Journal #13 – Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs (p. 502)
Read “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” and answer the following questions.
1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?
The boat with the furled sail represents his life. His sail was not opened and his boat left at the harbor, so he didn’t take chances that he could have. He ship didn’t ‘set sail’ so he missed his opportunity on love and missed out on his ambitions. If he had unfurled his sail and let it take him where destiny wanted to then his life would have had more meaning. Because his sail was furled, his life didn’t have any meaning and he didn’t take any chances that he should have to of had a more fulfilled life. Don’t let your fear overcome your desire.
2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interepret the last line of the poem?
It seems Lucinda actually led a good life and was happy where as George seemed to wish he had gotten married and done more in his life. I think the last line is saying that you need to experience life to fully understand how great it is and too love it. If you just sit back and don’t take initiative you will not be happy with your life, but if you are like Lucinda who went out, married, danced in fields, sang to green valleys she actually experienced a part of life and was happy and loved life.
3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?
They both expressed realism because they both were about average people living their lives. Even though George was unhappy and Lucinda was happy, both are examples of people living typial lives. Both these people aren’t really special people, but rather people who experienced life in different ways.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Journal #12
Journal #12 - “Young Goodman Brown”
1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?
Young Goodman Brown – He represents a person with good intentions, but an inclination to sin
Faith – Faith in religion and humanity
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – Temptation/ the Devil
Goody Cloyse – Hypocrisy or two-faced person
The Ceremony – represents a person’s transition from innocence to realization of sin
The Pink Ribbon – represents purity
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – A person’s journey through innocence to temptation and the experience they had. Shows that other people can add to the journey
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
Sin Humanity is Evil the plot and conflict
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
“My Faith is gone!...There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given” (6).
“Depending upon one another’s hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived. Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome again, my children, to the communion of your race.” (8)
“Still rushing onward with the instinct that guides mortal man to evil”
1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?
Young Goodman Brown – He represents a person with good intentions, but an inclination to sin
Faith – Faith in religion and humanity
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – Temptation/ the Devil
Goody Cloyse – Hypocrisy or two-faced person
The Ceremony – represents a person’s transition from innocence to realization of sin
The Pink Ribbon – represents purity
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – A person’s journey through innocence to temptation and the experience they had. Shows that other people can add to the journey
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
Sin Humanity is Evil the plot and conflict
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
“My Faith is gone!...There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given” (6).
“Depending upon one another’s hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived. Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome again, my children, to the communion of your race.” (8)
“Still rushing onward with the instinct that guides mortal man to evil”
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Journal # 11
Journal 11 - Selections from Walden
Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)
This excerpt talks about the necessity of simplicity in our lives and how living a life with too many possessions is unessesary. He talks about the advancements humans are making, and he is against them because he wants to keep a simple life for people. He is saying that advancements, such as railroads, are pushing humans too far from their natural lifestyle.
Quote: “Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity” and “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
“Sounds” (234)
Walden talks about all the sounds he heard while actually listening to the world. He loved to just sit out without doing working or seeing anyone and just being peaceful. He was able to stop his life for a little bit and just take a step back from his busy life. He loves life and thinks its an adventure. He doesn’t think nature is a waste of time and its wonderful to sit their and just listen to the sounds.
Quote: “it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothing memorable is accomplished.”
“Brute Neighbors” (235)
A red ant was fighting a black ant that was half an inch longer. They were wrestling with each other and it look not like a duel but a war. It was between two raises of ants (red and black). The black were so big it was frequently found that two red ants equaled one black. The red ants stood for republicans and black ants stand for imperialists. Then a red ant came to the full of excitement. He could see the unfair battle but he charged ready to fight. He ripped the body parts out of the black ant that was nearly twice his size. The man witnessing it was excited to see the minority party that the red ant was representing coming back. The man never found out which party won nor the cause of the war but he was excited to witness the battle before his door.
Quote: “I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants, that it was not a duellium, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted ones to one black” ……. “It was the only battle which I have ever witnessed, the only battlefield I ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine war; the red republicans on the one, and the black imperialists on the other.”
