Journal #13 – Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs (p. 502)
Read “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” and answer the following questions.
1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?
The object that symbolizes Goeorge’s life is a boat. George spent his life in fear. He shrank from love, was afraid of sorrow, and dreaded ambition. He should have lifted his sail and embraced all these things while he was alive. A furled ship usually represents destination and should represent his life. But this furled ship is not what he wanted. He wishes the boat was unfurled because he did not do things with his life and come back home to rest in piece like a furled boat represents. He was hungry for life but to afraid to go get it.
2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interepret the last line of the poem?
Lucinda is almost the opposite of George. She had a very active and happy life. She wanted to celebrate life rather than be afraid of it. She had children, a husband, and many happy memories. Her life was not all good but she does not dwell on the negatives, she rather embraces what she has. She invested a lot into life and got a lot out of it. Her last statement is to those like George Gray who are angry an full of discontent. She tells them it takes good and bad things to appreciate our lives. You must have energy or spirit and invest yourself in your life to love Life.
3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?
They both are examples of realism because they are both very ordinary lives even thought they are completely different. Life is a mixture of good times and bad times and all those times in these epitaphs are examples of realism.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Journal #12
1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?
Young Goodman Brown – He is the fallen man. He represents someone good who has the inclination to sin. He is trying to be good in the face of a world which is not.
Faith – represents brown’s faith in her and society. When he realizes she has fallen from grace or become corrupted he realizes that if she was corrupted they all are and therefore everyone has evil inside.
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – represents the devil and temptation. He sees everyone for who they truly are.
Goody Cloyse – represents all the people who he thought was holy and pure on the outside are actually different on the inside. She was so religious and spiritual that it was hard to believe she was also a part of this. If she is like this then the whole society is corrupt.
The Ceremony – represents acceptance of your true nature. Like the story of Adam and eve. It is parallel to any number of religious ceremonies where they pledge themselves to each other or the church. Opposite of a baptism because you are becoming un pure and against God.
The Pink Ribbon –represents purity and then when the ribbon falls, it represents her fall from grace.
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – represents the journey of life and as we go from innocence to experience. This journey changes him.
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
The theme is looks can be deceiving. The message is that no matter how someone presents themself on the outside you should not completely trust cahracter by appearance because the true nature of things could be different than what you perceive it to be. Symbolism is the element used because they used different symbols to shows the people’s true sinful self.
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
“He had cast up his eyes in astonishment, and, looking down again, beheld neither Goody Cloyse nor the serpentine staff, but his fellow-traveller alone, who waited for him as calmly as if nothing had happened. ``That old woman taught me my catechism,'' said the young man; and there was a world of meaning in this simple comment.”
“But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon.
``My Faith is gone!'' cried he, after one stupefied moment. ``There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.'' ”
“Among them, quivering to and fro between gloom and splendor, appeared faces that would be seen next day at the council board of the province, and others which, Sabbath after Sabbath, looked devoutly heavenward, and benignantly over the crowded pews, from the holiest pulpits in the land.”
Young Goodman Brown – He is the fallen man. He represents someone good who has the inclination to sin. He is trying to be good in the face of a world which is not.
Faith – represents brown’s faith in her and society. When he realizes she has fallen from grace or become corrupted he realizes that if she was corrupted they all are and therefore everyone has evil inside.
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – represents the devil and temptation. He sees everyone for who they truly are.
Goody Cloyse – represents all the people who he thought was holy and pure on the outside are actually different on the inside. She was so religious and spiritual that it was hard to believe she was also a part of this. If she is like this then the whole society is corrupt.
The Ceremony – represents acceptance of your true nature. Like the story of Adam and eve. It is parallel to any number of religious ceremonies where they pledge themselves to each other or the church. Opposite of a baptism because you are becoming un pure and against God.
The Pink Ribbon –represents purity and then when the ribbon falls, it represents her fall from grace.
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – represents the journey of life and as we go from innocence to experience. This journey changes him.
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
The theme is looks can be deceiving. The message is that no matter how someone presents themself on the outside you should not completely trust cahracter by appearance because the true nature of things could be different than what you perceive it to be. Symbolism is the element used because they used different symbols to shows the people’s true sinful self.
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
“He had cast up his eyes in astonishment, and, looking down again, beheld neither Goody Cloyse nor the serpentine staff, but his fellow-traveller alone, who waited for him as calmly as if nothing had happened. ``That old woman taught me my catechism,'' said the young man; and there was a world of meaning in this simple comment.”
“But something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon.
``My Faith is gone!'' cried he, after one stupefied moment. ``There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.'' ”
“Among them, quivering to and fro between gloom and splendor, appeared faces that would be seen next day at the council board of the province, and others which, Sabbath after Sabbath, looked devoutly heavenward, and benignantly over the crowded pews, from the holiest pulpits in the land.”
