The Final Post

Despite my like for the beginning of the book, I am unsure about how I feel about it as a whole. For the most part, I enjoy Delillo’s writing style. He really makes every sentence count. Each sentence is jam packed with information and it makes for a slower read. I found that I had a hard time staying focused while reading. Part of it may just be the overwhelming amount of things to complete before the semester is over.

Because of my inattention, I feel that I don’t appreciate the book as much as others. From the class discussions, I can see that most people really enjoy it. For this reason, I suspect that I have missed something during my reading. Perhaps I will reread it when I have more time and not so many other things to worry about!

I have put Delillo’s other book White Noise on my summer reading list!

The Crowd

I really liked the beginning of Mao II. I thought the whole idea of the wedding in the stadium was interesting. Even though it made for a good read, I can’t say I liked how the wedding was set up. I cannot imagine that any of the people were truly happy. Weddings are supposed to be one of the best days of a person’s life and are meant for family and friends. To be a bride surrounded by many others and not having that intimate feeling would be hard.

I liked how the parent’s perspective was included. The emotions and feelings they had were spot on to what I would imagine someone would really be experiencing in that situation. The fact that they were the “fans” in this scenario made for an interesting comparison between sports. I’ve never really felt that fans in stadiums resembled a cult until now. I can see how they are very similar.

The notion of the crowd gave me an overwhelming feeling as I read the beginning of the book. To me, crowds are claustrophobic and often problematic. There is rarely a time when a crowd is under control. It’s not that I’m afraid of being in a crowd, but I am often uneasy. With that many people in one place, something could go wrong. Maybe I just have a apprehension for people. ;)

American History

I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Harper’s “American History”. I am not a history buff by any means, but I have a great appreciation for the growth and development of our country. The way I see it, there is so much more than what is taught in a history class and what is read in a textbook. Accounts for an event may differ depending on the person and situation.

I think most can agree that African Americans had it tough. Sadly, they were not appreciated as they are today. We have come a long way. The fact that history hides African American’s importance and influence shows just how they were treated not so long ago. Our country chose to be blind and to ignore its own citizens. I can’t even wrap my mind around living during such a time.

Things have certainly changed. We have an African American president, writers, actors, teachers, and doctors. The list could go on. I think it is fair to say that we are no longer hiding African Americans in our history. I just wish the same could be said about the past.   

Great confusion

I have to admit, I struggled with “Persimmons” when I first read it. I’m not sure that I completely got it after class discussion. There is just something about the poem (I’m not entirely sure what) that I just didn’t like. I’m not saying it was a bad poem, but there is something that doesn’t strike me as others have.

It wasn’t until class that I even put some of the basic concepts together. I liked how two very different cultures were approached by Li-Young Lee. I thought the use of Mrs. Walker’s class was brilliant. It applied the situation to a real life circumstance. I can only imagine how many times a teacher, or anyone for that matter, thinks they have knowledge over something when in fact, they don’t. Mrs. Walker’s mistake didn’t necessarily show her as incompetent, but it did show her as having a cultural flaw.

The notion of loss of language intrigued me. I can’t imagine being submersed in another culture with another language. English is hard enough for native speakers; it must be unbearable for those who don’t have it as their first language.

I think this poem hit some great points. It was like some of the others that we have encountered in the sense that it addressed cultural and family history. Where a person comes from and the family they grow up in shape what kind of person they become.

LOVE IT!

The references to the Holocaust were apparent in Sylvia Plath’s writing. There was no way to avoid it. As someone who has always been intrigued by the Holocaust, I LOVED Plath. “Daddy” was my favorite of them all. I was glad that we discussed this one during class to hear what everyone thought about it.

My favorite line of the poem was when the speaker said her dad had died before she had the change to kill him off. I took this as meaning not literally kill him, but find closure with him. The speaker had this resentment for her father which appeared rightfully so. I felt as if she really wanted to let go of her past and get this closure with her dad (not necessarily forgiving and forgetting type deal). Death is a tricky thing. There is never really a right time for someone to die, but there is clearly a wrong time. For the speaker, this was the wrong time. Her father had made her feel trapped and scared. This is something no child should ever feel from his or her parent. I can’t even imagine what she went through as a child to feel the way she does.

I also liked the comparison of the husband. He didn’t appear to be much different from the dad and was even referred to as a vampire. I immediately imagined someone sucking the life out of her. I assume that is what the father did as well. I think everyone can relate to that feeling even if it doesn’t stem from an actual person. I know for me, there are times when I have felt school or work sucking the life out of me. Exhaustion builds and frustration grows. This is how I think the speaker must have been feeling but on a much larger scale.

All I can really say is that I loved Sylvia Plath and want to read more!

Diving In....

This was the first time I have been exposed to Adrienne Rich. “Diving into the Wreck” was a poem that really stuck out to me. For me, the poem signified someone, especially a woman, diving into life. This whole notion of it being a “wreck” made it make sense in my mind. Rich’s use of black water was quite interesting. When I think of black water, I think of coldness, death, and something terrifying. These are all feelings that come up throughout the struggles of life.

