Blog for 1-28-13 Late due to lack of computer access

In the poem The School Children, Louise Gluck explores the relationship between moms and teacher and reveals the constant power struggle through a loss of a mother’s control.

The first aspect that stuck out to me was Gluck’s vivid imagery. Mothers continually struggle for the advancement of their children, “All morning the mothers have labored to gather the late apples.” Using the word labored instead of simply working exaggerates the tedious activities that she has been doing. Gluck also did not specify on how long she was doing the task. He describes it as advancing through all morning; this is significant because it shows the great extent to which mothers dutifully act. Then there is the depiction of the apples. The color red has a negative connotation, usually one would think of evil; moreover, the color red appears after scars and markings  Apples are also used in this to symbolize the children’s innocence. As they go forward to receive knowledge from their teachers there is the malignant force from the mothers struggling to keep power over them. I feel another negative connotation in the color cold. Though it is enticing to wealthy people and help stimulate trade it can also lead to greed and tyranny. Both images of the mom holding onto these apples work to create an instantly possessive atmosphere. Next, the presentation of the teacher’s power gives the reason behind the mother’s feelings of being threatened. The teachers are depicted as gods; “on the other shore are those who wait behind great desks to receive these offerings.” The fact that they’re on a whole other shore where they are the head of operations puts them on a pedestal. This separation highlights a disconnect between the mothers influence and purpose over the children’s lives and the teachers goal. The mother wants to guard the children from the all-powerful teachers because then she loses control. The fact that the teachers receive offerings depicts the mothers as servants or people who are lesser than. Gluck has them stationed behind great desks, great meaning big and wise. They receive the offerings similar to how a god receives offerings from their followers. As the mothers see their children head off to be taught by such knowledgeable teachers while they dutifully gather apples, they see how easily susceptible they are to the teachers will. The final image that drew my attention was found in the last stanza. It is as if by losing their children’s innocence the mothers loose vigor and life, “and the teachers shall instruct them in silence and the mothers shall scour the orchards for a way out drawing to themselves…” This shows that the closer the teachers get I relation to their child the more of themselves that they lose. It is as if the mothers are simply playing a submissive role when dealing with their own child. The mothers are seen as slave and less than human as they “draw into themselves”. They have reverted back to sulking children in this manner and the teachers have risen as Gods ordering them around.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker Blog

The Colored Purple Blog

This week we were given the chance to choose outside reading novels of our choice. I was undecided if I would have the time to sit down and read the renowned novel A Thousand Splendid Suns and so I chose to begin focusing on The Color Purple by Alice Walker. This novel began extremely heavy, depicting a struggling character Celie having been raped and mother dying not truly believing her complaints. My interest was first sparked in the way Walker stylistic set up the novel. Each page gave further development on the last in a diary like format. By doing this Walker was able to grasp my attention because I was able to see the jumbled thoughts and struggles that Celie faced every day. This was seen when Celies’ sister that she believed was dead wrote her a letter talking about becoming a missionary. She directly mentioned their struggles during sisterhood when they where little running from their dad. Walker managed to make anyone with feelings empathize with these women even if they never personally went through it. Having worked with poems earlier that week I was on the lookout for these literary devices and I saw vivid imagery present here. I found it interesting when Nettie described the contrast between the white English to the Africans, “I was struck by the English people’s teeth. So crooked, usually, and blackish with decay. I wondered if it was the English water. But the African’s teeth remind me of horses teeth, they are so fully formed, straight and strong” (149). To her even when the white men are nice they still fail in comparison to the strength of Africans. The fact that Walker examined teeth is extremely significant because teeth and smiles are what you see first when meeting someone. A failing tribal community in Africa would be imagined to have dirtier teeth in poor a state, so presenting them as better than those of the white people makes me picture Africans as symbolically capable of overpowering/ overcoming them. It would be less effective if she mentioned something obvious such as the arms of the Africans being superior because I would already think tribal people are stronger than that of “civilized” everyday white English men. I love to read and have to make inferences. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this novel; moreover, it has become an engrossing mind numbing experience. Every other line personifies some action and evokes emotions in me never before experienced. The movie did not do the novel justice. The factual aspect of this novel is the last component that I thoroughly enjoyed. They were able to tell me what was going on during that time period such as beating by the mayor and separate bathrooms for colored and whites. It struck me as harsh and respectful how the ugliest character Celie is so self-disciplined that she strives to earn an education despite the disapproval of everyone including her husband. Even the husbands in this novel treat their women less than their animals though they demand respect from the white men. All in all this novel is one I would recommend to any aspiring writer.

