Notes

Letter to Her Daughter from the New White House (4b)

1. The time period was after the American Revolution. More specifically, the time of John Adams’ presidency. This was a time of great envisioning and hope. Fundamentally, all letters, whether formal or personal, included the overall vibe of a new nation growing with great potential. 2. The main purpose of the letter had to have been for informative personal reasons. However, if meant to be publicized, it could have been to give the impression of dissatisfaction or hope. In one way was faith in that the White House would become one of the grandest buildings in the entire world. Although, on the other side, there seemed to have been discontent in the area that it was being built. In more detail, the area was nothing but a few government buildings, and various scattered residential homes. 3. Abigail Adams, the author, employed the personal aura to create a more interesting literary piece. With the literature being in letter form, the audience becomes more in tune rather than reading a more dull work of prose. The main purpose of doing the writing in letter form was to be personal and affectionate about the subject of matter. 4. The literature is a perfect example of the characteristic of the post-revolutionary era. The seemingly tranquil and peaceful sensation of a new nation being brought up is well shown. Also, the down sides of a not yet ready nation are shown as well; the matter of no strong capital for the United States.
 * Letters to Her Daughter from the White House**

1. The time period was after the American Revolution. It was a time of peace without war. This was also the same period as the Enlightenment, in which people were thinking in new views. This allotted such writers as Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur to have the leisure time as to survey of the American lifestyle. 2. Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur had many reasons for writing this literary piece, yet two more major reasons. One of simply writing and telling the observations he had made of the American lifestyle. The other being to show a new way of thought, a new sense of anti-nationalistic freedom. That America was a place that anyone could call home, and also call themselves American, rather than title themselves by their previous country(s). 3. The style of prose could be referred to as a sermon as well as a letter. The letter was a very formal one, in which was meant for a public audience. It could easily be a sermon in the way the author worded his thoughts. It included many arousing and exclamatory phrases and sentences. In which, it seemed like he was preaching a new path to life. 4. The literature was part of two major factions of the time period. One was the aftermath of the American Revolution. The lifestyle was displayed, as well as the time of peace after a war. The other factor was the Enlightenment. Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur seemed to be one of the philosophes who believed there were other roads to life.
 * from Letters from an American Farmer**

1. The time period of this writing being publicized was very crucial. It was the same year(s) that Bob Marley was big in the music industry. However, unfortunately, also the same year as his death. Clifford Alexander Jr. was confirmed to be the first African-American to be the United States Secretary of War. All seemed to be happening to and for the African-Americans at this period of time. 2. The purpose of this writing was to bring sorrow and awareness to the American public. The sorrow being of how the Africans were so badly mistreated. The awareness being to never repeat the same mistake and hopefully lessen racism. 3. Alex Haley uses the first person story literary tool. As in telling an event or life story of some poor, unlucky, and sad African-American, he hooked audiences into reading an interesting tale of woe. Such a method grasps an audience's attention without the need of complexity. 4. The literature was of the time period in which African-Americans were having their chance in the light. It was in 1976, when many happenings occurred mainly in the United States. Alex Haley's novel soon became a television miniseries of phenomenal popularity.
 * Roots**

Questions answered:


 * 1) What is the time period and how does it affect the literary style?
 * 2) What is the author's purpose in writing the selected piece?
 * 3) What literary techniques does the author employ in achieving his or her purpose?
 * 4) How is the literature characteristic of the time period?

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