I think the best comparison I can make between two blog posts would be between my post on "Girl" and my post on Zadie Smith's essay. While I will stand by what I wrote about "Girl," it is clear when comparing the two that at the earlier date, I was not fully reading into the text and into what everything meant in the story, I just took everything at face value. However, later in the quarter, my analysis of Smith's essay shows more care into what I was reading, naturally a result of looking at texts in a more analytical way.
Because the blog was public, I always tried my best not to look foolish in the ways that I wrote blog posts. While trying to maintain a professional and formal attitude in blogs, since it was for a class, I also tried to be easy to relate to, because the blogs were not meant just for a professor. For the most part, however, I did keep in mind that it was the professor who was grading me.
To be completely honest about my commenting, I was often a bit confused about what to say. It is pretty easy to just agree with someone, but I often found it hard to be completely helpful. However, I did do my best to offer different interpretations and opinions, and hopefully it helped someone to feel more confident about his or her writing.
In the same way, the comments of others did help me to feel more confident about my writing and analysis than anything else. There is nothing quite like the positive views of my peers on my writing, because at least I know that most people I will interact with can understand what I am trying to say.
When looking at all of my posts, I feel the best is probably the one I did for "Job History," because it reflects how I felt about that story the best. That story was among my favorites from the class, and I feel that it shows in my writing about it. On the other hand, I feel that my worst post was on the differences between the two versions of "Catastrophe." I put this post up very late, and for the most part I was rushing and did not explain the meanings in the play enough.
Overall, the blog posting for English 250 was very helpful, because it forced me to put into practice what the class demanded. By writing my own opinions and reading those of others, it helped to become and overall better analyzer, because after all, practice makes perfect. I feel that my largest improvement overall was my ability to look at metaphors and symbolism and be able to figure out what each means more than I was able to before the class.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Essay Topic
For my final paper I have decided to analyze "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," by Ursula K. Le Guin. As of right now, I plan on writing the essay about the use of the scapegoat in the story. The most interesting question the story raises is whether or not it would be worth living in a wonderful place if someone had to suffer for it, and whether or not you would walk away. In the same way, it may also be important to address what this story has to say about our society, because obviously there are a lot of people who suffer or live unhappy lives in order to support another person's dream. Clearly, some people are willing to pay whatever the cost is for happiness, but I want to explore whether or not that is right and what the story says about that.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Zadie Smith's Essay
In the essay "Dead Man Laughing," Zadie Smith likens her father to a comedian named Hancock. Zadie explains that Harvey, her father, is like Hancock in many ways, as Hancock was "quintessentially English, poorly educated, working-class war veteran with social and intellectual aspirations." This explanation of Hancock, as well as a few other lines in the essay, shed some light on who Harvey was and how we may perceive him. First and foremost, Harvey comes off as being somewhat of a tragic figure, as Smith explains him to be much like Hancock by being unable to "pull himself out of the hole he was born in." The fact that Harvey was such a fan of this character shows that he could in some way connect with him, that he understood and loved the endless hopefulness and imminent disappointment of Hancock's sitcom life.
Other moments in the essay point toward Harvey being a proud man, though he did not have great standing in social class. He sounds like he is very blue-collar and hard working, but he does not have much to show from all the work that he has done. Aside from successfully raising a family, which is very noteworthy, it seems like he probably never went very far or did too much. Because Harvey could probably see all these traits in himself, whether consciously or subconsciously, he fell in love with the character on television that mirrored him, that he could connect with.
Other moments in the essay point toward Harvey being a proud man, though he did not have great standing in social class. He sounds like he is very blue-collar and hard working, but he does not have much to show from all the work that he has done. Aside from successfully raising a family, which is very noteworthy, it seems like he probably never went very far or did too much. Because Harvey could probably see all these traits in himself, whether consciously or subconsciously, he fell in love with the character on television that mirrored him, that he could connect with.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Still Catching Up
This is the other blog post I missed earlier this quarter:
Originally Due: Tuesday, 2/3
Differences in "Catastrophe"
One of the differences found between the two versions of "Catastrophe" is the moment when the director asks his assistant for "a light." In the script by Beckett, the director needs a match to light a cigar, while in the film by Pinter, he needs a flashlight to read a book. Also different between the versions was the direction of the play. In the script, the director is not very interested in the quality of the play, he only hopes that it gets finished quickly. In the film, however, the director seems to care a bit more about the outcome because he frequently refers to his book for help. Another difference is the assistant's actions towards the director. In the film, she never appears aggravated by the actions of the director, while in the script there are negative reactions towards him. The differences between the versions are subtle, but there do seem to be different tones and feelings associated with each of them. Personally, I found the script version to be a bit darker and also more realistic or human.
