1.) Newborn babies are often described as "little angels" or "bundles of joy." Hoes does the speaker of "The Victory" describe her son?
She describes him as gory, with black insect eyes barbing the air. Her newborn is described as a snail and a hungry snarl.
2.) Why does the speaker describe the child as an "antagonist" (Line 5).
The antagonist is against that which the main character (which is the mother) contends. An antagonist is often a villian, set of circumstances, or a force that is in conflict with the protagonist. Obviously, the baby is viewed as an enemy of the speaker that is simply put as a set of circumstances the mother must tend too.
3.) Why is the poem titled "The Victory"?
Maybe it is called The Victory because out of everything the mother thought she was getting by having a baby, ended up in complete contrast. She must put her needs aside, her wants of what she expected and tend to the babies neverending cries, hungry appetite, and every want and need. In the end, the baby won the battle of schedules and routine despite if it makes his mother unhappy.
4.) Why is the infant compared to a knife in both lines 2 and 12?
Her thinking that he was her victorey, she feels that the baby back-stabbed or cut all dreams and hopes.
Monday, February 25, 2008
My reflection on T.S. Eliot, The Winter Evenings Settles Down
1.) What mood is evoked by the images in Eliot's poem?
The poem begins with a bodily sensation of smelling steaks in the passageways of the city. It quickly turns into visual imagery. Eliot is visualizing burnt-out ends of smoky days, with a gusty shower begining. He sees leaves floating about his feet, newspapers, a smoking chimney, and a stamping cab-horse. The mood that I interpret from this poem is wanting to cuddle up next to a fire and read a good book. Winter is beginning and the town is becoming empty due to cold wheather. It brings about a sense of emptiness or deserted....With the vacant lots and broken blinds and chimney-pots.
2.) What kind of city neighborhood has the poet chosen to describe? How can you tell?
To me, it sounds like a part of the city that has been deserted, or has turn into poverty. However, I am horrible at poetry and could be completely off on this!!
The poem begins with a bodily sensation of smelling steaks in the passageways of the city. It quickly turns into visual imagery. Eliot is visualizing burnt-out ends of smoky days, with a gusty shower begining. He sees leaves floating about his feet, newspapers, a smoking chimney, and a stamping cab-horse. The mood that I interpret from this poem is wanting to cuddle up next to a fire and read a good book. Winter is beginning and the town is becoming empty due to cold wheather. It brings about a sense of emptiness or deserted....With the vacant lots and broken blinds and chimney-pots.
2.) What kind of city neighborhood has the poet chosen to describe? How can you tell?
To me, it sounds like a part of the city that has been deserted, or has turn into poverty. However, I am horrible at poetry and could be completely off on this!!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Poetry time!!!
Piano by D.H. Lawrence
1.) Jot down a brief paraphrase of this poem. In your paraphrase, clearly show what the speaker says is happening at present and also what he finds himslef remembering. Make clear which seems the more powerful in its effects on him.
The speaker is brought back in time by the simple singing of a woman. From her singing he remembers his own mother playing the piano and singing. He is by her side and longs for the safety and stable days he spent with her in his cozy parlor. As he remembers this, the singer (presently) burst into more emotion which in return takes him deeper into memory. It makes him long even more for his childish days long ago. The powerful effect lies within the woman presently singing. She is the one that draws these missed memories back.
2.) What are the speaker's various feelings? What do you understand from the words insidious and betrays?
It seems to me the speaker's feelings are wanting to be back in the stability and safety of his childish days. He misses the carelesseness the life he used to hold. By using these words he could mean he misses this life so much, that he almost views the woman singing as dangerous and menacing for it to bring him back to such light times. He may not want to remember what it was like because life now could be full of stress, structure, dead-lines and responsibility. To remember, could only make him hate his life even more now.
4.) What is the subject of Lawrence's poem? How would you state the theme?
