).
Joyce, J. (2004). Hughes and Twentieth-Century Gender-Racial Issues. A historical guide to
Langston Hughes, 9-40.
Moore, M. (1950). . The Oxford Book of American Verse. Retrieved October 5, 2022, Poetry
from
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GCCO&u=vic_liberty&id=GALE|CSBWUW200590041&
v=2.1&it=r&sid=mindtap-embedView&asid=4f2c4dd0&sPage=3798804. (Original work
published in 1919).