Even if my interpretation isn’t spot on, I still made a deep connection with this particular poem. In my life, I have often felt as if I was “diving into the wreck”. There are so many things I am unsure about and so many trials I have had to overcome. It’s scary and often feels like being in black water. I liked how Rich used the flippers as something negative. The speaker said they crippled her. I can relate the flippers to many different things in life. Flippers are a necessity when diving, but they also had a way of impacting the situation in a negative way. One connection for me with this might be my goals in life. As necessary as they are, they can also cripple me in a way that is self-defeating. That is just one of the many ways I have interpreted the meaning.

I may have babbled a bit and not made much sense, but in a nutshell, Adrienne Rich’s poem drew me in and allowed me to make real-life connections from my own experiences.

A little bit of everything.....

“Howl” is probably one of the most interesting pieces of work I have read thus far. I enjoyed Allen Ginsberg’s style and thought it was interesting how he used some real life experience within “Howl”. The fact that Ginsberg was in an asylum didn’t shock me. I thought it made total sense when reading what he wrote. He certainly strikes me as being a little crazy.

I also enjoyed Gary Snyder’s “Axe Handles”. It was a pretty straightforward poem, unlike many that have been covered so far. In class, we talked about how it defined culture on a more intimate level. Culture is what we produce as we shape the next generation. This definition of culture isn’t the “norm”, but I think it is more realistic and is more applicable in real-life.

Flannery O’Connor told an interesting story. I literally laughed out-loud when the name Hulga came into play. There is just something about this name that gives me an image of an overweight, unattractive woman with a big mole on her face. I’m not sure why, but that is the image I get. The whole story was full of interesting things. A wooden leg? What made O’Connor think of that? The whole idea of the story would have been greatly altered if there wasn’t this wooden leg, but I question what made her decide to put it in there. I liked how there were two contrasting sides to the phrase “good country people”. For me, I naturally put a good connotation behind it. This quickly changed, and I was forced to challenge my thoughts on who really are “good country people”.

I think the best thing a writer can do is make the reader question their thoughts and feelings during and after reading their work.

My daughter's heavier

I quite enjoyed John Berryman’s writing. I found the poem titled #385 to be my favorite of what we read from him. Berryman was able to do something that other writers like him are unable to do. Even though he skipped around from idea to idea, he kept me interested. Normally, I will either stop reading or read without really paying attention when an author does this. Berryman was able to jump around and not cause me to lose interest.

I thought the notion of the daughter was interesting. My take on it may have been a bit different than others, but it worked for me. I thought he was trying to say that she was weighed down and not able to go for her “dreams”. This is something that I can relate to. I sometimes get so weighed down with reality and obligations that I forget to really go for what I want. I think it can be easy for people to get tied down and not remember their dreams. I know it is definitely easy for me to do.

All in all, I really liked Berryman and plan to read more of his work!

The Battle Begins...

I LOVED the chapter from Battle Royal. I will admit, I did not expect to like it at all or even as much as I do. I can’t even pinpoint what it is that I like in this story, but something drew me in at the beginning and kept me entertained all the way through.  I would like to read the entire story one day.

A classmate described it as being “realistic yet over-exaggerated”. I would have to agree. Everything seemed so real and I could picture it as I went along. However, some things may have been over-developed and over the top. I wouldn’t say that this is a bad thing. I would say it is what makes the story so powerful.

Battle Royal is a gruesome story. The battle that takes place shows no mercy and Ralph Ellison spares no detail in his writing. I really enjoyed the main character and thought Ellison developed him really well. The boy wanted to keep his reputation with the White men and looked for their approval. It seemed as if his natural instinct was to go against the battle, but he had to withstand it in order to reach his goal of giving the speech. I was a little saddened when he said that he saw himself as a future Booker T. Washington. He also had this idea that it would be better to make peace where they were rather than fight for their rights.

Ellison also incorporates the treatment of women in his story. The blonde woman is an example of someone being taken advantage of and mistreated. I thought the narrator’s internal struggle with the woman was quite intriguing. He hated her and loved her at the same time. This shows that part of him knew what was right, but the other part of him followed society.

Battle Royal really struck me and I hope to one day find the time to enjoy the rest of Ellison’s work.

Fish, Fish, Fish

I really enjoyed reading Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell. Their relationship of writing a poem for one another reminds me of elementary school days where kids pass love notes. I preferred Bishop over Lowell, but they are both great.

“The Fish” was my favorite poem of our selections. Bishop’s detail for the fish made it realistic and more imaginable. She used the five hooks to show how many obstacles this one fish had to overcome and also incorporates metaphors/similes. Despite my preconceived notion of fish, Bishop made this particular fish sound beautiful. I have never been a big fan of fish and their looks; however, I do enjoy fishing. Bishop was able to take something that I think of as “gross” and turn my perspective into something else.

