1. What is the significance of the story’s title?
- The significance of the story’s title shows that the injured, American, war veteran character is in Italy surrounded by Italians who are not like him. He is physically in another country. Another Country connotes that the narrator is much different than the Italians. The Italians view him as not having as much clout as them. The Italians that had fought in WWII believe that they possess bravery and self-sacrifice. The American doesn’t possess these qualities because he did not even fight in the war. He was injured driving an ambulance. Being injured while driving a truck instead of being injured while sacrificing yourself for the sake of your country, is much being in another country.
2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?
- The Major best represents the “Hemingway hero”. He is a fencer whose hand was injured and he had lost his wife. The “Hemingway hero” embodies the code of accepting loses, bearing the pain, and putting up with the aftermath of the situation. The Hemingway hero is definitely the Major because he had incredible stoicism despite his extreme suffering. He suffered all of his loses with grace and dignity. He had not planned on being injured, but fought through his struggles. A hero senses defeat but fights hard until the bitter end. The Major embodies these qualities.
3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?
- I can infer that the photos are a fake piece of propaganda, in a way. They give soldiers the idea that the war was necessary and it was for a good cause. The photos give them a sense of hope, which the major disapproves of. The major refused to look at the photos and looked out the window. He ends up leaving.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Journal 17: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” – T.S. Eliot (p.775)
1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?
The significance of the poem’s epigraph is that it is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante shares personal thoughts on the subject of hell. Dante has some sort of power over his readers. No one is entitled to criticize him because he has seen hell firsthand in a way. It relates to Prufrock because Prufrock shares his own personal account. Again, there isn’t many people who can critique Prufrock because of his ability to not open up himself completely in his writing. He will never share any of his feelings to others. He is too hesistant and unconfident. Standing out, or being different are some things he dare not do. His self-consciousness protected him in a way, like how Dante’s thoughts were protected because people did not know about the unknown of hell.
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
What is it? Do I dare? So how should I presume? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? Shall I part my hair behind? The questions Prufrock asks himself are undoubtedly a pattern. They express a pattern of uncertainty is his life. Prufrock’s indecisiveness is a theme of this piece of literature. The questioning shows a theme of hesitation and fright. Prufrock is self–conscience and he is not sure if he should do one thing or another. He repeats questions several times, showing how much he ponders over trivial occurances.
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
Prufrock’s main flaw is his flaw of being so self-conscious. He cannot seem to function by himself. The questions he asks himself are indirect questions; like he is asking, or reaching out to another life force to make decisions in his brain for him. He is a textbook worry wart. Since he has never experienced love, his worries translate into anxiousness to find meaning in life.
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
It is called a love song because it is ironic. In fact, it is the complete opposite of a love song. There is a nonexsistence of love in the song. Sadness, worry, and hesistation are displayed by J. Alfred Prufrock in this love song. It is not a love song, it is a song about the absence of love and meaning in a man’s life.
The significance of the poem’s epigraph is that it is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante shares personal thoughts on the subject of hell. Dante has some sort of power over his readers. No one is entitled to criticize him because he has seen hell firsthand in a way. It relates to Prufrock because Prufrock shares his own personal account. Again, there isn’t many people who can critique Prufrock because of his ability to not open up himself completely in his writing. He will never share any of his feelings to others. He is too hesistant and unconfident. Standing out, or being different are some things he dare not do. His self-consciousness protected him in a way, like how Dante’s thoughts were protected because people did not know about the unknown of hell.
2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?
What is it? Do I dare? So how should I presume? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? Shall I part my hair behind? The questions Prufrock asks himself are undoubtedly a pattern. They express a pattern of uncertainty is his life. Prufrock’s indecisiveness is a theme of this piece of literature. The questioning shows a theme of hesitation and fright. Prufrock is self–conscience and he is not sure if he should do one thing or another. He repeats questions several times, showing how much he ponders over trivial occurances.
3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?
Prufrock’s main flaw is his flaw of being so self-conscious. He cannot seem to function by himself. The questions he asks himself are indirect questions; like he is asking, or reaching out to another life force to make decisions in his brain for him. He is a textbook worry wart. Since he has never experienced love, his worries translate into anxiousness to find meaning in life.
4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?
It is called a love song because it is ironic. In fact, it is the complete opposite of a love song. There is a nonexsistence of love in the song. Sadness, worry, and hesistation are displayed by J. Alfred Prufrock in this love song. It is not a love song, it is a song about the absence of love and meaning in a man’s life.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Journal 16: Crane’s “The Blue Hotel” and London’s “To Build A Fire”
Read the following quote and discuss how it applies to the main characters in both stories. In the course of this discussion, address how each of the characters is both similar and different:
“Determinisim governs everything … The writer must study the inherited traits of individual character and the social condition of the time. Together, these elements determine the course of any action, the outcome of any life. Free will or self-determination is mostly an illusion, although chance is granted a role in human affairs. Still, even the effects of chance are obliterated in the inevitable course determined by the interaction of inherited character traits and the social environment.“
The social condition of the time and the individual traits of the two main characters from “The Blue Hotel”, and “To Build A Fire” determined the outcome of their situations. Sweed from the Blue Hotel, was a sketchy man who believed he was in a bad situation. He character traits include shy, hesistant, and quiet. The prospector from To Build A Fire was an adventurous man who was traveling for a purpose and trying to reach a destination. The quote above applies to each of these stories. The social condition of The Blue Hotel was somber, and uncomfortable. The Sweed was being very awkward. The chance that the Sweed ended up in that town, on that night, in that hotel, was not by chance. Chance is an illusion. The Sweed’s course had already been pre-determined given his inherited traits and social environment. The environment that the prospector was in was a frozen, lifeless tundra. His character caused him to not press on. He chose to simply lie down and die after he had failed to dry his boots. His death had already been pre-determind. He was set to die in the Alaskan wilderness. The social environment in To Build A Fire was nonexsistent. There was no one to help him up when he failed. Determinism governs everything.
