“The 6th Sense” Common
The time is now
We’ll show you how
The window to the soul is open now,
So listen up
The times were hard, yet I took charge
Came out on top despite the odds
Everyone’s in a struggle, but some don’t make it
These visual perceptions were crazy, strange to me
“There’s no need to care, at least you made it” I heard
But the truth will never lay inside me undeterred
Review where I came from, taking a glance
Where all people need is a decent chance
Giving back my own knowledge
To the young scholars
Who don’t know their potential of spitting rap for dollars
Can’t begin until they breathe in and read into
Where they been, what they did, and it’s too late for breaks
A message of truth, something you can relate to
Realize it, realize it
The stories of the ghetto-bound slaves
Yeah, Yeah
The barrier between me and the world that fuels my mind
The inner soul of my girl, and the words that I find
I do business with only the ones that accept our lives’ design
The revelation of rap now lasts forever
With me as the headliner “Common Brought It Together”
What I say is nothing simple to disregard
This is hardcore realism, times are hard
God brings this word of mouth through me as I speak it out
The perks and riches I’d love to take
Not just for me but for the children’s sake
Dealing with my culture and problems
The difficulties that are easily seen in them
So much is breaking me down
You can’t live forever in this town
I am the greatest one training others to watch for the false rap nation
A message of truth, something you can relate to
Realize it, realize it
The stories of the ghetto-bound slaves
Yeah, Yeah
I travel sometimes to walk with reality
Found a girl reciting rhymes that blew thoughts at me
What has this music done for the world
Reviving the forgotten while unity begins to unfurl
But what can I say?
What I don’t like I don’t try to see
This is no disrespect, that’s just me
I come to help with what I say
Preaching what I see and know everyday
Letting those on the street know that I pray
With them, the rich the poor, the famous athlete
They all know what I spit is me…
This version of “The 6th Sense” is a little more sugarcoated than the original song. It has a similar message, but not as serious. The audience is somewhat changed as well. The first refers to all people in poverty but the revised one is more about black people in poverty more than anyone else.
“Iris” GooGoo Dolls
Eternity means nothing without you
You understand this as well
If I don’t get to Heaven, all I need is you
I wish us together where only God can tell
I feel it in all 5 senses
I feel it all around my soul
I know that I can’t last forever
But please baby don’t let me go
Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see
Sadness can’t be faked in this life
Nor facts be surrounded by lies
This isn’t fantasy although it may feel like it
Use pain to open up your own eyes.
Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see
Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see
Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see
I open my heart to you
I open my heart to you
I open my heart to you
This song has changed in the way that the couple knows who each other are. In the original song the woman was unaware because her admirer was afraid to reveal himself to the world. The changed song is more of a secret romance where the couple are aware of each other. It is similar to a teenage rebellious love.
“Ghetto Heaven” Common
Looking through the ghetto for the one
Ladies got no sense, they just wanna have fun
A third type, no specifications, but special
Got the right mind and the clothes to match my mind’s image
My baby mama is lost
But my girl I got always
The spirit speaks
As the young searches for the meek
Given the cluelessness of a hidden, wandering man
When all that is tall sinks as low as it can
What’s left is me, with the right guide patrolling me through
And through hard times and temptation, I recognize what I came here to do
My mission is more important than riches and pleasure
I spread peace, happiness and spiritual pleasure
Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind
Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind
Listen miss, don’t put all your hopes and dreams with one man
You are independent to do whatever you can
You’re looking for the right guy money is not the key
Because those who spoil you are obsessed with their greed
Troubles from generations are handed down
Always reawaken and end up worse than when they were found
Know yourself, then search for the one
You have plenty of time and mistakes to learn from
Don’t’ punish all men because one turned you down
Realize what you want, and then achieve it
When your journey is over you will receive him
It’s a hard road to travel, but remember this
Your pain is only so that you can find your prince
Don’t look back, because your aching is past tense
You need someone in your life because loneliness is hard
Your peace comes from yourself and God
Peace mind
Surrounding me with the peace mind
Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind
What I say comes overshadows me
It’s open-minded, joyful, rhythmic poetry
The business can take a lot out of you
But keep the good deeds in mind, your brothers too
Interpreting what our ancestors left behind
Putting the things together in my mind
Cherish the blessings of music
It’s not the crutch to riches, you can’t just use it
Live through it, embrace it, analyze it, take it
Run it through your soul and spirit, open your mind and think hard
Because our peace comes from yourself and God
Your peace comes from yourself and God
Your peace comes from yourself and God
This song was altered to fit many topics of truth and moral standpoints much like the original. The interpretation was changed somewhat to make the reader think into it. It had more of a religious theme than the first one.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Never Again...
Realism has a definition as plain as the word itself. It is the real deal on life. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote a tale called “The Yellow Wall-Paper” that described certain realism within the female society. Gilman uses a simplistic object to protrude her ideas about the woman’s place in a household. Her ideas are leaked out throughout her story and have a very sensible depiction although easy to read.
From beginning to end she describes this hideous wallpaper that is in a room she usually sleeps in. It has lurid patterns and a disgusting yellow that make you deny yellow as a color of something gracious. It is so disturbing that she also gets angry every time she sets her eyes upon it. This, in fact, is her imprisonment. She was suppose to do everything her husband told her to do and could not to rebel against him as a woman in that era. She uses this wallpaper to show her imprisonment as a terrible thing that she detests and it makes her sick. Her husband constantly denies her illness because he does not see that he is the cause of it; so he lets it go along telling her that she is improving. She angers herself constantly while trying to solve the mystery of the wallpaper because she is beginning to realize her situation in social imprisonment. She soon realizes it because the paper, “becomes bars,” at night and she sees a woman behind them (Gilman 9). This calmed her since that she knew as she says after she found out, “I feel ever so much better now!” (Gilman 11). She usually sees this woman in a surface that reflects images back at the observer like the windows hinting that is actually herself that she sees trying to escape that hideous prison.
She also begins speaking of the woman rattling the cage trying to get out. Obviously this is Gilman attempting to be free, which is done with her paper as well as the rattling of the figurative cage. All of her thoughts, emotions, and feelings reveal themselves in that rebellious biography she writes all the time. The cult of true womanhood is once again attacked here. Charlotte does not like the idea of being second-hand to her husband and it makes her sick. She loves her husband and does what she must, but like other women, her sacrifices were not enjoyable. She is speaking her pain by saying, “John does not know how much I really suffer,” and is telling the audience that her brother is also a doctor and says she is fine as well, showing that it is not just her husband, but all men who are like that (Gilman 3). Also notice that she never speaks down about her husband, but she just says he does not understand and he never hurts her, but just does not think anything is wrong. Anger and hate were not always involved in the feelings of women and their spouses, but men just did not know how it felt to be in their shoes. At the end her husband faints when the prison is torn away from her. This is symbolic toward the realization of a problem. Many times when people find out an overwhelming truth about something, it is so much to think about that they are left unconscious. He did not realize his wife was so imprisoned so, in his misunderstanding, he is bombarded with thoughts in his mind. He cannot believe what has truly been going on.
Gilman gave a very similar message when she wrote “The Yellow Wall-Paper” that told the world about an unfortunate situation in society. She sought freedom from the bars symbolized in her writing. Also, in a way, the room is hidden thoughts of her mind and the wallpaper is the barrier keeping her from breaking free. It is said that bottled up (or imprisoned) emotions are bad for health. At least she found a way to release herself and become free.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/us/politics/03intel.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
From beginning to end she describes this hideous wallpaper that is in a room she usually sleeps in. It has lurid patterns and a disgusting yellow that make you deny yellow as a color of something gracious. It is so disturbing that she also gets angry every time she sets her eyes upon it. This, in fact, is her imprisonment. She was suppose to do everything her husband told her to do and could not to rebel against him as a woman in that era. She uses this wallpaper to show her imprisonment as a terrible thing that she detests and it makes her sick. Her husband constantly denies her illness because he does not see that he is the cause of it; so he lets it go along telling her that she is improving. She angers herself constantly while trying to solve the mystery of the wallpaper because she is beginning to realize her situation in social imprisonment. She soon realizes it because the paper, “becomes bars,” at night and she sees a woman behind them (Gilman 9). This calmed her since that she knew as she says after she found out, “I feel ever so much better now!” (Gilman 11). She usually sees this woman in a surface that reflects images back at the observer like the windows hinting that is actually herself that she sees trying to escape that hideous prison.
She also begins speaking of the woman rattling the cage trying to get out. Obviously this is Gilman attempting to be free, which is done with her paper as well as the rattling of the figurative cage. All of her thoughts, emotions, and feelings reveal themselves in that rebellious biography she writes all the time. The cult of true womanhood is once again attacked here. Charlotte does not like the idea of being second-hand to her husband and it makes her sick. She loves her husband and does what she must, but like other women, her sacrifices were not enjoyable. She is speaking her pain by saying, “John does not know how much I really suffer,” and is telling the audience that her brother is also a doctor and says she is fine as well, showing that it is not just her husband, but all men who are like that (Gilman 3). Also notice that she never speaks down about her husband, but she just says he does not understand and he never hurts her, but just does not think anything is wrong. Anger and hate were not always involved in the feelings of women and their spouses, but men just did not know how it felt to be in their shoes. At the end her husband faints when the prison is torn away from her. This is symbolic toward the realization of a problem. Many times when people find out an overwhelming truth about something, it is so much to think about that they are left unconscious. He did not realize his wife was so imprisoned so, in his misunderstanding, he is bombarded with thoughts in his mind. He cannot believe what has truly been going on.
Gilman gave a very similar message when she wrote “The Yellow Wall-Paper” that told the world about an unfortunate situation in society. She sought freedom from the bars symbolized in her writing. Also, in a way, the room is hidden thoughts of her mind and the wallpaper is the barrier keeping her from breaking free. It is said that bottled up (or imprisoned) emotions are bad for health. At least she found a way to release herself and become free.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/us/politics/03intel.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Chapter 3 Response SOBF
Given the times that people had in the past as a result of racism, times were rigorous. The dark night of oppression was always seen and felt everywhere, like the never-ending night. In some instances, though, and beam of light would flash through the veil of racism and give people hope. Booker T. Washington was one of these flashes of hope; he was not the only one though, there were many others. Through detail and tone Du Bois gives a structural view on the morals of freeing black people from the slavery of discrimination. Understanding the idea that every idea is not best and detailing the specific problems people have can help people realize what is wrong and pick the best solution.
The tone that Du Bois gives off is that of constructive criticism. He gives background information that allows the reader to get into an in-depth meaning of what people are feeling. This gets you into the author’s mind and allows you to see why he is assessing the actions of other black leaders, specifically Booker T. Washington. He gives without much detail, the basic description of Washington’s proposal which is to give up, “political power, insistence on civil rights, higher education of Negro youth,” (Du Bois 87). The lack of detail in this proposal reflects the lack of support it has from many of the African American race. Du Bois goes on to say that these things are exactly what we need to make our community a group of, “teachers, professional men, and leaders,” (Du Bois 90). If we were able to make a league of these types of men, then we could easily overcome any tribulation that comes our way. Within three pages of the story Du Bois uses a numbering method of a teacher that numbers the complaints she has with an English paper. Like a teacher he is telling Washington what is wrong with his proposal, what it needs, and the mistakes that could have been avoided. He does not say that his proposal is totally wrong; he even concludes that the disfranchisement, civil inferiority, and withdrawal of aid from the Negro are not proven, “direct results of Mr. Washington’s teachings (Du Bois 88). The way he says it keeps it professional and respectful.
The tone soon changes to resentment near the end when the Declaration of Independence is put into the end of the chapter. The same quote that has been verbally crucified is the “all men are created equal” clause (Du Bois 95). This is overused so much because it was the foundation and backbone of our country when we had nothing else; it has survived through the Civil War and many others and has been the standpoint of nationalism everywhere, but it is ripped apart like the 300 year old paper it is when it comes to skin color. Why a dark human, cannot be equal to a lighter human is beyond understanding to many. America is seen as the land of the free with slaves. This is a contradiction, not even one fully agreed on because this immoral act brought us to the Civil War. How can everyone pursue life, liberty and happiness if it is only for a select few of color? Why ignore such a moral law that could bring everyone to happiness? Why must it be made an additional law when it is wrong in moral and governmental standpoints? Alas, with all this, we are still in opposition today. Racism has only moved from a usual topic on everyone’s minds to a subtle thought that passes by. We must still press on to keep this viral idea from ever resurfacing.
The tone that Du Bois gives off is that of constructive criticism. He gives background information that allows the reader to get into an in-depth meaning of what people are feeling. This gets you into the author’s mind and allows you to see why he is assessing the actions of other black leaders, specifically Booker T. Washington. He gives without much detail, the basic description of Washington’s proposal which is to give up, “political power, insistence on civil rights, higher education of Negro youth,” (Du Bois 87). The lack of detail in this proposal reflects the lack of support it has from many of the African American race. Du Bois goes on to say that these things are exactly what we need to make our community a group of, “teachers, professional men, and leaders,” (Du Bois 90). If we were able to make a league of these types of men, then we could easily overcome any tribulation that comes our way. Within three pages of the story Du Bois uses a numbering method of a teacher that numbers the complaints she has with an English paper. Like a teacher he is telling Washington what is wrong with his proposal, what it needs, and the mistakes that could have been avoided. He does not say that his proposal is totally wrong; he even concludes that the disfranchisement, civil inferiority, and withdrawal of aid from the Negro are not proven, “direct results of Mr. Washington’s teachings (Du Bois 88). The way he says it keeps it professional and respectful.
The tone soon changes to resentment near the end when the Declaration of Independence is put into the end of the chapter. The same quote that has been verbally crucified is the “all men are created equal” clause (Du Bois 95). This is overused so much because it was the foundation and backbone of our country when we had nothing else; it has survived through the Civil War and many others and has been the standpoint of nationalism everywhere, but it is ripped apart like the 300 year old paper it is when it comes to skin color. Why a dark human, cannot be equal to a lighter human is beyond understanding to many. America is seen as the land of the free with slaves. This is a contradiction, not even one fully agreed on because this immoral act brought us to the Civil War. How can everyone pursue life, liberty and happiness if it is only for a select few of color? Why ignore such a moral law that could bring everyone to happiness? Why must it be made an additional law when it is wrong in moral and governmental standpoints? Alas, with all this, we are still in opposition today. Racism has only moved from a usual topic on everyone’s minds to a subtle thought that passes by. We must still press on to keep this viral idea from ever resurfacing.
HW For Those Who Need It
1. Read Ch. 3 in Souls of Black Folk.
2. Do dialogue journals (20) based on pathos, tone, and detail.
3. Do 2pg lit response.
2. Do dialogue journals (20) based on pathos, tone, and detail.
3. Do 2pg lit response.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Souls of Black Folk
African Americans have come a very long way. We have hit the very bottom in the beginning and have rose despite all of the opposition we faced, but this rise was not by any means easy. The depressing times were enough to weigh anybody down to their inevitable doom and this is how upsetting the story is. Using a realistic mood, this story reveals the turmoil that many knew about during the rise of blacks after slavery. The topic is a staid one with both good and bad illustrations of the life of the African American.
