Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Open Boat,Stephen Crane
When reading this story I was intrigued from the very beginning!! It takes us through the lives of four men as they face an tragic boat wreck. Each one of the men do a certain job towards helping each other stay alive. They are faced with rough waters, sharks, seagulls, and a lonely dark night on the sea. However, this story teaches us that life is short and we should live it well. We never know when our last moment will be so we shouldn't live life with regret! One of the men on the boat basically says the same thing...he looks back on his life and reminisces. This story has a great moral to it and makes you evaluate your life.
Desiree's Baby, Kate Chopin
This story is about a young lady who was adopted. Later she marries into a wealthy family and has a child, only to find out that the child is mixed. After a happy marriage and a healthy child she is thrown out by her husband because the baby is mixed. Desiree has been faced with hardship her whole life, but still she keeps her heard up high and takes whatever life throws her way! This story shows how racist our country can be, and how much people judge someone based on their heritage! Even though the baby is mixed due to Desiree's blood line, her husband didn't take the time to investigate! This story made me frustrated, but also inspired me to be more like Desiree.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins uses a lot of time focusing on the love of God and the importance of his presence in this world. In Pied Beauty, he talks about the beauty of the nature of God and all that he creates. Then we read The Kingishers Catch Fire, and this poem talks about how beautiful we are in God's eyes. Next, we read Carrion Comfort, which tells us how Hopkins was ready to give up on his life, but decided that God will bring him through. So, he decides not to give up, and puts his faith in God. Basically throughout all of his poems he completely focuses all his time and energy on making the readers realize how important God is in our lives.
Matthew Arnold
In his poem, Dover Beach, we are faced with many different ideas! At first, we witness the overwhelming beauty of a beach at night time, when everything is calm and peaceful. Then we are faced with reality, and realize that faith can be like the sea. It roles in and out with the tide and we never truly grasp hold of it. We can have it most of the time but loose it just as quick as the tide. It wasn't that Arnold was doubting God, he was doubting the church and Christians that are in it. I really think that we can be the same way in today's world, it can be so easy to gain and loose our faith with the blink of an eye!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Victorian Period
When reading these sonnets it made me realize how much they resemble the circle of life. Each sonnet represents a phase/maturity we face as we live our lives. First, we read Ulysses, which discusses the excitements and success in lives. This poem is really like a recap of a life gone by, I envision it as a lesson about how we should learn from the success and fulfillments this poem discusses. Then we move onto My Last Duchess which expresses a fresh start and new beginning. This poem reveals marriage and the effects of it, then it shows us the wonderful second chance some are given. Also, in the assignment we read poems that discuss love, life, temptation, and death. Each one of these poems allow me to relate, because each holds a situation we all must face at some point and time.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Henry Thoreau
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For”
In this chapter of Thoreau's story I think we are able to see personality. What he lives for, longs for, and what he wants from life. We are able to see his favorite farm, which he visited often. He takes us through his house and describes the roof and boards. He goes on to explain an area near Walden, and it is here he discusses the stillness of the water. He tells us how important it is that he gets up every morning, admires the stillness of the water, and then takes a bath in it. At the end he relates his discussion to humans and the seriousness we take in life. It is here that he expresses the importance to be a kid and enjoy life.
“Conclusion”
As I read Conclusion I felt a sense of completion to Thoreau’s life. He urges us to view the vast creation that God has created. He tells us to see the seas, land, rocks, mountains, and all that nature has to offer. He also brings us back to the realization that God has created everything. Without him we would not have this beautiful earth we call home. After reading this chapter, you feel a true urge to get up and explore the outdoors.
“Economy”
In this chapter Thoreau discusses the importance of money, power, business, trade, wealth, and the condition of the poor. He expresses to us that if we want change we must do so in our lives. If we make the change in what we do, say, or believe then it will spill over onto society. He also discusses the importance of occupation in society. It is in this chapter that he introduces us into four part separated society. This chapter was certainly interesting and enlightening.
In this chapter of Thoreau's story I think we are able to see personality. What he lives for, longs for, and what he wants from life. We are able to see his favorite farm, which he visited often. He takes us through his house and describes the roof and boards. He goes on to explain an area near Walden, and it is here he discusses the stillness of the water. He tells us how important it is that he gets up every morning, admires the stillness of the water, and then takes a bath in it. At the end he relates his discussion to humans and the seriousness we take in life. It is here that he expresses the importance to be a kid and enjoy life.
“Conclusion”
As I read Conclusion I felt a sense of completion to Thoreau’s life. He urges us to view the vast creation that God has created. He tells us to see the seas, land, rocks, mountains, and all that nature has to offer. He also brings us back to the realization that God has created everything. Without him we would not have this beautiful earth we call home. After reading this chapter, you feel a true urge to get up and explore the outdoors.
“Economy”
In this chapter Thoreau discusses the importance of money, power, business, trade, wealth, and the condition of the poor. He expresses to us that if we want change we must do so in our lives. If we make the change in what we do, say, or believe then it will spill over onto society. He also discusses the importance of occupation in society. It is in this chapter that he introduces us into four part separated society. This chapter was certainly interesting and enlightening.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
William Wordsworth
Tintern Abbey:
This poem is first introduced by saying that it has been five years since he has been to these cliffs and this landscape that he so desperately loves. He paints us a picture of this beautiful scene in nature and truly makes you feel like you are there with him. I also loved the way that he would need to recall this "Special" place when he was traveling. Even though he had not been there for years physically he was there everyday mentally! This was a beautiful poem!
The World is Too Much Without Us:
This poem basically sums up our everyday life! It talks about how we are too busy to enjoy the world around us!He makes a good point when he basically says that he would rather be pagan than to ignore the beauty that God has surrounded us with!
Exposition and Reply:
In this poem William Wordsworth's friend is trying to tell him that men should learn from books!
The Tables Turned:
This is more of a response to the previous poem. Wordsworth tells his friend that men should learn from nature and experience more that relying on books for education!
This poem is first introduced by saying that it has been five years since he has been to these cliffs and this landscape that he so desperately loves. He paints us a picture of this beautiful scene in nature and truly makes you feel like you are there with him. I also loved the way that he would need to recall this "Special" place when he was traveling. Even though he had not been there for years physically he was there everyday mentally! This was a beautiful poem!
The World is Too Much Without Us:
This poem basically sums up our everyday life! It talks about how we are too busy to enjoy the world around us!He makes a good point when he basically says that he would rather be pagan than to ignore the beauty that God has surrounded us with!
Exposition and Reply:
In this poem William Wordsworth's friend is trying to tell him that men should learn from books!
The Tables Turned:
This is more of a response to the previous poem. Wordsworth tells his friend that men should learn from nature and experience more that relying on books for education!
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