Journal 31 - Job Shadowing

When I was first informed that I was going to shadow Wally Hamlin, the CEO of HPR Marketing Agency, I was unenthusiastic. I had signed up to be an editor or graphic designer, so I was confused on how a marketing agency would transfer into what I wanted to do. After talking to Wally on the phone, I was told I would be talking to a graphic designer at the agency. 

My job didn't start until 1:00 on Wednesday, so I was able to sleep in and run a few errands before hand. When I arrived at HPR Marketing, I was taken back by how casual everyone was dressed. I was wearing a black pencil skirt and silk top, the outfit I had pictured a marketing director to be wearing, and, to my surprise, the workers at HPR were wearing denim. Three other girls from PPHS were also job shadowing for Wally, so the four of us met up in the conference room of the business. Wally was welcoming us as we entered with the kind of energy one would expect a person named Wally to have. It only took me a quick glance to see it was going to be a fun day. The first words out of Wally Hamlin's mouth were: "I didn't know what I wanted to be when I went to college. I just knew I wanted to be rich, and now I am." He introduced us to his VP, a petite young lady, and they went over the schedule that they had planned for the day and answered any quick  questions we had. We then went around the office and were introduced to the seven business employees--three marketing account managers, three graphic designers, and the new guy on the job that had to deal with all of the paperwork. Because I focused more on graphic design, Wally had me talk to the three young graphic designers. They showed me some of the logos and advertisements they had created, and were open to all of the questions I had. I was able to relate and understand their projects because I have used similar programs in my Photography and Computer Design classes. We also got to visit with the Account Managers at HPR Marketing. I had never really understood what marketing was exactly, so it was a nice opportunity for me to get a better understanding of the job. At the of the day, we met back up with Wally, and he gave us some final advice. He informed us how we should go about applying for jobs and encouraged us to follow up and how important it is to employers. He was a truly smart man, and I could how much work he put into creating such a successful business.

Modernism Video

Discussing the Modernism piece "When the Negro was in Vogue" by Langston Hughes

Journal 30-Favorite Whitman Poem

POETS TO COME.

http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1891/poems/23

I came across Walt Whitman’s poem Poets to Come while researching for a past blog assignment. At the time, I was in a hurry to find quotes as back up and just clicking on random titles from the novel, Leaves of Grass. Although only three short stanzas, Poets to Come has so much meaning and creates a sentimental scene for the reader. The poem covers the movement of generation to generation, in this case, in the field of writing. Whitman describes how he can give advice, but his work will soon have its end. He uses imagery to give a physical description of passing men on the street. Although they may not know of each other, the men are connected in the fact that they were poets of their generation. It was the older man’s responsibility to have a literary voice for his generation, and it is now the younger man’s turn.

There are differences in every generation of history. Parents didn’t necessarily believe in the actions of their children, yet, more likely than not, their own parents had the same negative appeal on their decisions. It’s a fact of life that as time changes, trends and beliefs change as well. Take the literary periods for example. From Romanticism to Transcendentalism, the values and beliefs contrasted amongst the periods.

I see a rather large generational gap between the age groups today. It has been an era of technology. Those older than say 50 aren’t necessarily up to date with all of the new tools. It’s much more difficult for a matured person to learn the new gadgets because they aren’t used to them. Similar to how Whitman has to look to the future with nothing but hope for the upcoming poets, the aged professionals can only have faith in the rookies. I can’t imagine it’s easy for them to move on seeing how they aren’t used to the new way of doing things. I guess that just means there’s a new generation.

Journal 28

 The author of the poem was ready for death. He or she had already made the preparations that come with dying and was ready to go. The speaker says, "Be witnessed in his power" and "I willed my keepsakes, signed away." I would imagine that preparing for death isn't an easy process. I'm sure it would depend on the age of the victim and their life experience. When you finally gets past the denial and bargaining, the acceptance of death is the next step. I would imagine that one who has accepted death is in a calm state. The speaker in Emily Dickinson's "I Heard a Fly Buzz" describes the feeling as a "stillness in the air". Said stillness was interrupted by a bumble bee. When I'm outside and being active, a bee is easy to detect when it's close to my face. The sound of the buzzing stills you. I find that standing still is the most effective way to avoid getting stung by a bee. The speaker of the poem most likely heard the bee coming from far away considering the still, silent state that he or she was in. The silent converstaion that the speaker had with the bee was the last they ever had. A connection of somesort that symbolized the pure freedom that the speaker's sole will soon partake in. The light and window described at the end of the poem is an example of imagery. The reader can picture what it would be like to see the light through a window then all of a sudden have that window closed, bringing darkness into the room. I think it was a great comparison to what death would be like. Since no living person knows what it is truly like to kick the bucket, one can only be creative when describing it. Dickinson's clever description and great explanation of the speaker's emotions allow the reader to grasp not only the poem but also the process of death.

Emily Dickinson- Tweener

Emily Dickinson used many characteristics in her writing that could classify as either Realism or Modernism work. She broke traditions with her writing, shocking outsiders with her modernism technique. She also wrote descriptive poetry about her surroundings, a common characteristic of Realism writing. Categorizing the work of Emily Dickinson into just one literary time period is not an easy task. “Her voice and verbal artistry are unique, and her themes are both ageless and universal,” said one literary criticism (Cornelius).

Emily Dickinson will forever be remembered for the years she spent isolated in her bedroom. The criticism explains, “Despite Dickinson's ever-growing literary popularity, many details of her life remain a mystery” (Cornelius). The isolation showed through her work. She was not bothered by society or worldly issues in her bedroom, so her literature rarely discusses political or social events. Instead, the major themes in her poems were simple ideas and nature. Looking out of the window in her bedroom proved to be inspiration for many of her nature pieces. She was able to use the images that she saw to describe in her work. “As with any individual, the time, the place, and even the atmosphere surrounding Emily Dickinson all influenced the ways she thought and acted and developed her natural talent,” writes the criticism (Cornelius). One effective talent that Dickinson had was the ability to truly understand humans. In one of Emily Dickinson’s most popular poems, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?”, she shows her understanding of humanity. She bonds with the reader over their similarity of being a ‘nobody’. She says, “Don't tell! They'd advertise – you know! How dreary—to be—Somebody!” (Dickinson). Her ability to describe a person through emotions and feelings not only relate to the reader but also make her a great Realism author.

Dickinson came from a religious family. She had a strong Puritan background, but she often did not attend church. Although she didn’t praise God on a Sunday morning, she refers to a higher power in several of her poems. She also mentions the spiritual journey that she is on. One criticism comments, “As was the Puritan custom, Dickinson continually examined her inner life, engaging in a kind of dialogue with herself that forms the basis of some of her finest poetry” (Cornelius). The inner spirit, also considered a self reflection, was highly recognized in the works of the Modernism period. By not attending church, Emily Dickinson was breaking the rules of her society. A modernism writer was known for breaking tradition and finding new ways to interact with the world. 

Along with their own writing style, many poets often had their own punctuation style. As Walt Whitman would use capitalization for emphasis in his poetry, Emily Dickinson uses improper grammar in her work. The reasoning behind the technique is unknown considering Dickinson received a proper education and knew better. One can only assume that the misleading punctuation was to create a rhythm that Dickinson wanted in her poems. In some cases, readers became confused by her style and opted to not read her poetry.