One of the reasons this story is how blacks are just shut down. They see no way of coming up in the world or in people’s eyes. The story brings out that, “Throughout history the powers of single black men flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness,” (Du Bois 47). This is a disheartening fact in our people’s minds. No matter what was done, throughout all time, it was forgotten before it even began. Our people have suffered greatly and have been put down many times. This adds a historic discouragement as if the European can kill thousands and be a hero, but an African can save tens of thousands and not be considered at all. Knowing that your own kind has been shunned for generations makes you wonder why you should keep going on, but this can be a wake up call as well. This sad fact can awaken the idea of reformation in our minds and give us the power to change the fact that our people were held down. The thoughts of many were to give up, “what need of education since we must always cook and serve?” while this evil was turned to good by teaching us the true ideas of social responsibility and a real meaning of progression, because they not only saw it, they lived it (Du Bois 51).
Another tone shown towards the end is that of faith and slight touch of mockery. America is mocked for its bitterness towards the race that was below the Europeans by the statement, “Would America be poorer if she replace her brutal dyspeptic blundering with light-hearted but determined Negro humility?” (Du Bois 52). America could still have its precious money if it were kind to others. Greed empowers our country and makes those who have it knock others down and those who do not knock others down in their way. In actuality, all people need to do is work together and they will be richer than ever in more ways than one. This entails hope towards many of the African descent. The other entail of hope is the progress that is being made by our own people. While we slowly learn and realize what we must learn, we become more powerful and able to go to the next level. These levels are entitled to the tone that is in levels itself—from the bottom up. These levels imitate the levels taken by black people to reach the heights it has come to today and ends with a heart-warming tone by saying, “let me on the coming pages tell again with loving emphasis and deeper detail, that men may listen to the striving in the souls of black folk,” (Du Bois 53).
One of the reasons this story is how blacks are just shut down. They see no way of coming up in the world or in people’s eyes. The story brings out that, “Throughout history the powers of single black men flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness,” (Du Bois 47). This is a disheartening fact in our people’s minds. No matter what was done, throughout all time, it was forgotten before it even began. Our people have suffered greatly and have been put down many times. This adds a historic discouragement as if the European can kill thousands and be a hero, but an African can save tens of thousands and not be considered at all. Knowing that your own kind has been shunned for generations makes you wonder why you should keep going on, but this can be a wake up call as well. This sad fact can awaken the idea of reformation in our minds and give us the power to change the fact that our people were held down. The thoughts of many were to give up, “what need of education since we must always cook and serve?” while this evil was turned to good by teaching us the true ideas of social responsibility and a real meaning of progression, because they not only saw it, they lived it (Du Bois 51).
Another tone shown towards the end is that of faith and slight touch of mockery. America is mocked for its bitterness towards the race that was below the Europeans by the statement, “Would America be poorer if she replace her brutal dyspeptic blundering with light-hearted but determined Negro humility?” (Du Bois 52). America could still have its precious money if it were kind to others. Greed empowers our country and makes those who have it knock others down and those who do not knock others down in their way. In actuality, all people need to do is work together and they will be richer than ever in more ways than one. This entails hope towards many of the African descent. The other entail of hope is the progress that is being made by our own people. While we slowly learn and realize what we must learn, we become more powerful and able to go to the next level. These levels are entitled to the tone that is in levels itself—from the bottom up. These levels imitate the levels taken by black people to reach the heights it has come to today and ends with a heart-warming tone by saying, “let me on the coming pages tell again with loving emphasis and deeper detail, that men may listen to the striving in the souls of black folk,” (Du Bois 53).
HW For Those Who Need It
1. Read the 1st chapter of Souls of Black Folk and do dialect journals (20) based off of logos, tone, and detail.
2. Do a 2 pg literary response for the first chapter.
3. Complete grammar worksheet
2. Do a 2 pg literary response for the first chapter.
3. Complete grammar worksheet
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Booker T. Washington Response
Booker T. Washington gave a terrific speech called the Atlanta Exposition Address. This address spoke of the unity that all blacks dreamed of and all the ways we can progress. His review of the events afterwards was very interesting. The reacts of the people proved that many were moving away from segregation. This should have never happened though. Washington gives us an explanation of the stupidity of the disunity of the human race. With the many literary methods he used he got through to the public and left the subject to the people to decide.
Washington gives simplistic examples of the people’s idea of separation themselves from their brethren. He uses a mind-boggling simile that is so simple and refers to us in every way, “We can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things,” (Washington 2). Like the hand, it has its individual fingers. Each finger has its own structure, its own space, its own differences, its own height, size, skill, etc. and no one finger is perfect while the others are flawed. Yet they are all a part of the same thing. They are separated but at the same time unified in all that they do. The hand is not complete or functional if there is even one finger that does not work with the other four. This is how our people should be; we are all from different places, know and can do different things, have different abilities but we are all human beings. Everyone on this planet is a part of the most intelligent species and nothing less. How can you change, separate, degrade, or judge those that share your very qualities. We all came from the same two human beings, Adam and Eve, making us in some way down the line brother and sister.
Washington gives another good example, a story/metaphor, about men begging for water on a ship when they are surrounded by a freshwater river. This reveals another type of ignorance within people. Why would you ignore the existence of something so important, as the men did of water, when it is vital to your existence? As water is to the men, friendship is to humans. We cannot just ignore the myriads of people around us because such a powerful force cannot be ignored. Your neighbor will not allow you to ignore them just as you will not let them ignore you. We all need friends and a friendship. Humans are not meant to live alone and they should not. It would be so idiotic to ignore the 6 billion and counting people on the Earth and near impossible. With an infinite amount of personality to choose from, the atmosphere is perfect for someone to just reach out because it will be hard for you to not catch one out of 6 billion people. Washington is just saying that the chances are on your side, the opportunity is here, all that is in your way is you.
To conclude, Washington uses stories, metaphors, similes, symbolism, and much more to discard the option of separating from people. There are too many people to just let alone and it is not right to try and isolate one group. Most animals will not harm their own kind unless they endanger their territory, family, or themselves. Humans are the most intelligent species on the planet and we are also the ones most known to kill our own kind. This is wrong; we should not kill or isolate our own people into groups because we are one group: human. We are people made under the image of God and he is colorblind, so why can’t we be?
Washington gives simplistic examples of the people’s idea of separation themselves from their brethren. He uses a mind-boggling simile that is so simple and refers to us in every way, “We can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things,” (Washington 2). Like the hand, it has its individual fingers. Each finger has its own structure, its own space, its own differences, its own height, size, skill, etc. and no one finger is perfect while the others are flawed. Yet they are all a part of the same thing. They are separated but at the same time unified in all that they do. The hand is not complete or functional if there is even one finger that does not work with the other four. This is how our people should be; we are all from different places, know and can do different things, have different abilities but we are all human beings. Everyone on this planet is a part of the most intelligent species and nothing less. How can you change, separate, degrade, or judge those that share your very qualities. We all came from the same two human beings, Adam and Eve, making us in some way down the line brother and sister.
Washington gives another good example, a story/metaphor, about men begging for water on a ship when they are surrounded by a freshwater river. This reveals another type of ignorance within people. Why would you ignore the existence of something so important, as the men did of water, when it is vital to your existence? As water is to the men, friendship is to humans. We cannot just ignore the myriads of people around us because such a powerful force cannot be ignored. Your neighbor will not allow you to ignore them just as you will not let them ignore you. We all need friends and a friendship. Humans are not meant to live alone and they should not. It would be so idiotic to ignore the 6 billion and counting people on the Earth and near impossible. With an infinite amount of personality to choose from, the atmosphere is perfect for someone to just reach out because it will be hard for you to not catch one out of 6 billion people. Washington is just saying that the chances are on your side, the opportunity is here, all that is in your way is you.
To conclude, Washington uses stories, metaphors, similes, symbolism, and much more to discard the option of separating from people. There are too many people to just let alone and it is not right to try and isolate one group. Most animals will not harm their own kind unless they endanger their territory, family, or themselves. Humans are the most intelligent species on the planet and we are also the ones most known to kill our own kind. This is wrong; we should not kill or isolate our own people into groups because we are one group: human. We are people made under the image of God and he is colorblind, so why can’t we be?
Monday, November 17, 2008
Yellow Wallpaper
Realism has a definition as plain as the word itself. It is the real deal on life. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote a tale called “The Yellow Wall-Paper” that describes certain realism within the female society. Gilman uses a simplistic object to protrude her ideas about the woman’s place in a household. Her ideas are leaked out throughout her story and as easy as it is to read, it has a very sensible depiction.
From beginning to end she describes this hideous wallpaper that is in a room she usually sleeps in. It has lurid patterns and a disgusting yellow that make you deny yellow as a color of something gracious. She also gets angry every time she sets her eyes upon it because it is so disturbing. This, in fact, is her imprisonment. As a woman in that era, she was suppose to do everything her husband told her to do and was unable to rebel against him. She uses this wallpaper to show her imprisonment as a terrible thing that she detests and it makes her sick. Her husband constantly denies her illness because, as doctors sometimes do, he does not see that he is the cause of it and he lets it got along telling her that she is improving. She angers herself constantly while trying to solve the mystery of the wallpaper because she is beginning to realize her situation in social imprisonment. She soon realizes it because the paper, “becomes bars,” at night and she sees a woman behind them (Gilman 9). This calms her now that she knows as she says after find out, “I feel ever so much better now!” (Gilman 11). She usually sees this woman in a surface that reflects images back at the observer like the windows hinting that is actually herself that she sees trying to escape that hideous prison.
She also begins speaking of the woman rattling the cage trying to get out. Obviously this is Gilman attempting to be free, but this not only done with the rattling of the figurative cage; Gilman does this with her paper as well. All of her thoughts, emotions, and feelings are revealed in that rebellious biography she writes all the time. The cult of true womanhood is once again attacked here. Charlotte does not like the idea of being second-hand to her husband and it makes her sick. She loves her husband and does what she must, but like other women, her sacrifices were not enjoyable. She speaks her pain by saying, “John does not know how much I really suffer,” and tells the audience, to prove it is not her that is just complaining, that her brother is also a doctor and says she is fine as well, showing that it is not just her husband, but all men who are like that (Gilman 3). Also notice that she never speaks down about her husband, but she just says he does not understand and he never hurts her, but just does not think anything is wrong. Anger and hate were not always involved in the feelings of women and their spouses; men just did not know how it felt to be in their shoes. Also at the end her husband faints when the prison is torn away from her. This is symbolic toward the realization of a problem. Many times when people find out an overwhelming truth about something, it is so much to think about that they are left unconscious. He did not realize his wife was so imprisoned so, in his misunderstanding, he is bombarded with thoughts in his mind. He cannot believe what has truly been going on.
Gilman gave a very similar message in her writing of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” telling the world about an unfortunate situation in society. She wanted out as the constant shaking and rattling of the bars symbolized in her writing. Also, in a way, the room is concealed thoughts of her mind and the wallpaper the barrier keeping her from breaking free. It is said that bottled up (or imprisoned) emotions are bad for health. At least she found a way to release herself and become free.
From beginning to end she describes this hideous wallpaper that is in a room she usually sleeps in. It has lurid patterns and a disgusting yellow that make you deny yellow as a color of something gracious. She also gets angry every time she sets her eyes upon it because it is so disturbing. This, in fact, is her imprisonment. As a woman in that era, she was suppose to do everything her husband told her to do and was unable to rebel against him. She uses this wallpaper to show her imprisonment as a terrible thing that she detests and it makes her sick. Her husband constantly denies her illness because, as doctors sometimes do, he does not see that he is the cause of it and he lets it got along telling her that she is improving. She angers herself constantly while trying to solve the mystery of the wallpaper because she is beginning to realize her situation in social imprisonment. She soon realizes it because the paper, “becomes bars,” at night and she sees a woman behind them (Gilman 9). This calms her now that she knows as she says after find out, “I feel ever so much better now!” (Gilman 11). She usually sees this woman in a surface that reflects images back at the observer like the windows hinting that is actually herself that she sees trying to escape that hideous prison.
She also begins speaking of the woman rattling the cage trying to get out. Obviously this is Gilman attempting to be free, but this not only done with the rattling of the figurative cage; Gilman does this with her paper as well. All of her thoughts, emotions, and feelings are revealed in that rebellious biography she writes all the time. The cult of true womanhood is once again attacked here. Charlotte does not like the idea of being second-hand to her husband and it makes her sick. She loves her husband and does what she must, but like other women, her sacrifices were not enjoyable. She speaks her pain by saying, “John does not know how much I really suffer,” and tells the audience, to prove it is not her that is just complaining, that her brother is also a doctor and says she is fine as well, showing that it is not just her husband, but all men who are like that (Gilman 3). Also notice that she never speaks down about her husband, but she just says he does not understand and he never hurts her, but just does not think anything is wrong. Anger and hate were not always involved in the feelings of women and their spouses; men just did not know how it felt to be in their shoes. Also at the end her husband faints when the prison is torn away from her. This is symbolic toward the realization of a problem. Many times when people find out an overwhelming truth about something, it is so much to think about that they are left unconscious. He did not realize his wife was so imprisoned so, in his misunderstanding, he is bombarded with thoughts in his mind. He cannot believe what has truly been going on.
Gilman gave a very similar message in her writing of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” telling the world about an unfortunate situation in society. She wanted out as the constant shaking and rattling of the bars symbolized in her writing. Also, in a way, the room is concealed thoughts of her mind and the wallpaper the barrier keeping her from breaking free. It is said that bottled up (or imprisoned) emotions are bad for health. At least she found a way to release herself and become free.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Annotated Bibliography
Smith Ralph J (2008). Engineering. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 14, 2008, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online database.
Encyclopedia Britannica is an online encyclopedia with virtually unlimited information about almost any topic. This source gave the basic information of what engineering is as well as a quick overview of the history of it, including its origin. Engine comes from the Latin root, “ingenerare”, meaning create and the early English language used “engine” with the meaning to contrive, and was truly first used by modern society in the military; these people ended up being called the engineers because of their work with creating new methods and machines (Smith). The first engineers were those of the Egyptians and other ancient civilizations. The Aztecs were among the first to build aqueducts to cleanse their polluted water. Engineers started way back in BC times during the building of these ancient civilizations and we use many of their ideas. There was also a list of the things engineers do, listed from increasing to decreasing emphasis on science. This source gives a fundamental background of engineering in general without going into specifics. It talked about the problems, restraints, and resources in engineering. Engineers cannot choose the problems that they want to solve, they wait and fix what occurs. Their inventions and innovations always have something that could be done to them, so the waiting is not long, if they ever call it waiting. Any problem that is fixed can add another problem which is why engineers are always needed and are always working. Engineers not only make power driven things like military weapons create an extremely large amount of things that are used in the everyday household. Something as simple as a bottle of lotion has engineering in it. The specific things that are put in it must be tested with chemical engineering to ensure functionality and safety. One of the biggest things is packaging; engineers must decide what type of material to use to keep it sealed completely, make sure it is durable, keep it functioning (i.e. the pump in a bottle of lotion), and possibly environment friendly. This is some information this source provided to help understand the basics and history of engineering.
Belford Geneva G. (2008) Computer Science: Software Engineering. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 14, 2008, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online database.
Britannica sometimes leaves out some knowledge about specific subject since it has such a broad variety of information. This particular article had a different approach on the profession of engineering. It took a specific approach on a single topic of engineering. As we know, there are many types of engineering, but the one focused on exclusively is software engineering. Software engineering deals with programming computers, which is basically telling them what to do. This is requiring more and more time and money so it is taken very seriously now. Software engineering did not originally exist, but after the complexity began, the topic arose. Also with more and more things being run by computers and technology, there is more need for those in the software-making business. It is also considered engineering because it needs to be approached with the extreme caution and care just like other engineering projects. There are various ways and processes that are used to design software, and although the new and effective “discipline” was added to engineering, it still has companies coughing up a lot of time and money (Belford). Obviously something had to be done about it, so they created new equipment to help those who code the software. Other problems or constraints they have also include making sure that it works for an extended and detecting all the problems that can occur. Something always happens to computers that can keep things from getting done (as everyone knows). These things must be checked for so when it does happen to you, you are able to fix it. Troubleshooting is a major part of engineering because it can determine life and death, if serious enough. This would not pertain to software as much as a car or a building, but it is still very important. This is one of the reasons software goes into the engineering field; it needs to be handled by an engineer and it must go through all the tests of operation that engineers usually put into their creations. It takes a lot more than just sitting in a cubicle to create these things.
