These major assignments represent key milestones in my work for Selected Works of American Literature. Each project pushed me to engage with different aspects of American literary tradition in unique ways.
Midterm Exam
Three essay responses analyzing major themes in American literature: Nature as Revelation through Emerson and Thoreau, the American Soul through Whitman and Dickinson, and the Moral Frontier through London and Cather. Each essay connects these literary voices to biblical theology and Christian reflection.
Author Presentation: Willa Cather
A video presentation exploring the life, works, and literary legacy of Willa Cather. This project involved researching her frontier novels, understanding her place in American Regionalism, and communicating her significance through video.
"A" Project: The Seine
For my creative project, I wrote a short fiction piece inspired by Ernest Hemingway's minimalist prose style. Set in 1920s Paris, it captures a chance encounter between two American expatriates, exploring themes of displacement, trauma, and the search for meaning after the war.
What It Means to Be American
One of my first assignments for the course, this essay explores my personal perspective on American identity. Drawing from my family's immigrant experience, I examine themes of assimilation, pride, and what it truly means to become part of this nation.