“Determinisim governs everything … The writer must study the inherited traits of individual character and the social condition of the time. Together, these elements determine the course of any action, the outcome of any life. Free will or self-determination is mostly an illusion, although chance is granted a role in human affairs. Still, even the effects of chance are obliterated in the inevitable course determined by the interaction of inherited character traits and the social environment.“
The social condition of the time and the individual traits of the two main characters from “The Blue Hotel”, and “To Build A Fire” determined the outcome of their situations. Sweed from the Blue Hotel, was a sketchy man who believed he was in a bad situation. He character traits include shy, hesistant, and quiet. The prospector from To Build A Fire was an adventurous man who was traveling for a purpose and trying to reach a destination. The quote above applies to each of these stories. The social condition of The Blue Hotel was somber, and uncomfortable. The Sweed was being very awkward. The chance that the Sweed ended up in that town, on that night, in that hotel, was not by chance. Chance is an illusion. The Sweed’s course had already been pre-determined given his inherited traits and social environment. The environment that the prospector was in was a frozen, lifeless tundra. His character caused him to not press on. He chose to simply lie down and die after he had failed to dry his boots. His death had already been pre-determind. He was set to die in the Alaskan wilderness. The social environment in To Build A Fire was nonexsistent. There was no one to help him up when he failed. Determinism governs everything.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Journal 15: William Dean Howell’s “Editha"
1. Write a sentence that summarizes the story’s overall message, and provide three direct quotes from the story that best illustrate this message.
The overall message of the passage is that living in reality is better because living in an ideal world is unrealistic and can be precarious and unexpecting.
- “To take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him”
- ” It isn’t this war alone; though this seems peculiarly wanton and needless; but it’s every war –so stupid; it makes me sick.”
- ““He told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didn’t expect that, I suppose, when you sent him.”
2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?
Editha uses a truth tactic and makes George believe that everything she is saying is true. George ultimately has disbeliefs and he begins to feel doubt. When Edith speaks about the “holy war”, this is where his doubt began. She gives George the guilt trip and makes him believe that going to war is well beyond honorable. He must obey her if he wants their relationship to last.
3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?
I believe there is an understanding that Edith experiences when she realizes what she has done. She feels guilty for pressuring George to go to far and realizes he would not be dead if she did not basically send him to war herself. In the beginning she doesn’t really feel any remorse because she thinks his death is honorable, but then she begins to hurt and feel distraught over her loss. She experiences an epiphany that brings her back to her ideal world. George’s mother had caused her to revert back to her idealistic life but telling Edith it was basically her fault George died.
The overall message of the passage is that living in reality is better because living in an ideal world is unrealistic and can be precarious and unexpecting.
- “To take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him”
- ” It isn’t this war alone; though this seems peculiarly wanton and needless; but it’s every war –so stupid; it makes me sick.”
- ““He told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didn’t expect that, I suppose, when you sent him.”
2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?
Editha uses a truth tactic and makes George believe that everything she is saying is true. George ultimately has disbeliefs and he begins to feel doubt. When Edith speaks about the “holy war”, this is where his doubt began. She gives George the guilt trip and makes him believe that going to war is well beyond honorable. He must obey her if he wants their relationship to last.
3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?
I believe there is an understanding that Edith experiences when she realizes what she has done. She feels guilty for pressuring George to go to far and realizes he would not be dead if she did not basically send him to war herself. In the beginning she doesn’t really feel any remorse because she thinks his death is honorable, but then she begins to hurt and feel distraught over her loss. She experiences an epiphany that brings her back to her ideal world. George’s mother had caused her to revert back to her idealistic life but telling Edith it was basically her fault George died.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Journal #14 - E. A. Robinson Poems
Realism – The theory or practice in art and literature of fidelity to nature or to real life and to accurate representation without idealization of the most typical views, details, and surroundings of the subject.
Read the following poems and write a detailed description for each of the title characters and explain how each is an example of the “real” instead of the “ideal.”
“Richard Cory“ (497)
Richard Cory is richer than a king. He is a gentlemen from toe to crown. He is the person who everyone looks up to. All the townspeople are aspiring to be like him, yet one day he goes home and shoots himself in the head. This poem is an example how you cannot judge what is on the inside by what is on the outside, or the surface. Ususally the two are completely different. Appearance is significantly different from reality. Cory had a seemingly “perfect life” in the eyes of the townspeople, but his mind was not perfect. It is ironic that the ideal man was really just a man who had stuggles within himself and committed suicide. Richard Cory is rich on the outside but poor on the inside.
“Miniver Cheevy” (497)
Miniver Cheevy was born too late and wishes he was born in the Medieval Times. He is jealous of those who got to live in the times of Knights, Chivalary, swords, and horses. He wanted to escape from the reality of his life, and become a part of what he thought was an ideal life. He gets wrapped up in the fantasy of the past. He drinks to get rid of the real and gets lost in his fantasies. Miniver Cheevy is a minimum achiever. His life is so mundane and monotonus that he wishes he was never born. The era of Medieval Times is his ideal life, but he is stuck in reality. He lived a bitter, insignificant life.
“Mr. Flood’s Party” (498)
Mr. Flood is an older man and either all of his friends are gone or dead. He drinks to create friends in his mind. Mr. Flood floods himself with alcohol in order to have a party. His friends are strangers now. The ideal life for Mr. Flood would be to relive to the past and enjoy moments with his old friends and other people. His reality is that he is lonely. Change has taken over his life. It is ironic how he is throwing a party, because it’s a one person party. You cannot have a party with only one person. His loneliness leads him to do drastic things.
Read the following poems and write a detailed description for each of the title characters and explain how each is an example of the “real” instead of the “ideal.”
“Richard Cory“ (497)
Richard Cory is richer than a king. He is a gentlemen from toe to crown. He is the person who everyone looks up to. All the townspeople are aspiring to be like him, yet one day he goes home and shoots himself in the head. This poem is an example how you cannot judge what is on the inside by what is on the outside, or the surface. Ususally the two are completely different. Appearance is significantly different from reality. Cory had a seemingly “perfect life” in the eyes of the townspeople, but his mind was not perfect. It is ironic that the ideal man was really just a man who had stuggles within himself and committed suicide. Richard Cory is rich on the outside but poor on the inside.
