Thursday, January 23, 2020
Jack Kerouac’s On The Road - The American Quest Essay -- On The Road
On The Road and the American Quest      Jack Kerouac's On The Road is the most uniquely American novel of its time. While it has never fared well with academics, On The Road has come to symbolize for many an entire generation of disaffected young Americans. One can focus on numerous issues wh en addressing the novel, but the two primary reasons which make the book uniquely American are its frantic Romantic search for the great American hero (and ecstasy in general), and Kerouac's "Spontaneous Prose" method of writing. On The Road is an autobiographical first-person book written in 1951 and based on Kerouac's experiences of the late 1940's. At the time, America was undergoing drastic changes and the sense of sterility brought on by a mechanized Cold War era society resu lted in a feeling of existential dislocation for many. Numerous Americans began to experience a sense of purposelessness and the air was rife with disillusionment. Kerouac was one of these restless postwar young people and he longed for...something. A n ew kind of hero? A return to a Romantic tradition and simpler days? When Kerouac met Neal Cassady, he knew Cassady was the kind of hero he had been seeking. Eventually, as Robert Hipkiss notes, "Kerouac began to see Neal as an 'archetypal American Man' "....and, in fact, when Kerouac created Dean Moriarty out of Neal, "he created a new symbol of flaming American youth, the American hero of the Beat Generation" (32-3). Indeed, as Hipkiss argues, Dean Moriarty               is the most singular hero of the road America has ever had.               Mixing the individualism of the freeborn American with that                great present-day extension of this freedom, the motor car, ... ...opeless and yet be determined to make them                otherwise.... On The Road is an example of such a test's                being taken -- and passed.... (132)  Kerouac, like Bellow and Plath, sees that things are hopeless but he remains determined to go on, and on, and on....    Works Cited  Bartlett, Lee, ed. The Beats: Essays in Criticism. Jefferson, C.: McFarland, 1981.  Bartlett, Lee. "The Dionysian Vision of Jack Kerouac." Bartlett 115-26.  Dardess, George. "The Delicate Dynamics of Friendship: Reconsideration of Kerouac's On The Road."  Hipkiss, Robert A. Jack Kerouac: Prophet of the New Romanticism. Lawrence: Regents P of Kansas, 1976.  Hunt, Tim. Kerouac's Crooked Road. Hamden, CT: Archon, 1981.  Kerouac, Jack. On The Road. New York: Signet, 1957.  Â
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
3.03 Two Idealists: Double Feature
Part I. Ralph Waldo Emerson In an essay published in 1841, Emerson addressed one of the central characteristics of the American sensibility: individualism. Before you read, take a moment to think about the term â€Å"self-reliance†and what it means to you as a teenager and a student. As you read, determine what â€Å"self-reliance†meant to Emerson and how your meaning and his overlap. †¢ Read â€Å"Self Reliance. ††¢ Open and complete the questions on the Emerson Questions page. †¢ Then, continue to Part II.Part II Henry David Thoreau â€Å"Civil Disobedience†was inspired by a night in jail, which Thoreau had to serve for not paying his poll tax. His refusal to pay a tax to the state stemmed from his opposition to slavery. The state supported it, and to show his disdain towards the state's position, he refused to pay this tax. Some people have suggested the essay shows that Thoreau merely wanted to withdraw from life and all its hard que stions. Others see Thoreau's position as the only one he could take to justify his stand.Upon completion of this assignment, Part II, you will have to decide for yourself how this essay affects you. †¢ Read â€Å"Civil Disobedience. ††¢ Write a letter to the editor either in support of, or in opposition to this statement from the excerpt above, â€Å"That government is best which governs not at all. †– Thoreau †¢ Before you begin writing, continue to the Report page, where you will receive further instruction on how to formulate this letter. †¢ You will be adding this letter (Part II) to your Part I assignment to submit as your assessment for this lesson
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Socrates The Wise Man in Apology by Plato - 713 Words
In Apology by Plato, a man named Socrates is put on trial for trumped-up charges. These charges are, â€Å"Socrates is a criminal and meddles in matters where he has no business. He’s always poking under the earth and up in the sky. He makes the worse case look better; and he teaches this sort of stuff to others†(Plato 1). In response to this, Socrates gives his defense, which is not used for defending himself, but for saving the Athenians. Socrates does not care if he survives or not; he just wants to share his story with the Athenians. He uses many ways to convey his point. When Socrates is given the death sentence, he is not afraid. He does not care if the Athenians kill him or not. â€Å"But I didn’t think then that because I was in danger I ought to do anything unworthy of a free person; nor do I now regret defending myself the way I did. I would much rather die for that sort of defense than to live after giving the other sort†(Plato 8). Socrates wo uld rather die than prevaricate to get himself out of his predicament. He says that he does not regret defending himself. He had no qualm about dying for his cause. He puts emphasis on â€Å"nor do I now regret defending myself†. Socrates has no regrets, and he wants the Athenians to know that. Socrates later says, â€Å"But now it’s time to leave, time for me to die and for you to live†(Plato 11). Socrates does not seem bothered or anxious. His tone does not indicate any stress, revealing that he is okay with his fate. He says â€Å"now it’sShow MoreRelatedPlatos The Allegory of the Cave as Means to Explain The Apology1672 Words  | 7 PagesCave†As Means to Explain â€Å"The Apology†Authors sometimes use one work to explain or elaborate on the intricacies of another piece of theirs. Plato is one such example as he uses â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave†as means to better decipher â€Å"The Apology of Socrates.