The speaker/fisherman played an important role in this poem. I liked the ending, in which the fisherman lets the fish go. It is as if he recognizes what this fish had been through and respected it. I’m not sure how someone can have respect for a fish, but if they did, I imagine this is what it would be like.

Bishop seems to be challenging the other stories in literature dealing with fishing. In her poem, there wasn’t an epic struggle that is often present in other stories. She puts a new spin on catching fish and veneration. The fish in Bishop’s poem “wins” and the fisherman is honored and takes pride in having had caught it.

Carnival Post

Edwin Arlington Robinson:

Dannika’s Blog discusses her interest in Edwin Arlington Robinson. Her description of him is “romantically morbid” and she makes comparisons to Robinson, Dickinson, and Plath. Dannika even suggests that Robinson and Dickinson would have made a good couple. Despite the depressing nature of Robinson’s poems, Dannika felt uplifted by his writing. This would be a great place to go if you are interested in seeing how one can be uplifted by such poetry.

Naomi’s Blog talks about her reaction to Robinson and her leeriness toward poetry. Robinson helped her overcome this, and Naomi was able to find a couple poems she enjoyed. Her discussion of “Richard Cory” and “Mr. Flood’s Party” is one worth looking at!

Nate’s Blog is where Nate dives into “Richard Cory” and his like for “Luke Havergal”. He goes quite in depth with “Luke Havergal” and specifically looks at the theology within it. With this aspect, there is also a darker side to the poem. If you liked “Luke Havergal” or any of Robinson’s poems, this is the place to go!

Robert Frost:

Nikki’s Blog is where you can find her discussing her thoughts she developed about Robert Frost when she was in the 8^th grade. Here, she talks about how she didn’t like how Frost wrote “The Road Not Taken” and her ideas about what he was saying might have been off. After reading it this time around, she no longer feels Frost should be “held in contempt”. This is a great place to go if you want to see how someone’s perspective can change the second time around.

Dannika’s Blog takes a look at “The Road Not Taken” and “Mending Wall”. She says that she usually has a hard time understanding poetry, but when she takes the time, Dannika is able to understand most of what Frost says. She is learning to look deeper into poems. If you are interested in the “misconceptions” that Frost addresses in his poems, this blog is worth checking out!

Naomi’s Blog also discusses Robert Frost. She looks at the difference between neighbors in a small town and those in a larger city. She was really interested in the notion of “good fences make good neighbors” and talks about it here.

Nate’s Blog is where he expresses his dislike for “The Road Not Taken” and his somewhat like for “Birches”. Nate wasn’t sure if he grasped the whole of what Frost was writing. He liked the rhythms and rhymes. If you often get confused with poetry, you might relate well to Nate.

Wallace Stevens:

Dannika’s Blog talks about her feelings towards Stevens. She didn’t find Stevens to be as understandable as Frost. She found a liking for “Sunday Morning” after discussion in class. Dannika discusses the modernism and theme of theology. If you found yourself disagreeing with the views of Stevens but also having an appreciation for what he said, this is the place to be!

Naomi’s Blog also talks about the theme of Christianity. She liked that this poem went against tradition and expressed a new view on death. Here, Naomi reflects on the idea that “death is the mother of beauty”. Her feelings on this are really interesting.

Nate’s Blog expresses his confusion with Stevens. He talks about “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” and his interpretation that the bird was life. His analysis of this is quite intriguing. This blog is great if you don’t understand Stevens or other poets. Nate is a good reminder that if you were confused…you are NOT alone!

T.S. Eliot:

Dannika’s Blog discusses the tension between two people. After class discussion, she looked deeper into the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”. She breaks down important lines of the poem including her favorite portion. A part she had the most trouble understanding ended up becoming one of her favorite. This is a great place to go if you are interested in breaking down the poem and its meaning.

Naomi’s Blog is where she talks about what is going on with Prufrock from an internal point of view. She liked how T.S. Eliot makes the poem detailed. Naomi addresses the notion of “you” and “I” in the poem. This was one of her favorite poems in the class so far, and her like for it is clear.

William Faulkner:

Nate’s Blog is very honest about his feelings toward William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”. He stated that he read the beginning, skimmed the middle, and read the end. This did not help him out very much when it came to class discussion. After re-reading it, he came to enjoy the story. He enjoyed Faulkner’s descriptions and discusses them here.

Naomi’s Blog talks about how she may have missed the point of this story. Here, she discusses the theme of family and loyalty present in the South. She uses Faulkner to compare the ideas in Old and New South. If the notion of family loyalty and the ideas of the South interest you, this is a great blog to read.

Dannika’s Blog is another blog where someone talks about missing the meaning of “Barn Burning”. She did not have a full understanding of what the father was doing. Dannika talks about the son and his growth through the short story. Her discussion of the boy is worth looking at!

