Spoon River Anthology Essay

American poets, novelists, and other writers often write about the topic of American identity. In this lesson, you have read excerpts from two texts, “Response to Executive Order 9066” by Dwight Okita, and “Mericans” by Sandra Cisneros. Determine a common theme that both authors establish about the topic. In response to the first sign of American identity I noticed by the sort of stories in the classifications of relatives in style tradition Americans names such as empty and uncle. The next thing I noticed relates to young American identity, regarding childhood. As a result of American culture a couple things that could be experienced and childhood during this period, the narrator tries to avoid falling victim of. For example, the grandmother

E.L. Doctorow’s novel Ragtime is a story involving certain characters, each trying to find his or her place in America. Doctorow focus’s on many themes throughout the novel, however, one theme that he gives to the reader from the very beginning of the novel is the American dream. Many characters throughout the novel individually take diverse journeys in order to fulfill what they might describe as “The American Dream.” Throughout Ragtime several characters venture upon momentous journeys whether they be sensible or unwise, in order to try and achieve their personal pursuit of the American dream.

The American family is modeled as being happy, calming, and cheerful but for many it is the opposite of that In the novel, Until They Bring the Streetcars Back, by Stanley Gordon, he doesn't romanticize and make the characters life beautiful and perfect. He chooses to give the characters major difficulties in their lives that set them back. Based in St.Paul, Minnesota in the late 40's and early 50's, the difficulties the main teenage characters go through our different then what teenagers go through today. Cal deals with his Fathers disconnection with him. Steve is dealing with always feeling pitied and guilty. But they don't compare to the hardship Gretchen is going through in her household. These characters go through many problems in the book but somehow find a way to relieve their pain.

Steven Herrick’s verse novel “By the River” is very successful in conveying the significant ideas about human nature. He uses key themes such as grief, environmental influence and coming of age to explore these ideas. To convey the themes Herrick uses multiple techniques such as imagery, repetition, personification and positive and negative influence throughout his text.

The theme of the story is under some circumstances people can be blind to the truth. Character Edie determines the style of the story by talking about the circumstances of her life as a fifteen year old girl and as an older woman. She retells the stories of those that she has known, and the man that she believed she loved deeply. Sometimes the things we want to happen may not be the things that life has for us. We need to be open to all the opportunities in life that are different from what we believe.

The second half of the poem is very different from the beginning half because the lines that follow the first sentence

The very first section of the book named legacy focuses on three key things. The first is the repetition of history in regards to systemic racism, trying to connect with with the past and identifying who one truly is, and the feeling of loneliness and lost purpose amongst our people. Two pieces that really resonated with me from this sections were “Where Do We Go From Here” by

Of all the characters in Spoon River, only one has the key ingredient that makes the book complete; that person is Zilpha Marsh. Even though Zilpha is mentioned only once within the book, she represents a controversial issue debated everywhere and can be related to people in real life. Zilpha represents mystery, supernatural, and spiritual beings, every word that is written about her suggest a deeper and more complex meaning; her entire character permeates an eerie feeling that adds the extra spice to Soon River. Zilpha is the only character that follows a different pattern and has the most character within a poem. Although the poem stated nothing about her death, family, friends, or even her life, the

Master establishes a foil in these two Spoon River Anthology poems as the reader observes the differences in the characters’ lives and outlooks. Uniquely, Masters creates characters who have died and now look back on their lives to give advice to the reader. For example, in “George Gray”, George is dead but knows he did not live life with a purpose. He

Since the story is set in the 1770s and 80s, it gives an idea of how American colonies were structured, since they were not one country. It also gives us

The story shows a little bit about the thought difference between a Native man, and a White women, or at least the difference between people who are more use to the environment than the other. In history, we do not learn as much about life for lower-class people in school, more middle-class to higher-class, so this story was a useful insight into that. I believe this story kind of shows the innocence and also the dark side of humans. Of their arrogance and wishfulness, this story embodies many parts of being a human. With John’s simple niceness, to Anns complex unhappiness, to Stevens guilt free selfishness, this story shows many

All characters represents an actual person in American society during the 1930s. The linking between the book, characters and The Great

significance of this section in the poem is the underlying relationship between what the narrater

The theme is about the story is about conflicts between personal responsibilities and pleasure-seeking. Therefore in the story is about making wise decision, but sometimes making wrong decision could leaded to hard consequence in their relationship. Also in the story it explains the value of life and adulthood and at the end the realizing what is the value of life and what they have. Furthermore, it also has some theme of romantic between the American and the girl.

From reading this book, I have figured out that the theme was coming of age and facing maturity. What you are about to read are examples of this.