I would say the subject to be singing, piano, or a song. The theme would be missing the carless and safety of childhood. Also, remembering the simple cues that lead to the memories as simple as a woman singing.
1.) Jot down a brief paraphrase of this poem. In your paraphrase, clearly show what the speaker says is happening at present and also what he finds himslef remembering. Make clear which seems the more powerful in its effects on him.
The speaker is brought back in time by the simple singing of a woman. From her singing he remembers his own mother playing the piano and singing. He is by her side and longs for the safety and stable days he spent with her in his cozy parlor. As he remembers this, the singer (presently) burst into more emotion which in return takes him deeper into memory. It makes him long even more for his childish days long ago. The powerful effect lies within the woman presently singing. She is the one that draws these missed memories back.
2.) What are the speaker's various feelings? What do you understand from the words insidious and betrays?
It seems to me the speaker's feelings are wanting to be back in the stability and safety of his childish days. He misses the carelesseness the life he used to hold. By using these words he could mean he misses this life so much, that he almost views the woman singing as dangerous and menacing for it to bring him back to such light times. He may not want to remember what it was like because life now could be full of stress, structure, dead-lines and responsibility. To remember, could only make him hate his life even more now.
4.) What is the subject of Lawrence's poem? How would you state the theme?
I would say the subject to be singing, piano, or a song. The theme would be missing the carless and safety of childhood. Also, remembering the simple cues that lead to the memories as simple as a woman singing.
1.) Are the brothers in the stroy developing characters or static ones? Does either one of them undergo change or do we simply lear more about their established personalities as the story proceeds?
I think the characters are static and we simply learn more about their personalites as the story progresses. Even when the story ends, Pete is dumfounded and angry that Donald once again gave some stranger his money. He makes him get out of the car, and drives off knowing they are in the middle of nowhere and Donald is going to have to walk his way back. But, after leaving Donald as he drives away, he knows that he will always go back and pick his brother up.
4.) Do you believe Donald's claim that Pete tried to kill him when they were children? Why or why not?
I don't believe that he really thinks Pete was trying to kill him. But, I do think that he veiws Pete as this person that is always proving him wrong, always making him feel like he is inferior. In the eyes of other people, Donald is viewed as a waste of like and Pete the one "who made it." Which in a sense, is killing to his ego or purpose in life. Pete always kills the motivation or thoughts that go on in Donald's mind.
5.) In one of Pete's dreams he is blind and dependent on Donald to take care of him. Does Pete really need Donald? If so, for what?
He does need his brother. His brother is one who truly cares about the soul's of others. He can help his brother to remember that expesive cars or trips are not truly what matters in life. Donald is carefree and Pete really does not live like him.
I think the characters are static and we simply learn more about their personalites as the story progresses. Even when the story ends, Pete is dumfounded and angry that Donald once again gave some stranger his money. He makes him get out of the car, and drives off knowing they are in the middle of nowhere and Donald is going to have to walk his way back. But, after leaving Donald as he drives away, he knows that he will always go back and pick his brother up.
4.) Do you believe Donald's claim that Pete tried to kill him when they were children? Why or why not?
I don't believe that he really thinks Pete was trying to kill him. But, I do think that he veiws Pete as this person that is always proving him wrong, always making him feel like he is inferior. In the eyes of other people, Donald is viewed as a waste of like and Pete the one "who made it." Which in a sense, is killing to his ego or purpose in life. Pete always kills the motivation or thoughts that go on in Donald's mind.
5.) In one of Pete's dreams he is blind and dependent on Donald to take care of him. Does Pete really need Donald? If so, for what?
He does need his brother. His brother is one who truly cares about the soul's of others. He can help his brother to remember that expesive cars or trips are not truly what matters in life. Donald is carefree and Pete really does not live like him.