†Plato himself never appears in either dialogue, but it is clear that he disagrees with how Socrates’s trial ended and hopes to prevent another unneeded execution in the future. In â€Å"The Apology of Socrates,†Socrates is accused of not recognizingRead More The Apology and the Republic Essay939 Words  | 4 Pages Socrates was a renowned philosopher in the ancient Grecian times. His peak was around the Peloponnesian War, when the Spartans defeated the Athenians and ended the Golden Age. The reason Socrates is one of histories most famous philosophers is largely due to Platos writings. Two of Platos famous works include The Apology and The Republic, both written about Socrates views about the so called wise philosophers of his time. The two works hold unique views about government, as well as openingRead MorePlato s Apology And The Apology1591 Words  | 7 Pagesdiscuss how Plato s Apology and Phaedo have difference ideas of what it means to be a philosopher. I will explain how in the Apology, the philosopher is wise in how he/she understand that they are wise because they know that they don t know, and in Phadeo the philosopher knowledgable and are concern in gaining more knowledge. In Plato s Apology we learn about Socrates life and who he really is. In platos Apology a philosopher is a wise person because he understands that being wise is understandingRead MoreLessons Learned From Socrates Plato s The Apology 1453 Words  | 6 PagesFrom Socrates (Three Points Learned From Socrates in Plato’s â€Å"The Apology†) In the year of 399 BCE, the philosopher Socrates was put on trial for two things, being an atheist and corrupting the youth. Both of these charges were because of false accusations of people who were insulted by Socrates’ intelligence. Socrates’ argument or defense against the charges while he is on trial is written by Plato, Socrates’ student, as â€Å"The Apology.†During Socrates’ trial, he argued that he was not wise, butRead MorePlato s Euthyphro And Apology893 Words  | 4 PagesPhilosophers are known to question, analyze and evaluate everything but do not always end with concrete conclusions. Plato’s Euthyphro and Apology, to no surprise, highlight one of such debate: the human characteristics of wisdom. Though Plato was one of the earliest philosophers, the topic of wisdom is still debated by modern philosophers today, contemplating questions such as â€Å"What are the classifications of ‘wisdom’?†According to Plato’s two dialogues, the characteristics of wisdom have a strongRead MorePlatos Philosophy in Apology1375 Words  | 6 PagesPHL202H5 Plato s Philosophy in Apology Plato was known to be one of Socrates students, and knew him for over 40 years. Although Plato s version of Apology is popularly believed to be (the most accurate) historical recount of what happened in 399 B.C on the day of Socrates trial, historians cannot be sure the validity of everything he wrote. It can be argued that it is actually a philosophical work, remarking on the teachings of Socrates and his beliefs, which he stood by even until hisRead MorePlato Is One Of The Greatest And Well Known Philosophers1388 Words  | 6 Pages Plato is one of the greatest and well known philosophers of all time. Born around 428 BC, Plato grew up in Greece learning from Socrates, another well known philosopher. Later in life, Plato taught Aristotle who was also a well known philosopher. His works of writing and thoughts about life have significantly impacted the Western culture in numerous ways. In selected readings of Plato, he seems to place importance on wisdom, and how to attain wisd om. Plato argues that in order to attain pure knowledgeRead MoreApology, By Plato s Apology1298 Words  | 6 Pagesâ€Å"I know, I do not know,†are the words that constitute Socrates’ philosophy that â€Å"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.†In â€Å"Apology,†written by Plato, this ethical belief makes a bold appearance demonstrating that true ignorance only revolves around those who think that they know everything. In â€Å"Apology,†Socrates learns that the wisest men are those who do not think of themselves of wise, and rather make an approach of going beyond an authentic method of inquiry and helping othersRead MorePlatos The Apology659 Words  | 3 Pages Platos The Apology is an account of the speech Socrates makes at the trial where he is charged for various reasons; not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Socrates did not win over the jury pleading his case, and was therefore sentenced to execution. It can be said that Plato’s Apology of Sokrates, although an unsuccessful attempt at defending Socrates on the charges of corruption the youth of Athens, is a successful defenseRead MoreApology Reflection989 Words  | 4 Pagesimportance of examining various aspects of life in a systematic and thorough way. Likewise, as I read Plato’s Apology, I began to realize that an essential part of simply living our lives is to also examine and dig deeper into our internal being. In fact, Socrates exclaimed that â€Å"an unexamined life is not worth living†(Plato, 2006, para. 68), but what does he mean by this? When Socrates made this bold statement, I believe that he was stating that we should always question, examine, and define our
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