Originally Due: Tuesday, 2/3
Differences in "Catastrophe"
One of the differences found between the two versions of "Catastrophe" is the moment when the director asks his assistant for "a light." In the script by Beckett, the director needs a match to light a cigar, while in the film by Pinter, he needs a flashlight to read a book. Also different between the versions was the direction of the play. In the script, the director is not very interested in the quality of the play, he only hopes that it gets finished quickly. In the film, however, the director seems to care a bit more about the outcome because he frequently refers to his book for help. Another difference is the assistant's actions towards the director. In the film, she never appears aggravated by the actions of the director, while in the script there are negative reactions towards him. The differences between the versions are subtle, but there do seem to be different tones and feelings associated with each of them. Personally, I found the script version to be a bit darker and also more realistic or human.
Better Late Than Never
I missed a couple blog postings earlier in the quarter, so I am going to do them now:
Originally Due: Thursday, 1/22
John Donne, "The Flea"
"The Flea" is a poem about a love affair, or maybe more like a wanted love affair. In the poem, the speaker seems to envy a flea for being able to be familiar with the object of his desire, an unnamed woman. To the speaker, it is unfair that this insect is able to have intimate knowledge of the one he loves, while the speaker himself is unable to touch her in any way. In a way, however, the flea is something of a spectacle to the speaker, because in the flea, the blood of both himself and the one he loves can "mingle." To the speaker this is enough for the two to be "more than married." The speaker goes on to be in a state of confusion or depression when he further explores the situation. As he sees it, if he were to have sex with the woman he desires, no more damage would be done to her image or honor than if the flea were to die.
I initially found the use of a flea as an object of love to be pretty different, until I noticed the note in the book that it was commonly found in Renaissance poetry. This is interesting to me, because I have never thought to use insects as something to be admired or envied, only a dirty or unwanted things. Because of this, I was initially expecting the poem to speak towards love with negative connotations, but quite the opposite was true. While the imagery and symbolism of blood-sucking insects does not usually bring about ideas of love, the way Donne uses it in "The Flea" is superb and effective.
Originally Due: Thursday, 1/22
John Donne, "The Flea"
"The Flea" is a poem about a love affair, or maybe more like a wanted love affair. In the poem, the speaker seems to envy a flea for being able to be familiar with the object of his desire, an unnamed woman. To the speaker, it is unfair that this insect is able to have intimate knowledge of the one he loves, while the speaker himself is unable to touch her in any way. In a way, however, the flea is something of a spectacle to the speaker, because in the flea, the blood of both himself and the one he loves can "mingle." To the speaker this is enough for the two to be "more than married." The speaker goes on to be in a state of confusion or depression when he further explores the situation. As he sees it, if he were to have sex with the woman he desires, no more damage would be done to her image or honor than if the flea were to die.
I initially found the use of a flea as an object of love to be pretty different, until I noticed the note in the book that it was commonly found in Renaissance poetry. This is interesting to me, because I have never thought to use insects as something to be admired or envied, only a dirty or unwanted things. Because of this, I was initially expecting the poem to speak towards love with negative connotations, but quite the opposite was true. While the imagery and symbolism of blood-sucking insects does not usually bring about ideas of love, the way Donne uses it in "The Flea" is superb and effective.
How to Talk to Your Mother (Notes)
The short story by Lorrie Moore has a pretty cool style about it. The story moves in reverse chronological order, briefly explaining moments from different years in the life of the main character, Virginia. Beginning in 1982 when she is around 43 and going back to her birth in 1939, the story covers her relationship with her parents, particularly her mother, as well as her thought processes based around the different political and social changes in her lifetime. Also very important in the story is her feelings towards babies at different times in her life as well as the several abortions she has.