Meeting with Doctor Hepworth
On Feb. 5th I met with Doctor Hepworth to discuss stories and my scene. I think this was beneficial because I actually ended up re-writing my scene and having abit for more fun with it. In my original draft, there was no dialogue or description involved in the characters. Even reading the stroy just seemed to drag on to me. Also, there was really no fiction involved, lying I discovered adds a tid bit more fun in actually writing! So, I just started over. I began by just using dialogue and added some description later. I like this story a lot better and realized it's not actually THAT HARD to write a scene. Just use some imagination and start writing. So thank you Hepworth for the inspiration!!! :)
My relections on The Jilting of Granny Weatherall by Katherine Anne Porter
1.) In the very first paragraph, what does the writer tell us about Ellen (Granny) Weatherall?
The writer protrays Ellen to be obviously close to death in the sense that she sees Doctor Harry floating around her bed as he's talking to her. She seems to be a stubborn woman who would rather be taking care of herself. She has been all of her life, so it is normal for her to make sure that everyone knows that even if she comes off rather rude.
2.) What does the name Weatherall have to do with Granny's nature (or her life story)? What other traits or qualities do you find in her?
The name Weatherall refers to Granny "wheathering" all atributes of life. She has basically been through everything; All the ups and downs of life. She took care of many children, had a husband that left her for a younger woman and enjoyed having much to do around the house. She seems to enjoy being the one people look to for help. But, not she is the one that people are providing for. She is not afraid of dying, in fact she has faced the idea of dying for a long time.
3.) What do you understand from the statement, "Her bones felt loose, and floated around in her skin, and Doctor Harry floated like a balloon." By what other remarks does the writer indicate Granny's condition? At what other moments does she fail to understand or confuse what is past and present?
Granny is obviously dying. She is slipping in and out of cosciousness and not necessarily feeling the weight of her body anymore, but her soul. Another comment that indicates this is, "Cornelia knelt down and put her head on the pillow. She seemed to be talking but there was no sound. Cornelia's mouth moved urgently in strange shapes." She simply cannot hear or understand conversations anymore. Another remark is when she indicates that the doctor need not be there because he was just in three minutes ago. However, a whole entire day had gone by. She is also confused about when the priest comes to visit her. She is obviously annoyed by his visit thinking that he is coming to inquire about her soul but in reality he is simply there to guide her sould to heaven.
11.) " This is the story of an eighty-year-old woman lying in bed, getting groggy, and dying. I can't see why it should interest anybody." How would you answer this critic?
I would say that this is the story of a woman leaving the earth and entering into heaven. It takes the point of veiw and thoughts of what someone thinks when they are dying. She revisits places in her mind that have been pushed away for quite sometime. To her, her thoughts are clear and meaningful. To me this is a sad story. This woman thinks she has prepared herself for death but come to find out when she knows it's time, she begs to her daughter, "I'm not going, Cornelia, I'm taken by surprise. I can't go." This stroy has much more to it that a woman groggy and dying.
The writer protrays Ellen to be obviously close to death in the sense that she sees Doctor Harry floating around her bed as he's talking to her. She seems to be a stubborn woman who would rather be taking care of herself. She has been all of her life, so it is normal for her to make sure that everyone knows that even if she comes off rather rude.
2.) What does the name Weatherall have to do with Granny's nature (or her life story)? What other traits or qualities do you find in her?
The name Weatherall refers to Granny "wheathering" all atributes of life. She has basically been through everything; All the ups and downs of life. She took care of many children, had a husband that left her for a younger woman and enjoyed having much to do around the house. She seems to enjoy being the one people look to for help. But, not she is the one that people are providing for. She is not afraid of dying, in fact she has faced the idea of dying for a long time.
3.) What do you understand from the statement, "Her bones felt loose, and floated around in her skin, and Doctor Harry floated like a balloon." By what other remarks does the writer indicate Granny's condition? At what other moments does she fail to understand or confuse what is past and present?