Cornelius, Kay. "Dickinson, Emily." In Harold Bloom, ed. Emily Dickinson, Bloom's BioCritiques. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Dickinson, Emily. "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Web. 04 Apr. 2012.

Walt Whitman- Tweener

Walt Whitman was a poet during a transition in literary time periods. His work included many coinciding characteristics, so it was difficult to categorize him in just one time period. Was he a Realism author who used great descriptions to tell of nature and reality, or was he a Modernism author who found new ways of interacting with the world? With sources that fit each literary period’s criteria, Walt Whitman can be categorized in only one way: a tweener.

                Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, a collection of poetry, is considered one of the most studied books of American poetry. Before becoming an author, Whitman worked as a newspaper editor and printer, so he had a large part in the publishing of his book. In fact, he would change the design and reorder the poems over and over again before finally settling with the sixth published version of the novel. Whitman’s perfectionist quality, which some might consider unnecessary attention to detail, is what made him such a great Realism writer. Being able to describe something to a reader without straight up saying it is not easy. One must have knowledge in human psychology in order to create layered characters in their work. A higher level of writing would include characters that the reader can understand emotionally instead of just a physical image. These details were commonly used in Realism writing to give readers an accurate portrayal of the events that occurred. In Walt Whitman’s “Poets to Come”, he describes a scenario between two generations. He says, “I am a man who, sauntering along without fully stopping, turns a casual look upon you and then averts his face, Leaving it to you to prove and define it, Expecting the main things from you” (Poets). The subtle description of the scene gives off a powerful message with so much more meaning behind it. The reader is able to picture the scene in their mind, thanks to the use of imagery in the poem, and get a good understanding of the situation, the entire purpose of Realism writing.

Modernism writing can easily be summed up in one word: Individualism. The literary period broke tradition by creating new ways to view and interact with out surroundings. Inner self and reflections were a couple new ways people would interact. Walt Whitman was no stranger to self reflection, and he encouraged his readers to make decisions for themselves and no one else. In “Song of Myself” Whitman writes, “You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me, You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself” (Song).

Walt Whitman was known to have his own rhythm in his poetry. He would include punctuation such as capitalization or periods in odd places in order to create an effect. Any emphasis he puts on a word or phrase has a specific meaning. It may not be plainly stated, but Whitman’s special punctuation has meaning to his poetry. It is a rare characteristic that isn’t seen in every poet’s work.

Whitman, Walt. "Poets to Come." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

Whitman-Square Deific

“Chanting the Square Deific”, a poem of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass collection, is very much a balance between good and evil, a fight that many endure in one way or another in their lifetime. The poem reflects on the idea of a square deity rather than the three sided trinity that is most commonly seen. Each side of the square is given it’s own stanza in the poem where the opinions and outlooks of each character is shared. In one literary criticism, the author explains, “There are four stanzas, each presenting one of the four sides to Whitman's "Square Deific," and each told from the speaker's point of view, first God, then Christ, then Satan, and, finally, the Soul ("Santa Spirita")” (Oliver).

The first side of Whitman’s Square Deific is a negative one. As if speaking from the point of view of God, Whitman explains, “Relentless I forgive no man—whoever sins dies—I will have that man's life” (Whitman). He imagines God as having no sympathy for his actions. The description of the adjacent side was easy enough point out its speaker. With knowledge from prophets, a helping hand for all, and an early death, the second side of the deific is Jesus (Whitman). He serves as a breath of fresh air, or a positive, to the cruelty that came before him in the poem. Opposite of God in not only views and plans but also in the square deific is Satan. He is continuously brooding and plotting against power and vows to never change. One Facts on File essay states, “Satan is opposite God in the Square Deific, creating, Whitman may be suggesting here, a balance between good and evil, both necessary, he believed, in the lives of human beings and in all of Nature” (Oliver). The final side of the square is the Holy Spirit, described as being “the most solid” of the four (Whitman).

As a self reflection, “Chanting the Square Deific” exudes several lessons to be learned. One spotted in every stanza of the poem is to live with little fear. God may have treated sinners poorly, and he made quick judgments on people, but he did so without remorse (Whitman). He didn’t show the most positive of qualities, but he felt what he was doing was right, so he lived with little regret. In the second stanza, Jesus sensed that he would encounter an early death, but he continued to live his life for others (Whitman). Whitman writes, “And my sweet love bequeath'd here and elsewhere never dies.” (Whitman). He lived his life with the fear of death at his back knowing that the actions he made would never be forgotten. Satan, the next side of the deific, could easily be considered the bravest of brave. He brooded against the highest power with no regret. Although feared by many, Satan himself was never concerned with changing the nasty, rebellious soul that he was. Finally, the Holy Spirit, who served as a go to, or haven, for all permanent beings. With little fear, the Holy Spirit “leaped easily from Hell” to be a guide for all mankind (Whitman).

Oliver, Charles M. "'Chanting the Square Deific'." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

　

Whitman, Walt. "Chanting The Square Deific." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr.

Emily Dickinson-Partner Blog

Emily Dickinson had a passion for nature. It served as the muse for a lot of her work. In “Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup”, Emily Dickinson describes her excitement when waking up on a dew covered morning. She uses a very cheery tone for the rhythm of the poem which shows the readers how positively she feels for the time of day. The rhythm of a poem can have a huge impact on the story because the reader is given a emotion without the author straight up telling them the feeling in the poem. It is a literary tool that enhances the poetry and the mood of the story. Just as one would want to know more about their idol or passion, Dickinson has questions about nature. She strives to learn more about her muse and is quick to show her curiosity over the topic. She asks, “Who leads the docile spheres withes of supple blue?” (Dickinson).

Another commonly used literary technique in “Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup” was imagery. Her words are so beautifully described that they allow the reader to picture what is taking place in the poem. In line twelve, Dickinson says, “How many trips the tortoise makes, How many cups the bee partakes” (Dickinson). The reader can picture these creatures, and ultimately get the feeling of spring. Both are outdoor animals that come out in warm weather conditions. The reader can also imagine the slow moving tortoise and hear the buzzing of the bee. Dickinson uses imagery to point out the time of day because the story sets in the morning and dawns at the end of the day. She says, “Bring me the sunset in a cup, Reckon the morning’s flagons up” (Dickinson). The comparison of a ‘sunset in a cup’ refers to the coffee that most drink in the morning, and the raising of the flag is also a job for the early morning. To inform the reader that the day is coming to a close, Dickinson says, “And shut the windows down so close, My spirit cannot see? Who’ll let me out some gala day, With implements to fly away” (Dickinson). The closing of the windows shows how the residents are in for the night. She includes her want to be free from the enclosed house, showing once again her love for the great outdoors. The greatest part of the chronological imagery is that Dickinson used items that one might not necessarily consider when thinking of a specific time of day. Raising the flag is a brilliant way to describe the morning, but it’s not what first come to mind. The closing of windows gives readers a wonderful picture to imagine. One that they probably hadn’t considered with night time before. This clever technique of hinting to the reader the time of day by using hidden imagery is what makes Emily Dickinson such a great artist of her craft. She didn’t have to state on paper every point, and instead she allowed her audience to read between the lines.

Dickinson, Emily. “Give Me the Sunset in a Cup”. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston: Little, Brown, 1924; Bartleby.com, 2000.

