Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Homework for 1/31/08
Hills Like White Elephants
1. The couple in the story are arguing about abortion. I did not get this when I first read the story, but now it makes much more sense. In the first half of the story the man is telling the girl about the operation and it is obvious that he is the one that is for it, he assures that it is "awfully simple" and "perfectly natural." The girl's silence and questioning nature back to him talking shows that she is a little hesitant or even against the idea, but seems to agree since he wants it. In the second half of the story them man says that he wants her to go through with it, but she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to. The girl is upset but still seems willing to do it for him.
Girl
3. One character, the mother says much more than the other, the girl to emphasize that she is one telling her what to do. It shows that she is bossy and is always telling her how things should be done. The girls little speach in the story shows that she is possibly even afraid to speak up against her mother, or possibly just respectful of when she is talking.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
2. The police officers means that since he is a minority driving around a rich white suburban neighborhood at night, they think he dangerous and may rob or kill someone. The narrator definitely takes this as the type of prejudice he is used to dealing with. He is a young minority with long hair, of course he looks dangerous to most people.
1. The couple in the story are arguing about abortion. I did not get this when I first read the story, but now it makes much more sense. In the first half of the story the man is telling the girl about the operation and it is obvious that he is the one that is for it, he assures that it is "awfully simple" and "perfectly natural." The girl's silence and questioning nature back to him talking shows that she is a little hesitant or even against the idea, but seems to agree since he wants it. In the second half of the story them man says that he wants her to go through with it, but she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to. The girl is upset but still seems willing to do it for him.
Girl
3. One character, the mother says much more than the other, the girl to emphasize that she is one telling her what to do. It shows that she is bossy and is always telling her how things should be done. The girls little speach in the story shows that she is possibly even afraid to speak up against her mother, or possibly just respectful of when she is talking.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
2. The police officers means that since he is a minority driving around a rich white suburban neighborhood at night, they think he dangerous and may rob or kill someone. The narrator definitely takes this as the type of prejudice he is used to dealing with. He is a young minority with long hair, of course he looks dangerous to most people.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Homework for 1/29/08
"Golden Grove"
The first translation of Golden Grove is written in a more poetic artistic wording, but it can be confusing and harder to follow. The second translation is easier to read because it is written in a very straightforward modern style. The different translations read differently but overall still tell the same story, but with slightly different meanings. When translating the meaning may be interpreted or changed differently by different people, just the same as a poem can be read different ways and different meanings can be taken. This makes it hard to say for which poem is better, but I found the second translation more enjoyable to read because it was easier to read and visualize the imagery. Both poems are very emotional and visual with the words used and descriptions. The second translation is necessarily better, its just different and I enjoyed it more.
"Girl"
This is a comedic poem filled with the advice told from a mother or grandmother to a young woman. They range from tip to household chores, to scoldings and warning of her becoming a slut, to things dealing with men. It is written very informally with each phrase separated by semicolons. The young woman only has two lines of speech in the text, and this helps give the image of the bossy mother telling her what to do all the time. She tells her how to do everything and how to act in every situation. I feel like this was written by the author in memory of her upbringing but it is told in a funny way especially how it ends.
The first translation of Golden Grove is written in a more poetic artistic wording, but it can be confusing and harder to follow. The second translation is easier to read because it is written in a very straightforward modern style. The different translations read differently but overall still tell the same story, but with slightly different meanings. When translating the meaning may be interpreted or changed differently by different people, just the same as a poem can be read different ways and different meanings can be taken. This makes it hard to say for which poem is better, but I found the second translation more enjoyable to read because it was easier to read and visualize the imagery. Both poems are very emotional and visual with the words used and descriptions. The second translation is necessarily better, its just different and I enjoyed it more.
"Girl"
This is a comedic poem filled with the advice told from a mother or grandmother to a young woman. They range from tip to household chores, to scoldings and warning of her becoming a slut, to things dealing with men. It is written very informally with each phrase separated by semicolons. The young woman only has two lines of speech in the text, and this helps give the image of the bossy mother telling her what to do all the time. She tells her how to do everything and how to act in every situation. I feel like this was written by the author in memory of her upbringing but it is told in a funny way especially how it ends.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Freewrite
Shepherd: Care Wise Pastoral Old Man Guider Sheep
Desert: Dry lifeless barren hot sand desolate
Universe: Large Empty Space Vacant Cold Air-less
Desert: Dry lifeless barren hot sand desolate
Universe: Large Empty Space Vacant Cold Air-less
Warm-Up and Freewrite
Definitions:
Close Reading: To me close reading means something that happens when you are reading deeply for meaning or for fun. If you are reading for personal enjoyment you may easily begin reading closely without knowing it. If you are reading for academic purposes then you may have to read the text closely a few times to analyze it.
Pastoral: Something spiritual or relgious. I'm guessing the word is related to Pastor.
OED: I. A person or thing associated with spiritual care.
Mistress: A woman of power.
OED: I. A woman having control or authority.
Nymph: A mythological female being.
OED: 1. Chiefly Classical Mythol. Any of a class of semi-divine spirits, imagined as taking the form of a maiden inhabiting the sea, rivers, mountains, woods, trees, etc., and often portrayed in poetry as attendants on a particular god.
Close Reading: To me close reading means something that happens when you are reading deeply for meaning or for fun. If you are reading for personal enjoyment you may easily begin reading closely without knowing it. If you are reading for academic purposes then you may have to read the text closely a few times to analyze it.
Pastoral: Something spiritual or relgious. I'm guessing the word is related to Pastor.