Journal #11
Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)
He writes about to many unnecessary possessions. Humans are advancing but should not be moving forward so quickly. Things should stay simple. Technology corrupts us and takes away from our true selves. It distracts us and disconnects us from other people. Like a cell phone or computer, you get wrapped up in the technology and taken away from what is really important in life. We think technology is improving our lives but really it’s a burden. People consume more than what they need.
Quote: “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
“Sounds” (234)
This passage is about the unique way of nature and how everyday is full of different sounds and images. The narrator is stating that as he watches each day pass from morning to night, he realizes that he is not wasting his time because he is admiring the way nature can change in just moments. He is living in the present as he experiences the sounds of nature. He notices that life is beautiful and it is important that you should not miss it.
Quote: “I had this advantage, at least, in my mode of life, over those who were obliged to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theatre, that my life itself was become my amusement and ceased to be a novel.”
“Brute Neighbors” (235)
This passage satirizes war and he is saying that people fight over petty things. The ants represent soldiers and are fighting over wood chips while armies fight over land, money, or power. You can see people in all aspects of nature like you can see the aspects of nature in people. As he is watching it he realizes its almost like the same as watching people. There is not much difference between this tiny creature and man. There is a distinction that there will always be rivaling groups. Brutality or and pettiness are causes of war and it will always be there.
Quote: “and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those who it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill.”
“The Pond in Winter” (237)
Nature is which creatures live and flourish. A pond in water is beautiful because of its ability to be different but under the ice it is still the same. Nature looks at rest or at peace but life is thriving beneath the surface. Nature is always beautiful. Even though everything looks shut down and hibernating you just need to know where to look to find the life that is still there.
Quote: “Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our head.”
“Spring” (238)
This passage describes spring and compares it to the creation of the world. So many things blossom out of something that seems like nothing. Everything looks dead but then blossoms into life. Spring is when everything flourishes again and the wonderful thing in nature jump out at you and come back. Spring represents rebirth while winter is death.
Quote: “the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)
He writes about to many unnecessary possessions. Humans are advancing but should not be moving forward so quickly. Things should stay simple. Technology corrupts us and takes away from our true selves. It distracts us and disconnects us from other people. Like a cell phone or computer, you get wrapped up in the technology and taken away from what is really important in life. We think technology is improving our lives but really it’s a burden. People consume more than what they need.
Quote: “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
“Sounds” (234)
This passage is about the unique way of nature and how everyday is full of different sounds and images. The narrator is stating that as he watches each day pass from morning to night, he realizes that he is not wasting his time because he is admiring the way nature can change in just moments. He is living in the present as he experiences the sounds of nature. He notices that life is beautiful and it is important that you should not miss it.
Quote: “I had this advantage, at least, in my mode of life, over those who were obliged to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theatre, that my life itself was become my amusement and ceased to be a novel.”
“Brute Neighbors” (235)
This passage satirizes war and he is saying that people fight over petty things. The ants represent soldiers and are fighting over wood chips while armies fight over land, money, or power. You can see people in all aspects of nature like you can see the aspects of nature in people. As he is watching it he realizes its almost like the same as watching people. There is not much difference between this tiny creature and man. There is a distinction that there will always be rivaling groups. Brutality or and pettiness are causes of war and it will always be there.
Quote: “and the results of this battle will be as important and memorable to those who it concerns as those of the battle of Bunker Hill.”
“The Pond in Winter” (237)
Nature is which creatures live and flourish. A pond in water is beautiful because of its ability to be different but under the ice it is still the same. Nature looks at rest or at peace but life is thriving beneath the surface. Nature is always beautiful. Even though everything looks shut down and hibernating you just need to know where to look to find the life that is still there.
Quote: “Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our head.”
“Spring” (238)
This passage describes spring and compares it to the creation of the world. So many things blossom out of something that seems like nothing. Everything looks dead but then blossoms into life. Spring is when everything flourishes again and the wonderful thing in nature jump out at you and come back. Spring represents rebirth while winter is death.
Quote: “the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”
Journal #10
Write a one paragraph response to the following question:
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight. What is Othello’s insight? Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.
Othello make many mistakes during his married life and at the end he realizes this. He knows he made a mistake of distrusting Cassio and Desdemona. He regrets turning on them because she was his wife and Cassio was his best friend. He regrets destroying all that love that had been in his life, that is now gone. He reminds us to not take those we love for granted. One of the last things he mentions is how he wants to be remembered. He know he tarnished his reputation and just wants people to remember him how he was before all of these problems arose.
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight. What is Othello’s insight? Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.