(2008). Engineering. Facts on File. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from World News Digest Database
This is a website that keeps a record of old definitions, news, etc. and those of the present. This source was very useful to me because it taught me about other engineering fields that I did not even know existed. Most engineering began with military engineering, because it was in the government and the military’s hands to build such industrialized equipment for protection, but when more machines were being invented and created, mechanical engineering sprang up and that soon branched out into more specific categories of engineering. This can explain the reason why all engineering fields have a relation connecting them to another field. The largest field of engineering is electrical engineering, which is not a surprise because electricity is a gigantic source of energy. The power that runs your home is based off this type of engineering profession. It also includes many other fields that branch from it which are, basically the branches that use electricity the most. Civil engineering is the broadest engineering of any of the others because it deals with everyday life. This involves the building of buildings, trains, roads, bridges, railroads, docks, tunnels, and many more. These various parts begin to create their own minefields of engineering like, transportation engineering, foundation engineering, coastal engineering, etc. Civil engineering deals with how you get from point A to point B and is based pretty much off of making a modern, safe civilization. Other new fields I noticed in this article are safety and sanitary engineering. Safety engineers are just what their name is. They research ways to keep workers from getting hurt by machinery and other things that can go wrong. They suggest altercations that can make things safer both in the workplace and at home. Sanitation engineers can be best described as environmentalists. They try to keep the environment, as well as other things, clean and safe from contamination. The issues about Lake Michigan would best fall into this category, (just so that there is a better understanding). These are not the only fields of engineering; there are many more that deal with other things you may not have known about.
McEachern Martin (2008). Game Films. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article is somewhat of a media or news based type of article, but it still gave off some valuable information. Game Films is principally about the idea, both in the filming and gaming industry, of turning movies into video games. As the article stated, this was not normal a few years back. You would usually never see a video game and a movie both about the same thing. Now, things have changed; game makers and movie makers teamed up to help make a movie/game combo. They do this by allowing the gaming company they partner with to watch the set with the director and take pictures, notes and voice samples to make the most realistic movie based game ever. Watching can also help keep the storyline intact, making more movie viewers and gamers happy, because there is not a drastic transition from movie mode to game mode. This can allow both companies to make more money because the movie making company gets money from both sides of the deal (game and movie) while the gaming industry gets money from making a game to go with the movie (which is okay because generally they would not get any money from a movie at all). It has been pretty successful lately with its ups and downs as all industries have. This article also proves, with statements like, "‘In my next film, we're planning on simultaneously developing a major motion picture and, hopefully, a major game title that coexists in the same world and that shares the same characters,’ Cameron says, " and the fact that directors are signing off contracts to gaming companies, that good or bad, this idea is still going strong (McEachern). This article was a decent piece of information about how they get things done in the gaming/movie business especially if it is something you look forward to someday. It also had an adequate bit of news in it as well as some things that some may be looking forward to. Other than that it does not provide much about or engineering but it is something interesting I wanted to know.
McEachern Martin (2008). Masters of the Game. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article was also a typical news type of reading. This did seem to be helpful though. It was about the brawls against many other video game making companies fighting to start the next generation in gaming. Every generation has something new about, but one of the most important aspects is the advanced graphics. Everyone wants to get to that realistic look, but it takes time, something they do not have against other companies because they are always at each others’ throats. This sometimes throws off the creation time and effort and something is rushed out of production (something that should never happen). This article talks about what companies are trying to do now so it looks better later and this is helpful because it gives an outlook on where things will be in the future. If this career was chosen to get into, then you have to be able to predict where the future will be, and with companies spilling their guts out to put themselves over another company, their information is something you can benefit from to better ready yourself for the future. It also gives advanced processes used to get better graphics and a better story. The better things look, the more people will want to play it. They also give a concept that they are trying to perfect. They are trying to make the, oh so popular, yet very difficult “cinematic game,” (McEachern). This one exclusively talks about the old movie, “Hard Boiled” and takes it to the next level by adding advanced graphics, an attractive storyline, and action that will mimic or surpass that of the movie itself. This article is very thorough in its explanation of the way they would make the movie into a game as well as about the way they would add on to things. There was not a great explanation about the movie plot though. They just talk about the comparisons between the game and the movie but other than that there is no idea what the movie is about. Some more movie information would really prove their point.
Robertson Barbara (2008). Heroic Effects. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article is about what I really want to do. It talks about how the team for Robert Zemeckis’s Beowulf made the animation for the movie. This is what I really hope to do as well as turning books and stories into movies and games. Well to do this, as the article vaguely points out, you need real people. These people are used and hooked up to a computer so that their moves are read and it tells the character made on the computer to do what the person does. This is not only used for animation; those of you that are Pirates of the Caribbean fans (especially Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End) should know that Davy Jones was created the exact same way. This adds a twist and more uniqueness to a movie, especially one that already has real people in it too (again, Pirates of the Caribbean). In this case, it was all animation. The cast of Beowulf used all real people and this, proven by the quote, “By contrast, Beowulf actors wore Lycra suits, gloves, and a hat that altogether held 78 markers on their body, 25 on each hand, and 121 on their face, plus an eye tracker that captured eye movement. Over the suits, the actors sometimes wore costumes made of tulle and other materials the cameras could see through so that, for example, a warrior could fling a cape and a woman could lift the bottom of her skirt and run,” is extremely hard and time consuming (Robertson). Every sensor must detect the right movements and do the right things to make the characters seem more lifelike and not totally computer generated. That does not even begin to talk about the many things that can go wrong with computers because you know it always happens. This article gives a very detailed description of what they did, what they used and how they did it. The pictures also show how effective their hard work paid off. It is very effective and helpful and fits the title it is given as “Heroic Effects.”
Robertson Barbara (2008). Dark Magic. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database
This is another good example of what I would like to do. Since I am into humans with inhumane powers this article fit perfectly. This one is about the effects of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and how the creators made these effects happen so vividly. Something to note, animation does not just come out of thin air. Most (if not all) of the time there is an actual real world object used. This is one of those examples. There were many things done in this film to make it lifelike and one of those things was using lifelike items. These items are then scanned into the computer, sometimes using pictures, but it is not just the computers that must do the work. The photographers must have excellent skill and talent to make these pictures come in correctly so that they seem as if they were taken out of an actual forest. It gives a good feeling of satisfaction and completion like this, "We want people to believe in these creatures. If they see Thestrals walking through the forest and think they're real, we've all done our job," (Robertson). All of this work also involves a large amount of teamwork and cooperation. These people had, “a small crew and long schedule,” yet they still got the job done (Robertson) and this is no school project. We are talking about a Hollywood presentation! They not did their job, but they put their blood, sweat and tears into it to make sure it was done right. This is why Harry Potter movies look so well done. It need people who want to do it and look forward to the end production. This is what this article shows more than the others. This article tells about the hard work of a film especially when your crew is a little underestimated. These people still came out on top with another great Harry Potter movie and saw their production come to life in the eyes of the thousands of people who watched it. This is how every film made should be seen.
Savage Lorraine (2008). The Anime Invasion. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
Many people know that Japan holds a lot of the most popular entertainment on television, that is, when it comes to animation. They also hold a large portion of the video game business too, but we will not talk about that. The Japanese have a unique way of doing things that in many ways surpasses that of America. The animation that is shown from Japan to America is called “Anime.” This is not your ordinary animation like Toy Story, or The Lion King. These animation based productions are based less off of a child’s point of view and approaches a much more mature, adult-like perspective. Many anime in America are not even meant for the eyes of those under 21. These pictures are the ones that tend to get gory or have the scenes that are questionable to certain people. Besides that, it gathers a more realistic view on life, but usually uses a science fiction twist to it. The problems of life, good and bad, are focused on in these types of shows and are set up with one of a kind plots. It is almost exactly like watching a book with a much larger amount of action, but there are more differences than just storylines and lifestyles. “Anime artists achieve the medium's distinct look by using a broader color palette than would be seen in typical Saturday morning cartoons; applying creative lighting to set mood; focusing on minute detail, such as refracted images in water, accurate historical settings, and intricate mechanical devices; and experimenting with camera angles and abstract backgrounds,” (Savage). Yes, anime uses a distinct setting with more vibrant colors and detail than other animated cinema. They appeal to more emotion and their exact detail helps you get more into the show as you see the story unfold. These stories, as said before, can also be based on actual history. Some of the people you see slashing away at their enemies are actually war generals whose legends will live on forever in Japan. Simply put anime has more meaning than most other animated films which is why it is “invading” America.
LoPiccolo Phil (2008). Anime Anthology. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article gives a personal point of view of one of the makers of an anime called Animatrix. This is an animated version of The Matrix. The Japanese anime are truly taking over America. The interviewee seemed pretty good about his new creation and what they had done. They chose a different approach though, and made a nine part series instead of a full television series which, in a way, kept the authenticity of the movie because a television series would have had to add on to the movie to keep going. A lot of times this make a show seem inconsistent as if it was not actually based off of the real creation and should not withhold that title. This article gives an opening to new ideas and theories that Michael Arias calls, “an encyclopedia of styles and techniques,” (LoPiccolo). Many other movies and concepts can come out of this production and already have. “The Terminator,” and “Kill Bill,” are already being processed through the minds of creative producers (LoPiccolo). These will also leave a large impact on the minds of gaming and television because they have a new idea to go off of. This article is a happy ending to a new idea. It lets you know that you should show your creative side in your career because you never know how far it can take you. Creating new things or even innovating old ones can have a promising effect on the world and will give someone the possibility to sketch their names in history. It is even said that when all of your ideas are gone and your creativity seems to vanish, your best ideas come out and there is a new trend made. You also have to be able to adapt to change—think fast on the spot. That is what is needed sometimes. Arias had to work with a team that did not have the patience of wait for a full film picture, whether it was better or not. Sometimes you just have to go with things because going against them can cost you your career.
Robertson Barbara (2008). She-Dragon. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
The movie Eragon had many twists to it and it was very hard to capture everything correctly so that it looked realistic. There was a lot of work to do with Saphira, the dragon. There was much research done to make her look like a real animal. This is usually the problem with fantasy animals, since there is no foundation to start them after, but this team found a way and it was very fascinating. “McIntosh turns to his computer, plays a video of a Siberian tiger rolling on her back, and then switches to footage of a newborn fawn struggling to stand. ‘I used the Siberian tiger as inspiration for the baby rolling out of the egg,’ he says. ‘And even though the fawn's legs are longer than Saphira's, it was good reference,’” (Robertson). This is when you need to improvise with things even though they may not seem right. Research is sometimes needed just to make something that it not real move. Another piece of uniqueness with Saphira was the fact that her wings were more like a bird than a usual dragon’s bat wings. This made her more majestic and realistic, but that was tough work. When using the wing of a bird there were feathers added, but soon they seemed to blend into the dragon until they turned into scales. Most of the time with a career like this you have to think outside of the box. This keeps you on top of the competition and allows your picture to come out as number one. Ingenuity is very important in things like this and can decide your career. It may not be easy, but there can be fun out of it. Also you feel good when you know you contributed to the big screen production. These things are not always enjoyable, which is why you need to know what you are doing and like what you do. Otherwise extreme difficulties will come to you. If you enjoy what you do then it will be so much easier of yourself and you really will not have to work a day of your life.
Encyclopedia Britannica is an online encyclopedia with virtually unlimited information about almost any topic. This source gave the basic information of what engineering is as well as a quick overview of the history of it, including its origin. Engine comes from the Latin root, “ingenerare”, meaning create and the early English language used “engine” with the meaning to contrive, and was truly first used by modern society in the military; these people ended up being called the engineers because of their work with creating new methods and machines (Smith). The first engineers were those of the Egyptians and other ancient civilizations. The Aztecs were among the first to build aqueducts to cleanse their polluted water. Engineers started way back in BC times during the building of these ancient civilizations and we use many of their ideas. There was also a list of the things engineers do, listed from increasing to decreasing emphasis on science. This source gives a fundamental background of engineering in general without going into specifics. It talked about the problems, restraints, and resources in engineering. Engineers cannot choose the problems that they want to solve, they wait and fix what occurs. Their inventions and innovations always have something that could be done to them, so the waiting is not long, if they ever call it waiting. Any problem that is fixed can add another problem which is why engineers are always needed and are always working. Engineers not only make power driven things like military weapons create an extremely large amount of things that are used in the everyday household. Something as simple as a bottle of lotion has engineering in it. The specific things that are put in it must be tested with chemical engineering to ensure functionality and safety. One of the biggest things is packaging; engineers must decide what type of material to use to keep it sealed completely, make sure it is durable, keep it functioning (i.e. the pump in a bottle of lotion), and possibly environment friendly. This is some information this source provided to help understand the basics and history of engineering.
Belford Geneva G. (2008) Computer Science: Software Engineering. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 14, 2008, from Encyclopedia Britannica Online database.
Britannica sometimes leaves out some knowledge about specific subject since it has such a broad variety of information. This particular article had a different approach on the profession of engineering. It took a specific approach on a single topic of engineering. As we know, there are many types of engineering, but the one focused on exclusively is software engineering. Software engineering deals with programming computers, which is basically telling them what to do. This is requiring more and more time and money so it is taken very seriously now. Software engineering did not originally exist, but after the complexity began, the topic arose. Also with more and more things being run by computers and technology, there is more need for those in the software-making business. It is also considered engineering because it needs to be approached with the extreme caution and care just like other engineering projects. There are various ways and processes that are used to design software, and although the new and effective “discipline” was added to engineering, it still has companies coughing up a lot of time and money (Belford). Obviously something had to be done about it, so they created new equipment to help those who code the software. Other problems or constraints they have also include making sure that it works for an extended and detecting all the problems that can occur. Something always happens to computers that can keep things from getting done (as everyone knows). These things must be checked for so when it does happen to you, you are able to fix it. Troubleshooting is a major part of engineering because it can determine life and death, if serious enough. This would not pertain to software as much as a car or a building, but it is still very important. This is one of the reasons software goes into the engineering field; it needs to be handled by an engineer and it must go through all the tests of operation that engineers usually put into their creations. It takes a lot more than just sitting in a cubicle to create these things.
(2008). Engineering. Facts on File. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from World News Digest Database
This is a website that keeps a record of old definitions, news, etc. and those of the present. This source was very useful to me because it taught me about other engineering fields that I did not even know existed. Most engineering began with military engineering, because it was in the government and the military’s hands to build such industrialized equipment for protection, but when more machines were being invented and created, mechanical engineering sprang up and that soon branched out into more specific categories of engineering. This can explain the reason why all engineering fields have a relation connecting them to another field. The largest field of engineering is electrical engineering, which is not a surprise because electricity is a gigantic source of energy. The power that runs your home is based off this type of engineering profession. It also includes many other fields that branch from it which are, basically the branches that use electricity the most. Civil engineering is the broadest engineering of any of the others because it deals with everyday life. This involves the building of buildings, trains, roads, bridges, railroads, docks, tunnels, and many more. These various parts begin to create their own minefields of engineering like, transportation engineering, foundation engineering, coastal engineering, etc. Civil engineering deals with how you get from point A to point B and is based pretty much off of making a modern, safe civilization. Other new fields I noticed in this article are safety and sanitary engineering. Safety engineers are just what their name is. They research ways to keep workers from getting hurt by machinery and other things that can go wrong. They suggest altercations that can make things safer both in the workplace and at home. Sanitation engineers can be best described as environmentalists. They try to keep the environment, as well as other things, clean and safe from contamination. The issues about Lake Michigan would best fall into this category, (just so that there is a better understanding). These are not the only fields of engineering; there are many more that deal with other things you may not have known about.