Journal 29

I find that the greatest way for a person to get a true self reflection is to isolate themselves from all others and society. Ralph Waldo Emerson was known for loving nature, and he often took solo journeys into nature when he was in need of inspiration or self reflection. Keeping a journal or taking time to reflect are also great ways to find one's self. This journal requires me to find my own self portrayal. I think it is very important for a person to consider how they are being perceived because that will ultimately affect how another sees you. My personal self reflection is very much based on the values and beliefs that I have. I reflect on the decisions I make and the things I say and do. It is a great way to make sure I am living in the respectful manner that I want to live in. I see myself as a person that can respect others and appreciate the differences in every person. I often find myself saying "Hey, if it makes them happy" because it keeps me from negatively judging others. I would say I’m rather extroverted with some introverted tendencies. I say this because, yes, I know you and feel comfortable around you, I will be a very outgoing and somewhat loud of a person. However, if I’m in a room with a group of people I have never met before, I am more likely to be quiet and somewhat shy. I often reflect on the shy tendencies I sometimes have, and I don’t like them. I want to become a person with a well rounded personality who can walk into a room and chat it up with anyone and everyone without getting completely red in the face. This is an important task to overcome considering I will be leaving for college in a year, and, oh yeah, I want to major in journalism. Being a journalist requires that you are open and friendly because you will have to make a conversation with a person, and it’s more than likely, you just met. I'm happy with the 'self' I have come to be. I think there are other people who could use a good self reflecting to make sure they are being the person they want to be.

Journal 27

I am completely fascinated with Emily Dickinson's ability to match up the lines of her poetry with the rhythm of Amazing Grace. I guess it would be similar to me adding my own lyrics to the melody of a popular song today, but it still is not an easy task. Amazing Grace was a religious song. If my history lessons were correct, I believe the song was created by a slave. It was a very spiritual and inspiring song. Emily Dickinson was considered to be a very spiritual person. She believed in a higher power, but she did not attend church. This was considered obscene during her time period because attending church was considered a must. Like I said, she had faith in a God. She just found the people that attended church to be very hypocritical. I can understand where she is coming from because I was an avid church goer a couple years back. One day I saw a different, ugly side of my pastor, and it affected how I looked at my religious orientation. I haven't been back to that church since, and it makes me self reflect on my personal beliefs compared to the beliefs that I have been preached to all my life. Similar to Emily Dickinson, I still and whole heartedly believe in God.In the lyrics of Amazing Grace, "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see."I feel connected with God more now than I ever did sitting in a church pew. I have a connection with a higher power, and I live a life that reflects that without judging others. I think Emily Dickinson was ahead of her time by ignoring conformity and having her own beliefs. She showed that she was a committed Christian through her work and felt no need to show it off her commitment to others.Using the Amazing Grace rhythm for her poetry was her own way of showing her faith. It is inspiring to see a woman with similar beliefs to me take a stand in an introverted manner. She avoided conflict between the judgmental people and chose a different way to share her piece.

Walt Whitman

Although many of Walt Whitman’s poems involved fantasy and dreams, almost every one of them had a realistic moral to be learned. In Whitman’s “To a Stranger”, he ponders upon a person who he recognizes. As common as this person is to him, the protagonist is unable to make out the stranger. He comments, “I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you” (Whitman). He is unable to remember the person, let alone their gender because he continues to use the pronouns ‘his’ and ‘her’. He is unable to find the reasoning behind his sudden memory, but in order to ensure that it does not happen again, Whitman says, “I am to see to it that I do not lose you” (Whitman).

Before pursuing his poetry career, Walt Whitman made a livelihood as a journalist. A major code of ethics rule for a journalist is that one must stay unbiased when reporting. Whitman had very outspoken, personal feelings on some of the topics he covered which made it hard for readers to view him as a professional. One critic said, “Mostly he disagreed with owners over political issues, and it was rarely clear whether he quit or was fired” (Oliver). Whitman worked at over 28 newspapers in his career due to the problems that arose from his writing style.

It is by no means wrong for man to have his opinions, but it was not the best reason for one with such views to work as a journalist. It was definitely appropriate for Whitman to find himself through poetry instead. His passion for political issues was similar to that of Henry David Thoreau, a man whose actions against government policies put him in jail. Both men were able to share their perspectives on political struggles and get the attention of others. They’re words were considered by readers. Whether taking away a lesson or learning a new message, readers were always in for some sort of advice when reading a piece from Walt Whitman.

Oliver, Charles M. "Whitman, Walt." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Whitman, Walt. "To a Stranger." Poetry Archive. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.

Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson used a handful of themes in her poems. The most common themes included lessons of life, love, nature, and time. It is well known that Dickinson was very much an introverted person. She spent a lot of her adulthood as a homebody, working in her room at any chance she got. In fact, she only shared her work with those close to her. Dickinson's poems often shared her deepest feelings and emotions. They differed from the usual literary works of her time because they generally focused on the war taking place at that time. In the poem "The Lightning is a Yellow Fork", Dickinson uses this emotion to explain the fear that many felt from the war and of death. Her ability to give off such emotion by sing relatable topics and clever imagery is outstanding. Dickinson metaphorically compares lightning to a fork. She calls the tool "the awful cutlery" and uses it to show the fear of Americans (Dickinson 341). She explains how the darkness is not fully hidden, and only those of true ignorance do not see it. Those unaware of the issues might as well have no brain at all. It takes intelligence and a point of view for one to stand up for something. They must be inspired and, at the same time, dependable. Each of these traits makes for the perfect activist. Although Dickinson was the quiet type, she wrote with strong emotions and opinions. She might not have been acting out against issues like that of Henry David Thoreau, but the simplicity of her emotional approach did just as much justice. Most of her words weren’t publicly seen until after Emily Dickinson’s death, but her words touched readers just the same. Her topics had strong meanings, but she related them so nicely to other issues that they lasted much longer than her life. Even today Dickinson’s poem could be used by readers to relate to their own lives. She touched upon the simplest problems faced in life to the hardest of loving relationships.

Dickinson, Emily. “The Lightning is a Yellow Fork". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 341. Print.

Jack London

It’s clear within the first couple paragraphs of Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” that nature was an inspiration for the short story. Natural ideas and the outdoors were commonly mentioned in pieces of the transcendentalist period. Both Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson described nature and its beauty in their works. It takes a lot of knowledge and research to properly use nature in one’s writing. Jack London does a wonderful job at describing the scenes in the story, and the imagery used makes the reader feel the cold temperature that the protagonist feels throughout the story. It is obvious that he did his research on the below freezing temperatures because he shared many sophisticated facts through the unnamed protagonist.  After falling into the shallow water, the main character has to work at building a fire. London shares his knowledge by giving the reader a simple anatomy lesson. He states, “If his feet are dry, and he fails (to build a fire), he can run along the trail for half a mile and restore his circulation. But the circulation of wet and freezing feet cannot be restored by running when it is seventy-five below” (London 609).

