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A Cross-Classroom Project for Spring 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to our English 103 Cross-Classroom blog project! We will be, in groups from four different English 103 classes, discussing various war poems/lyrics in terms of how they use rhetoric and the messages they convey.
Blog Archive
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2007
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March
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- Group One: Max B. (19), Staci T. (19), John E. (33...
- Group Two: Megan B. (19), Lily B. (33), Hayley R. ...
- Group Three: Sarah B. (19), Devyn L. (33), Tom C. ...
- Group Four : Nathaniel C. (19), Jan W. (19), Mary ...
- Group Five : Rachel D. (19), Rob P. (19), Justin R...
- Group Six : Elise F. (19), Sarah B. (33), Scott W....
- Group Seven : Scott S. (19), Bryson T. (19), Kirst...
- Group Eight : Lindsey H. (19), Jamia B. (33), Will...
- Group Nine : Valerie N. (19), Mandy Z. (33), Sean ...
- Group Ten : Tonya S. (19), Ashley T. (19), Kenny D...
- Group Eleven : Kate S. (19), Sydney D. (33), Danie...
- Group Twelve : Anna J. (19), Stephen M. (19), Geor...
- Guide for the Rhetoric & War Cross-Classroom Blog
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March
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19 comments:
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"/ “John Brown’s Body” (William Steffe version, circa 1856)
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;
His soul's marching on!
Chorus:
Glory, halle—hallelujah! Glory, halle—hallelujah!
Glory, halle—hallelujah! his soul's marching on!
He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord!
He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord!
He's gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord!
His soul's marching on!
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back!
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back!
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back!
His soul's marching on!
His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
His pet lambs will meet him on the way;
They go marching on!
They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
They will hang Jeff. Davis to a sour apple tree!
As they march along!
Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
Now, three rousing cheers for the Union;
As we are marching on!
Hey Group Nine,
The "Battle Hymn of the Rupublic" is written to the tune of "Glory Alleluia," which is a Christian song. This connection shows that the Union is not only fighting for the abolition of slavery and the North, but to do right in the eyes of God. When the song talks about John Brown brown being dead, they are taking offense to the fact that John Brown, a violent abolitionist was hanged for insighting the Harper's Ferry incident among other things. By having John Brown's knapsack strapped to the soldier's back, it emphasizes the fact that the Union is fighting for the same reasons that John Brown did. The "pet lambs" that will meet the Union soldier on the way refer to the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers that was formed just after the Civil War started to support the North. Hanging Jeff. Davis means that they are going to win the war and hang the president of the Confederacy to a sour apple tree. This "Battle Hymn" would have been a song to uplift the Union supporters and cause a feeling of what we now know to be patriotism in not only Union soldiers, but also all Northerners.
Catie McDavid
The "Battle Hymn of the Rebublic" was a song created during during the civil war. This was a song of inspiration and gave the soliders of the union a reason to keep marching. The overall tune of the song gives the war a religous cause, and could also make the soliders or anyone to follow the Union. Obviously John Brown had the same belief that the rest of the union possesed, and therefore by stating that he was killed for it gave the soliders a desire of revenge. When the song states that his soul's marching on says that they are carrying his cause, and this gave the soliders inspiration. I believe when the song states his pet lambs will meet him on the way means that the soliders that fall to battle will go on to heaven to march with John Brown. The song ends with the victory of the battle giving an overall goal for the soliders marching, giving the Unioun soliders an extra motivation.
Hey Kids,
Alright so the instructions said to say something about myself. For starters my name is Sean and I have to do this assignment too. Now that that is out of the way we can discuss The Battle Hymn of the Republic, a pro-Union American civil war ballad. This version of the song's lyrics pays homage to John Brown, an abolitionist who tried to start an insurrection by attacking Harper's Ferry Amory and getting himself killed. According to the song Johnny has gone to incite riots in Heaven, wearing a knapsack, with the help of some pet lambs. In all seriousness though, I really don't have the faintest idea what the third and fourth verses are supposed to signify. Muslims get virgins in heaven, maybe American abolitionists get lambs. Who knows. The reference to Jefferson Davis, "President" of the Confederacy, shows the North's hatred of the man who stands for the thing that John Brown was trying to get rid of. Just to clarify, I mean slavery. The little ditty then ends with a rousing three cheers for the home team.