McEachern Martin (2008). Game Films. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article is somewhat of a media or news based type of article, but it still gave off some valuable information. Game Films is principally about the idea, both in the filming and gaming industry, of turning movies into video games. As the article stated, this was not normal a few years back. You would usually never see a video game and a movie both about the same thing. Now, things have changed; game makers and movie makers teamed up to help make a movie/game combo. They do this by allowing the gaming company they partner with to watch the set with the director and take pictures, notes and voice samples to make the most realistic movie based game ever. Watching can also help keep the storyline intact, making more movie viewers and gamers happy, because there is not a drastic transition from movie mode to game mode. This can allow both companies to make more money because the movie making company gets money from both sides of the deal (game and movie) while the gaming industry gets money from making a game to go with the movie (which is okay because generally they would not get any money from a movie at all). It has been pretty successful lately with its ups and downs as all industries have. This article also proves, with statements like, "‘In my next film, we're planning on simultaneously developing a major motion picture and, hopefully, a major game title that coexists in the same world and that shares the same characters,’ Cameron says, " and the fact that directors are signing off contracts to gaming companies, that good or bad, this idea is still going strong (McEachern). This article was a decent piece of information about how they get things done in the gaming/movie business especially if it is something you look forward to someday. It also had an adequate bit of news in it as well as some things that some may be looking forward to. Other than that it does not provide much about or engineering but it is something interesting I wanted to know.
McEachern Martin (2008). Masters of the Game. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article was also a typical news type of reading. This did seem to be helpful though. It was about the brawls against many other video game making companies fighting to start the next generation in gaming. Every generation has something new about, but one of the most important aspects is the advanced graphics. Everyone wants to get to that realistic look, but it takes time, something they do not have against other companies because they are always at each others’ throats. This sometimes throws off the creation time and effort and something is rushed out of production (something that should never happen). This article talks about what companies are trying to do now so it looks better later and this is helpful because it gives an outlook on where things will be in the future. If this career was chosen to get into, then you have to be able to predict where the future will be, and with companies spilling their guts out to put themselves over another company, their information is something you can benefit from to better ready yourself for the future. It also gives advanced processes used to get better graphics and a better story. The better things look, the more people will want to play it. They also give a concept that they are trying to perfect. They are trying to make the, oh so popular, yet very difficult “cinematic game,” (McEachern). This one exclusively talks about the old movie, “Hard Boiled” and takes it to the next level by adding advanced graphics, an attractive storyline, and action that will mimic or surpass that of the movie itself. This article is very thorough in its explanation of the way they would make the movie into a game as well as about the way they would add on to things. There was not a great explanation about the movie plot though. They just talk about the comparisons between the game and the movie but other than that there is no idea what the movie is about. Some more movie information would really prove their point.
Robertson Barbara (2008). Heroic Effects. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article is about what I really want to do. It talks about how the team for Robert Zemeckis’s Beowulf made the animation for the movie. This is what I really hope to do as well as turning books and stories into movies and games. Well to do this, as the article vaguely points out, you need real people. These people are used and hooked up to a computer so that their moves are read and it tells the character made on the computer to do what the person does. This is not only used for animation; those of you that are Pirates of the Caribbean fans (especially Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End) should know that Davy Jones was created the exact same way. This adds a twist and more uniqueness to a movie, especially one that already has real people in it too (again, Pirates of the Caribbean). In this case, it was all animation. The cast of Beowulf used all real people and this, proven by the quote, “By contrast, Beowulf actors wore Lycra suits, gloves, and a hat that altogether held 78 markers on their body, 25 on each hand, and 121 on their face, plus an eye tracker that captured eye movement. Over the suits, the actors sometimes wore costumes made of tulle and other materials the cameras could see through so that, for example, a warrior could fling a cape and a woman could lift the bottom of her skirt and run,” is extremely hard and time consuming (Robertson). Every sensor must detect the right movements and do the right things to make the characters seem more lifelike and not totally computer generated. That does not even begin to talk about the many things that can go wrong with computers because you know it always happens. This article gives a very detailed description of what they did, what they used and how they did it. The pictures also show how effective their hard work paid off. It is very effective and helpful and fits the title it is given as “Heroic Effects.”
Robertson Barbara (2008). Dark Magic. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database
This is another good example of what I would like to do. Since I am into humans with inhumane powers this article fit perfectly. This one is about the effects of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and how the creators made these effects happen so vividly. Something to note, animation does not just come out of thin air. Most (if not all) of the time there is an actual real world object used. This is one of those examples. There were many things done in this film to make it lifelike and one of those things was using lifelike items. These items are then scanned into the computer, sometimes using pictures, but it is not just the computers that must do the work. The photographers must have excellent skill and talent to make these pictures come in correctly so that they seem as if they were taken out of an actual forest. It gives a good feeling of satisfaction and completion like this, "We want people to believe in these creatures. If they see Thestrals walking through the forest and think they're real, we've all done our job," (Robertson). All of this work also involves a large amount of teamwork and cooperation. These people had, “a small crew and long schedule,” yet they still got the job done (Robertson) and this is no school project. We are talking about a Hollywood presentation! They not did their job, but they put their blood, sweat and tears into it to make sure it was done right. This is why Harry Potter movies look so well done. It need people who want to do it and look forward to the end production. This is what this article shows more than the others. This article tells about the hard work of a film especially when your crew is a little underestimated. These people still came out on top with another great Harry Potter movie and saw their production come to life in the eyes of the thousands of people who watched it. This is how every film made should be seen.
Savage Lorraine (2008). The Anime Invasion. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 12, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
Many people know that Japan holds a lot of the most popular entertainment on television, that is, when it comes to animation. They also hold a large portion of the video game business too, but we will not talk about that. The Japanese have a unique way of doing things that in many ways surpasses that of America. The animation that is shown from Japan to America is called “Anime.” This is not your ordinary animation like Toy Story, or The Lion King. These animation based productions are based less off of a child’s point of view and approaches a much more mature, adult-like perspective. Many anime in America are not even meant for the eyes of those under 21. These pictures are the ones that tend to get gory or have the scenes that are questionable to certain people. Besides that, it gathers a more realistic view on life, but usually uses a science fiction twist to it. The problems of life, good and bad, are focused on in these types of shows and are set up with one of a kind plots. It is almost exactly like watching a book with a much larger amount of action, but there are more differences than just storylines and lifestyles. “Anime artists achieve the medium's distinct look by using a broader color palette than would be seen in typical Saturday morning cartoons; applying creative lighting to set mood; focusing on minute detail, such as refracted images in water, accurate historical settings, and intricate mechanical devices; and experimenting with camera angles and abstract backgrounds,” (Savage). Yes, anime uses a distinct setting with more vibrant colors and detail than other animated cinema. They appeal to more emotion and their exact detail helps you get more into the show as you see the story unfold. These stories, as said before, can also be based on actual history. Some of the people you see slashing away at their enemies are actually war generals whose legends will live on forever in Japan. Simply put anime has more meaning than most other animated films which is why it is “invading” America.
LoPiccolo Phil (2008). Anime Anthology. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
This article gives a personal point of view of one of the makers of an anime called Animatrix. This is an animated version of The Matrix. The Japanese anime are truly taking over America. The interviewee seemed pretty good about his new creation and what they had done. They chose a different approach though, and made a nine part series instead of a full television series which, in a way, kept the authenticity of the movie because a television series would have had to add on to the movie to keep going. A lot of times this make a show seem inconsistent as if it was not actually based off of the real creation and should not withhold that title. This article gives an opening to new ideas and theories that Michael Arias calls, “an encyclopedia of styles and techniques,” (LoPiccolo). Many other movies and concepts can come out of this production and already have. “The Terminator,” and “Kill Bill,” are already being processed through the minds of creative producers (LoPiccolo). These will also leave a large impact on the minds of gaming and television because they have a new idea to go off of. This article is a happy ending to a new idea. It lets you know that you should show your creative side in your career because you never know how far it can take you. Creating new things or even innovating old ones can have a promising effect on the world and will give someone the possibility to sketch their names in history. It is even said that when all of your ideas are gone and your creativity seems to vanish, your best ideas come out and there is a new trend made. You also have to be able to adapt to change—think fast on the spot. That is what is needed sometimes. Arias had to work with a team that did not have the patience of wait for a full film picture, whether it was better or not. Sometimes you just have to go with things because going against them can cost you your career.
Robertson Barbara (2008). She-Dragon. Applied Science and Technology. Retrieved November 16, 2008 from Ebsco Database.
The movie Eragon had many twists to it and it was very hard to capture everything correctly so that it looked realistic. There was a lot of work to do with Saphira, the dragon. There was much research done to make her look like a real animal. This is usually the problem with fantasy animals, since there is no foundation to start them after, but this team found a way and it was very fascinating. “McIntosh turns to his computer, plays a video of a Siberian tiger rolling on her back, and then switches to footage of a newborn fawn struggling to stand. ‘I used the Siberian tiger as inspiration for the baby rolling out of the egg,’ he says. ‘And even though the fawn's legs are longer than Saphira's, it was good reference,’” (Robertson). This is when you need to improvise with things even though they may not seem right. Research is sometimes needed just to make something that it not real move. Another piece of uniqueness with Saphira was the fact that her wings were more like a bird than a usual dragon’s bat wings. This made her more majestic and realistic, but that was tough work. When using the wing of a bird there were feathers added, but soon they seemed to blend into the dragon until they turned into scales. Most of the time with a career like this you have to think outside of the box. This keeps you on top of the competition and allows your picture to come out as number one. Ingenuity is very important in things like this and can decide your career. It may not be easy, but there can be fun out of it. Also you feel good when you know you contributed to the big screen production. These things are not always enjoyable, which is why you need to know what you are doing and like what you do. Otherwise extreme difficulties will come to you. If you enjoy what you do then it will be so much easier of yourself and you really will not have to work a day of your life.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Pit and the Pendulum Packet Response
Jeanne Malloy’s The Apocalyptic Imagery and the Fragmentation of the Psyche: “The Pit and the Pendulum” criticizes the story as well as the author, Edgar Allan Poe. She brings out many ideas about his writing. She goes in depth with the idea of religion based on his writing and critiques it using the topic as a direct attack on Poe claiming he is, “inconsistent with the themes of many of Poe’s other stories,” (Malloy 84). She also brings out the point of the prison that the narrator is in depicts a womb, along with the unknown sounds, constricting walls and the darkness. This was used as a lever to reach towards her comparison towards his romanticism. Malloy also utilizes many sources and other stories to compare, contrast and criticize his writing. Her points are generally set up to flow one into the other, yet every paragraph is like a story of her own. It has a beginning, the thing she wants to point out, and the end but the hinted sequels at the end of each paragraph keeps it moving despite its constant jumping from topic to topic. She kept a constant main topic of religion and many other subtopics to tie back to this main point. Several pages use something referring back to the Bible (savior, revelation, Christ, divine, etc.). These things make her analysis very thorough and informative, but it does have its flaws.
Despite her many well thought out point, this is actually her weakness. She has too many points. There is too much to think about and too much information given. Although she did refer to one main topic, this does not mean u can use a vast amount of other topics to go with it. There could have been more information to write about without repeating herself, which is what she was trying to avoid and did (too well). With too many points you can seem like you contradict yourself, in which she seems to do. She starts off by judging Poe’s reference to there being a savior despite dark times, yet describes his rhetoric and, “brilliant and daring,” (Malloy 92). Going back and forth between two opinions, while arguing one of them, can make a reader question the credibility of the writer. Even a paper with no limits can seem to jump around too much. You cannot take to broad of an approach, no matter what your restriction or freedom is.
A more aligned goal would make this a much easier analysis to read. If she would have kept the religion point, and not strayed too far away from it, it would make more sense. Just adding religious dialect is not enough to keep people pinned to your point. It must be a pathway without many distractions. A straightforward path gives straightforward answers. Doing this can avoid contradiction and keep the audience’s attention a lot easier. If someone has to keep shifting their eyes from one place to another just to keep up they will soon quit; this is similar with reading. A person’s brain cannot continuously shift around from topic to topic. If interest is lost in the beginning the audience will not see the good topics at the end, which is what she had. This critique is a very good one, but needs a narrower set of points to prove her main one. This can stop contradiction and keep the audience on the right path: the one into your mind.
Despite her many well thought out point, this is actually her weakness. She has too many points. There is too much to think about and too much information given. Although she did refer to one main topic, this does not mean u can use a vast amount of other topics to go with it. There could have been more information to write about without repeating herself, which is what she was trying to avoid and did (too well). With too many points you can seem like you contradict yourself, in which she seems to do. She starts off by judging Poe’s reference to there being a savior despite dark times, yet describes his rhetoric and, “brilliant and daring,” (Malloy 92). Going back and forth between two opinions, while arguing one of them, can make a reader question the credibility of the writer. Even a paper with no limits can seem to jump around too much. You cannot take to broad of an approach, no matter what your restriction or freedom is.
A more aligned goal would make this a much easier analysis to read. If she would have kept the religion point, and not strayed too far away from it, it would make more sense. Just adding religious dialect is not enough to keep people pinned to your point. It must be a pathway without many distractions. A straightforward path gives straightforward answers. Doing this can avoid contradiction and keep the audience’s attention a lot easier. If someone has to keep shifting their eyes from one place to another just to keep up they will soon quit; this is similar with reading. A person’s brain cannot continuously shift around from topic to topic. If interest is lost in the beginning the audience will not see the good topics at the end, which is what she had. This critique is a very good one, but needs a narrower set of points to prove her main one. This can stop contradiction and keep the audience on the right path: the one into your mind.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bio vs. Lit Response
Kate Chopin has a very unique life that is not heard of by many. She was extremely intelligent, but had been through so much her whole entire life. Her whole family was infected with the satanic disease we all must carry, yet it swept through her family like wildfire leaving her as a lone wolf: death. She carried all of this pain through her and channeled it into her heartwarming literature. The biography uses a contradicting, yet balanced amount of information to describe how she wrote, and what affected it. Her, pain, her passion, her emotion was directed to her writing.
To begin, Kate was always surrounded by intelligence and this is how she picked up her distinctive personality. She was constantly around “smart, independent, single women,” which gave the reason for the constant use of women in her short stories (Wyatt 2). The women used in her stories are a reflection of the intelligence she possessed, including the source of these gifts of knowledge. The Story of an Hour gave a glimpse of this knowledge when the woman who lost her husband realized that she was now free. This refers back to the cult of true womanhood which was going strong at this time. She followed all her duties as a true woman, yet she had nearly no authority, but when her husband died, she obtained this liberty and she knew it. In Desiree’s Baby she once again reveals this, but adds a tone of passion and love, a woman willing to accept the cult of true womanhood. Desiree cared for and loved her husband even though he ostracized her because of her unknown and false identity as being black. What do these women have in common besides the cult of true womanhood? They both knew what had to be done and they did it. They both coped through the good and bad times and stuck it through as women to make their lives able to deal with. Unfortunately both of these women died and suffered much throughout their lives.