Ernest Hemingway:

Naomi’s Blog looks at the relationship between the man and his wife in Ernest Hemingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. She is quoted saying, “This was one of the weirdest things I’ve ever read (and not in a bad way…)”. Naomi like how Hemingway doesn’t make everything obvious to the reader. Her discussion of the man and wife helps with the understanding of what Hemmingway was getting at.

Dannika’s Blog is a great blog to look at to get a deeper understanding of who Hemmingway is. She found him to be depressing. Dannika talks about the man’s hate for himself and his lack of accomplishment.

Nate’s Blog also discusses the depressing nature of this short story. His feelings towards this story and his uninterest are easy to relate to. Nate was somewhat intrigued by Hemmingway but not enough to have really enjoyed this story.

Glenda’s Blog talks about her interests in the relationship between the man and wife. She couldn’t imagine being in one such as theirs. Glenda takes time to pinpoint what may have caused the man to feel so worthless at the end of his life. Her discussion on the relationship and character flaws is great insight!

Zora Neale Hurston:

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” was the topic of much discussion for blogging. Nikki’s Blog talks about her comparison to the characters in Hurston’s novel and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. She also finds a reference to Booker T. Washington and a piece we had read earlier. Dannika loved this book and discusses Janie’s character. Unlike others, she did not find Janie to be self-centered. Dannika saw her as honest. Glenda’s Blog holds a discussion of her connection with Janie. Glenda talks about the judgment placed on Janie and how it is quite similar to the judgments present in a small town. She also takes a look at them men in Janie’s life. Brian’s Blog breaks the novel down into ideas/ themes. His discussion of the recurring theme of the tree is quite interesting. He also draws connections between actors and athletes. Naomi’s Blog breaks the book down into sections of chapters. She expressed her feeling of boredom until the hurricane. This is a great place to check out Naomi’s view of Janie’s voice throughout the book. Nate uses the words “Depressing, Brilliant, Poetic, and Enjoyable” to describe Hurston’s novel. He goes into further description for why he would describe it using those particular words. This blog is great for grasping the overall feel for “Their Eyes Were Watching God”.

Langston Hughes:

Naomi’s Blog talks about her feelings towards Langston Hughes. She found that he had a recurring theme of freedom. Naomi found Hughes to be inspiring by his optimistic writing. Her discussion of this optimism and relationship amongst Hughes poems is worth reading!

Dannika’s Blog also shows a liking for Hughes. “His writing expresses exhaustion and frustration while maintain a sense of calm”. Her thoughts on Hughes and Booker T. Washington are quite interesting.

Richard Wright:

Dannika’s Blog talks about how she was unsatisfied with the ending of “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”. She described the character to be childlike. She found herself feeling sorry for him, as other readers might too. She even finds a way to tie in Huck Finn! J

Nikki’s Blog holds a discussion of Dave and his actions. She talks about the contradiction he places on himself. Nikki also found the ending relatable to Huck Finn and “Barn Burning”. Her entry on Wright’s story is great for understanding and taking a look at the main character, Dave.

Naomi’s Blog sheds a different light on the story. She thought she may have missed the point. Naomi was also not satisfied with the ending. She ended up having questions that were not answered.

Three times a charm....

When Tea Cakes hit Janie, I thought to myself…..Not again! Janie has had a past of abuse which wasn’t uncommon during this time period. What surprised me was Tea Cakes reasoning for his actions. I know this sounds HORRIBLE, but I thought differently of him than the other men. It appeared as if he hit her because he loved her. Weird….I know.

A lot happened after Janie met Tea Cakes. Janie was in a relationship actually based on love. They encountered a storm and were headed to Palm Springs. After Tea Cakes got bit by the dog, I knew something bad was going to happen. I wasn’t ready for him to die. Janie wasn’t either.

The days leading up to his death showed a lot about the true feelings in the relationship. Janie clearly cared for him and he for her. Emotions were pulled out of each of them and I especially enjoyed seeing Janie’s reactions to this unfortunate situation. One of the most important pieces of information that I kept in mind was what led to this death. In the end, Tea Cakes died saving Janie. If he hadn’t loved her and went after her, the dog would have never bit him. This act just goes to show how much he truly loved her. It would have been so easy for Tea Cakes to just let Janie go. Instead, he risked his own life and ended up dying for her. How romantic ;)

I can’t say that this has been my favorite novel, but I did learn to like it as time went on. I certainly enjoyed the last half of the book. Janie’s character is one that I see sticking with me from now on.

Is it love?

Janie is an incredible character that I can’t fully wrap my mind around. She has so much going on in her life and still somehow manages to keep it all together. Logan and Jody proved to be loveless relationships in which Janie was viewed as a trophy wife. They treated her as an object rather than a human being.

Now that those relationships have come to an end, I wasn’t surprised to see that another man enters her life. I had this inkling that Tea Cakes would be different. In my opinion, he seems to actually value Janie for more than her looks. He sees her as an independent person with feelings. This brought a great sigh of relief to me. It is nice to finally see someone actually care for her.

