I feel as though Blogger was an extremely useful writing tool for this class. I definitely think that all this blogging was great and valuable! I especially enjoyed using it because I was able to read what everyone else wrote. Previous to Blogger I've never really been able to see what other people were writing and how they felt, more so with 11-1. With Blogger I can now read anyone of my classmates writings and get some use out of them. I could compare other writing to my own, it could help me if I’m stuck or maybe I'm just wondering how one of my classmates felt about our assignment. By reading other peoples writings I could truly get an insight on how my other classmates are feeling.
For me, blogging was a fun, new and interesting way to write. I absolutely would like to continue doing this. It's so much more that just a piece of blank paper and a pen. Sometimes it gets me excited to write and see what people thought about my own writing. Also, I like how I can respond to my other classmates writing and give my insight to them as well. It's a win-win situation.
For you as a teacher, I do think you should continue using blogging as a tool for your present and future students. In these "high tech" times, everyone has the Internet and knows all the popular sites. With blogging, it keeps students interested. I feel like more students would actually do the assignments since it’s on the computer and its not just the same old write and print. After years of doing that it does get boring and tired, as everybody knows.
Personally, It's nice to know that I don’t have to always lag out my printer. It’s heavy and annoying, but also, it's put away in a closet since I have a laptop opposed to a desktop. Given that this is English class, it’s the subject where I write the most. Seeing that I don’t have to worry about making sure I have ink and paper, and that I don’t run out of it, is really a relief.
As for grading goes, obviously you have the ultimate power of our grades, and I think it should be that way. But maybe we could have a post where everyone could get someone from the other class and give them some sort of grade. We would get one person from the other class, like a partner, and take time to go through all of their writing pieces from this marking period. It could be useful to do that because giving one person to one person you could really focus on the one persons writings.
All in all, bravo! I think you did a great job of not boring us all to death. For me, it was a new and refreshing way to write. Its great to have some variety, especially in what sometimes could be a boring subject. Thanks!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Great Gatsby
“Life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat...the redeeming things are not 'happiness and pleasure' but the deeper satisfactions that come out of struggle.”
–Letter, October 5, 1940, to his daughter, Frances
I think of this quote as very true one. Life sometimes is unfair and confusing, but you have to overcome it all and get your satisfaction out of it. Sometimes things aren’t going to always go your way so you will just have to deal with it, and eventually get over it. When Fitzgerald says, “the deeper satisfactions” I think that’s just how a person feels about themselves and their achievement. To me, it’s not all about revenge, or anything of that sort.
I read this quote as if Fitzgerald is telling his daughter that when she overcomes something in life, she wont just feel happy about it, but more importantly she will realize how she struggled to accomplish and overcome something. The hard journey that your on will only make you stronger. After a while, you will realize that you could overcome anything and be a better person. Even though you may feel pleased that you overcame something, you have to think about the lesson learned. If Fitzgerald’s daughter was handed everything on a silver platter and she didn’t have to do anything or worry about having money, how would her life be? I don’t think she would be able to face certain things. She wouldn’t be used to having to struggle and work things out in order to succeed. She would be a very greedy and corrupt person, with no ambition or morals in life.
I definitely consider “The Great Gatsby” to be an expression of the quote. I think the quote is a great tie with the story because of how the characters, such as Gatsby, seem so superior and almighty. With his fancy parties, mansion and cars he seems like the American dream, but in truth, he isn’t what he really wants to be. He had dreams of being with Daisy, his long lost love, but those dreams have now vanished because of the corruption that his wealth has done to him. I'm sure that's not how Fitzgerald wanted his daughter to become, so that's most likely why he wrote that to her.
–Letter, October 5, 1940, to his daughter, Frances
I think of this quote as very true one. Life sometimes is unfair and confusing, but you have to overcome it all and get your satisfaction out of it. Sometimes things aren’t going to always go your way so you will just have to deal with it, and eventually get over it. When Fitzgerald says, “the deeper satisfactions” I think that’s just how a person feels about themselves and their achievement. To me, it’s not all about revenge, or anything of that sort.