The style in which the story is told has interesting effects on how I felt toward it. Similar to last weeks "Job History," the brief moments in this story shed light not on the entire arc of the narrative, but rather on the small, important moments that show who the person is and how she changes throughout time. Also, by going in reverse, there is more emphasis on where the story came from than where the story is going. While it is not exactly orthodox, the style of this story really appealed to me, and I thought it was good.
The style in which the story is told has interesting effects on how I felt toward it. Similar to last weeks "Job History," the brief moments in this story shed light not on the entire arc of the narrative, but rather on the small, important moments that show who the person is and how she changes throughout time. Also, by going in reverse, there is more emphasis on where the story came from than where the story is going. While it is not exactly orthodox, the style of this story really appealed to me, and I thought it was good.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
"Job History"
The short story "Job History" by Annie Proulx has a pretty cool structure. The story is told in an informative way that comes off as pretty straightforward, while remaining unhappy at the same time. By telling the story like a series of facts, Proulx shows very honestly what has happened to the characters without any type of sugar-coating. The thing I enjoyed about the structure was that Proulx included many small details from different moments in the life of Leeland and his family. These moments in the story can seem unimportant until one realizes that these small moments and memories are what lifetimes are made of, that even the most momentary and mundane things stick with people and shape who they are.
The metaphor in the story that stood out the most to me was the taxidermy business. I viewed the taxidermists as showing why small town America may never really thrive. For instance, the taxidermists pose animals in uncommon positions, like the coyote posed to urinate on a trap. By doing this, the Californians show that they do not exactly hold the same view of the world as the people in Wyoming, and the people in town like to make jokes about the coyote, or the views of the different people. After struggling in Unique, the taxidermists leave the little town in their dust, showing that in small towns where people are set in their ways, differences are not always accepted, and things never really change.
The metaphor in the story that stood out the most to me was the taxidermy business. I viewed the taxidermists as showing why small town America may never really thrive. For instance, the taxidermists pose animals in uncommon positions, like the coyote posed to urinate on a trap. By doing this, the Californians show that they do not exactly hold the same view of the world as the people in Wyoming, and the people in town like to make jokes about the coyote, or the views of the different people. After struggling in Unique, the taxidermists leave the little town in their dust, showing that in small towns where people are set in their ways, differences are not always accepted, and things never really change.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid
The short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid is an interesting text. The story, only about one page in length, is a series of lessons a Mother gives to her Daughter. The content of the lessons seem to be, to a certain point, fairly trivial; the Mother is often telling the girl different ways to cook, clean, or present herself to the public. With this, we can see that the mother does not expect the daughter to do much more than become a housewife. Another interesting thing about this story is that it is all presented in one sentence, using commas and semicolons to separate different ideas. Thanks to this formatting, the story seems to flow continuously, at an almost hurried, uncaring pace.
To me, one of the more important recurring lines was when the Mother, on several occasions refers, to the "slut" that the daughter is waiting to become. With these examples, and the others listed before, it becomes clear that the Mother feels some kind of anger towards the Daughter. The Mother does not believe that the daughter could become a person capable of taking care of things outside of a trivial realm.
According to the introduction to the story, the metaphor of Mother to Daughter could be seen as a real life relationship between larger, more powerful countries and smaller commonwealth countries. This is an interesting interpretation for this story, and it seems to work very well in that a more powerful country may never expect a smaller country to become independent.
To me, one of the more important recurring lines was when the Mother, on several occasions refers, to the "slut" that the daughter is waiting to become. With these examples, and the others listed before, it becomes clear that the Mother feels some kind of anger towards the Daughter. The Mother does not believe that the daughter could become a person capable of taking care of things outside of a trivial realm.
According to the introduction to the story, the metaphor of Mother to Daughter could be seen as a real life relationship between larger, more powerful countries and smaller commonwealth countries. This is an interesting interpretation for this story, and it seems to work very well in that a more powerful country may never expect a smaller country to become independent.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
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