Hey Group,
I love seeing what everyone thinks of this song. I have already learned some things by reading your posts. I personally think one of the most interesting parts of this song is the figurative symbolism that the author uses. Such as the pet lambs. The lambs, which are a univeral symbol for sacrifice, represents the sacrifice of those that had died for their cause. I also think it is interesting that when he mentions hanging Jeff Davis on the tree, it is not just any tree it is a sour apple tree. I think this represents the bitterness the soldiers felt toward the President of the Confederacy. It also represents the bitterness and the hardships of war and battle. I have never paid much attention to this song and it was interesting to dissect it and be able to understand what it is truly saying.
Mandy Z
Hey there! Sorry my response is so late, I was out of town for the weekend. So I must have completely missed this history lesson in high school because I have just learned about all this for the first time just by reading your comments (which is a little embarrasing)! This was probably a very motivational song and helped pump up the soliders before battle. Before actually connecting the references such as the pet lambs and the sour apple tree I wasn't too impressed by the song.No historical references or uses of symbolism really came to mind when first reading this. I figured it was just another chant that the soldiers sang. But after looking into it farther you can tell the author put more thought into it and in the end it is more meaningful.
Tristan S.
Hey Guys,
First of all, I have to say everyone’s comments are so enlightening. When Catie discussed the meaning of each of the verses, it really was very helpful. I was very surprised that they were very detailed and easy to understand. Sean explained John Brown’s relationship to the raid on Harper’s Ferry. It was great to see that Mandy discussed the topic of the sour apple tree. I was also thinking that there must be something more to that phrase. I love how the song talks about the lambs at Heaven’s gate. It shows some tenderness in this fairly brutal war song. Even though I didn’t immediately agree with what everyone said about this song, I eventually had many of the same opinions. Even though I am proud to be born and raised in the south, I really feel like this song greatly impacted the Union soldiers, and I am happy that I can decipher the verses and understand what it meant to these men.
-Valerie N.
Hey Group,
I really liked the comment made about the lambs being sacrificial, and also the sour apple tree representing the bitterness. I didn't stop to take into account the non-historical aspects of the song. I agree with most everything everyone has said, and I find it interesting that, although the song was written for something that took place over 150 years ago, a lot of the same feelings still remain with Northern and Southern pride. I can only imagine the feeling this song would have sparked 150 years ago while the battles were still taking place.
-Catie McDavid
Hi guys,
Well I thought that everyones comments were very helpful. I actually learned things from everyone. There was alot that I didn't know about this song. I had no idea that John Brown was an abolitionist so I think that added a complelty new level to the meaning of the song. I really enjoyed all the history that Catie added to the song. By understanding the time period and what was going on during that time, it was easier to understand the true meaning of the song. Catie gave a lot of insight to the song. I also think what Jacob said about the song adding a religious aspect to the war was really interesting. This would make a lot of sense understanding the peoples view on religion and war at that time. Overall I really enjoyed everyone's insight on this song and I feel like I have actually learned something from it.
Mandy Z
Hey there again! So I did some research and found a bit of history on this song and thought it was pretty interesting. The original version of the song was a religious camp meeting song written in the 1850s. The song eventually spread to army posts, where its steady rhythm and catchy chorus made it a natural marching song. Soon after, a new version appeared that hitched the old tune to a more militant cause. When John Brown was executed in 1859, someone created a new, fiercer set of lyrics, hence the line "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave;". By the time the Civil War began in 1861, the John Brown version of the song had spread throughout the Union army. Soldiers added new verses as they marched through the South, including one that promised to hang Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, from a tree. Meanwhile, Confederate soldiers answered back with their own version, in which John Brown was hanging from a tree. Anyways, I just thought I would share this with ya'll!
Tristan S.
