ap lit hairball rough draft blog

A.P. Lit Rough Draft Blog

For my rough draft I wrote about the short story “Hairball”. I was instantly attracted to this one in particular because it was written by a strong feminist. Honestly I was confident in which quotes to use because they were the strongest in capturing the essence of “Hairball”. To me it was used to show how symbolism portrays warnings to individuals. I thought my thesis was strong enough, but after reading the comments I can see where I got off topic due to the vagueness of it. Having a stronger thesis would have made it easier to form more logical topic sentences and form connections back to the bigger picture, the “so-what.” It’s hard to make transitions between the paragraphs because I do not want to be repetitive, but simply achieve clarity. The transitions taught to me in my past were the basic ones “first, second, third, in conclusion..”. In order to change my outlook on this I need to research better ways of blending and unifying my ideas. If I had a strong grasp of the basic grammatical structures then that would to a more thorough development of my writing. I do have a lot of corrections to make, so I can’t wait to sit down with you and discuss some concerns.

As I read the comments on my rough draft I simply nodded my head. I feel as though I am constantly in the 5- range because I lack a stronger thesis. I agree that I have insightful observations, but I cannot seem to be consistent in evaluating them. The fact that I start off with a vague thesis throws me off for the direction of my essay. To make it strong it needs to be an effective one that answers the “so what”, evokes argument, and leads to the organization of my paper. I do not understand how to make this thesis more specific, that it what I need help on the most. The next aspect that I learned I could get help in is the unification of my paper. I find it difficult to blend the quotes properly. When I attempted this it was seen as awkward, so I realize that it is a weak area for me. In order for it to blend properly the quote has to fit “naturally” into the paragraph. Lastly, I struggled with rudimentary spelling errors and grammatical infractions. It did not seem to be slowing me down as I sat down to prepare this essay, but I would have thought some of these errors would have been caught by a peer-facilitator. For this very reason I do not particularly like them. I need to focus on the paper itself through striving to avoid passive voice, the use of slang, and watch for the use of “I”. Overall my writing is somewhat of a skeleton, but I understand and will strive to achieve a more clear and in depth analytically developed essay for the final draft.

knowledge vs ignorance blog

In the novel “All The Kings Men” by Robert Penn Warren, he uses the contrast between knowledge and ignorance to highlight the inner turmoil of the main characters Jack and Willie.

Ironically knowledge is seen as a bad thing to have. Jack is often in the shadows not wanting to be a part of politics like Dumonde says he is. He even advises Willie on how to win over the ignorant townspeople, “they don’t believe in God, so it’s up to you to give ‘em something to stir ‘em up and make ‘em feel alive again. Just for half and hour. That’s what they come for. Tell ‘em anything. But for sweet Jesus sake don’t try to improve their minds” (108). It is ironic that in order to run smoothly over the country townspeople the leader must withhold knowledge from them. Looking at why they don’t respond to the facts, shows that they need a sense of connection to the leader rather than simply spewing facts. It should be of interest that Willie takes the initiative to find out how to correctly help people of all classes, but Jacks wisdom allows him to see through to the core of the individuals. Having everyone generalized as needing to feel alive through the lies told to them presents this contrast of whether knowledge is then good or evil. The fact that Willie becomes reminiscent shows that though seen as ignorant, by being used by Saddie and others, he is truly intellectual and knows how to win an election. Politicians should be informing the public through taking the knowledge of the the government and simplifying it for everyone, but instead he has to focus on simply winning an election. Also, with the knowledge that he has been used he then uses everyone in his sight, even black mailing a judge. Knowledge in this novel leads to hurt therefore making it a bad thing.

With knowledge of life comes a greater understanding of the world around you. The fact that life is seen as a symbol of death is alarming. Jack’s character having his life constantly interrupted by men coming and leaving has molded him into the sarcastic character that he is. Earlier he says the townspeople don’t believe in God but here he is almost preaching, “For life is motion toward knowledge. If god is complete knowledge then he is complete Non-Motion, which is Non-Life, which is Death. Therefore, if there is such as God of Fullness of Being, we would worship Death, the Father” (226). Knowledge is supposed to give life purpose and even bring excitement to the dullest of matters. Having death worshipped is unusual because people strive to thank God for life and fear death. It’s a paradox of faith based religion as it incorporates the amalgamation of knowledge. Faith is the opposite of knowledge because one doesn’t need hard paper evidence; they simply need a supreme ignoramus lord over all. This is the character of Willie. Ignorance is needed to thrive in this community in order to function which is the reason for both Jack and Willies downfall.

Archetypal Theory

The Archetypal Theory was grounded in Carl Jung it uses symbols, images, characters, themes, and motifs of a part of an archetype reflecting the collective unconscious story.  This was seen in the original story of Cinderella. The overall goal was depict a damsel in distress. Symbols of marriage were used frequently. Cinderella is presented as a lesser than woman living in the attic and working by the ashes. The fact that the prince is arriving to find a wife that he does not even know ; moreover, the only criteria needing to be met is beauty and social class, shows the desperation being exhibited to find any semblance of love. Having Cinderella act as a certified maid and searching for her way out in a man shows how domestic women were. Before going out and attempted to pursue her dreams like a modernistic women she obeys the heinous wishes of her mean-spirited step mother. Marriage is seen as the most important thing in this time; it showed wealth and meant your name would be carried on for generations to come. Without a name you were not allowed into the finest parties and around the social prosperity of the area. With marriage everything is fixed she no longer is in this bum-like state and treated as an outcast by her family. A false sense of “happiness” can be permeated through this union and it is reflected through the whole upper class, but the sad part is that a damsel will be content as long as she has the tactile means.