The lesson of “To Build a Fire” could easily be summed up in one word: Determination. The protagonist often refers back to “the old-timer on Sulphur Creek” and the wise advice the man once gave to him. He remembers, “The old-timer had been very serious in laying down the law that no man must travel alone in the Klondike after fifty below. Well, here he was.” (London 609). The man faced serious danger with his wet limbs in the freezing weather, but he continued to take the path to the camp. He struggled to build a fire, but he worked at it as much as he could because it was the only way he would stay warm and, ultimately, survive. He thought about the negative of what could be and described his emotions as “a fear he had never known in his life” (London 613). Although he knew the reality of what was to come, the man was determined to get what he wanted, a trait that was often featured in the transcendentalism period.

London, Jack. “To Build a Fire". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 603-614. Print.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

It is the classic line that it repeated over and over again, "You Can't Judge a Book by It's Cover." In Richard Corey, the young man is admired by the younger boys and seen with envy by the others. Judging by his actions, the man was depressed, but no one ever saw his emotions underneath his well dressed body and wealthy fingers. As a piece of Realism literature, the poem documents a specific event. It includes emotion as most realism pieces do. It isn't odd to find the author including their own opinions in realism works, and the English book points out that Edwin Arlington Robinson often had emotional characters in his literature. This somewhat biased writing wasn't new to realism authors. In the Transcendentalist period in literature, author such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau stated their views on issues in their writings. It wasn't necessarily common for writers to give such strong views, especially if they were aimed negatively at another group, such as the government. The protests that Emerson and Thoreau sent using their words opened doors and acted as influence to the writers of literary periods to come.

Anton Chekov

It’s no surprise that women in this time were often considered inferior to men. They weren’t given a voice, and many struggled with this reality. However, Olenka, of Anton Chekov’s The Darling, was perfectly fine taking on the role of being a man’s woman. She married her first husband and quickly went to work for him. She took his values and opinions and used them as her own. It’s as if she came into the marriage a blank slate and became filled with her husband’s beliefs. Her first husband died and Olenka felt empty. She claimed, “Who’s going to look after your poor wretched Olenka now that you’ve abandoned her?” (Chekov 560). It is understandable that Olenka felt depressed by the loss, but it’s crazy that she does not have the confidence to live independently. She had a similar reaction when her second husband died. Throughout the story she relies on her husbands for her livelihood. Once married, Olenka would go to work for her husbands and live dependently on him. She would freak out when her husband went out of town for business, and she'd act as if she had no idea how to survive. It's depressing seeing how little self confidence Olenka had. Her constant needs and attention could have easily been a cause for the great amount of depression in her life. Chekov's essay differs from those of Thoreau and Emerson because theirs often tell of independent people going out and getting what they want. Their muses are inspired people who work towards something they believe in. Instead, Chekov's main character, Olenka, relies on those around her to survive. After the death of ther second husband, she said, "But the worst thing of all was no longer having any opinions. She saw objects round her and understood everything that was going on, but she could not form opinions about anything and did not know what to talk about" (Chekov 563). She shows very few aspirations or goals in life. It isn't until she gains maternal feelings that she finally feels necessary in the world. The narrator claims, "Not one of her previous attachments has been so deep, never before has she surrounded herself so wholeheartedly, unselfishly and joyfully as now, when her maternal feelings are being kindled more and more" (Chekov 565). It's nice to see Olenka finally find where she's meant to be.

Chekov, Anton. “The Darling". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 557-565. Print.

Chief Joseph

Edgar Lee Masters

Spoon River Anthology is a collection of poems by Edgar Lee Masters. Each poem describes a small town character as its subject. These characters make their own decisions, whether good or bad, and put together the lies, secrets, and rumors that Edgar Lee Masters sees as being small town life. All of these tales are of those who have passed on. In the first of the 240 some poems, Edgar Lee Masters describes the characters. He says, "All, all are sleeping, sleeping, sleeping on the hill" (Masters 547). In Spoon River Anthology, Masters exposes the secretive side of small towns that the normal passerbyer doesn't necessarily see. Each character is somehow connected, whether it be through infidelity or promises. This puzzle like effect in the plot adds mystery and suspense to Spoon River Anthology. Yes, it is a collection of poems, but it is the connection through the poems that keeps the reader most interested.

The novel was based on how each individual's philosophy affected how they made their decisions. As a piece during the Regionalism period, it is safe to safe that growing ud in a small town in the Midwest had a great affect on each individual's outlook on life. Both Emerson and Thoreau believed that a person must have a full understanding of themselves to have self-improvement. One of the easiest ways to undersstand a person is to learn about where they came from. Spoon River Anthology not only used the mystery aspect to engage readers, but Edgar Lee Masters also did a nice job at pointing out small details of small town Spoon River. He included the accented dialect that the citizens would of had. He also gave specific names to streets and churches, giving a personal feel to the readers. All of these small, yet significant, details gave the audience a better understanding of Spoon River and gave a sense of imagery that allowed readers to picture the small town for themselves.

Masters, Edgar Lee. “Spoon River Anthology". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 547. Print

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce used imagination and an adventurous story line to fool the readers of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. He starts by explaining the poor circumstances that Peyton Farquhar had found himself in. He was standing on two makeshift planks off of the Owl Creek Bridge, and he had his hands bound and a rope around his neck (Bierce 393). Farquhar was being forced to oblige with the both physically and mentally painful activity by a group of soldiers. The reader is never informed of why Farquhar is tied up. He supported the Confederate army, but because of an injury, he could not fight in the war. The reader can only assume what Peyton must have done to be tied up to a noose on a bridge. Bierce makes several references to imagination and memories in the story. He writes, “He was now full possession of his physical senses. They were, indeed, preternaturally keen and alert” (Bierce 393). It isn’t until the end of the story that we realize that Farquhar’s adventure through the forest and visits with his family are all just a dream. He is back shadowing on the happiest moments of his life to take his mind off of reality. It is not until the final paragraphs that when Peyton Farquahar feels a tightening at his throat when the readers learn that a greater portion of the story was all just a dream. The dream feature was an interesting twist on the somewhat common war story.

The encouragement of imagination in writing began in the Romanticism period. Nature and the outdoors was another influence for the literature period. Fast forward to the Transcendentalism period and many of the same philosophies are used. Nature was often a place where authors would go to find themselves. Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau valued nature and saw how important source it was. Emerson even believed that we are educated by nature and our actions.

Bierce, Ambrose. “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 389-396. Print.

Stephen Crane

Not only was Stephen Crane an author, but we was also a well known journalist. He covered important topics, such as the slum life in New York City and the impact of immigration, during his journalism career. As a journalist, Crane had ethics to follow. He was known for speaking honestly, openly, and realistically in his writings. He covered the topics that he found to be looked over; the stories that he felt deserved more spotlight. His job was to inform people on what was taking place in their society. Henry David Thoreau took similar action by speaking up against slavery in Civil Disobedience.

The Red Badge of Courage is written form the point of view of a young soldier. This boy has to put up with the unpleasant conditions, such as exhausting heat and extremely loud gun shots, and the strict guidelines that came with being a soldier. No child is ready or attentive enough to be in such a dangerous position. That is most likely why this young boy often had his mind wandering in all directions except that of a war. He did, however, have a passion. A passion for fighting that came from the anger of being in the forceful position that the military placed him in. Stephen Crane writes, “He had a mad feeling against his rifle, which could only be used against one life at a time” (Crane 493).

