traveling

In World Literature, we began this semester by learning about travelers. So, tonight I starting thinking about the past sixteen weeks and began to see the path that I have traveled and all of the things I have learned. It is amazing to me that writers in general can write fiction to explore social issues and maybe take a poke at the idiotic way that some parts of society act. These stories, if taken on face value can be a source of entertainment but you could dig a little deeper into a story and into yourself and get so much more from the literature. It is so amazing that they can construct their stories in a way to make you think differently or make one reader see a creature differently than the other reader does. This reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite philosophers Kahlil Gibran: “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” the way we look at life can determine the way we look at literature and I really enjoyed traveling through these stories with all of my classmates and Mrs. Baldwin. I hope that I can step back and see things from others perspective and learn to be a better person. In the words of Candide’s oracle Pangloss I wish all of you “the best of all possible worlds”(528).

Slavery in America

Of all the readings assigned to us throughout the course of the semester, the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave is the story that I liked the most and made the biggest impact. He, like all of the other’s slaves, had no fault or control over his situation. All he knew was the cruelty of the white people whom separated him from his mother and siblings at an early age. What do you do if you don’t know any better, if most of the people like you have the same sad story and those who can enlighten you to the truth and the justice do everything they can to keep you in the darkness and ignorance? Frederick fought; he fought for his freedom, for the privilege of reading what most slaves could not read. In his life, he witnessed many horrible crimes committed against people like him, like when Mr. Gore “raised his musket to [Demby’s] face, taking deadly aim at his standing victim, and in an instant poor Demby was no more.” (Douglass 933). Demby had to die so that other slaves would not become unmanageable like him. However, I think that the real reason why Demby died was because Mr. Gore liked to feel superior and way too powerful compared to the slaves, and what better way to do so than ending their lives. Another thing that I find amazing about his story is the way he describes the conditions in which he lived in as a young kid, “The allowance of the slave children was given to their mothers, or the old women having the care of them. The children unable to work in the field had neither shoes, stockings, jackets, nor trousers, given to then; their clothing consisted of two coarse linen shirts per day. When this failed them, they went naked until the next allowance-day.” (Douglass 927). I think Frederick’s story is one to be remembered and admired.

It is Finished!!

On completion of the World Literature class, I would like to say that I really enjoyed all the assignments and different literature that we read. Above all stories Hedda Gabler was my favorite. I agreed with Summer today as she told me that this was one of her favorites also because of the sexual energy it had throughout the plot. On one hand we see Hedda as a mean and deceitful person, but on the other hand I have to respect her for the control she has over men in the era. Back during this time period women were the lesser being and were thought of as just a means to keep house and bear children, but Hedda is really neither and still has more control than most women. Not only does she have complete control over her husband Tessman, but two other men also - her ex-lover, Loevborg and Judge Brack. The way in which she controls Judge Brack is typical of the modern woman - through sexual tension and teasing… “HEDDA There’d have been no one to receive you. I’ve been in my room since lunch, dressing. BRACK You haven’t a tiny crack in the door through which we might have negotiated? HEDDA You forgot to arrange one” (Ibsen 1482-83). Hedda uses her womanly attributes to her advantage and uses them to control all the men in the story. To a point, I think all women can connect with Hedda on some level with using our bodies and brains together to get what we want. In the end of the story Hedda takes ultimate control by taking her own life… “TESMAN [Screams to BRACK.] She’s shot herself! Shot herself in the head! By Jove! Fancy that! BRACK [Half paralyzed in the armchair.] But, good God! People don’t do such things” (Ibsen 1518)!

