English 205 3A
47290v3o0
english_205_week3a.docx1.
Discussion post:
For the AlbionsSeed, you will find a chapter of David Hackett Fisher's landmark study of colonial America, Albion's Seed. Fisher . . . "traces the migration of cultures from four distinct regions of the British Isles and explains how each imparted its own distinctive character to the portion of America they made their own."
The AlbionsSeed excerpt focuses on the ways that these four different waves have influenced America's multi-varied cultural concept of "liberty," certainly a necessary path of inquiry to anyone interested in American culture then and now.
Discussion Board Post:
Looking at the different explanations of the idea of "liberty," which one do you think was most important to early European settlers of the colonies? Explain why.
Which category do you think is closest to your own idea of liberty? Do you think that your definition of the word is one still commonly held in our culture? Describe how it is differs from Fisher's categories.
250 words.
2. (make sure write where is this quote from into beginning of explanation) (you can find a quote from reading in first assignment).
Students will choose a short excerpt / quote from one of the readings of that week, type it in, then add a short (150 words or so) explanation for your choice. Was your selection important because it:
1. is an example of beautiful or striking language?
1. exemplifies a particular theme or character?
1. makes the reader think about something in a new way?
1. reflects a particular aspect of French culture?
1. was just something that you liked?
For example:
"Whoever gets knowledge from God, science,
and a talent for speech, eloquence,
Shouldn't shut up or hide away;
No, that person should gladly display." Marie de France
explanation:
In the opening lines to the Prologue to the Lays, Marie de France is providing her readers with an explanation for writing these stories down. This is a very common and traditional rhetorical move informing readers about the ethos or qualifications of the speaker. In this case, Marie is claiming that she is knowledgeable and eloquent and that these gifts come from God and therefore should be used. I think it goes further than that; Marie, like most women of her day,* would have been expected to "shut up" and "hide away" as a matter of course, since women's voices were not welcomed in the public sphere. By opening her work in this way, she preempts criticism about the appropriateness of her authorship.
