dragonzero39
Legacy Supporter 7
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Location
- North America
Recently I've started work on a literary research paper for my AP Lit class. Here is this introduction, the thesis, and the first paragraph. Input and "constructive" criticism from people who have actually taken this class, or higher level classes would be appreciated. I'm sure there may be one or two spelling or punctuation errors, but this is still rough draft.
When in our life do we find ourselves unhinged. Is it a primitive state? Or something more. An impact on our heart, a revelation to our soul, a tearing of flesh instilled by desire? Both “The Inferno” and “Heart of Darkness” are good novels that can show a state of being in which we are pulled out of civilization and our morals are challenged or changed drastically. It’s inspiring to see how literature can provide insight to how early life may have worked and operated without systems of mathematics, science, or large scale religion. The ability to gain insight from both stories that we have read cannot only install fundamentals and beliefs into the weak minded, yet can also inspire and terrify the strong willed. One great literary section that shows the essence of basic morality in an individual, could be when Marlow is traversing the Congo and proceeds to describes the wild men, “But suddenly, as we struggled round a bend, a burst of yells, a whirl of black limbs, a mass of hands clapping, of feet stamping, of bodies swaying, of eyes rolling, under the droop of heavy and motionless foliage.” (Conrad 32). Yet what profound conclusion can a sane and educated man derive, when witnessing such barbaric behavior.
“We were cut off from comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember, because we were traveling in the night of the first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign - and no memories.” (Conrad 32).
This passage blatantly reveals to the reader why the behavior of the savages is incomprehensible. It is not that the educated man cannot understand what is happening, yet instead it is just that an educated man cannot remember the essence that composed him during his ancestors primitive lives. For he has gone too far into the world of logic and science. Nor do Marlow’s father and mother likely recall, nor their parents and so on, for they are too far gone.
Indents aren't completed correct when I copied over. They are MLA on my draft.
Essence of Morality.
Simple, elegant, a dance of traits and emotions that mix and collide in a frenzy to create humanity. Who are we when torn by dreams into our own personalities, desires, and beliefs. The essence of our own morality. Marlow, a victim of fate, is swept into the Heart of Darkness, and is shown a wide spectrum of behaviors, which when compiled can form an educated and well operating individual. Yet when separated, and observed without influences from other traits, reveal the savage that lies within all our souls. Only the Heart of Darkness can reveal to us our true essence of morality.When in our life do we find ourselves unhinged. Is it a primitive state? Or something more. An impact on our heart, a revelation to our soul, a tearing of flesh instilled by desire? Both “The Inferno” and “Heart of Darkness” are good novels that can show a state of being in which we are pulled out of civilization and our morals are challenged or changed drastically. It’s inspiring to see how literature can provide insight to how early life may have worked and operated without systems of mathematics, science, or large scale religion. The ability to gain insight from both stories that we have read cannot only install fundamentals and beliefs into the weak minded, yet can also inspire and terrify the strong willed. One great literary section that shows the essence of basic morality in an individual, could be when Marlow is traversing the Congo and proceeds to describes the wild men, “But suddenly, as we struggled round a bend, a burst of yells, a whirl of black limbs, a mass of hands clapping, of feet stamping, of bodies swaying, of eyes rolling, under the droop of heavy and motionless foliage.” (Conrad 32). Yet what profound conclusion can a sane and educated man derive, when witnessing such barbaric behavior.
“We were cut off from comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember, because we were traveling in the night of the first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign - and no memories.” (Conrad 32).
This passage blatantly reveals to the reader why the behavior of the savages is incomprehensible. It is not that the educated man cannot understand what is happening, yet instead it is just that an educated man cannot remember the essence that composed him during his ancestors primitive lives. For he has gone too far into the world of logic and science. Nor do Marlow’s father and mother likely recall, nor their parents and so on, for they are too far gone.
Indents aren't completed correct when I copied over. They are MLA on my draft.