Othello make many mistakes during his married life and at the end he realizes this. He knows he made a mistake of distrusting Cassio and Desdemona. He regrets turning on them because she was his wife and Cassio was his best friend. He regrets destroying all that love that had been in his life, that is now gone. He reminds us to not take those we love for granted. One of the last things he mentions is how he wants to be remembered. He know he tarnished his reputation and just wants people to remember him how he was before all of these problems arose.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Journal #9
Journal #9 - Free Will vs. Determinism
Free Will - The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.
Iago: “'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our
gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners” (1.3 361-3).
Determinism - The philosophical doctrine that every event, act, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedents, such as genetic and environmental influences, that are independent of the human will.
Othello: “Yet ‘tis the plague of great ones … ‘tis destiny unshunnable, like
death” (3.3 313-16).
Using the above definitions, write a paragraph that argues in support of each of the terms. In your paragraphs, use specific examples from Othello to support your ideas.
Iago says that our bodies are our garden and our wills are the gardeners. It is very true because what we do with that free will influences our souls and bodies. We have choices in life that we all must make and sometimes it is between doing the right thing or the wrong thing. Choosing that wrong thing of your own free will can really hurt our souls and body, such as in Othello. Othello chose to kill Desdemona without hardly any information or proof about her affair. That decision changed his life forever and ended up killing him. Our free will guides how our life will go and how we will end up as a person. We must keep our garden healthy.
Determinism is that every event, act, or decision is inevitable due to consequences of what came before. Othello says it is the plaque of great ones and that destiny is unavoidable just as death is unavoidable. Every event that happened in Othello happened due to consequences of decisions. Iago started his revenge based on the actions Othello did. Desdemona died because of the actions Othello thought she did. There is always a cause and effect because of actions before you. Destiny is inevitable.
Free Will - The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.
Iago: “'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our
gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners” (1.3 361-3).
Determinism - The philosophical doctrine that every event, act, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedents, such as genetic and environmental influences, that are independent of the human will.
Othello: “Yet ‘tis the plague of great ones … ‘tis destiny unshunnable, like
death” (3.3 313-16).
Using the above definitions, write a paragraph that argues in support of each of the terms. In your paragraphs, use specific examples from Othello to support your ideas.
Iago says that our bodies are our garden and our wills are the gardeners. It is very true because what we do with that free will influences our souls and bodies. We have choices in life that we all must make and sometimes it is between doing the right thing or the wrong thing. Choosing that wrong thing of your own free will can really hurt our souls and body, such as in Othello. Othello chose to kill Desdemona without hardly any information or proof about her affair. That decision changed his life forever and ended up killing him. Our free will guides how our life will go and how we will end up as a person. We must keep our garden healthy.
Determinism is that every event, act, or decision is inevitable due to consequences of what came before. Othello says it is the plaque of great ones and that destiny is unavoidable just as death is unavoidable. Every event that happened in Othello happened due to consequences of decisions. Iago started his revenge based on the actions Othello did. Desdemona died because of the actions Othello thought she did. There is always a cause and effect because of actions before you. Destiny is inevitable.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Journal #8
Journal 8 - Emerson’s Aphorisms
Write a one paragraph personal response based on three of the following aphorisms. Your responses should address the point Emerson is making as well as your thoughts/feelings about what he is saying.
In aphorism number 5 Emerson is saying that in order to be great or something special you must be different and unique. People do not always understand others who are different or stand out, but those unique people end up doing great things that “normal” people would not. This inspires me to be who I really am and not change into a different person just because other people want me to. I should always be myself no matter what others think of me because one day I might aspire to greater things than them.
In aphorism 9 he is saying that what you see on the outside may not be hat is on the inside. People judge by what they see on first look before judging on what is on the inside. Just because the “weed” or person may look like nothing on the outside you may have thing still to discover on the inside. This makes me think about myself and how I think of other people. It makes me want to try harder to look past the outside and not judge so much.
In aphorism 13 Emerson is saying that we must take chances. Life is about living and doing anything and everything you can. Without these “experiments” in life, it would not be much of a fulfilled life. This makes me feel like I should go for anything I want to do and not be scared of failure. Every experience or chance I get to do something I should take it. You must always take chances.
1. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
2. Keep cool: it will all be one a hundred years hence.
3. Society acquires new arts, and loses old instincts.
4. We boil at different degrees.
5. To be great is to be misunderstood.
6. There are always two parties; the establishment and the movement.
7. When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.
8. In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.
9. What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.
10. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines.
11. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
12. All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair.
13. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
14. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
15. The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant.
Write a one paragraph personal response based on three of the following aphorisms. Your responses should address the point Emerson is making as well as your thoughts/feelings about what he is saying.
In aphorism number 5 Emerson is saying that in order to be great or something special you must be different and unique. People do not always understand others who are different or stand out, but those unique people end up doing great things that “normal” people would not. This inspires me to be who I really am and not change into a different person just because other people want me to. I should always be myself no matter what others think of me because one day I might aspire to greater things than them.
