I read The Minister's Black Veil in our literature book tonight, and I found it rather interesting. I think that I could find a lot of exampls in this story that were similar to that of dark romanticism. I think that there are really a couple of points that stuck out the most to me from this story.
I think that dark romanticism has a lot to do with human nature, and how we are naturally all evil. The Minister's Black Veil has a lot to do with human nature and the evil things we do and assume. The minister in this town was very well known from what I could tell, and the way that this story put it, it kind of seemed that the minister and the church were kind of a big thing around there. The main part of this story is when the minister arrives, and all of the people are so shocked because he is wearing this black thing on his face that covers everything but his chin and his mouth. They did not really know what to think of this black veil, and everyone was really quick to judge him on it. I think that they were a little too quick to judge in my eyes. I know that it would be weird to see that, but I also know that I would want to know what it was and what it meant before I just went and judged him. I think is just showing us how human nature can be so naturally evil. We are all so quick to judge. I think this is where I saw the most similarity to dark romanticism. What we see when we study dark romanticism the most is how they are very big believers in that human nature is so evil at times.
I think that the big point in The Minister's Black Veil is that we all have things to hide. We all have sins that we do not want others to know of. Just like we wrote in our blogs, we all where masks sometimes to cover up our wrong doings or sins. We might not literally wear one like the minister did, but we do put up walls. I think that we all make mistakes, and we all have to live with them. I think the minister was just wearing his veil to make a point. In my eyes, he was showing that he sins and a lot and so do others. I think that he was just wearing it on his face to get a point across to others. Another thing that the minister was trying to do in my eyes, was that he wore that mask to test the people of his congregation. I do not think that the story came right out and say that, but I could tell from reading it. He wanted to see if people would judge him or not, and they did. They immediatly judged him and thought of their own reasonings.
I think that this was a good story, and we could learn a lot from it. I think that we should not be so quick to judge, because everyone makes mistakes.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Journal #25- Wearing "Masks"
People wear masks all of the time. We get in situations that we do not want to be in sometimes, and we get very uncomfortable and we do not always know what to do. We just try to put on masks so that people will not notice us in certain situations. We think that if we just sit there and not do much that no- one will know who we are or even notice that we are there.
I think that we put masks on a lot in school. We have kids that think that they are not in the "in" crowd, so they just put up walls and put on masks, so that people will not notice that they are there. I think these masks are ones that the kids will just try and not be very active with in the school, and will just go from class to class without being notice. I think some times we put on masks when they are not needed. I think that popularity is not a big deal. I think that people think that because they may not be in the in crowd that they never will be. I think that people should know that they should take off their masks every once in awhile and know that we will talk to anyone.
I think another time that people put on their masks is when they are at church. I think that we think that we may not be good enough, or we "sinned" too much this week. I think that people will try to hide themselves, because they think that they might not be seen, or people will not notice them. Sometimes, when people go to church they do not want to talk to many people in fear that they will have to talk to people and they might notice that they were not a good or something. I think that people think that they will not be as good as others.
I think that we put masks on a lot in school. We have kids that think that they are not in the "in" crowd, so they just put up walls and put on masks, so that people will not notice that they are there. I think these masks are ones that the kids will just try and not be very active with in the school, and will just go from class to class without being notice. I think some times we put on masks when they are not needed. I think that popularity is not a big deal. I think that people think that because they may not be in the in crowd that they never will be. I think that people should know that they should take off their masks every once in awhile and know that we will talk to anyone.
I think another time that people put on their masks is when they are at church. I think that we think that we may not be good enough, or we "sinned" too much this week. I think that people will try to hide themselves, because they think that they might not be seen, or people will not notice them. Sometimes, when people go to church they do not want to talk to many people in fear that they will have to talk to people and they might notice that they were not a good or something. I think that people think that they will not be as good as others.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Pit and the Pendulum was a long story that we read during class. Edgar Allan Poe was the author of this story. I think that it was kind of a hard story to follow along with, because it was so boring. I did not really think what was going on in the story was that interesting, but that does not matter. The Pit and the Pendulum, I noticed, did have a lot of examples of Dark Romanticism. I think this whole story was very dark. Everything that was happening in the story such as the setting, what he was going through, and his tone all set kind of a dark story.
Dark romanticism was used a lot in the 18th century and also in the 60's and 80's in music. Edgar Allen Poe was one that was known to write about dark romanticism. I saw a lot of examples of Edgar Allan Poe talking about and using the examples of dark romanticism. There was a lot of talking about death in The Pit and the Pendulum. In my eyes, death is the main basis of dark romanticism. The story was talking the whole time about all of the sufferings he went through and how the main character was in jail.
The Pit and the Pendulum talks about a narrator who is coming to a time of death and he is getting this punishment from the judges of the Spanish Inquisition. He did not just die, he got tortured a lot before, "including being bound beneath a scythe pendulum that descends ever closer to his chest as it swings back and forth, and being forced toward a fathomless pit" (Poe). Dark Romanticism was about these kinds of things, because the main part of this story was a guy that got tortured before his death. I think that he went through things that no- one would ever want to go through, which reminds me of dark romanticism also because it is a subject that not a lot of people like.
