Basho’s, “Narrow Road Through the Backcountry” and Equiano’s “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” are two very interesting stories. Both of these writers express so much emotions and details of their travels that it makes vivid images in one’s mind. Their journeys are different, as to where they’re going and what they are experiencing, but they both found freedom. They both found spiritual freedom in different ways. I choose these two readings because as I went back to some of the readings it reminded me of each other and in my paper I will be explaining what comparisons I found and what make their journeys alike. Even though their journeys led them to appreciate different things they both got a lot from their journeys. Basho learned and had a special appreciation to the natural world and Equiano found a deeper appreciation to God as he believe to be a “fortunate one” and based on his experience he consider himself “as a particular favorite of Heaven.” Their journeys might differ in many ways but the way they express themselves in very vivid ways and their main focus; which is their journey and what they learned is not much different. Both their journeys revolved around special and specific moments in their lives. Both of them wrote about their travel experience and I would explain what things they had mostly in common and what they differ on.
Hi Kenia,
ReplyDeleteI think your proposal i still about vague about details. Exactly how do you see that the two narratives are similar? The closest you come to a specific point of comparison is when you write that Basho appreciated the "natural world" where Equiano appreciated the evidence of God in nature. Perhaps this can be the focus of your essay? I think you could write about the ways that both writers discover signs of divinity in the natural world, and what this means to them. Having read your other blogs, I think this topic would naturally appeal to you. That said, I STRONGLY advise you to state this thesis very directly and clearly at the beginning of the essay AND to base your analysis on specific passages in each text. Your argument will be stronger for it, and you will be able to avoid collapsing into generalizations. Ok? If you agree, start writing!