Another relation to the tales Chopin writes and her life is her distress. Ever since birth she had been through a large amount of death. Her father died, and she was the only child out of 5 to live past 25 (Wyatt 1). Not to mention the loss of her husband 12 years after marriage, the passing away of every other person in her family besides her kids and the loss of her only friend known of by us, Kitty. This added to the writing she used also. As stated before both women in the examples of her stories died. Desiree committed suicide when her husband denied her a woman because of the suspicion of being black. Louise died of heart failure when a piece of her heart was ripped out of her. This is another direction to the cult of true womanhood. They both followed this belief, yet died according to it. It describes the view Kate has on that belief. It is a belief that should be hated by all women, and something that they cannot live with, yet they do. She also believed that they deserved their credit for putting up with it and their freedom from this curse. Her biography brings together the ideas in her writing and the events in her life.
Chopin truly shared the happiness and grievances of her life by using it in her writing. There was a paradox in many of her passages as well: love and hate. Both short stories used happiness and love, but it soon turned into hatred and their demise. The biography gave a clear link to the many things used in her writings and how, like many of the characters in her novels, wanted acceptance from society, preferably without the cult on their backs and like them, her journey was cut short.
To begin, Kate was always surrounded by intelligence and this is how she picked up her distinctive personality. She was constantly around “smart, independent, single women,” which gave the reason for the constant use of women in her short stories (Wyatt 2). The women used in her stories are a reflection of the intelligence she possessed, including the source of these gifts of knowledge. The Story of an Hour gave a glimpse of this knowledge when the woman who lost her husband realized that she was now free. This refers back to the cult of true womanhood which was going strong at this time. She followed all her duties as a true woman, yet she had nearly no authority, but when her husband died, she obtained this liberty and she knew it. In Desiree’s Baby she once again reveals this, but adds a tone of passion and love, a woman willing to accept the cult of true womanhood. Desiree cared for and loved her husband even though he ostracized her because of her unknown and false identity as being black. What do these women have in common besides the cult of true womanhood? They both knew what had to be done and they did it. They both coped through the good and bad times and stuck it through as women to make their lives able to deal with. Unfortunately both of these women died and suffered much throughout their lives.
Another relation to the tales Chopin writes and her life is her distress. Ever since birth she had been through a large amount of death. Her father died, and she was the only child out of 5 to live past 25 (Wyatt 1). Not to mention the loss of her husband 12 years after marriage, the passing away of every other person in her family besides her kids and the loss of her only friend known of by us, Kitty. This added to the writing she used also. As stated before both women in the examples of her stories died. Desiree committed suicide when her husband denied her a woman because of the suspicion of being black. Louise died of heart failure when a piece of her heart was ripped out of her. This is another direction to the cult of true womanhood. They both followed this belief, yet died according to it. It describes the view Kate has on that belief. It is a belief that should be hated by all women, and something that they cannot live with, yet they do. She also believed that they deserved their credit for putting up with it and their freedom from this curse. Her biography brings together the ideas in her writing and the events in her life.
Chopin truly shared the happiness and grievances of her life by using it in her writing. There was a paradox in many of her passages as well: love and hate. Both short stories used happiness and love, but it soon turned into hatred and their demise. The biography gave a clear link to the many things used in her writings and how, like many of the characters in her novels, wanted acceptance from society, preferably without the cult on their backs and like them, her journey was cut short.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Story of an Hour Quotes
1. "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death." This is an introduction that will draw a reader in. This is a very sad situation but everyone wants to hear something about death (people we can't lie about this). It's always "Who died?" "How did it happen?" "What was the reason?" etc. It will draw attention to the reader and beofre you know it, you're reading the passage.
2. "veiled hints that revealed in half concealing." I chose this phrase because the way the sentence is worded is an eye catcher, because it is unusual. It makes you read it twice and it also describes the way the sad info was given and taken.
3. "pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul." This is another rhetoric type from Kate Chopin that, once again, catches the eye of the reader, simply because of its uniqueness. This personification was given also to give the reader the idea of how emotionally "weighted down" she was.
4. "She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will..." I chose this phrase because it has that vague suspense that Chopin uses so much in her writing. It's like you have an idea what may happen, but in all honesty you have no idea. She used this in Desiree's Baby when Desiree noticed weird behavior with her family and then compared the baby to the black boy.
5. "There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully." This is significant because it begins the climax of the story. Here is where you begin to wonder what is going and is where you get the first sense or thought (if you didn't know already) that she may be dying.
Questions I have:
1. What did Chopin mean by saying "And yet she had loved him--sometimes,"?
2. Was Brently Mallard her husband and if so, why was Brently Mallard considered dead?
3. Who was really killed in the magazine if it wasn't the Brently Mallard they knew?
2. "veiled hints that revealed in half concealing." I chose this phrase because the way the sentence is worded is an eye catcher, because it is unusual. It makes you read it twice and it also describes the way the sad info was given and taken.
3. "pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul." This is another rhetoric type from Kate Chopin that, once again, catches the eye of the reader, simply because of its uniqueness. This personification was given also to give the reader the idea of how emotionally "weighted down" she was.
4. "She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will..." I chose this phrase because it has that vague suspense that Chopin uses so much in her writing. It's like you have an idea what may happen, but in all honesty you have no idea. She used this in Desiree's Baby when Desiree noticed weird behavior with her family and then compared the baby to the black boy.
5. "There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully." This is significant because it begins the climax of the story. Here is where you begin to wonder what is going and is where you get the first sense or thought (if you didn't know already) that she may be dying.
Questions I have:
1. What did Chopin mean by saying "And yet she had loved him--sometimes,"?
2. Was Brently Mallard her husband and if so, why was Brently Mallard considered dead?
3. Who was really killed in the magazine if it wasn't the Brently Mallard they knew?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Disturbia
Kale I believe showed a natural amount of detail in his actions which gave him a good role (for what I saw). The role of actors is to play the part as if they were in it. This means there is no room for mistakes. The overdoing or lack of anything can make the picture look wrong. Kale used the perfect amount of detail in describing parts of his life as meaningful. He put emphasis on things that were significant to him (like the girl that moved in) and used less emotion of what he was not really caring about (like school). So this way you can find out what goes through his head.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Aren't I A Woman Response
Sojourner Truth was a brilliant woman with the voice that every woman wanted to hear. Her thoughts were as of every slave: why am I not equal, why am I treated so badly, what can I do to get the recognition of a human being? Sojourner constantly stressed her point in “Aren’t I A Woman?” by repeating it and giving clear examples that pointed to the obvious truth. She attacks many people who deserve to be targeted because they are snatching what is hers and transferring it to someone less deserving right in her face.
Sojourner cleverly attacks both, the race and sex issue at one time. She spoke about how the white woman gets all the respect and recognition of a queen, yet it is said by white men that women deserve these rights. This is where conflict occurs because white or black, she is a woman. This is a question she must address, because she is telling the public she is confused (sarcastically). She goes back and forth between the simple question, “Aren’t I a woman,” and proof that she not only amounts to a woman but amounts to more than most men. She has suffered more than most men that is (obviously) shown here, “I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well,” (Truth 2). This just goes to show how corrupt their society was another thing she states throughout her speech. How can a certain type of woman get all the recognition she needs if another type does all the working and suffering and is considered less than human?
Based on the last fact she comes directly at the cult of true womanhood. How can a black woman be classified as a minority if she does the majority of the work? There is a contradiction that she wanted everyone to see, or better yet, know that she saw it. She did all the things of a true woman and received no recognition and this is not right; she said this to clarify her rights to all people. She even attacks one of their biggest topics: Christianity. She contradicts their statement with this one, “…women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman. Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him,” (Truth 4). Here she uses repetition to emphasize her statement and cut deeply into the mind of the audience; she makes you think and the italics of the third repeating of the statement is a sign of how much strain she put on this phrase. Christ came from a woman and God, something man was completely powerless over. A woman was given the power to give birth to the most important man in history without the help of another man. This gives her a vital point about her deserving everything right she has earned through her hard work.
Sojourner Truth adds another vital point to conclude, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again,” (Truth 5). She has endured so much, in many cases more than men, and she is worthy of her rights as a human and as a woman. The true answer to her question is that she is a woman and she needs to receive what is rightfully hers.
Sojourner cleverly attacks both, the race and sex issue at one time. She spoke about how the white woman gets all the respect and recognition of a queen, yet it is said by white men that women deserve these rights. This is where conflict occurs because white or black, she is a woman. This is a question she must address, because she is telling the public she is confused (sarcastically). She goes back and forth between the simple question, “Aren’t I a woman,” and proof that she not only amounts to a woman but amounts to more than most men. She has suffered more than most men that is (obviously) shown here, “I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well,” (Truth 2). This just goes to show how corrupt their society was another thing she states throughout her speech. How can a certain type of woman get all the recognition she needs if another type does all the working and suffering and is considered less than human?
Based on the last fact she comes directly at the cult of true womanhood. How can a black woman be classified as a minority if she does the majority of the work? There is a contradiction that she wanted everyone to see, or better yet, know that she saw it. She did all the things of a true woman and received no recognition and this is not right; she said this to clarify her rights to all people. She even attacks one of their biggest topics: Christianity. She contradicts their statement with this one, “…women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman. Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him,” (Truth 4). Here she uses repetition to emphasize her statement and cut deeply into the mind of the audience; she makes you think and the italics of the third repeating of the statement is a sign of how much strain she put on this phrase. Christ came from a woman and God, something man was completely powerless over. A woman was given the power to give birth to the most important man in history without the help of another man. This gives her a vital point about her deserving everything right she has earned through her hard work.
Sojourner Truth adds another vital point to conclude, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again,” (Truth 5). She has endured so much, in many cases more than men, and she is worthy of her rights as a human and as a woman. The true answer to her question is that she is a woman and she needs to receive what is rightfully hers.
Sojourneer Truth Questions
1. To whom and to what is truth responding?
Sojourner is responding to the fallacy of women having rights to recieve manners and the best things, yet she has none of this and she has done more than any ordinary woman. She also responds to the ones who say and believe this because they aren't truly fulfilling it if they don't count all women.
2. Truth's argument takes the form of examples. What are they examples of, and what point do they help her make?
They are examples of the many things white women recieve and the many things white men say to disclaim the fact that blacks are human (both man and woman) as well. They help her make the point of how she is a woman and does not receive these things, pointing out the corruption of society.
4. Imagin u were in the audience when Truth delivered this speech in 1851. What perceptions of her might u have had, and how might what she said have countered them?
I would have seen her and thought "Everyone has a story, so what's hers?" She would not have countered what I had thought about her because I wouldn't have judged her knowing what she had to have been through. Her words would have validated my thoughts of how she was going to say something intelligent, truthful, and needed to be heard.
Sojourner is responding to the fallacy of women having rights to recieve manners and the best things, yet she has none of this and she has done more than any ordinary woman. She also responds to the ones who say and believe this because they aren't truly fulfilling it if they don't count all women.
2. Truth's argument takes the form of examples. What are they examples of, and what point do they help her make?
They are examples of the many things white women recieve and the many things white men say to disclaim the fact that blacks are human (both man and woman) as well. They help her make the point of how she is a woman and does not receive these things, pointing out the corruption of society.
4. Imagin u were in the audience when Truth delivered this speech in 1851. What perceptions of her might u have had, and how might what she said have countered them?
I would have seen her and thought "Everyone has a story, so what's hers?" She would not have countered what I had thought about her because I wouldn't have judged her knowing what she had to have been through. Her words would have validated my thoughts of how she was going to say something intelligent, truthful, and needed to be heard.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Poem Response
I chose to do Swing low, sweet chariot. What I did was add an extension to the ending of this poem which is more of a reality than the poem itself. It is about her actually making it to her destination, which is why i added swing home instead of swing low. In the original is sounds like a hopeful, incomplete sense which is seen a lot with this topic. So for a twist, I added an extended ending to assure him/her maling it.
Swing home, sweet chariot
I made it here just like I said!
Swing home, sweet chariot
My soul is free, my body dead.
Swing home, sweet chariot
My children do not weep for me
Swing home, sweet chariot
For God has blessed me graciously
Swing home, sweet chariot
If you remember my commands
Swing home, sweet chariot
Then you'll walk right into my hands.
Swing home, sweet chariot
I made it here just like I said!
Swing home, sweet chariot
My soul is free, my body dead.
Swing home, sweet chariot
My children do not weep for me
Swing home, sweet chariot
For God has blessed me graciously
Swing home, sweet chariot
If you remember my commands
Swing home, sweet chariot
Then you'll walk right into my hands.
Slave Packet Responses
The times of a slave were unbelievably unbearable, yet some people still found happiness in such a perilous period of time. The vioces of those people had to be heard, because many want to know how did a people rise up from such a depressing period. Both Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and the Autobiography of Fredrick Douglass are very powerful influences on us as a people. They both are written for those who care or can bear hearing the hardships of a slave as well as the pathos to go with it. The many things mentioned in Ch. 1 and 7 of Slave Girl and Ch. 1 of Fredrick Douglass add an impulse in one's mind. Fredrick's loss of a mother and the inability to see her or even know of her death can pierce any individual's mind, not to mention the witness of the beating of his aunt which was so oppressive to him, "I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it," (Douglass 8). Harriet Jacobs had a similar mental experience with the conflicts of her master and her owner. She was never allowed to marry the free man she loved because she was a slave; he master would not allow it. Imagine how you would feel if you constantly had to see and think about the one you love only to face the reality that you can never be together. Does this not take a toll on your heart? This goes along with the weight of being a slave, which was so unbearable to Harriet that she yelled at her master, a crime possibly punishable by death! Even as cruel as he was he soon felt remorse for her; a slave owner felt remorse for his slave for what he did to her. If it hurt him, then you know it was an unimaginable pain!
These pangs of slaves are also told by whites. Now why would the very culture who enslaves Africans vouge for their suffering? These suffereing are inhumane and wrong to any person. These people are writing to those who favored slavery as well as all who endured it. They told of the wrongs done to black people. Slavery was known as a bad thing and especially bad to those who took advantage of their slaves to show their vulgar side. These people are human beings that were reduced to being worth less than a human. Their families, their lives were torn apart at the hands of slavery. Those who write for them tell those supporters of slavery that it was abominable and the sufferers of slavery that all caucasians do not support it. They are telling their story and defending them, giving them renewed hope, a blessing that is needed and, at least, earned by the slaves.
Those who suffered deserve to have their stories told to the world. They deserve that since their lives were ruined by such a curse. These people endured so much and still came out strong. They tell their stories and they let everyone know that they survived and kept going, and those who didn't deserve to be commended because they were captors of such a time. They are also told that they are not alone. The brothers of the slave owners themselves will help tell the stories, because they need to be told so that all will know the stories of the slaves.
These pangs of slaves are also told by whites. Now why would the very culture who enslaves Africans vouge for their suffering? These suffereing are inhumane and wrong to any person. These people are writing to those who favored slavery as well as all who endured it. They told of the wrongs done to black people. Slavery was known as a bad thing and especially bad to those who took advantage of their slaves to show their vulgar side. These people are human beings that were reduced to being worth less than a human. Their families, their lives were torn apart at the hands of slavery. Those who write for them tell those supporters of slavery that it was abominable and the sufferers of slavery that all caucasians do not support it. They are telling their story and defending them, giving them renewed hope, a blessing that is needed and, at least, earned by the slaves.