Stephen Crane chose to uncover the issues that were ignored or hidden by discussing them in his pieces and opening up what is really happening to his readers. One critic says, “Crane’s writing reflects major forces that transformed American culture in the last part of the nineteenth century” (Sorrentino).  He wasn’t just backing up the issues that were already being discussed. He was traveling deeper and finding those that had not yet been discovered. Had it not been for his journalistic values of uncovering knowledge and sticking up for its sources, who knows how many of history’s issues would have been found.

Crane, Stephen. “The Red Badge of Courage". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 493. Print.

Sorrentino, Paul. "Crane, Stephen." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature, Revised Edition: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, Volume 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008.

Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin grew up in a household of women. After her father passed away, Chopin was raised by her widowed mother, her grandmother, and her great grandmother. Being raised by three generations of strong women was likely an inspiration behind Chopin’s prominent views on women and their role in society. She is considered to be the first American woman that spoke and wrote openly about her feelings on the unequal treatment of women (Chopin). In the novel, An Awakening, the depressed wife describes her somber mood or feelings to be ‘a shadow’ (Chopin). She kept this shadow hidden from her husband and found crying to be the only release she had for her feelings. It’s hard to imagine Chopin writing this because she was so vocal and open with her feelings. It’s understandable that other women during this time period would have been threatened or embarrassed to stand up and say they felt the same way as Chopin. The hidden secret in An Awakening could have been used for many women to admire and relate to. The wife in the story describes the devotion between her and her husband as being ‘uniform’ (Chopin). This description shows how common and possibly plain their love was. Again, this relationship could have been common during the time of dominant men, and therefore relatable to women readers. Women were looked down upon by men, not having the right to vote or even make their own decisions. They weren't given proper jobs because it was thought that the woman should stay in the home and raise the children. Chopin disagreed with these thoughts and, she believed a woman could hold her own in a relationship. Kate Chopin’s frank personality and strong willed opinions are greatly comparable to those of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Along with acting upon their beliefs, each author portrayed the struggle and unequal writes of certain groups in the writings.

 Chopin, Kate. "An Awakening". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 491. Print.

Willa Cather

Willa Cather is commonly remembered as the author of My Antonia, a novel discussing the decisions and regrets made within an immigrant family. Although it was written before My Antonia, Cather’s A Wagner Matinee deals with a similar regret. Clark, the young narrator, visits with his aunt while she is in town for business. He reminisces over the great relationship he had with his aunt as a boy. She was always helping him with chores and school work, but she hesitated before helping him pursue music. She had once enjoyed and taught music in he city, but she married and started a new, rural life—one without music. Clark once practiced an instrument in front of his aunt and told him, “Don’t love it so well, Clark, or it will be taken away from you” (Cather). As his aunt arrived in the city, Clark surprised her with tickets to go see the Symphony Orchestra. His aunt’s reaction to the tickets and the show itself was half hearted. In fact, she became depressed by the event and filled with sorrow. She did not want to leave the symphony, and it became obvious that the poor woman regretted the country lifestyle that she chose to live. One critic wrote Cather’s portrayal to be a “severe motion sickness” (Werlock). She wrote, “Georgiana is not just transplanted but catapulted into a once-familiar but now completely foreign cultural and geographical landscape” (Werlock).

One man once said, “You can never regret a decision because at one time it was all you ever wanted.” As citizens, and human beings for that matter, we are provided the gift to make our own decisions. Because they were leaders of the Transcendentalist period, Emerson and Thoreau truly believed in making one’s own decisions and having one’s own opinions. Although Clark’s aunt may not be happy with the choice she made to move out of the city and leave her music behind, she has to face the consequences, whether good or bad, that comes with decision making. Whether they ended up in jail or a renounced activist, Emerson and Thoreau considered the consequences before taking the leap.

Cather, Willa. "A Wagner Matinee". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 521-526. Print.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "'A Wagner Matinée'." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Robert E. Lee

In almost every assigned reading of the Emerson-Thoreau project, the author has foreseen a war between the north and south regions of the United States. They often hint that there is tension between these two sides, yet they claim that they aren’t pleased with the idea of a war. In a letter written to his son, Robert E. Lee says he feels as if the North has betrayed the South (Lee). Because of the abolition movements that the North have created, Lee feels the need to support his home, the South. He claims, “It is the principle I contend for, not individual or private benefit” (Lee). Judging by his written tone of voice and emotion, it is clear that Robert E. Lee was a proud man. He felt strongly about protecting his home, and when one has such a strong passion, they will do anything to support it. As Thoreau did for slavery, Robert E. Lee fought for his beliefs. Both men were affected by the actions taking place in their society, so they each found a way to fight for their cause. The tension between the north and the south did eventually lead to a war. Many were quick to step up to defend their region and their livelihood. Robert E. Lee stepped to the very forefront as a general for the Confederate states. In the letter,Lee tells his son, "A Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets, and in which strife and evilwar are to take the place of brotherly love and kindness, has no charm for me. I shall mourn for my country and for the welfare and progress of mankind" (Lee). Although there are passive ways to spread a message, ultimately,  war was the only way to protect the South for Lee. It's interesting how Lee can claim that weapons are a hideous part of society in his letter, yet just a short time later, he was fighting a war.

Lee, Robert E. "Letter to his Family". Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 382-385. Print.

Sojourner Truth

Before we look deep into the speech that Sojourner Truth gave at this women's convention, it is important to know the background information about what was currently happening in America. It is the year of 1851. People are fighting in every region of the country. Women are fighting in the north for their equal rights in the work force amongst other places. Negroes are fighting in the south for the somewhat similar, yet very different equal rights. In her speech, Sojourner Truth is trying to see where she fits in these protests as a black woman. She expects to receive the proper treatment every woman gets from a gentleman, but, as a negro, she isn't given it. In the speech, she repetitively asks, "Ain't I a woman?" (Halsall). One complaint given by a male is that women don't deserve this equal treatment becasue Christ was not a woman (Halsall). Because Truth was so good at backing up her opinions, she is quick to respond that if not for woman, Christ would not have been born (Halsall). During this era, women were not supposed to have intellect because it was not necessary for the jobs they had. Not to mention the fact that men could care less about a woman's opinion. For not having the opportunity to receive proper intellect, Sojourner is able to back up her ideas with great, supportive knowledge. By sharing her feelings on the rights of women, Sojourner Truth is exemplifying the philosophies of both Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson believed tha twe are all in control of our own self imrpovement, and Truth is speaking out to improve her rights as a female. Both Thoreau and Emerson believed that one should never conform to what is said to be correct if he or she is uncomfortable with it. Instead of continuing to accept that negro women don't receive that same treatment that white women do, Sojourner Truth openly discussed the issue to spread word of the problem.

Halsall, Paul. "Internet History Sourcebooks." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.