OED: I. A person or thing associated with spiritual care.
Mistress: A woman of power.
OED: I. A woman having control or authority.
Nymph: A mythological female being.
OED: 1. Chiefly Classical Mythol. Any of a class of semi-divine spirits, imagined as taking the form of a maiden inhabiting the sea, rivers, mountains, woods, trees, etc., and often portrayed in poetry as attendants on a particular god.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Homework for 01/24/08
In The Desert:
The writer is in the desert and he sees this creature, but the creature speaks to him so maybe it is a human. He says the creature is naked and beastlike and is eating his own heart. Maybe its a metaphor for since its not likely that it is eating its own heart. He speaks to the creature and the creature likes the bitter taste of its own heart. Why is the writer in the desert? Why is the creature in the desert? Maybe the writer is hallucinating and what he sees is an outward projection of something within himself.
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love:
The Passionate Shepherd tells of the many things he promises to his love. He wishes for her to come and be with him to enjoy the many things he says he can give her. Singing birds, flowers, fine wool, fancy clothes, gold, and many other superficial things. There is more to love than these material objects but I guess it does not matter to him. The shepherd thinks with his possessions he can get the girl of his dreams.
The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd:
This poem is a reply written in response to the last poem I mentioned. It written from the point of view of the girl. It is turning down the shepherd in a very cynical but realistic way. She is saying that all the things he promises to her will not last and neither will love. It is sad and pessimistic but she makes a good point, even though this poem is also written by a man.
Practice 6-D:
Black Elvis: Black Elvis is much like what you think the name would be, but it is also a good representation of how the character sees himself. He is a black man musician who plays rock and roll and wants to be like Elvis. He wants to be a successful musician but he knows he might not have the talent or the originality it takes. In some ways he is a typical older black man who deals with poverty and other problems, but he has the heart of a musician and wants to be like Elvis.
Practice 6-E:
Grandmother: When most people hear the word grandmother, they probably either think of their grandmother like I do or the archetype of grandmothers they have always heard/seen. If it is their own grandmother they might think of the defining characteristics in that person, such as their voice, face, or personality. They might think of the care and niceness their grandmother always showed them. Maybe they think of hugs and cookies too.
The writer is in the desert and he sees this creature, but the creature speaks to him so maybe it is a human. He says the creature is naked and beastlike and is eating his own heart. Maybe its a metaphor for since its not likely that it is eating its own heart. He speaks to the creature and the creature likes the bitter taste of its own heart. Why is the writer in the desert? Why is the creature in the desert? Maybe the writer is hallucinating and what he sees is an outward projection of something within himself.
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love:
The Passionate Shepherd tells of the many things he promises to his love. He wishes for her to come and be with him to enjoy the many things he says he can give her. Singing birds, flowers, fine wool, fancy clothes, gold, and many other superficial things. There is more to love than these material objects but I guess it does not matter to him. The shepherd thinks with his possessions he can get the girl of his dreams.
The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd:
This poem is a reply written in response to the last poem I mentioned. It written from the point of view of the girl. It is turning down the shepherd in a very cynical but realistic way. She is saying that all the things he promises to her will not last and neither will love. It is sad and pessimistic but she makes a good point, even though this poem is also written by a man.
Practice 6-D:
Black Elvis: Black Elvis is much like what you think the name would be, but it is also a good representation of how the character sees himself. He is a black man musician who plays rock and roll and wants to be like Elvis. He wants to be a successful musician but he knows he might not have the talent or the originality it takes. In some ways he is a typical older black man who deals with poverty and other problems, but he has the heart of a musician and wants to be like Elvis.
Practice 6-E:
Grandmother: When most people hear the word grandmother, they probably either think of their grandmother like I do or the archetype of grandmothers they have always heard/seen. If it is their own grandmother they might think of the defining characteristics in that person, such as their voice, face, or personality. They might think of the care and niceness their grandmother always showed them. Maybe they think of hugs and cookies too.
Homework for 01/22/08
Beyond Words: Pages 18-42. 20 Questions
Most people probably do not think much about they way they read. It is obviously more enjoyable when you are reading for enjoyment. When reading for academic purposes it is easy to lose track and be lost. The ideas presented in the book (annotation, skeleton outline, summary) are probably very helpful and effective when used. Reading for Academics still may be a pain, and you may have to force yourself to put in the extra effort to try these techniques, but when you try these at least you can have a better understanding of the material. I'll even admit that I am skeptical and lazy, but I'm pretty sure they will work.
4. Define “genre.” - A genre is a category that a work can be sorted into to fit with others that share similar defining features.
5. Why is it important to examine the conventions of a text? To understand what the work consists of and to appreciate when conventions are defied, parodied, bent, borrowed or created.
17. Define “perspective.” Perspective is the illusion of depth in a painting.
19. Why does the Wall Street Journal use hedcuts rather than photographs? Hedcuts support the printed text rather than distract from it.
20. Indicate one section from the assigned reading that you found either interesting or challenging. Explain why. - I found the comparisons of literature and written word to visual art interesting because good examples were used.
Strategies:Most people probably do not think much about they way they read. It is obviously more enjoyable when you are reading for enjoyment. When reading for academic purposes it is easy to lose track and be lost. The ideas presented in the book (annotation, skeleton outline, summary) are probably very helpful and effective when used. Reading for Academics still may be a pain, and you may have to force yourself to put in the extra effort to try these techniques, but when you try these at least you can have a better understanding of the material. I'll even admit that I am skeptical and lazy, but I'm pretty sure they will work.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
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