Those who suffered deserve to have their stories told to the world. They deserve that since their lives were ruined by such a curse. These people endured so much and still came out strong. They tell their stories and they let everyone know that they survived and kept going, and those who didn't deserve to be commended because they were captors of such a time. They are also told that they are not alone. The brothers of the slave owners themselves will help tell the stories, because they need to be told so that all will know the stories of the slaves.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
HELP ME OUT HERE!
This is my multi-draft essay and i would really appreciate criticism about Hawthorne's style.....
Fear is something we all have to live with. It has the power to control our lives. Anxieties are all around us, manifested or obscured. We do, though have fears that are buried deep within our minds, things that we never thought we would dread, things we never thought would come. This is my story, the story about the fear that I had not known existed. The thought that never crossed my mind or even came into it was the fear of moving.
The date was May 30th 2003. The school seemed quieter than ever. I was walking down the halls, looking around at the blue chipped paint and classroom doors. The lights manifested the lack of care for the school, the dingy paint, and the dirty floors. All of this was superfluous to the joy and turmoil that escaped our school everyday. The school was built as if it was one hallway; you walked in the front door and right across the hall was the gym room, in the basement was the lunchroom, to the immediate right was the main (and only) office, and the left hall was the grade school side, and the right hall was the jr. high side. I had only been down that hall once. And that was it…was not much to our school, but it was ours. I walked down the left hallway waving timidly at anyone I saw. Then I got to my classroom. Everyone greeted me as if I was a hero. Even those who were not fond of me came to say goodbye. My teacher gave me homework over the summer, which was odd because I would never see him again. I looked around at what was left of everything I remembered about that class, about that school. All of the faces seemed to calm me because they told me that I was truly cared for. There were promises made, not in the midst of the warm air around me but in the heart. I eventually had to leave. I saw tears as I was given a farewell. I slowly closed the door, to get a last glimpse of it and I sealed my part of the promise; they would never be forgotten. This was my last day at Carroll School in Chicago, IL. I will now take you to when it all started.
I departed for school that day. Something seemed so peculiar about it though. The morning held a secret from me. I figured whatever it was, it was not so important. The day was a normal day with nothing out of the ordinary. I was the quiet one in school but everyone had my back. The intention of our teacher was to get a decent amount of work done in hurry, which is sort of ironic due to the unknown situation. We did as we did everyday. The week before my friend and I were thinking of unforeseen events that would reveal themselves to us and my thought was that of moving; I had no idea how right I was. As the day ended I was taken home. When my parents got home they said they had to tell us something. Immediately I thought we had been found out when we tried to skip chores the previous Friday. They looked at us and said it straightforward, “We’re moving,” as if it were an ordinary piece of news. I dared to challenge my father about why, but his eyes told me the answer, “We’re moving and there is nothing you can say or do about it.” My mind went racing a mile a minute against everything I had ever done and wanted to do at home and all the people I had met at school. My friends were my biggest concern. I almost forgot to ask why we were moving since I got so caught up in the moment. They claimed that they wanted to leave the area before it got dangerous. They also wanted us in better schools (I tried arguing the that we could deal with our school, but it was in vain), and they did not want our grandparents running back and forth fourteen miles everyday to watch us.
So it was settled. Our home turned into a tourist attraction, since such a surplus of strangers came to see it. It did not bother me because we had to be out of the way, so they kept us busy with something entertaining. The next day, nice as it was, seemed so grim in my mind. I told everyone I knew about our unfortunate situation. I tried to match my saddened heart with the expression on my face. My closest friends, once the news was told, ended all other thoughts in their mind so fast they did not even blink; their eyes extended out far enough in which I thought they would fall into their hands and matured wrinkles appeared on their forehead attempting to interpret what I had truly said. The silence was three seconds at the most, but it felt like five minutes because all this was present as well as the thoughts racing through my mind. There was a sense of depression hidden from my friends and happiness is what acted as a veil. Teachers simply caressed me as if I were their small child who ran and wounded his leg as he tripped and said that I would be sorely missed. Few others had the same affect as my friends. The time flew by and more and more people came and saw the house. I began to notice a sense of fear in my heart, the closer we got to moving. This emotion I had was the thought of losing my friends, my old life. I had always hoped that we would not be like those seen on TV who forgets their friends. A lot of us planned on finding the same college together to keep our friendship alive. I now know how foolish such a child’s dream was. We got an offer and it looked like that day had come. For seven days my parents were taking care of paperwork with every day a bigger frustration. Then they got a phone call that incensed my father, in which he unfurled his anger toward the receiver of the vicious blow of words and then put the phone down with a smile. He grabbed my mother and they began hopping with excitement. I asked if the house was sold and they said the exact opposite. They lost an offer; the reason was because the people who offered had been trying to mess with my parents’ time and money, something that should never be attempted. This taught me never to try to decipher the peculiar things I heard from them. After that, I became less concealed as time progressed because I did not want my last memories in Chicago to be depressing. I also did not know when that fateful day would come, much like the Day of Judgment. This added pleasure to my last days.
We got even more upsetting news two days before leaving. We were told that we had to go live with our grandparents since the house was not selling fast enough. So the dismal day, the day we had to leave, arrived. That was the day with the most sincere feeling I had ever known. Everyone I knew was saying goodbye as if I were a part of their family and my fearful thoughts that I would never see them again. That summer went by so strangely. Nearly mid-June (ironically the same time when Carroll started summer break) we had gotten the house sold, but the house we bought was not ready yet. In result my parents moved in with my grandparents as well, which was kind of humorous because they could not tell us we owned nothing like they oh so discreetly reminded us because they did not either. After one month the house was ready and although moving to a place called South Holland we were welcomed by all our neighbors as if we were a new opportunity in their lives and not just a stranger. Summer on 2003 ended quickly after that and I had gotten a phone call from McKinley about me starting school ASAP. I found McKinley immense compared to Carroll. The lighting made the inside as well as every corner of the building shine as if it was freshly unwrapped. At first sight it stood as a majestic fortress or a castle. There were vast hallways and more peers than I could imagine. Even at entrance there was a sense of welcome as a teacher came to greet me and several others with a smile that would be fit to greet a king and gave us a tour of the school. This tour took fifteen minutes as compared to Carroll only taking three. There was so much that I had never experienced before; I felt like a foreigner just entering the free country of America. As soon as things began I unintentionally established my old reputation as the silent, passive kid as I had before. Such a title stayed with me due to my actions and the second day made a close friend who was the opposite of me. He was loud, outgoing, and fearless in some respects and was not afraid to get into trouble as long as it was not the serious kind. I soon decided that I would not be as inert as I was before and I would become more outgoing. This was sensed in each of our minds and is what sparked our friendship. It just goes to show that fear can be as deceiving as a magician’s trick; it is all smoke and mirrors to keep you from seeing the real picture. The real picture I was kept from was a better life. Think deeply about what you fear and maybe you will realize that it may be for the better.
Fear is something we all have to live with. It has the power to control our lives. Anxieties are all around us, manifested or obscured. We do, though have fears that are buried deep within our minds, things that we never thought we would dread, things we never thought would come. This is my story, the story about the fear that I had not known existed. The thought that never crossed my mind or even came into it was the fear of moving.
The date was May 30th 2003. The school seemed quieter than ever. I was walking down the halls, looking around at the blue chipped paint and classroom doors. The lights manifested the lack of care for the school, the dingy paint, and the dirty floors. All of this was superfluous to the joy and turmoil that escaped our school everyday. The school was built as if it was one hallway; you walked in the front door and right across the hall was the gym room, in the basement was the lunchroom, to the immediate right was the main (and only) office, and the left hall was the grade school side, and the right hall was the jr. high side. I had only been down that hall once. And that was it…was not much to our school, but it was ours. I walked down the left hallway waving timidly at anyone I saw. Then I got to my classroom. Everyone greeted me as if I was a hero. Even those who were not fond of me came to say goodbye. My teacher gave me homework over the summer, which was odd because I would never see him again. I looked around at what was left of everything I remembered about that class, about that school. All of the faces seemed to calm me because they told me that I was truly cared for. There were promises made, not in the midst of the warm air around me but in the heart. I eventually had to leave. I saw tears as I was given a farewell. I slowly closed the door, to get a last glimpse of it and I sealed my part of the promise; they would never be forgotten. This was my last day at Carroll School in Chicago, IL. I will now take you to when it all started.
I departed for school that day. Something seemed so peculiar about it though. The morning held a secret from me. I figured whatever it was, it was not so important. The day was a normal day with nothing out of the ordinary. I was the quiet one in school but everyone had my back. The intention of our teacher was to get a decent amount of work done in hurry, which is sort of ironic due to the unknown situation. We did as we did everyday. The week before my friend and I were thinking of unforeseen events that would reveal themselves to us and my thought was that of moving; I had no idea how right I was. As the day ended I was taken home. When my parents got home they said they had to tell us something. Immediately I thought we had been found out when we tried to skip chores the previous Friday. They looked at us and said it straightforward, “We’re moving,” as if it were an ordinary piece of news. I dared to challenge my father about why, but his eyes told me the answer, “We’re moving and there is nothing you can say or do about it.” My mind went racing a mile a minute against everything I had ever done and wanted to do at home and all the people I had met at school. My friends were my biggest concern. I almost forgot to ask why we were moving since I got so caught up in the moment. They claimed that they wanted to leave the area before it got dangerous. They also wanted us in better schools (I tried arguing the that we could deal with our school, but it was in vain), and they did not want our grandparents running back and forth fourteen miles everyday to watch us.
So it was settled. Our home turned into a tourist attraction, since such a surplus of strangers came to see it. It did not bother me because we had to be out of the way, so they kept us busy with something entertaining. The next day, nice as it was, seemed so grim in my mind. I told everyone I knew about our unfortunate situation. I tried to match my saddened heart with the expression on my face. My closest friends, once the news was told, ended all other thoughts in their mind so fast they did not even blink; their eyes extended out far enough in which I thought they would fall into their hands and matured wrinkles appeared on their forehead attempting to interpret what I had truly said. The silence was three seconds at the most, but it felt like five minutes because all this was present as well as the thoughts racing through my mind. There was a sense of depression hidden from my friends and happiness is what acted as a veil. Teachers simply caressed me as if I were their small child who ran and wounded his leg as he tripped and said that I would be sorely missed. Few others had the same affect as my friends. The time flew by and more and more people came and saw the house. I began to notice a sense of fear in my heart, the closer we got to moving. This emotion I had was the thought of losing my friends, my old life. I had always hoped that we would not be like those seen on TV who forgets their friends. A lot of us planned on finding the same college together to keep our friendship alive. I now know how foolish such a child’s dream was. We got an offer and it looked like that day had come. For seven days my parents were taking care of paperwork with every day a bigger frustration. Then they got a phone call that incensed my father, in which he unfurled his anger toward the receiver of the vicious blow of words and then put the phone down with a smile. He grabbed my mother and they began hopping with excitement. I asked if the house was sold and they said the exact opposite. They lost an offer; the reason was because the people who offered had been trying to mess with my parents’ time and money, something that should never be attempted. This taught me never to try to decipher the peculiar things I heard from them. After that, I became less concealed as time progressed because I did not want my last memories in Chicago to be depressing. I also did not know when that fateful day would come, much like the Day of Judgment. This added pleasure to my last days.
We got even more upsetting news two days before leaving. We were told that we had to go live with our grandparents since the house was not selling fast enough. So the dismal day, the day we had to leave, arrived. That was the day with the most sincere feeling I had ever known. Everyone I knew was saying goodbye as if I were a part of their family and my fearful thoughts that I would never see them again. That summer went by so strangely. Nearly mid-June (ironically the same time when Carroll started summer break) we had gotten the house sold, but the house we bought was not ready yet. In result my parents moved in with my grandparents as well, which was kind of humorous because they could not tell us we owned nothing like they oh so discreetly reminded us because they did not either. After one month the house was ready and although moving to a place called South Holland we were welcomed by all our neighbors as if we were a new opportunity in their lives and not just a stranger. Summer on 2003 ended quickly after that and I had gotten a phone call from McKinley about me starting school ASAP. I found McKinley immense compared to Carroll. The lighting made the inside as well as every corner of the building shine as if it was freshly unwrapped. At first sight it stood as a majestic fortress or a castle. There were vast hallways and more peers than I could imagine. Even at entrance there was a sense of welcome as a teacher came to greet me and several others with a smile that would be fit to greet a king and gave us a tour of the school. This tour took fifteen minutes as compared to Carroll only taking three. There was so much that I had never experienced before; I felt like a foreigner just entering the free country of America. As soon as things began I unintentionally established my old reputation as the silent, passive kid as I had before. Such a title stayed with me due to my actions and the second day made a close friend who was the opposite of me. He was loud, outgoing, and fearless in some respects and was not afraid to get into trouble as long as it was not the serious kind. I soon decided that I would not be as inert as I was before and I would become more outgoing. This was sensed in each of our minds and is what sparked our friendship. It just goes to show that fear can be as deceiving as a magician’s trick; it is all smoke and mirrors to keep you from seeing the real picture. The real picture I was kept from was a better life. Think deeply about what you fear and maybe you will realize that it may be for the better.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Scarlet Letter Review Questions
1. Hester Prynne’s sin was her adultery. She slept with another man (Mr. Dimmsdale) while her husband was not around. The consequence was that she had to walk around with a red letter “A” for adulterer on her chest. She also received a living scarlet letter, her daughter Pearl which reminds her everyday of what she truly has done. Minister Dimmsdale was the one who slept with Hester Prynne and he is at fault about this as well. Even though he did not have a wife, he still had sex before marriage, a sin. He also lived in a contradicting life since he was a minister who sinned so wrongly. This pained his heart so unbearably, that he killed himself.
Chillingsworth’s sin was revenge. Vengeance is not the right thing to look for even at such a serious betrayal against him. Thinking of harmful things or ways to get back at people is a bad thing. It is not only a sin but a sickness that can take over you and eventually lead to your downfall. His consequence was his loss of life, both literally and figuratively. Once he could not seek his revenge he lost all means of living. He soon died afterwards, and was only mentioned as a footnote throughout the rest of the book. This proves that revenge gets you nowhere.
2. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a wide variety of literary terms in his writing. One of these terms is imagery. On nearly every page Hawthorne describes something; he gives vivid detail that paints a perfect picture of what is going on. “…She took off the formal cap that confined her hair; and down it fell upon her shoulders, dark and rich, with at once a shadow and a light in its abundance, and imparting the charm of softness in her features. There played around her mouth and beamed out of her eyes a radiant smile that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood…Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back,” (Hawthorne 185-186). Is this not a brilliant description about the appearance and expression Hester must have had? He also went on to speak about the gloomy forest they were in becoming radiant and beautiful. This not only paints a picture but adds possibly a movie clip to your mind, viewing all of this happen. It is said that Hawthorne does this (thanks to Todun) because there was no good quality pictures he could print with his book. So he decided to paint pictures of his own.
Another good quality in his writing is his diction. This is probably obvious since it is an older book and English was different then as it is now. Words like effervescence (enthusiastic or excitement) and jollity (merriment) add a very unique twist on Hawthorne’s work (Hawthorne 208-209). This is one book that you would want to read near a dictionary (or the internet)! He also uses symbolism in his story. These things are everywhere; one of them is the comet that Mr. Dimmsdale saw fly through the sky, looking like a big A. This symbolized his guilt as well as foreshadowed him as the other adulterer. Pearl’s name is also a symbol of how much Hester treasures her despite her origin. She cared for Pearl even though she is a living scarlet letter herself (another symbol).
