In this poem, Cullen explores his African heritage and compares his ancestors in Africa to his life in the United States. He contemplates how much energy African Americans should put towards relating to something/someone you don't have that much in common with anymore.

In this poem, Cullen talks about the incident at just eight years old when another little boy called him a racial slur. This poem, and especially this quoted section, highlights the lasting impact racism has.

Here Cullen wonders why God would make him a Black poet in such a time with heightened and extreme racial prejudice and hate.

"a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter."

Along with Sisyphus, tantalus, were both figures in Greek mythology who were condemned to eternal torture. This is used as a allusion by Cullen to raise the question if God is good and just instead of just cruel.

This metaphor at the start of the "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock poem, conveys the inner struggles and confusion he is feeling. Half deserted streets and muttering retreats create a tone of emptiness, loneliness, seclusion, etc.

"showing deference; respectful."

This poem, "The Idea of Order at Key West" by Wallace Stevens has a free verse structure meaning that there no regular meter of scheme.

This poem is a petrarchan sonnet. This means the first lines pose a question and the last lines answer it.

"to or toward that place."

Throughout the story, Frost uses beautiful imagery as a metaphor to communicate his longing to return to care free adolescence.

Frost talks about the concept of "ignorance is bliss" and how you should be patient and not grow up too fast. The whole tone of the poem is imaginative and nostalgic. Explores the "coming of age" theme.

I believe this section of the poem emphasizes the modernism characteristic of having "confidence in the power of the imagination to construct meaning where there is none." We see this here with the girl's hair and above with the boy swinging on the trees. Through imagination, Frost takes something that most people would have over looked, and uses it to symbolize something else with a deeper meaning.

Here, Frost compares potential causes of the bending of the trees. He'd like to assume it was because a boy had been swinging on them instead of it being due to an ice storm.

"a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds, which occurs worldwide and can cover large areas."

This is an aspect of the story that differs from typical naturalism. In naturalism, there is a big emphasis on Darwins idea of "survival of the fittest." It would be unlikely to see a bunch of men struggling to survive all befriend each other and form such a "subtle brotherhood."

This detailed description of the birds and how the men in the boat envied them as well as felt annoyed by them adds a pessimistic/cynical tone to the story.

I believe this highlighted section follows the characteristic of naturalism that states, "settings in extremely harsh nature (deserts, the Yukon, the open ocean) or cities (the urban jungle); nature is either indifferent or hostile to the plight of humanity"

"the upper edge of the side of a boat or ship"

While The Open Boat is a fictional work, it was based on Stephen Crane's real life experience being shipwrecked.

I think this highlighted section is an example of how the text appeals to northern white women. By Jacobs explaining her heartache and sorrow regarding not being able to marry her love, I believe it would tug on the women's heartstrings.

"tending to talk a great deal; talkative."

I believe this section highlights the characteristic of "including a narrative of literacy acquisition." Here, she talks about her kind slave owner who has passed. This mistress taught her to read and spell.

I was kind of shocked when I read this. I don't know why. When learning about slavery, we look at the brutality and horrors of slavery. I think we also tend to overlook the loss of dignity and basic freedoms that we take for granted every single day.

I think this would be a great example but all throughout Harriet Ann Jacobs writing, we see her share stories of her connections and relationships with those around her. This follows the characteristic of proving humanity (female lens).

In contrast to Frederick Douglass' experience as a slave, Harriet Ann Jacobs and her family were light in complexion - therefore she was treated differently. In most cases, it was better depending on the slave owner.

Not only were they robbed of their dignity, but their humanity too. Throughout this chapter, Douglass shows the slaves humanity as well as the inhumane and disgusting actions of the white slaveholders.

I don't think I ever was aware of this. It's actually insane. Children being forced without clothes even in the winter is heart breaking.

"a one-masted sailboat with a fore-and-aft mainsail and a jib"

Not knowing my birthday would drive me crazy. It's a priviledge we have today that we didn't even realize we had.

While reading this whole detailed section about his mother and his relationship with her, I wondered if he spent so much time on it because of the fact that his audience tended to be white women in the north. By going into depth on the immense sorrow he experienced from being separated from his mother, would that tug on the heartstrings of the primarily female audience?

Melville ends the book with the lawyer feeling pity and sadness for bartleby, but also for humanity as a whole.

I personally wanted to highlight this section because I love the way it is written. I got chills. I just imagined the quiet, cold tombs and the mysterious nature of bartleby alongside the warmth, curiosity, and compassion of the lawyer. The lawyer realizes that bartleby isn't just drunk and asleep, but has passed away.

In the story, one can see the dark and gloomy tone as well as the mystery and uncertainty throughout. Here, the lawyer talks about the "quiet mysteries" of Bartleby. He is somewhat intrigued but cautious too.

The story's first person narrator is the lawyer.

hermitage: "the dwelling of a hermit, especially when small and remote"

I believe this quoted section follows the gothic romanticism characteristic of stressing a gloomy atmosphere and tone. The whole poem seems to follow this but I thought this highlighted section did especially.

Here, I believe Dickinson is trying to emphasize that faith and relationship with God isn't just found in the church. It's a personal thing and you don't need to go to the physical church building to receive salvation and Christ's love.

This may be my favorite poem of hers. The structure and words are beautiful. In this highlighted section, she notes that while some people keep the sabbath by going to church, she does by staying at home. Throughout the poem she discusses how she is content with the ways she chooses to honor God even though it is not the way church would deem acceptable.

I thought it was interesting that she used religious language such as "communion" even though she herself didn't commit to the Christian church. It states in the reading guide that, "While Emerson and Thoreau were content to ‘sign off’ from the creedal history of the church, Dickinson and Melville could not stop looking for a belief to ‘latch on to” (Lundin 111). As Hawthorne wrote of Melville, “He can neither believe nor be comfortable in his unbelief” (qtd. in Lundin 112)." She does mention religion and God himself in her poems frequently

Here, Dickinson uses the bird looking back as an analogy to represent her longing for summer to stay. She doesn't want to seasons to change.