“Miniver Cheevy” (497)
Miniver Cheevy was born too late and wishes he was born in the Medieval Times. He is jealous of those who got to live in the times of Knights, Chivalary, swords, and horses. He wanted to escape from the reality of his life, and become a part of what he thought was an ideal life. He gets wrapped up in the fantasy of the past. He drinks to get rid of the real and gets lost in his fantasies. Miniver Cheevy is a minimum achiever. His life is so mundane and monotonus that he wishes he was never born. The era of Medieval Times is his ideal life, but he is stuck in reality. He lived a bitter, insignificant life.
“Mr. Flood’s Party” (498)
Mr. Flood is an older man and either all of his friends are gone or dead. He drinks to create friends in his mind. Mr. Flood floods himself with alcohol in order to have a party. His friends are strangers now. The ideal life for Mr. Flood would be to relive to the past and enjoy moments with his old friends and other people. His reality is that he is lonely. Change has taken over his life. It is ironic how he is throwing a party, because it’s a one person party. You cannot have a party with only one person. His loneliness leads him to do drastic things.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Journal #13 – Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs (p. 502)
Read “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” and answer the following questions.
1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?
The object that symbolizes George Gray’s life is a sailboat. The furled sail is at rest in the harbor. The furled sail does not symbolize that his journey came to an end, yet it symbolizes how Gray spent his life in fear. “Life” offered him love, sorrow, ambition, and meaning. He shrank from the offer of love. He was afraid to answer the door when sorrow knocked. He dreaded his own chances of being successful when ambition was offered to him. He never let life lead him on a journey like the wind that was capable of carrying the the sails of his boat out of the harbor and to a destination. He realizes that now he is dead, he should have let down his sails and let their desire carry him where they wished. Life without meaning is torture. Gray should have not been afraid of his boat of life, longing for the sea.
2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interepret the last line of the poem?
Lucinda’s life is different from Gray’s in the sense the Gray feels regretful that he did not live his life to the fullest. Lucinda’s epitaph opens with her dancing. This symbolizes happy, celebratory life. She is not complaining because she has lived a full life. She lived to be 96, which is definitely a full life. The other voices she hears from her grave in the graveyard, like the voice of Gray’s, are sad and sorrowful. She offers her perception of life, saying you must live a little in order to love every aspect of life. It takes energy, vitality, and eagerness in order to enjoy the many blessings and activites life offers. Gray’s life is seen as lifeless, and there is a great lack of motion. He has no courage compared to Matlock, who lived a life full of nurturing, adventure, shouting and singing. Matlock knew what it was like to be in love and had other loving people around her. Gray’s life was loveless. Life is more rewarding if lived in the way that Matlock had lived.
3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?
George Gray is an example of realism because his story was a common thing among humanity. He is a simple tragic character that makes several mistakes and lives life in caution like many other people. He searched for the meaning of life but never did anything extraordinary because he was too afraid. Gray died knowing what he did wrong in life. He never took a chance and did not live his life to the fullest. His reality was boring and unexciting. Lucinda is an example of realism because she lived life to the fullest. She experienced happiness and sadness, like any other normal person. Her life was easy, and normal. At her death, she had no regrets because she lived a life or normality and delight. Realistically, she was happy with her normal life. Gray and Matlock’s lives were both lived realistically.
1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?
The object that symbolizes George Gray’s life is a sailboat. The furled sail is at rest in the harbor. The furled sail does not symbolize that his journey came to an end, yet it symbolizes how Gray spent his life in fear. “Life” offered him love, sorrow, ambition, and meaning. He shrank from the offer of love. He was afraid to answer the door when sorrow knocked. He dreaded his own chances of being successful when ambition was offered to him. He never let life lead him on a journey like the wind that was capable of carrying the the sails of his boat out of the harbor and to a destination. He realizes that now he is dead, he should have let down his sails and let their desire carry him where they wished. Life without meaning is torture. Gray should have not been afraid of his boat of life, longing for the sea.
2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interepret the last line of the poem?
Lucinda’s life is different from Gray’s in the sense the Gray feels regretful that he did not live his life to the fullest. Lucinda’s epitaph opens with her dancing. This symbolizes happy, celebratory life. She is not complaining because she has lived a full life. She lived to be 96, which is definitely a full life. The other voices she hears from her grave in the graveyard, like the voice of Gray’s, are sad and sorrowful. She offers her perception of life, saying you must live a little in order to love every aspect of life. It takes energy, vitality, and eagerness in order to enjoy the many blessings and activites life offers. Gray’s life is seen as lifeless, and there is a great lack of motion. He has no courage compared to Matlock, who lived a life full of nurturing, adventure, shouting and singing. Matlock knew what it was like to be in love and had other loving people around her. Gray’s life was loveless. Life is more rewarding if lived in the way that Matlock had lived.
3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?
George Gray is an example of realism because his story was a common thing among humanity. He is a simple tragic character that makes several mistakes and lives life in caution like many other people. He searched for the meaning of life but never did anything extraordinary because he was too afraid. Gray died knowing what he did wrong in life. He never took a chance and did not live his life to the fullest. His reality was boring and unexciting. Lucinda is an example of realism because she lived life to the fullest. She experienced happiness and sadness, like any other normal person. Her life was easy, and normal. At her death, she had no regrets because she lived a life or normality and delight. Realistically, she was happy with her normal life. Gray and Matlock’s lives were both lived realistically.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Journal #12: “Young Goodman Brown”
1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?
Young Goodman Brown – Young Goodman Brown represents good and evil. Faith is what he tries to follow, but evil tempts him to leave his faith. He is an innocent man, tempted with evil.
Faith – Faith is Brown’s spiritual beliefs. In the story, several people are in danger of losing their faith. Faith is like a light. The forest is like darkness. People leave the light to go to into darkness. Brown is fearful of losing his wife to the darkness.
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – The Traveler is most likely the devil. He is the evil component of the story, tempting others and inflicting evil upon others.
Goody Cloyse – Goody Cloyse is the representation of a fake persona. It is like a fallen angel. They fake being a good person, when in reality they are evil.
The Ceremony – The Ceremony is a Baptismal ceremony. It represents going from good faith to evil. It is the renewal of faith in the devil.
The Pink Ribbon – The Pink Ribbon represents purity. When the ribbon gets left behind and he finds it, Brown loses hope in ever having his pure wife back.
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – His journey represents the fall of man. It represents how a man of good faith is not perfect. He is tempted just like everyone else. Nobody is perfect and sometimes temptation is too hard to resist.