3. Although Hester was a disloyal spouse, she was widely known around the town and not because of her sin. She actually was better than most other women because, despite her sin and mistakes, she still acted as a noble woman or at least tried to the best of her ability. It was hard at first, but she accepted her sin and went on with her life. She could have easily run away, but she didn’t. “It may be marvelous, that, with the world before her…free to return to her birthplace, or to any other European land…this woman should still call this place her home,” (Hawthorne 73). Although there was nothing binding her to that place and there was so much shame she could have avoided, she stayed there and accepted her punishment. This is not only a true woman, but a powerful woman. She also took care of the daughter she made during her sin and this little girl was a handful! She kept taunting her mother with the scarlet letter and teasing her, as if its existence could be removed without a second thought and her mother was dumb enough to wear it. She wouldn’t even let her daughter get taken away from her. She accepted her punishment entirely.
She also began giving back to society. “In all her intercourse with society, however, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it.” (Hawthorne 78). Even though she felt like she never belonged to society, she still helped people out. Also you notice this early within the book, not near the end as some sudden realization. She did even more service to the community at the end. As the book concluded it said, “Women…came to Hester’s cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy!” (Hawthorne 239). Even after it was all said and done, she passed on her stories to those who needed guidance. She surely gave back so much that some thought that the scarlet letter be removed from her bosom. This sin had the consequence of death and she was let go with a pardon, and now they thought it should be gone altogether? She must been a very acceptable person for a thought even to cross their minds! Hester proved that even with such a heavy burden, you can still turn your life around. Hester proved herself, through much persecution, a true woman.
4. The second scene on the scaffold is the biggest part of the story. It is when the truth is yet revealed about everything. Dimmsdale tells the public that he is Pearl’s father; he is the one that slept with Hester Prynne. Dimmsdale was considered a perfect person almost. He was a minister that everybody loved and had a lot of credibility as both a minister and a trustworthy person. He had a lot going on for himself. He threw all of that away (along with his life) when he confessed his sin. There was also the sense that he was dying. Hawthorne kept describing him as pale, old, sickly, as if he were going to die and death jumps out at everybody as something exciting, sad or not.
Also everyone else had a drastic change in their lives. Chillingsworth could not get revenge, so his life seemed to fade away. That’s all that he lived for and since the secret was out, he couldn’t use it against him. Everyone that admired Dimmsdale was now dumbfounded because he was an adulterer. Hester now lost her beloved Dimmsdale and had no other secrets now that he was gone, and Pearl’s purpose was served. When the truth was revealed she became the innocent girl she always appeared to be and no longer mocked the scarlet letter. The title served every purpose it could as The Revelation.
5. Pearl’s name is symbolic due to the fact that she was made based off a sin and although this was true, as well as her being a living punishment Hester, still kept her as her prized possession. This showed the determination of Hester living with her punishment and accepting, but also about Pearl being the most valuable thing in her life. Dimmsdale came to the conclusion of being a dimwit because of his thought of Chillingsworth not wanting revenge. I also believe he is a bit stupid for committing adultery with Hester and he is supposed to be a minister. That is not a smart move.
Chillingsworth, I had two thoughts for. One of them was the fact that he scared (sent chills) just about everyone around him since he entered the book. An entrance as an old man dressed in savage clothes and with an Indian will creepy a few people out. I also thought since he pretty much acted like a jerk throughout the book (and aggravated me) he was a worthless person besides the fact he was Hester’s former husband. His life wasn’t worth a single chilling to me.
6. Throughout the story Hester somewhat grew into her character. At the beginning she was very passive (at least more in the beginning than in the ending). She did not walk away from her deed; she accepted it, but was still submissive towards everyone, even her daughter. As time progressed she became more in tune with the “cult of true womanhood” in a few aspects. She took more care for her daughter and stood her ground as a mother. In other words she did not let Pearl push her as hard as she had been.
She was also helping people more and acting more as a true woman. This made some people disregard her scarlet letter and possibly (if it wasn’t embroided on her chest) forget it altogether. She was the strong woman that endured her sin and was getting along with people well. This sent a message to the reader as well as the people. She was able to fit back into society despite her mistake. This gives the heartwarming message that anyone can do it as well.
Chillingsworth’s sin was revenge. Vengeance is not the right thing to look for even at such a serious betrayal against him. Thinking of harmful things or ways to get back at people is a bad thing. It is not only a sin but a sickness that can take over you and eventually lead to your downfall. His consequence was his loss of life, both literally and figuratively. Once he could not seek his revenge he lost all means of living. He soon died afterwards, and was only mentioned as a footnote throughout the rest of the book. This proves that revenge gets you nowhere.
2. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a wide variety of literary terms in his writing. One of these terms is imagery. On nearly every page Hawthorne describes something; he gives vivid detail that paints a perfect picture of what is going on. “…She took off the formal cap that confined her hair; and down it fell upon her shoulders, dark and rich, with at once a shadow and a light in its abundance, and imparting the charm of softness in her features. There played around her mouth and beamed out of her eyes a radiant smile that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood…Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back,” (Hawthorne 185-186). Is this not a brilliant description about the appearance and expression Hester must have had? He also went on to speak about the gloomy forest they were in becoming radiant and beautiful. This not only paints a picture but adds possibly a movie clip to your mind, viewing all of this happen. It is said that Hawthorne does this (thanks to Todun) because there was no good quality pictures he could print with his book. So he decided to paint pictures of his own.
Another good quality in his writing is his diction. This is probably obvious since it is an older book and English was different then as it is now. Words like effervescence (enthusiastic or excitement) and jollity (merriment) add a very unique twist on Hawthorne’s work (Hawthorne 208-209). This is one book that you would want to read near a dictionary (or the internet)! He also uses symbolism in his story. These things are everywhere; one of them is the comet that Mr. Dimmsdale saw fly through the sky, looking like a big A. This symbolized his guilt as well as foreshadowed him as the other adulterer. Pearl’s name is also a symbol of how much Hester treasures her despite her origin. She cared for Pearl even though she is a living scarlet letter herself (another symbol).
3. Although Hester was a disloyal spouse, she was widely known around the town and not because of her sin. She actually was better than most other women because, despite her sin and mistakes, she still acted as a noble woman or at least tried to the best of her ability. It was hard at first, but she accepted her sin and went on with her life. She could have easily run away, but she didn’t. “It may be marvelous, that, with the world before her…free to return to her birthplace, or to any other European land…this woman should still call this place her home,” (Hawthorne 73). Although there was nothing binding her to that place and there was so much shame she could have avoided, she stayed there and accepted her punishment. This is not only a true woman, but a powerful woman. She also took care of the daughter she made during her sin and this little girl was a handful! She kept taunting her mother with the scarlet letter and teasing her, as if its existence could be removed without a second thought and her mother was dumb enough to wear it. She wouldn’t even let her daughter get taken away from her. She accepted her punishment entirely.
She also began giving back to society. “In all her intercourse with society, however, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it.” (Hawthorne 78). Even though she felt like she never belonged to society, she still helped people out. Also you notice this early within the book, not near the end as some sudden realization. She did even more service to the community at the end. As the book concluded it said, “Women…came to Hester’s cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy!” (Hawthorne 239). Even after it was all said and done, she passed on her stories to those who needed guidance. She surely gave back so much that some thought that the scarlet letter be removed from her bosom. This sin had the consequence of death and she was let go with a pardon, and now they thought it should be gone altogether? She must been a very acceptable person for a thought even to cross their minds! Hester proved that even with such a heavy burden, you can still turn your life around. Hester proved herself, through much persecution, a true woman.
4. The second scene on the scaffold is the biggest part of the story. It is when the truth is yet revealed about everything. Dimmsdale tells the public that he is Pearl’s father; he is the one that slept with Hester Prynne. Dimmsdale was considered a perfect person almost. He was a minister that everybody loved and had a lot of credibility as both a minister and a trustworthy person. He had a lot going on for himself. He threw all of that away (along with his life) when he confessed his sin. There was also the sense that he was dying. Hawthorne kept describing him as pale, old, sickly, as if he were going to die and death jumps out at everybody as something exciting, sad or not.
Also everyone else had a drastic change in their lives. Chillingsworth could not get revenge, so his life seemed to fade away. That’s all that he lived for and since the secret was out, he couldn’t use it against him. Everyone that admired Dimmsdale was now dumbfounded because he was an adulterer. Hester now lost her beloved Dimmsdale and had no other secrets now that he was gone, and Pearl’s purpose was served. When the truth was revealed she became the innocent girl she always appeared to be and no longer mocked the scarlet letter. The title served every purpose it could as The Revelation.
5. Pearl’s name is symbolic due to the fact that she was made based off a sin and although this was true, as well as her being a living punishment Hester, still kept her as her prized possession. This showed the determination of Hester living with her punishment and accepting, but also about Pearl being the most valuable thing in her life. Dimmsdale came to the conclusion of being a dimwit because of his thought of Chillingsworth not wanting revenge. I also believe he is a bit stupid for committing adultery with Hester and he is supposed to be a minister. That is not a smart move.
Chillingsworth, I had two thoughts for. One of them was the fact that he scared (sent chills) just about everyone around him since he entered the book. An entrance as an old man dressed in savage clothes and with an Indian will creepy a few people out. I also thought since he pretty much acted like a jerk throughout the book (and aggravated me) he was a worthless person besides the fact he was Hester’s former husband. His life wasn’t worth a single chilling to me.
6. Throughout the story Hester somewhat grew into her character. At the beginning she was very passive (at least more in the beginning than in the ending). She did not walk away from her deed; she accepted it, but was still submissive towards everyone, even her daughter. As time progressed she became more in tune with the “cult of true womanhood” in a few aspects. She took more care for her daughter and stood her ground as a mother. In other words she did not let Pearl push her as hard as she had been.
She was also helping people more and acting more as a true woman. This made some people disregard her scarlet letter and possibly (if it wasn’t embroided on her chest) forget it altogether. She was the strong woman that endured her sin and was getting along with people well. This sent a message to the reader as well as the people. She was able to fit back into society despite her mistake. This gives the heartwarming message that anyone can do it as well.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Really Ms. Brown? The Gettysburg Address?
1. He may have been expected to speak more about the issues and effects of the war in an economic sense. He was probably expected to be more political and to tell the states to unify. He came out and told them his standpoint, denying slavery and saying that those who have died will not die in vain. He was speaking of finishing the war as the victor not just ending it because it was affecting people.
2. This sentence was put into the speech to remind people of what their country truly stood for. This country was made based off the breaking away of another country and declaring freedom. We are/were one of the few free countries of the world, but how can we be a free country with enslaved people? It's strange how it took them so long to realize this. Slavery and freedom contradict each other; they are TOTAL opposites. Lincoln's last sentence gives people the idea that all men have the right to be free and that all human beings deserve this right.
3. The Declaration of Independence was written to tell Britain and the world that we are now a nation alone. We aren't under the noses of Britain or anyone else. It denied the purpose of a king by saying all men are created equal. Lincoln's address was about that very statement. There should be no slaves because we are all equal. He was speaking of freedom for the people and reminding everyone what this country was made of and based off. The people are suppose to be regulated and directed, not controlled as puppets. They need law enforcement and punishment, not a whip to the back because they're too old to pick cotton. The Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address both spoke of freedom, but in two different ways. Jefferson spoke of government freedom, Lincoln spoke of people freedom.
4. Out of all the speeches I have heard, this one is extremely short. It is though very effective despite it's lack in length. It gave a simple message that people needed to hear. It also spoke for the future, not just that time period. Lincoln speaks of people not being forgotten for what they have done. He also tells us about what we need to be reminded of: all men deserve to be free.
2. This sentence was put into the speech to remind people of what their country truly stood for. This country was made based off the breaking away of another country and declaring freedom. We are/were one of the few free countries of the world, but how can we be a free country with enslaved people? It's strange how it took them so long to realize this. Slavery and freedom contradict each other; they are TOTAL opposites. Lincoln's last sentence gives people the idea that all men have the right to be free and that all human beings deserve this right.
3. The Declaration of Independence was written to tell Britain and the world that we are now a nation alone. We aren't under the noses of Britain or anyone else. It denied the purpose of a king by saying all men are created equal. Lincoln's address was about that very statement. There should be no slaves because we are all equal. He was speaking of freedom for the people and reminding everyone what this country was made of and based off. The people are suppose to be regulated and directed, not controlled as puppets. They need law enforcement and punishment, not a whip to the back because they're too old to pick cotton. The Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address both spoke of freedom, but in two different ways. Jefferson spoke of government freedom, Lincoln spoke of people freedom.
4. Out of all the speeches I have heard, this one is extremely short. It is though very effective despite it's lack in length. It gave a simple message that people needed to hear. It also spoke for the future, not just that time period. Lincoln speaks of people not being forgotten for what they have done. He also tells us about what we need to be reminded of: all men deserve to be free.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Scarlet Letter Questions
1. The purpose for this introduction is to build the foundation of the book. It helps tell you what time the book is in as well as the place so you can visualize and read with more understanding. It also gives an idea of how the author writes and how you will have to interpret the book. This gives the reader a head start, so to speak, on the book itself. They now know where things are placed in time and they can better relate to the things going on. It is a better understanding so now they can just flow right into the book.
A reason for the foundation is to give it a flowing introduction. Instead of just going straight into what the idea is, it starts off with a story of another person that leads up to the tale of the woman. There is a good mindset of the things going on and you can just slide right into the story. Confusion can be kept down as well now that you are aware of where things are. This makes the book easier to read. It also adds to the enjoyment of the book. The foundation is pretty much telling you that “this is where it is and what’s going on now and how it will lead to the story.”
2. Hawthorne (I believe) made the adjustment saying, “I had ceased to be a writer of tolerably poor tales and essays, and had become a tolerably good Surveyor of the Customs,” (Hawthorne 37). He was unable to write things like essays since he had become a surveyor. Also he admitted to saying that his imagination was like “a tainted mirror” (Hawthorne 33). He couldn’t imagine or reflect on what he read like he used to. This is probably due to all of his nonfiction writing.
What I realized about his writing was that it was a little easier to understand when he ran across the diary. He also lessened his talk about the Custom House and focused more on personal descriptions based off of himself, his ancestors, or the person who claimed the red letter A and her ancestors. The setting was changed from this “Custom House” figure to a dark, poorly lit room, an accurate setting for the dark secrets that were revealed at the time. He began describing the setting with words like “cold spirituality of the moonbeams,” (referring to the beams reflecting onto the floor) or “dim coal-fire,” (Hawthorne 35). But as I said, this is only my opinion.
3. This will change the perspective of his writing. Now instead of focusing on things like the Custom House he talks about other things. His speaks less political or like a businessman and more like he’s telling a story now. His angle of focus has changed and gives us an idea on how the story is really going to be told. It can also prepare us for the shift from the introduction to the main story.
Now that we are exposed to a sudden change in his writing we can be ready for it, if he chooses to do it again. There will be less confusion if he goes from the story of the scarlet letter to the history of it. It’s easier to follow along with the storyline if you know something unexpected is coming. Doing this in the intro allows us to prepare so that we can stay focused when it happens.
A reason for the foundation is to give it a flowing introduction. Instead of just going straight into what the idea is, it starts off with a story of another person that leads up to the tale of the woman. There is a good mindset of the things going on and you can just slide right into the story. Confusion can be kept down as well now that you are aware of where things are. This makes the book easier to read. It also adds to the enjoyment of the book. The foundation is pretty much telling you that “this is where it is and what’s going on now and how it will lead to the story.”
