7: Writing about History and Culture from a New Historical Perspective
- Page ID
- 14851
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Examine methods that scholars use to write about literature as a historical text.
- Apply New Historical theory to works of literature.
- Research and synthesize primary and secondary sources for a historical research paper.
- Review and evaluate the research and writing process of a peer writer.
- Draft and revise a historical critique of a literary work.
- 7.1: Literary Snapshot- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
- This page discusses Lewis Carroll's "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass," focusing on Alice's journey through absurd worlds and her interactions with talking animals. It highlights Carroll's satire on Victorian issues such as child roles and education, presenting the works as commentaries that invite readers to reflect on the connection between literature and history, deepening their understanding of both.
- 7.2: New Historical Criticism- An Overview
- This page contrasts early literary scholarship's linear view of history with New Historicism's dynamic interplay between literature and broader cultural contexts. It highlights how literature reflects societal ideologies and influences historical discourse. Parallel reading is introduced as a method for deeper historical understanding, using contemporary documents alongside literary texts to create a comprehensive context.
- 7.3: Finding a Historical Topic- Paige Caulum’s Melville’s “Benito Cereno”
- This page follows Paige as she prepares her final research paper on Melville's “Benito Cereno.” She explores the story's historical context, particularly its connections to slavery and its publication during a pivotal time in America. By researching Melville's life and the themes within the narrative, she formulates a working thesis that views the story as a political commentary on slavery's consequences, setting a foundation for deeper exploration in her paper.
- 7.4: Finding Historical Evidence- Melville’s “Benito Cereno”
- This page details Paige's research journey on "Benito Cereno," initially struggling with numerous sources on slavery. She refines her focus to analyze Melville's commentary on Manifest Destiny, utilizing digital archives to uncover significant themes. Her thesis evolves to explore American attitudes towards Manifest Destiny and their implications in the story.
- 7.5: Testing and Refining Your Historical Claim
- This page discusses Paige's refinement of her thesis on Melville's "Benito Cereno," highlighting its critique of America's self-image and Manifest Destiny in the 1850s. Incorporating feedback, she aims to explore the hypocrisy surrounding slavery and expansionism while using "thick description" to enrich her analysis with scholarly insights and historical context.
- 7.6: Student Sample Paper- Paige Caulum’s “Herman Melville’s ‘Benito Cereno’- A Political Commentary on Manifest Destiny”
- This page examines Herman Melville’s "Benito Cereno," highlighting its critique of American hypocrisy surrounding Manifest Destiny and slavery in the 1850s. The novella illustrates the contradiction between America’s self-image as a liberator and its practices of oppression, particularly through the characters of Captain Amasa Delano and Don Benito.
- 7.7: Writing about History and Culture- A Process Approach
- This page discusses New Historicism, an analytical approach highlighting the significance of context in literary interpretation. It outlines a ten-step plan for integrating reading and writing, which includes questioning, thesis formulation, evidence gathering, outlining, drafting, feedback, revising, and editing. The page emphasizes peer review as a crucial stage for enhancing writing and critical reading skills, ultimately preparing students for informed revisions.
- 7.8: Student Sample Paper- Stefanie Jochman’s “’Words of Lead’- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry and the Grief of the Civil War”
- This page examines Emily Dickinson's intricate connection to the Civil War, revealing her emotional engagement through poetry despite her reclusive image. It explores her reactions to personal losses, community involvement, and reflections on death, sacrifice, and the morality of war. Dickinson's work expresses deep sentiments about military fatalities, grieving families, and the costs of conflict, portraying a complex interplay of bravery, mourning, and the quest for meaning in the face of loss.
- 7.9: Strategies for Starting Your New Historical Paper
- This page outlines the complexities of writing a New Historical paper, using examples from Paige's analysis of Melville and Stefanie's study of Dickinson. It stresses the importance of historical context and foundational knowledge for success in historical criticism.
- 7.10: End-of-Chapter Assessment
- This page highlights the significance of examining literary works in relation to their historical context, advocating for the inclusion of nonliterary sources for comprehensive analysis. It outlines the importance of utilizing both primary and secondary sources in New Historical writing, suggesting that research can refine your thesis. Additionally, the page offers writing exercises and collaborative activities to enhance students' analytical and peer review abilities.
- 7.11: Suggestions for Further Reading
- This page provides a list of key sources on New Historical Criticism, featuring influential works by authors such as John Brannigan and editors like Jeffrey N. Cox and H. Aram Veeser. It highlights contributions from Claire Colebrook and the collaboration between Catherine Gallagher and Stephen Greenblatt. Together, these texts offer foundational perspectives and critical essays crucial for understanding the intersection of literature and history within this field.
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