In aphorism 9 he is saying that what you see on the outside may not be hat is on the inside. People judge by what they see on first look before judging on what is on the inside. Just because the “weed” or person may look like nothing on the outside you may have thing still to discover on the inside. This makes me think about myself and how I think of other people. It makes me want to try harder to look past the outside and not judge so much.
In aphorism 13 Emerson is saying that we must take chances. Life is about living and doing anything and everything you can. Without these “experiments” in life, it would not be much of a fulfilled life. This makes me feel like I should go for anything I want to do and not be scared of failure. Every experience or chance I get to do something I should take it. You must always take chances.
1. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
2. Keep cool: it will all be one a hundred years hence.
3. Society acquires new arts, and loses old instincts.
4. We boil at different degrees.
5. To be great is to be misunderstood.
6. There are always two parties; the establishment and the movement.
7. When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.
8. In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.
9. What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.
10. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines.
11. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
12. All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair.
13. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
14. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
15. The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Journal #7
Journal Assignment #7
William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” (p.151) and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (p.181)
Read the selections and write a detailed response to the following:
1. Compare/contrast the different views of nature that are being presented in the poems. Refer to the list of classical and romantic characteristics and provide specific examples from the poems to support your analysis.
These two poems are very different from one another in their meaning or content but have some similarities as well. The difference between these poems is that “To a Waterfowl” is a more optimistic and peaceful poem while “The Raven” is dark and depressing. One makes you feel good while the other makes you feel bad. These poems have two different views of the world. The most important decisions are either based on logic or your heart. The waterfowl embodies rationality, and balance and more of the leading your choices with logic. The Raven uses emotion and imagination leading more with your heart.
Also, both poems have views on nature but these views are different. In the raven nature is evil or indifferent to his suffering. He thinks it is harmful and torturing him. Nature in “To a Waterfowl” poem makes the writer think of his own life and God and the beauty of nature instead of the darkness of it. The author’s views of nature are very different.
The authors writing styles are also different. The waterfowl is more plain writing while “The Raven” is more ornate. The waterfowl is straight forward unlike the confusion and no resolution in the Raven. Also, both authors write in first person point of view. The setting in these poems is also different. The waterfowl has this sunset that brings a feeling of peace and beauty. In “The Raven” the bird is in the house and not in nature, making the author not interact with nature at all but the animal terrorizing him.
In “The Raven” the writer is dealing with an internal conflict in his mind while the waterfowl speaker comes away with an answer saying if you follow your heart God will lead you in the right direction. The waterfowl symbolizes God and his power of guidance. In the Raven the speaker is looking for that type of feeling but instead the bird keeps telling him “Nevermore” and that there is no afterlife, no heaven, and that he will never be reunited with Lenore.
There are few similarities in the writings but there are some. They are both about birds interacting with a person. There is some type of message the bird, or nature, gives to the person whether it is good or bad.
William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” (p.151) and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (p.181)
Read the selections and write a detailed response to the following:
1. Compare/contrast the different views of nature that are being presented in the poems. Refer to the list of classical and romantic characteristics and provide specific examples from the poems to support your analysis.
These two poems are very different from one another in their meaning or content but have some similarities as well. The difference between these poems is that “To a Waterfowl” is a more optimistic and peaceful poem while “The Raven” is dark and depressing. One makes you feel good while the other makes you feel bad. These poems have two different views of the world. The most important decisions are either based on logic or your heart. The waterfowl embodies rationality, and balance and more of the leading your choices with logic. The Raven uses emotion and imagination leading more with your heart.
Also, both poems have views on nature but these views are different. In the raven nature is evil or indifferent to his suffering. He thinks it is harmful and torturing him. Nature in “To a Waterfowl” poem makes the writer think of his own life and God and the beauty of nature instead of the darkness of it. The author’s views of nature are very different.
The authors writing styles are also different. The waterfowl is more plain writing while “The Raven” is more ornate. The waterfowl is straight forward unlike the confusion and no resolution in the Raven. Also, both authors write in first person point of view. The setting in these poems is also different. The waterfowl has this sunset that brings a feeling of peace and beauty. In “The Raven” the bird is in the house and not in nature, making the author not interact with nature at all but the animal terrorizing him.
In “The Raven” the writer is dealing with an internal conflict in his mind while the waterfowl speaker comes away with an answer saying if you follow your heart God will lead you in the right direction. The waterfowl symbolizes God and his power of guidance. In the Raven the speaker is looking for that type of feeling but instead the bird keeps telling him “Nevermore” and that there is no afterlife, no heaven, and that he will never be reunited with Lenore.
There are few similarities in the writings but there are some. They are both about birds interacting with a person. There is some type of message the bird, or nature, gives to the person whether it is good or bad.
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