in Just poem reflection

This blog allows me to reveal my personal ideas on the poem we read in class recently. My thesis statement was In the poem “in Just”, e.e. cummings explores the relationship between the old man and the children, and reveals the loss of innocence of the children through religious symbolism and imagery in the poem.

 This outline utilizing a “mad lib” type structure allowed me to have a centralized idea and focus. Before I could write this I came up with essential questions. I saw religious symbolism in the last stanza which tied the whole poem together. Describing the old man as goat-footed creates an almost inhumane, sinister, creature-like figure in our mind. I believe cummings was comparing him to the devil, because the devil is able to appear in many disguises. This led to the unanswered question of why he is depicted as a crippled old man, but also as queer and able to attract children so easily. The old man is strong and powerful for such an “old man” almost God-like and calling the children to their death. In order to fully understand his poems you cannot bind yourself to one literary device.

I began to reread the poem and take notes on the structure. The first three stanzas use a slight separation, but the final stanza is completely broken off. I noticed the constant repetitions of statements such as “whistles far and wee” and “the close proximity of the children’s name such as “eddieandbill and bettyandisbel”. This represented a common bond between them. The reader could physically see that all the children all had the same result when dealing with the balloon man. Their identities like the name mentioned before them blurred into one as they lost themselves coming into contact with the balloon man. The whistle is the curse luring them into the faraway place even death. The fourth stanza is pointing downward as if leading into hell, so that confirmed my thesis and I had data to refer to for support.

In conclusion, I took detailed notes in class over which taught me to look at the moment of life that the author is trying to present. Taking this into consideration I turned my attention to how the depiction of this man, his actions, and the militant response of the children and how unnatural it is. It makes sense that children would be drawn to interesting noises but the grossly depicted man throws the story into a sinister twist. Cummings also uses several contrasts such as spring, mud luscious and puddle wonderful world to show irony. Usually spring time has a happy connotation due to the fresh life and renewal this period brings about in nature; however when having the old crippled come and attract youth it seems to interrupt the flow of their lifestyles. Having him enter their lives in a time where the world is mud luscious is interesting as well. To me it seemed as if he gave their adolescence an unclear meaning which is going to harm them in the future. Lastly, He also enters the picture when the world is puddle-wonderful. Contrasting to the mud-luscious imagery here he wants to create a false sense of peace and enjoyment to attract the children and I believe he succeeds in taking their innocence away. They never talked throughout this whole poem because to the old man they were only seen as objects for him to play with. I enjoyed reading e.e. cummings poem in Just and look forward to gathering further research on him.

Grendel blog (Day later due to computer problems)