“The Pond in Winter” (237)
Nature, in which all creatures live and flourish, offers no questions. It only gives the answer of pure beauty. Humans do not have to ask Mother Nature to provide wonder and awe, she just shows her true colors through the earth and animals. A pond in winter is beautiful because of its ability to be different, yet underneath the sheet of ice, its orginial beauty is still preserved through all seasons of the year. Life is beauty through any kind of weather.
Quote: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head”
“Spring” (238)
It is talking about the beginning of Spring, and what Walden goes through in the beginning of Spring. It looks majestic and alive and beholds a great summer ahead. The geese are circling it, and different animals are coming alive. He is saying that Walden is like the beginning of new life with great chaos in it. It’s a time of new beginnings and happiness.
Quote: “As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is life the creaytion of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”
Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)
This excerpt talks about the necessity of simplicity in our lives and how living a life with too many possessions is unessesary. He talks about the advancements humans are making, and he is against them because he wants to keep a simple life for people. He is saying that advancements, such as railroads, are pushing humans too far from their natural lifestyle.
Quote: “Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity” and “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
“Sounds” (234)
Walden talks about all the sounds he heard while actually listening to the world. He loved to just sit out without doing working or seeing anyone and just being peaceful. He was able to stop his life for a little bit and just take a step back from his busy life. He loves life and thinks its an adventure. He doesn’t think nature is a waste of time and its wonderful to sit their and just listen to the sounds.
Quote: “it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothing memorable is accomplished.”
“Brute Neighbors” (235)
A red ant was fighting a black ant that was half an inch longer. They were wrestling with each other and it look not like a duel but a war. It was between two raises of ants (red and black). The black were so big it was frequently found that two red ants equaled one black. The red ants stood for republicans and black ants stand for imperialists. Then a red ant came to the full of excitement. He could see the unfair battle but he charged ready to fight. He ripped the body parts out of the black ant that was nearly twice his size. The man witnessing it was excited to see the minority party that the red ant was representing coming back. The man never found out which party won nor the cause of the war but he was excited to witness the battle before his door.
Quote: “I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants, that it was not a duellium, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted ones to one black” ……. “It was the only battle which I have ever witnessed, the only battlefield I ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine war; the red republicans on the one, and the black imperialists on the other.”
“The Pond in Winter” (237)
Nature, in which all creatures live and flourish, offers no questions. It only gives the answer of pure beauty. Humans do not have to ask Mother Nature to provide wonder and awe, she just shows her true colors through the earth and animals. A pond in winter is beautiful because of its ability to be different, yet underneath the sheet of ice, its orginial beauty is still preserved through all seasons of the year. Life is beauty through any kind of weather.
Quote: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head”
“Spring” (238)
It is talking about the beginning of Spring, and what Walden goes through in the beginning of Spring. It looks majestic and alive and beholds a great summer ahead. The geese are circling it, and different animals are coming alive. He is saying that Walden is like the beginning of new life with great chaos in it. It’s a time of new beginnings and happiness.
Quote: “As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is life the creaytion of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”
Monday, January 2, 2012
Journal #10
Journal #10
Othello’s Insight
Write a one paragraph response to the following question:
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight. What is Othello’s insight? Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.
Othello realizes many things when he makes his last speech. His major insight is of how he once had everything he wanted and then how fast it was taken away from him. He hated himself for what he had done to ones he loved. Regret was another big thing that he realized he had. He regretted not trusting his loving wife, but instead trusting a fickle friend who only wanted whats best for himself. Even though he had a whole life of regret he noted that the army would be in good hands with Cassio and he soon would be with his dead wife Desdemona. Othello was full of remorse for his wife, but he still really wanted to be recognized as the man he was before and not the actions he had previously taken.
Othello’s Insight
Write a one paragraph response to the following question:
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight. What is Othello’s insight? Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.
Othello realizes many things when he makes his last speech. His major insight is of how he once had everything he wanted and then how fast it was taken away from him. He hated himself for what he had done to ones he loved. Regret was another big thing that he realized he had. He regretted not trusting his loving wife, but instead trusting a fickle friend who only wanted whats best for himself. Even though he had a whole life of regret he noted that the army would be in good hands with Cassio and he soon would be with his dead wife Desdemona. Othello was full of remorse for his wife, but he still really wanted to be recognized as the man he was before and not the actions he had previously taken.
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