I looked up a criticism on The Pit and the Pendulum, and I actually got some good information from it. Edgar Allen Poe was the only one that really had good criticims on this story, which was kind of weird considering he was the author of this story. Edgar has done this a lot though. "The Pit and the Pendulum" illustrates Poe's authorial belief in the "unity of design," the principle that all elements of a piece must work toward a single effect embodied in the narrator and shared by the reader." (Poe). I think that this was the main point of Poe's story, and I think that there are points from this that you can compare with dark romanticism. I think this is related to Dark Romanticism by the meaning of the single effect. The single effect that he is talking about is the terror of being faced with death with hard conditions and all of the things that he had to go through that was very brutal before his death. I think that this person was going through a dark time that turned into a time of death, which reminds us a lot of dark romanticism.
E. N. S. "'The Pit and the Pendulum'." In Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0722&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 29, 2010).
Dark romanticism was used a lot in the 18th century and also in the 60's and 80's in music. Edgar Allen Poe was one that was known to write about dark romanticism. I saw a lot of examples of Edgar Allan Poe talking about and using the examples of dark romanticism. There was a lot of talking about death in The Pit and the Pendulum. In my eyes, death is the main basis of dark romanticism. The story was talking the whole time about all of the sufferings he went through and how the main character was in jail.
The Pit and the Pendulum talks about a narrator who is coming to a time of death and he is getting this punishment from the judges of the Spanish Inquisition. He did not just die, he got tortured a lot before, "including being bound beneath a scythe pendulum that descends ever closer to his chest as it swings back and forth, and being forced toward a fathomless pit" (Poe). Dark Romanticism was about these kinds of things, because the main part of this story was a guy that got tortured before his death. I think that he went through things that no- one would ever want to go through, which reminds me of dark romanticism also because it is a subject that not a lot of people like.
I looked up a criticism on The Pit and the Pendulum, and I actually got some good information from it. Edgar Allen Poe was the only one that really had good criticims on this story, which was kind of weird considering he was the author of this story. Edgar has done this a lot though. "The Pit and the Pendulum" illustrates Poe's authorial belief in the "unity of design," the principle that all elements of a piece must work toward a single effect embodied in the narrator and shared by the reader." (Poe). I think that this was the main point of Poe's story, and I think that there are points from this that you can compare with dark romanticism. I think this is related to Dark Romanticism by the meaning of the single effect. The single effect that he is talking about is the terror of being faced with death with hard conditions and all of the things that he had to go through that was very brutal before his death. I think that this person was going through a dark time that turned into a time of death, which reminds us a lot of dark romanticism.
E. N. S. "'The Pit and the Pendulum'." In Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0722&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 29, 2010).
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Raven Analysis
The Raven was a poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. The Raven is one of the most recongnized poems in American Literature. He is a well known author all around. He wrote this poem obvisouly about a raven that had been haunting him for awhile. I looked up criticisms on his poem and came up with a good one that discussed the composition of the Raven. The reason that this criticism stuck out the most to me was because Edgar Allen Poe was the author of the criticism. I thought that kind of seemed weird to write a criticism on your own poem, but oh well! I also thought that it would actually kind of mean a lot to some people, because he knew that his writings were not perfect and could always use a touch up in some areas. As reading the poem anaylsis I also found the poem closely follows the rhyme scheme of Elizabeth Barrett's "Lady Geraldine's Courtship." Poe really looked to Barrett's work, and decided to dedicate The Raven and Other Poems to her (Poe). I thought that was a good clip of information, because it was kind of cool that he had someone that he admired that much.
The criticism was based on the ideas that were going through Edgar Allen Poe's head as he was writing the poem, and he was now letting all of his thoughts out now that the poem had already been released. Poe described the reasoniing behind most things in his poem. He also broke down all of the stanzas and lines in his own words. He descrirbed his reasoning behind everything.
He also said in this criticism the way that it effects people still today. He said that through this great writing it haunted people since the first publication (Poe). In this poem Poe has a dificulty trying to figure out the noise that comes to the door, and he ends up freaking himself out through the whole thing. The raven then comes up on the window and all it would say is "nevermore", I think that Poe was trying to make a poem that was trying to freak someone out. I know while reading it I was a little weirded out.
"A poem that imagines the scenario of "The Raven" from the point of view of the dead maiden, looking down on her grieving lover from heaven" (Poe). I think that Poe sums up his whole poem right here in saying that he was just was in a grieving period. He was trying to see from the point of view of his wife up in heaven looking down on him while he was so sad.
"Critics have pointed out other literary antecedents for Poe's raven, including the biblical account of the ravens feeding Elijah in the wilderness and Hamlet's call, "Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge""(Poe). I thought that it was kind of cool that he pointed out that there was a little bit of biblical account in this poem. I think that Poe probably did this on purpose.