2. Hawthorne (I believe) made the adjustment saying, “I had ceased to be a writer of tolerably poor tales and essays, and had become a tolerably good Surveyor of the Customs,” (Hawthorne 37). He was unable to write things like essays since he had become a surveyor. Also he admitted to saying that his imagination was like “a tainted mirror” (Hawthorne 33). He couldn’t imagine or reflect on what he read like he used to. This is probably due to all of his nonfiction writing.
What I realized about his writing was that it was a little easier to understand when he ran across the diary. He also lessened his talk about the Custom House and focused more on personal descriptions based off of himself, his ancestors, or the person who claimed the red letter A and her ancestors. The setting was changed from this “Custom House” figure to a dark, poorly lit room, an accurate setting for the dark secrets that were revealed at the time. He began describing the setting with words like “cold spirituality of the moonbeams,” (referring to the beams reflecting onto the floor) or “dim coal-fire,” (Hawthorne 35). But as I said, this is only my opinion.
3. This will change the perspective of his writing. Now instead of focusing on things like the Custom House he talks about other things. His speaks less political or like a businessman and more like he’s telling a story now. His angle of focus has changed and gives us an idea on how the story is really going to be told. It can also prepare us for the shift from the introduction to the main story.
Now that we are exposed to a sudden change in his writing we can be ready for it, if he chooses to do it again. There will be less confusion if he goes from the story of the scarlet letter to the history of it. It’s easier to follow along with the storyline if you know something unexpected is coming. Doing this in the intro allows us to prepare so that we can stay focused when it happens.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Vocab Assignment
abase: base, sea
abate: tab, eat
abstruse: true, best
abyss: say, bass
acuity: cut, cat
affinity: fit, taffy
alacrity: clarity, clay
alchemist: chemist, clam
alloy: lay, all
amenable: men, blame
antipathy: path, pain
append: pad, pen
arduous: sour, soar
ascend: sand, sad
ascetic: tase, cast
audacity: city, act
augury: rag, guy
auspicious: spacious, caps
austere: steer, stare
balm: lab, lamb
benevolence: cob, bone
benign: nine, big
betoken: keen, token
blighted: light, tight
buoyant: tan, boy
This is the link to the crossword puzzle: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp
abate: tab, eat
abstruse: true, best
abyss: say, bass
acuity: cut, cat
affinity: fit, taffy
alacrity: clarity, clay
alchemist: chemist, clam
alloy: lay, all
amenable: men, blame
antipathy: path, pain
append: pad, pen
arduous: sour, soar
ascend: sand, sad
ascetic: tase, cast
audacity: city, act
augury: rag, guy
auspicious: spacious, caps
austere: steer, stare
balm: lab, lamb
benevolence: cob, bone
benign: nine, big
betoken: keen, token
blighted: light, tight
buoyant: tan, boy
This is the link to the crossword puzzle: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Anne Bradstreet Response
Anne Bradstreet wrote many good poems in her day. A very good one is “To My Dear Loving Husband.” She writes this about her husband and how she truly feels about him. Beneath this poem though, she gives a message: love is an everlasting, priceless bond. This poem is not just about her relationship but love itself. She wants everyone to know the true meaning of love and she uses her love as an example because it is so enduring. This can be shown through her syntax and diction. The message she tries to deliver besides her own perfect love is that love itself is enduring, eternal, precious thing.
To start, the definition of love (although there are many) is a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. When there is a deep affection there is a tight bond between whoever has this feeling and whoever the feeling is towards. Bradstreet proves this point by saying, “If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee…,” (Bradstreet 1-2). She is saying that their bond was so strong that it was as if they were one and no better sentence (or poem) structure could have been chosen. Their love was inseparable; their love always kept them together and would see them through anything, claiming the notion that it is enduring. It also gives the power to endure. “Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere, that when we live no more, we may live forever,” is also a proving statement of a person’s endurance towards love (Bradstreet 11-12). She uses the word “persevere” which basically means to survive or live through. She ties this in with her last line which brings together the point that she will persevere anything, good or bad and if even death overcomes them, they will be together in spirit. They also say this in weddings to prove your devotion to your spouse: “Until death do us part.” This is a very strong bond and especially Bradstreet’s because she said even after death, they will be together.
Another thing stated in her poem is that love is priceless. There is nothing that she would trade for the bond between her and her husband. This is made evident with the lines, “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold or all the riches that the East doth hold,” (Bradstreet 5-6). She wouldn’t even trade her love for gold mines; she says not just one gold mine, but more than one. Not even all the riches in the east can compare to the happiness she has with her family. If love is strong enough to turn back gold mines (which were much more valuable then than they are now) then surely it is a valueless bond. She also says “My love is such that rivers cannot quench,” (Bradstreet 8). This metaphor is saying that her thirst for love (like a thirst for water) cannot be satisfied with even a river. Nothing can take the place or change the way she feels about her spouse. She truly does have great compassion for her partner and she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Many things have changed now; love does not have the same meaning as it did then, and although this isn’t her message (because she had no idea how things would turn out in the future) she still explains what love is. The bond of love is a persevering, priceless, precious bond that can’t be replaced by anything. The care and affection given, not only to one’s spouse, but to one’s family is an all-powerful bond. Sometimes it even makes people do crazy things or put themselves in harm’s way, just to have the thought that whoever you are protecting is safe. Anne Bradstreet shows true affection for her husband with this poem, and also describes the true meaning of love.
To start, the definition of love (although there are many) is a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. When there is a deep affection there is a tight bond between whoever has this feeling and whoever the feeling is towards. Bradstreet proves this point by saying, “If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee…,” (Bradstreet 1-2). She is saying that their bond was so strong that it was as if they were one and no better sentence (or poem) structure could have been chosen. Their love was inseparable; their love always kept them together and would see them through anything, claiming the notion that it is enduring. It also gives the power to endure. “Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere, that when we live no more, we may live forever,” is also a proving statement of a person’s endurance towards love (Bradstreet 11-12). She uses the word “persevere” which basically means to survive or live through. She ties this in with her last line which brings together the point that she will persevere anything, good or bad and if even death overcomes them, they will be together in spirit. They also say this in weddings to prove your devotion to your spouse: “Until death do us part.” This is a very strong bond and especially Bradstreet’s because she said even after death, they will be together.
Another thing stated in her poem is that love is priceless. There is nothing that she would trade for the bond between her and her husband. This is made evident with the lines, “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold or all the riches that the East doth hold,” (Bradstreet 5-6). She wouldn’t even trade her love for gold mines; she says not just one gold mine, but more than one. Not even all the riches in the east can compare to the happiness she has with her family. If love is strong enough to turn back gold mines (which were much more valuable then than they are now) then surely it is a valueless bond. She also says “My love is such that rivers cannot quench,” (Bradstreet 8). This metaphor is saying that her thirst for love (like a thirst for water) cannot be satisfied with even a river. Nothing can take the place or change the way she feels about her spouse. She truly does have great compassion for her partner and she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Many things have changed now; love does not have the same meaning as it did then, and although this isn’t her message (because she had no idea how things would turn out in the future) she still explains what love is. The bond of love is a persevering, priceless, precious bond that can’t be replaced by anything. The care and affection given, not only to one’s spouse, but to one’s family is an all-powerful bond. Sometimes it even makes people do crazy things or put themselves in harm’s way, just to have the thought that whoever you are protecting is safe. Anne Bradstreet shows true affection for her husband with this poem, and also describes the true meaning of love.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Anne Bradstreet Biography
Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England in 1612. She was the daughter of Thomas Dudley, a governor of volunteer soliders in the English Reformation, and Dorothy Yorke Dudley, a very well educated woman. When Anne was 16, she married Simon Bradstreet, a 25 year old man who was the son of a Puritan minister. They went to the New World on a tough journey filled with turmoil. Anne and Simon had 8 kids which they cared for through all times, even when their house burned down and they were homeless. While her husband worked, she educated her children and herself with her father's books. This inspired her to begin writing poetry, but women's beliefs weren't very well thought of so she kept it a secret. Her brother-in-law published them in England anyway without her knowing and admitted doing it. She then became sick with tuberculosis and passed away September 16, 1672 at the age of 60.
"Anne Bradstreet Biography - Poems" poemofquotes.com. 2004-2008. September 13, 2008. http://www.poemofquotes.com/annebradstreet/
"Anne Bradstreet Biography - Poems" poemofquotes.com. 2004-2008. September 13, 2008. http://www.poemofquotes.com/annebradstreet/
Friday, September 12, 2008
Cabeza De Vaca Picture Response
This picture shows the mindset that was needed for Cabeza De Vaca to become what he did. Although his ancestors were extremely well known and successful heroes of battle, he was himself. Even though so much was expected of him, he was still his own man. Sure he was a lousy leader, but that's who he was. He showed kindness and respect to the Native Americans and that allowed him to become a friends of various Indian tribes. He wasn't a chicken meaning he didn't get afraid (although he was marooned) and kill them off, but gave them respect and became very well treated. He was himself and it got him very far. It gave him "freedom and happiness" (Talking Chicken).
...laugh out loud...talking chicken...
Monday, September 8, 2008
Columbus Picture
(Just in case you can't see it, at the top is a copyright and at the bottom is "Sorry for the mess...we weren't expecting you yet.")
This is a picture of a Native American looking at Columbus confused and he's doing the same. This proves my point because of the confusion on their faces. Columbus thought he was going to find a new passage to India, but instead he got lost. He was confused and puzzled because he had no idea where he was. Just looking at his face, you can see just how unfamiliar all of it seems to him. This was a total accident that any rookie navigator with bad navigation skills that didn't know where he was going could have done. Also there were people there so how can he say he discovered the "New World"? He led to the death of thousands of Native Americans all because he didn't know where he was going, and even those that did that tried to find this new land years ago received no credit at all. These people knew where they were going, or at least had an idea that it existed. Anyone could have found this place with no skill at all, because it took no skill to get there his way; it was all by an unexpected mistake.
Columbus Essay
Sidney Bridges
September 7, 2008
Period 11
Nightly Reading Essay
During Columbus’s voyage to discover America, he always thought of hope, of his honor, hope of finding an undiscovered entity. This he did find, a new land, and he was very pleased with what he discovered. Of course he thought of home and he wrote back to England. He was usually very happy, until misfortune came into his life. He was marooned, imprisoned, and shaved of his pride and dignity. He still had one thing though: hope. This was shown through the tone of his letters written to the king and queen. His attitude vastly changes between the two. In his first letter he is excited and surprised; in his second he is miserable and lifeless. Here is where he proves whether he has the strength to overcome problems.
When his letter was sent about his first voyage, he described the many things he had found. It was a vast, rich land untouched by Europe (considered to be brand new even though people were living there). He describes his sails through the new continent with joy and enthusiasm. He even said the land was “marvelous,” (Columbus Letter 1). In these accounts he has a lot of pride and astonishment. His general message is that the new land is gorgeous and very large and everyone must come to see the great new discovery. Surely no man with less than an exhilarating tone would say such great things, and what person would not be exhilarated if he found a new land? He certainly shows he has the courage and endurance to take a voyage back and forth 4 times and he tells it through this letter. His second letter was not as appealing. Let’s examine that.
In his first letter, he starts off with “As I know that you will be pleased at the great victory with which Our Lord has crowned my voyage,” (Columbus Letter 1). This introduction is totally different saying, “Of Española, Paria, and other lands, I never think without weeping,” (Columbus Letter 2). There is a total difference in his attitude. This is because he has been captured and treated as a slave. He has lost all happiness he had before. Hard times had caught up with him. He was arrested when he went back to Europe after his 3rd voyage, and he went back on a 4th voyage to redeem his reputation. He was marooned in Jamaica after an accident at sea. He changes his message here too; he is now saying something along the lines of, “Please pardon my crimes and save me from here.” He even brings out the fact that he served his country since he was 28, “…and now I have not a hair on my body that is not gray,” (Columbus Letter 2). There is a lot more depression in this letter, but a small piece of hope still stands out within him. This letter may have been his last hope, but it was hope nonetheless that did paid off. He was rescued later.
Sometimes all we need is hope to get us by when everything else is lost. This can help carry us through the tough times; even when times aren’t all that bad, it doesn’t hurt to have hope to help you get through it. Christopher Columbus was at the bottom of the barrel. He pities himself with the words, “I am so ruined,” and “Of worldly goods I haven’t even a blanca… I have become careless of the prescribed forms of religion,” (Columbus Letter 2). With all of this, he still trusted in his country and his beliefs to get him through and they did. This simple thing that we have in our hearts allows us to believe in what is impossible, or what is beyond our belief. It’s what help Columbus find America. Columbus believed and hoped that there was something undiscovered and he found it. Sometimes hope is all that’s needed.
September 7, 2008
Period 11
Nightly Reading Essay
During Columbus’s voyage to discover America, he always thought of hope, of his honor, hope of finding an undiscovered entity. This he did find, a new land, and he was very pleased with what he discovered. Of course he thought of home and he wrote back to England. He was usually very happy, until misfortune came into his life. He was marooned, imprisoned, and shaved of his pride and dignity. He still had one thing though: hope. This was shown through the tone of his letters written to the king and queen. His attitude vastly changes between the two. In his first letter he is excited and surprised; in his second he is miserable and lifeless. Here is where he proves whether he has the strength to overcome problems.
When his letter was sent about his first voyage, he described the many things he had found. It was a vast, rich land untouched by Europe (considered to be brand new even though people were living there). He describes his sails through the new continent with joy and enthusiasm. He even said the land was “marvelous,” (Columbus Letter 1). In these accounts he has a lot of pride and astonishment. His general message is that the new land is gorgeous and very large and everyone must come to see the great new discovery. Surely no man with less than an exhilarating tone would say such great things, and what person would not be exhilarated if he found a new land? He certainly shows he has the courage and endurance to take a voyage back and forth 4 times and he tells it through this letter. His second letter was not as appealing. Let’s examine that.
In his first letter, he starts off with “As I know that you will be pleased at the great victory with which Our Lord has crowned my voyage,” (Columbus Letter 1). This introduction is totally different saying, “Of Española, Paria, and other lands, I never think without weeping,” (Columbus Letter 2). There is a total difference in his attitude. This is because he has been captured and treated as a slave. He has lost all happiness he had before. Hard times had caught up with him. He was arrested when he went back to Europe after his 3rd voyage, and he went back on a 4th voyage to redeem his reputation. He was marooned in Jamaica after an accident at sea. He changes his message here too; he is now saying something along the lines of, “Please pardon my crimes and save me from here.” He even brings out the fact that he served his country since he was 28, “…and now I have not a hair on my body that is not gray,” (Columbus Letter 2). There is a lot more depression in this letter, but a small piece of hope still stands out within him. This letter may have been his last hope, but it was hope nonetheless that did paid off. He was rescued later.
Sometimes all we need is hope to get us by when everything else is lost. This can help carry us through the tough times; even when times aren’t all that bad, it doesn’t hurt to have hope to help you get through it. Christopher Columbus was at the bottom of the barrel. He pities himself with the words, “I am so ruined,” and “Of worldly goods I haven’t even a blanca… I have become careless of the prescribed forms of religion,” (Columbus Letter 2). With all of this, he still trusted in his country and his beliefs to get him through and they did. This simple thing that we have in our hearts allows us to believe in what is impossible, or what is beyond our belief. It’s what help Columbus find America. Columbus believed and hoped that there was something undiscovered and he found it. Sometimes hope is all that’s needed.
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