Salutations,
Alrighty so this response is really late and I apologize, I know that you all have been waiting on my latest thoughts with bated breath. Reading your comments was taxing but enlightening. I hadn't made the connection between the lambs and the archetype of sacrifice or the allusion to the 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers, kudos to Mandy and Catie. Overall it seemed we were all on the same level of knowing who John Brown and Jefferson Davis were. Even though thoughts on the lambs ranged from not having a clue to being rewards in the after life (you know I'm right) we all seem to have the same level of interest in this song. None.
-Sean
I thought everyones comments were very interesting. Each different comment gave a new outlook on the song and i found this to be helpful when it comes trying to understand the song. I think everybodys opinion helped me understand the song and gave a new meaning to it!
Ladies and Gentlemn,
Sorry my resonse has been so late. I have a pretty tough week, but there are alot of things I have noticed about his song. Obvouisly this was a big political statement for pro-Northern folowers. As someone said earlier, it was christian originally. I believe this could have convinced alot of people who did not have an opinion on the civel war. Fo those who did not know what to think about civil war, a religious chant could definitly change there mind.
Charles R.
Hey everyone,
Knowing about the Harper’s Ferry incident is really helpful in understanding this song and what it meant to the soldiers of the Union. They felt that they were fighting for a good cause, and the John Brown’s death really gave them an even better reason to fight. The religious aspect is really an interesting part of this song. So many people relied on their religion to get them through the war that having this song must have really boosted the soldiers’ morale.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.assumption.edu/ahc/rhetoric/brownlg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.assumption.edu/ahc/rhetoric/oratoryjohnbrown.html&h=1084&w=794&sz=190&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=Wy7hlMmdaPYY0M:&tbnh=150&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djohn%2Bbrown%2527s%2Bbody%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
This is a link to a website that discusses the raid on Harper’s Ferry. The mural of John Brown and the raid shows how much purpose and willpower he had. He obviously felt like he was leading this raid for a good cause. I believe this mural is a representation of the Civil War, and John Brown’s involvement. He is shown as almost a giant, with two soldiers on opposite sides of him. This is could symbolize a fight between a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier, with him right in the middle.
Hi Guys,
Once again sorry about the lateness... I don't have internet at my house, therefore I had to wait until i returned to school to write my blog. Overall I really enjoyed hearing everyones opinions on the song. I definitley learned quite a bit about not only an old song that I had heard growing up, but also a lot about the Civil War. I really appriciated Tristan's input in the song and her willingness to do more research on the topic. I found her information very helpful. I also enjoyed Valerie's picture. She had some really good points on the John Brown incident. I found this picture on the web and it is soldiers at mass. http://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/images/Civil-War-Prayer.jpg I thought this reiterated the point that religion was so important during this war. Overall, I feel like I have a completly different understanding of this song now.
Mandy Z.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There is one thing that I noticed about Valerie's picture she posted. The picture shows John Brown in between a Union and a Confederate soilder. With that said I'm not sure John Brown was really fighting for the cause of the Nothern states. I want to think he was fighting more for his own purposes. The civil war was not mainly fought over slavery or the equal rights of men. The Nothern States had slaves up until the last few years of the war and still after that African American's were not treated equaly. This led me to beleive this was not John Brown's cause for Harpers Ferry. Slavery had not yet been abolished on ethier side of the battle feild.This song was written to make people believe that was his purpose and stimulate moral in the North. This put the South as being the bad guy. Like they say, winners are the one's who write the history books.Just thought I would throw that out there at you.
-Charles Rogers
I can't believe there are so many differing opinions on just this one song, it's really interesting to me. I think its was a great idea, Valerie and Mandy, to find pictures that helped us visualize the song and understand the lyrics more clearly. Charles did a really good job of explaining what he got from looking at the picture and I think it's really important that we each form our own opinions of what this song means to us. Everyone did a really good job of looking into this song and finding its deeper meaning because as we all know, it's really not that compelling of a song at first glance.
Tristan S
Hey everyone,
It's been really interesting to see how we all went from knowing absolutely nothing about this song/chant/poem...whatever, to being experts in the field. Although it doesn't make me want to go check a million books out about civil war poems and hymns, it would make me want to take a closer look at something in the future that I may not have a clue about the first time I read it. Good job everyone - we discovered the art of literary analysis without having to write a 10-page paper!
Catie McDavid
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