Spiritual Negro Songs

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to read the assigned stories, and I saw that they were anonymously written. It wasn’t until I found the stories that I realized why it was this way. Each of the three assigned readings and actually lyrics and are meant to be sung. They were sung by slaves, and are listed as anonymous because these songs were passed from generation to generation of workers. It’s very possible that the songs were learned through word of mouth and the true creator of them was never passed along with the lyrics. My favorite of the three songs, “Keep Your Hand on the Plow”, uses the plow, a machine often used by the colored workers, as a symbol for the gospel. It repeats, “Keep your hands on that plow, hold on” (“Keep Your Hands”). It’s a great message showing that by working hard and sticking with God, you will get through any task. It was music and lyrics like these that allowed the slaves to get through their long, hot days on the job. Both the other songs, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Go Down, Moses”, incorporate religion in their lyrics as well. Like I said before, religion was an important factor for the slaves because it was a reminder that no matter how low their situation, they were never alone and to continue looking for hope. One even demands, “Let us all in Christ be free, Let My people go” (“Swing Low”). I noticed early on how the writer calls them ‘My’ people, and I find that interesting. I assume that they related to each other being in the same situations and hoping for a better life. As with every song, the writer is trying to send a message to listeners. The creators of these songs were trying to send a message of strength to their fellow workers and a message of change to those listening. The transcendentalist incorporated messages of hope and change in their writings as well.

"Keep Your Hands On The Plow - GospelSongLyrics.Org." GospelSongLyrics.org - Lyrics and Music to All Your Favorite Gospel Songs. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Lyrics." Scout Songs: Song Lyrics for Boy Scouts Songs, Girl Scouts Songs, and American Patriotic Songs. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman’s Cavalry Crossing a Ford takes several read throughs to understand the details and plot of the poem. Judging b the title, the poem is set in a time of war, the Civil War to be exact. Besides the title, a reader can find the war symbols through the horses, which were used to travel and fight the war, along with the sound of instruments.  Unlike an intense militia scene, Cavalry Crossing a Ford has a feeling calmness and tranquility. Whitman describes the horse as loitering and having them stop for a drink. The idea that the war was in a slow pace gives a sense of stillness to the poem. The poem also includes the instruments and the horses as a form of figurative language. These items attract to the reader’s eyes and ears, making them examples of imagery. Many of the characteristics in Walt Whitman’s poem remind me to those of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was well-known for incorporating nature into his work. In fact, his most famous novel is titled Nature. Walt Whitman’s description of the landscape was very detailed (Whitman). He mentions green islands and a silvery river. Whitman also describes the colors not only on the land, but also on the flags. His detail of the horse also adds to the description of nature (Whitman). While the descriptions and details in the poem are heavy, Cavalry Crossing a Ford has a deeper message. One critic attempts to explain the message, “Rather, we are presented with the war on a microscopic scale, as the daily experience of the soldiers. There is no sense of where the regiment is coming from, or where they are going, which is how the individual soldier often feels about military life” (Casale). As soldiers, the main characters in the poem are fighting for what they believe in which is the philosophies behind several of the Transcendentalist writers. Thoreau and Emerson both had strong feelings that the fought for through their own writings.

Casale, Frank D. "'Cavalry Crossing a Ford'." Bloom's How to Write about Walt Whitman. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Philadelphia: David McKay, [c1900]; Bartleby.com, 1999.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln’s “Second Inaugural Speech” was an attempt to make peace within the country. He felt that both political parties felt a war approaching, but neither knew what to do about it. The inevitable came, and war broke out between the Confederate States and the Union. Lincoln pointed out that even the slaves, who made up approximately one-eighth of the population, knew that the friction between the sides was about them. Abraham Lincoln discussed the same issues that Thoreau had with slavery. Neither man could understand how the slave owners could look to God and read his word yet continue to follow the unforgivable lives that they did. In fact, the very same slaves that were being beaten by these owners were looking to the same God in hopes of change.  In the “Second Inaugural Speech”, Lincoln says, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other” (Abraham). Although Lincoln didn’t agree with slavery, he chose not to make any big scenes about it like Henry David Thoreau. He did fight a war on behalf of the idea to free slaves, but he never broke any laws to stand up for the cause. He chose a more professional way to approach the situation by making speeches to share his feelings. One could argue that Thoreau, as a social outcast, was never given the opportunity to be looked at in a professional manner, so he had to be sent to jail just to get his message heard. No matter how different the social level of Thoreau and Lincoln, both men shared the same idea of a free country with free people within that country. Lincoln claims that he not only wants freedom, but he wants peace between people. Judging by the intense class levels of people and workers at this time, peace between all people would have been asking a lot. Lincoln ultimately says that it’s going to take all people working together to “bind up the nation’s wounds” (Abraham).

"Abraham Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More. 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2012.

Frederick Douglass

Unlike Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass respected his government and the leaders. Although he agreed to honor them, there were decisions that he disagreed with. Fourth of July is the day that America signed the Declaration of Independence, representing the country's freedom from European control. Frederick Douglass considers this freedom to be laughable considering the African Americans in America were in no way free. He says, "To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony" (Africans). As an ex slave, Frederick Douglass had strong feelings on the topic. Similar to Thoreau's pledge to not pay taxes that supported slavery, Douglass spoke out against the problem in America and made scenes of his own. Frederick Douglass's The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro simply states the confusion that he had with slavery. Douglass found it hard to believe that a country that had successfully fought for its own freedom continued to hold control over their own citizens. He claimed, "Standing there identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July" (Africans). Frederick  Douglass shared his opinions on slavery and backed them up with knowledge. He pointed out the beatings that were given to slaves, the selling and trading of the workers, and the tearing apart of families, all portraying as if the African American did not truly own their own body. Because of the importance of religion during this time period, Douglass is smart to show that God does not find such brutal behavior to be 'divine' (Africans). Even with his strong feelings towards slavery, Frederick Douglass still feels a pride for his country on this day. Not only is he excited for the triumphs the now free country has overcome, but he is also hopeful of what is to come for all citizens of America. 


"Africans in America/Part 4/Frederick Douglass Speech." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 07 Feb. 2012.

Civil Disobedience

One can easily learn from the famous essay Civil Disobedience that Henry David Thoreau was not a fan of the American government. He shares his opinion on the topic very often and uses several comparisons to back up his emotions. First, he compares the government to a wooden gun, claiming that it’s a simple job for a single man (Thoreau). He points out that the government is truly a majority rule made by one and followed by others. He offers the knowledgeable advice the man should first use his conscience, and then subjects can come afterwards (Thoreau). Instead of man being a piece for a machine, Thoreau state, “Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it” (Thoreau). Along with the government, Thoreau also opposed slavery and the Mexican-American War. He was very frank about these situations and the problems with them. He uses his own life experiences as sources for his opinions. Relying on truth to make decisions is a major point in the Transcendentalism period. As a protest against the American government, Thoreau refused to pay poll taxes for six years (Thoreau). He explains his beliefs behind the subject. “If it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine” (Thoreau). He felt that the government failed to handle issues in a respectful manner, and that they approached citizens inappropriately. He said, “When I meet a government which says to me ‘Your money or your life,’ why should I be in haste to give it my money? I am not responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society” (Thoreau). Henry brings up another comparison of a plant. He explains how a plant cannot survive in a lacking environment just as a man cannot live in a lacking world. However, when Henry David Thoreau chose not to follow the law by paying taxes, he had to pay the price by spending time in jail. “It costs me less in every sense to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it would to obey” (Thoreau).He is quick to point out all the flaws of man, especially those that make up the government. Pointing out that man is not necessarily perfect and political societies are other factors of Transcendentalism writing. Henry David Thoreau admits that he can see a wonderful State. However, this wonderful State is only seen in his dreams. “If we were left solely to the worldly wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonable experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations” (Thoreau). Thoreau’s strong feelings for the government and its members are very biased, yet he is able to support his side. His shared feelings were similar to those of many Americans during this time.