I can’t say that the relationship is perfect, but I do believe it is a HUGE step up compared to the prior two.

There was much discussion on Janie’s personality type. Some thought she was conceited and self-absorbed. I, on the other hand, think that she is just the opposite. Janie was living her life to please others. She wanted to please Logan and Jody, and she wanted to make her nanny happy. When Janie admitted to hating her nanny, she got more respect from me. I know, that isn’t something that you would normally thing, but I saw a whole other side of Janie. She proved to me that she had her own thoughts and didn’t want to live her life according to others. Some and maybe even most will not agree with me on this, but I am willing to live with that……

It can only go up from here.....

I have quickly learned that Jody wasn’t much better for Janie than Logan. He appeared to have better intentions and respect, but he fell short. When he first struck Janie, I cringed. I wasn’t expecting it in any way. I was sad to see what could have been a great thing fall apart. I can’t imagine how she must feel and the disappointment that must be present.

I feel as if I was almost tricked into thinking the Janie’s life would be changed for the better in this newly found love. I was so wrong!

When Jody was dying, there was an interesting dynamic between him and Janie. There was so much resentment built up, that I didn’t particularly enjoy reading this section of the book. I’m not sure why, but it made me uncomfortable…..I think uncomfortable is the word to describe it.

After Jody died, it was obvious that Janie was relieved. She couldn’t exactly show this relief to the public, but she clearly felt it. I was relieved for her. I don’t see myself as the type that wishes people dead, but Jody’s death brought good to Janie’s life.

I can only hope that everything works out for the best, and that Janie doesn’t get sucked into another unfortunate situation.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

As I began reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, I was reminded of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  The use of dialect and language is quite similar. I really struggled with the language that Twain used for the first part of the book; eventually I got used to it and actually enjoyed it. I’m not sure what I think about how Hurston writes. Even though I was able to understand it better at the beginning, I have a hard time not getting distracted by it. I expected the opposite effect. I must say, I prefer Twain over Hurston at this point.

The first few chapters went pretty well. I am drawn into Janie’s character for a reason I am unsure of. I get the sense that she is a woman of power that is often misread and underestimated. Her beauty seems to get her noticed but maybe not for the right things. Janie’s hair is unique and defines who she is; I am interested to see how her hair helps the development of the story.

I am disgusted by how Logan treated Janie and was glad that she had the guts to leave the situation. No woman ever deserves the disrespect that Janie got. However, I did find it a bit odd that Jody was so willing to run away with her. Hopefully this new relationship will give Janie a new sense of independence and the respect that she deserves.

It's SNOWING.....

I enjoyed Hemmingway’s style of writing much more than Faulkner. I found myself understanding the text much more, even though some places still confused me. All in all, I loved “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”. There was definitely an interesting relationship between the man and his wife. At times, I could see that he cared for her, but I kept getting the feeling of resentment.

Part of me felt bad for the man. I got the feeling that he wasn’t happy with the outcome of his life and didn’t have the will to stay alive. Another part of me didn’t pity him; if he wasn’t happy, he should have made a change before it was too late. I think this short story is a great example of why people should live their lives to the fullest and not just settle.  

It is obvious that the wife’s money got in the way of the man’s dreams. He wanted to accomplish something and become somebody. By settling and letting the wealth get in his way, he did the exact opposite of his dreams. As he dies, he realizes that he hasn’t made an impression on the world and has let his life pass him by.

I can finally say I have read something by Hemmingway, and I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of his work…..

Barn Burning

“Barn Burning” wasn’t exactly my favorite reading. I’m not even sure I got the whole gist of it until discussion during class. I found the father to be very annoying and childlike. Who goes around burning stuff?!

There was an obvious theme of family loyalty and more specifically, loyalty to the father. The son clearly struggles with his father’s delinquency and has a hard time remaining loyal to him. He is really put in a tough situation, and I think he handles it pretty well. I can’t imagine having to deal with someone like that dad. Overall, the family dynamic interested me and kept me involved in the reading.

I was not a big fan of the style of writing. Maybe it was because I had a hard time understanding what was going on. I often had to stop and go back to figure out what was going on. I though the overall plot of the story was intriguing, but the writing style didn’t quite fit for me.

“Barn Burning” focused on the theme of loyalty that seems to be cropping up. A lot of our readings have taken place in the South and many of them include this aspect in some way or another. Even though I wasn’t a big fan of “Barn Burning”, I can see its importance and how it ties into the previous readings.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost is the first person I think of when I think of poetry. My all time favorite poem is “The Road Not Taken” (the one I picked for poem of the day). I first encountered this poem in the 8^th grade. We were asked to memorize it for part of our reading class. I still have it memorized! I’m not exactly sure why, but it has stuck with me ever since.