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
Sin/Fall of Man Humanity is not perfect Plot/Conflict
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
- “My Faith is gone!” cried he, after one stupefied moment. ‘There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is the world given’”(6).
- “The road grew wilder and drearier and more faintly traced, and vanished at length, leaving him in the heart of the dark wilderness, still rushing onward with the instinct that guides mortal man to evil” (6)
- “Depending upon one another’s hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived……
Young Goodman Brown – Young Goodman Brown represents good and evil. Faith is what he tries to follow, but evil tempts him to leave his faith. He is an innocent man, tempted with evil.
Faith – Faith is Brown’s spiritual beliefs. In the story, several people are in danger of losing their faith. Faith is like a light. The forest is like darkness. People leave the light to go to into darkness. Brown is fearful of losing his wife to the darkness.
The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – The Traveler is most likely the devil. He is the evil component of the story, tempting others and inflicting evil upon others.
Goody Cloyse – Goody Cloyse is the representation of a fake persona. It is like a fallen angel. They fake being a good person, when in reality they are evil.
The Ceremony – The Ceremony is a Baptismal ceremony. It represents going from good faith to evil. It is the renewal of faith in the devil.
The Pink Ribbon – The Pink Ribbon represents purity. When the ribbon gets left behind and he finds it, Brown loses hope in ever having his pure wife back.
Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – His journey represents the fall of man. It represents how a man of good faith is not perfect. He is tempted just like everyone else. Nobody is perfect and sometimes temptation is too hard to resist.
2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:
Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish
Sin/Fall of Man Humanity is not perfect Plot/Conflict
In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.
- “My Faith is gone!” cried he, after one stupefied moment. ‘There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is the world given’”(6).
- “The road grew wilder and drearier and more faintly traced, and vanished at length, leaving him in the heart of the dark wilderness, still rushing onward with the instinct that guides mortal man to evil” (6)
- “Depending upon one another’s hearts, ye had still hoped that virtue were not all a dream. Now are ye undeceived……
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Journal #11 - Selections from Walden
Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)
Thoreau has too many possessions in life. He believes that humans are advancing too fast, and advancement is taking over life. Technology corrupts us. The reason Thoreau lives in the cabin is to revert back to the simplier things in life. Railroads, like technology, are supposed to improve us, yet they ride on our backs.
This excerpt talks about the necessity of simplicity in our lives and how living a life with too many possessions is.
Quote: “Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity”
“We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.”
“Sounds” (234)
Walden talks about all the sounds he heard while actually listening to the world. He loved to just sit out without doing working or seeing anyone and just being peaceful. He was able to stop his life for a little bit and just take a step back from his busy life. He loves life and thinks its an adventure. He doesn’t think nature is a waste of time and its wonderful to sit their and just listen to the sounds.
Quote: “it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothing memorable is accomplished.”
“Brute Neighbors” (235)
A red ant was fighting a black ant that was half an inch longer. They were wrestling with each other and it look not like a duel but a war. It was between two raises of ants (red and black). The black were so big it was frequently found that two red ants equaled one black. The red ants stood for republicans and black ants stand for imperialists. Then a red ant came to the full of excitement. He could see the unfair battle but he charged ready to fight. He ripped the body parts out of the black ant that was nearly twice his size. The man witnessing it was excited to see the minority party that the red ant was representing coming back. The man never found out which party won nor the cause of the war but he was excited to witness the battle before his door.
Quote: “I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants, that it was not a duellium, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted ones to one black” ……. “It was the only battle which I have ever witnessed, the only battlefield I ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine war; the red republicans on the one, and the black imperialists on the other.”
“The Pond in Winter” (237)
Nature, in which all creatures live and flourish, offers no questions. It only gives the answer of pure beauty. Humans do not have to ask Mother Nature to provide wonder and awe, she just shows her true colors through the earth and animals. A pond in winter is beautiful because of its ability to be peaceful, yet underneath the sheet of ice, its orginial life and beauty is still preserved through all seasons of the year. Life is beautiful through any kind of weather. Just because you cannot see something on the surface, the world is still thriving.
Quote: “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head” pg. 237
“Spring” (238)
It is talking about the beginning of Spring, and what Walden goes through in the beginning of Spring. It looks majestic and alive and beholds a great summer ahead. The geese are circling it, and different animals are coming alive. He is saying that Walden is like the beginning of new life with great chaos in it. It’s a time of new beginnings and happiness. Each Spring is like the creation of the world. Spring is a symbol of rebirth.
Quote:
“As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is life the creaytion of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Journal #10 - Insight
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight. What is Othello’s insight? Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.
Othello’s insight comes right before he ends his own life. His insight starts with realizing that he killed his loving wife, Desdemona, because of false reasons. He had killed her because Iago fed him lies about her being unfaithful. He knows that he ruined his whole life because of lies. Before he dies, he tells his friends to write about him and not just say the good things, but tell of his bad characteristics and other things that make him imperfect. He wants people to know he let jealously get the best of him. He wants all to know that you cannot trust even your closest friends, because one of his betrayed him. His insight includes him realizing that you should be careful who you trust and never believe anything you hear unless you hear it for yourself. He wanted to die an honorable death. Now that Desdemona was dead, he had nothing else to live for in his mind. Ultimately, his insight made him realize that honesty is always the best policy.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Journal #9 - Free Will vs. Determinism
Free Will - The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.
Iago: “'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our
gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners” (1.3 361-3).
God gave us the power to have free will; to choose from right and wrong. But what happens when our free will is corrupted by outside forces? It does not matter; we still possess free will and we can freely choose to make our own decisions. Outside forces try to influence our decisions and thoughts. This is what Iago had done to Othello. He tried to make Othello believe that Desdemona was being unfaithful to him and that she was in love with Cassio. Although what Iago was telling Othello was untrue, Othello used his free will and chose to believe what Iago was saying, was true. He chose to be jealous. He let his emotions get the best of him. Othello ends up killing Desdemona. When he found out the truth, he killed himself as a way of punishing himself for his free will choice to be jealous and gullible. Othello had to accept the consequences regardless of how harsh they were. Free will is as much as a gift as it is a curse.
Determinism - The philosophical doctrine that every event, act, and decision is the inevitable consequence of antecedents, such as genetic and environmental influences, that are independent of the human will.
