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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page research paper that analyzes Francis Parkman's text La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West was originally published in 1869, a time in literary history that is characterized as the "Romantic" era, which refers to the fact that artists, writers, and musicians were reacting to the over emphasis on rationality that had been characteristic of the preceding century. Examination of Parkman's account shows that, while this is a scholarly work--with copious footnotes and references-- it nevertheless is written in a romantic style that is designed to engage the emotions of the reader, as well as the intellect. Parkman does this through idealizing La Salle's character, giving him mythic proportions as a hero, and also through his romantic view of the processes involved in exploration, which is presented as a tremendous, romanticized adventure. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khpklsdw.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
is characterized as the "Romantic" era, which refers to the fact that artists, writers, and musicians were reacting to the over emphasis on rationality that had been characteristic of the
preceding century. Examination of Parkmans account shows that, while this is a scholarly work--with copious footnotes and references-- it nevertheless is written in a romantic style that is designed to
engage the emotions of the reader, as well as the intellect. Parkman does this through idealizing La Salles character, giving him mythic proportions as a hero, and also through his
romantic view of the processes involved in exploration, which is presented as a tremendous, romanticized adventure. Parkman begins by discussing La Salles background, which is middle class, but wealthy
middle class. The explorers full name is Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle (1643-1669). Parkman explains that La Salle was the name of the estate belonging to his family that
was located near Rouen and that it was the custom for wealthy French burghers to distinguish between various branches of their family through designations associated with landed estates (2). While
this is fact, it is presented in such a manner as to romanticize La Salles background. The most notable romantic feature in the opening pages is the way in
which Parkman immediately begins to idealize La Salles character. For example, Parkman states that La Salle, as a youth, was attracted to the religious life, but that he quickly relinquished
this ambition because to "find himself not at the center of power, but at the circumference, not the mover fur the moved, the passive instrument of anothers will, taught to
walk in prescribed paths, to renounce his individuality...would have been intolerable to him" (3). As this demonstrates, Parkman is not simply relating facts about La Salles life, but also interpreting
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