Granny is obviously dying. She is slipping in and out of cosciousness and not necessarily feeling the weight of her body anymore, but her soul. Another comment that indicates this is, "Cornelia knelt down and put her head on the pillow. She seemed to be talking but there was no sound. Cornelia's mouth moved urgently in strange shapes." She simply cannot hear or understand conversations anymore. Another remark is when she indicates that the doctor need not be there because he was just in three minutes ago. However, a whole entire day had gone by. She is also confused about when the priest comes to visit her. She is obviously annoyed by his visit thinking that he is coming to inquire about her soul but in reality he is simply there to guide her sould to heaven.
11.) " This is the story of an eighty-year-old woman lying in bed, getting groggy, and dying. I can't see why it should interest anybody." How would you answer this critic?
I would say that this is the story of a woman leaving the earth and entering into heaven. It takes the point of veiw and thoughts of what someone thinks when they are dying. She revisits places in her mind that have been pushed away for quite sometime. To her, her thoughts are clear and meaningful. To me this is a sad story. This woman thinks she has prepared herself for death but come to find out when she knows it's time, she begs to her daughter, "I'm not going, Cornelia, I'm taken by surprise. I can't go." This stroy has much more to it that a woman groggy and dying.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
2 Points for LOVE STORY!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Here's a lil' somthin somthin for the love day (4 min love story)
Everyone in town knew they were madly in love. It was a small town and even the local priest noticed his car parked at her house every night, the noon walks into the woods, or the loving gaze they had when they locked eyes. But it was not always so easy for Kara and Noah in the begining.
"Kara!!! Get down here! You have breakfast at 8:00, and lessens and 8:15! HURRY! I will not allow you to be late once again!" Kara's mom yelled.
"I'm comin' mama! I'm comin'!" Kara yelled back.
As she walked downstairs she could feel and breath the tension that was in the breakfast room.
"Kara! You think your sooo sly. You think I wasn't going to notice your sneaky ways. He was here last night WASN'T HE!?" her mother questioned.
"No mama, I don't know what your talkin' bout. Honest. I was readin' all night" Kara said, praying she didn't have the look of a liar.
"No, Kara, you know I know he was here! Goerge the buttler SAID he saw his car leaving early this mornin' through the back pasture!!!" Her mother said.
"No mama, he WAS NOT!!!" They both knew dam well he was and that Kara wasn't innocently reading all night in the safety of her room.
"Kara, I have had enough. I forbid you from seein' him. He is not good for you or for our family reputation. He makes 1$ an hour workin' at the mill. He's dirty and NO GOOD!" Her mother sneered.
"Oh no, mama you can't!" She started crying. "I love him mama, and you are not going to stop me from doing the one thing I have passion for in my life!"
Her mother said with astonishment, "WHAT! How do you know what love is! Your only sixteen Kara!!!!"
"Oh ya mamma and you do!? You don't look at Papa the way I look at Noah. You don't dance, you don't laugh, you don't do anything that puts a smile on your face. You, mama are the one who doesn't know love!" Kara said without hesitation.
"Kara, that's it. You are going back to New York, you'll take the first train back to the academy at 4:00 p.m today!! Now get to packin" Her mother ordered.
With that, Kara thought about living one day without Noah, going back to the suffocating academy and fled out the back door leaving her mother with her mouth wide open.
Everyone in town knew they were madly in love. It was a small town and even the local priest noticed his car parked at her house every night, the noon walks into the woods, or the loving gaze they had when they locked eyes. But it was not always so easy for Kara and Noah in the begining.
"Kara!!! Get down here! You have breakfast at 8:00, and lessens and 8:15! HURRY! I will not allow you to be late once again!" Kara's mom yelled.
"I'm comin' mama! I'm comin'!" Kara yelled back.
As she walked downstairs she could feel and breath the tension that was in the breakfast room.
"Kara! You think your sooo sly. You think I wasn't going to notice your sneaky ways. He was here last night WASN'T HE!?" her mother questioned.