Othello: “Yet ‘tis the plague of great ones … ‘tis destiny unshunnable, like
death” (3.3 313-16).
Certain events, acts, and decisions are the consequences of genetic and environmental forces. Human will does not create events, acts, or decisions. Iago was the dominant outside force that created disastrous events such as the smothering of Desdemona, or the revoke of Cassio as an officer. Othello had preformed these acts, but not by his own human will. Iago filled his head with lies and corruption. It was inevitable that Othello would commit such crimes because Iago was the mastermind behind every act. Iago was holding the strings of a puppet, the puppet being Othello. Iago’s influence was what caused Othello to wrongly use his human will. Iago was without a doubt the poster boy for Determinism. This definition describes Othello perfectly. His involvement in every aspect of the book caused dire consequences.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Journal #8 - Emerson’s Aphorisms
1. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
2. Keep cool: it will all be one a hundred years hence.
3. Society acquires new arts, and loses old instincts.
4. We boil at different degrees.
- Emerson’s point is that everyone has their own, individual breaking point. He wants us to realize when we’re going overboard or pushing ourselves too hard, or when we’re pushing someone else too hard. You do not want to push someone over their edge, because you never know what they are capable of doing. Everyone is different, and so is the way they get aggravated and angry. Beware of the people you know who are short tempered.
5. To be great is to be misunderstood.
6. There are always two parties; the establishment and the movement.
7. When Nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.
8. In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.
- Emerson’s point is that when you are in danger or an argument, how you choose to handle the situation is the key. You are skating over thin ice, which is capable of collapsing. You got yourself into that mess, and you must be calm, cool, and composed in order to save yourself. If you speed through the ice, it will for sure break and you will sink into the icy cold water below it. You will suffer the consequence of your careless actions. If you take your time (slow and steady wins the race) going over the ice, you will ultimately be safer and avoid dire consequences.
9. What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not been discovered.
10. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines.
11. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
12. All sensible people are selfish, and nature is tugging at every contract to make the terms of it fair.
13. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
- Emerson’s point is that life is full of chances and experiments and the more you take a chance or test something out, the more you learn. Life is a learning experience. If you never take a risk or chance your life will never be as beneficial as who someone who does. When you experiment with life, like the way you experiment in the science lab, there is room for error as well as success. Failure is okay, it teaches you a lesson. Success is great, and the more you experiment and have successes, the better your life will be. Remember that there is always a possibility of error, and it is okay. We live, and we learn.
14. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
15. The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Journal #7 William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” (p.151) and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (p.181)
Read the selections and write a detailed response to the following:
1. Compare/contrast the different views of nature that are being presented in the poems. Refer to the list of classical and romantic characteristics and provide specific examples from the poems to support your analysis.
William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” poem portrays the view of nature in ways that mostly reflect the views and thoughts of the writers of the Neo-Classical era. Edgar Allen Poe’s, “The Raven”, portrays the view of nature while reflecting the thoughts and writings of other Romanticism writers. “To a Waterfowl” portrays more transcendentalism than the Raven. The waterfowl is intuitive and majestic. The raven is irrational, evil, and weird.
The tone of “To a Waterfowl is calm and serene. Characteristics of Neo-Classical writing include harmony, balance, and order. These describe the style of the poem. The poem reflects the typical state of nature. Nature is sometimes unpredictable and unbalanced, but when nature is viewed in the Classical way, it is viewed as the Garden of Eden. Lines 2 and 3 of the poem state “while glow the heavens with the last steps of day, Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue”. The lines demonstrate the neo-classical era writing style. The author portrays the setting as a sunset which is classical, beautiful nature. The world is in perfect balance when the sun sets.
The tone of “The Raven” and its setting is opposite of the tone and setting of “To A Waterfowl”. The Raven is dark, horrid, and gloomy compared to the peacefulness and serenity of the waterfowl. The Romantic style of writing is emotional, imaginative, and irrational. Every aspect of the raven seems to be irrational, such as when the raven flies into the home of the narrator and perches itself on the ledge and the speaker begins to talk to the bird. The repetitiveness of the words “nevermore” shows home gloomy and irrational this poem and story is. The tone of the poem is dull, bleak, and overall scary. The very first line, “once upon a midnight dreary…”, sets the tone perfectly because the rest of the poem connotes death and dreadfulness. The setting of the poem is in the speaker’s house, not outside enjoying nature like “To A Waterfowl”.
Despite the many differences between the two poems such as the gloomy, ghastly view of life and nature in “The Raven” compared to the happy, peaceful view of life and nature in “To A Waterfowl”, there are some similarities. In both poems, the message is the same. The speakers are searching for meaning. They are hoping to be guided. They are searching for guidance that will be them a better idea of what life and nature are truly about. Both birds are symbolic and have specific meanings. The speakers yearn to take the birds’ messages into consideration and apply them to their life. Overall, these poem display different views on nature and a different style of writing, but they ultimately share the same message.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Journal #6: Ben Franklin’s The Autobiography (p. 80–83)
Write a well-developed paragraph in response to the following questions.1. Explain what was involved in Franklin’s plan for self-perfection? What conclusion did Franklin come to regarding the effectiveness of this plan?
Franklin’s plan for self-perfection included a listing of thirteen virtues essential for moral perfection. Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility are all the building blocks to achieving moral perfection according to Ben Franklin. Franklin created a day chart in which he focused on one virtue a week, but still keeping track of the other twelve. He would be able to complete focus on all thirteen virtues four times a year, which would be a grand total of fifty-two weeks. Throughout each day, Ben would make a black mark on the virtue he broke. Franklin devised this perfection-plan on a whim to see if he could acquire moral perfection. As time progressed, Franklin realized he was faultier then he thought. He had the toughest time with the virtue of order. The effectiveness of this plan proved to be not so effective. He concluded that a “perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.” In other words, a perfect person is envied for their perfection because it is so rare, so an average man should allow faults in himself in order to be considered human and to keep sane.
2. Do you feel that a plan such as Franklin’s would improve you as a person? Why or why not? What would be your top five virtues?