Thoreau, Henry David. "Thoreau's Civil Disobedience." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 25 Jan. 2012.

Journal #26 - Breaking Laws

My first thought to this question is an obvious reaction. It's never okay to break a law, duh. However, the more I think about it, the more options I can think of for finding one's way around the law. Of course, if you or someone you see is in danger, I think it is okay to break the law. Self defense is not necessarily considered breaking the law, what about if you are defending another person who is in danger? I think the law should be lenient when it comes to protecting others that are unable to protect themselves in a dangerous situation. This wouldn't apply to revenge though. I always see on the Law & Order shows, and even in real life, that when a person is hurt of murdered, another person will try to be the hero, and they will kill the person that caused the danger. I have never been in a situation where people close to me are seriously hurt, so I can't fully relate. I would probably feel like I would want to give the suspect a taste of their own medicine, but I can't imagine that I would ever go through with it. Revenge is honestly one of the ugliest and most annoying ideas to me. I also feel like there are a number of unnecessary laws. Curfew, for example, why does that have to be a law? I think curfew should be set by parents, and that way punishment for late curfews can be set by parents too. As a sixteen year old, I think my curfew is 11 o'clock on weekends--I'm not for sure on that one. I don't see why parents can't be in charge of this part of a child's life. I also know that there are parents out there that are Laissez-Faire and let their children make their own decisions without really punishing them. I'm just speaking in general terms, but it's likely that the kids with parents who don't care that they are out til 2 in the morning are doing something else illegal at that time. Just skip over the curfew aspect and I'm sure you'll find something else illegal happening. All I'm saying is that curfew is an unnecessary law that cops could be a little more lenient on before accusing a minor of it.

The Minister's Black Veil

As a display of Minister Hooper’s sins, the black veil served as an important symbol in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil. The theme is given early on in the story when the minister gives a sermon, which is noticed as one of the most compelling sermons he has ever given, about secret sins while covering his face by wearing a black veil. The congregation had strong opinions towards the black veil.  Hawthorne writes, “At the close of the service, the people hurried out with indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement, and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the black veil” (Hawthorne). Minister Hooper acted no differently than he had any other Sunday morning. He treated the visitors with the same respects and even joked with the children, yet he still received the odd, turned off reactions from the congregation. One lady pointed out, “How strange that a simple black veil, such as any woman might wear on her bonnet, should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper’s face” (Hawthorne). Mr. Hooper’s fiancée soon became sick of his black veil. Hooper begged for her to stay claiming that he didn’t want to be alone, but she left him anyways (Hawthorne). Elizabeth, his fiancée, was a selfish woman who became influenced by others’ opinions instead of those of her loved one. There are even times when Mr. Hooper catches his reflection in the mirror and is scared of what he sees. His surprising reaction shows that there is reasoning behind his actions. The black veil symbolizes something that Mr. Hooper believes in, but is not yet able to get across to the people around him. After becoming quite famous for his black veil legacy, Mr. Hooper becomes very ill. He is encouraged to remove the veil by others while on his death bed. The constant reminders and pleads finally get to Mr. Hooper and he shares with them the meaning for the black veil. He says, “If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough; and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might have not to do the same” (Hawthorne). The black veil was there to admit that he had sins, and unlike everyone else, Mr. Hooper was no longer going to hide them. He was being open and honest with his congregation, but they took him as a monster instead. Mr. Hooper was always respectful to those around him. He is described as often showing “a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown way” (Hawthorne). The congregations shunned away their reverend without even asking him what the meaning was for the veil. Their secrets, mystery, and sadness are the key points behind the Dark Romanticism piece. It is not uncommon for Nathaniel Hawthorne to be writing about death and the supernatural because that is a popular theme in writings in the Dark Romanticism period (Krueger).

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Minister's Black Veil." Eldritch Press. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.

Krueger, Christine, ed. "Romanticism." Encyclopedia of British Writers, 19th Century, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Journal #25 - Fear

Mark Twain once said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." I agree that it is never wrong to have fear. Fear can be used as inspiration and drive behind any action in life. Having fear doesn't make one weak or laughable. The great thing about fears is that they are different for all people. For example, I have a rather large fear of frogs. I get mocked and laughed at for this fear, but what can I do? I received this fear similar to how others get their own fears. What had happened was.. I went to a small fair in Pleasant Plains about seven years ago. It was the Fourth of July, and the community was have games and food out to occupy visitors before the fireworks. I was dressed up in a casual dress. Let me just point out that wearing a skirt was very odd for me circa 2005, which was when this event was taking place, because I was a complete tomboy. So I had played almost every game at this small fair and there was only one left: the frog race. Multiple players could line up, pick their frogs, and then race them down a track. I picked the biggest frog I could find in the bucket. Looking back, I see that I went about picking my frog considering it was a race. I should have picked the lightest and youngest looking, duh. So I pick my frog and get set up in my lane. The race began, and we were able to tap our frogs on the back to get them to jump faster. When I went to tap mine, it somehow got turned around and jumped right into my skirt. I squealed and jumped up. Although I was probably overreacting, I started hyperventilating. It was all just a very bad experience. It came back to me in eighth grade when we had to dissect frogs. Their textured skin and long tongues make me shaky and cause me to gag. I had to keep myself from puking everyday of the week long experiment. Frogs are one of my few fears. I try to overcome others by fighting myself against them. At one point I had a little fear of heights, but I was able o overcome it. Since then, I have been para sailing, jumped off the highest of diving boards, and been on three zip lines. I feel like fears are there to be destroyed. Accomplishing one always gives me a great feeling.

Reflection: The Pit & The Pendulum

Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum is set during the Spanish Inquisition. It is important to know the background of this time period to understand what is happening in the story. The Spanish government was Roman Catholic and would punish those blamed for heresy without any true evidence. Punishment led to death most of the time. The government was very uncontrolled yet brutal with its citizens. The narrator of the story, whose name readers never learn, had a very interesting way of describing the judges of the Spanish government, their lips in particular. He said, "They appeared to me white and thin even to grotesqueness; thin with the intensity of their expression of firmness-- of immovable resolution-- of stern contempt of human torture" (Poe 263). The narrator is able to realize the horrendous things that are taking place in his country, and finds the cause as being the darkness in the judges's hearts. Just by getting a better understanding of the judges's character, the narrator learned what his future was before they even told him (Poe 266). He is eventually accused and sent to jail. During the toughest of times in his cell, the narrator even considered suicide. "In other conditions of mind, I might of had courage to end my misery at once by a plunge into one of these abysses" (Poe 268). In order to exaggerate the journey taking place, Poe incorporated suspense and major descriptions of fear into the story. These details also bring drama and scary ideas to the story, categorizing it as a dark romanticism piece. It's obvious how paranoid the man is feeling, and longer his holding lasts, the more self control he seems to lose. The narrator is never shy to share his true feelings about his future. He claims, "The agony of defense grew at length tolerable, and I cautiously moved forward, with my arms extended, and my eyes straining sockets, in the hope of catching some faint ray of light" (Poe 265-266). The greater part of the story is the narrator awaiting his destiny. Therefore, his emotions and struggles are discussed throughout most of the plot. At one point, he sights a pendulum in his cell (Poe 269). The narrator goes into great detail of the pendulum and its motions. His cell is also accumulated with rats at one point, which just adds to the grotesqueness of his situation. After all of the tests that the narrator endures in his cell, he comes to a final belief. "The Inquisitorial vengeance had been hurried by my two-fold escape, and there was to be no more dallying with the King of Terrors" (Poe 273). The mystery and suspense of The Pit and the Pendulum is a great way to add darkness to what one Fact on File Analysis describes as Romanticism, "a belief in the power of the imagination, a celebration of nature, and a fascination with the supernatural and the exotic" (Stade).

Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Pit and The Pendulum." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 262-273. Print.

Stade, George, and Karen Karbiener. "Romanticism." Encyclopedia of British Writers, 1800 to the Present, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Journal #24 - Spooked

I rarely get spooked, so this journal is going to be difficult. Somebody can set up and plan a prank for hours, but I will show little emotion once the prank has been pulled. However, if someone was to stand behind a doorway and jump out when I was was passing through, I would jump and shriek and make the biggest scene anyone has ever made. It's simple, stupid jokes like that that really freak me out. My heart pounds and I have a huge rush go through my body. Some people like the feeling of being spooked, but I absolutely hate it. It makes me feel so out of control and crazy. I wish I was the type of person that could throw a punch whenever someone tries to scare them. I always see the videos of people scaring others, and then getting knocked out because the victim has such great reflexes. Can you imagine someone jumping out from behind a door and me just giving them a strong, right jab to the face? Haha that would be so great! One specific time when I was completely spooked was my freshman year of high school. It was still early on in the year, so I didn't feel fully comfortable with the high school layout and my classes yet. I was headed down the short flight of stairs it takes to get to Mrs. Durbin's english class in the basement. I was turning the corner and entering the small hallway down there when an older girl jumped out from the doorway. She was in her junior year, and I had only seen her face a couple of times before. I screamed to loud and fell to the ground with terror, dropping my literature book and pencil bag on the way down. The girl started laughing and claimed that she thought I was her friend. She apologized multiple times. As she helped me up, her friend walked through the doorway and asked what just happened.

Reflection: Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe creates many points of interest in the poem A Dream Within a Dream. His words make the reader consider his point of view and question what they once believed, which is what a great poem is meant to do. The short poem is a comparison between a beach and a dream. He says,"You are not wrong, who deem / That my days have been a dream" (Poe). It's easy to come to the conclusion that Poe looks at his life as a dream. This could represent how his memories are like dreams because they are not easily remembered. Edgar Allan Poe incorporates dreaming into several of his poems. Dreaming is a common way to use one's imagination, a trait of the Romanticism period's writings. Poe goes on to say, "And I hold within my hand/Grains of the golden sand/How few! Yet how they creep/Through my fingers to the deep,/ While I weep -- while I weep!" (Poe). His comparison of his dreams and the coastal sand is very well thought out. Both slip away from him. By using the ocean and the coast, both natural landscapes, in his writings, Poe shows yet another trait from the Rationalism period. Nature and exotic landscapes was used in most Romanticism pieces because of the imaginative factor that they add to stories. Comparing a losing one's memory of a dream in the same way that sand slips from one's fingers is an easily relatable idea. By giving the mental picture of sand, Edgar Allan Poe is using the sense of touch to really involve readers into his poem. Imagery is a great form of figurative language to use when it comes to trying to get your point across to readers. At the end of his poem, Poe asks, "Is all that we see or seem/But a dream within a dream?" (Poe). Poe's final question makes the reader really begin to wonder. As one ages, their memories fade and could eventually be gone forever. Similar to a dream, eventually many moments in life will not be remembered. It is possible that everyone is truly living a dream within a dream. One analysis of Romanticism writings describes Edgar Allan Poe as one of the "the major short story writers and novelists" for the period (Werlock). The piece also states, "Romanticism certainly can be distinguished from realism in that it seeks truth, or the ideal, by transcending the actual, whereas realism finds its values in the actual" (Werlock). Seeking truth is exactly what Edgar Allan Poe's poem A Dream within a Dream is looking for. With a number of questions, Poe is looking for answers. Isn't asking questions the number one way to find out the truth? Poe's question about whether your lives are reality of just simply dreams not only gets readers thinking, but also to inspire people to find the truth. Edgar Allan Poe was the first to observe the idea, so A Dream Within a Dream was his way of sharing his perspective.

Poe, Edgar Allan. "A Dream Within A Dream." Edgar Allan Poe, Short Stories, Tales, and Poems. Web. 18 Jan. 2012.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "Romanticism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Journal #23 - Scary Story/Movie

I try to avoid scary movies at all costs. The smallest surprise would make me scream. I can't do gory, let alone thrillers. To be honest, I still get uncomfortable watching the beginning of Law and Order because I know something bad is going to happen. 4 minutes. 4 minutes into Law and Order and it's safe. The scary part is over, and the DUN-duh duh-dundun theme music is on. Trust me, that's from years of avoiding the scary, creepy scenes. Whenever I find out that there is a party where scary movies will be played, I usually make up an excuse to not go. Why go to a party and have to cover my face and be a nervous wreck all night? There are so many other things I would rather be doing. I do have on trick however, when a trailer comes on for a scary film, whether it be in the movie theatre or at home on the TV, I keep my face looking forward, but I move my eyes to the side of the room. That way I don't look like an idiot for being totally afraid of a commercial. Plus, whenever the person I am with turns to me and says, "Oh my gosh! That looks so good." I can slightly nod and whisper "Mhmm" when I never even watched the clip in the first place.
The scariest movie that I have ever seen has to be The Children of the Corn. I wouldn't even consider it scary considering how old it is, but it's one of my favorites. Having seen it about twelve times, I know what's going to happen next, so I don't get scared. However, there are like 7 different Children of the Corn films. I have seen about three of them. (It's an obsession my neighbor and I have with eighties movies. I promise I'm not a complete weirdo that sits at home watching COTC [that's what the cool kids say it] every Friday night. Well, most Friday nights...) If I were to see say number five for the first time, it is very likely that I would be terrified.
Scary movies get you with the creepy background music. I promise that if the badum-badum heart beat sound didn't happen while the scary monster was approaching the young, innocent girl, the films would not be scary. Also, new scary movies have all the crazy special effects that give evil guys yucky faces and weird noises. It's just all way too much for me.

Journal #22 - Sledding

Awaking to a pure white covered hill,
I'm out of bed cause there's time to kill.
I layer lots of clothing to stay warm
out in the wonderful December storm.
Once dressed nice and cozy, I rush upstairs
to mention sledding and see if mom cares.
She says yes and reminds me to be safe,
I jump for joy, and I'm off with a wave.
My first step in the snow is a great one,
and the purest white snow reflects the sun.
My layers make it difficult to move
I rush as if there's something to prove.
I place my sled upon the soft, white ground
Quiet and clean, there is no one around.
With a quick leap, I am onto my sled.
"It's time for breakfast come inside," Mom said.
No! I could not, I was just getting good!
For sure, a couple more quick rounds I could.
I would glide fast down those snow covered hills, 
And avoid bushes with my newfound skills.
I will hurry so breakfast is still warm.
Maybe I will beat the oven alarm.
This is it, my final, downhill slope ride,
I love sledding! There's no rules to abide!