I read this quote as if Fitzgerald is telling his daughter that when she overcomes something in life, she wont just feel happy about it, but more importantly she will realize how she struggled to accomplish and overcome something. The hard journey that your on will only make you stronger. After a while, you will realize that you could overcome anything and be a better person. Even though you may feel pleased that you overcame something, you have to think about the lesson learned. If Fitzgerald’s daughter was handed everything on a silver platter and she didn’t have to do anything or worry about having money, how would her life be? I don’t think she would be able to face certain things. She wouldn’t be used to having to struggle and work things out in order to succeed. She would be a very greedy and corrupt person, with no ambition or morals in life.
I definitely consider “The Great Gatsby” to be an expression of the quote. I think the quote is a great tie with the story because of how the characters, such as Gatsby, seem so superior and almighty. With his fancy parties, mansion and cars he seems like the American dream, but in truth, he isn’t what he really wants to be. He had dreams of being with Daisy, his long lost love, but those dreams have now vanished because of the corruption that his wealth has done to him. I'm sure that's not how Fitzgerald wanted his daughter to become, so that's most likely why he wrote that to her.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Great Gatsby Journal
When I began reading chapter two, I thought that T.J Eckleburg was an actual person. Not until I read over it, did i realize that he was actually a billboard. From this I now know that when reading, i really have to read closely and attentively. I interpret this billboard with its "retinas one yard high" and "non-existant nose" to be the eyes of The Valley of Ashes. Watching over all of the corruption. Also, I noticed on the cover of the book the shape of a face with the non-existant nose, over top of the city. I think that is supposed to be the face of T.J Eckleburg.
In chapter two when Nick and Tom were getting off of the train, i wondered why Tom wanted Nick to meet his "girl" so bad. Nick refused, but Tom insisted that he meet her. I'm puzzled as to why Tom isn't trying the least bit to keep this affair a secret, especially from Nick. He acts as though he isn't a married man, going around showing off Myrtle Wilson like his prized possession. Myrtle actually called his house, during dinner one night with Daisy right there, and I wonder why Daisy didn't do anything about it. Also, Nick and Tom are old friends from college. They're hardly close, so why is he trying to become so close with Nick all the sudden? I'm shocked at Nick's trust in Tom.
On the other hand you have Myrtle Wilson, who is also married to Mr. Wilson. Tom and Nick meet Mr. Wilson at his his garage at the trail of ashes. What is ironic is that Tom and Mr. Wilson are old friends, but little does he know, Myrtle is cheating on him, slyly sneaking around town with Tom.
In chapter two when Nick and Tom were getting off of the train, i wondered why Tom wanted Nick to meet his "girl" so bad. Nick refused, but Tom insisted that he meet her. I'm puzzled as to why Tom isn't trying the least bit to keep this affair a secret, especially from Nick. He acts as though he isn't a married man, going around showing off Myrtle Wilson like his prized possession. Myrtle actually called his house, during dinner one night with Daisy right there, and I wonder why Daisy didn't do anything about it. Also, Nick and Tom are old friends from college. They're hardly close, so why is he trying to become so close with Nick all the sudden? I'm shocked at Nick's trust in Tom.
On the other hand you have Myrtle Wilson, who is also married to Mr. Wilson. Tom and Nick meet Mr. Wilson at his his garage at the trail of ashes. What is ironic is that Tom and Mr. Wilson are old friends, but little does he know, Myrtle is cheating on him, slyly sneaking around town with Tom.
Friday, March 6, 2009
American Poetry Supermarket
I chose the poem "Richard Cory," by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Edwin Arlington Robinson was an American poet, born on December 22, 1869. From several sources that I've read, Robinson describes his childhood as an unhappy one. His brother Herman died from a drug overdose. There are speculations that "Richard Cory" relates to the death of his brother. He wrote his poems in the late 1800's to the early 1900's. This period was around the time of the great depression. The lines, "So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat and cursed the bread;" relates to the people struggling and starving to survive through the depression. These poor people who cant even find something to eat, and are struggling to survive, watch Richard walking down the street as if he didn’t have a care in the world. They even used the word "glittered" to describe his carefree strut. At the end of the poem, I was shocked when he committed suicide. Throughout the poem he seemed that he was happy because of his money and his carefree act. Little did we know, he wasn’t. The poem didn’t say why he did it, but I think of it as one of the movies that end with "to be continued." Then there would be a sequel to the poem where we would find out why he killed himself.