As I learned in class, my interpretation was a bit off, but my opinion of the poem remains unchanged. The beauty in poetry is that everyone can have different interpretations that work for them. Not everyone will agree on a poems meaning. So, even though I had my prior thoughts on it, I was still able to soak in what was discussed in class. I think I even like the new meaning better! :)

Everyone travels down a path in life and not everyone picks the same one. Whether we go by the one less traveled or the one most commonly traveled, our life is impacted by the one we choose or don’t choose. This is where regrets can come into play. Personally, I try not to regret the path I’ve chosen and instead look for opportunities to go another way. I think it is important that people realize they can go back and choose another path; you don’t have to be stuck on the same one forever!

I also enjoyed reading Frost’s “Mending Wall”. I had read this one before but didn’t put too much thought into it. When I first read it, I had an “Aha” moment when seeing the phrase “good fences make good neighbors”. It was nice to see where this saying actually came from.

After analyzing “Mending Wall” I walked away with a totally different impression of “good fences make good neighbors”. It is rather funny to see how things are taken out of context and used over and over again. Knowing what Frost really meant makes the poem more understandable this time around.

I have definitely learned to look deeper at things and not just at the face value…..

And so it begins.....

We have finally reached the Modernism. I enjoyed the last section of the class, but am excited to get to more modern pieces of work. Twain and the other writers we encountered during the 1865-1914 time period were great and really provided some wonderful pieces of writing. However, I am very excited to look at Frost and Hemingway!

Robinson is the first writer looked at for modernism. To be honest, I had never heard of Robinson until now…..Whoops! I really liked his style of writing. Poetry is tricky for me, as I mentioned before, but I was still able to enjoy it. “Luke Havergal” was my favorite that we were asked to read. There is a mystery and darkness about the poem that I connected with. I don’t normally like dark things, but in this case, I found it to be very meaningful.

Robinson’s idea of hell being more than half of paradise is really interesting…..I like it! It is so common for people to separate heaven from hell, but I think Robinson makes a good point in saying that they are part of each other. A lot of people might not like this because it brings a darker aspect to heaven. It makes things much more unclear. “Luke Havergal” makes me think of stories when someone loses a loved one, and they die of a broken heart. Luke Havergal has a broken heart, and I think he may wish for death to reconnect with the woman that is talked about. This poem isn’t the “happy-go-lucky” type of poem that I usually enjoy, but I love it nonetheless….

God slays Himself with every leaf that flies,

And hell is more than half of paradise.

No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies—

In eastern skies

A White Heron

I really enjoyed reading “The White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett. Even though my medication made this task rather difficult, I was able to appreciate Jewett’s work. Sylvia was such an interesting character. Even though she was originally a city girl, I feel she fits better as a country girl. Jewett used nature to bring Sylvia’s character and thinking to life.

It was obvious that Sylvia was comfortable in the woods. Nature, like Sylvia, is innocent and pure. When the strange man came into the picture, everything got shaken up a bit. He was an outsider that posed a threat to what Sylvia was used to. Once he gained her trust, Sylvia became more comfortable with his presence. However, she didn’t let him influence her morals and thinking.

I felt that the tree Jewett described was a symbol of wisdom and growth. It was a perfect example of the power of age and nature. When Sylvia climbed this tree, she seemed to have opened her eyes to a new perspective. She was able to see everything more clearly. This tree gave her insight to a world that she already though she knew all about.

I’m going to have to say, that this is definitely one of my favorite pieces of work that I have read so far in this class. It had great symbolism and a great moral. I really enjoyed the wisdom found in Sylvia’s character and knowing that she didn’t let money get in the way of her true feelings for the world around her.

To Build A Fire....

I’m not exactly sure what to say about “To Build a Fire”. I enjoyed this story and found myself drawn in to this “crazy” situation. I didn’t enjoy this story as much as “The Open Boat”, but I do see some similarities in them. They both dealt with nature and overcoming horrifying circumstances. Both writers did an excellent job of using vivid details (almost too much for me to handle). The idea of killing the dog made me cringe; I was relieved that it didn’t come to that!

The fact that this man was by himself in the freezing cold irritated me more than anything else in the story. Everyone knows not to go out when it’s that cold!!!! The ending was a bit sad, but I expected it nonetheless. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he deserved it, but I would say it was his fault.

“To Build a Fire” was definitely interesting…..

If I am going to be drowned....

The past two sets of readings we have done have been ones that I have enjoyed. Sister Carrie was a strange yet interesting piece by Dreiser. I LOVED the style of writing that Dreiser used in Sister Carrie. Like most authors we have read this far, I have not encountered any of his work prior to these particular chapters. Dreiser wrote so vividly that I felt as if I was standing next to Carrie. He was able to capture each character introduced without having to spend too much time on them. For example, I got a feel for Carrie’s innocence and shyness right off the bat. Carrie is such an interesting character to me; I feel as if I know her. I think most people have been around someone like Carrie or may even have some of her qualities.

