Essay, Flist, Post Office

[dis_netis]

Firstly, sorry, Flist, for being crap at replying to entries the last few days. I'm woefully behind on my flist at the moment, due to the fact that I'm meant to be writing an essay. Its an essay on American literature, specifically The American Dream in The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman and Of Mice and Men. Its a shame, because I don't know

Comments

[breathingbooks]

Ouch. I had to read The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman for school, and you'd probably have to pay me to get me to read another "literary" book about the American dream. At least the authors are anything but subtle with the main point though!

[dis_netis]

Well, I can actually do the essay on any of the 12 books we studied. But GG and DOAS are the two that are the most obviously about the American Dream. And they're two of the only ones I've actually read! I quite enjoyed The Great Gatsby, surprisingly. I'm not sure why, except I liked the writing style, and before that we'd been reading Twain and Henry James, which are much much more dull, imo.

[breathingbooks]

Gatsby being short and easy to read did raise its worth in my eyes, I admit, especially when compared to much of American literature (I like Dickinson, the slave narratives, and... er...). :D

[dis_netis]

I did my last American lit essay (just last semester) on which is more American, the slave narrative v. Huck Finn, and, despite despising Huck Finn, I really enjoyed writing it. I liked the slave narratives, and Dickinson as well, actually (despite not understanding most of it...).

[ailsa_clare]

The only thing I can remember discussing about Death of a Salesman when I was in my first year at uni was Artistotelean ideas of tragedy and how the fall of the "everyman" was what made Miller's play so original... You would really think I would have absorbed more than that, I really enjoyed it as well! Good luck with your essay, anyhow :)

[dis_netis]

Thanks! Yes, we did look at DOAS as a play in the form of Greek tragedy, but I don't remember much about it. I'll have to have another look over my notes.

[imigination]

Its an essay on American literature, specifically The American Dream in The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman and Of Mice and Men. Its a shame, because I don't know much at all about American history.

I don't have any great insight, bc I don't know what tact you're taking, but I LOVE Death of a Salesman and Of Mice and Men. I also read The Great Gatsby, but don't enjoy it that much ... especially in light of Hemingway's work. :D

[dis_netis]

Basically what I'm doing is talking about how the American dream is shown in all the texts, focusing on the consumerist dream (get more stuff) v. the spiritual dream (be happy), and contrasting the main characters, especially Willy L and Gatsy (who are examples of failure and success in achieving the dream...but neither are happy and both are tragic heroes).

[imigination]

Great topic. It sounds like you have a good handle on it. :)

What's the course on, if you don't mind my asking?

[dis_netis]

I'm doing a part-time degree in Literature in my evenings (as well as working full time so its pretty exhausting!). This class is called 'New Frontiers: American Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries'. Its more interesting than I expected!

[robinmarian]

I don't know anything about American literature bb but I hope you finish your essay soon.

So,did you get your phone?

[dis_netis]

Nope, no phone in sight. I waited in all day and they didn't turn up. So on Monday morning I'm going to have to ring them and ask where the hell my phone's at. Mostly I'm disappointed as I was looking forward to getting my new phone!

Essay hasn't been going very well. I've written 400 good words today and 400 bad words. Just 1200 more to go! I've got all day tomorrow so I'll just have to get up early and crack on with it.

[ovariesofsteel]

I've never read any of those titles. LOL