In this poem, I think Robinson's use of rhyme scheme is an important element. The last word of every other sentence rhymes with each other. For example, in the first stanza “town” and “crown,” and “him” and “slim.” He seems to do that for the other three stanzas also.
Another poem from Robinson is “Cliff Klingenhagen.” In this poem, cliff and his guest are having dinner, when cliff pours a glass of wine and a glass of wormwood. Cliff could have easily taken the glass of wine over the bitter wormwood, but instead he gives the wine to his guest. It seems like he is a pessimistic person. He seems to accept the negative things and deal with them. He doesn’t seem to try to be happy or find happiness in his life. He could have easily poured himself a glass of wine. The link below has both of the poems that I've wrote about, as well as another poem called "Luke Havergal." http://www.serve.com/Lucius/Robinson.index.html.
As for the question, besides the poet being American and the structure of the poem, I don’t think there is anything that made the poems distinctly American. The poems that I've read are about things such as negativity and suicide. These problems don’t occur only in America, they’re happening everywhere, all over the world.
All in all, I actually enjoyed reading Robinson's poems. I really liked how I fully understood all the poems that I've read. It made me think more into the poem and get into the characters shoes. Also, I enjoyed the shocking twists and mysteries of each of Robinson’s poem.
In this poem, I think Robinson's use of rhyme scheme is an important element. The last word of every other sentence rhymes with each other. For example, in the first stanza “town” and “crown,” and “him” and “slim.” He seems to do that for the other three stanzas also.
Another poem from Robinson is “Cliff Klingenhagen.” In this poem, cliff and his guest are having dinner, when cliff pours a glass of wine and a glass of wormwood. Cliff could have easily taken the glass of wine over the bitter wormwood, but instead he gives the wine to his guest. It seems like he is a pessimistic person. He seems to accept the negative things and deal with them. He doesn’t seem to try to be happy or find happiness in his life. He could have easily poured himself a glass of wine. The link below has both of the poems that I've wrote about, as well as another poem called "Luke Havergal." http://www.serve.com/Lucius/Robinson.index.html.
As for the question, besides the poet being American and the structure of the poem, I don’t think there is anything that made the poems distinctly American. The poems that I've read are about things such as negativity and suicide. These problems don’t occur only in America, they’re happening everywhere, all over the world.
All in all, I actually enjoyed reading Robinson's poems. I really liked how I fully understood all the poems that I've read. It made me think more into the poem and get into the characters shoes. Also, I enjoyed the shocking twists and mysteries of each of Robinson’s poem.
The website that I used to find information was http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/391.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Jack London
After reading “To Build a Fire” and “The Mexican” by Jack London I could recognize a difference between London’s writings and the writings of the American romantics. Writings from the realist authors, such as London, focus more on common people-people with flaws and imperfections. In the works of realists, there’s more of a concern with social problems and the thought of being materialistic. For example, in “To Build a Fire,” the character was alone, out in the wild but that didn’t he mean he knew everything. He wasn’t perfect. He built the fire, and because he wasn’t perfect and all knowing, he didn’t realize that he was building a fire under a snow-coated tree. It was a mistake. As for the American Romantics, their philosophy was individualism and nature. The romantics felt that their intuition, feelings and emotions were more significant than logistical reasoning. Whatever happens, happens. They embraced nature as their model for a superior society.