Poetic Justice In The Flesh

After all of the literature that we have read as a class in World Literature this fall of 2010, I find that when a poet reads their own work, a unique life is given to their poetry. As I listened to T.S. Eliot read his poetry, I realized that the poet with their poetry is like a mother with her babies. In reading Sandy Longhorn’s poem Psalm For The Color Red, I guessed that it was written in the 20th century: maybe from the Enlightenment or Realism era. In Longhorn’s Etude a shadow of old timey Realism/Romantic is hinted at, so I was a little surprised. While examining the lines of her free verse writing style in Psalm For The Color Red, I was drawn into the life of her vibrant spirit as she read, “What do you do with the boy who never learns…” and goes on to say “who puts his hand on the burner because the explosion of pain is the color red,” (Longhorn 53). Can you not just visualize the little boy who seems to be an unhappy kid, not doing the usual happy, busy kid stuff? Then to get the insight from whence these lines originated, was especially nice to know: you don’t always have a chance to quiz the poet. Etude was more of a yearning for freedom for the daughter and a not wanting to let go for the mother. Longhorn’s use of nature’s elements shows the flow of gracefulness of the dancing girl and this is expressed by stating, “She walked with that much grace. Some days I watched her test the law of gravity—the wind her patient lover” (Longhorn 52). Here is a vivid picture of a girl who is graceful and light on her feet like a schooled ballerina. After hearing the poem read aloud by Mrs. Longhorn it made much more sense. This was one of my favorite blogs, I saved the best for last!

LITERATURE

Word Literature is a very challenging subject. It can be easy depending on if you read the many readings you have. The game we played in class today, Are You Smarter Than A Literature Student was very challenging, but fun. I love the class lectures we have, but I have to admit the game was the best. I also must add, although my team won, team yahoo did a great job also, even though the questions they had was far more easier than ours, lol. Learning about the Enlightment Period, Romanticism, 20th Century, and the other Periods was very interesting. Some of the stories that were assigned were great. However, reading the stories were okay, but with the discussions with the class, I got a better understanding. Overall I think the class was great, except the critical analysis on Mary Shelley's Frankenstien, because that was extremely complicated, but I did pass, so I won't complain, just got to strive to do better in the future.

The Readings of a World Lit.Student

Upon completion of my World Lit. class I have chosen to write about my favorite stories First off I enjoyed reading "The Barrelmaker Brimful of Love", I really liked the story. I had no problem reading it, unlike others ( Frankenstein! & Celebi). Also this story had many story lines going on at one time. I truly enjoyed the "sexual aspect" and the unexpected ending. The main thing I liked was the insight into Japanese culture. One of my favorite characters is "the Old women" or also referred to as "Old Nanny". She was a funny character who tried to play matchmaker. I also enjoyed "Hedda Gabler", which was another sexual charged story. I liked how it was a play. The story was jammed packed with action, with twist and turns. I personally didn't like how Hedda killed herself, but then again it does make for the best ending. Overall I enjoyed the readings that were chosen ( except for Frankenstein).

As Free As The Wind

In Sandy Longhorn’s Etude, she creates a captivating picture of the nature of freedom, and the loss that is felt in it’s absence. In Etude, Longhorn uses learning to dance as an act of coming of age for the daughter in the poem, and writes “After my daughter learned to dance, I called her Stepping Water” (Longhorn). In Longhorn’s poem, dancing is representative of beauty and freedom, though we are also shown how that freedom causes fear for her mother. We can also see the reaction that some people have when faced with the loss that must accompany freedom, when Longhorn writes “I only did what any mother would do” (Longhorn). By it’s very nature freedom means to be free of someone else’s rule, and in this case Longhorn is writing of both the freedom that the daughter discovers, and the accompanying loss of power that her mother experiences at the same time. I think this poem does a good job of showing both sides of freedom, and helps us to understand that while freedom is a beautiful thing, it does come with a measure of responsibility to use that freedom wisely and with consideration for others. I found it interesting how this ties into what we have been studying, as we try and determine who has the power in writings. While the mother had control, and the ability to tie her daughter down with coins and gems, it was a very fragile power, and largely dependent on her daughter’s submission. Ultimately when the daughter chooses to be free, then she flies away and experiences the freedom that she sought.