I feel like Franklin’s plan would improve me as a person because even if you do not achieve perfection, you better yourself as a person by trying. This was Franklin’s intention. It is better to at least try to be perfect and allow faults in yourself, rather than to not try at all. My top five virtues would be order, frugality, sincerity, cleanliness, and humility.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Journal #5 – from Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” (p.95-6)
1. Identify the specific argument that Paine is making in each paragraph. For each of the arguments, identify whether Paine is making an emotional, ethical, or logical appeal and suggest an effective counterargument.
#1
Thomas Paine is arguing that the Americans must stand up against the tyranny of Britain. The longer they wait to gain independence, the more glorious their triumph will be. Their freedom will be highly rated if they take the necessary steps towards independence.
Paine focuses on emotional appeal, to get the readers fired up over the emotions of independence, not the logic of the situation.
An effective counterargument is that since Britain is the mother country of the American colonies, they have the right to tax the colonies.
#2
The argument that Thomas Paine is making is his secret opinion that God the Almighty will not let military powers destroy people who have tried to avoid war by every method that wisdom could have invented. He will protect the peaceful people, and not give them up to the devil.
Paine is making an ethical appeal. He bases his argument mainly on religion and the feelings of God and himself. Paine hints at the Americans as being morally superior over the British.
My suggestion for a counterargument would be, if the King of Britain believed that God gave him his power to rule, why would such a God protect the Americans, who are Britain’s enemy? If God is the leading force behind the British, why would he protect the enemy?
#3
The argument that Paine makes is that war between America and Britain is an inevitable event. Why not get the war out of the way, and not have your children fight? Americas will never be happy until the gain their own independence and freedom from Britain.
Paine is making an ethical appeal. Fight the war now, for the children. Take the burden upon yourself and do not let your children bear the stresses and losses of war.
An effective counterargument would be what would happen if the next generation had no parents because they lost them all in the war? If the war is fought now, what dangers and risks are you taking that could have serious effect your children’s generation.
#4
The argument Paine is making is that we should fight the Britain just as we should fight a thief who breaks into our homes. He is using an analogy to relate the king to a thief.
Paine is making an emotional appeal. He feels as if the king of Britain is a thief and his character is appalling. He believes that the widows, orphans, and the ghosts of the dead America, will come after the king and get revenge on the king because he deserves it.
An effective counterargument would be to argue that the King is not a thief, and he possesses many effective and useful powers.
2. Can you identify any of the logical fallacies that we discussed in Paine’s arguments? If so, which ones? Overall, what do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of Paine’s arguments?
• Non-Sequiter – Paine jumps from taxing, to slavery. There is no logical sequence.
• Sentimental Appeal – Thomas Paine is trying to get the reader’s minds away from the logic of the situation, and appeal to the emotion of gaining independence.
• Aphorism – Paine uses many clever and wise statements about what life will be like without the British.
• Dogmatic – Paine states that God is on the American’s side, which cannot be proven.
• Ad Hominem – Paine attack’s the King of Britain and relates him to “a common murderer”, “a highwayman”, and a “housebreaker”. He attacks the king of Britain personally. What kind of murderous person would ask God for help?
• Begging the Question – If God will not give the Americans up to the British, why would the British ask God for help? It cannot be proven that God will not give up the Americans to the British.
• Hyperbole – “No a man lives on the continent…” No man lives in America that does not believe that America should be free from Britain. Paine makes a very broad assumption here and cannot prove that all Americans are for the war against Britain.
• False Dichotomy – Paine makes the assumption that either you have peace between two countries or war. There is no happy medium.
• Faulty Analogy – Comparing the King to a thief would be a faulty analogy because it is not a fact that the king is a thief. Paine and a majority of the Americans emotionally feel that the king is a thief.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Journal #4: Descriptive Food
Important elements:
1. Concrete/abstract image
2. Multi-sensory image
3. Simile, metaphor, analogy
4. Dominant impression
I speak only the truth when I say you have not lived until you’ve tasted my mother’s famous dirt cake. Composed of only the finest ingredients, it is layers of velvety, vanilla pudding folded in cool whip, and crushed double stuffed Oreos with gummies worms in the mix. The name “dirt cake” is quite deceiving. It looks like dirt, but it most certainly does not taste like it. It is safe to say that it is the best dirt you will ever eat. The very top layer is “dirt” and when you break through that, you dip into the smooth, silky vanilla cool-whipped pudding. It’s like breaking through storm clouds and reaching heaven. Spread evenly throughout is slippery, colorful gummy worms that act as little surprises throughout the desert. With every scoop, you hope to get a handful of the delicious little critters. The last time I had this desert was at my annual block party. It was simply scrumptious. Carol, my mother, outdid herself. The overall taste of this famous dirt cake is cool, delectable, and has the perfect balance of sweetness. This desert isn’t baked, so you cannot smell it, as you would be able to with fudgy brownies. I love hearing the sound of the mixer and the food processor crushing up the double-stuffed Oreos. My neighbor Vince is probably the biggest fan of this dish. If you’re ever at a party with him, be sure to get in line in front of him because he is notorious for helping himself to half the bowl. I know by now your mouth is watering, so you are welcome to ask me for the recipe. This is a must have desert before you go six feet under.
1. Concrete/abstract image
2. Multi-sensory image
3. Simile, metaphor, analogy
4. Dominant impression
I speak only the truth when I say you have not lived until you’ve tasted my mother’s famous dirt cake. Composed of only the finest ingredients, it is layers of velvety, vanilla pudding folded in cool whip, and crushed double stuffed Oreos with gummies worms in the mix. The name “dirt cake” is quite deceiving. It looks like dirt, but it most certainly does not taste like it. It is safe to say that it is the best dirt you will ever eat. The very top layer is “dirt” and when you break through that, you dip into the smooth, silky vanilla cool-whipped pudding. It’s like breaking through storm clouds and reaching heaven. Spread evenly throughout is slippery, colorful gummy worms that act as little surprises throughout the desert. With every scoop, you hope to get a handful of the delicious little critters. The last time I had this desert was at my annual block party. It was simply scrumptious. Carol, my mother, outdid herself. The overall taste of this famous dirt cake is cool, delectable, and has the perfect balance of sweetness. This desert isn’t baked, so you cannot smell it, as you would be able to with fudgy brownies. I love hearing the sound of the mixer and the food processor crushing up the double-stuffed Oreos. My neighbor Vince is probably the biggest fan of this dish. If you’re ever at a party with him, be sure to get in line in front of him because he is notorious for helping himself to half the bowl. I know by now your mouth is watering, so you are welcome to ask me for the recipe. This is a must have desert before you go six feet under.
