Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Journal #26- * Snow*
Snow is often a subject that comes up a lot when we get in the winter seasons. I think that once it gets about December first we start talking about snow. I thought it was weird that Mr. Langley even assigned this assignment on December first. I think that snow is just okay. I can take it or leave it, so in other words I am not that big of a fan of snow. I think that it is more of a pain than it is anything. I think that it is fun for the first like thirty minutes, but after that it wears off and it is more of a pain. I think that we all get so excited when it starts and we will get all of our warm clothes out and go play in it, but then thirty minutes later we regret playing in it. We get mad because we are so cold and miserable. Also, we get snow days from school which is always fun, but then we later have to make it up so it really is not worth it. I also think it makes stuff so much colder. Snow is also known to make everything really dirty. I think that is makes your driveways not very clean, and everything around you starts to turn black and ugly. I also think that it makes your cars extra dirty. I hate when the snow comes because it makes my black car look so dirty. It gets white all over it, which turns to a white dusty, nasty look. I am not a fan of that of all. I also think that snow makes everything very un- safe. I think that the roads get slick, which causes a lot of accidents. I think snow on the ground is very scary, and people are known to fall a lot or trip and get really hurt. A lot more accidents to the body and also car accidents are recorded when things like snow and ice happen. As you can see, I really do not like snow that much.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Minister's Black Veil
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.
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.
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).
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