Bloom, Harold, ed. "'The Raven'." Edgar Allan Poe, Bloom's Major Poets. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 1999. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BMPEAP19&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 23, 2010).
The criticism was based on the ideas that were going through Edgar Allen Poe's head as he was writing the poem, and he was now letting all of his thoughts out now that the poem had already been released. Poe described the reasoniing behind most things in his poem. He also broke down all of the stanzas and lines in his own words. He descrirbed his reasoning behind everything.
He also said in this criticism the way that it effects people still today. He said that through this great writing it haunted people since the first publication (Poe). In this poem Poe has a dificulty trying to figure out the noise that comes to the door, and he ends up freaking himself out through the whole thing. The raven then comes up on the window and all it would say is "nevermore", I think that Poe was trying to make a poem that was trying to freak someone out. I know while reading it I was a little weirded out.
"A poem that imagines the scenario of "The Raven" from the point of view of the dead maiden, looking down on her grieving lover from heaven" (Poe). I think that Poe sums up his whole poem right here in saying that he was just was in a grieving period. He was trying to see from the point of view of his wife up in heaven looking down on him while he was so sad.
"Critics have pointed out other literary antecedents for Poe's raven, including the biblical account of the ravens feeding Elijah in the wilderness and Hamlet's call, "Come, the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge""(Poe). I thought that it was kind of cool that he pointed out that there was a little bit of biblical account in this poem. I think that Poe probably did this on purpose.
Bloom, Harold, ed. "'The Raven'." Edgar Allan Poe, Bloom's Major Poets. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 1999. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BMPEAP19&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 23, 2010).
The Raven
The Raven was a very interesting poem to me. I did not think it was the greatest poem in the world, but I did not mind reading it. I just took each line or stanza and broke them down in a way that I understood them.
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."
--To me this first stanza and few lines just said it pretty simple. He was just sad and weapy and was just laying around by himself, and was shocked when someone came and knocked on his door.
"Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore."
--Edgar was really upset about the loss of his wife Lenore. I know that was something that he was never going to get over. He knew that there was always going to be any empty space there for her.
"And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,"
--I think hear that Poe started to freak himself out, to the point that he was hearing stuff that he knew was not real, and he just made himself think that it was someone at the door when it really was not.
"Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more."
--Edgar sounds like he finally got stronger and made himself realize that there was really no- one at the door, and he needed to get over his weird thoughts. He would open the door and see no-one there so he just needed to stop.
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more."
--He did not want to ever believe that she was really gone, he always had some hope that she sometime would return. He then realized that that would not happen because there was always darkness and silence.
"Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'"
--I think that Edgar could not stop with his hullicinations and he always kept thinking that it just might be her at the door, even though he knew that he would later find out that it was not.
"Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more."
--He finally saw a raven when he opened the shutters, but all the raven did was just sit there on the ledge and do nothing or make a noise.
"Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'"
--The raven ended up making Poe happy, and the raven said the word nevermore that was a big deal and meant a lot."Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'"
--He could not really believe how this ungainly fowl could say something that would actually mean something.
"But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'"
--He discovered that all the raven said was nevermore, but when the raven said that it was like the raven could let out everything he meant with one little word.
"Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."
--He could not really believe the stillness between them, and when he would try to talk the bird would just repeat the same things.
"But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore"
--He got interested in raven and did not want to leave him, even though the bird just kept saying nevermore.
"This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!"
--He could not really guess what this creature was trying to say, but in my eyes I just think that the bird was trying to tell him that she was gone forever.
"Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--I think that he wanted to forget about her, but it was harder than he thought.
"Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--He was believing that he was haunted and he just wanted to know the truth.
"`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'"
--He wanted to know if she was an angel up in the heavens with God.
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--I think that he got to the point where he wanted to be lonely, and wanted to be left alone and all of the noises gone.
"And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!"
--He got upset because the raven would not leave and he thought that is was a demon.
I think that it was a pretty good poem, but a very weird one at that. Edgar always had a way of writing things that were different and way out there.
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."
--To me this first stanza and few lines just said it pretty simple. He was just sad and weapy and was just laying around by himself, and was shocked when someone came and knocked on his door.
"Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore."
--Edgar was really upset about the loss of his wife Lenore. I know that was something that he was never going to get over. He knew that there was always going to be any empty space there for her.
"And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,"
--I think hear that Poe started to freak himself out, to the point that he was hearing stuff that he knew was not real, and he just made himself think that it was someone at the door when it really was not.
"Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more."
--Edgar sounds like he finally got stronger and made himself realize that there was really no- one at the door, and he needed to get over his weird thoughts. He would open the door and see no-one there so he just needed to stop.
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more."
--He did not want to ever believe that she was really gone, he always had some hope that she sometime would return. He then realized that that would not happen because there was always darkness and silence.
"Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'"
--I think that Edgar could not stop with his hullicinations and he always kept thinking that it just might be her at the door, even though he knew that he would later find out that it was not.
"Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more."
--He finally saw a raven when he opened the shutters, but all the raven did was just sit there on the ledge and do nothing or make a noise.
"Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'"
--The raven ended up making Poe happy, and the raven said the word nevermore that was a big deal and meant a lot."Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'"
--He could not really believe how this ungainly fowl could say something that would actually mean something.
"But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'"
--He discovered that all the raven said was nevermore, but when the raven said that it was like the raven could let out everything he meant with one little word.
"Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."
--He could not really believe the stillness between them, and when he would try to talk the bird would just repeat the same things.
"But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore"
--He got interested in raven and did not want to leave him, even though the bird just kept saying nevermore.
"This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!"
--He could not really guess what this creature was trying to say, but in my eyes I just think that the bird was trying to tell him that she was gone forever.
"Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--I think that he wanted to forget about her, but it was harder than he thought.
"Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--He was believing that he was haunted and he just wanted to know the truth.
"`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'"
--He wanted to know if she was an angel up in the heavens with God.
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore."
--I think that he got to the point where he wanted to be lonely, and wanted to be left alone and all of the noises gone.
"And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!"
--He got upset because the raven would not leave and he thought that is was a demon.
I think that it was a pretty good poem, but a very weird one at that. Edgar always had a way of writing things that were different and way out there.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Thoreau's Walden
Thoreau, as we all know, is a guy that was big on nature, and most of his writings were based on nature, and if they were not about nature they were social critics. He would compare nature with other things, like a metaphor, because that is what made the most since to him. "The interconnectedness between civilization and nature is as central to Thoreau's thought as the interconnectedness of mind and body, the ideal and the real" (Keck). The author of the analysis of Thoreau's Walden really summed up right in this quote. Thoreau was big on tying together things around us, civilization, to that of nature in ways that we would not all think would be normal, but that was the way that he liked to do things, and what clicked to him. In Thoreau's Walden Pond, he went well beyond self- sufficiency (Keck). Thoreau went for awhile at this pond, and got rid of all of his attachments. He did not just get rid of physical attachments, but also social and intellectual attachments. I think that something like this would be hard. In Keck's point of view he was trying to attempt to uncover his own path and purpose in life. I think that Keck had a good point here, and I think that that was definitely Thoreau's main point for his break from all. I think that he was trying to find out what he was really here for and what he was meant to be doing.
"By stripping away the complex, superfluous layers of nineteenth-century life and actively distancing himself from the expectations, conventions, and traditions of society and culture, Thoreau follows in the footsteps of the "ancient philosophers". He combines various cultural philosophies and mystic traditions into "a complex and bicultural concept" (Keck). I also think that Keck had another amazing point right here. He was trying to say that by doing this Thoreau was trying to be a real philosopher. He was studying his cultural philosophies, because he was so big on nature and how it ties to culture. I also agree with him because I think that Thoreau's ideas were a lot more complex than they needed to be, but I guess we understood them.
"As is fit for such a quest, Thoreau's stay at Walden Pond re-enacts the journey theme so typical of the American Dream. On the one hand, Thoreau's hermitage at Walden Pond is an integral tale in American literary history. On the other hand, scholars like to draw attention to the fact that while Thoreau, the self-proclaimed hermit, bathed in Walden Pond and kindled the hearth in his self-made hut, he was sustained by hearty meals at his family home. The author himself makes no secret of his whereabouts" (Keck). I think that here Keck kind of seemed like he was seeing Thoreau's journeys in different ways, and could justify all of them. He thought that his journey was like the American Dream, but then again he talked about all the attention he got from this. I agree with the attention one more. I think that he was able to keep going because of his family. I also like how Thoreau was not secretive about his whereabouts, and he was honest. I think that I liked that about him.
I think that Keck had a good analysis, and he had a lot of good things to say about it. I thought that he brought up things that really made you think about the kind of write Thoreau really was.
Keck, Michaela. "Thoreau's Walden and the American Dream: Challenge or Myth?" In Bloom, Harold, ed. The American Dream, Bloom's Literary Themes. New York: Chelsea Publishing House, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BLTTAD021&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 17, 2010).
"By stripping away the complex, superfluous layers of nineteenth-century life and actively distancing himself from the expectations, conventions, and traditions of society and culture, Thoreau follows in the footsteps of the "ancient philosophers". He combines various cultural philosophies and mystic traditions into "a complex and bicultural concept" (Keck). I also think that Keck had another amazing point right here. He was trying to say that by doing this Thoreau was trying to be a real philosopher. He was studying his cultural philosophies, because he was so big on nature and how it ties to culture. I also agree with him because I think that Thoreau's ideas were a lot more complex than they needed to be, but I guess we understood them.