Journal #3: "No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch"
“No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch” – Ann Hodgman
(The Norton Sampler p.77)
Read the selection and write a one paragraph response to the following questions.
1. Cite three specific examples of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery that you find to be particularly effective.
I find mostly all of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery about K-9 food choices to be rather repugnant. She describes canned dog food with high quality meat as a “lumpy, frightening, bloody, and stringy horror”. Those words used in the same sentence, under any circumstance, are effective to the extent that you should never ingest such a thing. The rancid description of the “dark, dark brown, surrounded by gelatin that was almost black” meat in the Mighty Dog Prime Entrée that Hodgman refused to try was equally effective as the description of the meat in canned dog food. Both descriptions persuaded others to not eat wet dog food. Her encounter with dry dog food was a much better experience but is still not advised. Hodgman stated that Purina O.N.E. dry dog food was “pretty palatable”. This was effective because even though it tasted better, it contained 100 percent more fat. The packaging said Purina O.N.E was the optimum nutrition choice for a dog. When is 100 percent of fat ever healthy for a dog, or anyone for that matter? Never. The moral of her story is that packages are deceiving and look appealing to try, but once actually eaten, it is a whole other story. The descriptions on dog food packages are anything but truthful. Labels lie.
2. What do you think Hodgman’s purpose was in writing this essay? What overall message/meaning do you take from the essay?
I believe that Hodgman’s purpose in writing this essay was to be satirical and provide a message about the curiosity of humans. Hodgman’s is a food critic who has written about human food in Eating Well magazine, satirical pieces in Spy magazine, more than forty children’s books, and several cookbooks. I do believe that Hodgman’s did eat some of the dog food she describes but she humorously adds in remarks such as “can you fry it?”, pertaining to Gaines-burgers dog food. You wouldn’t need to fry a cheeseburger for your dog. Her purpose is to be satirical about the hype of over-exaggerating the packages and labels on dog food that companies do in order to boost their sales. It is a money game. The better dog food sounds to humans, the more they will want to buy it for their dogs. Humans are curious about everything, especially things they would not normally try. I think we can all agree that the message of Hodgman is to say that advertisements are deceiving and human curiosity influences what we feed our pets.
(The Norton Sampler p.77)
Read the selection and write a one paragraph response to the following questions.
1. Cite three specific examples of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery that you find to be particularly effective.
I find mostly all of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery about K-9 food choices to be rather repugnant. She describes canned dog food with high quality meat as a “lumpy, frightening, bloody, and stringy horror”. Those words used in the same sentence, under any circumstance, are effective to the extent that you should never ingest such a thing. The rancid description of the “dark, dark brown, surrounded by gelatin that was almost black” meat in the Mighty Dog Prime Entrée that Hodgman refused to try was equally effective as the description of the meat in canned dog food. Both descriptions persuaded others to not eat wet dog food. Her encounter with dry dog food was a much better experience but is still not advised. Hodgman stated that Purina O.N.E. dry dog food was “pretty palatable”. This was effective because even though it tasted better, it contained 100 percent more fat. The packaging said Purina O.N.E was the optimum nutrition choice for a dog. When is 100 percent of fat ever healthy for a dog, or anyone for that matter? Never. The moral of her story is that packages are deceiving and look appealing to try, but once actually eaten, it is a whole other story. The descriptions on dog food packages are anything but truthful. Labels lie.
2. What do you think Hodgman’s purpose was in writing this essay? What overall message/meaning do you take from the essay?
I believe that Hodgman’s purpose in writing this essay was to be satirical and provide a message about the curiosity of humans. Hodgman’s is a food critic who has written about human food in Eating Well magazine, satirical pieces in Spy magazine, more than forty children’s books, and several cookbooks. I do believe that Hodgman’s did eat some of the dog food she describes but she humorously adds in remarks such as “can you fry it?”, pertaining to Gaines-burgers dog food. You wouldn’t need to fry a cheeseburger for your dog. Her purpose is to be satirical about the hype of over-exaggerating the packages and labels on dog food that companies do in order to boost their sales. It is a money game. The better dog food sounds to humans, the more they will want to buy it for their dogs. Humans are curious about everything, especially things they would not normally try. I think we can all agree that the message of Hodgman is to say that advertisements are deceiving and human curiosity influences what we feed our pets.
Journal #2: "The Death of a Moth"
Annie Dillard – “The Death of a Moth,” from Holy the
Firm R
1. The moths in the essay’s opening are dead. The moth’s bodies are in a confusion of arching strips of chitin, like peeling varnish. They are hollow, empty, and headless. The moths at the campsite are very much alive, yet they catch fire and burn like candle wicks. The dead moths represent people who have no “burning” desire to pursue their passions. The moths getting burned by the candle represent those who are giving it their all to achieve their dreams. The fire moths are going towards the light; they are drawn to light. In order to achieve your dreams, one must give everything and risk it all.
2. The moths who did not try were dead and lifeless like those on the author’s bathroom floor, collecting dust. Dillard wanted her students to pursue passion and achieve greatness. They would have to give everything and risk it all to get what they wanted. Her lesson is to not be like the lifeless, uninspired bathroom floor moths, rather be like the moths that gravitate toward the burning candle, or their own burning desires.
3. There are many references to fire in the essay. For example, Dillard uses fire when describing the burning wick moth, leaving candles burning in her home, and her cat’s tail catching on fire. The larger significance of fire in the essay is to encourage people to go towards the light. She urges others to quench the fires of their desires. Dillard ultimately wishes that her students will become writers, but if not, to find something that they are passionate about and pursue it.
