ESSAY CEMETERY

Summary I recently came to America with the help of God. He addresses the students as scholars of astronomy, which brings them closer to heaven. Jesus approves of them. He celebrates Jesus as he who died for all humanity's sins. He encourages them to avoid sin, for the momentary pleasure of sin results in eternal suffering. Themes and Devices ·        Self-reflexiveness “WHILE an intrinsic ardor prompts to write, The muses promise to assist my pen;” ·        Coming from Africa “ 'Twas not long since I left my native shore The land of errors, and Egyptain gloom:” ·        Thanking god “Father of mercy, 'twas thy gracious hand Brought me in safety from those dark abodes.” ·        Celebrating students as scholars of astronomy ·        Praising Jesus as redeemer of mankind ·        Cautioning against sin Portrait of Phillis Wheatley

Summary She is grateful that she was brought from Pagan Africa to Christian America. Even though blacks may be sinful, according to Christianity they can be redeemed. Themes ·        Rejecting paganism and embracing Christianity "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:” ·        Black as sinful Some view our sable race with scornful eye,  "Their colour is a diabolic die."  Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,  May be refin'd and join th'angelic train.” Portrait of Phillis Wheatley

Themes ·        Self-reflexivity ·        Warning against idleness, pride, and folly ·        Self- reliability ·        Remaining in one place ·        Industry ·        Trust in oneself ·        Be wary of others ·        Remaining in one place ·        Attending to one's affairs with care ·        Live modestly ·        Not to buy things one doesn't need ·        Save rather than spend ·        Buying excessively leads to want ·        Against vanity ·        Against pride ·        Against accruing debt ·        Against lying ·        God is crucial in success ·        Reason Devices and Style ·        Self-reflexivity I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for tho' I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author of almanacs annually now a full quarter of a century, my brother au

Benjamin Franklin uses his pen name, Richard Saunders. Even though he is not often quoted by authors, he hears people repeating his adages, which pleases him. Saunders recounts a tale where an old man quotes him in the context of taxes. The old man is questioned about taxes and the man responds that through self reliability things can be overcome. He speaks against idleness and for industry and having a job. Leisure is to be indulged in only when one has worked properly. Saunders also advocates trust in oneself, and not to leave one's affairs to others, even to be wary of others. He advocates remaining in once place and not resettling frequently. All the rest is under themes. As soon as the auction begins they disregard his advice about financial prudence and made extravagant purchases. However, Richard is still delighted by the frequent mention the man made of him. He does not take credit for the wisdom but attributes it to others. He resolves to be better himself. Benjam

·        Man's rights are endowed by God “…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” ·        Governments should stem from within the people governed and it  is governments' responsibility is to keep men's rights “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” ·        The right of the people to instate new government “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness” ·        The British Crown has abused America “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all h

Jefferson says that it needs to be said why America intends to separate from England. Americans are entitled to equal rights as the English, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the job of governments to see that these rights are kept, and when they are not kept it is the right of the people to abolish that government and institute a new one. America has been subject to much abuse from England and this separation is not due to frivolous reasons. Some examples of the abuse are refusal to create laws to benefit Americans; neglecting to attend to American law and yet demanding that no laws be created without him; dissolving legislative bodies repeatedly and refusing to replace them. Other transgressions are preventing immigration, raising the price of land, refusing to instate judiciary institutions, rendering the military superior to civil power, keeping military in America in times of peace. The English crown has also impeded trade, imposed taxation witho

Themes ·        Rebellion “As the king of England hath undertaken in his own right, to support the parliament in what he calls theirs, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpations of either.” ·        Universality of struggle “The cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind.” ·        Unity in times of adversity “Now is the seed time of continental union, faith and honor.” ·        Warning traitors “The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; The wound will enlarge with the tree, and posterity read it in full grown characters” ·        Advocating reason ·        The claim to the US lies with Europe “Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of

Introduction Paine says that the idea he is about to propose will not be popular, because people are used to a certain state of things and he propounds to change them. Since the English Crown is abusing its power over America, "the good people of this country… have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions [of the Crown] … and to reject the usurpations". The natural rights of Americans are being violated. Thoughts of the Present State of American Affairs Paine calls the public to suspend their prejudices while reading his essay. It is war, he says, that will decide the issue of American independence, a great cause. This issue is not an issue of point but global and universal. He calls for the continent to be united. Any traitor will be remembered for posterity. War with England has started. As such, thoughts of union with England are no longer practical. Independence thus must be considered. We come to much harm because we are still dependant o

Songs of Innocence Introduction A child, delighted by the songs of a piper, urges him to put them in writing. The Little Black Boy A mother teaches her black son that after long travail on earth, god awaits, as well as heaven, where everyone is equal. The Chimney Sweeper Little boy Tom has a dream that an angel releases all the chimney sweepers  to heaven, and is comforted. Infant Joy A two day old baby is joyful and wishes joy upon others. Songs of Experience The Chimney Sweep A chimney sweep, who is unhappy, blames his church-going parents and the church for his misery. The Sick Rose A worm destroys a rose The Tyger The speaker wonders at the power of a tiger, and wonders that it was created by the same entity as the lamb. The Garden of Love The garden of Eden turns into a graveyard after a church is built in it. Illustration by William Blake