"As is fit for such a quest, Thoreau's stay at Walden Pond re-enacts the journey theme so typical of the American Dream. On the one hand, Thoreau's hermitage at Walden Pond is an integral tale in American literary history. On the other hand, scholars like to draw attention to the fact that while Thoreau, the self-proclaimed hermit, bathed in Walden Pond and kindled the hearth in his self-made hut, he was sustained by hearty meals at his family home. The author himself makes no secret of his whereabouts" (Keck). I think that here Keck kind of seemed like he was seeing Thoreau's journeys in different ways, and could justify all of them. He thought that his journey was like the American Dream, but then again he talked about all the attention he got from this. I agree with the attention one more. I think that he was able to keep going because of his family. I also like how Thoreau was not secretive about his whereabouts, and he was honest. I think that I liked that about him.
I think that Keck had a good analysis, and he had a lot of good things to say about it. I thought that he brought up things that really made you think about the kind of write Thoreau really was.
Keck, Michaela. "Thoreau's Walden and the American Dream: Challenge or Myth?" In Bloom, Harold, ed. The American Dream, Bloom's Literary Themes. New York: Chelsea Publishing House, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BLTTAD021&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 17, 2010).
Journal #24- Mind Playing Tricks on Me
I am someone that is easily freaked out or scared. The time that my mind plays the most tricks on me is whenever it is dark. I do not think it matters if I am outside or in my room, it plays tricks on me a lot. I always think about things too much, and I make myself think things, see things, and hear things that are really not even there. If they are there, my mind usually exaggerates them. I usually get the tricks the most when I am outside at night. I am outside at night a lot because I have pigs that I have to feed every night. I always will be filling up the water buckets outside of the barn, and I will always make myself think that there is an animal or human or some sort of thing that is watching me and going to come get me at any moment. I think that I think about things too much, and my mind starts running like crazy. I am so paranoid about it though, that I always call me dog over and I make sure that she stays with me. I always think that I am much more protected with her. I do not know why I even think about is so much, because I do not think those animals are really there, but I end up doing it every time. I know that those animals that I am afraid of the most are more scared of me than I am of them, so they must be really scared. When my mind plays those most tricks on me inside, is usually when I am alone in my room at night and usually in bed. I always here stuff, and it makes me think that there is something that is in my room. I get a little carried away sometimes to the point that I just have to stop myself, because I know that they are not there. I do not have these mind games a lot, but I do every once in awhile.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thoreau's Walden
I think that Walden by Thoreau was a great story. Thoreau as we all know was a writer that was all about nature. He was always writing about nature. There are really not many writings that he did not talk about nature in. He would compare anything that was going on in his life or the life of others with nature. He made things into something like a metaphor to do with nature, because that was what made the most since to him. Thoreau was big on tying together things around us, civilization, to that of nature in ways that we would not all think would be normal, but that was the way that he liked to do things, and what clicked to him. He did a lot of this in his story about Walden Pond. Thoreau went for awhile at this pond, and got rid of all of his attachments. He did not just get rid of physical attachments, but also social and intellectual attachments. I think that this was probably tough for him, but not as tough as it would be for us. I love nature and all that goes along with it, but I do not think I love it as much as Thoreau. He probably enjoyed going away like this somewhere in nature, and not have to worry about a single thing. I think that in doing this he was trying to find out what he was really supposed to be doing here on Earth, and what his purpose as human being really was. I think that he got a little carried away with some things and his ideas would become a little complex, but he still brought out some good points. I think the main purpose for the story Walden was just to let people know how we need to take a break on the wordly things sometimes. I think that we think we can not live with out some things sometimes, when the truth is we really can. We do not have to have things like cellphones or computers twenty- four seven. I think that he wrote this to show us all that we can and need to take breaks like this every once in awhile. I think it would help us clear our thoughts and realize what our soul purpose is.
Thoreau vs. Ghandhi
I do not think that Thoreau's writings were very similar to that of Gandhi. I think that they were both two totally different writers, and did not have a lot in common when it came to their writings. The only thing that I can pick out that was kind of similar in their writings was that they both had issues with the government in some ways. The main difference in Thoreau and Gandhi's writings was that Gandhi was more of what we would call a peacemaker, and Thoreau was did not care really about peace and he was more about himself. Just by reading Gandhi's writings, you could tell that he was just a totally different person and he wrote in more of a peaceful way, and Thoreau was more loud, demanding, and get to the point.
I read Thoreau's Civil Disobedience in the book, and I picked up a lot from his writing. I think that most of his writing's were based on what the government is and all of its effects on people. I picked up one line that really stuck out to me. "The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it" (Thoreau). I think about how laws change and how their are so many laws when I read this quote. I think that what he was trying to say was that we do not even have time to act on laws or learn about them, before someone has changed them. I really agree with him, I think that the government is changing so much, and is going to get to the point where we can not do anything.
In Gandhi's Dindi March I also saw a lot of Gandhi's philosophy in that. I did not even have to pick a quote from his clip to show you that he was more peaceful than Thoreau, you could just tell from his writing styles that he was a lot more peaceful. He was not so demanding. He would come to a conflict, but then he would stop and say how there should not be a time with no peace. "But let there be not a semblance of breach of peace" (Gandhi). I think that he knew the government had issues, but he thought that those issues could be resolved in peacefulness.
I think that even though they both have different writing styles, I find myself agreeing with both of them. I think that the government does get a little carried away like Thoreau says, but we do not have to be so demanding like him. I agreed with Ghandi in that we should be peaceful in our writings and also peaceful when it comes to being in government or having anything to do with it. I think that they were both great writers, and had an influence on all of us, even though they both told us what they were trying to get out in a different way. I like that they had different writing styles, I liked seeing different opinions on their thoughts.
Thoreau. "Civil Disobedience." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. November 14, 2010.
Gandhi, Mohandas. "On the Eve of Historic Dandi March." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. November 14, 2010.
I read Thoreau's Civil Disobedience in the book, and I picked up a lot from his writing. I think that most of his writing's were based on what the government is and all of its effects on people. I picked up one line that really stuck out to me. "The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it" (Thoreau). I think about how laws change and how their are so many laws when I read this quote. I think that what he was trying to say was that we do not even have time to act on laws or learn about them, before someone has changed them. I really agree with him, I think that the government is changing so much, and is going to get to the point where we can not do anything.
In Gandhi's Dindi March I also saw a lot of Gandhi's philosophy in that. I did not even have to pick a quote from his clip to show you that he was more peaceful than Thoreau, you could just tell from his writing styles that he was a lot more peaceful. He was not so demanding. He would come to a conflict, but then he would stop and say how there should not be a time with no peace. "But let there be not a semblance of breach of peace" (Gandhi). I think that he knew the government had issues, but he thought that those issues could be resolved in peacefulness.
I think that even though they both have different writing styles, I find myself agreeing with both of them. I think that the government does get a little carried away like Thoreau says, but we do not have to be so demanding like him. I agreed with Ghandi in that we should be peaceful in our writings and also peaceful when it comes to being in government or having anything to do with it. I think that they were both great writers, and had an influence on all of us, even though they both told us what they were trying to get out in a different way. I like that they had different writing styles, I liked seeing different opinions on their thoughts.
Thoreau. "Civil Disobedience." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. November 14, 2010.
Gandhi, Mohandas. "On the Eve of Historic Dandi March." American Literature Textbook. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. November 14, 2010.
Journal #23- Unplugging Things
I think something that I would unplug for a week would be my cellphone. I think that cellphones have became more of a stress than they have anything. I think that my cellphone is defenitely something that I could not live without, but something that might relive a little bit of stress and drama if I did not have it. I think that we have our cellphones out twenty- four seven, and to the point where all we care about is our cellphone and who is going to be texting or calling us at that moment. I think that we get so wrapped up in our cellphones sometime that we do not even know what is going on around us in the world. I know that my parents get mad at me sometimes, because they will be trying to talk to me or something and I will talk back but I will not really be "there" in the conversation. I will be thinking about something else. So, I think that cellphone would be the best choice for me to unplug for a couple of days. I do not think that I would necessarily have to go somewhere to be totally un- plugged for it, but just turn it off and set it somewhere that I would not see it a lot. I think that would be enough for me. I think that going even a day without a cellphone seems like forever, so I think that a couple days would really help me chill out and relax from it. The only thing bad about un- plugging from the cell phone is that I would always be thiking about it, even when I did not have it. I would always be wondering who was texting me or if anyone really needed seomething from me. I think that I would be ok, and I should probably consider un- plugging from my phone at some point for a couple of days.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Journal #22- Write About A Time When it Was Ok to Disobey the Law
I do not think that there was ever a time that you could just deliberately break the law. The last time that I checked there was not a time when people just thought it was ok to break the law. They would get in trouble, because that is not legal at all. We have never written a law that said most people need to obey this law, but it is okay for some of you to just not even worry about it. Even though there are laws that were only written for certain groups or people, we still all have to follow them because we could be like that one day too. I think that we have all broken laws before, whether we knew it or not.
I think that there is a lot of times when people break the law, though and do not get caught. I think that is a different story. We break laws such as being on the phone while driving, the number of people in our car, and being out past curfew. All of these are examples of when we did not obey the law like we should. Even though we might break the law, it does not mean we had someone there telling us that it was ok. When we break those laws, we know that it is wrong and we really can not justify ourselves because we know that.
I would try to say a time when it was ok to disregard laws, but there, once again, was never a time where they said "oh, just go and disregard that law, it does not matter." If there was ever a time like that, it was way before I ever knew about it, or someone just never filled me in on that rule! I think that people might have disregarded to rules a long, long time ago when there was not really a written law. People probably did a lot more wrong, but only because there was no set law, and they did not know any different.
I think that there is a lot of times when people break the law, though and do not get caught. I think that is a different story. We break laws such as being on the phone while driving, the number of people in our car, and being out past curfew. All of these are examples of when we did not obey the law like we should. Even though we might break the law, it does not mean we had someone there telling us that it was ok. When we break those laws, we know that it is wrong and we really can not justify ourselves because we know that.
I would try to say a time when it was ok to disregard laws, but there, once again, was never a time where they said "oh, just go and disregard that law, it does not matter." If there was ever a time like that, it was way before I ever knew about it, or someone just never filled me in on that rule! I think that people might have disregarded to rules a long, long time ago when there was not really a written law. People probably did a lot more wrong, but only because there was no set law, and they did not know any different.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Emerson
I looked up the definition for transcendentalism, “any system of philosophy, esp that of Kant, holding that the key to knowledge of the nature of reality lies in the critical examination of the processes of reason on which depends the nature of experience “ (Dictionary.com) I think that this is very related to the works of Emerson. I thought that the definition was going to through me off, but it just made me realize how closely related Emerson was to transcendentalism. Emerson was very big on experiences. He always thought that we should have as many experiences as possible in life, because we are lucky to be here. Like I said before, I think he was this way because he lost his wife at a young age, and it just made him realize that he should have a lot of experiences. We all are here for a reason, and he knew that and he was trying to let all of his readers know.
Emerson was not a big mourner, in fact it was one thing that he was almost against at most times. Emerson had been through a lot in his life that made him no want to mourn. His wife named Ellen died in 1831 at the age of nineteen. She was way to young to die. Five years after his wife died he lost his closest brother, Charles. (Edmundson). Emerson had cried many tears over this, and he finally just realized that life was too short to be doing that, and he decided that even though he loved those two he needed to move on. He had mourned so much, that he could not mourn the rest of his life. I think that he just wanted to teach others that before they had to go through it. He wanted others to know how lucky we are for being her
"Yet Emerson doesn't just preach against mourning. He offers a philosophy of aggressive perpetual motion by which we can throw off circumstances before they have become confining. This strategy of ceaseless self-creation, which, it should be added, is always accomplished through the systematic destruction of the existing self, is the subject of a remarkable passage from the essay "Compensation." (Edmundson). I agree with this statement in that Emerson did not preach against mourning like we some times think he did. He just offered his philosophy that after something happens we pretty much just need to forget about it before we become to confined in it. He was trying to say that we should know that it happened and think about it for a little bit, but then we have to let it go. If we do not let it go we get stuck with thinking about it all the time and it almost becomes a sickness. He wants us to stop before it gets that way. He had to learn the hard way with his mourning, and he does not want anyone else to have to go through that.
I think that Emerson has a lot of good to say, and if we would listen to him we could really learn a lot. I think that we mourn a little bit much too. I know that if something happened to someone I deeply loved I would mourn forever, though. I think that we should just know that God has a plan and that even though it is hard to accept it sometimes, he does.
"Emerson and the Work of Melancholia." Raritan (Spring 1987). Quoted as "Emerson and the Work of Melancholia" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Updated Edition, Bloom's Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=MCVRWE007&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 11, 2010).
Emerson was not a big mourner, in fact it was one thing that he was almost against at most times. Emerson had been through a lot in his life that made him no want to mourn. His wife named Ellen died in 1831 at the age of nineteen. She was way to young to die. Five years after his wife died he lost his closest brother, Charles. (Edmundson). Emerson had cried many tears over this, and he finally just realized that life was too short to be doing that, and he decided that even though he loved those two he needed to move on. He had mourned so much, that he could not mourn the rest of his life. I think that he just wanted to teach others that before they had to go through it. He wanted others to know how lucky we are for being her
"Yet Emerson doesn't just preach against mourning. He offers a philosophy of aggressive perpetual motion by which we can throw off circumstances before they have become confining. This strategy of ceaseless self-creation, which, it should be added, is always accomplished through the systematic destruction of the existing self, is the subject of a remarkable passage from the essay "Compensation." (Edmundson). I agree with this statement in that Emerson did not preach against mourning like we some times think he did. He just offered his philosophy that after something happens we pretty much just need to forget about it before we become to confined in it. He was trying to say that we should know that it happened and think about it for a little bit, but then we have to let it go. If we do not let it go we get stuck with thinking about it all the time and it almost becomes a sickness. He wants us to stop before it gets that way. He had to learn the hard way with his mourning, and he does not want anyone else to have to go through that.
I think that Emerson has a lot of good to say, and if we would listen to him we could really learn a lot. I think that we mourn a little bit much too. I know that if something happened to someone I deeply loved I would mourn forever, though. I think that we should just know that God has a plan and that even though it is hard to accept it sometimes, he does.
"Emerson and the Work of Melancholia." Raritan (Spring 1987). Quoted as "Emerson and the Work of Melancholia" in Bloom, Harold, ed. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Updated Edition, Bloom's Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=MCVRWE007&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 11, 2010).