Dreiser did an interesting thing by setting a place for Mr. Drouet. He was able to expose Drouet’s true nature without really saying what he was like. Dreiser did an excellent job of hinting around! Putting it nicely….I find Drouet to be a total creep. :)

One of my favorite lines for this section was “To the child, the genius with imagination, or the wholly untraveled, the approach to a great city for the first time is a wonderful thing. Particularly if it be evening-…” I have never heard/seen this concept being explained. It is definitely something I can relate to; anytime I am in a new place, I usually can’t get over the beauty of it. At night, the whole atmosphere changes; everything seems even more beautiful after sundown. When I read this for the first time, I went back and re-read it. I still can’t get over the precision in this statement.

These two chapters from Sister Carrie make me want to read the whole thing. Dreiser has a way about his writing that just draws me in….

I also enjoyed The Open Boat by Stephen Crane. This is another great example of an author using a tremendous amount of detail. I was able to visualize everything Crane was describing. I loved the way he talked about the relationship between the men on the boat. Even though they don’t talk about their feelings toward one another, they all feel as if they are a true family. This is something that I have in my own life. There are people around me that I have a relationship with, and neither of us has to talk about how we feel. A mutual understanding is present.

Crane and Dreiser have similar writing styles, in my opinion, and I enjoyed reading both pieces of work by them. Their attention to detail made the writing strong and made it more than words on a page; they each became visuals.

Cast down your bucket where you are...

After comparing Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, I see more truth in what DuBois said. Washington made some solid points, but I feel that he wasn’t as passionate as DuBois. I’m not saying he wasn’t passionate….I’m just saying DuBois gave me a stronger impression.

I can say that I partly agree with Washington’s “cast down your bucket where you are” statement. On one side, I believe that people need to make the most of a present situation and be a friend to others. On the other hand, I think that people need to stand up for their beliefs. A person can’t just sit around waiting for others to make a change; they need to start making it happen for themself.

DuBois was critical of Washington, and he had every right to be. DuBois understood and explained this idea that the African Americans couldn’t get what they wanted by simply asking. They needed to take action and be persistent.  Washington took the middle ground and wanted to please everyone. By taking this type of action, progress would not develop as quickly as it could. DuBois knew what he wanted to happen, and he was more realistic about knowing it would be impossible not to upset some people.

In my opinion, DuBois was much more on track than Washington. Booker T. Washington obviously had an impact on society, but I agree with W.E.B. DuBois’s approach much more.

I been there before...

I can honestly say that I am sad to have finished The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I feel as if I just started reading it, and now it is over. I can finally say that I have finished a book by Mark Twain!

After some discussion, I know that not everyone in class enjoyed the ending of the book. I, on the other hand, loved the last part of it. I’m not exactly sure what draws me to like it so much. Some people found Tom to be aggravating, and I found him to be more humorous. I liked his sense of adventure and commitment to having one.

Huck grew tremendously as a person throughout this book. At the end, he went back to his childish behaviors, but still showed some maturity. Even though he let Tom influence his decisions, Huck showed that he is not ready to submit to society. He has learned the difference of right and wrong, and I am please to know that he doesn’t want to start over again in another household.

Because Huck showed so much personal growth, it was easy for me to forget how old he truly was. At the end, I had to remind myself of his age and realize that his decisions come with that age. He may have appeared to have taken a step backwards in the end, but I saw him as being a typical young teen. His plans to runaway are exactly what I would have expected him to do. It is what I would have done if I was in his place. Huck overcame tremendous obstacles in his life, and he made a name for himself.

The relationship between Jim and Huck is one that I will never forget. Huck struggled with letting himself get close with Jim, but eventually he let his walls down. Jim started out as a slave and eventually became a friend and part of Huck’s family. Huck found the father figure he had been missing his entire life. Jim and Huck made a wonderful duo that went on to show the true meaning of friendship.

It all has to come to an end….

I could a staid, if I'd a wanted to, but I didn't want to...

So much has developed since the beginning of the book! Huck is slowly starting to mature, and this becomes more visible as he gets caught up in trouble. The increase of his conscience has certainly become apparent in his relationship with Jim and with the many people encountered on their journey.

When Huck encounters Buck, we see him, for the first time, take a liking to someone he and Jim stumble upon. Huck forms an attachment with Buck. He is also able to recognize the foolishness of the feud going on between the two families. This recognition shows the personal growth Huck is starting to develop. There is really no reason for this feud to continue; the families don’t even know what they are fighting about anymore. A recurring theme Twain uses is this idea of pride. Pride can get in the way of what is right and what is wrong; Huck is finally learning this.

Why is pride so powerful?!

The relationship between Jim and Huck is also becoming more complex. Huck doesn’t sell Jim out when he has the opportunity. Even though Huck struggles with whether this decision was right or wrong, he has learned something important in this situation. He has learned his true feeling for Jim. Jim is now much more than a slave; he is a friend, a companion.

