Themes in Literature: Nature

Freewrite Questions: Two of the works we read for today, the short story "To Build a Fire" (the online reading) and the poem "Traveling through the Dark“, have some similarities. Can you see a connection between them? Write about a time when you have been "exposed to the elements" or otherwise experienced the power of nature. Did it influence the way you think about nature? Can you relate your experience to one of the works we read for today?

Background information on Jack London Jack London spent time on the very creek that was the man's destination “To Build a Fire” in November of 1897, hoping to find gold during the Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike Gold Rush began with the discovery of gold in the Klondike (an area in Alaska) in 1896. Many men rushed north thinking to find gold and make their fortunes and found cold, bitter weather and inhospitable terrain they weren't prepared for instead.

Miners climbing Chilkoot Pass in the Klondike

Jack London and Naturalism London belonged to the “Naturalist” school of writers. "Naturalism assumes that humans have little if any control over what happens. Rather, things happen to people, who are at the mercy of a variety of external and internal forces…" The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms Another characteristic of Naturalism is its lack of commentary on the events of the story. How is “To Build a Fire” a “Naturalist” story? Do you think that “Traveling Through the Dark” fits this definition as well?

Jack London and Naturalism Naturalism is also related to the idea of “determinism.” "Causal determinism is, roughly speaking, the idea that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature." - Stanford Philosophy Encyclopedia In other words, this is the idea that every event happens because it must. How does this apply to human thought and action in the works we read for today?

Brief Detour: Revisiting POV What is the point of view in “To Build a Fire”? I found this awesome flow chart to help determine POV in any story and thought I should share it with you!

Questions to Consider: In “To Build a Fire,” is the man's fate inevitable? What events let up to his certain demise? At what point was his fate sealed? In “Traveling Through the Dark” what events necessitate (cause to be necessary) the speaker’s actions at the end of the poem? Does the necessity of these actions detract from the emotional “punch” of the poem, or does it add to it?

Nature and Romanticism in "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud“ p. 630 This poem’s view of nature: Nature is sublime (awe-inspiring) and peaceful. Nature is a source of inspiration and comfort. (Wordsworth wrote in his preface to Lyrical Poetry that his definition of poetry was "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.") What else can you say about Wordsworth's view of nature after reading this poem?

Essay 2: Themes in Poetry We have been discussing themes over the past 2 weeks: Love Nature War There are many, MANY other themes in literature of course. What are a few you can think of? We have also been reading a lot of poetry. Essay 2 asks that you explore a theme in poetry and compare/contrast poems in relation to their treatment of a particular theme. [Pass out the prompt and discuss.]

For Thursday: Thursday, March 19 Topics: Nature Poems. Nature as Reflection of Humanity.  Homework Due:   Read 4 Poems, choose 2 to do Reading Response for. Matthew Arnold “Dover Beach” p. 657, Langston Hughes “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” p. 686, Mary Oliver “Wild Geese” p. 634 (or Sleeping in the Forest) Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” p. 680 (Don’t forget—Reading Response requires discussion of BOTH a specific line AND your overall impression of the work)