"No mama, I don't know what your talkin' bout. Honest. I was readin' all night" Kara said, praying she didn't have the look of a liar.
"No, Kara, you know I know he was here! Goerge the buttler SAID he saw his car leaving early this mornin' through the back pasture!!!" Her mother said.
"No mama, he WAS NOT!!!" They both knew dam well he was and that Kara wasn't innocently reading all night in the safety of her room.
"Kara, I have had enough. I forbid you from seein' him. He is not good for you or for our family reputation. He makes 1$ an hour workin' at the mill. He's dirty and NO GOOD!" Her mother sneered.
"Oh no, mama you can't!" She started crying. "I love him mama, and you are not going to stop me from doing the one thing I have passion for in my life!"
Her mother said with astonishment, "WHAT! How do you know what love is! Your only sixteen Kara!!!!"
"Oh ya mamma and you do!? You don't look at Papa the way I look at Noah. You don't dance, you don't laugh, you don't do anything that puts a smile on your face. You, mama are the one who doesn't know love!" Kara said without hesitation.
"Kara, that's it. You are going back to New York, you'll take the first train back to the academy at 4:00 p.m today!! Now get to packin" Her mother ordered.
With that, Kara thought about living one day without Noah, going back to the suffocating academy and fled out the back door leaving her mother with her mouth wide open.
1 point for watching the Grizzaly Man~
This was a VERY interesting movie. I felt like this mad had some mental problems. However, THAT IS PURELY AND STRICTLY MY OPINION. I think that it is sad that his girlfriend had to be brought into the whole situation. Grizzley bears have never really been documented as being kind, trusting creatures. I'm not saying he deserved this, but putting himself in such proximty to the bears to me seems careless and uneducated. I undertand he wanted to protect them and understand that beautiful world in which they inhabit but thinking one could be-friend the bears seems ridiculous. It his ending recordings he kept repeating that if put in the position of a bear killing him, he would feel no regret or remorse towards the bears. If that is how he felt, knowing this was going to happen at some point, he should not have put another human being at risk.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
American Food...Hmmmm.
I'm not too sure that I liked this novel. Yes, it was well written but I found myself drifting off not really caring aboutwhat happens next or the ending for that matter. To find out, the ending didn't really have any meaning for me. But, I wouldn't mind hearing what other's have to say. Maybe I'm just overlooking the point????
Reflection's on How I Met My Husband by Alice Munro
1.) What is your attitude towards Edie, the narrator?
To me, Edie resembles what any 15 year old should embody. She is natural, looks up to other's around her, is easily taken in by lust and curiousity. In a sense she shows more maturity than other characters. In comparison to Alice, Edie actually has the understanding that she can't wait around forever for this man, Chris. Alice, with pity, follows him everywhere hoping that he will change...(which NEVER happens). Edie actually has the maturity to let go of this situation opening herself for new things. Which just happens to be her husband.
6.) Yes, I definetly aggre that there is more to the conclusion that a clever surprise. I believe that it is meant to say life should be taken with an open mind. If Edie had devoted the rest of her life to finding Chris, the door to a wonderful like with the mailman would have never happened. Also, the story could mean that everything happens for a reason. Yes, her relationship with Ms. Peebles will never be the same due to the incident, but that is what led her to find true love!!!! Yea!
To me, Edie resembles what any 15 year old should embody. She is natural, looks up to other's around her, is easily taken in by lust and curiousity. In a sense she shows more maturity than other characters. In comparison to Alice, Edie actually has the understanding that she can't wait around forever for this man, Chris. Alice, with pity, follows him everywhere hoping that he will change...(which NEVER happens). Edie actually has the maturity to let go of this situation opening herself for new things. Which just happens to be her husband.
6.) Yes, I definetly aggre that there is more to the conclusion that a clever surprise. I believe that it is meant to say life should be taken with an open mind. If Edie had devoted the rest of her life to finding Chris, the door to a wonderful like with the mailman would have never happened. Also, the story could mean that everything happens for a reason. Yes, her relationship with Ms. Peebles will never be the same due to the incident, but that is what led her to find true love!!!! Yea!