Huck makes another great decision that goes against what he has done previously. He made an attempt to give the money stolen back to the rightful owners (Mary Jane). When this doesn’t go as planned, Huck does the honorable thing. He tells the truth. This was a big step for Huck to take, and it showed his true character. Huck has now proven that his conscience exists and he knows right from wrong. By trying to make things right, he also proves that he is capable of forming honest relationships. He feels a commitment to Mary Jane and her family.

This commitment carries over into Huck’s relationship with Jim. When he witnesses the crying of Jim, Huck realizes that Jim is a person. Until this point, Huck didn’t think of Jim as someone with the same feelings and thoughts as himself. Huck has opened his eyes to a new, more realistic, view of Jim and other slaves. This is another point where his personal growth is very apparent.

“He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home before in his life; and I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it’s so.”  

Warn't...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the first book I have read (began reading) of Mark Twain. I haven’t been exposed to Twain’s writing until now; there are just a few things I have to say about it….

First of all, I really enjoy the story of Huck Finn so far. It took me up until five or six pages to really get past the difference in language. As a grammar freak, the use of words such as “warn’t” and just about anything else being said in the book drives me nuts! At first, I didn’t think I was going to get past the improper use of grammar and language. Lo and behold, I got used to the way in which Twain writes and I even kind of like it. It’s hard for me to admit that I like hearing “bad grammar”, but I think for the purpose of this book, it works.

There are parts in the book where I find myself mouthing the words or even reading aloud in order to understand what is being said. The conversations between Jim and Huck can get confusing and I have found that it helps to at the very least mouth each word. It may look strange, but it helps! I like how Twain has used different dialects and ways of speaking even amongst each character. There is a noticeable difference in the way that Huck talks compared to how Jim talks. I find that these differences help develop the character in my mind and make the reading more stimulating.

There are a few ideas in the story that have stuck with me. I have noticed the use of superstition and how often it can be found in the book so far. It appears that each character, no matter what status, has a great deal of belief when it comes to superstitions or wise tales. Christianity is also brought into this aspect of the story. When Huck is talking about prayer, some take this as poking fun of Christianity. For me, I think Twain is using Huck to explore the reality of what children think when it comes to God and prayer. I remember thinking that I would get everything I prayed for until I matured enough to understand the real intent prayer should have. I think Twain does a nice job of capturing the naivety of children or those who don’t know Christianity. He explores many different ideas, and I look forward to expanding on them as the novel goes on.

Huck is a very complex character; I find him rather intriguing. One thing I have noticed about him is his ability to adapt to different situations. He talked about hating the lifestyle of the Widow, but he eventually grew to like it. When he was with his dad, Huck eventually went back to liking that lifestyle. It appears as if he is happy as long as he has someone. Huck talks about being able to be on his own and not minding the fact that he has had to fend for himself, but in the end, Huck likes the company and likes having someone to look after him. I enjoy the developing relationship between Huck and Jim and look forward to what is coming next….

Song of Myself....

Walt Whitman and Emily Dickenson were the first two influential writers looked at in this American Lit. course. Poetry has never been a strong suit for me, but I do find enjoyment in reading a vast variety of poems. Because I am a more “black and white” person, I struggle with understanding most poetry. I like to read pieces of work and know right away what is being said (this is what it says, and this is what it means). This way of thinking obviously doesn’t work well with poetry.

We kicked off this class with reading “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. Despite my struggle with poetry, I found Whitman to be enchanting and moving. I loved how descriptive Whitman was in his writing and how he paid close attention to details. I will admit, I am not sure that I was able to grasp each part of the poem in its entirety, but I feel I was able to get a good idea of what he was trying to say. One of my favorite parts of this poem came from section six. In it, Whitman played out a conversation with a child about grass. The child asked what is grass. What may seem like a simple question is in fact a very profound one. What is grass? I’m not sure I could answer this or that it even has an answer. This idea of asking for an explanation of something so common really stuck with me. There are items we as a society pass by daily and never really stop to question. Whitman goes on to answer the child’s question by offering multiple explanations; none of which can really be deemed correct.

In “Song of Myself”, Whitman also discusses the thought of death. Death is not something that is generally explored on a positive level, but Whitman manages to do just that. He explains death as not an ending, but rather a part of life. To him, life and death are one. I often think of death as the final chapter in my life; until now, I haven’t explored the other side of death. I liked when Whitman said, “All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.” What a great way to think of it! We all have this preconceived notion of what death is like and what death truly means, and Whitman has made me rethink mine.

Emily Dickenson was next on the list. This was the first time I have read a piece of work by Dickenson and I was excited to finally do so. I found Dickenson to be a bit more understandable than Whitman. Although, I liked Whitman’s way of writing a bit more than Dickenson. Going from “Song of Myself” to the poems of Dickenson required me to do a shift in my way of thinking. Emily Dickenson’s poems were short and to the point. She wrote in a way that is both intriguing and insightful. I truly enjoyed each of Dickenson’s poems. My favorite of them all was that last one, and I will leave you with that…..

Tell all the truth but tell it slant-

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind-