Literature Week 4
Haley Greathouse
Professor Hakala
ENL 201
May 13, 2015
Week 4 Discussion Questions
1. Locate and discuss imagery in Wheatley’s poems that directly or indirectly comments on her experience as a freed slave.
Because Wheatley was brought to American and freed from slavery, she was able to experience a number of positive aspects due to her freeing. Not only was Phillis Wheatley able to learn how to read and write, but she was also guided towards the light of Christianity. In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” she expresses that once she was brought from her homeland and in to America, she learned about God and the ways of the God above. For example, Wheatley states, “Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand” (lines 1-2). Wheatley goes on to demonstrate her belief that not only is there a Savior, but a God as well—she devotes her entire life and soul to both of these.
As Wheatley continues to write, she goes on to express that anyone can turn to God, because after all, she had been able to do so. Wheatley writes, “Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, may be refined, and join the angelic train” (lines 7-8). Here, she is acknowledging that no matter if an individual is black or white, they too can find their way to heaven. Previously, Wheatley writes that her black race is often looked down upon and that her race is a “diabolic eye.”
Because Wheatley was freed from the cruel world of slavery and brought into an American home and taught the benefits that reading and writing had to offer, she was able to launch two new found traditions. These two traditions are known as the black American literary tradition and the black women’s literary tradition. Not only was it rare for a woman to produce such greatness, but for a black woman was it extremely rare. These times are referred to as an “event unique in the history of literature” (764).
2. In the Wheatley poems that address others—students, General
Professor Hakala
ENL 201
May 13, 2015
Week 4 Discussion Questions
1. Locate and discuss imagery in Wheatley’s poems that directly or indirectly comments on her experience as a freed slave.
Because Wheatley was brought to American and freed from slavery, she was able to experience a number of positive aspects due to her freeing. Not only was Phillis Wheatley able to learn how to read and write, but she was also guided towards the light of Christianity. In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” she expresses that once she was brought from her homeland and in to America, she learned about God and the ways of the God above. For example, Wheatley states, “Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand” (lines 1-2). Wheatley goes on to demonstrate her belief that not only is there a Savior, but a God as well—she devotes her entire life and soul to both of these.
As Wheatley continues to write, she goes on to express that anyone can turn to God, because after all, she had been able to do so. Wheatley writes, “Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, may be refined, and join the angelic train” (lines 7-8). Here, she is acknowledging that no matter if an individual is black or white, they too can find their way to heaven. Previously, Wheatley writes that her black race is often looked down upon and that her race is a “diabolic eye.”
Because Wheatley was freed from the cruel world of slavery and brought into an American home and taught the benefits that reading and writing had to offer, she was able to launch two new found traditions. These two traditions are known as the black American literary tradition and the black women’s literary tradition. Not only was it rare for a woman to produce such greatness, but for a black woman was it extremely rare. These times are referred to as an “event unique in the history of literature” (764).
2. In the Wheatley poems that address others—students, General