4.
a. Jack London’s quote connects to Dillard’s overall point in a sense that being a spark and starting a fire is better than being dust. Ashes are the aftermath of a fire. Dust is dead. London explains how being alive is better than being dead. Even if you reduce to ashes, you still once were alive. Dillard wants her students and others to go out and conquer their dreams. London reinforces this idea but stating to not waste any time in going out and living.
b. Yeats’ quote connects to Dillard in such a way that both of these authors are involved in education. Education is not humdrum or monotonous, such as filling a bucket up with water. You cannot learn anything that way. Education is a desire to learn. Education is a gift, not a privileged. Education can hit you like lightning and spark your interest to learn and start an unquenchable fire.
c. Kafka uses the reference of an ax such as Dillard did in her essay. An ax is a powerful tool that can be used to break things, or be plainly viewed as something strong. Kafka relates to Dillard because her ultimate goal is for her students to become writers and writers write books. Kafka hopes that books and inspiration will break the frozen ice in everyone and open up a new door, or as Dillard would probably say, start a fire.
Firm R
1. The moths in the essay’s opening are dead. The moth’s bodies are in a confusion of arching strips of chitin, like peeling varnish. They are hollow, empty, and headless. The moths at the campsite are very much alive, yet they catch fire and burn like candle wicks. The dead moths represent people who have no “burning” desire to pursue their passions. The moths getting burned by the candle represent those who are giving it their all to achieve their dreams. The fire moths are going towards the light; they are drawn to light. In order to achieve your dreams, one must give everything and risk it all.
2. The moths who did not try were dead and lifeless like those on the author’s bathroom floor, collecting dust. Dillard wanted her students to pursue passion and achieve greatness. They would have to give everything and risk it all to get what they wanted. Her lesson is to not be like the lifeless, uninspired bathroom floor moths, rather be like the moths that gravitate toward the burning candle, or their own burning desires.
3. There are many references to fire in the essay. For example, Dillard uses fire when describing the burning wick moth, leaving candles burning in her home, and her cat’s tail catching on fire. The larger significance of fire in the essay is to encourage people to go towards the light. She urges others to quench the fires of their desires. Dillard ultimately wishes that her students will become writers, but if not, to find something that they are passionate about and pursue it.
4.
a. Jack London’s quote connects to Dillard’s overall point in a sense that being a spark and starting a fire is better than being dust. Ashes are the aftermath of a fire. Dust is dead. London explains how being alive is better than being dead. Even if you reduce to ashes, you still once were alive. Dillard wants her students and others to go out and conquer their dreams. London reinforces this idea but stating to not waste any time in going out and living.
b. Yeats’ quote connects to Dillard in such a way that both of these authors are involved in education. Education is not humdrum or monotonous, such as filling a bucket up with water. You cannot learn anything that way. Education is a desire to learn. Education is a gift, not a privileged. Education can hit you like lightning and spark your interest to learn and start an unquenchable fire.
c. Kafka uses the reference of an ax such as Dillard did in her essay. An ax is a powerful tool that can be used to break things, or be plainly viewed as something strong. Kafka relates to Dillard because her ultimate goal is for her students to become writers and writers write books. Kafka hopes that books and inspiration will break the frozen ice in everyone and open up a new door, or as Dillard would probably say, start a fire.
Journal #1: Photo Narrative
Rock-a-“Bye” Baby
My name is Kit Raines. All I ever wanted was fame. I wanted to hear the roar of a crowd. I wanted to feel my heart thump with every booming thud of the bass drum. I wanted people to chant my name. Because when it Raines, it pours. I wanted to rock until I could rock no longer. I wanted the money, the power, the fame, and everything else that came with it. I am here to say, be careful what you wish for. All my life I dreamed of fame. I wanted to become the greatest rocker alive just like my daddy, the one and only, Steely Raines. I had a knack for anything that involved music and I could get up and perform in front of anyone. I grew up knowing only what tour buses, hotel rooms, and backstage looked like. The rockstar lifestyle seemed so carefree and liberal. My mother was never around because she couldn’t handle the lifestyle that my father and I both loved deeply. Steely didn’t seem to care about her, so I didn’t either. My father was my rock icon, my idol, and I was his baby. When I was 17 years old, one morning after a long show and a late night, I found him in his hotel room, dead. I’m not going to candy-coat this ending. Everyone deserves to know about the cold, hard, truth about the rockstar lifestyle and my father’s battle with addiction. I was surrounded by drugs and alcohol all my life, but I never knew my father had a problem. I only saw the glitz and glamour of being a rockstar and I thought it was normal to have a couple drinks here, pop a couple pills there. I wanted fame and everything that came with it. But I didn’t want the ailment of addiction. I never thought fame would get the best of the father. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. So, today I rock for a different reason. I rock so that my voice will be heard. I rock out to teach others that addition is a serious problem and it shouldn’t be ignored. The bigger your fame, the bigger your responsibility is. If you’re going to dream big, be smart enough to know exactly what to wish for, because you might just get it. We all can make a difference.
My name is Kit Raines. All I ever wanted was fame. I wanted to hear the roar of a crowd. I wanted to feel my heart thump with every booming thud of the bass drum. I wanted people to chant my name. Because when it Raines, it pours. I wanted to rock until I could rock no longer. I wanted the money, the power, the fame, and everything else that came with it. I am here to say, be careful what you wish for. All my life I dreamed of fame. I wanted to become the greatest rocker alive just like my daddy, the one and only, Steely Raines. I had a knack for anything that involved music and I could get up and perform in front of anyone. I grew up knowing only what tour buses, hotel rooms, and backstage looked like. The rockstar lifestyle seemed so carefree and liberal. My mother was never around because she couldn’t handle the lifestyle that my father and I both loved deeply. Steely didn’t seem to care about her, so I didn’t either. My father was my rock icon, my idol, and I was his baby. When I was 17 years old, one morning after a long show and a late night, I found him in his hotel room, dead. I’m not going to candy-coat this ending. Everyone deserves to know about the cold, hard, truth about the rockstar lifestyle and my father’s battle with addiction. I was surrounded by drugs and alcohol all my life, but I never knew my father had a problem. I only saw the glitz and glamour of being a rockstar and I thought it was normal to have a couple drinks here, pop a couple pills there. I wanted fame and everything that came with it. But I didn’t want the ailment of addiction. I never thought fame would get the best of the father. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. So, today I rock for a different reason. I rock so that my voice will be heard. I rock out to teach others that addition is a serious problem and it shouldn’t be ignored. The bigger your fame, the bigger your responsibility is. If you’re going to dream big, be smart enough to know exactly what to wish for, because you might just get it. We all can make a difference.
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