My reflections on Jack London's, To Build a Fire
1.) Roughly how much of London's story is devoted to describing the setting? What particular details make it memorable?
I think the entire story is really devoted to the setting. All really happens to virtually be in one place, the artic winter in Yukon. London's particular and direct detailing was focused on this cold place and what the man was eduring on the journey to meet up with friends. One's that really stuck out to me (and actually made me get a chill inside) was how the man's chin created a crystal brown beard and the solidity of amber that was frozen due to the tobacco he was chewing. Another detail that caught my eye was the second attempt at building the fire and how he could not even manipulate his fingers anymore due to frosbite. The actually had to look to see where is limbs were located. The man also thought about cutting his own dog up to encompass himself in the carcass to bring back whatever warthm could be returned.
3.) The point of view London's story is told in omniscient. The narrator sees into the minds of both the dog and the man, moving from one to the other when nessecary.
6.) I think the most serious mistake the man makes is simple stubborness and ignorance. He obviously had no real knowledge to the seriousness in the area when temperatures drop below 70! One man told him he should always travel with another when wheather is so cold, but this "man" just doesn't think that abblidges to him. He also has no relationship with the one being that is accomyning him on the death journey; his dog. Which seems something of importance when traveling in such brutal conditions. Because the man was all alone, his decisions to survive were not made rationally. When he still had the chance of survival, he built a fire under a tree full of snow. If two minds would have been together, one would have seen this and suggested otherwise.
I think the entire story is really devoted to the setting. All really happens to virtually be in one place, the artic winter in Yukon. London's particular and direct detailing was focused on this cold place and what the man was eduring on the journey to meet up with friends. One's that really stuck out to me (and actually made me get a chill inside) was how the man's chin created a crystal brown beard and the solidity of amber that was frozen due to the tobacco he was chewing. Another detail that caught my eye was the second attempt at building the fire and how he could not even manipulate his fingers anymore due to frosbite. The actually had to look to see where is limbs were located. The man also thought about cutting his own dog up to encompass himself in the carcass to bring back whatever warthm could be returned.
3.) The point of view London's story is told in omniscient. The narrator sees into the minds of both the dog and the man, moving from one to the other when nessecary.
6.) I think the most serious mistake the man makes is simple stubborness and ignorance. He obviously had no real knowledge to the seriousness in the area when temperatures drop below 70! One man told him he should always travel with another when wheather is so cold, but this "man" just doesn't think that abblidges to him. He also has no relationship with the one being that is accomyning him on the death journey; his dog. Which seems something of importance when traveling in such brutal conditions. Because the man was all alone, his decisions to survive were not made rationally. When he still had the chance of survival, he built a fire under a tree full of snow. If two minds would have been together, one would have seen this and suggested otherwise.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Reflections on Toumani Ogun
This book was very interesting in the way my thoughts and feelings fluctuated towards John Heller. I first empathized in the fact that he had to see this tragedy happen with his driver, live with the unimanagable images of walking death, and live in close proximity to Toumani. However, as the stroy began to end I just could not help feeling anger towards him. John had so much anger in him towards this situation that it destructed and hindered his new lifestlye in American country. He alienated his wife, had to sleep outside due to confinement and ultimetaly became so absorbed in his past that he just couldn't move on to build new, enlightening memories. He even made it a point to visit this evil man 2 times a day!!!! In a way Toumani won the battle. It makes me think about anger and how people hold it inside towards another for some instance that happened. The anger ultimately ends up killing the soul of the beholder. Humans are not meant to take revenge or be the deciders to what certain other human beings should go through. In the whole scheme of things, Toumani got what he had coming to him, in the instance of his son dying. Despite John interfiering. We as humans need to put this in the hands of God and let him be the punisher and judger.
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