Poe

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the great early American authors and one of the best examples of a Romantic. In all of his works, the "5 I's" are clearly evident, and that is why I like Poe's works.

The first I is imagination. I think that it's nice to see some more abstract and imaginative works rather than something as rigid as what was found in literature of the Age of Reason. Ligeia is an example of great use of imagination. While some may find it "weird," I just found it very interesting how Poe created an atmosphere and environment in his writing.

The second I is intuition. Poe's writing tended to be based off of feelings and was rather spontaneous, just as was expressed in the Wordsworth quote that called Romantic writing a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling." The emotions Poe expressed were very powerful indeed--the depression in the House of Usher, the remembrance of the lost Lenore in The Raven, among many others. 

Idealism is the third I. Poe seems to be an avid supporter of idealism, most clearly in The Fall of the House of Usher. That book uses an imaginative setting to convey the idea that the artistic elite will fall and that the cracks in the aristocracy are in the foundation and cannot be ignored.

Inspiration is the 4th I. Poe's writings were clearly inspired by nature and the natural world. The setting of the House of Usher makes the natural elements (such as the tarn) around it play a major role. Additionally, Poe uses the Raven to express a point, which shows he idea that nature is alive and has supernatural powers.

The final I is Individualism, or perhaps just "I." Poe emphasizes the individual by limiting the number of characters, making each one more important and allowing him to develop them further, giving them each their own individual voice. Additionally, there is no omniscient narrator--but rather an individual voice.

Will there be another writer whose works express these 5 I's as well as Poe?

Quoth the Raven--Nevermore.

What is an American?

               As the most powerful country in the world, you would think there would be a uniform definition of an American. But I don’t believe there is. I don’t believe there ever will be. I don’t believe there ever should be. “American” is not a race. It is not a religion. It is not a uniform culture. But rather, I feel that it’s an ideal. Perhaps it’s even an ideology.

               America has always been a nation of immigrants—the Native Americans—the “original” Americans—make up only a tiny, but still vibrant, part of our country today. We are made up of hundreds of different ethnic groups from all inhabited continents and most every country on Earth. That is why it’s my firm belief that there is no one American race and no one American culture. Each new wave of immigrants adds its own ideas, its own traditions, and its own culture to the American culture. “American” is also not a religion. One of the greatest achievements of our country is the religious freedom we practice. While we are not perfect, as a whole we allow people of numerous religions to practice their beliefs without interruption. Clearly, there is no single image of an “American.”

               So, then, what is an American? While we do not have a single culture, there are things that tie us all together. We believe that all men are created equal and are endowed to certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The idea of individual freedoms is the source of what makes America a great country. All of our past mistakes have been from giving too few freedoms (or denying certain groups freedoms) rather than giving too many freedoms. One of the basic tenets of America is freedom, and so anyone who does not respect another group’s freedoms cannot call themselves American.

               One final thing that ties all Americans together is the hope of a better life. Most immigrants coming to America hoped for a better life—to be able to live in prosperity in their new home. While many worked hard and failed to find prosperity, the idea still stuck. I believe the hope that you can give your children a better life than you yourself had is a basic part of what it means to be an American.