Reading and Writing for Literary Response
In the essay, "Green Gulch" by Loren Eiseley and the poem, "The Incident" by
Countee Cullen, a common theme is present. The theme established in both works is
"coming to a knowledge of evil." Both writings are written in first person detached,
where the author is reflecting upon an event that occurred in childhood, which may have
had a profound impact upon these individuals. Is it possible for children, at a young age to
experience evil? My goal is to compare the works in three ways. The first way is to show
that both works share a common theme. Secondly, how both of the authors became
exposed to a corroding knowledge of evil at a young age., and lastly, to show the loss of
innocence the authors go through after witnessing evil.
In the essay, "Green Gulch," the author states, "I think, looking back, that it must
have been a little like a child following goblins home to heir hill at nightfall, but nobody
threatened me." This quote is in reference to his following of the older children from the
other part of town. The author uses a metaphor to compare the older children to goblins.
Goblins are often associated with evil, mischievousness, and maliciousness. For instance,
Loren Eiseley wrote about a place that was "a huge pool, green and dark with the evening
all over it and the trees leaning secretly inward above the water...I remember the quiet and
the green ferns touching the green water. I remember we played there, innocently at
first." The "green" written about represents something innocent, something pure and
fresh. To show the mischievousness of the "goblins" he writes about a turtle, "They
pounded him to death with stones on the other side of the pool while I looked on in
stupefied horror. I had never seen death before." Imagine your ...