Grendel by John Gardner never ceases to amaze me. Chapters 6-7 really highlight the influence of people around you on how you act day to day. First the dragon changes his thought processes. In Chapter 6 we see the quote, "I felt a strange, unearthly joy. It was as if I'd made some incredible discovery...Wrecker of kings."(79-80). After his conversation with the dragon it is as if he is tranformed. Due to the fact that when he emerges from his mom he is looking for guidance and gains it in this serpentile creature he is almost cursed from the beginning. By gaining cynical knowledge of the world around him Grendel can now go forth believeing that he knows himself. A charm is placed on him which acts as a trance forever putting him at the will of this evil being; therefore turning his nature from good to bad. In the beginning we see him as only killing for food and eatin a few man to mock their community, but after consulting the Dragon he believes his actions are what stirs up the community and ultimatly bring them together. Having this type of hubris foreshadows his enevitable downfall. In chapter 6 unferth preaches about the overall ideals of a true hero. The fact that Grendel destroys him is a direct result of the dragons power over him. Unferth is a brave, daring, loyal, person who's ultimatly willing to die for a cause greater than himself, which in this case is his community. With the slaughter of Unferth Grendel is enacting a self- fulfilling prophecy. Born from cain he actually is killing his own blood. He lives among these people technicall he is their brother , but he has now become the "wrecker of kings" becoming what the world wants him to be. Even when Unferth says, "I'll kill myself"....grendel responds with "up to you". Now he becomes just as conniving as the dragon. He lives by the principle that nothing really matters and everything dies at some point in time. Chapter 7 Grendel has enough strength to enact his own laws. He says, "There is no limit to desire but desires needs". Even though he gains confidence through the dragons guidance, he still falls victim to the captivation of the queen. She is able to move him as much as the shaper did, if not more. The queen acts as a christ-like character displaying the qualities of true innner heroism. She gives herself over to the enemy in order to save her community, this is the ultimate sacrifice. Also, she tells a depressed Unferth that the sins he committed against his brother are in the past which shows forgiveness. When she enters a room all the glory is placed on her and not simply because she is beautiful. She even brings the two warring states together as they eat. At first it was an awkward dinner because they were calling on Beowolf to rescue them from Grendel. The queen highlights how they must work together to defend their lives and forms a communion among the men. Looking at balance in this chapter she also acts as the leveling aspect to their world. Grendel defiles her to show that even she is not purre. This contradiction helps keep both societies at ease, because in the underworld Grendel knows that has power over the people just as they do over him. This novel helped show the other side of the great story of Beowolf. It makes the reader evaluate their concept of good and evil. Grendel can not be considered purely evil because he is only acting from the guidance he is given and his natural instinct.

Grendel analysis for chpt. 1

My class and I have begun reading "Grendel" by John Gardner. I really enjoy it better then "Beowulf", I feel as though it is more passionate rather than historical. Grendel’s character is portrayed as the outcast even in his own environment. It struck me as odd that even his mother looks at him with puzzlement and even fear most times. She is the most animalistic part of his life; moreover as he tries to develop as a person and discover who he is, I believe his mother and society keep dragging him back into reality. He describes his mom as being fat, old, sick at heart and a long suffering style when usually you love your mom for simply bring you into the world. Grendel resents his mom for acting out the animal instincts in him that he’s trying to repress. I believe these trials and inner turmoil leads to his frustrations with man and the world as a whole. He sees his environment constantly changing due to man and their constant fighting over seemingly pointless ideas. The true struggle is with himself and God for creating him this is seen in, “Him to I hate (6)”. Also, he is constantly yelling to himself at the sky and the shrubbery presented to him in his surroundings. It is reasonable to acknowledge his screams as from genuine contempt, but on the other hand he does appear to be yelling pointlessly to hear himself. John Gardner presents these conflicting personalities to highlight the struggle between following what society presents as your path or following your dreams. Although Grendel is seen as a ruthless monster killing needlessly he is simply following his destiny. The lack of guidance from his mom leads to his search of self-worth, “Why are we here…Don’t ask (11)”. I believe that if his mom explained his creation instead of allowing men to sing about how evil he is, he would not harbor this great hostility towards them. The fact that he belittles himself shows how he despises his childhood because he was so naïve. Chapter 2 explains that in his childhood he would explore, but what he saw was not pleasant. I saw the allusion of Adam and eve as he delved deep into the world he gained knowledge of their hatred towards him and that triggered the anger. The fact that he gets trapped in the tree shows that the knowledge he gained on this day was forever trapped in him and he was never truly able to remember. He is surrounded by men who act as the true animals killing themselves over “justice and honor”. These ideas flooding his mind lead to chaos and he acts out, this cycle is what makes him stand out as a person. I actually respect Grendel because he is simply acting as himself while struggling to find himself at the same time. 

DH timed writing blog

I would like to blog about the last timed writing I did on the play Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen. It was successfully written and surprisingly earned a high grade. I found the grade deserving and learned a lot from my teachers’ comments. She stated concerns about my connections, transitions, tense of verbs, and support.