In London’s writings, I noticed the individualism of both characters. The characters in both stories were alone. In “To Build a Fire” literally alone, and in “The Mexican,” the character was emotionally alone. None of the soldiers of the Junta were fond of him. Some of them were frightened of him, but others, like Vera, were appreciative of him. The soldiers of The Junta said things such as “He is not human,” and “I feel like a child before him.” Given that his parents were killed when he was a young boy and that he could hardly survive on berries he had to rummage for, the soldiers were shocked at the fact he was even alive. Some were also uneasy about how youthful he was. Also, survival was a theme I noticed in both stories. In “To Build a Fire,” he had to survive through the sub-zero, unbearable chill. Also, in “The Mexican,” Riviera had to survive through the revolution and the boxing fight. I think that London’s outlook on life was to be able to survive. Mans survival against nature. In “To Build a Fire,” the man had to merely build a fire so he could survive. It was as simple, and as complicated as that.
I feel that Jack London’s audience were people struggling in the world, trying to survive and get through the day. He may have also been writing to them to reach out and help. Furthermore, he could have been writing for the courageous and independent people, comparable to how he made his characters. But also, I feel that probably would have wanted anyone and everyone to read and understand him and all of his writings.
What drew me to London was his choice of strong, bold, and courageous characters that really make both of the stories. Also, the settings of the stories added emphasis on his works. If his stories weren’t set in places like the bitter cold Klondike, or the harsh war zones of the Mexican Revolution, they wouldn’t have that wow factor. They just would have been boring, simple stories.
“But before he could cut the strings, it happened. It was his own fault or, rather, his mistake. He should not have built the fire under the spruce tree. He should have built it in the open. But it had been easier to pull the twigs from the brush and drop them directly on the fire.”
In this passage above, from “To Build a Fire,” I felt that this was the main part of this story. It was the turning point where you knew everything was going downhill. To me the passage compares to the take the easy way out mentality, and not thinking before you act. I feel that he is trying to get across that not everything will always go your way, but you have to think about what you do, before you take action, and really feel it. Don’t just do something because its going to be easy. Take the challenge and live your life to the fullest, but even more, how you choose to.
In London’s writings, I noticed the individualism of both characters. The characters in both stories were alone. In “To Build a Fire” literally alone, and in “The Mexican,” the character was emotionally alone. None of the soldiers of the Junta were fond of him. Some of them were frightened of him, but others, like Vera, were appreciative of him. The soldiers of The Junta said things such as “He is not human,” and “I feel like a child before him.” Given that his parents were killed when he was a young boy and that he could hardly survive on berries he had to rummage for, the soldiers were shocked at the fact he was even alive. Some were also uneasy about how youthful he was. Also, survival was a theme I noticed in both stories. In “To Build a Fire,” he had to survive through the sub-zero, unbearable chill. Also, in “The Mexican,” Riviera had to survive through the revolution and the boxing fight. I think that London’s outlook on life was to be able to survive. Mans survival against nature. In “To Build a Fire,” the man had to merely build a fire so he could survive. It was as simple, and as complicated as that.
I feel that Jack London’s audience were people struggling in the world, trying to survive and get through the day. He may have also been writing to them to reach out and help. Furthermore, he could have been writing for the courageous and independent people, comparable to how he made his characters. But also, I feel that probably would have wanted anyone and everyone to read and understand him and all of his writings.
What drew me to London was his choice of strong, bold, and courageous characters that really make both of the stories. Also, the settings of the stories added emphasis on his works. If his stories weren’t set in places like the bitter cold Klondike, or the harsh war zones of the Mexican Revolution, they wouldn’t have that wow factor. They just would have been boring, simple stories.
“But before he could cut the strings, it happened. It was his own fault or, rather, his mistake. He should not have built the fire under the spruce tree. He should have built it in the open. But it had been easier to pull the twigs from the brush and drop them directly on the fire.”
In this passage above, from “To Build a Fire,” I felt that this was the main part of this story. It was the turning point where you knew everything was going downhill. To me the passage compares to the take the easy way out mentality, and not thinking before you act. I feel that he is trying to get across that not everything will always go your way, but you have to think about what you do, before you take action, and really feel it. Don’t just do something because its going to be easy. Take the challenge and live your life to the fullest, but even more, how you choose to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