The grandmother was also an archetypal symbol of knowledge. She came instantly when Cinderella was in trouble transforming her everyday items such as rats, pumpkins and clothing, into the materials needed for success. The fact that the grandmother is used to physically present a sign that she knows more simply through life experience. Cinderella is alerted to the fact that her material disguise will wear off at twelve. A time is used to show how looks are not permanent and that reality sits in as time goes on. Only the grandmother could provide her appearance and provide the sense of comfort and motherly figure that this young woman needed at this time. It also shows that though her clothes are uglier than her sisters she still offers assistance as they get ready and easily forgive them because her insides are prettier. In conclusion the archetypal theory can be found dating all the way back to the Greeks. It helps the reader connect to their lives and other stories they have heard in the past. It is an archetype because it is timeless knowledge. They come about through the readers as we interact with the world and they will continue to develop as humans do.

Expressionism Blog

Expressionism Blog:

Expressionism is a literary movement that acts as a revolutionary writing method. It goes against the views of typical realist writing and idealistic styles. The purpose is to unconventional, highly subjective writing. I chose this topic because this is what the author Sherwood Anderson used for the driving force in Winesburg, Ohio. The main characters have a distortion of reality because they believe that the serious issues shouldn't be thought of, “he did not think of anything very big or dramatic, the serious and larger aspects of his life did not come into his mind (247).” The fact that George is still in this dream like state shows he is still a child. The whole novel he is trying to get out of the young adult stage and into adulthood, but the outside influences are corrupting his mind. It is not strange that he wants to depart from home and find himself, but to me it feels as if he’s running. George won’t allow himself to think of his mom in her sickly state or the love of his life Helen because it is too real. Dr. Reefy said, “I want to fill you with hatred and contempt so that you will be a superior being” his teachings are molding Georges mind contorting his thoughts into something grotesque.

Another factor of expressionism in writing is a lack of sequence. This story has been debated as being either a novel or a short story cycle. Due to the continuity of characters repeated in each chapter I believe it is a novel. To be a short story cycle each part can stand alone, but in Winesburg, Ohio each chapter gives further analysis of George or is connected to the meaning of the story as a whole. The first book shines a line of the theme of preserving youth. The old man is a symbol of dreams passing by and the sickness/grotesqueness that becomes of your life, “The windows if the house in which he lived was high and he wanted to look at the trees when he awoke in the morning. The ideas had got into his mind that he would some time die unexpectedly and always when he got into bed he thought of that (21-22). Having the windows just out of his reach is a representation of the sort of high expectations he holds for himself. The writer simply desperately wants to be able to look at trees because they are a symbol of life, growth, and development. This reveals how his “heart condition” is more emotional than physical. Irony is displayed through Andersons’ diction, because usually a bed is a comforting place to rest your head; however, here it is used to depict a burial or coffin like state. The theme to preserve your youth is seen in many other chapters in the novel. Elizabeth resents not being able to fulfill her dreams and lives through George.

In conclusion, expressionism is changing the way I look at certain novels. Now I know that there are characters that are striving for individuality, self-reliability, and straying away from communication with others. I believe this is a very important way to write because it is more realistic.

My Short Story Essay Blog

My Short Story Essay Blog

The most interesting short story to me, which you can probably tell from the last blog, is “Hairball” by Margaret Atwood. I chose to write my essay on this one because I felt a strong connection to the main character Kat. I noticed that Margaret Atwood uses a series of symbols to foreshadow the loss of one’s identity. As we read in detail Kat's influence on other characters we learn more about her as a person.  I believe her hubris leads to her own downfall. To me although this character is supposed to appear as a strong Feminist, she does not actually have that strong of a character, “she isn’t in good shape. She can hardly stand…Pompous asshole. She looks at his neck. She longs for him, hates herself for it, and is powerless” (Atwood 116). To me this is a slap in the face. The fact that the first thing she feels after being fired is anger and she suppresses her true emotions just puts Kat in a submissive state. I believe Atwood uses unique diction of two contradictory elements such as him being a pompous asshole and her being attracted to it to shed a light on how emotionally and physically sick Kat is. I think she wants to express emotions, but feels as though society would not accept her if she did. She lacks the fundamentals that she sees in modern day life as tries to emulate them. Most feminists are married with children while she lacks a husband and/ or children, “Hairball, she says, I wish you could talk. I could have a more intelligent conversation with you than most losers in this turkey farm Hairballs baby teeth glint in the light; it looks as if it’s about to speak” (Atwood 115). This shows that in Hairball symbolizes the physical manifestation of the child she always wanted. Kat says that she’d have more intelligent conversations this means that she’d have someone to open up to and finally be herself. The story never says she’s unfertilized  so it is simply her inner ideals keeping her from tapping into to other avenues besides her career. As soon as she loses her job she loses her identity. The one aspiration of being on top is usurped from the monster that she created. When Kat changes Gerald’s name to Ger he becomes a selfish, ambitious, and overall conniving man. His name change similar to her symbolizes a loss of identity, “the stable, unfashionable, previous, tight-assed Gerald. Not Ger, not the one she’s made in her own image. The other one before he got ruined” (Atwood 116). Becoming hip and “knowledgeable” along with this new nick name gave him the courage to want to make something of his life. Selfishly he weasels Kat out of the picture. The fact that’s he’s now “ruined” is a warning to the reader. It’s similar to the poem “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. If you allow the world to deter you dreams then you become dried up and useless like a raisin in the sun. In other words their ideas will overpower you and your true emotions and character traits will succumb to the will of society. Preserve your identity like a treasure and always strive to be who you are is what I took from the short story Hairball. My essay of course will go deeper in depth, but I hope this blog helps you understand why I chose the story I did.