First, I need to work on connections because I would draw in characters relevant to my quote, but I realize now that I got off topic several times. Having read the play thoroughly it was hard not to draw in facts from other areas of the play, but I need to work on my focus. Due to the fact that this time I had a strong thesis I was able to control my argument and lead it to the quotes that expressed my interpretation of Ibsen’s theme “the entrapment of woman and the need for individual freedom is exemplified through the symbolism of doors”.

Next, this also shows my trouble with support for my claim. In a few areas she noted where I had the quote, but needed more support. The main contributor to the absence of a conclusion and the lack of support is time. Focusing on the essay I would lose track of time and have to make up for it by leaving support out. I think this is a simple mistake that overtime will get more natural because I would have done over six timed writings by the end of the year. I truly believe you get with a lot of practice.

Then, my teacher circled my errors in the verb tense criteria. I tend to write in present tense because I am currently doing the writing rather than past tense forgetting that I have read the book already and need to reflect on it. It is hard to relate the time relationships among my ideas. Also the passive tense is very common and I tend to move from tense to tense when writing during this rush. I have to work on the style of my writing just as Ibsen did. By shaping it up my teacher will be able to understand my personality and voice; it also shows how I view my audience. My writing shows my goal whether it is to entertain, impress, or persuade, so it is vital that I enhance me style.

Lastly, I falter in transitions. This time not all my transitions lacked originality and didn't blend, but I still struggle on how to make it more engrossing for the reader. I didn't use the standard first, second, third way, but tried to direct it back to the play; however, it often sounded too broad and redundant. I need to focus on the texts and not say what should have happened, but only what did happen.

In conclusion, I can only get better at writing and I appreciate the instructions and support of my teacher as I strive to do so. The time frame is the only hindrance to my full potential, but with her guidance I believe I will be better prepared for the AP Exam and further classes in life.

Ch 8 analysis blog

All The Kings Men Ch. 8 Blog

As I was finishing up the novel “All the Kings Men”, I saw several important quotes that helped tie the novel up as a whole.  The first quote I would like to discuss is, “I had often envied people. People I had seen driving along straight furrow across a black field in April, or Adam Stanton. I had, at moments, envied the people who seemed to have knowledge” is found on 471. This quote is used to show how Jack thinks. As a reader we see that Jack is not simply a lazy man, but instead he is a jealous man. It is not the tangible things he envies, but the facts that others close to him or that he works for actually have goals they wish to attain. Even Anne his life-long love sees his lack of true pure ambition. Though the Work of Willie has been to win over the ignorant country people at least he had determination and built one good thing, the Willie Stark Hospital. The fact that he envies people who know their purpose in life shows that he truly wishes he had one as so this explains his need for a Great Sleep. Knowledge is power is repeated as well that explains the desperation that we as a people feel towards needing to be all knowing. The world is seen as a place where man cannot truly be blamed for their wrong doings because they make it up as they go along; therefore, “If there was a debt, it was, perhaps due to me, from me…My only crime was being a man and living in the world of men, and you don’t have to do special penance for that. That crime and the penance, in that case, coincide perfectly. They are identical.” (500). This shows that Jack’s character, like so many people in today’s society, will not acknowledge the fact that they are wrong in committing any crime; moreover, believing the world has done crimes against them in how it functions day to day that it is inevitable that man become corrupt. We as a people owe ourselves a lot because we allow society to dictate how we operate and have turned us against one another. That is the true crime. This novel warns against the ideals of collectivism and how easily even the purest of characters such as Adam can turn into something evil. When we establish these two ideas of good and bad this novel forces us to then readjust the definitions we may have gathered in the past. Due to the fact that everyone in the novel is connected somehow the evil that one man does affects al the other characters. By the ignorant townspeople praising Willie as a god he becomes conceited and evil, he poisoned his colleagues and Jack, Jacks change from innocence to corrupt repels Anne. Anne falls for Willie he seems to be everything Jack isn’t and this affair is what angers Adam to kill him. All are affected by politics consciously and unconsciously and that is the downfall of this town.