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Journal #21- Discuss Reflections
The works in Emerson's Self Reliance are some what similar to that of the works of Franklin. I think that they were the most similar because they were both very confident in themselves and others and they also always believed in people. I think that they both tried to make people happy a lot. They think that they should try to make up for the bad things that they might have done with a lot of good things. I think that they thought if they were a better person and a good example to others, that others would want to be like them. I think that they were worried about being a good example to others, and being remembered forever. As you can tell, they did it all right because we are still talking about them. We still talk about all of the things that they have both done that still affect us now. They both had quotes that we still remember today. I think they are different because of their romanticism views. They both believed in it at the beginning, but that actually ended up changing. Emerson wrote about romanticism and some of his stories were based on romanticism, but he ended up rejecting it in the later years of his writings. Benjamin Franklin always was for romanticism, and that is what his writings and also a lot of his life was based on. I think that they were pretty much similar writers.
I liked writing a reflection on Emerson because he was kind of a creative guy. I liked how he was worried about having good relationships. I think that relationships are important in life. We should focus on having those people that we can count on at all times. I did not necessarily like how he said that we should do a lot of good to make up for our bad. I do not think that we can make up for our mistakes, I think that we can be forgiven though. I think that we should not try to make up for the bad, but just learn from our mistakes. So, I did agree with them a little.
I liked writing a reflection on Emerson because he was kind of a creative guy. I liked how he was worried about having good relationships. I think that relationships are important in life. We should focus on having those people that we can count on at all times. I did not necessarily like how he said that we should do a lot of good to make up for our bad. I do not think that we can make up for our mistakes, I think that we can be forgiven though. I think that we should not try to make up for the bad, but just learn from our mistakes. So, I did agree with them a little.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Journal #20- Self Reflecftion & Taking Breaks from Society
I think that self reflection is a really important to do because we all need to look at ourselves every once in awhile. I think that we should think about ourselves and see if the way we behave is okay to society. I think that we are always quick to judge others, when we need to judge ourselves sometimes. We need to make sure that we look at ourselves and make sure we are perfect before we look towards others for their mistakes. I also think if we self reflect ourselves and we know our mistakes, it will work out good for us. If people were to come at us with what we do wrong, we already know what to say because we have already thought about it. I think that we should stand up for ourselves.
I also think that taking breaks from society is not a bad thing at all. We get tired of things, and sometimes it is okay to relax and take a day off. I do not mean we just shut the world off and everything going on around us, but we let go of all the worldly things. I think that we should all take days away from the computers, t.v's, and cell phones. We should just sit them down and not worry about them. I think that we get a little too obsessed with the things of this world. We could not live without some things, and we should be able to just live without some things. I think taking a day off from school is not a big deal, because we seriously can have too much going on in our brains and we just want to shut down. We get a lot of homework, especially being in advanced classes, we get a lot of burdens and it can be very stressful. I think that we just need a day of every once in awhile that we can just sit and not have to worry about so much. I like school, but I think that we need to get a little less sometimes.
I also think that taking breaks from society is not a bad thing at all. We get tired of things, and sometimes it is okay to relax and take a day off. I do not mean we just shut the world off and everything going on around us, but we let go of all the worldly things. I think that we should all take days away from the computers, t.v's, and cell phones. We should just sit them down and not worry about them. I think that we get a little too obsessed with the things of this world. We could not live without some things, and we should be able to just live without some things. I think taking a day off from school is not a big deal, because we seriously can have too much going on in our brains and we just want to shut down. We get a lot of homework, especially being in advanced classes, we get a lot of burdens and it can be very stressful. I think that we just need a day of every once in awhile that we can just sit and not have to worry about so much. I like school, but I think that we need to get a little less sometimes.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Journal #19- Perfect America
America being perfect is something that we all wish for, but we all know that nothing is perfect, so we know that will never happen. I think that there is too much that you would have to fix for it to be perfect. I love the country that we are in though, and we have one of the best in the nation. We are pretty lucky to live in this country and have all that we have. I think one thing that would help if we could change it in America is the way that we are always wanting more. I think that we have gotten a little greedy lately, and we are never satisfied with what we have, and we always want more. I wish that we would just be a little more satisfied, because there are countries that are a lot worse. I think another thing that would help our country is less fattening things like fast food joints and unhealthy things like that. Now, do not get me wrong, I love fast food places, but I also know when to stop. And, not many people in America do. Our obestity rate has gone up a lot over the years, and it keeps increasing. I think that we need to know how unhealthy things really are for you, and have a lot more healthier options, not just junk. I also wish that we could handle our money better. I do not think that money is a situation in all of America, but here in Illinois it is. I know that our state is really behind on some money issues, and I wish that we could figure it out or have someone help us figure it out. I do not know much about it, but enough to know that it will soon affect us all. I think America is pretty awesome, and I do not have much to complain about, but we still could all work together to make it even better.
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