Week 1 Discussion

Prepare

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum,

• Review the following chapters in your course textbook Historical Contexts and Literature:
• Chapter 1: The Age of Revolution (1775-1830)
• Chapter 2: Scientific and Industrial Revolutions (1780-1900)
• Review the following assigned literary works:
• Mary Shelley,
• , Chapters 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16
• Highuchi Ichiyo, Takekurabe,
• Review the Week 1 Infographic:
• .

Reflect

This week, you reviewed the following literary works in your textbook or in your online classroom, each of which reflects the social concerns and values of the historical and national context in which it was written:

• Voltaire, excerpt from Candide (1759)
• Mary Shelley,
• (1818), Chapters 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16
• Honore de Balzac, excerpt from The Conscript (1831)
• Elizabeth Gaskell, excerpt from North and South (1854)
• Charles Dickens, excerpt from Hard Times (1854)
• Higuchi, Takekurabe,
• (1896)
• Jack London, excerpt from The Apostate (1906)

As you review each literary work, consider the historical, political, and social movements and ideologies outlined in your course textbook and the scientific and industrial innovations that changed everyday life in the nineteenth century. Note how each work was influenced by the historical context in the country in which it was written, and how some works were written in defiant response to specific events, concerns, or values.

For this discussion forum, you will choose two literary works to discuss. Consider choosing one work that you particularly enjoyed, and one work that you found difficult or challenging. The discussion forum is an ideal place to discuss with your instructor and classmates specific texts that you find challenging, or ideas that you need clarified.

Re-examine your chosen works briefly. Using the information in your textbook as a guide, identify how each work reflects the historical, political, social, and national context in which it was written.

Initial Post

In your initial post, discuss the following:

• How does each literary text reflect the historical, political, or social context in which it was written? Remember to use your textbook as a guide in determining a works context.
• What is the author saying through each work? Is the author an impartial narrator, or is the author responding to a specific movement, ideology, social value, or social concern?
• Compare the two works briefly. Do they portray similar or different topics, issues, or themes? Do they approach their topics in similar or dissimilar ways?

Be sure to refer to specific examples (scenes, passages, quotes) from each literary work in your discussion. Your initial post is due by Day 3 and must be at least 400 words in length.